Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the world and the characters, I make no profit out of this, and I do not own.

A/N: This is my best chapter so far. I hope you will like it.

Enjoy!


True Words

"Sorry?" with ladylike fingers she dabbed the napkin across her lips. "I don't know what you are talking about," she said quietly. Violet did not buy it and laughed again.

"It's alright, Hermione. I know,"

"How?" Kingsley asked. He looked around and had his hand in his coat pocket, Hermione figured that he was grasping his wand. This was not good; how did she know? Hermione searched through all her memories. Violet should not know. Kingsley and Mr Weasley were starting to get very suspicious and Hermione had to do something to stop them from acting.

"We should go back," she said to Kingsley. He seemed to agree after a moment of hesitation. They all stood, and Hermione grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her out the door. They quickly returned to Grimmauld Place, Violet unable to see it so Hermione held her hand and brought them inside. The second they were inside two wands were pointed straight at her sister.

"Explain," said Kingsley sternly.

Her sister held up her hands. "Alright, put those away"

"No, explain,"

"Hermione," Violet said. Hermione hesitated but eventually went to stand next to Kingsley, chances were not to be taken. She could see fear and worry in her sister but held her ground. Had someone got to her or did she lie to her? Hermione worried immensely. "Hermione, I will explain everything, just trust me." 'You have no idea how much I want to'

"I want to trust you, I really do, but it is all so strange," Hermione said quietly.

Violet sighed. "I can't believe mother never said... perhaps she hoped you wouldn't be magical", she mused. "I wish she would have told me, or you."

"I don't understand, what about mother?"

"Hermione, I'm a witch."

Hermione gasped. Her sister a witch? How could she not have known, her mother knew? She knew all along and never told her? But she seemed so excited when Hermione got her Hogwarts letter. Was it all a roust?

"You are a witch?" Kingsley asked. Violet pulled out her wand slowly and handed it over to Kingsley.

"It still does not explain how you knew about me, if mother never told you, how did you know?" Hermione questioned.

Violet gave a tense smile. "Well, I only learned recently, it was very surprising indeed. Quite funny, all these years I have known about witches and yet not known my own sister was one… It was little over a month ago when learnt. I happen to subscribe to the Prophet, want to keep up to date with magical Britain. I must say, it was a shock, seeing my sister hugging the famous boy-who-lived... by the way I really want to talk about that big guy you were with."

"Viktor?"

"I really don't know his name, it was a picture of you and the boys and some article about a love triangle."

"Ugh! That was a load of bull." Hermione said and thought about the ghastly bug. Violet chuckled. "I can't believe it. You knew about the wizarding world before me!"

"Yeah, I guess so" she fished out a pack of fags from her pocket and pulled one out. "You mind?" Hermione was pacing. "Damn, got a light?" Out of reflex Hermione pulled out her lighter and threw it at her. She caught it and lit it. "Thanks... But we are going to talk about why you had one."

"Dad and mum left", Hermione said and kept on pacing. Violet would probably hound her, but she was no better as a teen, so she could not be that mad, besides her parents left. If there were any time when teen rebellion and recklessness was allowed, it ought to be now.

"So-" Violet started

"You are a witch" Hermione repeated.

"Yes..."

"My sister is a witch"

"Yes..."

"Awesome!"

"Well, that was surprising," Kingsley said causing Hermione to jump, she had forgotten they were there. "Violet?"

"Violet McDougall, 26, half-blood" At this point both Mr Weasley and Kingsley had lowered their wands, seeming to accept and let the two sisters catch up.

"Half-blood?" Hermione quipped.

"Father is a wizard. It's why I never even thought you might be magical. When I told dad, you were he was very surprised, Louise showed no signs of magic. But I don't want to talk about mother,"

"That makes two of us" someone interrupted. Hermione swirled around and saw Sirius standing with Kingsley.

"Sirius, this is my sister, Violet," Hermione said. "Violet, this is Sirius, whose house this is."

"Regretfully so, I might add," Sirius said

"Friend?" Violet frowned. She looked up and down Sirius and then turned to Hermione. Oh, if she could just stop the blushing.

"Yes, friend,"

"So, you are staying here at your friend's house?"

"Vi..." she said

"Alright, I surrender, I'm actually glad you are not alone. Has my sister been good?"

"Bloody fantastic having her here," Sirius said and winked at her.

"Hmm... Sirius, I'm her big sister, I advise you to reign in your winking while I'm around." Violet said sternly while crossing her arms. Sirius grin dropped and he coughed awkwardly.

"Violet, be nice," she said and smiled.

