A.N
Hi sorry I made you wait, I'm on holiday in Spain at the moment but promise I will try and at least write everyday. I'm sorry if the whole name thing confused any body. As I was writing I couldn't work out what to refer to her as so just settled on having Draco give her a nickname purely because it made it easier to write and I didn't have constantly switch between Hermione and Hesperia. Thanks so everyone who has followed/favourited/reviewed or just read this story in so grateful. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Disclaimer: I don't make any profit off of this story, and recognisable character and scenes are all property of J.K. Rowling.
Chapter four
"Now I'm running late,
And I'm not a coffee drinker,
But I lost sleep just thinking of you.
So pour me a cup, I need to wake up,
I need me some love, so give it to me"
Tatiana Manaois- Helplessly
Christmas was a happy affair. Draco threw a fit when he came downstairs and there was no broom sized present waiting for him but the limited addition snitch seemed to please him and Mia rolled her eyes at his behaviour. Mia on the other hand got given her first book for Hogwarts, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One by Bathilda Bagshot as well as her own copy of Hogwarts: A history. The next day Mia returned to the home she had grown up in.
Though she felt closer than ever with the Malfoy's, when her eyes rested on the Grangers she felt her heart swell at the sight of them. They had been there for her first steps, her first words. They were familiar in ways that only people you lived with for nearly all of your life could be. They were still her parents. Mia wondered for a second if one day that would change but decided to push the thought aside.
The rest of the year passed quietly. Mia stayed with the Granger's until Easter, the only interesting thing to happen was a Gala but she had been to so many over the years, she could play the perfect hostess in her sleep. Life with the Malfoy's was much the same as it had been before Christmas. The twins, often accompanied by Draco's (and now Mia's) friends, spent there time by the lake in the Malfoy Manner gardens. Mia relished in every moment she spent with Draco and soon the twins were practically attached at the hip- how it was supposed to be.
It was the beginning of August and Mia had just returned to the manner from a week with the Grangers when Narcissa approached her. She was sat beneath the oak tree, Hogwarts: A History in hand when she heard the clearing of someone's throat behind her. She looked up from where she had been reading about the enchanted Ceiling in the Great Hall. Mia smiled at the blonde woman but immediately took notice of the way her mother seemed to fidget where she stood.
"Hello" Mia smiled.
"Would you mind coming with me to my office dear, I think its time we had a little chat" the woman said and immediately Mia felt nervous. Getting up and tucking her book under her arm she followed her mother across the gardens and through the grand hallways. Before she knew it Narcissa was facing her, perched on the edge of her desk a tight smile on her lips.
"Have I done something wrong?" she asked nervously "I've been nice to Pansy, I returned all your books, I've even been letting Popsky make the bed for me. I thought I was doing well" the girl blurted, her words tumbling out in a jumbled mess.
"No darling, but school starts soon and-"
"the glamour charm" Mia interrupted, realisation coming over her.
"yes, I want to have it perfected"
"I understand"
Narcissa nodded and stood moving forwards she came too a stop directly in front of Mia and took her face in her hands, turning it. Inspecting it from all angles. "Do you know what the grangers looked like when they were young" Narcissa asked and surprised Mia nodded her head.
"Ive seen photos, and my mum always jokes about how curly my dads hair was" Mia smiled, and for a moment Narcissa seemed to freeze when she heard Mia refer to the Grangers as mum and dad. Something Mia was always avoided in front of the elder Malfoys who she still hadn't adressed as parents formally. She quickly gathered her emotions and asked Mia to describe them more as she worked, listening to every detail Mia gave.
They both had brown hair, Richard's was particularly curly and untameable. He had dark chocolate brown eyes whereas Helens were more of a honey colour so Narcissa did her best to create a mix of the two. She then went on to make Mia front teeth slightly larger, remembering the two adults mentioning how they had both had braces when they were young.
