September 1979

It had been a dark and stormy night when she was born. Drusilla Riddle screamed in agony as her daughter came into the world, kicking and screaming, a fighter just like her father. The little girl had a mess of brunette hair and big brown orbs for eyes. Her mother's daughter for certain. Curling her little hands into fists her eyes wander the room. The dilapidated cottage they were holed up in creaked and squeaked against the onslaught of the storm. The little girl lets out a wail in protest of the noise.

"Hush little one" cooed her mother. "Daddy will be back soon, he's just gone out to ensure his little princess is safe." Drusilla shared a solemn look with her best friend and godmother of her daughter.

Tears in her eyes Drusilla Riddle hands her only daughter over to the woman who will protect her, no matter the cost, during the hard times that are sure to follow.

"Goodbye my dearest, I am so sorry that you have to endure this." With her final breath Drusilla Riddle watches her baby girl leave before she finally succumbs to the darkness.

May 1993

"Petrified! How?" she is pacing. She promised her friend that she would take care of her little girl. How was she supposed to do that when the girl refused to stay out of danger?

"She is in no immediate danger. The antidote will be administered as soon as it is ready" drawled the man sitting comfortably in the armchair before her. "Now please sit down before you burn a hole into the carpet, an expensive carpet need I remind you."

Instead of doing what she has been told she storms out of the room. Mumbling about how her goddaughter is more of a handful than her mother was.

June 1994

"She went after them!" she screeches. "Why does she insist on cleaning up those idiots mess time and time again?" she paces again, she's starting to create an indentation on the carpet.

"She feels some sort of misguided loyalty towards them." The man sits once again in the same armchair as before. "It's nothing to worry about she'll soon come realize the truth."

Her pacing doesn't stop.

June 1995

"He has returned" for once she is sitting in the armchair and he is pacing. "He will want to see her." She numbly nods. She can't believe he had come back. If only her friend had been there to witness it.

"He has to wait. She isn't ready for that as yet." Her voice is soft, still in awe of the events that have transpired.

"Try telling him that."

June 1996

He is battling the old fool when he sees her. She crouches over the boy. His momentary lapse in concentration costs him dearly and he is forced to flee.

When he pulls a slivery thread from his head and views that memory over and over again he marvels at how much like her mother she is.

"Narcissa!" he bellows, "bring my daughter home."

September 1996

She's in a cottage. A rundown cottage that sways with the storm raging outside. There are two women present. They look defeated. She feels drawn to these women. It's like they share an unassailable bond. She moves closer. She needs to see their faces to share in their pain.

The cottage begins to shake. No she's the one that's being shaken. She doesn't want to leave. She needs to know who they are. Who she is.

"Hermione wake up." The annoying voice of Ginny Weasley floods her senses. "Mum says breakfast is ready." She waits for the red head to leave the room before she finally allows herself to fully wake up. That dream has been haunting her since the end of her fourth year and she is no closer to knowing what it means. Resigned she gets out of bed and makes her way down to the kitchen before Ginny comes back.

Ron sits stuffing his face with bacon and sausage whilst Harry makes goo-goo eyes at Ginny. A typical morning at the Weasley house. "Good morning." She announces stifling a yawn.

"Good morning dear, all packed?" she nods her affirmation in Mrs Weasley's direction. "Ron, Harry all packed?" Harry tears his eyes away from Ginny long enough to say yes whilst Ron just mumbles his answer through a mouthful of food.

"Alright then. I want you lot to be careful this year. Stick together, do you understand?" the grave note in her voice strikes a chord within us all. After the debacle at the Ministry and the death of Sirius we were all a wreck. Especially Mrs Weasley. She rarely left the house and spent most of her time fretting.

"Oh mum don't worry. We're going to be at Hogwarts there's no place that's safer." Ginny had been acting rebellious ever since the Ministry. Perhaps it was left over adrenalin from the fight or maybe it was because she now garnered extra attention. Whatever it was it was clearly not something Mrs Weasley approved of. "Go upstairs the lot of you. It's almost time to leave."

Not one to argue with the Weasley matriarch we marched upstairs to prepare for another year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

October 1996

One month back at Hogwarts and Hermione was already up to her neck in work. How Harry and Ron left everything for the last minute she would never understand. She was currently at breakfast when an elegant owl swooped down and dropped a letter onto her lap.

"What you got there Mione?" floated Ron's voice. Oh how she detested that nickname. Harry perked up as well, curious herself she turned the envelope over only to realize it was from her parents. Ron and Harry's faces dropped in disappointment before resuming their talk about this year's Quidditch season. What they failed to notice was that Hermione was slightly shocked. Her parents never used an owl besides the ones at school and that was usually in response to her own letters. So why were they writing to her now?

Gently opening the envelope she pulls out a single sheet of paper. Harry and Ron were too engrossed in their own world to pay her any attention, slowly unfurling the letter she began to read:

Dearest Hermione

You must forgive us for what we have done. We did it to protect you, to ensure that you had a life away from all the hate you were sure to receive if the truth was revealed. But now things have changed and you need to know the truth about who you are.

Hermione you were adopted. You were given to your father and I when you were just a babe. We weren't told much else besides the fact that you were special and when the time came we would know how special you were. And you are special. You are the most amazing thing that could have happened to us.

We don't know who your biological parents are. What we do know is who your godmother is. She has requested a meeting with you. She wants to explain why you were given up and hopes that you will agree to meet her. She will be waiting at the Hogs Head during your first Hogsmead weekend. Just give your name to the bartender and he will take you to her. If you feel that it's too soon and don't want to speak to her then she will wait at the Hogs Head every Hogsmead weekend until you're ready.

Darling please forgive us. We understand that knowing the truth may have made life a little easier for you but we couldn't tell you. We were sworn to secrecy. Please meet your godmother. She will explain everything and perhaps then you can understand why we kept it from you for all these years.

Love

Mum & Dad

The Great Hall began spinning and Hermione's vision became blurry. "You alright Hermione? You look like you might throw up." She vaguely hears Harrys voice before she's bolting from the Great Hall.

In the end she did throw up.

Darquesse16