Chapter three: Truths be Told
Hermione felt strange being back in the skin she was used to. Like she was wearing a costume. It was ridiculous, she thought, considering she had only known for an hour and a half who she really was. Harry walked closer to her, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye every few seconds to be sure she was still there as they walked to Defense Against the Dark Arts together. Ron joined them at some point, asking what happened and why they had both missed class. They didn't acknowledge him at all, discussing to Severus that they just couldn't. They could pretend they didn't know about being twins, they could pretend they didn't absolutely despise Dumbledore, but they could not pretend with Ron and Ginny. He had understood, telling them to come to his office that night for them to tell Sirius and remove the memory charms.
They took their seats in the classroom, still ignoring Ron, and listened to Umbridge drone on. Hermione understood now, that she was also here to kill any support Harry had about Voldemort being back.
"Detention, Mr. Potter!" Umbridge said triumphantly. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.' "
Harry stood up, enraged, his whole body practically vibrating.
"Harry, no!" Hermione tried to grab his arm to pull him back down, but he jerked his arm out of her reach.
"So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he?"
There was a collective intake of breath from the class, as none of them had ever heard Harry talk about what happened that night Cedric died. They stared back and forth avidly between Harry and Umbridge, Hermione still trying desperately to make him sit back down.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident," she said coldly. This made Hermione stop and look at her. Was that the story they were going with?
"It. Was. Murder." Harry said, shaking violently. "Voldemort killed him, and you know it."
Umbridge's face went blank. Then she said, in her softest, most sweetly girlish voice, "Come here, Mr. Potter, dear."
He kicked his chair aside with a loud clatter and strode up to the teacher's desk. He could feel the class holding its breath, but he was too angry to care about what happened next. Umbridge pulled a small roll of pink parchment out of her handbag, stretched it out on the desk, dipped her quill into a bottle of ink, and started scribbling- hunched over. Nobody said anything. Hermione was furious at the woman's tactics, her lies, her bloody obsession with pink. After a moment or so she rolled up the parchment and tapped it with her wand; it sealed itself and Hermione guessed Harry wouldn't be able to open it.
"Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear."
Harry took the scroll from her and walked briskly to the door, cut off by the professor's simpering voice. "Was there something you wanted to add, Miss Granger?"
He turned around to find his sister standing, her book in her arms and her bag slung over her shoulder. She jutted her chin out. "Nothing I think myself capable of simplifying enough for you to understand."
Then she moved to follow Harry.
"You cannot walk out of my class, dear." Umbridge said in a warning tone.
Hermione, protective over her new big brother, looked over her shoulder. "I think you'll find, dear, that I don't care."
"You shouldn't have done that," she admonished Harry as they walked down the hall to their Head of House.
"You didn't have to come along," he growled.
She cut him a glare. "You're my brother. And I don't think I could have kept my mouth shut if I had stayed. I just know that she did that to bait you. She wants you to cause problems."
Professor McGonagall's door was open when they got there, as she was just heading out to the library, but she ushered them in and shut the door. "Why aren't you in class?"
"I've been sent to see you," Harry said, handing her the scroll and trying to keep the attention off of Hermione.
Professor McGonagall took it from him, frowning, slit it open with a tap of her wand, stretched it out, and began to read. Her eyes zoomed from side to side behind their square spectacles as she read what Umbridge had written, and with each line they became narrower.
She rolled the scroll back up and looked at him. "Well? Is this true?"
"Is what true?" He almost snarled before trying to sound more polite. "Professor?"
"Is it true you shouted at Professor Umbridge?"
"Yes."
Hermione bit her lip, waiting for what was to come next.
"You called her a liar?"
Harry tried not to hang his head. "Yes."
"You told her He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back?"
"Yes."
McGonagall sat down at her desk, looking to Hermione. "And you, Miss Granger?"
Hermione did hang her head, never having had anything but the utmost respect for the teacher. She also had to scold herself for wanting to correct her with Potter. "I followed Harry out and I may have implied that anything I had to say I would have to dumb down for her to understand."
"Is that all? I will find out."
"She told me I couldn't leave. I mocked her and told her I didn't care."
She looked to Harry with pursed lips. "Is this true?"
He nodded solemnly and McGonagall frowned. "Have a biscuit."
"What?" They both asked together.
"Have a biscuit," she repeated, indicating a tartan tin of cookies laying on top of one of the piles of papers on her desk. "And sit down."