Narcissa spent hours shortening and then lengthening her hair; altering her nose and chin and height and even the shape of her lips until before her was the child the muggles should have had but were never able to. Before her was Hermione Granger.
"Would you like to see" she whispered and Mia looked up at her nervously, nodding her head. Conjuring a mirror Narcissa lifted it and Mia gasped at what she saw. She ran her hands over her face, tangling hem in her hair and bit her lip, her hands shaking with every second that went by.
"You're beautiful" Narcissa whispered and Mia couldn't help but disagree with her placing her fingers and her enlarged teeth self-consciously.
"Would you like to show Draco" the blonde woman in font of her smirked and a grin spread across the young, now brunet's, face. Leaving the office together they made their way back out to the gardens where even nearly three hours later Draco was flying on his broom, zooming dangerously close to the ground before puling up at the last second. Letting go of the Snitch he had gotten for Christmas and then chasing after it. Mia had never seen anybody other than Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle and sometimes Theo play Quidditch and thought that Draco was rather talented.
Narcissa threw her a smile and before heading back into the house handed her a black hooded cloak and Mia smiled evilly. Standing beneath the tree which had quickly become her favourite spot in the gardens she waited for Draco to land. After five minutes he finally did, landing he laid his broom down and stretched and looked around and that's when he spotted her, she had the hood pulled up and hesitantly the boy stepped towards the cloaked figure.
"Excuse me" he said as he approached her "is there something I can help you with? how did you get onto the property with all the wards? do I know you?" his series of questions amused Mia and she turned to face him pulling the cloak away from her face.
"what don't recognise your own twin sister" Mia said feigning hurt and the girly shriek that escaped his lips and look of pure shock on his face would bring laughter to her lips for the rest of her life whenever the memory reappeared.
The next time Narcissa put the glamour charms on her daughter, Mia joined the Grangers to collect her school supplies. Pointing out all the shops that Draco and she frequently visited. It was odd walking into Flourish and Blotts and not being addressed with familiarity by the man who usually greeted the young Malfoy with a smile. Instead of friendly greeting it was the same hello that he gave all his customers.
Knowing she already had a wand the small family passed Ollivanders and headed back to the Leaky. Without the initial amazement that the young Witch had already experienced the trip was a lot quicker than any other first year muggle borns. After lunch the family left for muggle London and the train station hoping to get backup their home before the Malfoy's arrived.
With school days away Draco was staying at the Grangers for the night then the next would be the last night Mia spent with the Malfoys before the twins left for Hogwarts. It was the first time Draco had stayed at the Grangers but both sets of parents had realised a sudden change in the Twins behaviour. The children had finally realised that this would be the last time in a long time that they would be twins. Both of them remembering times when they didn't have a companion to read with or talk with.
They had a bond that no one could deny and the parents all worried for their children's state of health at being separated after learning to rely on each other so much. Simple things had become habit for the two; Draco playing with Mia's hair, Mia fetching drinks for Draco and insisting he drink them so as not to pass out from dehydration when flying, the two opening doors, and making tea for each other. Just constantly thinking about one another subconsciously. Going to Hogwarts was going to be a huge change.
That night and the one after Draco and Mia ate quickly before running from the table. The night was spent with promises and laughter. They understood, even at their young ages, the roles they had to play. Mia was a muggle born, Draco a blood supremacist. They couldn't be friends, unless Mia was put in Slytherin of course, at Hogwarts it's House before blood, if you were Slytherin and could prove yourself worthy of the title and knew where you stood then it didn't matter much what your blood status was.
The first of September rolled around and the twins found themselves standing on platform 9 3/4 with sad looks on their faces as they stared at each other from opposite parts of the platform. One with the usual striking white blonde hair and silver eyes, another with bushy brown curls and dark eyes that swam in different shades of brown. Eventually Draco felt a hand clasp his shoulder and he gave his sister one last smile before turning to say his goodbyes and climb aboard the Hogwarts Express. Mia took that as her time to leave and followed her brothers example. Waving at her parents (the muggle ones) goodbye as she ventured deeper into the train. It wasn't long before she found an empty compartment and settled herself down.
