Disclaimer: Still don't own anything but my plot and my OC's. Everything you recognize from HP belongs to JK Rowling, and see my page for another list of disclaimers, for I will reiterate, there is an author that I got inspiration from.

A/N: Hey guys! Guess what? Yeah, I'm re-writing this one too. I've decided that my grammatical errors were too much for me to bear, so I will just fix them. That's, well, that's pretty much it for this author's note. (:

Enjoy Chapter Three!

Life as a Snape: Chapter 3

After finally catching up to my brothers, they stop at a bedroom at the end of the long, elegant hallway. The hallway was covered in paintings of beautiful sunsets, beaches, and forests. 'Ok Hermione, here's your room!' Malik said excitedly, breaking me out of my admiration for the paintings surrounding my room.

'Well go on, go inside!' Arsenio exclaimed, laughing at the strange look I gave to my door.

I transferred my weird looks to them before stepping, and good thing I wasn't holding anything, because it would have dropped to the floor, actually a lot like my mouth did. The whole room was in the shape of an octagon, and had polished maple wood floors. Off to one side, there was a grand fireplace surrounded by a plush brown couch, and an iron coffee table resting in front. On the opposite side of the room sat by bed, or if that's even what you want to call it. It was a king sized bed with chocolate brown silk covers, and a light brown canopy on top. Finally, at the far side of the room, there was a little sitting room, and that sitting room had a huge window that gave an amazing view on the property. I gasped again, and ran squealing over there. Much to my delight, I found that one of the walls was covered from bottom to top with books.

'On second thought, I don't think we should have shown her that Malik' Arsenio said, in mock disappointment, which quickly dissolves in laughter from my two brothers.

'I second that Arsenio.' Malik said in between laughter.

'This is amazing you guys!' I say excitedly, immediately reaching out and grabbing one of the books off the shelf to look at it. The cover read "A Guide to the Supernatural". Hm, haven't read this one yet. I muse to myself. I idly flip through the book and begin scanning the inside.

'Yeah,' Malik said. 'Well it better be, because Father made us work on it all weekend.' Malik said, sounding somewhat ticked, but I knew that he didn't mind doing it. They both obviously were counting down the minutes of my arrival.

'So you really like Hermione?' Arsenio said, looking hopeful. They both were eagerly looking at me, studying my face for a sign of approval.

'Yes you guys! Didn't I just say that I loved it? But there is one thing I would like to add to this room though.' I said, getting an idea. I pulled my wand out, and muttered a spell to make one side of the room look a little bigger. Then, I conjured up a big, black, baby grand piano, and put it right next to the window on that side of the wall. I also conjured up and acoustic guitar and propped it up against the wall. 'There!' I said happily. 'Now everything I need is in here.'

'We never would have thought of that!' Malik said, looking rather surprised as he walked over to the guitar and began to idly pluck at the metal strings.

'You know how to play the piano?' Arsenio asked curiously as he walked over to the piano.

'I do a little, but I like listening to piano music as I do homework. Piano music is so relaxing.' I tell them, but the look in their eyes told me they wanted more, that they wanted me to play. I sigh heavily, and plop down on the piano bench. 'You want me to play, don't you.' I state, already knowing their answer. I don't even bother to turn around. I place my fingers on the keys, and play a quick exert from a piece I learned to play over the summer, Kiss the Rain by Yiruma, a Korean pianist.

'Whoa Hermione! That was...' Malik started, trying to think of an appropriate adjective for the situation.

'Amazing? Magical? Unbelievable?' Arsenio offered, both of them obviously haven't had music in their house. It's a shame really, that they are just now being exposed to music like this. I guess being pureblood and everything, they aren't exposed to as much muggle stuff as everyone else.

'Yeah, yeah any of those would do.' Malik said smiling. 'Are those the only two instruments you can play?' He asked.

'Yeah, if you even want to count the guitar. I barely know how to play it. I mean, the only times I ever use instruments are so I can charm them to play music for me.' I laugh, admitting I'm not all that great of a musician.

Before either one of them gets the chance to say anything else, our father calls from the floor below. 'Children! Come downstairs, I must have a word with you!' my father yells from downstairs.