Violet chuckled and pulled Sirius in for a hug. Sirius, however, was so surprised by the hug he just stood there with arms hanging. Hermione failed to notice that during the hug Violet whispered to Sirius and whatever was said caused Sirius to tense and pale.

"I'm just messing with you. So, Sirius, what do you do?" Both Hermione and Sirius shared a look, how was she supposed to tell her sister that she was living with an escaped convict.

"Um... In between jobs," Sirius answered.

"Oh, and what did you use to do?" 'What's with the questioning' both Sirius and Hermione thought.

"He was an Auror," Hermione spoke

"Really?" Sirius threw her a dark look.

"Yes, Violet. Now stop questioning him."

"Oh, sorry." She frowned and looked at Sirius. "It's just that I have this strange feeling I've seen you before."

"Sirius..." Violet mused on his name with a frown, contemplating something. She gasped and stuttered "Sirius Black?" Violet looked at the three of them with panicked eyes. "Explain to me what he is doing here?"

"Vi- "Hermione tried to intervene

"He is a murderer, Hermione"

"I'm not a murderer!" Yelled Sirius.

"Vi! Calm down. Yes, it is Sirius Black, but he is an innocent." Hermione started.

"INNOCENT!" Violet yelled

"YES! INNOCENT! FRAMED!" Sirius yelled back

"But-"

"Mr Black is not a murderer. He was framed all those years ago, the real murderer is Peter Pettigrew" Kingsley explained while Sirius growled "I assure you, he is innocent. Sirius, please calm down. Peter Pettigrew was believed to be dead up until a little over a year ago when he was discovered to be hiding in his animagus form, a rat, by Hermione, Ron and Harry. Hermione was the one to save Sirius from capture that night, sadly Pettigrew slipped from our fingers and we can't prove Sirius innocence without him."

"People go mad in Azkaban, and he escaped," Violet said in a low voice.

"I spent twelve years in there, the only reason I didn't go mad was that I knew I was innocent," Sirius said

"Vi, it's true. The real traitor, the real murderer is Peter Pettigrew, Sirius was framed." Hermione said and threw her sister a desperate look

"I... ", Violet looked around, settling on Sirius. "I'm sorry for yelling, Mr Black."

"I'm used to it, don't worry about it," Sirius said.

"Well, Thank you, Miss McDougall. It had surely been an eventful and surprising morning", Kingsley said. "We are going to have to confirm this at the ministry, but I believe everything should be in order… I do apologise but until that I will keep a hold of your wand and you are not to be left on your own. Miss Granger, I must leave now but I will send a letter to Dumbledore and a meeting is taking place in two hours."

"Wait, Mr-"

"Please, call me Kingsley"

"Alright, Kingsley. My friend, he is at my hotel, I need to get in touch with him"

"Oh?"

"Yes, a good friend of mine, Adrian Turner."

"Adrian is a wizard too?" Hermione interrupted

"No, but he is expecting me back. I didn't tell him I went to see Hermione and if I don't contact him, he might be concerned."

"We will see," Kingsley said

"Please Kingsley, he is a dear and trustworthy friend"

"I'll see what I can do, but I'm not promising anything"

"Thank you".

"Hermione, I will be back for the meeting. Lovely to meet you Miss McDougall" Mr Weasley said and both him and Kingsley left through the floo.

"I'll leave you, girls, to get acquainted, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me" Sirius stated and left them. Hermione and Violet went into the front room and sat on the couch.

I . I . I . I

"I was happy you called, if you hadn't, I would have. I went here not only for work but also to see you and ask you about it. I understand why you never told me, after all, I didn't live here"

"I thought about telling you so many times, but it is not something you blurt out"

"I understand, I really do, and I have no hard feelings. Truthfully, I think it's amazing, my little sis is a witch and I had no idea"

"So, now to the hard part" Hermione looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "fine, harder part, they left?" Hermione nodded, and Violet put her arm around her. "I'm sorry, Hermione. You should have told me, I would have come straight away. I only got the letter two weeks ago, had come sooner but work held me up"

"It's fine, Vi. I... I needed some space. I would have written eventually but, well, I just wasn't ready."

"I understand, how are you doing now?" She asked.

"Fine"

"Hmm... Are you sure?"

"Yes, Vi. I had a few moments of hard times but then I got here and I'm good now"

"What is this place?"

"Oh, it's a Sirius house."

"Kind of dusty isn't it?" Hermione chuckled.

"Oh, you have no idea, just wait until you see the heads"

"So, it's just the two of you?" Violet asked

"No, I mean sometimes. This place is... Well... I'll get to that. Look, there is something I must tell you" Hermione blurted out the last sentence, unsure about how to start. She chewed on her lip.

