A/N: Could you believe I almost forgot today was Friday? I almost did... almost.

So far I haven't got any flames, for any of my stories, and I'm beyond grateful for that, however, just to clear things up:

This story is the direct result of reading hours upon hours upon hours of HP fanfiction. Some ideas I have may or may have not gotten free of my mind on their own, meaning that maybe you'll read things you'd already read before. If you recognize something, please tell me whose the original author of the story so I can put him/her on my disclaimers. :D

Giving that, I own nothing other the way I arrange the ideas and the words to create this small novel...

[UPDATE 06/12/16] This chapter was beta'd and improved by the lovely GlassGirlCeci. She's helping me improve the story one chappie at the time so, much love and thanks to her!

Chapter Four- The Platform 9¾

The life of a rich witch was a nice one, she decided a fortnight into her adoption. Not only could she more or less do everyday magic things (for the whole house ran on runes of different types, and she could happily play with Sony's and Harry's many magical toys), she also had a library—a huge library, with no restricted books, and there were also great grounds to run on and explore. She was happier than she had been in decades.

And so, being adopted into the rather rich Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, she developed a little routine that made up her day.

First thing in the morning, Winky would wake her up in time to eat breakfast with either James or Lily, or both. Her new parents had gotten into a little disagreement over her aversion to meat, with Lily saying it was a Muggle practice that was gaining momentum, and James telling her that it was probably the lack of meat that made her so tiny. They agreed to disagree; Lily let her eat fruits and vegetables to her heart's content, while James tried to bribe her into eating something meaty and greasy. She had not tasted any and was not planning to.

After being dismissed from the table, she would wander the grounds and practice her Occlumency for an hour or so. She had retained her skill in the mind art, but she knew she needed to get this younger mind even more protected before going to Hogwarts; it would do her no good to have someone like Dumbledore reading her. After that, she would simply stroll around the gardens, go to the music room, or, at James's insistence, practice her broom flying. She was still a little scared of heights, but she had to confess that she liked the wind in her face, and she did feel safer with Winky looking over her instead of Madam Hooch all those years ago.

Lunch would be either eaten alone with Winky and the elves—she was adamant about eating with them, and Winky was able to convince the rest of the small elves that, no, she had not lost her mind—or with Lily, depending on what day of the week it was. Every once in a while James would join them, but it was infrequent enough that she always felt giddy when it happened.

After lunch she would secretly retire to the library and would spend all the time until dinner reading and learning spells she had never seen before. Some were powerful and meant to be used only in combat, while others were simply silly and funny. She was rather proficient with wandless and silent magic, so in the vast space of the library she could practice without being seen or questioned. She quivered thinking of what kind of power she could have once she had her wand. Winky was a willing test subject for the milder spells, and they often ended up crying with laughter when something unexpected happened, like the elf growing green hair or making her Potter uniform all flashy.

Sometimes, rarely, Lily would take her to her study and teach her a thing or two about magic and wizarding history. On Sundays, though, her library time was always cut short when James insisted on teaching her how to play Quidditch...apparently the man had gotten it into his head that she could be a great Seeker. Her first Sunday, she had learnt that Harry played Chaser this time around, and that Sony was planning on trying out for Keeper next year. She thought he would be rather disappointed, as the Tri-Wizard Tournament was still happening if what she overhead James telling Lily was true.

After dinner it was quiet time for her and her parents; they would retire to the second drawing room —the first was for visitors— and spend some time together, just being a family. After that, she was sent to her room with Winky, who still insisted on helping her bathe —something she was getting too comfortable with to actually protest— and would be put to bed, waiting for Lily to come read to her until she fell asleep. She loved those books, for despite their ostensibly innocent contents, they helped her understand wizarding customs and traditions more than any other books she had read on the subject. She still had two months left before going to Hogwarts, but she was already dreading going to sleep without Lily's soothing voice and her plushy dolphin.

She only had the summer break to gather the courage to leave her safe and happy home...and to get to know her two brothers.