Harry grabbed a Ginger Newt and they both sank into the chairs. McGonagall looked at them both very seriously. "You need to be careful. Misbehavior in Dolores Umbridge's class could cost you much more than House points and a detention.
"What do you- ?"
"She means the Ministry, Harry. We've discussed this. She's here to make reports, not be friends, and certainly not to do any real teaching."
McGonagall's mouth quirked into a smile. "I had expected better tact from you, Miss Granger."
"I'm sorry, professor, but where Harry goes I go."
She raised her eyebrows and Hermione felt sick at what she must be thinking. "It says here she's given you detention every evening this week," she told Harry.
"Every evening this week! But, Professor, couldn't you- "
"No she can't!" Hermione scolded. "She, as a teacher, has every right to give you detention. Making more trouble will just make the target on your back bigger, and we can't afford that as it is."
She gave him a meaningful look and he nodded.
*
"Hey, Mione, did you get the notes for Binns?" She said nothing to Ron, glaring hard at her book on bloodlines. "Mione? Harry?"
Harry ignored him as well, grooming his Firebolt on the floor in front of his sister.
Ron threw his quill down with a growl, losing a bit of affect as it was just a feather. "Are neither of you talking to me? What's wrong?"
Neither said anything as Ginny came in and plopped down next to Harry with a sweet smile. "Hiya, Harry."
He said nothing. She frowned and turned to her brother. Had they not been careful? Did Harry and Hermione know? "Harry? Are you excited for Quidditch?"
Again, nothing. Ron glared. "What are you doing ignoring my sister? Or me? What's your problem?"
Hermione, at last, responded. "I should think it rather obvious. You two are our problems. Did you think we were stupid? That we wouldn't figure it out?"
He went pale. "Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Don't try to play innocent, Weasley," Harry growled. "It doesn't suit you."
Then he followed Hermione out to the library, leaving two very concerned Gryffindors behind. Dumbledore would need to know this.
*
That night, Hermione and Harry met in the common room and snuck out underneath the Invisibility Cloak, Hermione holding the map. She watched the form of Anthony Goldstein pass and walk down the hall.
"Go!" She whispered, and they ran down the corridors in a maze to the dungeons and Severus.
"Asphodel," Harry said. The mermaid glared at the interruption, but let them pass.
Severus was waiting for them, reading a purple bound book with no title. He glanced up lazily at them and for the first time in five years, they saw him smile.
"I heard about the outburst in Umbridge's class. Well done, both of you." Then he stood and popped them both upside the head. "Are you stupid?! Amaranth, I know you aren't, but you both should have realized what that toad is here for. Instead, you rise to her bait!"
Hermione felt a bit of warmth at being called Amaranth. "I'm sorry, Sev, but it wasn't a situation that we were able to handle ourselves in."
His face softened at his goddaughter calling him 'Sev'. Lily was the only one who had ever called him that. "Shall we call your mutt then?"
She smiled and grabbed a pinch of Floo powder.
*
Sirius was pacing the library, heavy with wards he brought up to keep others away and from listening. Hermione had owled him that afternoon to be near a Floo. That she had information. He hoped she was able to remove the charms. He felt like the more he ran his mind over the hole, the more insane it drove him. Like a loose tooth.
He wondered how she was, how she was liking school. He had heard in an Order meeting about the Ministry woman, and he used that term loosely, being the new teacher. He had a horrible feeling about this year. The fire flashed green and he dropped over to it immediately, eager to see her.
"Padfoot?"
"Harry?" His stomach dropped. "Where's Hermione?"
"I'm here, Sirius."
He relaxed. "What's going on?"
"We sort of found a way to remove the memory charm, but you need to trust us."
"You told Harry?"
Her face appeared beside Harry's. "There were specific circumstances, you see. May we come through?"
Sirius buried the hurt of her breaking her promise, recognizing that she wouldn't have if she didn't have a very good reason. "Yes."
She hesitated. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," he said it immediately and with passion.
"Good, please don't hex him."
Before he could ask what she meant by that, Harry came through, then Hermione, and then Snivellous. He reached for his wand in spite of himself before Hermione accioed it. He had the sense to look sheepish.
"Sorry, force of habit. What is Snape doing here?"
Hermione stepped very carefully between the two and Sirius was frustrated to see Snape smirk at him, but look down at Hermione very caring. No, he thought to himself in anger. Not MY Hermione. He didn't realize his growl until Hermione put a hand on his arm to calm him. It worked and Snape narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Severus can remove the blocks."