Violet stood up hastily and went in front of her. "Oh no... Don't tell me... You're knocked up, right? God Hermione!"

"What?! No no no" she laughed "that is not it. I am not pregnant. Why would you think that?"

"Thank god! Not that I wouldn't mind a niece or nephew, but you could do to wait a couple of years. So, if that is not it, then what is it?"

"Um... What do you know about the magical world? I mean about now, here, what is going on in Britain" Hermione asked carefully.

"What do you mean? The Prophet mentioned that there is talk about a dark wizard resurfacing but that it is mostly just rumours"

"It's not... You-Know-Who returned a few weeks back" Violet went to kneel in front of her clasping their hands together.

"Hermione, tell me. I can tell you are holding something in"

"He is a dark wizard who caused destruction and death across Britain. He is dark and deadly, he vanished Halloween '81 and people thought he had died. Harry... What do you know about him?"

"Only that he is famous for being the only survivor of the Avada curse rendering him the boy-who-lived."

"Yeah, that is true it's just more to it. You-Know-Who – the Dark Lord - killed his parents that night, he tried to kill Harry but for some reason, he couldn't" Hermione swallowed a lump and looked at her sister. "He returned by using Harry and dark magic at the end of June. While that is not bad enough, the ministry is so frightened by the possibility of him returning that they don't believe Harry"

"That's crazy" Violet interrupted.

"Yes, and dangerous. It works right in the hands of Voldemort, he can return and work in the background gathering an army. It has already started. His followers, death eaters, are working within the ministry for him"

"And you?"

"Well, I'm Harry's best friend. I learned a few days ago that they had looked into me" Violets hand that had been grasping hers tightened. "They noticed my parents not being there and... Well... The problem is that... The ministry won't let underage witches or wizards live on their own, there must be a guardian living with them. In cases where there are no relatives, the ministry appoints a guardian for the witch or wizard"

"They will appoint you one, that you will have to live with? Why not Sirius since you are already staying here."

"That is not possible" Hermione blurted out 'let's stay clear of that and any and all possibilities of the man you nearly slept with being a parental guardian. Ugh!'. "You-Know-Who knows this and wants me away from Harry and since he has followers within the ministry and specifically within the part that decides about these things, we are at their mercy"

"There's got to be something you can do? You can't be handed out to him, god knows what they will do to you, no I won't let that happen" Violet said convinced. Hermione smiled at her sister, feeling so lucky and grateful for her existence.

"Well, there is one way. A blood relative is preferred, the ministry can't argue with that." Hermione pondered how to ask her sister to uproot her life for her. She had thought about it a lot but when it really came down to it, she felt the words just wouldn't appear on her tongue.

"Me," Violet said, "that is why you called me, you need me to be your guardian?"

"Um... Yes. But I understand if you can't, I mean you have a life in the states, and this would mean-"

"Hermione" Violet interrupted, "of course I'll stay here with you"

"Really?"

"Yes, no doubt about it. You are my sister and you need me. I would love to stay here with you, my life is flexible, there isn't much for me in the states and I could find work here too"

Hermione felt tears forming and let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She flew at Violet and wrapped her arms her neck and she responded and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"Thank you! Thank you so much. I love you, Vi"

"I love you too, sweetheart"

I . I . I . I

"So, that boy," Violet said with a suspicious and stern expression. Hermione felt heat flush her cheeks, she avoided her eyes and gulped.

"Um... what boy?"

Violet laughed. "I wasn't born yesterday, I too was fifteen once. The boy in the Prophet, big, muscular man. What did you say his name was?"

"Viktor Krum"

"Yes, Viktor! Wait... Viktor Krum? The infamous seeker?"

"Um... Yes"

"You dated Viktor Krum?" Violet asked incredulously.

"I wouldn't say dated, we met during the tournament. Sure, he asked me to the yule ball and Hogsmeade a couple of times, but I wouldn't say dated."

"Sounds like dating to me. So, tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"God Hermione! How was it dating Viktor Krum?" Violet asked excitedly.

"VI!"

"Come on, Hermione. Give your sister a treat. He sure is handsome." Hermione blushed, she agreed to that very much.

"Um... Well, it was nice. He was shy and mostly watched me study. He used to meet me in the library, took weeks before he dared to speak with me. He was always stalked by a group of girls, fan club, but I scared them off as they always giggled and disrupted my studying."

"That is so romantic," Violet said, with a grin.