She smiled when thinking of that word. Brothers. The existence of Sony had not only shocked her, but made her immensely pleased. That Harry had a little brother made her deal all the sweeter. Sure, she was still going to pay the price, but just the fact that Sony existed made up for all the suffering she signed up for. It showed her that she had made the right decision and that she was going places...maybe not Heaven, but places.

"Miss Maya is ready," Winky declared as she finished combing Hermione's soft hair. Some spells and a potion regiment later, and her large front teeth were gone and her hair was no longer a rat nest. She now was the proud owner of a tooth-paste commercial smile and a bunch of dark, curly bangs. The potions had also made her hair just a couple of shades lighter than James's, surely making the Auror rather happy. Winky loved playing with her hair and the proof was the bun she was now wearing—tight at the back of her head, but with some locks falling out of place and framing her pale face.

"Thank you, Winky." She stood from her dressing table and appraised her outfit. She was wearing a pale-blue summer dress that reached just below her knees, with small, white, plain socks and black Mary Jane shoes. She was also wearing a small white jacket, and her hair sported a silly blue ribbon. The only thing she liked about her outfit was the small bracelet she had been given almost a month back. It was white gold and its thin chain was only interrupted by a small oval proudly bearing the Potter family crest She sighed. Lily liked to dress her like a little girl, not really understanding that she was going to Hogwarts come September.

This would be the first time she was out in public, officially, and she dreaded the first impression she was going to make. Sure, she had gone out with Lily at least once a week in the last three months, to both the magical and the Muggle world—it really helped that she was a Muggleborn—but this would be the first time she was going out as a proud member of the Potter House...she was going to pick up her brothers at Platform 9¾, after all.

She was really nervous. She had seen portraits and photos of them: Harry was the same as she remembered, if a tad taller and with a little more muscle, and Sony—sweet Sony was the total opposite of his big brother, yet somehow totally the same. In the photos, he had that same crooked smile Harry used to send her when she caught him slacking, and the same kind gaze. However, Sony was redheaded—but not Weasley redheaded; his hair was a rich burnt red. And his eyes, while lovely, were definitely James's.

Hermione had known Harry in her last time, and she was scared that this new Gryffindor Prince was going to hate her for barging into his family. She had no idea how Sony would act. She only hoped they would both at least tolerate her.

"Miss Maya should be going. Mistress Lily said you is to be leaving at four," Winky reminded her as she busied herself picking up her scattered clothes the old fashioned way.

The brunette sighed. "I wish you could come," she whined at her elf.

Winky shook her head. "Winky is being saying this to Miss Maya for the last week. Winky is not being able to go."

"I know!" She pouted. "Doesn't mean I don't wish it," she mumbled.

Winky's response was cut off by the sharp knocking on her door. "Hermione, come on, we need to leave in a minute!" came Lily's voice, a little high pitched with the excitement of having the two boys back. No matter that she saw them at least weekly, nothing compared to having them home.

"Miss Maya is being ready!" the elf called as she practically pushed the girl out of the room, like Hermione had done all those months back with Lily.

"Traitor," the little witch muttered under her breath just before being swept into her waiting mother's arms.

"Come on, Little One, don't you want to greet your brothers at the station?" the redhead asked as she picked her up. She put her on her hip before starting to walk quickly to the foyer where they would be flooing to the platform.

Two things stopped Hermione from telling her that, no, she was pretty happy not meeting them there. One, she was so not speaking, even if that meant going to a crowded place filled with faces that had been haunting her for years, and two, she couldn't say no to the hopeful look on her mother's face.

"Oh, good. You're here." James greeted them from where he stood beside the giant fireplace. "Do you want me to take her?" he asked his wife. Over the last months Hermione had finally gotten used to him, and she now enjoyed being held by both him and Lily. When cuddling with him she was a little stiffer than with her new mother, but, amazingly enough, he was warmer than the redhead.