Pulling Hogwarts; A History, from her trunk she lost herself in the pages. Most people took no notice of the girl whose bushy hair poked out from behind the giant book, as they made they're way Down the train to compartments of their own. Further down Mia's Brother was sat surrounded by other future Slytherins.
"What was it like saying bye to Mia" asked Blaise who had grown very fond of the girl who could put Draco in his place faster than you could 'Quidditch'. At the question Draco's expression darkened and a pained look came across his features.
"Harder than you will ever understand" he whispered remembering as he watched as his mother waved her wand and whispered incantations until his twin sister looked nothing more than a stranger. It made his heart hurt to think if he had passed her in the street, he wouldn't have given her a second glance. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the topic. Not one of the other children minded thinking back to moments where the two had shown great affection for one another. Knowing that Draco was right- they would never understand. Theo, though he was sitting quietly a book in his hands, was thinking back to the first time he had met the girl, how they had spoken for hours into the night.
While residents of that cabin tried to avoid such depressing conversation topics a young Daphne Greengrass was conversing with one of the Second years, divulging in some rather juicy gossip that she fully planned on passing along to friends. Gossip that would, unbeknownst to Daphne, make Draco's blood boil.
"The Harry Potter" Blaise asked a smirk on his features and Daphne smiled dazzlingly and nodded. It was all the young Malfoy needed to hear before his mind travelled back to the night when he and his sister had over heard their parents and Draco had discovered a hate for the boy-who-could-not-kill-someone-properly. Quickly he got Daphne to point him in the direction of the cabin Crabbe and Goyle were in and then the one where two ginger twins were telling everyone they had seen Harry Potter.
Further down the train a nervous boy knocked on Mia's compartment door before stumbling in and asking about a Toad. Mia smiled up at him and he looked relieved to see a friendly face.
"What was that" she asked, not having understood anything he had said before due to the fact he had mumbled it to the floor. The boy flushed greatly but answered her properly.
"Trevor, my pet toad, I've lost him. Gran said I'd lose him, I thought I'd prove her wrong. And I lost him! Straight away! I'm useless, I shouldn't be here. What if I get there and they say that they made a mistake and I'm squib. Oh Merlin I'm a squib aren't I" Mia watched the boy ramble on and on, his expression getting more and more panicked as the second went by and in fear of him having a panic attack Mia rushed forwards shushing him. Gently she placed a hand on his arm and told him to look at her. Slowly he did and she gave him a stern look.
"I don't want to hear any of this squib nonsense again do you understand me" she asked and he nodded his eyes wide "you are here for a reason and you are not useless. No one is useless, you just haven't found your talent yet. That's why your here." She reassured him. "No one here knows what they are doing, that's why we go to school. To learn. Now tell me about this Toad of yours err-"
"Neville Longbottom "
"Right well I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger." He smiled for the first time up at her an the two split up Mia taking one end of the train and Neville taking the other as they searched each compartment. A while, and two very unhelpful red heads later, Mia met back up with Neville and the two continued on their search. Mia came across another head of bright red hair, sitting across from a boy with black hair that stood up in all directions even though the boy seemed to be trying to flatten it subconsciously. The red head in question had his wand out and Mia raised her eyebrows.
After knocking and walking in she had asked them the same question she had asked all the pervious cabin owners and after getting the no that she had already expected to get she focused on the wand in red heads hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then" she said and took a seat watching the shocked look on the boy's face fade before he cleared his throat and turned his attention down to the rat in his lap.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow" when nothing happened-unsurprisingly- Mia felt like laughing at the boy but bit her tongue.