Hermione blushed and smiled. "Yes, it really was. He asked me to the yule ball, and we went, it was so great, I had so much fun and he really came out of his shell. He didn't talk much about Quidditch and he said how much he disliked the attention he got. It was a great evening." Hermione had a dreamy expression.

"Then what?"

"Ugh, then Ron happened. He was so stupid and silly, accused me of fraternising with the enemy like Viktor was somehow our enemy. At the beginning of the year, I had a crush on Ron, I wanted him to ask me out, but he didn't even see me as a girl. You can say my crush perished that evening. I yelled at him and Viktor found me crying. He was so sweet, held me and listened to me rant..." Hermione thought perhaps she would keep the rest of the evening to herself.

"Yes?" Violet was indicated Hermione to continue.

"He... He asked if I wanted to see the Durmstrang ship." Hermione said quickly. When Violet didn't respond she continued. "I said yes. I was curious. It was an amazing ship, must have had some extension charms on it because it had a big common room, kitchen and everyone had a separate bedroom."

"And how do you know everyone had separate bedrooms? I hope it was something Viktor told you."

Hermione realised she must be beet red by now. She didn't answer.

"Hermione..." Violet said sternly.

"Nothing happened." Hermione noticed Violet looking intently at her, her eyes sparkled, and she spotted Violet trying to appear stern but there was this tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Well, some things happened but not what you think. We kind of ended up in his room, it was magnificent, there was a fireplace and he had his own bathroom, the whole room was decorated in mahogany wood and Durmstrang colours."

"Décor is all good and fun, what else?"

"We snogged, and- and his hands roamed... But that was it. I swear! We stopped before it got too far, he stopped, I was kind of lost in the sensation... He said if we didn't stop now, then he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to stop." Hermione ended it with a faked dramatic fainting, just for show. Her sister's jaw had dropped, eyes had grown large and round. Hermione smiled wickedly. "He was shirtless at that point and oh-my-god" Hermione waggled her eyebrows at which Violet broke into laughter soon followed by Hermione herself.

Words like those, conversations like that or even the subtle teasing and innuendos is so not Hermione but there is something about a sister or more directly Violet that brings it out of her. Cause Hermione knows she is adored by her sister and while she sometimes tries to act all mature and stern Violet is most of all a fun sister who lets her loved ones free to think, do, experience regardless it being good or bad. Live and learn.

I . I . I . I

"How entertaining" a voice drawled. The duo stopped laughing, turned around and spotted the doorway filled with people, some redheads, Kingsley, angry looking Sirius, Remus and of course, the speaker, a very amused Severus Snape. "Had I known there was going to be entertainment I might have come sooner."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Mr..." Violet asked the very rude man.

"Snape," Snape replied. Hermione was so humiliated; how long had they been standing there. Sirius looked ready to burst into flames and most Weasley's just stood gaping, well Ron did at least, Ginny had a blush, twins were grinning, and Bill looked torn between acting as a stand-in brother and amusement. Mrs Weasley, however, gave Hermione a shameful look. Hermione wanted to desperately crawl down a hole and never resurface. She flew a desperate look at Remus, hoping he could save her. If he did, he never got a chance.

"Well, Mr Snape- "

"Professor,"

"Professor Snape then. I'm glad my sister and I amuse you, and slightly sorry that two sisters catching up is so entertaining that you consider changing your ordinary evening plans to spend it with us." Violet spoke in a polite tone.

Hermione had never feared for her life before, the feeling is unimaginable, uninterpretable and impossible to put to words. Flight or flee, that is a basic human instinct but Hermione was rooted in her seat. She had never before thought of her butt planted on a sofa or how it feels, now she did. Everyone had frozen as if time had stopped and Hermione hoped perhaps it had. Flight or flee. Her body did neither and perhaps it was due to that part of her that thought Professor Snape might have met his match in her sisters 180 cm 69.9 kg (thank you very much) body.

Would more fat in her butt make the seat softer? Keep her bone from digging into it? The aged sofa had bad stuffing, a spring was making itself known at… err- her upper right quadrant. She shifted slightly but it was noticeable.

"I assure you-" Snape began but Remus interrupted him.

"Severus," Snarling at the werewolf then towards the sisters he stalked out the room.

"Molly," Remus said.

"Oh yes yes, come on kids. Dining room now."

The audience dissipated and soon only Remus, Violet and Hermione were left. That until Hermione spotted Ron howering outside the dining room.

"Ron?" He came towards her sister held out his hand which Violet took hesitantly.

"Thank you. It was the best I have ever seen. Really thank you for giving it to that git- "

"Ron!" Hermione and Remus scolded.

"Alright, anyway. Thank you. I'm Ron by the way." Ron spoke and shook her hand as politely as Hermione had ever seen before joining his family.