"Yes, it would probably be better that way. Go with Papa, Little One." Hermione was then passed unceremoniously to her other parent, and she found herself being held with just one arm by the strong wizard. Not that she was heavy by any means, no. No matter how much they had tried, she was still as small and light as the first day they met her. James said it was her fault for not eating meat, while Lily had poured Nutrition Potions down her throat every day without any real improvement. She was just tiny for her age, something both Potters had taken advantage of by carrying her around and having her sit in their laps every chance they got.

XxXxX

"I need you to stay close to me at all times, alright?" Lily gently instructed as she smoothed down her dress, fussing over her like any mother of a young girl did. James went ahead to look for their friends.

Hermione looked around, only half listening to her new mother as she was told how to act and what was expected of her. She had never been on this side of the Platform, as she was a Muggleborn and had no use for the floo network at the back of the station. She had also never been on such a crowed Platform; when she went to Hogwarts she was usually really early and arrived when few people were around, and when they returned she and her friends used to wait until most of the kids had left so as to avoid the likes of Malfoy Senior.

To say that she was scared shitless would be a gross understatement.

So wrapped in her fear she was that she did not notice when Lily took her hand and started pulling her towards the centre of the room. She did notice, however, when her frozen feet refused to move and she was yanked with a little too much force for her little body, making her stumble forwards.

"Oh, Little One," Lily said as she helped her regain her footing, "What's the matter?"

Hermione looked to the redhead with big, sad, watery doe-like eyes, and did something she had never done before: she raised her hands in the universal pick-me-up motion. Screw good first impressions. She was scared and she needed her mommy hugs.

The older witch's eyes softened at the unusually needy request. Hermione was not by any means a girl who asked for much; she was happy with the books that had filled her small bookcase and the boys' hand-me-down toys. When they went out she never asked for dolls or clothes, letting Lily decide what was bought. At home, she never asked for seconds, or even to be read to; she simply waited for things to happen, accepting it if they did not. Just as she accepted that the two Potter parents loved to carry her around. But this—this was the first time she had actually asked for it, and although wizarding protocol frowned upon being too cuddly in public, Lily knew she needed to comply.

"Come on, Little One," the redhead murmured as she easily picked up the tiny brunette and put her on her hip, "We need to find Papa; I'm sure he is with Uncles Remus and Sirius."

Hermione sighed as she rested her cheek on Lily's shoulder, feeling just a little safer. She hated her little body and its reaction to crowded places...at the same time, she loved that it made her so easy to pick up, because she did enjoy being in the older witch's arms. But she frowned when she thought about what her mother said. She had been back for almost five years and had constantly wondered what had happened to all her friends and the people she had gotten to know in her last life. At least, until three months ago. She was now wondering why she had not met anybody outside of Lily and James and the few and far between Hogwarts graduates that stopped to greet Lily on the street. Where were all the Potters' friends this whole time?

Apparently the redhead was getting used to her muteness, as she simply started explaining to her what she had being wondering. "Your Papa and I asked our friends not to visit the Manor until you got used to us—not that it would make much of a difference this year. You have three uncles, Little One, and you will be meeting them properly next week at the luncheon we are having. Uncle Sirius is your Papa's brother in all but blood; he has been teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts since Harry first went to school, so he is normally not around during the school year. Uncle Remus is their best friend; he works at the Ministry, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures...he was made Head of the Department last year and is now usually too busy to visit. Uncle Frank is an Auror with your Papa. In fact, they are on the same team, but he was sent to France not too long ago as part of the party that guards Ludo Bagman. Your Aunt Alice, Frank's wife, is also an Auror and went with him. They are coming back tomorrow morning, so maybe you will be meeting Aunt Auggie, Frank's mother, instead of them today—that's if we see her before we go. She's coming to pick up Neville, Harry's friend," Lily explained as she maneuvered around the eager parents that were scattered around the platform. "Oh, I'm not making any sense, am I?"

Hermione simply snuggled closer to the older witch when an overly enthusiastic wizard ran past them a little too close for comfort.

