Chapter 4: The Letter

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the below characters. They all belong to the world of Harry Potter so cleverly created by JK Rowling.

A/N: Ok, I know that some facts are set in stone, as my friend pointed out to me after reading this chapter. I will try my best to stay as close to the books as possible (with

complete disregard for book seven) however if there are some minor discrepancies, than I am sorry. Anyway, please review, it encourages me to keep writing and gives me

spurts of ideas. I already have some chapters pre-written, however if you have ideas, I don't mind suggestions. If I don't use them though, please don't be offended, like I said, I

already have ideas of where I want to go with the story.

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Hermione started that the envelope in shock. She didn't understand. "There has to be some sort of mistake she thought" But she knew it wasn't. Hermione wasn't exactly a common

name and the fact that her middle name was correct too just made more likely that this was addressed to her. But Black? That didn't make any sense. Unable to contain her curiosity,

Hermione carefully opened the envelope with shaking hands. Inside were a few pieces of parchment with the same writing as on the envelope.

My Dearest Hermione,

If you are reading this letter baby, then I am so sorry. It means that I was killed on my mission. I want you to know

that I am so sorry that I haven't been there to watch you grow up and help guide you in the magical world. However

I hope that your Uncle Sirius did his job as your godfather and took my place as best he could. It is hard for me to think

that you are turning seventeen today. I can only imagine what a beautiful young lady you have become. I am sitting

here right now in your nursery, watching you sleep peacefully in your crib.

I hope that my mission succeeded, and Voldemort was destroyed, however if it wasn't, I need to tell you a few things.

First of all, yes my dearest Hermione, you are a Black. You come from a family that prizes itself on its pureblood status

and thinks that anyone who isn't a pureblood shouldn't be allowed to be part of the magical world. I first and foremost

want you to know, as I hope that your Uncle Sirius has already informed you, neither he nor I believe in that garbage.

You have one other aunt who doesn't believe in all that nonsense, however she disappeared a few year or so ago when

she married a muggle. I am sure you already know, all three of us were disowned. You have two other aunts and another

uncle that I hope you never have the pleasure of meeting, but just in case ,let me tip you off so you can avoid them if you

haven't already met them. The first is Regulus. He is Uncle Sirius's and my brother so you don't have to worry about running

into him. I am sure Uncle Sirius will help you avoid that. Your two aunts however, are probably worse than Regulus. The first

one is Bellatrix Lestrang (at least I think that is her married name). She is pure evil. She doesn't have a soul, and I hope that

you avoid her at all costs. Sweetheart, I have kept you hidden from the wizarding world. No one other than Lily and James Potter,

Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin know about you. I did that for a reason. It scares me to think about what Bellatrix might try to do

to you if she knew about you. It is because of her the entire family thinks I'm dead. The second one is Narcissa Malfoy. I think

she might still have a little bit of heart left, but that husband of hers doesn't, so avoid them too. I hope that by the time you

read this letter, none of this is matters anymore. But, if Uncle Sirius followed instructions, then I am sure that you have a

different last name to use. This was done for your safety and I am sure you know the importance of keeping your true identity

hidden.

I guess that brings us to the next bit that I am forced to tell you. This is something that I never even told you mother. Hermione

I know that I am not going to survive my mission. I am not saying that I am not going to try because I will, I really do want to see

you grow up. Hermione one year ago, just a few months after you were born, two prophecies were made by two different people.

Both were regarding the defeat of Voldemort. One was about one child and the other was about you. I will not repeat the prophecy

in this letter, should it fall into the wrong hands but ask Uncle Sirius. It is very important that you find out the contents of this

prophecy. Just remember Hermione, the future is not written, in stone. I believe with all of my heart that each person creates

their own destiny. Hermione, I don't think that I am going to survive my mission partially because of what the prophecy said,

but also because this is a dangerous mission, and the chances of me getting out alive are very slim. If you are reading this, than

you know the outcome, but know this Hermione, however it ended, I fought like hell to get back to you and your mum, and I

am so sorry that I didn't make it out.