"You must be Hermione's sister. My name is Remus Lupin," The calming but scarred werewolf said.

"That I am, Violet McDougall" Hermione saw her sisters' eyes so delicately roam over the scaring and the tiny cress that formed between her brows. Remus saw, how could he not. He didn't deserve that, none did, but curiosity is a human feature and it's hard to hide those from appearing on the thousands of muscles a face consists of.

"Sorry about him, he has sparse chances of entertainment and takes it where he gets it," Remus said, and Violet chuckled.

"I'm sure. I don't mind, I happen to enjoy entertaining."

"Um... Remus, I still have not told her about this place, the meeting and you know..." Hermione said quietly.

"We can fill her in at the meeting, you will need to sit in, but I believe Dumbledore will kick you out eventually. Have you asked?"

"She did, and I will do anything to keep my sister with me." Violet chipped in.

"I'm glad. I am really happy she got you." Remus said. "Come on, dinner will be ready soon," they followed Remus to the dining room but before Hermione could enter Violet held her back and whispered in her ear.

"Don't think we won't talk about it, because we will," she stated sternly, and Hermione frowned. "Don't act so innocent, I saw the look on Sirius' face, he looked absolutely furious." Hermione gulped and nodded.

I . I . I . I

It silenced as they entered, it was as usual packed with order members, Hermione wondered when and how they had arrived but figured it was best not to ask. The idea the might have entered through the front door and thus overheard the conversation was ignored by the teen. No, they had most certainly entered through the floo network that was conveniently placed in the dining room. Violet was outgoing, she didn't appear to be bothered and stood proudly and introduced herself.

"I'm Violet McDougall, Hermione's older sister." Hermione sat down next to Ginny, Violet took the spot on the other side of her. The introduction now out of the way seized the silence and soon small talk began as they awaited Dumbledore's arrival. Hermione held her gaze at the, suddenly so intriguing, table.

"Hermione" Ginny whispered. "You never told me you have a sister!" She glanced a look at her and saw Ginny looking at her sister occasionally.

"Well, it never came up. She is my half-sister, lives in the States and is a few years older than me. I didn't mean to keep it hidden or anything, it just never came up." Hermione said defensively.

"I understand you wanting to keep her hidden, just look at my brothers" Hermione shot a look around the table, many people glanced at her sister more than once.

Fred and George were situated across them and they had focused on her sister.

"Hello Violet, I'm Fred and this is my handsome brother George," Fred spoke. "We're shocked, or dear Hermione, a sister. Had no clue."

"No clue at all" George added. "I wonder what other secrets our Hermione is keeping"

Violet glanced at her. "I wonder that too," 'Is this oak?'

"The other redheads you see are our siblings. Bill is the oldest, works as a curse breaker for the bank. The one sitting next to him is our second oldest Charlie. Ron, our youngest brother is sitting next to Ginny, we got another brother, but he is not here," Fred said.

"Works in the ministry, stuck up he is," George added.

"Where is Percy?" Hermione asked them and noticed their facial expressions turn gloomy and dark.

They leaned over. "He had a row," Fred said quietly.

"Real bad one, never seen dad so angry," George added. "Mum is upset and sad, so we don't talk about it."

"What happened?"

"Oh, you know how he is, Fudge that and Fudge this. Man's in love the way he talks about Fudge." Fred explained.

"Doesn't believe you see, sticks by Fudge and refuses to believe he is back" George explained. Hermione gasped, she couldn't believe it. Why did people refuse to believe it, how could they, how could they explain Cedric's death? She remembered it so clearly, how they appeared, and Mr Diggory saw his soon and how he broke down when the realisation struck. What horror might they be going through?

"That's..."

"Horrible,"

"Ghastly,"

"Crazy," both twins said.

"It's not crazy. People not believing his return," Violet spoke, her words caught the attention of people around them who too turned towards her. "Return from the dead, has anyone? No. Was it a possibility, despite calling for the darkest of magic, then I'm sure a lot- perhaps all of us- would jump at the opportunity to resurrect a loved one. People don't believe it, because they would either wish of nothing more than the know-how and be aware that it was purely out of selfish reasons. The thought of it is so intimidating and frightening that people don't believe, won't believe."

"But-" Hermione started

"Hermione, people don't believe your friend because they are too frightened. Fear is a powerful thing; It can make the bravest man fall into darkness, and it can make him defy all for the mere chance of light."

I . I . I . I


R&R

A/N: Perhaps Hermione knew about Percy, I can't remember for sure but I'm going with she didn't know. Hope I won't regret that too much.