'Alright, we better go, wanna race you two?' Malik asked the gleam in his lavender eyes told us both that he was looking for a friendly competition.

'Oh, challenge accepted!' Arsenio accepted, as the both of them pivoted on heel and bolted out the door. Once in my life, I'm glad I took ballet as a child. With my late start giving me a disadvantage, I sprint out of my bedroom and quickly catch up to the racing twins. I leap into the air, grab hold of Malik's shoulders, and hurl myself over them; landing a good meter or two in front of them, and taking off down the staircase.

'Hey! You play unfair!' Malik yelled from behind me. I just laugh until someone decides to stick their hidden foot in front of me, causing me to trip and fly about another two meters forward, my body flying a good inch or two above the staircase before I land flat on my face at the bottom.

'I see you fell and discovered gravity, again.' Ara sneered, stopping at my collapsed body. 'Oh, and no running in the hallways.' She added, smirking. She takes a dramatic step over me and strides into the living room.

Malik and Arsenio finally arrive next to me, as they slide down the banister one after the other, Malik in the lead. 'Hey, you OK Hermione?' Malik asked anxiously, kneeling beside me, helping me up off the floor as he landed beside me.

'Yeah, come on.' I say after I get up. The three of us walked into the living room, where we are met by Father, who was sitting on a stiff looking black chair on the opposite side of the living room. Ara sat on the chair right next to him, smirking at the three of us as her cold piercing gaze followed us as we took our seats. I took a seat on the couch in front, and Malik and Arsenio took the shoulder rests next to me.

'Alright,' my father started with a smile as he eyed all of us. 'Now that everyone is here, we can start. First off, Hermione, since I finally found you, we are hosting a party tonight at eight. I assume you know Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Theo, Astoria, Vincent and Gregory right?'

My heart drops to my stomach, and my eyes expand to the size of a bat's. I let a loud groan escape my lips, as I drop my head in an exaggerated manner. 'Yes, you should know, you witness them picking on me every year for the past three years.' I snap, hoping I get my point across.

He nodded. 'Yes, well, all of their families are invited, and you are expected to mingle with them.' He tells me, causing my heart to drop further into my stomach, and my spirit even further than that.

I groaned again. 'You're kidding me right? You want me, to talk to them? The same people that made my life living hell for three years? The same people that wanted me dead during the basilisk terror? You want me to get along with them?' I ask, getting more and more hysterical about what I'm being forced to do. I try everything in my power to get him to change his mind, batting my eyes to begging, but nothing works.

But my father just smiles at me. 'I'm sorry Hermione, but this is out of my power. These people are close family friends, and whether you like it or not you are going to have to get along with them.' He reasons, knowing that he's won. I sigh loudly, letting my father continue. 'Alright, now for the serious stuff. Ara, Malik, Arsenio, you know not to tell anyone about your sister correct?' he asks.

'Yes Father.' they all said simultaneously, as if they have been over this topic before.

'Good.' he said, now turning to me. 'Hermione, you need to listen to me. You are not to tell anyone that you are my daughter. Not Potter, not Weasley, no one.' He says seriously, his pitch black eyes eying me.

My heart, that dropped down to my stomach earlier has officially stopped beating. All thoughts seized, and I don't think that I continued to breathe. No one moved, as they all waited for my response. My eyes slowly turned to see that Ara was smirking at me, her smirk growing larger as my face turned three shades whiter. How could I keep such a huge secret from my friends like that? 'W-Why not?' I stutter, trying to keep my infinite thoughts, questions, and worst case scenarios locked inside my mind.

My father sighed, for he knew this was the reaction he was most likely to get out of me. They don't call me Gryffindor for nothing you know. 'Listen Hermione, I know you trust them, but you don't know what could happen. You don't know what Voldemort is capable of. The information could be forced out of them, and it could be used against you, your friends, or your family. And besides, the only people that are going to know are Draco, Blaise, Theo, Pansy, Astoria, Vincent, and Gregory.' He informs me, causing my heart to implode on itself.

His words, how he tried to comfort me, sent me through the roof. All I could see was red, as I angrily stood up and glared at my father. 'Oh, so my worst enemies can know, but my best friends can?' I spat, my temper increasing with every word I utter.

