I own nothing. All characters belong to J.K Rowling
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"Hermione... Hermione...Hermione!"
She wasn't sure how long they had been calling her name, well one of her names at least, when they finally broke through the haze in her mind. Hermione could see nothing else, nothing but those words that made up a life she never even knew she had. Remus, Kingsley and Tonks frantic calling had no effect, it wasn't until Kingsley put his long fingered hand on her shoulder and spun her to face him that she came back to reality. Or what was felt of it for her. Looking up at the fierce Auror in front of her Hermione saw shock on his face, eyes wide and staring intensely at her. Shifting her gaze to Tonks and Remus showed them to be in much the same situation. Before she could say anything to Tonks reached out and started stroking her hair.
"Tonks?" she asked in confusion.
"Your voice is the same at least," the clumsy Auror replied as if talking to herself leaving Hermione even more confused. Sensing this Remus reached out and pulled Tonks back to him leaving just Kingsley in close proximity. Seeing that the other two weren't going to be any use for an explanation the young witch looked up at Kingsley giving him a pleading look.
"Your appearance has changed Mione," he answered before clearing his throat. "The last spell we cast was to show and end any glamours that had been put on you. It's standard procedure when doing this kind of charm and...,"he trailed off looking uncertainly back at her partner.
"We didn't think anything would happen," Tonks said. "I didn't know why you were asking for the spell and well I thought you and Moony here were just being a touch loopy."
"Changed to what? I don't feel any different at all," Hermione said thoughtfully. Truthfully she did feel a bit different, smaller more compact if that made sense.
She was shocked when it was Remus that answered. "Your beautiful Hermione," he said softly before inclining his head towards the mirror Ginny and herself had Mrs Weasley enlarge to full length. Though not entirely sure she wanted to see her reflection if it wasn't the one she had been used to for seventeen years, Hermione walked slowly over to the mirror with her head downcast. Deciding that this was one instance where she should just let her inner Gryffindor take full control, she raised her head and stomped the last few steps. If she didn't the mirror had no charms on it she would never have believed that this girl was her. She was right in thinking herself shorter, much shorter in fact, now only about 5"2. It was just as well she had worn a skirt or she would have fallen for sure on the walk over to the mirror. Her skirt which had before sat just above the knee was now down to mid-calf. The shape of her body was much the same, still curvy but it looked so much different on this smaller frame. The length and style of her hair hadn't changed, but again like the skirt it went further down on her body to the middle of her back. The colour though was now the darkest black she had ever seen, it reminded her of someone but she couldn't quite place it just then. Unable to stop herself she reached up to touch it finding it so much softer than her hair had even been before, even after Ginny spent hours on it using all the latest hair products. The deep brown colour of her eyes seemed the same, as did the upturn of her small nose. The rest of her face looked different though. There was no major difference, just small changes in the shaping of her jaw and maybe even her cheek bones, but it all amounted to a total different appearance to that of Hermione Granger. She couldn't help but think that she looked much more intense now, like she could stare a hole straight through anyone. It was disconcerting to say the least.
"Can you change me back?," she asked still staring at the reflection. She refused to acknowledge that it was her until she knew that she couldn't go back. She knew she had never been a great beauty, nothing special at all really, but she had been herself and she wanted that back.
"No," Kingsley responded regretfully. "I'm sorry but once the spell is cast, it cannot be undone." Turning away from the mirror Hermione merely nodded in response. This was all too much. No longer did she look like herself. Her family weren't her family. Her name wasn't even her name. As if sensing the direction of her thoughts Tonks, who had been staring at her in awe, shook her head and smiled apologetically at her.
"The same goes for the rest of it too Mione. How did you know about all of this?"
"I got a letter today," she answered shrugging her shoulders and sitting on her bed once again. This just cannot be happening, she thought. It was to surreal. Seeing that they would get no more information out of her at the moment, the two Aurors turned to Remus to provide the answers. Hermione just sat staring at her hands while he filled them in on the letter, the meeting and the contract. Even her hands were different, smaller just like the rest of her.
"Well the glamour would have ended tomorrow anyway honey, if that makes you feel any better. The rest of the information will also legally change tomorrow when the contract is dissolved," Tonks added. That peaked her interest.