She then began to ramble, nervously, just as Neville had earlier. She almost mentioned the spell her father had placed on Draco's broom to stop it from flying until he ate his lunch which he was neglecting to do In favour of taking to the sky. She managed to stop herself just in time and instead went on about her parents and receiving her letter and all the books she had read in preparation before finally remembering that she still hadn't given her name. She was slightly ashamed knowing that both of her mothers would be disappointed in her lack of decorum.
"I'm Ron Weasley" the young red head replied and she felt stupid for not putting two and two together. From how much her father liked to complain about the Weasley woman who just kept popping out children even though they couldn't even afford to buy new clothes for the eldest kids. She should have known, red hair, freckles, and by her count four kids on the train and probably more in other places, all the evidence was there.
"Harry Potter" said the black haired boy and suddenly she felt even stupider because if she squinted slightly she could see the scar beneath his fringe. Her mind travelled to that night where Draco had proclaimed a hate for the boy and she was suddenly worried. Just as she had before she began to ramble. This time her brain was actually working slightly better and she heard herself say something about reading about him in a book and wanting to be in Gryffindor, which wasn't necessarily true at all. Finally she excused herself and dragged Neville out of the compartment with her. She let out a sigh of relief and Neville asked her if she was alright.
"Not enough water" she replied before turning on the spot and heading away from the compartment. "We've checked this whole train twice through" she said "there's still a few more compartments I can check but I don't think your going to find Trevor, I'm really sorry Neville" Mia smiled sadly at the boy. She did feel bad for him but she was beginning to feel bitter at the fact that her feet hurt and she'd spent her entire train journey looking for a Toad.
"Thanks anyway Hermione" Neville said with a smile before turning and walking in the other direction. She made her way deeper into the train. She went back to knocking on doors and as she suspected got told the, 'no, we haven't seen a toad','tell your friend were sorry','if we see anything well let you know', that she was now used to. It was one compartment in particular that took her aback and she cursed herself for not realising that this was bound to happen.
Instead of smiles she was greeted with confused frowns when she walked into the compartment of Theo, Blaise and Daphne. Mia was so shocked at first she just stood there with her mouth hanging open, words refusing to fall out.
"Can we help you" Theo asked, looking at the girl who had quickly become his best friend, though he didn't know it was her. Mia felt her heart twitch when she realised that none of them recognised her, which should have been a good thing. It meant the charm worked, but at the same time it was different when you talked about it to when your looking at your friends and they didn't know who you are. Mia swallowed the lump in her throat and gave a weak smile.
"Has anyone seen a Toad, a boy Neville has lost one" she said and watched slightly amused as a look of disgust fell over Daphne's feature. She watched as Theo seemed to realise that this conversation was not one worth participating in and he rolled his eyes in annoyance before turning back to the book he had propped on his lap. Blaise was the one to answer her though. Getting up from his seat he walked over to where Mia stood by the door way, leaning on it he looked at her with a cocky smirk.
"Why don't you go tell your boyfriend" he said pinching her chin in his fingers "that his Toad is probably better off lost, either way we haven't seen it" it was these actions that usually caused Draco to get up and smack Blaise on the back of the head causing the rest of them to laugh. That gave her a sharp realisation. She had checked every cabin on the train and she had not see him once.
"Thanks anyway" she smiled and rushed out the cabin, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach the fourth down the train she got. Draco's declaration of hate ringing in his ears. That's when she heard the shouting. She took off at a run but by the time she reached the place where she knew a Weasley and a Potter were residing she was cut off by three figures stumbling out of the door with little shrieks and running away from her all tripping over each others feet. The head of white blonde hair was visible and she sighed disappointed in whatever her brother had done.
"What has been going on" She said as she walked in taking in the mess. Sweets had been thrown all over the place and the cabin was in a state. Ron bent down to pick up Scabbers and said something but Mia was still trying to work out if Harry and Ron had done this or Draco had. When the name Malfoy was mentioned though her curiosity piqued. After Harry explained how he had met Draco in Diagon Alley, it was what Ron said next that really got her blood boiling.