"Tonight, once you are in bed, I'll try to explain things better, Little One," the redhead promised.

Hermione nodded. She had understood everything but was planning on inquiring a little bit to the elves; after all, they knew everything that happened all around the family. She yawned faintly, a typical reaction to being so comfy and warm in Lily's arms, then she noticed James's eyes searching the crowd. He was standing next to two rather well groomed men that she had no trouble identifying as Sirius and Remus. She tugged on the redhead's sleeve and, when she got her attention, pointed to where her new father was.

Lily smiled and quickly went to join her husband.

"Hello loves," James greeted them, but with a little frown on his face at the fact that Hermione was being carried around in public. "I thought you would be here earlier."

"I'm sorry, love." She sent him an apologetic smile. "I had to do a little damage control," she whispered softly so only he and Hermione heard her.

The wizard nodded. He sometimes forgot the young witch was not entirely normal. Although she was mute, that was easily overlooked, as her expressive eyes more often than not made up for her it. He needed to remember that the little girl was still not used to being around so many people. "Let me have her," he requested softly.

Lily smiled. "Do you want to go with Papa?" she asked the girl in her arms. Hermione had been looking at James's companions (who, thankfully, were keeping quiet) with a small frown of concentration.

Hermione blinked and nodded, lifting her arms from around the older witch's neck and leaning towards James. Once she was sitting secure in the wizard's arm, she resumed her inquisitive looking as Lily warmly greeted the two men she had known so well in her past life.

"Oh, Prongs," Sirius said with a chuckle. "I've never seen you so fatherly."

James gave a dignified snort. "Well, Padfoot, it's not really my fault neither my boys liked to cuddle. When they were younger they were two little cavemen, just like their Uncle Sirius."

That prompted a booming laugh from the elegant wizard. Sirius was looking cleaner than Hermione had ever seen, and, miraculously, the beard that had made him—well, him, was absent. He looked younger with his long hair in a ponytail and his face smooth. He was quite an eye catcher.

"Hello, there," a soft voice said to her as the two best friends resumed teasing each other, "I'm your Uncle Remus."

Hermione looked at the werewolf, tuning out her father's loud voice. The scars on his face were the same ones she remembered, but the tired look he had always carried was gone. His brownish hair was as long as Sirius's, and he too had tied it in a tight ponytail, though it looked so out of place on him. At the same time, he was rather good looking. His clothes were what made the most difference—he was wearing rich mauve robes, tailored to fit his well-built body, and he looked really handsome. She smiled and burrowed deeper into her father's shoulder, acting and feeling the part of a young, rather shy, small girl.

That action made James aware that he was not introducing her as he should have been. "Oh, sorry—Remus, Sirius, this is Hermione. Princess, these are your Uncles Padfoot and Moony."

The brunette witch nodded minutely in greeting before returning her cheek to James's shoulder, continuing to absently look around, seeing faces she had not seen in years save for in her dreams. Knowing she was better when she was doing her own thing, James and Lily simply started chatting with the other two Marauders to pass the time until the train arrived.

And arrive did it. Not five minutes after they found James, the red, old, big, machine was heard; a minute after that, the train entered the station. The already noisy Platform started to practically vibrate with the emotion of hundreds of relatives waiting for their kids, and she could not help but feel the powerful positive emotions there. She smiled. Who would have thought that being on this side of the station was such fun?

Once the train totally stopped, the Hogwarts students started quickly pouring out, no doubt wanting to see their parents just as much as their parents wanted to see them. One of the first off was Draco Malfoy, who was immediately lost in the mayhem. Others she recognized were Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, Cho Chang, Terry Boot, Colin Creevey, and, finally, Fred, George and Ron Weasley, who were followed by another redheaded boy, Sony...and Harry.

Hermione gripped James's robes fiercely as he saw the boys and waved at them to join their little party. Lily was glowing with happiness and she could not help but feel a little pang of hurt when she saw the same look on James. Her parents were incredibly happy...did that mean they were going to forget about her?