"What do you mean 'will legally change?" It wasn't until after she said it that Hermione noted the shrill notes of panic in her voice.
"Your name, your parental details, blood status. It will all revert to that which it was at your birth," Kingsley answered. He had clearly slipped back into business mode, becoming the cool and collected Auror once again.
"So let me get this straight. Tomorrow I'll be Andromeda Pucey!"
"Calm down Hermione," Remus replied. "Everything will work out, you just need to keep calm." Hermione hadn't ever understood before why Harry got so frustrated when people told him to just keep calm. She definitely understood it now, she felt like smacking Remus about the face. How on earth was everything going to work out fine? She didn't even look like herself anymore, everyone would know. "I know this is a lot to deal with but you have to keep it together. Isn't it better you find out all this now, surrounded by friends, than tomorrow when you meet your family?"
Hermione had to admit he did have a point there. She could not imagine her reaction if she had be stripped on all the things that made up her while standing in front of people who had given her away. Nodding to the man in front of her Hermione started on regaining her calm, this was not the time to have a crisis. She had to stay strong, fight through this like she had fought through everything else since she entered the magical world. First on her list of things to do would definitely be to tell Harry and Ron. For the past six years they had done everything with her and she with them. She supported them unconditionally and she could only hope that they would do the same for her in this case. It was a lot to ask she knew, but there was not a hope that she could get through this if she did not have their support.
"Okay, okay. Everything is fine," she stated to all in the room. Looking straight at Remus she told them that she needed to tell her two best friends. "I have to do it now. If they think I've kept it from them they will be looking for a fight, they'll be bad enough about me going to the meeting alone."
"I think that's a good idea," Remus agreed smiling.
"So do I," Kingsley added. "While you do that I think it's best if Tonks lets everyone know. People are still on edge and seeing an unknown witch walking through headquarters will certainly get a reaction." They all gave soft laughs at that, thinking of the screaming that would occur if Mrs Weasley found someone she did not know in her kitchen. "I'll go to the ministry and see what information I can gather on your family."
"You don't need to do that Kings," Hermione hastily reassured him.
"No problem Hermione," he replied smiling at her. "I don't know anything about them as it is, good or bad, and I'd rather be prepared for any eventuality." As soon as he finished speaking, Kingsley smiled once again at the witch and then quickly left. Tonks did the same while Remus loitered to tell her good luck, and that he would send Harry and Ron up.
"Be sure and warn them! I don't feel like getting hexed," she called to the retreating chuckles of Remus and Tonks.
Shuffling in her seat nervously, Hermione sat and waited for her friends. This was not a conversation she was at all looking forward to. Harry, not unreasonably considering his past, was likely to think this all one big plot to kill his friend. While Ron, well he'd just get angry. That was his initial reaction to everything unexpected and while he would eventually calm down, this anger wasn't something she ever enjoyed dealing with.
"Merlin!"
"Bloody hell!"
Hermione hadn't realised that the door to her bedroom had been left open giving her friends a complete view of her as soon as they reached the top of the stairs. At their tandem shouts her head snapped up to see them both standing in the door way, mouths hanging open, staring at her wide eyed.
"Hey guys," she said in a small voice. This felt like the polyjuice incident in their second year all over again, her all embarrassed and them both ogling her in shock.
"Mione is that really you? That can't be you," he added with Ron nodded emphatically.
"It's me really," she replied infusing every bit of sincerity she could into the words which was no easy feat considering how confused she was herself. "Come sit down, I've got a lot to tell you." Both still looking worried, they slowly walked in to the room and took up the places on Ginny's bed that Tonks and Kingsley had sat in before. "Okay you just need to listen to what I have to tell you then you can say what you want at the end," Hermione stated decisively. She then launched into the story that she had told Remus and Remus had told Kingsley and Tonks, adding on the developments learned via the Paternity Charm. She spat it out getting through it as quickly as possible, not looking either of them in the eye throughout the explanation. When she was done she let out a breath and waited for the explosion. When it still hadn't come after nearly five minutes, she looked up and into the eyes of her two friends. Both still looked worried but there wasn't a hint of the angry she had predicted.