"SEVERUS?! YOU'RE CALLING HIM SEVERUS?" She refused to even talk about him without calling him Professor, and now he was SEVERUS? Harry stopped him from attacking and Sirius felt somewhat ashamed of his quick temper concerning the girl. Possessive.
"Sirius, please." She implored. "I know what it is you're trying to remember. He showed us. Let him help you."
He looked at her and nodded. "I trust you."
She smiled and moved aside for Snape to come forward with his wand out and a condescending smirk that said I know all your secrets. Sirius snuck a glance at Hermione as Snape lifted his wand and said very firmly, "Nuntiatum est vera!"
Sirius felt a blindingly pain sear through his skull and he grabbed at it desperately, feeling soft hands at his face. He could feel Snape's presence as the memories were revealed to him. Amaranth. Harry had a sister named Amaranth. Then, Sirius had gone to Godric's Hollow that night and found the two of them screaming, James and Lily nowhere to be found, Dumbledore standing over the crib, baby Amaranth in his arms. Then he lifted his wand toward Sirius.
But Snape wasn't done. He was still going. The Weasley's betrayal, Molly's rants about Harry and how rich her daughter would be. His thoughts of Hermione, his feelings progressing over the summer and the nightmarish dreams he had had of their wedding day. Nightmarish because it was only a dream. Dreams he shouldn't be having. Then Snape and he were back the library at Grimmauld Place and Snape was looking at him with something akin to pity.
"Well this will certainly be interesting."
Sirius looked over at Harry. "Amaranth, you had a sister. I remember. We have to find her-"
He stopped with a feeling of dread. Snape's pity, Snape's face looking at Hermione with fatherly love. No. Please no. Oh Merlin. He looked up to Hermione just as the glamours fell like a trickle of water, and he was looking at Amaranth Potter.
Severus did feel bad for the man as he let himself collapse into an armchair behind him. He supposed he should be furious, disgusted, murderous that Black seemed to be in love with his goddaughter. Not that Severus thought he realized he was in love. All he could feel was pity. He was in love with his dead best friend's daughter. His godson's sister. He looked green and utterly heartbroken.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, suspicious. He remembered how happy Sirius had looked dancing with Hermione when she received her Prefect badge. Come to think of it, he had spent a lot of time very close to Hermione this year. Looking at her strange. Harry looked at Severus, who nodded. Sirius and Amaranth, as he had begun to call her in his mind. He wanted them to be happy.
"I'm sorry if this is disappointing to you," Hermione said dejectedly. She had felt sick that her crush hadn't waned a bit since finding out. He was her father's best friend. What would he ever see in her? Obviously he didn't even want her in his family.
Severus snorted. Disappointed indeed.
"NO!" Sirius said, seeing Hermione's hazel-brown eyes become glassy. He stood up to hug her, happy he had an excuse. "No. Please don't misunderstand. It's just a bit of a shock. Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You are just like Lily with all of the studying."
She smiled. "Thank you, Sirius."
She hugged him back and he looked off, his thoughts ceasing on anything other than what chance did they have now? "No problem," he hesitated, "Amaranth."
Harry and Severus exchanged looks.
*
The next day, Harry's presence was "requested" in the Headmaster's office. That was a laugh as he knew it was so much more than a request. He'd rather just go to Umbridge's detention early.
"Acid pops," he said confidently to the gargoyle. Well, as confidently as he could. His earlier conversation with Severus, Sirius and Hermione had left him concerned.
"I can place a mind block on the two of you," Severus had told them. Sirius' face was grave. "It would keep everyone out of your mind except you and it is foolproof. Once placed, no matter how strong the Legilimens, they'll get nothing but static."
Hermione had frowned. "Wait, then why doesn't everyone do this? Why don't you?"
Sirius sighed. "Because if the Legilimens keeps trying and doesn't stop, you can lose yourselves."
"Lose ourselves?" Harry asked. "How can we lose ourselves?"
Severus had looked at him very earnestly. "Did Longbottom ever tell you what happened to his parents?"
Harry shivered and entered Dumbledore's office with a knock and an answer. He was sitting at his desk, signing something with an overly fanciful flourish. He looked up and smiled. "Ah! Harry, my boy, good of you to come," he said as though he hadn't asked for him. "Have a seat, please."
Harry did so, having to pretend very hard that he wasn't absolutely enraged at the man. "You wanted to see me, professor?"
"Indeed I did, Harry," he said very seriously. "Your friends are worried about you."
"My friends, sir?"
The Headmaster nodded. "Young Mr. Weasley and Ginevra."
"Oh," Harry said in relief. "Forgive me, I thought you meant one of my actual friends."