The first time around she had grown up in a middle class family, with loving, hardworking parents, and a cat, which Crookshanks had replaced when it died. She was a single kid, the centre of Jean and Emanuel Crawley's world. Ron and Harry had said to her that she was like their sister, their bossy, cranky sister, but she really did not know to be sisterly.

Her second time around was not even worth mentioning. Her whole childhood had been a trial of survival and a battle of wits to try to stay at least half healthy. The reason she did not eat meat was not really because she was trying to be a vegetarian (although she had been one in her last life). No, it was because there had been none in her real parents' house and the first time she tried it in the hospital it had made her severely ill. She had managed to survive off the little garden she attended to, where she grew different vegetables around the year and fortunately her parents were too drunk and high to take note of, as well as off the fruit trees that grew on the hillside near her house.

She was ill-prepared to be part of a family larger than three.

"Oh, Merlin, how you two have grown!" James's laughing voice told her that the boys had finally reached them.

"Hello, Father." Harry's voice had not changed a bit, but she could hear a subtle difference from the one she was so used to. He was a little happier and...more confident?

"Hello, Father!" Sony's voice was still changing and he could not help the little squeak he made as he greeted the Auror with great enthusiasm. "Is that her?!"

James laughed. He was not so lucky as to see his sons at school year-round like Lily did; he was gleeful they were home. "Yes, son. Harry, Sony, this is Hermione, your sister."

"Hello, Hermione!" Sony practically bounced in place; he was the typical hyperactive twelve year old. "Mum told us all about you—I'm really looking forward to flying with you." And with that he was off to say hi to Lily and his Uncles.

Harry stayed. He was studying her with guarded eyes, his green irises flashing with suspicion.

"Is something the matter, son?" James asked him, looking a little concerned. Harry was the more serious of the two, but he was never this serious.

The young wizard shook his head, the frown gone quickly from his face. "No, Father, it's just...she looks really familiar," he finally admitted.

"Ah." Lily kissed her first-born on the cheek, as he was now too tall for a kiss on the head like the one she had given Sony. "That's because you know her. Remember that little girl you met once at the library?"

Hermione blinked at that. This was the first time she had heard this little tidbit of information. Once, some months before she finally told on her parents, she imagined she had seen Harry in the library. It could not be him, though, because the boy that was looking at her was too different from her Harry. Only his eyes had made her doubt.

"Oh!" Sony beamed. "Frizzy Beaver!"

The brunette could not help but wince at the name. Not only had her real parents abused her endlessly, she had also had to endure the constant bullying in her school...that name brought back many bad memories.

James and Lily were stunned into silence, while Remus and Sirius had no idea what was happening. It was, amazingly enough, Harry who snapped into action. With a quick hand he cuffed the back of his brother's head. "Don't call her that!"

Sony grimaced at both the hit and the pained brown eyes that looked at him, wounded. "Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean it—I'm sorry, Hermione! Honest!"

The young witch rubbed at her eyes. Damn them and their stupid habit of tearing up at any chance. She took a deep breath and was about to put her hand on his head to show him it was fine, when the incredible happened.

The crowd parted and revealed three stunning and regal blonds, all of them marching towards them with purpose in their steps. The older wizard had a sneer on his face as soon as he saw Hermione being carried by the pureblood James Potter.

"Lucius, Narcissa," James greeted cordially, if a little on the frosty side. "What a pleasure to meet you again. You too, young Draco."

"James, Lily, young Harold, young Hudson." Lucius Malfoy nodded respectfully to them, before sneering again at their companions. "Lord Black, Master Lupin. It is indeed a pleasure to meet you again." He looked again at the girl in James's arms. "We heard you have gained a daughter. Congratulations."

Lily smiled tightly before addressing the tiny witch. "Hermione, these are Lord Lucius and Lady Narcissa Malfoy, and their son, young Draco." She turned again to the blond family. "May I introduce you to Lady Hermione Lily Potter?"