"I've heard of his family,they were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared" Mia had to bite her lip to stop from telling him not to talk about things he didn't understand "said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoys father didn't need an excuse to go over to the dark side" Mia clenched her fists tightly and tried to keep the scowl from her face. She wanted to scream at him. Tell him he didn't know anything. That he shouldn't listen to a man who couldn't perform a contraceptive charm. That he shouldn't go around talking badly of other wizarding families who were much more powerful than his own.
She was so busy trying to reign in her anger that she almost didn't hear him ask what she was doing there. Rudely of course. Calling on her Malfoy heritage she would have made her mother proud as she took a deep breath and reprimanded them for the only thing she could. The fact that 1) they still hadn't changed into their robes 2) it was quite obvious they had been fighting before they had even reached the school 3) the boy had dirt on his nose. The last one wasn't really a reason but she couldn't help herself from having a dig at something before she turned tail and left. She ignored the glare on the back of her head and made her way down to her cabin, the signature Malfoy smirk painted on her features. Though it didn't look quite right. Not on the features of Hermione Granger anyway.
The great hall was just as beautiful and magnificent as she had imagined. Tables were filled with faces and the walls were filled with candles and banners and the sky was filled with stars. It took her breath away and when she heard the girl standing next to her (whose name she didn't catch) ask about the ceiling, Mia remembered the page in Hogwarts:A History and began to recite it to the girl who was looking around with wide eyes. Finally the group huddled together at the front of the hall and while everyone else watch Professor McGonagall place a tatty hat on a stool , she searched the crowd of first years until she found her brother. He was looking right at her, silver eyes meeting brown and they smiled sadly at one another. The moment was broken by the sound of the hat. It had begun to sing.
The song was short and funny and Mia wanted to enjoy it but for the first time, with the decision about to be made, she finally started to worry about where she belonged. One by one first years were called. Two Hufflepuffs, two Ravenclaws, a Gryffindor, a Slytherin then another Hufflepuff. It went on like this until finally. "Granger, Hermione!" Was called. Taking a deep breath she clenched her fists tightly and made her way to the stool. She sat down and just before the hat was dropped onto her head her eyes met Draco's and a calm washed over her.
For a moment there was nothing, just the darkness of the inside of a hat and then a small voice sounded. It wasn't coming from the hat as it had when it had sung but instead the voice was inside her mind. "A Malfoy" he whispered "now if this isn't unexpected". Mia shivered at the voice. "Hesperia Malfoy, I must say, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'd heard you were attending Bouxbattons"
"There was a change in plan" she answered gripping the stool so tightly her knuckles went pale.
"So I see, I must say you have the most interesting mind. Your heart and soul, are quite obviously Slytherin, it is where you belong my girl and yet you seem hesitant. Why?" The hat hissed and without meaning to Mia felt her self get lost in a memory.
"Hesperia, do you mind if I talk to you a moment" a voice called and Mia turned to see Lucius Malfoy stood in her doorway. She was sat on the couch in her room a book in hand and a steaming cup of tea floating on a tray one the elves had charmed. It was midway through the summer and September was coming faster than any had hoped. She smiled and said come in and the elder Malfoy wandered in, moving to the book case he scanned the books. Over the months Mia had moved books from the library here and the one at the Grangers to form her own collection. It was impressive as well. From 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' to 'The Notebook' to 'Light and Dark magic: the inevitability of death'.
After a moment a small figure appeared by his side and he looked down at the girl that looked so much like Narcissa that sometimes it took his breath away. The two browsed the collection until Lucius finally cleared his throat. "I am proud to call you my daughter, I hope you know that" he said, his voice uncertain. Not used to showing his emotions. Mia nodded up at him and slipped her hand into his, squeezing his fingers reassuringly. "No matter what and trust me when I say everyday you remind me more and more of your mother. But I feel I have to give you some advice that I hope you will listen to carefully. Even if it means going against who you truly are. Never jump head first into a snake pit. Take control, plan your next move, get a better vantage point. Like a mountain or a broom, or maybe even a tower" he said giving Mia a pointed look.