The twinkle in his eye was unmistakably gone when he asked, "What ever do you mean?"
"It's come to mind, sir, that I don't think they're actually my friends. Especially after that whole thing at the beginning of last year. Ron completely turned his back on me and I thought I could forgive him, but after some time, I don't think I can. And Ginny isn't really my friend, she just likes the boy-who-lived."
"I see. I must say, that is very disappointing. Is there no way you think you can give them another chance? And what of Miss Granger?"
"Hermione has always been there for me, Professor. She's my best friend. And no, to answer your question, I don't think I can give them another chance."
Dumbledore nodded his head in an understanding fashion and Harry couldn't help but think to himself how good this man was at manipulation. "Well, then I suppose there's nothing to do about that. You have a detention this afternoon, do you not?"
"Yes, sir. With Professor Umbridge."
"Well. Best not keep her waiting."
*
Hermione was in the Potions classroom with Severus when Harry was done with his detention. Hermione was quick to ask what she had him do.
"Just lines," Harry shrugged, but Hermione saw right through it with narrowed eyes.
"What's wrong with your hand?"
"Nothing, just cramped."
Hermione was out of her seat in an instant and tugging his hand so she could see it, gasping at the words that had been etched into it. "THAT BITCH!"
Severus and Harry both blinked, neither ever hearing her swear. She seethed as she pulled him over to Severus for him to see as well. He scowled at Harry's hand and went into his rooms for a moment, coming out with salve to sooth it.
"It's called a Blood Quill. It uses blood for ink and, depending on how long and often you use it, scars horribly."
"She definitely wanted this one to scar," Harry said with a grimace. "She looked at it and told me she didn't think it had sunk in enough."
Hermione paced herself in a dither, muttering under her breath and amusing the other two with her language at the words they could make out. "We can't just do this with the four of us," she said to them.
"Why not?" Harry asked.
She stopped and looked at him in such a way he felt ridiculous for having to ask as she ticked the reasons off of her fingers. "Sirius is a convict on the run, Severus is ex Death Eater, you have no privacy and everyone either wants to control or kill you, and I'm Muggleborn. None of us have any social standing."
Severus stopped her here. "I'm going to propose something, but I need you both to hear me out." They both nodded. "Lucius Malfoy."
As expected, Harry refused on principle. "Absolutely not."
"Harry, hear him out."
"He gave a first year a book that set a basilisk on the school!"
Severus sighed. "He actually felt fairly guilty about that. He hadn't known what it would do and wanted to get rid of it. He saw the opportunity and took it."
"He's a Death Eater."
"So am I."
Harry glared at his sister's godfather. "What about his opinions of Muggles?"
"He isn't fond of them, but he certainly doesn't approve of going around and killing them all. That's barbaric. He just cares about old traditions and why we hid the wizarding world in the first place."
"What about his hatred of the Weasley's?"
"Oh no, that's legit. He really does hate them."
Hermione stopped Harry from saying any more. "What is your reasoning?"
Severus sat back down in his chair, Harry in another chair, and Hermione sitting on a table- making Severus roll his eyes and smile at the same time. Lily always sat on counters and roof tops and tables and anywhere else not meant for sitting. How had he not seen the similarities?
"Lucius would be on our side. He doesn't support the Dark Lord, but Dumbledore refused to accept him as a spy. Even tried to get me to sell him to the Dark Lord. He has high social standing. He's intelligent, resourceful, and I trust him. And there are far too few on the list of those I can say that about."
Hermione nodded. "Then I think we should do it."
Harry stood up immediately in protest. "Mi!"
"Harry, no. He has given us good reasons and we need him. If Sev trusts him, I think we should give him a chance. Dumbledore and Ron weren't who we thought they were, maybe the Malfoy's aren't either."
Severus nodded to her in pride. "Well said, Amaranth."
Hermione nodded back and looked to Harry who sighed heavily in complaint. "Fine. Let's do it."
*
Two days later, on the way to Severus' chambers, Hermione was trying to convince Harry to go to McGonagall about his hand.
"I don't think she'll be able to do anything about it," he told her quietly. "I don't think anyone really can. If I tell her she'd just feel bad that there's nothing she can do to help."
Hermione hated that he was probably right. "I think we can trust her. I think we should talk to her about us and Severus. She'd listen at least. I also think we should remove Remus' memory block. He's wicked smart and could help. Plus, it would just be nice to have someone else who knows. Especially him."
"We can talk to Severus about it," he said as they stepped through the portrait.
