It all belongs to J.K. Rowling
Sorry this chapter is a little late in comming. I went back about three times to make sure I did my best on this chapter. It was one of thehardest that I have writtedn so far so I hope I did okay with it. Let me know what you think. Please Review. I'll try to email anyone who asks but I'm currently using my sisters computer because my charger is broken and she doesn't like to share that often.
Chapter 4: In which Hermione enters
"I'll see you guys in Herbology Professor Dumbeldore wanted to speak with me about something," Hermione Granger waved swiftly to her best friends as she left the lunch table their grunts were her only response. She rolled her eyes those boys were useless when they were eating. Heaven forbid that Voldemort attack during a meal neither of them would even look up from their plates.
"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum," she commanded the gargoyle who promptly jumped out of the way and she mounted the steps two at a time. She shouldered her bag and straightened her back before knocking on the blue door shortly and entering. Her eyes instantly fell on Lucius Malfoy who's dynamic personality seemed to fill up the room. Unlike Professor Snape, she realized, who lurked silently in the corner observing her.
"Perhaps another time Headmaster?" she queried eyeing his company warily.
"That won't be necessary my dear this actually concerns you," Dumbeldore gestured towards a chair to the left of Lucius and the right of her potions professor. Hermione rested on the edge of the seat not very comfortable with every eye in the room focused on her.
"I-I don't understand," her eyes narrowed in confusion. What business had she in common with these two men. Lucius smirked in that moment he had seen Selena. Many of Hermione's mannerisms belonged to her mother.
"Miss Granger I don't suppose you have ever heard of Professor Snape's sister Selena Snape?" You could literally see the gears clicking in her head.
"I wasn't aware that the Professor even has a sister."
"Had Miss Granger Selena Snape died a little over a week ago." What was he playing at she wondered. Her mouth formed an 'O' shape at the news.
"My condolences Professor Snape," she nodded to Severus who nodded back in response.
"You see Selena had a sort of relationship with Mr. Malfoy here," he was carefully trying to steer around the nature of said relationship.
"Selena was my mistress," Lucius said bluntly. He bit back a chuckle at his daughter's appalled look.
"Professor I still don't know what this has to do with me," she was getting agitated all could tell.
"Before Selena died she told us some very startling news. She had given birth to a daughter, Lucius' child. Thinking that Lucius could not accept the care of another child she hid the baby in the muggle world. She entrusted her child's care to Edward and Emily Granger." The room seemed to swim before Hermione's eyes and she felt her heart stop in her chest as her breath left her body in a strangled moan. They couldn't mean her, surely not! Forcing air into her screaming lungs the world around her began to grow sharper. She would not faint. She was not some squeamish little girl who swooned at her shadow. She was stronger than this.
"Those are my parents," Hermione stated carefully. Dumbeldore nodded slowly trying to gauge her reaction. Just as quickly as her emotions had fled they returned in a flurry.
"You lying bastard!" She screamed rounding on Lucius her pointer finger jabbing into his chest viciously, "There is no way in hell that I am your daughter," she turned towards her Headmaster, their eyes locking, "Professor this is just another ploy to get at Harry surely you don't believe this-this DEATHEATER!" she screech throwing her hands up in exasperation. Tell me your lying! TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE! Dumbeldore flinched as her loud thoughts reverberated in his head.
"Now now Flattery will get you no where," Lucius purred unscathed by his daughter's anger, that was one of his less reputable traits she had obviously inherited from him.
"Hermione if you could calm down I do have some proof," He handed Hermione the adoption contract which she gripped tightly trying to reign in her ragged breathing. Her honey colored eyes scanned over the paper and Lucius watched her fight die slowly; draining from her petite body as the paper fluttered from her finger tips landing softly on the floor. Her head dropped as she tried to hid the tears behind her delicately shaped hands. Her world was falling apart and all she could was sit back and watch.
"Why?" she shuddered glaring at the blond.
"I want you to come home this Christmas. You are my daughter and a Malfoy, it is your place," he said stiffly.
"My place!" she wailed, "What of my parents? What of Edward and Emily Granger?"
"You shall have no further contact with those abhorred muggles." Hermione's eyes widened and she drew back as if she had been burned.
"Y-you can't do that!" she pushed her tears back defiantly. He would not win this easily. She was as stubborn as they come and he had better learn that quickly.
"In the wizardring world the father had all rights to the child, plus it was one of your mother's stipulations. That the Grangers would sever all ties to you should your father claim you. It's all right there in the adoption contract." Dumbeldore cut in.
"So I can never see them again or write them or anything!"
"It was a blood oath Hermione if you make contact the ministry will obliviate all their memories of you. It would be like you never existed," She nodded tight lipped before the full weight of what was happening crashed into her.
"Dear gods," she muttered to herself, "Malfoy's my father! Merlin that means that ferret is my brother granted my half brother, but still I'm related to that slimy git!" she was screeching now, grasping at the startling truths that she had been thrown, trying to hold onto something, anything that made sense, "Snape! Snape's my bloody UNCLE!" She turned harshly to Dumbeldore.
"Harry and Ron must never know! Tell them– tell them I died in a car crash" She held up a hand to stop her professors words, "What would hurt Harry more the fact that I've died or the fact that I am now the daughter, sister, and niece to three of his worst enemies. It would be the death of him! I'll come back after the holiday's as a Malfoy and be resorted." She twisted her hands tightly in her lap, "Don't you see it's the only way," she pleaded desperation creeping into her voice.