"This is definitely a shock Mione," Harry started, "but I can't say it's a total and complete shock if you know what I mean." Ron was again nodding at that while Hermione was utterly bemused.
"Not a complete shock? How can it not be a complete shock? I had no idea about any of it!"
"We know. It's just you've been changing," Ron replied in a rather smug tone. "You might not have noticed, but we have. Me and Harry saw that you've been changing a bit in the way you look. Nothing as bloody drastic as today mind you but you've still been getting different."
"Like you were a bit bigger than me since forth year," Harry supported. "But ever since we all came to stay here you're only about an inch taller."
"Your ears have gotten tiny too! That one Ginny spotted. Your magic feels different too," Ron stated as if these were normal things to tell someone.
"The magic thing has been happening for awhile. Obviously you haven't done any spells since the battle but me and Ron could tell your magic was changing. We thought at first it might just be cause of your birthday coming up but then we both were in the same boat and our magic felt the same. So we kinda knew something was up," he finished. Through there listing of reasons Hermione just sat staring at them, wondering what the hell was happening to the world when her friends had noticed these rather intimate changes about her when she hadn't realised a thing. Unable to think of anything to say, she instead just let the tears that had been burning behind her eyes since the meeting flow and flung herself at both her friends. Four startled arms reached forward to steady her and ended up pulling her into a rather awkward three-way hug. Not that Hermione noticed, sobbing as she was onto one friends shoulder and then the next. She quickly calmed down however, possibly due to her desire to get away from the rather rough pats on the back she was getting from Ron.
Turning to sit properly in the space they had made in between them she apologised for her outburst. "I really didn't mean to do that. I know how you two are with crying," she added smiling.
"It's no problem Hermione," Harry said. "This has got to be a lot for you to take in."
"Yeah, a lot. But you didn't tell us who your parents are. Do you know?"
"Ron!" Harry scolded. Hermione just laughed, it was really reassuring to see them both acting just the same as ever. No matter what else changed she could rely on that.
"It's okay Harry. Yes I know, the spell Kingsley and Tonks did told me. I don't know anything about them though so I was going to wait and tell you when I know more."
"Just tell us now," Ron said earning him a glare from Harry.
"After this is don't, me and you are gonna have a talk Ron," Harry stated staring at Ron with an intense expression Hermione had not seen before.
Hoping to avoid a conflict Hermione laughed and said that it was no problem. "I planned on telling you no matter what so why not now? Well my nameis Andromeda Pucey and my father is called Aden." Neither boy missed the sarcasm that was laced through her words letting them know even more clearly than the crying fit just how their best friend felt about the situation.
"Pucey. Like that guy who played on the Slytherin team? He was a few years older than us I think," Harry mused.
"Yeah, he was a Pucey. Adrian was his name I think," Ron replied gaining Hermione's interest. Did she have a brother then?
"He was the only one who wasn't an ass on the field. Good player too. He played by the rules, pretty much the only snake we've ever played who does," Harry scoffed.
"If he's good then maybe we could let the Slytherin thing go," Ron laughed thumping Hermione on the back again.
"Do you think I'm related to him then? Maybe he is my brother or something," she said softly.
"Don't know Mione, could be. Anyway that's some name you got there Andromeda," he finished laughing. Harry and Hermione quickly joining in. It was nice to have a break from the tension for all three, both the boys having been worried about their friend after her sudden departure earlier in the day.
All three sat quietly talking about anything and everything, eventually lying backwards on the bed together. Hermione found it such a relief after the upheavals of the day and she would have quickly slipped into sleep lying between her boys if Mrs Weasley hadn't hollered at them that dinner was ready. Almost immediately Harry and Ron both stood, pulling on an arm each until she was reluctantly standing as well. She was almost as worried over everyone else reaction to the new her as she was over Harry and Ron's. The only positive thought she had over her reveal was that hopefully Tonks and Remus had filled them in on what was going on so she wouldn't have to. Telling the story again was something she wasn't sure she could face.
"Come on Mione," Ron urged tugging on her arm. Sighing she let them both pull her out of the room she had started to view as a sanctuary of sorts, and onto the landing and down the stairs. It was an awkward way to walk, with Ron in front pulling her left arm along with him and Harry behind holding on to her right hand and giving it a firm squeeze every few seconds.