"Hmm" the hat hissed and after a moment it began to laugh "a snake in the lions den, this ought to be interesting, fine but always remember who you are miss Malfoy" he whispered before shouting "Gryffindor". As the hat was lifted off of her head, Mia sat in shock for a moment unable to move. Her eyes found Draco's and she tried to convey everything that had just happened through one look but she could tell he was too upset to understand. Her heart shattered as she watched the table of red cheer for her. After a moment she felt a hand on her shoulder. Professor McGonagall was giving her a reassuring smile and pushing her in the direction of the Gryffindor's. Slowly Mia left the stool and made her way over to table. She sat down next to the other first years and drowned out the rest of the evening.
She was relieved in some ways. Relieved that the decision had been made and she no longer had to worry about it. Relieved that without meaning too she had followed her fathers advice. But she was also angry, and bitter and confused and just wanted to go to bed. She let her mind wander as she stared at Draco across the hall who was doing everything he could to avoid her gaze. She watched as Theo whispered something to Blaise who burst out laughing scaring Pansy into dropping her fork back onto her plate, causing her mash potato to spray into her face. Everyone around her laughed and she scowled at them jokingly.
She joined in the conversation with the people at her own table. Nearly Headless Nick had been a unpleasant surprise and after the ghost had left everyone returned to eating and Mia felt herself scowling at the way Ron seemed to forget how to chew. Everybody seemed to want to talk to Harry Potter, Mia felt momentarily sorry for the boy who looked extremely uncomfortable under the attention. She was tired though, and couldn't find it in herself to worry for too long. Her eyes travelled to Dumbledore and she scowled remembering all the things her father had said. He looked in her direction and it seemed like he was trying to look at her directly but she avoided his gaze feeling uncomfortable. Power radiated off of him and through the hall and it made her anxious.
She took no notice of the slight frown the headmaster wore as she purposely avoided eye contact and instead took in the faces of the rest of the faculty. A very small man was talking to a very large man and Mia bit back a smirk at the height difference. A man in a turban seemed to be struggling to form a sentence and Mia rolled her eyes at the man averting her attention to a black haired wizard. He wore black robes, his hair seemed to shine so much it looked greasy and he had an unfortunately hooked nose but other than that the permanent scowl on her face would have told her that this was Professor Snape. Her godfather.
Dinner, turned into dessert-quite literally- and soon the first years were being called. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the prefect who was clearly another Weasley walked around as if he had a stick up his arse. Ordering people this way and that. An air of self importance following him around like a nasty smell. Mia felt like pointing out that he wasn't doing a very good job as she was the one who had helped Neville look for his Toad. And she was the one who had realised there was a fight going on and had run to try and stop it. She felt like laughing as he wondered round but settled instead for eye roll. Worrying momentarily of rolling her eyes so much would effect her eyesight.
That night she lay in the girls dorms. It wasn't as big as either of her rooms, and she was quite disappointed in how much her new room mates reminded her or Pansy. She Found her trunk and pulled out some books placing them on the bed side table. Walking into the adjoining bathroom she changed into her silk pyjamas, pushing her bushy hair up into a pony tail she frowned at her reflection. Sighing she left the room and ignored the way Lavender and Pavarti went suddenly quite in their conversation when she entered the room.
Climbing into bed she drew the curtains shut and snuggled deep into the blankets. She remembered the disappointed look on Draco's face, the scowl on Ron's and the twinkle in the headmasters eyes and felt suddenly very alone. She fell asleep, the laugh of the sorting hat echoing in her head, thinking that this was going to be a lot harder than she had ever anticipated and that if this was what the sorting hat called funny, then it obviously didn't have a very good sense of humour.
