Hey! I'm really, really, really, really sorry to be posting so late, but I've had so much trouble writing this chapter, I really wasn't inspired at all. I suppose that's what happens when you know the story by heart, it's boring to write afterwards... BUT it should get a bit more interesting after this ^^ so... without anymore delay, enjoy! (hum, just forgot to say, the next chapter might be a bit long to come too... I should be posting at every vacation though!)

Chapter 4

My father is a Death Eater...

That thought haunted Hermione for the rest of the vacations; whenever she saw Alrick, her heart would miss a beat and she would shiver. How could he ask her to pass him the salt in such a relaxed manner? Should she show that she knew he was an enemy? Or should she just play along, hoping it would backfire on the man who called himself a father? Was he her father? Or had he imperiused Tom and Heather Granger? So many questions were running through her head, and for the first time, Hermione Granger, now known as Hermione Sangaur, didn't have an answer for any of them. Her only link with the rest of the world was the letters she exchanged with Harry, Ron and Ginny but she couldn't ask them for any advice for she hadn't told them about her change of family –she wanted to tell them face to face- and she was scared the Death Eaters would be reading her letters, looking for a clue to hurt the famous Harry Potter.

'Are you alright Hermione?' Ginny had asked her in one of her letters, before adding she would always be there if she had something to tell her. The fact that the Weasleys had invited her at the Burrow, just like every summer since her first year, and that she had gently but firmly refused hadn't done much to reassure her two best friends who were wondering what was happening to her, but she thought it would be rude leaving her new family when they hadn't even passed a month together yet and would be parting soon. Besides, she did enjoy spending time with her mother, brothers and sisters, she was glad to have such a big family and her father only came back in the evening from his numerous travels, only shadowing the dinners.

Therefore, it was in a good atmosphere, sometimes disturbed by the Malefoys - who seemed to like the Manor very much and dropped in more than once over the summer, supposedly holding Mrs. Sangaur company but merely enforcing Draco's company on the other children- that the sleep-ins, long swims in the lake and wondering in the mountains took an end, and ten days before term was to start again, the letters from Hogwarts arrived.

Hermione had been reading until late the night before and she was the last one to enter the kitchen that morning. The big dining room she had ate in the first night was only used for special occasions; the small dining room, for lunch and dinner –although small wasn't a very good word to describe it, with its big doors, huge table and humongous windows; it resembled a room in a museum more than a dining room- and breakfast was taken in the cozy kitchen were they all huddled around an antique wooden table. Everything seemed antique in this house, remarked Hermione.

The first owl arrived by the end of breakfast and it landed smoothly on the table before Lila. She looked at it with big, surprised eyes before detaching the letter from its leg, setting him free.

'What is this?' she asked, holding, the peace of parchment in her hands, not daring to open it. Then, she saw the seal and turned towards Hermione 'Is this… The letter from Hogwarts!' she said, as realization dawned on her.

Let me explain one or two things before we continue. Hogwarts is, as you all know, a school of 'witchcraft and wizardry'. It is also a school known in the entire wizarding world, as the most famous school directed by the non-less famous Albus Dumbledore, order of Merlin first class. Every year, a handful of students are picked and sent a letter to enter this famous school. Can you imagine the look of a child that has just met Father Christmas? It would be an euphemism to say that the lucky wizards that receive the letter have the same look on their face, and Lila was no exception. Everybody hurried towards her, peering over her shoulder as she gently opened the precious bit of parchment.

Dear Miss Lila Sofia Sangaur,

We are pleased to inform you that, for this last year of your scholarship, you have a place at Hogwarts, School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. There will be no need to pass any tests; we have succeeded in having a full report of your abilities from your past Tutor. Please notice that some of the options will be unavailable to you, having not studied them in the past years.

Term begins on 1 September. The Hogwarts Express that will be bringing you will be leaving at 11 am sharp.

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

There was a brief moment of silence as everyone finished reading the letter.

