On the way to Dumbledore's office Hermione giggled to herself as she replayed in her head what just happened. She now as Draco stuttering over her!
Hermione reached up to knock on professor Dumbledore's door before her hand touched the door it swung open.
"You can come in Ms. Granger" Dumbledore told Hermione as he waved his wand and a chair slid up in front of his desk.
"Hello Professor, Draco told me you wanted to speak to me?" /Hermione asked, se sat down cautiously.
"Well I wanted to talk to you and see how you were before the ministry came" Dumbledore said "peppermint budgie?" he offered holding out a bowl of fluttering peppermint birds.
"No thank you. Why is the ministry coming?" she asked nervously.
"There is no reason to worry Ms. Granger, you are in no trouble for what happened this afternoon if anything you should be getting an award for saving young Mr. Malfoy's life. We need you to testify that you heard Mr. Malfoy try to use an unforgivable curse on his son. I'm very proud of you Hermione even after the disputes and difficulties between Draco and yourself, you risked your own life save his." Dumbledore explained to her "this proves you are ready for the truth."
"But how did you know it was me? Does Draco know it was me? What do you mean ready for the truth?" Hermione blurted out.
"I have ways to find things out that the knowledge of is needed. No young Mr. Malfoy does not know of your actions, I believe that is your right to choose to tell him but I encourage you to tell him for already he seeks to know who his saver is, and to hide something with this importance is difficult and unneeded. Your last question is a question with a difficult answer that will bring more questions." Dumbledore answered. "Hermione when you were born it was a year of great danger in the history of magic. You were in one of the greatest amounts of danger…." Dumbledore said sadly and paused to scratch the corner of his eye.
"Why?" Asked Hermione.
"Because… how do I put this… because you are the one and only daughter of Tom Riddle." Dumbledore told her.
"What? I can't be the daughter of…. Of Voldermort!?!" Hermione whimpered as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and myself took you away, we put a glamour on you to hide your identity and changed your name for your protection." Dumbledore answered.
"My parents knew? But they're Muggles! They can't do magic!" Hermione argued.
Dumbledore shook his head guiltily "They did it to protect you it was too dangerous for you to live in the magical world." Dumbledore explained.
"Why are you telling me now then if you're trying to protect me?" She demanded.
"Voldermort found out that you were his daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Granger had taken you, he went and found them and murdered them. I'm truly sorry." Dumbledore told her.
"They can't be…. " Hermione sobbed throw her hands that now covered her face.
"Your real name is Elizabeth Riddle, your mother chose your name before you were born. Your mother Alicia Grindalwald died giving birth to you… I have to end the glamour we put on you, I don't have enough magic to keep it on you." Dumbledore explained. He mouthed a incantation and Hermione's appearance started changing; her hair became a beautiful wave of blond, her eyes a crystal blue, her face looked the same but with freckles spread attractively over the bridge of her nose, full shaped pink rose petal colored lips, her skin a gorgeous light peach.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She was beautiful. There was a knock on the door they both looked up.
"Come in." Dumbledore said. In walked a few men in cloaks.
"Hello Albus, is this the testifier?" asked a medium height, chubby man.
"Yes this is Ms. Elizabeth Riddle." Stated Dumbledore.
The man stiffened and his eyes widened "well then let's get this over with shall we?" he asked quickly. They gave her a truth potion. Hermione told them everything that happened. Lucias was arrested and brought to Azkaban. After about an hour and a half the ministry left.
"Now Ms. Riddle I'll tell the students about your new identity. You also must stay inside because of the risk of being taken by Voldermort. For your safety I have decided to have Mr. Draco Malfoy, be with you at all times except when he cannot for example when you're using the privy, changing, and things in that nature. Professor McGonagall told Draco of this while you were here. Do you have any questions before you call it a night?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, am I still in Gryffindor?" Hermione asked.
"No you belong to the Slytherlin house." He answered.
"Night." Hermione said then turned and left.
Hermione climbed through the portrait hole to find Draco sitting on the couch in front of the fire, when he saw her, he stood up. She walked over to the couch and sat down.
"Um… Hey" He offered "I uh… made you some hot chocolate, I put little marshmallows on top… they swim around till they melt…" Draco told her as he carefully sat down next to her and slid the mug of hot cocoa in front of her on the coffee table. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and turned to him. He looked into her crystal blue eyes, with his green eyes. He put his arms around her as she cried into his shoulder. "Its ok Elizabeth, it hasn't been a good day for either of us." He told her trying to cheer her up.
"I know I'm really sorry about your father going to Azkaban." Hermione said as she sat up, and held her mug, watching the marshmallows swim around, and wave to her.
"How did you know about that?" He asked.
Hermione took a sip of hot cocoa, and put it down, she looked at him and told him "I was there I was the one who stopped your father from killing you."
"That was you!?! Why were you following me?" Draco asked confused.
"I had found your letter from your father and it sounded like something was going to happen. I'm really sorry I was scared something might happen to you." Hermione apologized.
"You don't have to be sorry, if you hadn't followed me I'd be dead right now…. Um… Thanks." Draco told Hermione.
"Your welcome." Hermione replied. She leaned against his shoulder and he put his arm around hers they sat and watched the fire till Hermione fell asleep. Draco careful not to wake her carried her to her bed, took her shoes off, and covered her with extra blankets. He went to the chair in the corner so he could keep an eye on her to make sure she was okay, and fell asleep.