Lucius inclined his head in greeting. "A true pleasure, young Hermione."

The brunette simply nodded her head in answer, prompting an arched eyebrow from the older Malfoy. "You must pardon Hermione, Lucius," James told him to avoid a scene in such a crowed area. "Hermione does not speak."

"Ah. Then that explains why she is so quiet, no? Very well. It was, as always, a pleasure." Lucius nodded again and stepped to the side to continue his merry way towards the floo connections.

Narcissa and Draco, however, stayed behind. "It was truly a pleasure, James, Lily," the blonde witch said. "I hope we can see more of each other this summer, yes?"

Lily's expression did not change, but she was clearly surprised. "That would be nice, Narcissa. Perhaps our sons could have an impromptu Quidditch game with the kids from the area?" She knew they would not be seeing them in the summer, but she needed to act the part of Lady Potter.

"That would be lovely. Come Draco," she said as she grabbed her son's shoulder with her right hand, "your father awaits."

"Yes, mother." He turned to the Potters and, with his right hand open over his chest, bowed slightly to them. "It was a pleasure. I hope to see you at Hogwarts soon, Miss Maya."

For Hermione, seeing the cold mechanism of pureblood society made her skin crawl and remember lesser times. She was not surprised that Lucius was more or less the same asshole he had been in her last life, but was slightly pleased he had not made a comment on her blood status. The surprise came when Narcissa let her hand rest on Draco's shoulder. It had taken all her self-control to not gasp when she noticed the dark ink on the delicate pale hand. She could not, however, stop her deep intake of breath when the same ink was shown to her on Draco's hand...and, as if the Star of Bethlehem was not enough, Draco teasing her and calling her Miss Maya simply blew her mind.

The two Malfoys soon left them, and there was a collective sigh of relief. However, James and Lily shared a concerned look. Why would Malfoy address their little princess just like Winky did?

XxXxX

"Tell me everything," she demanded as soon as the elf appeared before her. "I saw Drake and Cissy at the station today and they remembered me. Tell me how that is possible."

Hermione had feigned being too tired to see her brothers settle, going so far as to drool on Lily's shoulder when she had 'dozed off' shortly after the Malfoys left. They had stayed on the Platform for some time, as Harry and Sony had insisted on saying their goodbyes to all their friends. Remus had stayed behind with the redheaded Professor and the too-tired girl while James and Sirius had gone with them—Professor Black was a hit with all the female students and was on good terms with most the males, and James wanted to say his hellos too.

So, as Lily had yet to understand that she was indeed not five, Hermione had been sent to her room for a nap before dinner. It was time she was planning on using to interrogate her elf.

"Miss Maya?"

After a few moments of silence, Hermione finally broke down. She had tried so hard to not look a gift horse in the mouth. She was grateful that Winky remembered, but she needed to know exactly why it was that she remembered. She was so, so glad that the Fight was still standing, at least with two members, but she needed to know who else had come back. Was she back?

Hermione started sobbing. "Please, Winky, tell me how it is that you came back. Please tell me who else is back."

The little elf's ears lowered in pain. "Winky is being sorry, Miss Maya." She climbed onto the bed next to the distraught little witch. Embracing her, she continued, "Winky is not knowing."

"Please tell me my Luna is back! Please, Winky, please!"

The elf's heart went out to her little Mistress. "Winky is not knowing, Miss Maya...Winky is not knowing."

Hermione cried. Soul wrenching wails left her mouth as she accepted, consciously for the first time, the possibility that Luna may have not be back.

A/N: Cheers! She met her brothers! And a couple of other people too...

Just so nobody gets confused, in this story I'll be doing the whole 'Lord' thingy and I really feel that Harry is a tad well, not lame, but a not so lord-y name for a future Lord, so, these are the Potter kids' 'official' names and their DOB:

Hermione Lily Potter, 31 August 1983

Harold (Harry) James Potter, 31 July 1980

Hudson (Sony) Sirius Potter, 4 December 1981