Hermione watched as Dumbledore walk away. She looked at the painting and took out her wand. "Incideo," she muttered as she held the tip to her handand a deep cut appeared.
She held her hand up to the lions face. He breathed in deeply and she watched as he looked on at her in confusion. He looked a bit reluctant as she swung open and let her in. She crawled through the hole and made her way into the room. It was huge. Bookshelves lined the walls and towered up to the roof. A picture of Godric Gryffindor and his wife hung on the wall in the middle of the room. At their feet was the same lion from the painting outside.
"Resarcio," she said to close the wound on her hand.
"It's nice to know I finally have a descendant smart enough to close the wound on their hand although you seem a bit young to be here," Godric said to her from the painting.
"Excuse me?" she said.
"Traditionally my descendants don't inherit this room until their sixth year. Incidentally what year are you?" he asked.
"Fourth," she told him.
"Then you shouldn't be here," his wife said speaking for the first time.
"Now, now, Tabitha, there is bound to be a reason she was allowed to it so early. Am I right, dear?"
"My life could be in danger so since I am the last in your line this is the safest place for me apparently," she told him.
He nodded in understanding. "When my lion was testing you r blood he noticed my line isn't the only founder's line that runs through you."
"Yes I am also a descendent of Salazar Slytherin," Hermione answered.
"Before this school Salazar and I were best friends. He would have gotten a kick before out of knowing our lines had been merged. Coming from both houses where were you sorted?" he asked.
"Gryffindor," she stated proudly.
"And the strength of my line continues to prevail," he called out grinning. "What's your name by the way?"
"Hermione Granger," she told him.
"Well it's good to meet you Hermione," he said.
Before anymore could be said there was a loud pop and Hermione turned in the direction only to find herself looking at Dobby carrying a tray of food.
"Dobby what are you doing here? You were free," Hermione said.
"Dobby remain free. Dobby came here and Master Dumbledore gave Dobby job. Dobby like it here. Dobby get paid."
"You're paid? What about the others?" Hermione asked.
His ears sunk at this. "Other elves say Dobby ungrateful for taking money. Say Dobby should know his place."
"Dobby if you choose to get paid for your work that is your business and none of theirs. Why are you here?" she asked.
"Master Dumbledore came to see us for a midnight snack and he tells that you didn't get to eat much a supper. Dobby thought he might bring you food," he said pointing at the tray.
Hermione smiled and nodded. She knew that Dumbledore somehow planned this to prove a point to her and had involved Dobby without him even realizing it. "Thank you, Dobby."
"No problem Ms. Granger. Any friend of Harry Potter is a friend of Dobby. Dobby shall now take my leave," he said with a grand bow and a pop he was gone.
Hermione grabbed her plate off the tray and the goblet which was filled with pumpkin juice and turn to the portrait, "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of my quarters?"
Both Gryffindor and his wife pointed in the direction of a spiraled staircase and Hermione briskly walked that way. When she got to the room she saw it was completely decorated in scarlet and gold. There was a queen-sized canopy bed and in the corner a large scarlet and gold cat bed with Crookshanks already curled up in it. Hermione sat her food on the nightstand next to the bed and went and scratched Crookshanks behind the ear while he slept. "Good to know you are adjusting well."
She went back to the bed and ate her food then laid back on the bed and thought about all she learned today. She was Lord Voldemort's daughter. She was destined to play a part in his return, and would either join him or lead to his ultimate defeat. She was the Dark Princess. How was she supposed to tell her best friend that her father had killed his parents and tried to kill him? She sighed and she waved her wand to shut off the lights and allowed herself to drift off to sleep.
The next she got up and got dressed to go to breakfast. She grabbed her books for class and ran out of the room. "Have a nice day, Hermione," Gryffindor called out to her.
She smiled and waved over her shoulder before leaving. She rushed down to breakfast where Harry and Ron were already eating. When Harry spotted her and waved her over. "Gosh, Hermione, Ron was under the impression Dumbledore expelled you or something."