"Talk to me about what?" Severus asked, the familiar form of the elder Malfoy sitting across from him looking at the two interestingly.
Hermione and Malfoy locked eyes and he narrowed them slightly, as if to discern why she was here. "Mr. Malfoy," she greeted.
"Miss Granger," he said back politely. Then to Severus, "Severus, don't look now, but you have two Gryffindors in your chambers."
Severus nodded and they came further into the room. "Yes. You see, they are why you are here."
"Oh?" Now Lucius was intrigued.
"Fifteen years ago, Lily Potter gave birth. To twins." Malfoy's sharp eyes widened and then narrowed in a devilishly delighted way. "When Lily and Potter were killed, Dumbledore took the girl and moved her away; obliviating everyone's memories of her except mine. He told me she had died with her parents."
Malfoy glanced at Hermione and back to his friend. "Am I to assume that isn't the case?"
Hermione let the glamour fall, as she had been doing in private. Severus motioned towards her with a hand. "Lucius, meet Amaranth Potter. Harry's twin and my goddaughter."
Malfoy stood and kissed her knuckle like the pureblood aristocrat he was. "Miss Potter then, it appears I have misspoke."
Hermione blushed and pulled her hand away. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."
"Lucius, please, let us be casual in these chambers. Especially as I feel you've a request of me?" He nodded to Harry, his eyes scanning over the scar as they always did. "Mr. Potter."
Harry said nothing and Hermione nudged him subtly. He jerked. "Mr. Malfoy."
the smallest of pleased smirks appeared on Lucius' face, but he didn't repeat his offer of his given name. Severus cleared his throat, having agreed ahead of time to do all of the talking. "Albus separated them and tried to hide it. Harry didn't even know he had a sister. He's also been paying Molly and the youngest two Weasleys to be friends with him. There are only the three of us and Sirius Black. We can't do anything on our own. Harry is bent on fighting the war, but I'm not sure Albus doesn't have it planned for him to end up a martyr when it's all over. We need more allies."
"And naturally you've chosen me." Lucius locked eyes with Hermione/Amaranth. "Why?"
"We-"
"Forgive me, Severus, but I would like Miss Potter to answer."
Hermione lifted her chin. "I have just had my entire world shaken in the past week. I'm Harry's sister, we have a torturous psychopath for a teacher, my Headmaster is more bite than bark, and my best friends- aren't. I don't think that after all of that it is too far-fetched to think you could be a good person."
"Well said, Miss Potter, but what is to be expected of me?"
"Amaranth," she said, not being able to wait until she could actually go by that name. "And at the moment all we need is your council and support. Later on, your support might be needed in other ways."
He nodded. "I do believe that can be arranged."
They explained about the letter Gringott's sent. Lucius jumped on it. "Having the goblins on your side can be a very, very good thing. They have control over a lot more than most people realize, they're smart and tricky, and being on their bad side can be one of the worst things. It is rumored that they don't particularly like Dumbledore."
"We also wanted to talk to the two of you about telling McGonagall and Remus."
Severus took a sip of his drink. "Minerva would certainly be a powerful ally to have, and I think she would be able to be persuaded. She may even be vindictive about it."
"Vindictive?" Hermione questioned.
"About once a year, Albus does something that really makes her angry and she does something like hide every one of his left ones. Only the left ones. Drives the man mad! Or last year after Harry was made a contestant for the Triwizard Tournament, she laced his lemon drops with a potion that does nothing but make them taste bad."
Harry laughed. "What about Remus?"
"I suppose he does deserve to know," Severus consented. "To be honest, we were more or less friends at one point after Lily and I made up. Shall we do it tomorrow night?"
"No," Hermione said. "I want to do it right away. I can't stand the idea of someone having their memories cut off from them. It's outrageous."
Severus sighed, looking at his almost empty glass and swishing it around in a rhythm. "Alright. But someone should send a patronus rather than the Floo. Just in case he isn't alone."
No one moved and he sighed again, chugging down the dregs and whipping his wand out to summon his own. A beautiful doe stood in front of them, staring intently on Harry and Hermione until Severus spoke to it.
"Lupin, it's very important that you Floo my chambers. Make sure you are alone and the room is warded. Black may come with you."
"Like that doesn't sound ominous or send out any alarms." Harry scoffed good naturedly.
Severus glared at him and sent the doe off, watching her go with a forlorn expression. "That was Mum, wasn't it?" Hermione asked quietly. Severus looked back at her with haunted eyes and nodded once.
