I won't go through every individual comment and respond to them here, but just know I appreciate all your kind words! In particular, kabg01's comment has stuck with me this last week. I started writing this because I've read pretty much every "Hermione is a Nott" story on this site, so your comment was well appreciated. :)
As always, thank you NinjaDevil2000!
The status as of now: still don't own Harry Potter
Hermione was five years old when she tried to run away from home. A year ago, she would have recalled the memory with a smile, but recent events turned that outlook upside down.
It was around 5 o'clock that afternoon, and she sat curled up on her father's lap. She had begged the older man to help her practice reading and he gladly obliged. The book was one of Hermione's favorites at the time and she was completely absorbed in the pages when her mother called them in for dinner. Hermione, just as stubborn at age 5 as she was at age 17, wanted to finish the story so had begun arguing with her father. Mr. Granger looked at his argumentative, beautifully smart daughter and smiled, which only served to anger Hermione.
With a sudden plan, the six year old girl straightened up. "Sorry, Daddy. I'll be good." She pulled her face into the most convincing guilt face she could muster. Her father seemed pleased she had the self discipline to correct herself and went into the kitchen, leaving Hermione alone.
She grabbed the book and snuck toward the door as stealthily as she could, quietly slipping through it. As soon as she was outside, she ran. I'll show them, she had thought to herself at the time.
After what seemed like an hour of running for her little legs, she looked around and realized she didn't know where she was. She was on some sort of shop-lined street that her family didn't travel through.
An older woman approached her on the sidewalk. "Are you lost, young lady?" She had a kind face and smelled like butterscotch candies.
Hermione trusted the woman, but wasn't over her anger at her parents just yet. She quickly thought up a response. "No. They're in this shop. Thank you!" Running through the shop door, she turned around and with a sigh of relief, realized the woman had bought her story.
The shop she had run into was a packed coffee shop. To blend in, she jumped into the end of the queue.
An hour later, the Grangers found their daughter, hot chocolate in hand, sitting with a couple and discussing her favorite books she had read with her daddy.
Mr. Granger, of course, received an ear-full from his wife about being manipulated by a 6 year old.
Hermione reminiscenced with a deep frown. She wished she could tell her younger self she was lucky to have the parents she did; that someday, she wouldn't have Mum and Dad.
After the tour of Nott manor, Hermione and Theo sat down at the end of the long table for a late lunch in the dining room, catered by his three house elves.
Theo looked at Hermione nervously. "You're not still into that SPEW thing are you?"
"S-P-E-W," she corrected, "and no." She was surprised the Slytherins even remembered her activist phrase. After explaining how she realized house elves like having jobs and families to serve, she shifted in her seat.
". . . I still have questions, Theo."
He had been fully expecting this and already had a response ready. "Usually I don't condone such openness," he seemed to hesitate, "but ask your questions. I'll answer them to the best of my ability."
Not wanting to waste any time or give Theo a chance to change his mind, she immediately jumped in with a question. "Why didn't they look for me?" She grew quiet, afraid of the answer.
"They did for a couple years. After Mum died, though, father withdrew from everything, including the search. He was in a dark place for several years," Theo answered honestly.
Hermione looked down the length of the table. She didn't want to ask her next question, but she needed answers. "How did she die?"
Theo didn't look uncomfortable in the slightest. He knew she'd ask this question eventually. "Pneumonia. Wizard healers are great at treating magical problems, but not muggle ones." When she remained silent, Theo continued. "Nobody at St. Mungos knew what it was. Apparently, it's rare in the wizarding population. Father refused to take her to a muggle healer and we only learned what it was years later."
How infuriating, Hermione thought to herself. She suddenly remembered the thestral Care of Magical Creatures lesson and how Theo was one of the only people able to see the creatures. "You watched her pass, didn't you?"
Theo nodded solemnly, his face still in an emotionless mask despite the conversation's unexpected turn.
The house elves came to the table with lemonade for the Nott siblings and a pile of sandwiches on a gold platter. Hermione thanked them and began to eat her lunch in silence. After a few moments of silence, Theo grabbed a cheese and onion sandwich from the platter.
Hermione's lemonade was half gone when she found the courage to speak. "Was she a good person?"
Successfully drawn out of his thoughts, Theo answered almost immediately, "Absolutely. I was only a little kid when she died, but I remember her presence around the manor as though it were yesterday."
Hermione was glad to know she wasn't an outcast in her biological family. She trusted Theo, so to know her mother was a good person gave her a sigh of relief. Suddenly, being a Nott wasn't such a bad thing. From Theo's stories to the pictures she saw, it seemed as though her mother was a ray of sunshine in this ancient family.
