AN: Next chapter! Also, a huge thank you to my first reviewer, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx. Seriously, even simple reviews make me smile. It lets me know I'm actually doing something that people want to read.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and everything is the brainchild of the illustrious JK Rowling. Well, except my gorgeous Delilah Parkinson who makes a brief appearance in this chapter.

The Owls of Summer

Harry,

I know that it's only been two days since I've seen you, but I desperately need to apologize. My behavior on the train was abysmal. Please Owl Ron for me. Please. Let him know that I'm sorry for making Ginny cry. I already tried contacting him, but my letter came back unopened. I think he's really mad and you know how he gets when he gets mad.

I know that I owe you both explanations, but those will come later. It's still too surreal. I'm sorry, but I really can't describe it beyond the fact that the Headmaster really messed up and many things are going to change because of it.

Hermione

~~O~~

Ron,

Get your head out your ass and read Hermione's letter. She really is sorry for what she said to Ginny. She didn't explain anything to me beyond the fact that she couldn't explain herself. And while I don't like secrecy or how she snapped at us on the train, I'm not about to risk my friendship with her by not listening.

When you come to your senses, we should try to meet up with her and see if she feels like explaining then,

Harry

~~O~~

Herm... Mia... Parkin... Granger... Hermione,

As you can probably tell from my less than eloquent greeting, I have no clue what to call you. Hell, I don't even know you beyond the fact that I've shared classes with you for six years. Dumbledore really fucked up, didn't he? Yes, I swear. Get used to it, princess. That's beside the point, though. I was wondering where this mess leaves you. Us, really. I haven't talked to mother yet.

Pansy

~~O~~

Pansy,

You can use a spell to get rid of mistakes in your letter. It's fairly simple. Look at me, still being a swot over Owl Mail. Truthfully, I don't know what any of this means or will mean. You should tell your mother- our mother. I don't remember being Mia and that's the worst thing about this. I had to rewatch all of those years through a pensieve.

Hermione

~~O~~

Draco,

I owled Hermione yesterday and got her response this morning. I'm so confused. I don't know what to make of any of this. Dumbledore took away her memories! How could he? I'm still horrified that this is Granger we're talking about. Still, not even she deserves this. I just don't know what to do or say or anything...

Pansy 3

~~O~~

'Mione,

I talked to Ron yesterday. He finally read your letter and admitted to being an insufferable ass about the whole deal.

Did Not!

This is what I get for being lazy and using a Dictoquill.

I did not admit to being an ass, 'Mione. But that doesn't make me any less sorry for sending your letters back.

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm with Ron right now.

Oi! You're in my house. You can't really expect privacy.

That's a given. Anyway-

We were wondering whether you mind telling us about whatever's pissing you off.

Ron!

What? That's what we were going to talk about.

I was going to ask if you wanted to go to Diagon Alley soon. Once there, we can talk, but only if you want to.

Why're you glaring at me like that?

Let us know if you can.

Harry

and Ro-

~~O~~

Granger,

I know what's going on. Just tell me. Are you Mia?

Malfoy

~~O~~

Malfoy,

Yes.

Parkinson

~~O~~

Draco looked at the letter in his hands. Well, letter would have been a vast hyperbole to describe the slip of paper with one word on it. Yes. Still it was that one word that he had most feared. He couldn't tear his eyes from the paper.

Yes.

Hermione Granger was Mia Parkinson back from the dead.

In retrospect, Theo was right. With a name like Hermione, they should have been able to see it. With her looks, they should have been able to see it. She looked very much like her grandparents, although the Yaxley stood out stronger than the Prince. Granted, he had never actually met any Princes beyond Snape and well, Snape was a Snape. Still, there were many similarities in the dark eyes that both Severus Snape and Delilah Yaxley possessed. Dark eyes that had passed on to Delilah Parkinson's children.

What was he doing? Draco stopped suddenly. Why was he still obsessing over Hermione? Even though he asked himself those questions, he already knew the answers.