A few moments later two bodies stepped out of the fire and Hermione hid behind a bookcase until they were ready for her so she didn't give them a fright. Sirius saw Lucius and started to argue but Severus stopped him.
"Hermione and Harry agreed and he can help."
"Help?" Remus asked, tired with the full moon having just passed. "What's going on? Harry?"
Sirius helped him to a chair. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's waiting."
He nodded and looked around anxiously. "So you're going to do it then?"
"No, I thought the two of you might like to join me for tea." Severus said facetiously.
Remus smiled a tired, somewhat loopy, smile. "I take two sugars, no milk."
Sirius rolled his eyes. Harry moved across from him. "Remus, Severus here has to check you for something, will you let him?"
The werewolf frowned in suspicion, but nodded carefully and Lucius watched his friend enter the man's mind. When Severus was obviously done, Remus was much more awake and coherent as he growled in rage. He stood up and dug his nails into his palms, feeling them bite.
"That old fool," he ground out. His eyes were amber and the scars playing tag on his face suddenly made him look more foreboding and downright frightening. "I'll kill him."
Sirius held his arms to his side. "Calm down, Moony. It's alright."
"My pack," he growled. "He messed with my pack."
Everyone took a step away from him and Hermione stepped out from behind the shelf and all of the fight left Remus' body. She looked so much like Lily. Lily was Pack. This was Amaranth. Amaranth is Pack. Remus looked at Sirius who was looking at Hermione with the same expression he'd had since he found out. Oh.
"Hermione?"
She smiled. "Hiya, Remus."
*
Saturday morning dawned and Hermione was thankful the week was over, even if the drama wasn't. Ron and Ginny had kept trying to talk to she and Harry, the result never changing. They didn't act any different to Fred and George, and discussed pulling them on their side. Harry wanted to create a third side, not strictly for the light, and not strictly for the dark. The Gray. The in-betweeners who were shut out by Dumbledore or didn't agree with his leadership, but believed in his cause. Where they did the right thing, not just the Light.
Her hats hadn't gone well. She put up a good front and kept making them, but she knew they weren't doing any good. She wasn't sure why. All she had wanted to do was free them. Of course they would want to be freed, right?
"Amma?" Hermione turned to her brother, broken from her thoughts. "You ready?"
She sighed and looked down at her jeans and cream cashmere jumper. "I suppose."
"You look great, Am."
Hermione smiled nervously and Harry spoke the password for the mermaid to open and they entered the rooms. Lucius, Remus and Sirius were all coming with them and Severus to Gringott's for the will reading and to see if anything was off. Hermione took the glamour off as Sirius told Harry that he should have been getting annual updates about his vaults since the age of eleven.
"Vaults? I have a vault I go to, but it's only one."
Sirius' face went dark. "You know, that's odd, because I know of at least five Potter vaults; a trust fund for each of you, one that's mostly full of books and artifacts and jewelry, and two others that would have gold and old papers. Portraits..."
He trailed off, his face brightening. "PORTRAIT! JAMES AND LILY HAD A PORTRAIT!"
"What?" Severus asked in alarm.
Sirius nodded.
"That's right," Remus said, obviously only just then remembering. "I can't believe I forgot. It was just after the twins were born. James and Lily were beginning to get suspicious of Dumbledore and made it in case anything should happen to them. It's in one of the vaults."
Severus and Lucius looked down at their pocket watches at the same time and snapped them shut with an echoed click. "We need to go," Lucius told them. "They won't thank us for being late, which is what we will be if we don't leave now. You both brought this Cloak of yours?"
Harry nodded and produced it from underneath his shirt. Lucius' silvery eyes ran over it hungrily. "Magnificent," he breathed. "Truly."
"Go ahead and put it on." Remus told them. "The rest of us will be Flooing and meeting you there. You two will have to walk out to the Apparation Point with Severus."
Hermione nodded and made sure Harry was under it fully before disappearing with him and following the Potions Master outside. They had very carefully told a few people, just hints and casual mentions- enough for it to be repeated if someone was looking for them- that they were both spending most of the day in the library and then Harry had a detention. No one would think to look for them in Diagon Alley today. Lucius, Remus, and Sirius were waiting inside, Sirius as Padfoot. They entered Gringott's and Harry gave Severus his key underneath the Cloak, not wanting to take it off until they were completely inside and not able to be seen by people with banking business. The goblin looked at the space they were at- as well as Sirius in disguise- suspiciously, but nodded and led them into a room.
Harry tore the Cloak off and shook the goblins hand. "Hello, Griphook."