"Yeah, Hermione, we waited up for you last night and you didn't come back. This morning Ginny told us that you didn't sleep in the dorms last night," Ron said before stuffing his mouth.
"Yeah, I'm staying somewhere new," Hermione told them spooning some eggs onto her plate and grabbing some sausage.
"Where are you staying?" Ginny asked.
"The Gryffindor Study," Hermione told them.
Neville eyes went wide. "How are you staying there? You're a Muggle-born."
"What does her being a Muggle-born have to with anything?" Ron said immediately standing.
"He wasn't trying to offend me, Ron. Only descendant's of Gryffindor can get in the study. I'm adopted, Neville. I actually found out something about my heritage last night. I'm a descendant of Godric Gryffindor on my mother's side. That's what Dumbledore wanted to speak to me about," Hermione told them as she ate her breakfast.
"I see your hunger strike is over," Ron said still stuffing his face.
"I talked to someone and they convinced me if house elves want to continue to live in their ignorance then it is none of my business," Hermione said continuing to eat. "There are more important thinks for me to worry about. Ignorance is bliss."
They finished the rest of breakfast discussing their classes. When they finished they gathered up their stuff and headed outside for Herbology. On the way to the greenhouse Hermione got a sudden surge of courage and grabbed Harry's hand to stop him.
"Harry, can we talk alone?" Hermione asked him.
Harry looked Hermione and seeing the look on her face turned to Ron and said, "Go on Ron we'll catch up. Tell Professor Sprouts we got held up."
"Yeah, sure mate. No problem," he said continuing to class.
"What's up?"
"I didn't tell you guys everything about Dumbledore told me last night. There are other things he told me. Stuff I couldn't tell the others, but I feel you have the right to know."
"Okay, I'm listening."
Hermione took a deep breath. "There was a prophecy made the day I was born. A prophecy about me."
"Okay what was about?"
"I said I quote, 'On this eve, the night of the new moon, the one favored by the Dark Lord shall give birth to a child of his seed, the Dark Princess. Within a year of the birth of the Dark Princess the fall of the Dark Lord shall come forth and for many years we shall live in peace. Nay yet rejoice for the storm has yet to pass. In the Dark Princess's 14th hour she shall take a lover. Together this duo will form the greatest magical couple this world has ever known, and out of this union the Dark Princess will be directly responsible of the rise of the Dark Lord. Should the Dark Princess choose to stand by her father the rule shall be harsh and heavy and their dynasty shall rule forever, but should the Dark Princess and her lover stand against her father the greatest war ever known shall rage amongst wizard kind and the second fall of the Dark Lord shall come at the hands of his daughter. His fall should be forever but this victory shall come with great loss for both sides.'"
"So I am to understand you're Voldemort's daughter. Wow that's about the last news I expected to get."
"That's all you have to say?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Well I don't know I just told you that I'm your worst enemy's daughter and that I'm going to be the cause of him rising again I would expect more of a reaction."
"Why do you want me to overreact? I mean you can't change that your Voldemort's daughter and it's not like all prophecies come true. My death is predicted in every other Divinations and I'm still kicking."
"Yes, but those are just stupid things Professor Twelawney predicted to grand stand. This is an actual prophecy from the Department of Mysteries Hall of Prophecies. Mind you it was made by the same person but Dumbledore must believe it has some merit because he is going to be training me every night and he moved me to the Gryffindor study where I can't be reached."
"Look it's not going to happen. It says you are going to take a lover and that would be directly responsible for the rise of Voldemort. All we have to do is make sure you avoid 'taking a lover' until after your 15th birthday. No lover, no prophecy. No problem right? I mean you're not into anyone are you?"
"No, not as of this moment."
"Then consider me your official cock blocker. No boys within kissing distance. I am the overprotective brother you never had."
"Thanks for the help Harry, but I need you to do something else for me. You can't tell Ron anything because he has a tendency to overreact and I don't need everyone finding out, please."
"Okay it's between you and me."
He slung his arm over her shoulder and they walked to Herbology together.