"Hurry up! Dinner is ready," Mrs Weasley called again from the kitchen. Most likely she was in shock as to the fact that Ron wasn't already sitting at the table, salivating over the meal she was putting on the table. He was always the first down to dinner, no matter where he was in the house when the signal came that it was ready. Hermione and Ginny had theorised that he had taken to apparating to just outside the kitchen door as soon as he heard his mother, then strolling the rest of the way so as not to get a rollicking. It wasn't far to the door of the kitchen once they had reached the bottom of the old staircase, just a right turn and then down a short, still dark hallway. By the time they reached the closed door all three were standing side by side again and Hermione was beginning to doubt the logic of walking into a room with a dozen armed wizards and witchs when she had a new face. Ron didn't have any qualms however and quickly pushed the door open, taking the lead again and storming in with the other two being dragged along behind. He didn't stop once they were all in the room, seemingly ignoring the silence that had settled over everyone, but pulled her two best friends over to some seats at the table. Quickly he sat down, turning to stare at his friends then pulling the chair next to him out for Hermione and indicating she should sit. Not having any other idea on what to do she did just that with Harry talking the seat to her right. The silence in the room deafening, worse than any shouting could have been and Hermione once again took to studying her hands balled in her lap. Thoughts raced through her head as she waited for a reaction, why hadn't she changed out of her skirt yet, she really looked ridiculous in her smart shirt and skirt which looked two sizes too big. Like a little girl playing dress up in her mother's clothes. She wanted to look at Ron and Harry, wanted them to give her hands a squeeze or a reassuring smile but all her courage had deserter her in the face of her family and she couldn't bring herself to even look up.
"Well must say, when good ole Remus here told us you looked different—"
"—we didn't quite realise just how different! Much hotter this way if we do say so our self—"
"Which we do," one of the twins finished. Hermione had never been so grateful for them in her whole entire lift. There comment seemed to have broke the daze everyone in the room was in and everybody gave out small laughs and the noise of people moving around could be heard once again in the room. Hermione looked up and sent a bright smile to the two identical wizards sitting directly across from her and her friends. The permanent grins that existed on their faces grew just a bit wider and one of them, maybe George, blew her a kiss while the other winked at her. Now that she wasn't focused on her lap she looked around to see just who was around. The kitchen was packed, not unusual from the evening meal at Grimmauld Place and it seemed all the members of the Order she knew well were there as well. Tonks, Remus, Kingsley and Moody were there off talking in a corner close to the window. All the Weasleys boys and Fleur were gathered around the table seemingly waiting for Mrs Weasley and Ginny to bring over meal they had prepared. Headmistress McGonagall and Mr Weasley were sitting at one end of the table, both shooting looks over at Hermione and then quickly turning back to their conversation.
Hermione's people watching was interrupted by Mrs Weasley setting down a plethora of dishes onto the table. It seemed she had gone all out and Hermione was confused to why until Mrs Weasley hugged her from behind, placed a kiss on the top of her head and wished her a Happy Birthday. As shocking as it was, she had completely forgotten today was her birthday amongst all the other angst she had had thrust on to her. After Mrs Weasleys kiss and soft words, everyone else moved to sit down and the table and echoed the sentiment. Hermione gave a small tired smile and whispered her thanks, not really looking anyone in the eye. How could it be a happy birthday when she had found out her whole life was a lie? How she wished she could go back to the carefree attitude she had over turning seventeen that she had this morning. It seemed more than just half a day ago that she had woken Ginny by jumping on her bed. Sensing the shift in her to a more depressive mood, both her boys reached from her hands, Harry rubbing his rough palm up and down her arm while Ron held tightly to her shaking hands. The meal, though delicious, was a quiet affair, everyone talking in their small groups. The adults at one end, Ginny, the twins and Charlie across from Hermione, Harry and Ron and Bill and Fleur muttering together at the other end. It was a change from the usual hustle and bustle that characterised their meals, with everyone shouting over one and other.
"Do you want to open your presents now dear?" Mrs Weasley asked just as everyone finished eating. Everyone once again went silent at the question, darting their gazes between the older woman and Hermione.