'Why haven't I received any?' exclaimed Keith

'Dumbledore wrote the letter!' said Hermione in a surprised voice. At the confused look on all of their faces, Adora explained

'The deputy Headmistress usually writes the letters, but you are integrating the school for the last year, he must have taken your case personally.'

'But why haven't I got any?' wined Keith

'Don't worry, it will arrive soon enough' reassured him his mother 'now, let me see your list of furniture Lila' she demanded.

'Don't you want to work as a nurse?' asked Hermione

'I would, but I haven't studied care of magical creature so I'm afraid I'll have to find something else'

'You want to become a nurse?' asked Feather, very interested

'Yes, I would like to work in a hospital later, save people's lives!'

'A hospital like Ste-bonne-Poire?' her mother came in aid

'Yes darling, like the hospital you visited in France.'

'And could I help you save people too?' asked Feather once more

'We'll see, we'll see…' was Lila's enigmatic answer.

x

Hermione, Alex and Keith's letters didn't arrive before late that afternoon. They were playing hide and seek beside the lake when three barn owls appeared. Keith jumped out of his hiding place and, pointing at the moving shapes, started alerting them all with loud cries.

'They're here! They're here! The letters are here!' were his words

'Calm down Keith, you'll scare them away!' Alex threatened his hyper brother. A smile spread on his lips at the sight of his brother's frightened face. The three owls landed smoothly on a rock nearby and stuck a leg out in a very synchronized and serious manner. Feather and Lila watched as their siblings detached their letters from the messengers' leg.

'Mother!' cried Keith once again, making the owls glare at him 'Mother! We've got the letters!' Adora came out of the house. She was alone today; the Malfoys had some important business and didn't have time to come. 'Look, I've got the letter from Hogwarts!' he thought it useful to repeat. His mother smiled at him

'Open it' she told him with a smile.

In the meantime, Alex was squinting at his letter, wondering whether he should open it or not. He was used at being free, would he like this new school with all its rules? He wasn't so sure. Feather slipped from her sister's arms and came to hug him

'Open it!' she whispered with imploring eyes. She was the only one not to have any letter. Alex smiled and crouched at her side.

'Let's do it together' and her little hand in his, they broke the seal.

'Dear Mr. Alex Ryan Sangaur' said the letter

'We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts, School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry for your sixth year. Please find enclosed a list with all necessary books and equipment. Term starts on 1 September. The train will be leaving at 11 am sharp, a ticket has been enclosed.

Cordially,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress'

There was a silence for a while and Alex broke it

'This is all too formal for me' he muttered while Feather peered at his letter with envy.

'Let's get inside' exclaimed their mother in a cheerful voice 'It's going to rain soon. We'll have a big dinner tonight to celebrate all of this!'

X

Keith's room was in emerald tones. The walls were bare and the grey rocks showed but the hangings and the curtains were in a light green, a turquoise rug on the floor. He was already packing his luggage for 'the big adventure' as everyone called it when there was a soft rap on the door

'Come in!' he called while searching for one of his sets of robes in his wardrobe. The door slowly opened, letting a small blond head in.

'You're already packing?' asked Feather in a small voice

'Feather! What are you doing here?' he asked in a nonetheless cheerful voice

'I wish I were going to Hogwarts too' she said in a small voice

'Oh don't worry; you'll be there in no time!'

'Yeah, right, in three years!' she said, frowning. Her brother sat on his bed

'Don't worry Feather, I'll write you tons of letters! I'll tell you everything there is to know! It will be as if you were there!'

'Really, you promise?' she asked, eyes shining

'Have I ever lied to you?' Keith asked in a severe voice

'Loads of time' she glared at him, and Keith chuckled

'Well this time, I promise.'

'I'll miss you' she said after a while, hugging him

'At least you'll have mom all for yourself!' she frowned

'It's not the same thing if I can't even fight with you to get her!'

'Oh you want to fight, do you?' he asked, his eyes sparkling, and without an answer, he jumped on her and they rolled on the floor.

After that night, time went by very quickly and before they knew it, the first of September had arrived…