I could tell that my father is trying his best to reason with me. 'I'm sorry Hermione, but this is the way things are. This is the way you have to live from now on; it's just something you just have to learn to accept.' Father said.

My anger deleted, I slump back down on the couch, my head laying on top of my hands, hanging in defeat. After that, I didn't bother to bring my head back up, all I did was nod and listen to what my Father was saying to the others. But after a while, he finally said 'Ok, they'll be here at eight. I expect you all to be here, in the living room.' He says, getting up from his stiff looking armchair to depart the room. The minute my father's back is turned, without a final look at any one of my siblings; I take off down the hallway, finally letting the tears that were building up in my eyes out. Blinded by my obscured vision, I stumble up the spiral staircase and take off down the hallway, that I'm actually kind of surprised that I found. I yank open the door and slam it shut. I slump down to where I can I wrap my arms around my legs. My head falls to my arms, as the wave of tears finally washes over me. How can this be happening to me?! Not being able to tell my best friends who I really am? My train of despair comes to an abrupt stop when earsplitting screech comes from the window across my bedroom. I tilt my head up, and I am met with three owls looking rather impatient, sitting on my windowsill. I push myself up off the floor and sulk over to the window to open it. The owls fly in, and perch themselves on my bed, each one holding out a letter tied around its leg. I smile, recognizing each one of them. I kneel down in front of the gently snowy white owl first. I untie the letter from her leg, and offer her a treat as I read the letter.

Dear Hermione,

Hey Hermione! I haven't heard from you since you left the Order yesterday. Are you ok?

Ah who am I kidding? I know you can take care of yourself. But anyway, did you hear? Ron's dad managed to get tickets to the Quidditch world cup for all of us! It's in London this year, can you believe that? I hope you can come!

-Harry

I managed to clog my tears long enough to read his letter, but I still had two letters left to go. At least there was some good news that came out of his letter, the Quidditch world cup! I have never been one for the sport, but it's still a chance to hang out with my best friends. I move on to the smallest owl in the group, but it took me a while to pin down the hyperactive little owl. I hand him a treat before he flies away.

Hey Mione!

Where have you been? I've been waiting for my chess rematch all weekend! But anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I mean you haven't written to us in four days or so. Just kidding, it's only been a day, but I still really miss you. Oh! That reminds me; can you come to the Quidditch world cup with my family? I hope you can, and see you soon! (I hope, and if I don't I'll see you on the Hogwarts express)

Love from, Ron

Ron's letter broke the dam that I clogged up earlier. The tears falling from my face began to smear the words written on the page. I set his letter of to the side, my ticket to the Quidditch world resting on top. I lastly move on to the clumsy old owl, who has fallen off the bed multiple times since I had let him in. I give him a treat, and then open the window back up, letting the owls fly away.

Dear Mione,

Where have you been? You know you are like, my only girl-friend here! And besides, the only thing Ron has been talking about is wizard's chess. I've been really bored playing chess with Harry and Ron all day. I hope that means you get to come to the cup, so we can catch up on one day's worth of gossip. I can't wait to find out why you left in the first place.

-Ginny.

The letter falls to the floor, as the tsunami of tears begin to flow from both eyes once more. I slump down next to my bed, and finally cry out in despair. But between my cries, I hear rushing footsteps approaching wildly towards my room. Great, it must be Ara coming to rub this further into my face. I think bitterly to myself. But, the rapid approaching footsteps don't sound like her normal, arrogant sounding ones. Plus, it sounds like there's more than one.

The door is pushed open, and the footsteps belong to my brothers, who stood on the other side of the doorway. 'Hey, you okay Hermione? We felt a huge wave of depression come from you.' Malik said, rushing over and taking a knee next to me, gently helping me off my knees to where I was sitting down with his arm around me.

'Yeah, it nearly knocked the wind out of us.' Arsenio said, obviously trying his best to cheer me up by making me laugh, but I just look up at him with dull eyes, and that wipes his grin right off his face. It is replaced by a solemn look.

