Chapter 3 – Questions
Hermione was thrown by Kelly's statement. There was a lengthy, awkward pause before Hermione managed a quiet, "Oh."
At this, Kelly broke down and sobbed. Hermione patted her mother's – adoptive mother's? – shaking shoulders, whispering comforting, reassuring things, but her thoughts were miles away.
Me? Adopted? That does explain a lot…I still can't believe it, though; I'm a pure-blood, and a member of one of the most powerful families in wizarding history! I've heard that last name in History of Magic class. But what are their first names? She wondered. What do they look like? Where are they now? Will I be able to find them? And, of course, the inevitable, Why didn't they want me?
--
She only had a brief time with Harry and Ron (they did recognize her, but they had to do a double take) before she had to board the train on a separate compartment, for she had been chosen as a prefect again. (Ron had not – but Ginny had!) When Hermione sat down, Ginny was already deep in conversation with her Ravenclaw friend, Luna Lovegood, another new prefect. So, she pulled one of her new schoolbooks out of her bag and began to read.
However, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up – she was being watched. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco Malfoy staring at her. She tried to ignore him, but he wouldn't avert his eyes. Without glancing up, she coolly asked, "Do you have a problem, Malfoy?"
Draco did not respond, but he lowered his gaze for the time being. However, at regular intervals, Hermione could feel his ice-blue eyes on her again.
When the train arrived at Hogwarts, hours later, the prefects hurried to get off, so they could get their respective houses in order. As Hermione reached the doorway, Draco pointed his wand at her and whispered a quick jinx. With a yelp, Hermione went sprawling, landing on her front, with her books scattered about her.
Okay, showtime. Draco ran forward, wand at ready. "Levi—"
But Hermione was already up; she waved her wand in one fluid motion, calling, "Levicorpus!" Her books flew into a neat pile and hovered in the air. As she replaced them in her bag, she noticed Draco. "What's with the wand, Malfoy?"
"I was going to help you," Draco replied. "What—"
"Thank you, but I don't need any help," Hermione replied icily. She made like she was putting her wand away, but then she whipped it back out and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Draco's own wand flew toward her. After an effortless catch, she muttered, "Prior Incantatem!" A ghostly, diminutive image of her appeared from the tip. The image tripped, just as the real Hermione had, and landed on its face. Hermione had seen enough. "Delitrius," she said, and the image vanished. She gave Draco a pointed look and threw back his wand.
"Hermione—" Draco called exasperatedly as she walked away.
Hermione stopped and turned. "Oh, 'Hermione', is it? Funny, I thought it was 'Granger' or 'Mudblood'."
"Well," Draco said slyly, "neither of those apply to you, do they?"
How--? thought Hermione. She shook her head, and strode away a little faster than necessary.
--
Hermione was trying to watch the Sorting, but Ron kept interrupting.
"I'm so hungry – why do you even bother, Hermione; there's no one we even know!"
"Shut up, Ron!" said Hermione for the fourteenth time – and not the last.
Professor McGonagall was calling out the names of the first years.
"Nosugam, Tyler!"
A short boy with curly brown hair, freckles, and rather large teeth sat on the stool and carefully placed the old Sorting Hat on his head. The Hat thought for a moment, before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table applauded and cheered for their new member. Hermione joined in, thinking there was something familiar about him. He reminded her of someone…
"Interesting name," Harry said, startling her out of her thoughts.
"What?"
"Nosugam – interesting last name," Harry repeated.
"Yes – it is," Hermione replied absentmindedly. If she could just think of who it was that –
"Geez, she's only on the 'N's?" Ron moaned.
"Shut up, Ron," Hermione said wearily.
And then, everything clicked.
A/N: Haha! I know, I'm mean! But I want to hear your guesses! Either way, I will be updating A LOT more often, hopefully two to three times a week from now on. Look for chapter four on Monday! See you then!