His eyes widened just slightly. "Yes, hello, Mr. Potter. It is rare a witch or wizard cares to remember a name. It is widely accepted that a goblin is a goblin, we all look alike."
"Well, you were the one I met on my first visit. It made an impression, sir."
"Then I am honored, Mr. Potter." Then his eyes drifted past, forehead rising at the diverse entourage he had brought with him, and settled on Hermione. "Miss Potter, so good to see you as you are."
Hermione blushed a slight pink. "Thank you, sir."
"Yes, we goblins were aware of the crime committed all those years ago. I can truthfully say that it was a tragedy."
"Thank you," she in a quieter voice, her eyes cast down.
"Yes, we are ready to open the Potter will," he told them, motioning them to sit down in various seats. The was another goblin standing there as well, eyes watching Padfoot. "This is Ironfist."
Ironfist smiled, only making himself look scarier. "Mr. Black, you may transform into yourself again. You are safe here."
Then they were looking at a chuckling Sirius. "I wondered if you would recognize me, Ironfist."
The goblin nodded and Hermione leaned over to Sirius, who sat beside her. "What does he mean you're safe here? They won't report you?"
Sirius leaned into Hermione as well, his breath on her cheek. "The entire goblin population despises the Ministry. They don't pay any heed to things like that. Plus, they have always liked me."
"Who wouldn't?" She asked lightly and he searched her eyes, a bright cognac in her excitement.
"Ahem." Sirius realized they'd been leaning in and pulled away to look at Griphook, who seemed to be taking a bit of amusement out of the situation. Severus looked over, but said nothing. Harry took his sister's hand, feeling sufficiently sorry for Sirius.
"Why hasn't the will been read yet?" Remus asked, ignoring the inner conflict in his friend's head.
Ironfist looked over at him. "The wills are all secured with a charm that makes them untouchable until the person's death. This has never unlocked until recently. We think that the dropping of Miss Potter's charms were strong enough to unlock it."
Everyone in the room went pale. Severus floundered for what to say. "Does-d-does that mean they could be alive?"
Griphook nodded. "It's a certainty. It's the only way we wouldn't have been able to get to the will. We tried to tell the Ministry about it, but Dumbledore claimed to have seen the bodies. If those bodies were really Lily and James Potter, this would have been revealed."
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand. He seemed to be in shock, but it was Sirius who was shaking. "Sirius, calm down," she tried to tell him. He gripped the sides of his chair with white knuckles until she placed her hand over his. "Sirius, please."
"You don't understand," he told her hoarsely. "I was imprisoned for twelve years for the deaths of my best friends, your parents, and now it seems they've been alive all this time."
"We'll find them," she promised, interlocking her fingers with him to help him calm down. She looked to the goblins. "Shall we proceed?"
"Indeed, Miss Potter."
He opened the scroll with a flash of magic, looking at the rooms occupants, and clearing his throat he began to read.
"First to Professor Minerva McGonagall, we bequeath our extensive collection of books and family journals written about Transfiguration and Animagi. You are Amaranth's godmother, look out for both she and Harry for us. Help guide them. You were always an important part of our life. Thank you.
"To Severus Snape, we bequeath all of the old pictures Lily has kept of their childhood and friendship, including the small things she has kept as souvenirs. We give you and Sirius Potter Manor to raise our children in. We also give 1,000,000 Galleons and for Merlin's sake, find yourself a girl, mate. I know that we tortured you for all those years, but I was jealous of your friendship with Lily. It doesn't excuse anything, mind you, but I do hope that by the time you have to read this that you and I have become friends of sorts.
Sev, take care of our daughter. I know you will, for me. My biggest regret in my life is the wasted years where my stubbornness and pride kept me from you after that day in fifth year. Keep Amaranth safe and away from Dumbledore. I don't trust him. He discussed separating them so Harry could train to fight Voldemort. Don't let him do that. I know you hate Sirius, but please don't let that keep you from letting them grow up together. You were and are my best friend. I love you."
Hermione looked over to see Severus with tears in his eyes, a few overflowing to skip down his pale cheeks. He didn't make a sound, his face void of all emotion aside from his eyes. No one else spoke for a few minutes.
"To Sirius Black, we bequeath nothing. You get nothing, you mangy thing. This is what you get for Padfoot getting mud all over the clean house. Pads, we give you our son. Take care of him, help raise Amaranth, teach them how to love life. Live in Potter Manor with Severus and the twins. Love our children as we both know the two of you can. Settle down, mate, and have kids of your own. You won't regret it. I don't. Our portrait is in the artifact Potter vault, take it and let us watch our babies grow up. Even if it is from beyond."