"Em well...well I," she stuttered as she tried to think what she wanted to do. Opening presents or in anyway celebrating this day was last on her list but she didn't want to offend anyone by saying so. This unsure stuttering girl wasn't her however, she was strong and capable and could say what she meant being either tactful or straight forward. She refused to let this mess of a day take away who she was, it might change how she looked and even her name, but inside she was still the same person. Steeling herself once again Hermione looked at her surrogate mother asking if the presents could wait. "I was hoping we could talk. There is a lot I want to know and I'd rather know it before tomorrow," she finished.
"Of course dear," Mrs Weasley smiled. "I'll just go get cake and tea for everyone then we can start alright?" Without waiting for a response the woman hurried away demanding help from her twin sons.
"It's okay to talk you know," Hermione spoke into the silence. "I'd much rather we act as normal as possible. I may not look it, but I'm still me," she said with a quirked brow.
"Too right you don't look it," Ginny declared. "You've always been pretty but now, Mione you are downright beautiful. I'd kill for that hair." Both girls grinned at each other over the table top, thinking of the many times Hermione had said just that to Ginny.
"Yeah, my hair definitely isn't something I'm sad to lose." Hermione was startled when a hand reached up and dragged itself through her new hair, rubbing it this way and that between their fingers. Looking to her right she saw it was Harry and that he had a look of deep concentration on his face, as if trying to recall a memory that he hadn't thought of in some time. "Harry?"
"Sorry Hermione," he answered drawing his hand away as a fierce blush took over his face. "It's just, well your hair it's giving me déjà vu. Only I don't know for who. It's been bugging me since I saw you."
"I thought the same when I first saw it," she mused recalling the feeling when she had first looked in the mirror. "Maybe the Pucey we were at school with has hair like it?"
At that Remus, Tonks and almost everyone else around the table let out soft chuckles. Seeing the confused looks to his friends faces Ron was the one who explained. "For two smart people you can be really stupid. Sirius." Although not much of an explanation it sparked recognition in both Harry and Hermione. He was right, it was the same deep black silky hair that Sirius had in all the photos they had seen and in the time after he had recovered somewhat from Azkaban. "What I don't get is why you have the Black family hair if you're a Pucey," Ron stated furrowing his brow clearly thinking there must be more to the story than they knew so far.
"The spell said her mother was a Black," Kingsley told Ron who instantly lost the worried expression and nodded his head. Hermione had forgotten that fact, that her mother had been a Black.
"Cassiopeia Black was her name," Tonks said with a smile as Mrs Weasley and the twins returned to the table again with plates and pots of steaming tea floating behind them.
"That name does sound familiar," Remus mused. "I'm sure Sirius spoke of a Cassiopeia, but I can't think in what context.
"She was his father's sister, his aunt then," the witch replied looking towards Hermione as if seeking permission. Hermione absently nodded, knowing that she did want to hear anything they had to say about her birth mother but not wanting to open herself up to asking. This was the perfect opportunity then. Sending a small smile back and changing her hair from her bright green to a more relaxed red, Tonks continued disclosing what she knew of the woman. "So yeah Orion's sister, a lot younger if I recall. Think she only ten when Sirius was born, not too positive on that though. She was from the smaller branch of the Black family, only distantly related to my side until old Walburga married Orion. That side is the one with all black hair, mostly grey eyes too though Mione seems to have dodged that bullet," she laughed.
Before Hermione could think overly much on those facts, the young witch turned towards Kingsley. "What about the Puceys? Are they Death Eaters?" A few people choked on the cake they were chewing when she asked that, but she didn't see any reason to beat about the bush. If they were, it was best she knew now so she could avoid the meeting tomorrow at all costs. Harry and Ron at her sides just smiled, seemingly having expected the straight forward question. The Headmistress looked disapproving while Kingsley's expression was similar to that of her friends.
"No not that the Auror Department know of anyway." Clearing his throat he continued, "we do know that they financially supported He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But that does not mean anything really, almost all purebloods were forced into giving at least a part of their fortune to 'the cause'." Not liking the look on Hermione's face Kingsley decided it best to just keep going and get out all that he had learned before he dealt with her reaction. "I found the records of the Adoption Contract and it is iron clad. There won't be any getting out of it I'm sorry to say. I could only gain access to it by asking the permission of Minister Bones, which I can tell you is highly unusual these days."
