Chapter 2
For my reviewers:
Muzzarae: Glad you have enjoyed the start, I hope you enjoy the rest as much.
Chapou69: I have never enjoyed Pureblood Hermione stories myself, I am trying to stretch myself, I hope I do it justice for those who do enjoy them! Lt me know how I do!
AuntCori: Thank you!
LullabyTales: At the moment Astoria is believed by the wizarding world at large to have been murdered by the thief, and it certainly appears as though Draco knows enough to make him uncomfortable, no?
o~O~o
Hermione was not certain what to do with the potential information she had found about the mark on her pinky. It was absurd to think it was a soul mark. It could not be. She was NOT a pureblood. She was muggleborn
Wasn't she?
The only one who could help her figure this out would not cross a quidditch pitch to curse her.
Right?
Then why did he keep staring at her hand?
And why did he have a similar mark?
It took her three days of research before she remembered she was not entirely alone at Hogwarts. She had two other friends at school both of them pureblood witches, Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley.
And both of them were due to study with her that very evening. If she could not discuss this with Draco Malfoy, and she could absolutely NOT discuss this with Draco Malfoy, she could certainly discuss it with her two closest girlfriends.
Collecting from the library every book she could on soul marks and birthmarks and every other mark she could she waited for the two to show up.
In the mean while she made snacks and drinks.
Draco came in and saw the books she had laid out. Picking one up he frowned at it.
"What are these Granger?" he asked.
Blushing she said "Reseasrch."
"In to…?" he dropped the book like it would cause him damage to continue to hold it.
"Soul marks…" she said replacing the book with the others.
"I can see that" he said rolling his eyes "WHY are you researching soul marks?"
"I…" she was spared having to explain her reasoning when Luna and Ginny entered in through the Gryffindor portrait. Glaring at her suspiciously Draco retreated to his side of the common room.
Like all good girlfriends, Luna and Ginny instantly sensed there was something bothering Hermione. Draco glaring at her across the room and pretending he wasn't of course, helped cement this in their minds.
"We need to help Hermione think positive thoughts, Ginny, wrackspurts are bothering her" Luna said immediately upon entering the common room.
Both Ginny and Hermione smiled at their friend. "Thank you Luna" said Hermione, "but the wrackspurts are going to have to wait this time. I need help with research more than positive thoughts."
Luna smiled brightly "Hermione Granger, in your case, positive thoughts and research are one and the same thing."
All three girls laughed "Touche Luna, touché."
Ginny picked up a book "Soul marks and the Modern Witch? What in Merlin's name are you researching Hermione? You don't believe in fate or prophecies."
"I beg to differ, I spent the last seven years of my life controlled by a prophecy." Hermione reminded her. "One spouted by a woman I positively detested."
"Alright, that is true, but soul marks? Where is this coming from?" Ginny asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Probably nothing. In fact I am almost certain it is nothing. I just need to make certain it is absolutely nothing." Hermione said
"OK, what is this absolutely nothing?" Ginny said gently noting her friend's distress.
Hermione showed her the tiny bow on her pinky. Ginny was surprised she had never noticed it before, but it was a very tiny mark, not something one was likely notice unless it was pointed out.
"Oh. Ummm… Ron does not have one…" Ginny said.
"It is just a birth mark, right?" Hermione asked desperately.
Luna and Ginny looked at each other. "No, not really, Hermione." Luna said "Do you know who has the mate?"
"No." Hermione said firmly.
Luna and Ginny looked at each other again.
"It is not possible for me to have one," Hermione said "These are only found in pureblood families. OLD pureblood families. I am muggleborn. I cannot have one."
"That mark says otherwise, Hermione." Ginny mused. "Is it possible you are adopted?"
"What pureblood family would adopt out a witch?" asked Hermione. "A squib perhaps, but not a witch. And my parents would have told me."
"Can you ask them?" Asked Luna.
"I… can try." Hermione said evasively.
"I know it is uncomfortable but you need to try." Said Ginny.
After another hour or so of conversation on the nature of soul marks Ginny and Luna left Hermione and went back to the Gryffindor common room.
Hermione sat with her head in her hands for a long time before she felt a presence. Looking up she saw Draco Malfoy sitting across from her looking at her contemplatively.
"There is no chance that a pureblood family would have adopted out a witch." He said.
"You think I don't know that?" she snapped.
"Why didn't you tell them about my mark?" he asked.
She shrugged.
"Why can't you ask your parents if you were adopted?" he asked her over tented fingers.
"To protect them during the war I obliviated them. Before I could recover their memories they were killed in a car accident." She said looking in to the fireplace.