Sirius' grip tightened on Hermione's hand, but she didn't mind. She squeezed it back.
"To Peter Pettigrew, our Secret-Keeper, we bequeath 1,000,000 and the property we have in Godric's Hollow. Chin up, mate, there's a war going on."
Sirius growled lowly.
"To Remus Lupin, we bequeath 1,000,000 Galleons and our London cottage. Help Sirius be responsible with Amaranth and Harry. Help Severus from becoming bitter. And for the love of Gryffindor, buy yourself a new set of robes. You're making us look bad. Don't let your furry little problem keep you from enjoying life."
Remus cleared his throat and sniffed.
"To Alice and Frank Longbottom, we bequeath 1,000,000 Galleons and ask that you help the men look after the twins. They'll need a female influence. You're Harry's godmother, help look after him please. Let he and Amaranth grow up with Neville and become friends. As we were.
"To Harry and Amaranth, we bequeath everything else. Life is a hard road, and yours will likely be more so than most. Look out for one another and mind your guardians. Except Sirius. Him you can ignore. We are so sorry that we couldn't be there for you, but please know that we loved you both with everything we were. Make friendships that last and surpass everything. We did.
Finally, to the Marauders collectively. You were our best friends and stuck with us through everything. I can honestly say that I had the time of my life running with you during the moon, and running the halls under a Cloak during the days. Thank you for being there."
There was a heavy silence after the will was read. The tension was heavy as each person came to grips with the words that had been written. They knew now, that the Potters were alive somewhere, but it didn't detract from the sentiment. Sirius stared unseeing at where his hands were joined with Hermione's and squeezed. She squeezed back, lost in her own train of thought. She was going to find, and that was all there was to it.
*
"I think we should first find the portrait," Hermione spoke at last. "To double check if it's awake before we set out to find them."
Griphook nodded. "Of course, Miss Potter."
"Is there any way we can use the will to prove Sirius' innocence with the Ministry?" Harry asked.
Lucius answered. "It would prove that he wasn't the Secret-Keeper, but he would still be considered guilty for the thirteen murders. I will look into it as soon as possible. I have people for such... delicate matters."
Hermione nodded. "Let's go look for the portrait."
Griphook and Ironfist took them to the cart and everyone piled into it, Hermione practically having to sit on Sirius' lap, much to everyone else's silent amusement.
"Vault 293," Griphook announced to them. He took the key and opened the door with a dusty cloud.
Everyone climbed out of the cart and entered the large vault, littered with piles of trunks and books and odd jewelry. There was a stack of portraits leaning against the wall and that was immediately where Hermione went, Sirius and Harry beside her. Remus walked around, glancing at the books and the sort. Then he stopped at an open box with two rings, one a feminine ring with a delicate gold band and a an oval ruby resting prettily on it, and beside it a larger gold ring with a larger ruby that looked somewhat like an heir ring. And that's what it was.
"Harry, Amaranth, your parents wore these."
Harry paused in his search to come over. Hesitantly, he picked them up, sliding his father's ring on his right ring finger. "Amaranth."
Everyone had taken to calling her that and she loved it. She just wanted to stop being Hermione Granger. This was her chance to leave her life behind and completely stay in the Wizarding world. Her world. Her parents had been supportive at first, loving having a witch in the family, but the bitterness and animosity had slowly crept into their home and now all they did was argue. Hermione moved over to beside her brother, who held Lily's ring out to her. Like him, she put it on her right ring finger.
It's beautiful, she thought to herself.
"Yeah, it is." She looked up at Harry in alarm.
"I didn't say that out loud." Then, can you hear me?
Yeah. I think it's the rings.
Remus chuckled. "We should have known. Lily and James were always like that, having silent conversations, answering questions they didn't ask."
"These are goblin made," Griphook told them, examining Harry's on his finger.
Severus looked down at the floor. "She used to tell me how amazing she thought it was that she and I always seemed to know what the other was thinking."
"I found it!" Sirius said, pulling out a large portrait. Everyone moved around it to see a painted James and Lily in a library, sitting on a love seat with James' arm around his wife. And they weren't moving.
"They're alive," Severus whispered. "I'll bet you anything Albus has them somewhere. Close to him. Maybe at Hogwarts."
Hermione smiled and hugged Harry, then Severus, Remus, Lucius and finally, Sirius.
They were alive.