Theo's faint smile faded as he sobered. "I need to talk to you about something."
Hermione didn't take his tone seriously until she looked over at his face. Upon realizing this was important, she straightened up and gave him all her attention.
"I need to talk to you about taking the Nott name," he cautiously told her. He kept his gaze to her face and hoped she wouldn't immediately leave.
"Explain." she deadpanned. She would at least give him a chance.
"Okay." He was stunned and it definitely showed. For a moment, his mask of indifference disappeared, but it almost immediately returned. "The main reason is because you are entitled to more with my last name, namely real estate and part of our vaults."
This home was beautiful in every way, but not exactly what she could imagine living in for the rest of her life. Although it was a cliche, she always imagined herself living in a small cottage that she spent great time renovating and fixing up. After making it her dream home, she would spend weekends off from work outside in the flower beds working on her garden or inside the home reading. At the risk of sounding ungrateful, she thought the Nott manor was too big and therefore, rather impersonal. Now, access to the vaults? She could see herself utilizing the wealth of the Notts for charity or even a cottage. Hermione kept silent, allowing him to continue.
He expected her to jump in and start debating his point. It appeared at though Hermione had matured quite a bit.
"My other reason is that you have done a lot of great things and my family is known for, well," he tried to think of the best way to phrase his thoughts, "my family is known for evil. You could help restore the Nott family's reputation."
She wondered if she had done nearly enough good to restore the Nott name and had quite a few doubts. Yes, she played an important role in the downfall of Voldemort, but she thought she'd be living a normal life from now on. Hermione couldn't see herself taking down evil wizards every week, which is what she thought it would take to restore the Nott family's reputation.
Hermione was quiet for several moments, which was shocking for all the information she had just received. "I'm still attached to my last name. The Grangers raised me and even though they aren't my real parents, I still love them." Yes, she thought to herself, he won't be able to come up with an argument against that.
However, Theo was ready with an answer. "I understand."
He pretended to be deep in thought for a few moments, but had a plan in place. "I know our mother didn't like the last name either. She was always accused of being evil because of the connotations it was associated with. She stood beside our family anyway and kept the last name." He tried to hide his smirk. He knew emotion was the best way to get what you wanted from Gryffindors.
Hermione didn't understand his manipulation, but knew he was on to something. "I- I'm not-" she took a deep breath, "- I'm not saying I don't want to be a Nott because of our evil ancestors. I just. . ."
"Don't want to deal with the consequences? Have to talk to journalists and get constant attention? Officially have a new family identity?" Theo suggested.
Hermione was quiet, so he assumed his suggestions were correct. "You will still be the golden girl of Gryffindor, Hermione."
She couldn't quite explain why, but Theo could be astonishingly persuasive when he wanted to be. Thinking about the points he made, Hermione was torn. On the logical side of things, she could totally see herself being a Nott. Really, there wasn't any reason for her to be a Granger if it wasn't helping her. She knew the Nott name could certainly help her after she graduated; with all the money in the Nott vaults, the possibilities were limitless.
On the other hand, she was a Granger. She always would be. . . right? Despite Theo's assurances that she'd be the same person, she doubted the truth of his words. Her mind went back to Theo's story about their mother and how she struggled with their last name. Somehow, she knew she needed to stand by Theo and their mother. It wasn't right that they were treated unfairly at times because of their family history. It wasn't right.
Hermione knew what she needed to do.
Theo sat patiently and waited for Hermione's gears to stop turning. He hoped she would take their name, but knew he couldn't force her into such a big decision.
"Alright," Hermione resigned.
He kept his face neutral to avoid revealing the shock he had. She had actually agreed.
Over the next hour, they discussed what to do next and how best to handle media, which Hermione was not looking forward to. Her memories of receiving hate mail came back to haunt her and she worried about it happening again. Theo and her had agreed it would be best to talk to a journalist before leaving for Hogwarts. In any case, thanks to the security of Hogwarts, she would be safe from surprise interviews when in public.
Later that day after Hermione left, Theo went up to his bedroom and grabbed a lone piece of paper from his bed. He had only received it recently, but had already reread it several times to the point of memorization.
Mr. Nott,
I am sending this letter to inform you that I am aware of Miss Granger's new situation and the relationship you two now share. Prior to Dumbledore's passing, he signed in a decree that will require Hermione to be resorted at the welcome feast. There is no action I can take to prevent this on such short notice. Family ties now known, there is a possibility of her being sorted into Slytherin.
I ask of you, Mr. Nott, to please consider this and form a bond with her. There is a strong chance that, sorted into Slytherin, you will be her only ally.
Yours sincerely,
Headmistress Minevra McGonagall
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