As children, it had always been the twins, Theo, Daphne, and him. Blaise had been there a little, but only towards the end of their early years. The two Parkinson girls had subsequently been betrothed to the two boys. Pansy, being the "elder" of the two, had been betrothed to Theo. A few months later, once his mother had found out she was with child, Mia had been betrothed to him. It was a common thing in Pureblooded households for the children to be promised from birth if a suitable match could be made. It was much cleaner than if the parents waited for the children to grow and develop feelings for another. The infamous and doomed affair of the young Delilah Parkinson made sure everyone, including herself, kept clear away from leaving a child to decide on their own. Instead, the parents raised the betrothed children as inseparable and the majority of the time, the children accepted the fact. He and Hermione had always been thrown together and oh how they quarreled. Another similarity with Granger. Damn. Mia and Draco had fought and laughed and fought again for his entire life: three and a half years. When she had died, he had still been young enough to not quite understand why she wouldn't be coming back. Betrothals quickly changed hands, and he had ended up with Pansy while Theo was left without a betrothal. Nott had considered a match with Daphne, but the Notts, Malfoys, and Greengrasses were all cousins. Even though all three families could be considered old fashioned, first cousins once removed was still a little close for modern tastes.

Draco groaned and slid down the manor wall, his head in his hands. Pureblooded politics were enough to give anyone a headache at the best of times. And this was the worst. Hermione Granger was Mia Parkinson. Shit.

He had to talk to Theo.

~~O~~

Hermione Parkinson,

I have just been informed through multiple sources that you have returned from the dead. As one of the mourners at your funeral, I find this hard to believe despite what my son and your twin have said. Having never met you in your formative years, I cannot attest to the falsehood or validity of their statements.

Narcissa Malfoy

~~O~~

Lady Malfoy,

I understand you reluctance to believe what you have heard. I myself almost do not.

Enclosed in the box is a vial with a pensieve memory enclosed. It is Dumbledore's from the night he took me. I hope it will clear your doubt if not your surprise.

Hermione Parkinson

~~O~~

Aurora, darling,

I don't know if Delilah or Daphne have informed you, but it seems Mia Parkinson is alive. I know it sounds beyond ridiculous, but it is true. Poor Delilah, having had her precious daughter taken away from her to be raised by muggles. I can still hear her weeping when she flooed to tell me Hermione was alive. Just in case you don't believe me, stop by. I will show you the pensive memory that Hermione Parkinson sent me as proof. It was more than enough.

Cissa

~~O~~

Lilah,

We had lunch last weekend and you fail to tell me about Mia being ALIVE? I had to hear through Cissa of all people. I always get second hand information.

Aurora

~~O~~

Severus Tobias Selenus Snape.

I will wring your neck with so much force that Grandmama Adonia will rise out of her grave and applaude. She hated you and your father enough, that she might even throw a festivity so large, it can be felt through the gates of hell and into the mortal world. To think that my dearest cousin, my only cousin, would not tell me that my daughter is alive. Well, that is quite the scandal. Don't you dare deny that you knew. You still speak to Dumbledore, you abominable man. Oh to tell me that Mia is ALIVE. That would be far too much to ask.

Next time I see you, I will personally kill you. Without a wand. Our Lord may do what he wishes to me after, but the satisfaction of seeing you dead will carry me through the rest of my considerably shortened days.

Delilah Yaxley Parkinson

~~O~~

Cousin,

I will not deny that I had knowledge of it, but only from the 19th of June. I know you feel quite vindictive and I do not blame you. However, I recommend you keep your hands off my person. Too much force may injure them and ruin your lovely piano playing.

Severus

There was no need to bring my father's name into this.

~~O~~

Hermione,

Words cannot express my feelings at this moment. To know that my daughter, one I believed to be long dead, is alive is beyond a miracle. Still, to know that this daughter does not remember me or her time in my house leaves me wondering. Who are you? To not know my daughter is torture. I ask for you to come home this summer, even if it is not for the entirety. I do not know what your muggle caretakers will say, but please allow a spited mother to be selfish. I wish for you to come home,

Delilah Parkinson

~~O~~

Headmaster,

I have received an invitation to spend at least part of my summer at Parkinson Manor. Should I accept? It would go along with your plans, but I am not sure.

Hermione Parkinson

~~O~~

Miss Parkinson,

Business is so trite! I ask you not to discuss it over Owl and I would much rather keep owls for the dispensing of pleasantries. Speaking of pleasantries, congratulations on taking your new name. Trust your instincts, child, for there are many things I cannot assist you with.