'Yeah, I'm fine.' I sniffed, trying to reassure them. But if I could hear how empty and broken my voice sounded, it's as sure as hell that it didn't fool them. Their unchanged expressions haven't changed.

'Yeah, fine meaning broken, distant, lonely, alone, clueless, crushed and confused.' Arsenio said, reading all of my emotions spot on as he sat next to me, taking my hand and rubbing it gently. My shocked expression told him I was absolutely confused as to how he could read my emotions so clearly. 'You know how Father said that we're closer than normal siblings? We have a very strong emotional connection to each other. You can't hide anything from us. Now tell, what's up?' he asks. But, I already know they know what's wrong with me; I suppose they just want to hear me say it. They both seemed genuinely concerned, so I decide to tell them.

My emotions just come pouring out of me, like my mouth has a mouth of its own. 'My whole entire life was just mirrored one-hundred eighty degrees; it's the entire opposite of how it was. I am no longer that bushy haired Gryffindor know it all muggleborn, innocent and with nothing to hide. Now, I'm a Snape! I'm a pureblood, and now I am responsible for keeping a secret from my best friends! Now, I'm no better than those sly Slytherins.' I rant, glaring down at the floor as I play with my smooth black hair.

'Hey hey, they aren't as bad as you make them out to be.' Malik says, defending his friends. But, he shakes his head, realizing he's getting off topic. 'That's beside the point. You're still the same Hermione, just with a different name, that's all. Nothing inside you has changed; you were just living under a different guise. We were always with you, we just didn't know you. You're still intelligent and beautiful; now, you are who you really are, a Snape.'

His words make me smile, breaking my pity party, but that still doesn't shake the fact that I have to get along with the people who hate me, but at least the feeling is mutual. 'But, I still don't want to talk to Malfoy, or Zabini, or any of them.' I say childishly.

My brothers begin to laugh, not expecting me to accept my new fate so quickly. 'Oh please, contrary to what you might think, they are actually decent people if I do say so myself.' Arsenio laughs, letting go of my hand. 'All you have to do is get to know them, ask them so questions.' He suggests.

'Like what kind of questions?' I ask, sitting up from Malik's grasp to face both of them. There's really nothing I wanted to ask them, so this should be good.

Arsenio ponders this question for a moment before his face lights up with an idea, one that is sure to win me over. Huh? How did I know that? I guess neither of them were joking when they said we've got an emotional connection. 'Well, did you know that they and all of their parents are spies for Dumbledore and that they are really part of the Order?' he asks me, smirking at my shocked expression.

I widen my eyes in surprise and jerk my head up. 'Really?' I asked excitedly, looking curiously at Arsenio to see if he was joking or not. No sign of tomfoolery was being shown anywhere.

'Yeah, it's true. That's why Draco, Blaise, Theo, Pansy, Astoria, Crabbe and Goyle act like they do in school, so no one would get the idea that something is out of place, because their parents have reputations for being heartless bastards. So, in order to keep the noise down, they do so as well.' Malik adds in smartly.

Wow, never in a million years would I have guessed that's the reason why they act so vile in school, shoving innocent hufflepuffs around, or acting like they don't care about school, it's all for image, to protect themselves, their parents, and the Order. Wow, I guess I did take them the wrong way, I guess I'll give them a chance.

'Good choice.' Arsenio said suddenly, not realizing I have no idea how he just did that.

Eyebrows disappearing behind my hairline, I state 'But I didn't say anything.' My confusion definitely showed through my voice then.

'Don't you remember when Father told you that we have a special connection? Well part of that is that we can communicate telepathically. Try saying something to us.' Arsenio informed me. 'Just think of something you want to say, and keep your mind open.' He instructs me.

I nodded, closed my eyes slowly, and began to calm my breathing. I figured since you need to concentrate in order for it to work, you have to be calm. I concentrate on what I want to say to them. I go with something generic. 'Can you guys hear me?' I asked uncertainly, hoping they can mentally hear me.

'Hey great! You caught on fast Hermione! Malik thought excitedly, his excitement showing on his face as he glanced over at me, his lavender eyes gleaming.