Not even Uncle Sirius knows the full contents of the prophecy but I have left different pieces with different people I trust. He

is one of them, and he will know who the next person is. He will also have some other information for you, but that is all I can say.

It is time for me to go my precious daughter, but know that I love you more that life itself, which is why I am not here with you

in body. Just remember love, that I am always with you in spirit, and in soul, and in your heart, and when you need me the most,

I will return to you.

Love,

Daddy

P.S. I have enclosed a picture of you, me, and your mother with James, Lily and Harry Potter.

For once in her life, Hermione Granger (or technically Black) didn't know what to think. She just sat there staring at the letter, in a state of complete shock. She must of sat there for ten

minutes or so, not moving at all. Then the last bit of the letter flashed through her head. A picture. Looking back into the envelope she realized that yes indeed, there was picture.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned it over to reveal her mother, Harry's parents, herself and Harry, and another man that was apparently her real father. Hermione stared at the

picture for a long time. She noticed how much younger her mother looked. All of the adults were waving happily at the camera and she and Harry (yep, that mop of unruly hair was

definitely Harry) were playing happily together on the floor, oblivious to anyone else around them.

Suddenly, Hermione snapped out of her trance. Angrily she threw all the books back into the trunk and slammed it shut. She couldn't believe this. Her whole life had been a lie. Using

magic, she took it back to her room and finished packing her belongings. She was leaving tonight. She decided she was going to Harry, who truly was her first friend. She knew her real

father told her she couldn't tell anyone, but she figured if Lily and James had lived, he would have known anyway. As far as his aunt and uncle she thought, they could stuff it. After all of

her things were packed, she shrunk both trunks down and put them into her pocket. She sat on her bed with all the lights off waiting for her parents to return. She was going to

confront them, she wanted to know the truth. She already knew the truth, but she wanted to hear it from them, she wanted to know why they had lied to her all these years. Looking

that the picture again she suddenly had a clear image of her father the night he left. She remembered him holding her. Suddenly Hermione felt the urge to cry, but she was determined

to wait. She would cry later. Right now she needed to deal with her parents, or rather her mother.

Hermione didn't have to wait long. Hermione heard the car, and she heard the front door open, but she didn't move. She would wait for them to come up to her.

"Hermione, sweetheart, were home." the man who had pretended to be her father for so long said coming into her room, followed closely by her mother.

"Don't call me that and don't come any closer," she said in a deathly whisper. She got a small amount of satisfaction to see the stunned look on both of their faces. "How dare you, you

lied to me, both of you all these years. I found the letter, I know the truth. HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME!! ALL THESE YEARS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS. MY UNCLE

AND GODFATHER IS DEAD AND I NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT HE WAS EITHER!!!" Hermione shouted. She wanted her parents to feel the same anger, pain, and betrayal that she felt. "I

suppose you had a hand in that mother," she said glaring at her. "I suppose it was your doing that all those times I saw him that he never once mentioned that. And you, pretending to

be my father!" She said staring at Charles. "I'm leaving. To think I felt ashamed for not telling you everything that went on at my school. But this, this is inexcusable. By the way just

incase you were wondering, in my first year Ron and I helped Harry defeat Voldemort, then in my second year I was petrified by a giant snake that was being controlled by a little girl

who was possessed by an old diary of Voldemort's, then in third year we spent the entire year thinking Sirius Black was out to kill Harry, only to find out he was framed and was Harry's

godfather, then in forth year we had a death eater disguised as a teacher and one of our fellow classmates was killed, then in fifth year we battled a bunch of death eaters at the

ministry of magic only to witness Sirius be murdered, then last year the headmaster of our school was murdered by a teacher who was really a death eater. Oh yeah, the whole school

was attacked by death eaters and is now possibly going to be closing, but it doesn't really matter whether it does or not because I'm not returning to school. Harry, Ron, and I are going

to spend the year finding pieces of Voldemort's soul and destroying them and helping Harry find a way to destroy him too. So don't even try to look for me. I'm leaving." And with that

she disapparated from her room leaving Abby and Charles in complete shock.