"I couldn't bare it," she paused collecting her self with shaky breathe and continued in a near whisper, " I couldn't bare the rejection. They would never forgive me for my parentage." The headmaster was ready to protest when Lucius stopped him.
"I think it is for the best Dumbeldore," his voice was commanding as he lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up sharply her eyes guarded
"Thank you," she whispered unsure at his touch. He seemed to know this as he removed his hand.
"I believe you have a class to attend," Dumbeldore surrendered reluctantly as the shaken girl stood, "Severus will you escort Miss Malfoy to the astronomy tower," Hermione shuddered at her new name. He stood as an answer.
"Accalia," Hermione's head snapped to the side at Lucius' words, "I'll see you at Platform nine and three quarters." Hermione nodded tremors began to shake her body. She rushed out of the room not wishing to broadcast her weakness.
"Accalia," she murmured tasting her real name as she waited outside the office for her Professor – er– um– uncle who was still inside
"Severus perhaps a calming drought for Miss Malfoy instead of class. That would be better I think" Nothing could hide the troubled look Dumbeldore cast after his student, "See that she makes it to her dormitory unharmed." Hermione had to struggle to keep up with he Professor's long stride as they walked swiftly through the corridors.
"Professor where are we going?" she panted as they took an unfamiliar turn down a dank hallway. Snape did not slow his stride though he did catch hold of the younger girl's arm propelling her forward at a quicker pace.
"Severus," he said crisply, "you may address me by my given name as I am your uncle. You may even add my title if you so choose, but not in a classroom setting." She thought for a moment jogging slightly so as to not have her arm wrenched out of socket.
"What does Mal-Draco," she corrected herself; somehow she didn't think Lucius was approve of calling her brother by his last name, "call you?"
"Draco is not my nephew," he replied Hermione thought that was the end of it, "He is my Godson. Draco calls me Severus." She nodded decisively having made her decision.
"Uncle?" she questioned softly testing him. Snape faltered in his course slowing slightly. He looked neither angry nor particularly happy at her words, merely tolerant. Seeing he wasn't going to put the Gryfindor house into negative numbers she continued, "Where are we going?"
"My personal quarters. I thought you might like some privacy and maybe a calming drought since you are shaking like the last leaf on the Whomping Willow." His sneer had dropped off somewhere along the way. He looked more approachable without it. When they reached a portrait of Salazar Slytherin himself he stopped..
"Severus you are well I presume?" The picture of the dark brooding man asked haughtily. Hermione's mouth was hanging open slightly. The founder's portraits were said to have been lost ages ago.
"As well as can be expected." he replied cordially to the guardian of his rooms, "Salazar this is my niece Accalia Malfoy, Accalia this is the founder of Slytherin house Salazar Slytherin."
"A pleasure to meet you my dear. A Malfoy and a Snape you truly have noble and pure blood running through your veins" Hermione merely nodded numbly to flabergasted to answer him properly. Snape gave the password, and propelled her inside.
"What about astrology sir?" The room in which she stood was large and sparsely decorated though what was in the room was rich and stood out drastically. There was a large plush sofa whose cushions were a black encased by mahogany wood that was polished to a dull sheen. Two large overstuffed chairs of hunter green sat on either side slightly catty-cornered. The furniture was all focused towards the large fireplace made of swirling black marble. The grey stone floor was covered mostly by a full length rug with the Slytherin emblem embossed in the center. The warm wooded walls were mostly bare except for a foe glass that showed hazy images lurking just out of sight.
"I shall write you a pass. You will spend the night here." She followed him timidly towards the potion stores that were used for the Hogwarts Infirmary supply. He rifled through them hurriedly searching.
"Calming droughts are on the bottom left hand shelf," she reached for the wooden door way to steady herself. The shock had been to much and her body was trembling with fatigue. He looked at her sharply as if to ask why she should know where anything in his stores was. "Oh- I- um had detention with you about three weeks back. Remember I had to organize the potions. There alphabetically and then by potency." He studied her for a moment before handing her an orange potion.
"Thank you sir," she drank it quickly and instantly felt her muscles relax. So much in fact that she had to grab Snape's arm to keep from dropping to the floor. She felt blissfully empty her emotions washed away by the orange liquid. Hermione knew that this feeling wouldn't last long so she embraced it. For the moment she could forget that her life was a lie, that she would never get to see the Grangers again, or be friends Harry and Ron, that Lucius was her father, Draco her brother, and her potions Professor was actually her uncle. Her eye lids began to grow heavier as Severus accepted more and more of her weight as she leaned on him.
"The drought was laced?" she slurred.
"Just a little sleeping potion, Accalia," Snape explained fully supporting her now.
"Hermione," she mumbled, "call me Hermione." Snape glanced at her crossly as he shifted her weight.
"Don't fight the potion you silly girl," was his harsh reprimand at his words her body went completely limp. He hoisted her into his arms as he made his way to the spare bedroom. Snape lay her gently under the green coverlets after changing her into pajamas with a flick of his wand. "As stubborn as your mother." he shook his head watching the steady rise and fall of Hermione's chest from the door way, content in knowing that she was alive unlike Selena whose body had stopped giving her the life sustaining air. "Sleep well Hermione for with the morning comes the storm."