'Ok,' I sigh in relief, having the satisfaction of knowing that I can communicate with my brothers at all times. It's nice to know that I have that comfort available twenty four seven. 'Thanks guys, for coming in here and comforting me. It really means a lot to me, to know that I didn't waltz into a family with nonchalant brothers. At least someone in this family cares for me, given the situation I was thrown into.' I said, smiling at the both of them, and went to give them both a huge.

'Hey, anything for you Mia, we just wanted to let you know that we really do care about you.' Malik said, hugging me back.

'We're all back together again, and you're back where you belong.' Arsenio said smiling.

I left Malik's embrace, and thought about what Malik just said. 'Did you just call me Mia?' I asked him, giving him a confused but amused look, given that Malik looked absolutely horrified.

'N-no, I didn't' he stuttered, trying desperately to hide his blush with anything he could find, including his hands and my hair.

I gently took my hair out of his grasp and silently begged for him to tell me.

'Oh alright. When we were kids, we couldn't say your real name, cause you know, it's a hard name, so we got used to calling you Mia, or at least inside my head.' he said, looking away from my gaze.

'Aww, that's really sweet. And you know, I don't mind if either of you two call me that. I'm pretty used to nicknames anyway.' I say with a comforting smile, as I take my hand and make Malik turn his head around, and do the same to Arsenio, who also looked away in embarrassment.

'Really?' Malik asks hopefully, his eyes also gleaming in hope. Arsenio's darker eyes share the same emotion as they both look towards me for an answer.

I laugh at their embarrassment, because I don't know why they were embarrassed in the first place but I reassure them anyway. 'Yeah, like I said, I think it's really sweet.' I say back with a smile.

Malik rolls his eyes, but sighs in relief nonetheless. 'Oh great, now she thinks we're all sweet and romantic and all that other girly rubbish.' Malik laughs, lighting the mood.

'No, she just thinks you're a romantic. I'm not the one that's embarrassed about calling her Mia.' Arsenio retorts with a hint of amusement and sarcasm not so hidden in his voice.

Malik raises his eyebrow, letting Arsenio know that the mental challenge was accepted. 'Yeah? Coming from the guy who made her birthday cards when she wasn't even here!' Malik shot back at his brother, making a good comeback, even if the whole argument was over something pointless and stupid. But I do nothing; I just sit back and watch the two of them battle it out.

'Hey! You can't pin that on me! You did too!' Arsenio shot back.

'Wait,' I said, stopping their battle, catching onto something I wanted to know about. 'You guys made me birthday cards? Why? I didn't even think you remembered me. I know I don't.' I ask them.

They both stopped arguing and looked at me. 'Well, yeah, we both made you one every year.' Malik starts.

'Ha! So you admit I wasn't the only one doing that!' Arsenio cuts in, pumping his fist in the air, marking his insignificant victory over his brother. Malik shoots him a "shut up" glance and continues.

'We knew you were out there somewhere, so we thought that we might be able to mail them to you. But, Father said that it wasn't safe. To this day, we still aren't exactly sure why it wasn't safe, but we never did mail your cards. But there were many occasions when we tried to mail your letters without Father knowing, but Ara always caught us. I guess she knew why we were trying to, to mail our letters to you. You have always been a sensitive subject around Ara.' Malik told me.

I brush off that comment about Ara, and focus on what Malik said before that. 'Aww, you guys are the best.' I tell them, laughing. 'Now, what should I wear to this party?' I ask on an entirely different note.

Arsenio gives me a funny look, laughing on how I just changed subjects like that. 'Just some skinny jeans and a t-shirt would be fine.' Arsenio answered. 'This isn't a formal party.'

'Speaking of which, we better go get ready. See you in a bit Mia!' Malik said suddenly, as they both of them left my room to go get ready. I walk to my closet next to my bed, and spread it open. My closet is huge. There is one section just for shoes, one just for casual attire, one for semi-formal attire, one for formal attire, one for dresses, one for makeup, and one for jewelry. There was also a full length mirror on the opposite side. I got dressed in a pair of blue skinny jeans, a black V neck shirt with a white tank top under. I picked out a nice pair of converse, did my make up, and headed out the door, mentally preparing myself to face my longtime enemies.