Albus Dumbledore

~~O~~

Mother,

I admit that writing that is as strange as saying it will be. It may take quite a while. I would be glad to move into the manor at the beginning of August if that works for you,

Hermione

~~O~~

Theo,

She is. You were right, although I don't think Pansy was about to lie to us. Not about this. Fuck. I honestly don't even know how to react to any of this. I even went out of my way to Owl her. Me, owl Granger- Parkinson- Mia... Just Fuck. I don't even know what to call her. It's not like you can help, I just need to vent. You, me, Pansy, tomorrow at the Leaky Cauldron. She's having a worse time at it than I am.

Draco

Theo read the letter twice before feeding Draco's owl and sitting down at his desk.

The population of Hogwarts had always seen him as cold. He remained aloof and above it all even when Draco was off making a general ass of himself. He spent his time in books rather than in groups of people and had an instinctive knowledge of subjects that others students had hardly heard of. The only exception to his self-imposed exile was the Slytheirn Court. In the common room among his peers, he had a commanding presence and although not as charismatic as Blaise or naturally superior, like Draco, he had risen to second in command with grace and ease.

Still, of the members of Slytheirn House, only four could see beyond the flawless exterior to see the curious and mischievous boy inside. They were the four that he had known from early childhood. Draco was one of them. He, Blaise, Pansy, and Daphne were the only ones who knew why Theo kept his distance from every one.

After Pansy's betrothal had switched from him to Draco, he had been the only one not promised. That had not changed in the thirteen years since Mia's death. Still, purebloods were purebloods and his father could at any time decide to find a match for the Slytherin and his illusion of freedom would be shattered. So, Theodore had to be careful. He could not go around shamelessly flirting. He could not date girls here and there. He could not form attachments and could not let attachments be formed. For the first few years at Hogwarts, that had been easy. However, as he had entered fourth and fifth year, things with the other Purebloods had begun to change. Blaise became the epitome of man whore and Draco soon followed in his footsteps. They didn't need to worry about making lasting attachments or shaming the family name. They already had girls waiting for them when they were ready to return. The whole thing was absurdly backwards.

Astoria Greengrass, who Blaise was betrothed to, never seemed to have much of an issue with her intended's promiscuity. Pansy, on the other hand, was a force to be reckoned with. The Parkinson was possessive to a fault and made the lives of the various girls Draco dallied with veritable Hells. It didn't help her reputation though, since everyone began to titter about her being obsessed with Draco. Theo did have to admit the dark girl had an obsessive streak, but it wasn't what the school thought. She just had never been second before.

None of it changed the fact that Theo was unattached and had to keep his name pristine. Many times, Blaise, Draco, and even Liam Avery, Daphne's "beau," would try to convince him to tag along. His response was always the same. No. Occasionally, he would make excuses, but he preferred being clear the first time. No. When Theodore Nott declined, no one ever tried to convince him otherwise. By the end of fourth year, the others had finally figure out why he declined and ceased pestering him.

Granted, in fifth and sixth year there had been a few girls, but they were always Slytherin, always older, and, most importantly, always tight lipped. They were the complete opposite of the clueless Hufflepuff gossips that Blaise seemed to prefer. The Italian had little sense of subtlety for a Slytherin, at least in Theo's perception. Thus, Theodore had become the mysterious shadow of the Slytherin court, little talked about outside of his common room. Handsome features could be overlooked easily once girls realized there was no "soft side" to the ice-cold Slytherin.

Yet as Theo reread Draco's letter one more time, he knew things were about to change. Mia had returned and would be thrown into the strange world of Pureblooded culture and etiquette. It would take a blind fool to realize what was going to happen with that introduction. Hermione, nearly eighteen and unbetrothed, her mother's favourite child. Him, nearly eighteen and unbetrothed, her mother's favourite child.

It was a disaster in the making.

Taking a quill, he began to write a letter:

Hermione Parkinson,

I'm sorry if Faust bites you. He was raised by my father and obtained some unpleasant habits. I know this letter could be considered strange, but I assume it is no stranger than our current circumstances. Pansy told Draco and I that you would be moving to the Manor in August. I know you and Draco dislike each other, so I might as well warn you now that both he and I spend much time there. Count yourself warned.

Also, would you be adverse to meeting with me tomorrow? I wish to tell you a few things that would be tedious to write down in the detail required.

Theodore Nott.

End Note: Thanks for reading! Anyone who reviews gets a sneak-peek of Chapter 5 and trust me, it's a fun one.