Untitled - Dramione - 23-11-10
I haven't updated in a while 'cos my computers been disconnected while my room is being redecorated. I'll update all my other stories on monday. This doesn't seem like Dramione at the moment but i can assure you, it is. It also includes Ginny/Blaise and Luna/Neville. And various others. Enjoy.
"Miss Granger."
Hermione sat up to look at the healer, trying to ignore the fact that she couldn't see her hand, "Yes?" She asked, worried. The healers didn't usually bother her until mealtimes, "What is it?"
"Calm down, Miss Granger, I only came to tell you that you have a visitor. Shall I let her in?"
Hermione nodded warily and the Healer disappeared, returning a moment later with Mrs Weasley hurrying along behind him.
"Mrs Weasley!"
The Healer smiled, "I'll leave you alone."
Molly sighed, wiping her eyes with her apron, "How many times must I tell you, Hermione? Call me Molly!"
Hermione ignored her, "What happened? Who's hurt?"
Molly let out a sob, sinking into the armchair beside Hermione's bed, "Oh, Hermione, it's awful! Thank goodness you weren't there. You remember last time we were here we told you about the 'seven Potters plan'?"
Hermione nodded, "And I told you it would never work."
Molly smiled weakly and continued, "Well somehow they knew. The minute they took off they were surrounded by Death Eaters."
Hermione gasped, "Is everyone all right?"
Molly shook her head and let out another quiet sob, "Someone - a Death Eater- shot a killing curse at Mundungus. He disapparated and it hit Mad-eye." Hermione shook her head, not quite believing it, "And Snape. He hit George with a Sectumsempra. He's … lost an ear."
"Lost an-?" Hermione repeated in a high voice.
Molly nodded, blinking away her tears. "And then he chased Harry to the safe house."
"He?"
"Him! He-who-must-not-be-named."
Hermione squeaked, "What happened?"
"Well, everyone else got back safely. Ginny and Kingsley were the last back, they told us about Mad-eye."
"Why didn't you come earlier?" Asked Hermione
"I would have, but we were preparing for the wedding." She sighed, "Oh, all that planning - ruined. It was awful, Hermione, just awful. After the ceremony, Death Eaters crashed the reception. The ministry has fallen, Hermione. He's in control! We were held and questioned, Harry and Ron managed to escape but me and the others weren't about to leave the Burrow for the Death Eaters to ruin … again. We've only just been released." She glanced at Hermione, who looked like she might be about to cry, and enveloped her in a tight hug, "Everyone's safe."
It was then that Hermione noticed the rolled up piece of parchment in Mrs Weasley's hand, "What's that?"
Mrs Weasley glanced down at the parchment, as if suddenly remembering it was there, before looking back up at Hermione with something close to a guilty expression on her face, "Ah, yes, well. That may require a little explaining."
Hermione nodded slightly, urging her to go on.
"You see, Snape has been appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts and -"
"WHAT!" Hermione exploded.
"Shh! And attendance is now compulsory. Plus … well, I suppose this will explain."
She took a folded newspaper clipping from the front of her apron and handed it to Hermione, who began reading it aloud, " 'Muggle-born Register." She began, "The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called 'Muggle-borns', the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets.
"Recent research reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when wizards reproduce. Where no proven wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called 'Muggle-born' is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force.
"The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers odd magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called 'Muggle-born' to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born registry commission." She paused.
"What's going to happen to me?" She whispered
"Come now dear, you're going to be fine. I took the liberty of going through your family tree and it turns out your wizarding heritage is closer than we all thought. Not only are you related to Hector Dagworth-Granger but ... Forgive me for asking - was your mother adopted?"
"I believe so." Hermione replied curiously, "She never knew her birth mother."
Molly nodded, beaming, "That is because her birth mother was a proud pure-blood witch who gave birth to a squib. I think that would make you a half-blood, not a muggle-born. Just present this," She handed the parchment to Hermione, "to the Muggle-born Registration Commission when they come to visit you here and you will be perfectly safe. In fact, you should be able to go to Hogwarts next month."
…
"I can't believe you're a half-blood and you never knew!"
Hermione sighed, lifting Crookshanks onto her lap as the train started forwards, "Ginny, you've had all summer to get used to it, when are you going to stop saying that?"
"Sorry." Ginny said, "I'll stop now. It's just so weird!"
"What's weird? Asked Neville, as he and Luna entered the compartment. He smiled at Hermione then did a double take, "Hermione! How can you be here? I thought all muggle-borns were-"
"She's not a muggle-born." Ginny interrupted, starting to tell Neville and Luna the story.
Hermione sighed, knowing it would be the same with everyone she saw at Hogwarts, meaning countless retellings of her family history. Not that Ginny would mind - it was her favourite story.
"So you're a half-blood?" Luna asked in her usual dreamy voice, "That's nice. Draco Malfoy can't call you a Mudblood now."
Hermione shrugged, "He'll find something else to call me, I'm sure. He's not the type to give up."
…
"I won't give up!"
Blaise sighed, "Dray, face it, your parents aren't going to take you out of Hogwarts. It's compulsory - even for Death Eaters."
Draco looked ready to make a retort but was cut off by a yell from down the train…
"Crookshanks! Crookshanks, come back! Ginny, why on earth did you open the door! Crookshanks!"
"Why did you even let his out of his box?" Ginny retorted
Blaise snorted in amusement, opening the compartment door in time to see a small tiger speeding towards him. He caught it before it could fly past the door.
"Crookshanks!" Came Hermione's yell as she hurried towards them.
Blaise looked surprised to see her, but not shocked. He's heard rumours that she was returning, though no-one seemed to know how. He held the cat out to her, "Here's your … cat?"
Hermione smiled gratefully, taking the half-kneazle into her arms, "Thanks. He didn't attack you, did he? He won't usually let anyone else pick him up."
"Granger!"
Both Blaise and Hermione groaned as Draco appeared in the doorway.
"Merlin." Hermione muttered, "What do you want, Malfoy?" She snapped as Crookshanks struggled in her grip, hissing at the blond boy.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded, scowling at Crookshanks as the cat swatted at him with his paw, "Mud-bloods aren't allowed at Hogwarts anymore."
Hermione laughed humourlessly, tightening her grip on the cat, "Is that so? Well, Malfoy, it's a good thing I'm not a mud-blood, isn't it? I'm a half-blood and I have the documents to prove it!"
Draco snorted, "I doubt that. Oh, but where are Potty and Weasel? Did they finally find some sense and ditch you? It's true what people are saying, isn't it - they've gone off on another adventure and left you behind without so much as a goodbye!"
By now, a crowd had formed around them and they all glared at Draco, who actually looked a little guilty as Hermione's eyes filled with tears.
"You don't know what you're talking about!"
As the first tear slipped down Hermione's cheek, Blaise finally snapped.
"That's enough!" He yelled, pushing Draco back into their compartment roughly, "You go to far sometimes!" He said as he slammed the door behind him.
Draco chuckled nervously, "What's wrong Blaise? Got a soft spot for the Mudblood?"Blaise didn't answer.