"Do her family know who she is?" Harry interrupted, once again rubbing up and down Hermione's arm. She was glad others were asking these questions for her, her brain couldn't seem to do anything other than let the information she was hearing seep in.
"No, they don't know who she is at all. I suppose they might have some idea, seem as how they know her age. They have also being paying for her Hogwarts tuition, all through Gringotts of course so they don't know who exactly they are paying for, but they know their daughter is at Hogwarts and what year she is in."
"I've never heard of that," Mr Weasley mused leaning forward. "I thought the whole point of the Adoption Contract was so the family could keep an eye on the child without actually raising them?"
"Clearly that isn't the case here," Remus said glaring at Mr Weasley. "If they gave up our Hermione to keep her safe then it most certainly wasn't parental irresponsibility."
"It is unusual," Kingsley said ignoring the other two men. "It seems they went to great lengths to keep her safe, away from Voldemort and his followers. We know that many pureblood families tried to keep any female births a secret from him during the first war. Seems they were a little more reluctant to give up girls to the war than their sons."
"That's horrible," Hermione cried. "Why would they do that?"
"Dear, the traditional purebloods think rather differently than we do. Now I wouldn't think to say it was wrong," Mrs Weasley assured her, "just different. Pureblood children are extremely valuable and while it is a son that will be the heir, it is daughters that produce heirs and carry and spread the blood. My family, the Prewetts, they thought that way. Although my father had two heirs in my twin brothers, it was my birth that was most celebrated. Daughters are rare in some families and mine was one of them."
"So they expect me to be a broodmare? If they do then they will be disappointed," Hermione declared hotly.
Laughing Mrs Weasley stretched over to pat her hand, "I'm sure that isn't what they expect dear. Be sure and not judge what you don't know." Feeling rather chastised by the kind but stern words, Hermione just nodded again. This was all so very confusing.
Sensing the horrid silence once again falling, the twins took it upon themselves to open up another avenue of conversation. "A Pucey a? That's a shocker—"
"Hermione Pucey does have a ring to it though," the second finished in a high pitched Hermione-esk voice. Ron and Harry both burst out laughing at that, ignoring the glares they were getting from their female friend.
"What's that about?" Ginny asked with a much too interested look on her face. Hermione just mumbled under her breath. "Speak up! I can't hear what you are saying."
"She's probably saying it isn't 'Hermione Pucey'," Ron spat out as his laughs tailed off. "Seems Mione here gets a new first name too, and boy is it a doesy."
"Thanks for that Ron," Hermione muttered as she elbowed him in the side, just causing him to start laughing again.
"Oh is that so," Mrs Weasley asked clasping her hands together and looking rather excited. "Do tell us dear"
Seeing no way out of it and deciding to not prolong the inevitable Hermione once again mumbled her name, only to be told yet again to speak up. "Andromeda Adrienne." The twins, Harry, Ron, Ginny and both elder Weasley boys burst out laughing at that, while some of the adults looked close as well. Tonks looked rather offended and could be heard declaring "Hey! That's my mum's name!", while Mrs Weasley, Fleur and Professor McGonagall all had soft looks on their faces and Hermione was sure she heard a coo come from one of them.
"Oh honestly! It isn't as if I'm actually going to be using it," she declared hotly.
"You never told us about the middle bit Hermione," Harry laughed. "Your family sure likes A's."
"Hush now all of you. I think it is a lovely name," Professor McGonagall declared turning her glare onto the twins who were still laughing. "I must say Hermione, you shall have to get used to your new name. I cannot be certain until I check in the records of the school, but in other causes of a child under an Adoption Contract when it had ended their name reverted to that of their birth."
Seeing the denial ready to fall from Hermione's lips everyone rushed to remind her that nothing was certain and she had best just wait til tomorrow to find out. Agreeing, although not without huffing, Hermione quickly turned the conversation to other topics that involved her as little as possible and spent the rest of the evening thinking of how she wished she had never bothered to get up that morning.