The Portrait's Secret
Chapter 7: Family Truths
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Hermione approached the white wooden door. She drew a breath, and knocked.
"Mum?"
There was silence for a while, then footsteps were heard at the opposite side of the door.
"Hermione!" Jane said and threw herself on her. Hermione chuckled and hugged her back.
"Come in! What brings you here?" Jane said as she took out some freshly-baked cookies.
"Mum, have you ever seen this?" Hermione said as she took out the ivory box.
Jane stared at it. "I…"
"I thought I heard a familiar voice." Andrew Granger said as he came down the staircase.
"Daddy!" Hermione said and hugged him tightly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Andrew, she came for this." Jane said as she signaled to the ivory box. Andrew's eyes widened slightly. They exchanged glances, then he said, "Hermione, sit down."
The tension in the air rose, Hermione looked skeptically at the both of them, then sat down.
"Hermione, this box belonged to your mother. Your real mother." Jane said. Hermione's eyes widened, but did not interrupt.
"Her name was Tiffany Evans. Last I heard, she died after she left you at our house." Jane continued, tears glistening in her eyes.
Hermione sat there in silence. "Is my father still alive?"
"No. He was killed just before Tiffany came and left you here."
Hermione reached out to the ivory box and stroked the clasp. As her thumb ran over the golden plate, an engraving appeared.
To Tiffany, my one and only love.
Tears streaked her face as they tumbled down. She sniffed and stood up.
"Thanks Mum, Dad for telling me this. You'll still be my Mum and Dad," as she said this, she hugged the both of them, said goodbye, and left.
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Hermione apparated back to the Malfoy Manor. She went up to the study and placed the box on the table. Then, she examined the clasp. It didn't seem to have a keyhole, so a key wouldn't fit. She tried spells to open it, and even tried to physically force it open, but they all did not work. Finally, she gave up and leaned back on her chair.
"Who and where are you?" She said between sobs. She leaned forward and placed her head between her hands and cried. The salty tears stained the carpet on the floor, leaving spots on it.
Hermione felt hands around her waist which pulled her up. She leaned into Draco and cried once more. Draco held her until she calmed down, then sat her down. He reached for the ivory box. He ran his fingers over the smooth, glossy surface.
"Mum and Dad told me about her, Tiffany Evans." Hermione said softly.
"Tiffany Evans… It sounds familiar, hold on a minute." Draco said as he stood up and went into his room. Hermione heard him rummaging through his desk drawer, then his head appeared through the doorway.
"I found something." He said. Hermione stood up and walked briskly to his room.
"Here." Draco handed her a photograph. There were many people in the photograph. There was a family of blondes, unmistakably the Malfoys. She smiled at the young Draco, who was holding on to a girl's hand. She stared at the girl; bushy brown hair and hazel eyes.
"We were childhood friends." Draco spoke. Hermione looked up at him, tears brimming in her eyes.
"How could I not remember?" Hermione sobbed. She stumbled backwards onto his bed and clutched a pillow. She continued looking at the photograph, through her tears. A beautiful young woman had her hands on Hermione's shoulder. Her features were sharp, sketched with firm strokes and framed by the black head of hair that shone like a damp stone. Her hazel eyes pierced through the photograph.
Hermione allowed one tear to fall, then looked at the man whose arm was draped around her petite waist. He was a big and strong man with a stubble around his jaw. He wore a smart top-hat and had a fatherly-look on his face. Hermione stroked the happy couple with her thumb.
"What's Snape doing here?"
"He was a close relative." Hermione let another tear slip down her face. Why is it that all my relatives are dead?
"When was this taken?"
"When we were six. four months before they were killed," Draco said. He looked up at her with sad eyes. Hermione nodded absentmindedly and gazed at the picture once more. She sniffed hard then threw herself at Draco, who caught her in the nick of time.
"Thank you Draco, for showing me this."
"You can keep it." He said and smiled gently. He pushed the brown locks out of her face, and kissed her softly.
"I love you." Draco whispered.
"I love you too," Hermione mumbled into his chest. His heart leapt for joy, and he drew her closer.
Hermione smiled into his embrace.
He's hot.
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HAHA! Hermione was feeling Draco up! Though I doubt he'd mind. It's so sweeet. Awww.
