Recap
When they reached the Gargoyle, Malfoy recited the password and they walked up the winding staircase. As they reached the door Malfoy put his hand up to knock, but before his fist could touch the wood, Dumbledore's voice became apparent, telling them to enter.
Malfoy opened the door and held it open for her. Hermione looked at him suspiciously but when she saw his annoyed expression, she walked past him, remembering his tantrum at the carriages. After she sat down, Malfoy took a seat next to her and they stared at Dumbledore expectantly.
"Ah I believe and an explanation is owed to the both of you," he said with the ever present twinkle in his eye. "You in particular Miss Granger."
They both sat in silence, waiting for the headmaster to continue.
"I apologise Miss Granger," Dumbledore persisted. "I wasn't aware that there was even such a situation happening such as yours. If I had of known, this would have been dealt with beforehand."
"Headmaster, with all due respect, I'm not sure what you are talking about," Hermione explained. "And it would be a great help if you could start from the beginning and just tell me bluntly why I am here."
The old man sighed. "Yes, I do believe the beginning would be an excellent place to start," he decided. "Well it started with a visit from the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures over the summer holidays. I believe they also paid you a visit Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded but did not interrupt the professor's speech, so he continued to speak. "They were inquiring about a certain, out of classes social group the school holds for certain students. It's held every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. This group is for students who are predominantly wizards but have characteristics of other... humanoid species. The members start either as soon as they get to Hogwarts if their traits are already dominant in everyday life for them, or they start attending meetings in fifth year to prepare them for when they come of age.
Now as you should be aware, in the wizarding world, seventeen is when adolescents are recognised as young adults. Incidentally, it's also when recessive genes of different types of magic start to become dominant. This will be true in your case, because our records show that your birthday is in just under three weeks time."
Hermione nodded when she remembered her birthday was soon. The information that Dumbledore was feeding her was making her mind clock onto overtime, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together before he could finish.
"This group was initially founded by the ministry to avoid any mishaps and help train and prepare the students for any extra powers, side effects or disadvantages they may have. The identity of each member in this group remains completely anonymous to the rest of the school. However, I found myself in a spot of trouble with the ministry when they picked up readings of different magic in your area. They found that there was a registered Nix in the area-"
"Sir, by Nix do you mean mermaid or a nymph?" Hermione interrupted.
"The term Nix is an umbrella for salt water mermaids, water nymphs and sirens," Dumbledore explained.
"And you say there was a registered one in my area?" she pressed.
"That is correct," he confirmed.
"So that was me?" she concluded.
"Close Miss Granger, but not quite," he continued. "The register at the ministry is one for a Miss Jean Meldrum."
"That's my mum before she got married!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yes," Dumbledore verified. "She was a student here at Hogwarts years ago. And it's my own fault that you were left unregistered due to me overlooking you because of your muggleborn background. I have had students in the past go into the muggle world and live like one of them. However, I have reason to believe your mother cast spells to cover her tracks, I also think she was hoping you would not have magical talent due to your father's non-magical genes."
"Wait! What do you mean she was a student here?" Hermione demanded. "How come she never told me? Especially when I got into Hogwarts? This doesn't make any sense!"
However, in her heart of hearts, Hermione knew that it made perfect sense. The graffiti and acceptance of everything magical pointed to it. Dumbledore waited for her to calm before he continued.
"Many people have different reasons for what they do," Dumbledore defended her mother. "Though the matter at hand is when the ministry investigated into the magical fields around your house and discovered your mother had a daughter who was unregistered and showing signs of a particular magical signature, they paid me a little visit.
"It's just lucky there happens to be an unusual amount of mixed breed students at the school in recent years. Otherwise, having no social standing in the wizarding world could have resulted in leaving you unprotected."
"Unprotected from what?" Hermione queried.
"From magical poachers," he explained further. "These are people who capture half breeds to study the effectiveness of their magic and harvest them if it is possible and the pros outweigh the cons. And unfortunately, the powers you will undoubtedly gain when you come of age.
"Now listen, I have registered you with the ministry so there should be no difficulties with them. Though registered mixed breeds do have to meet with a ministry official every 12 months just to display that their... civilised side has remained dominant and are still fit for society. Unjust I know, but that is the law.
"I've booked you an interview for a month after your seventeenth birthday."
"Thank you sir," Hermione said quietly, still taking in all the information. She was still coming to terms at the fact she had to have an interview with a ministry official to prove she was civilised. So many questions were running through her head. Is this why mum left? Was she not 'civilised'? The reason surely has something to do with all this...
"You will also need to attend the group meetings at least once a week," he continued, taking off his glasses and wiping them on his long robes and replacing them on his face. "Most of our members enjoy the company of one another and often meet up outside meetings to discuss anything they feel necessary about dealing with everyday life in their current condition."
"Sir," Hermione interrupted once again. "What, exactly is my... current condition?"
"Ah, that is where it gets slightly complicated Miss Granger," Dumbledore frowned. "You are a witch, with what appears to be siren blood. However the blood is not as strong as it could be. If it were above a certain level, you would not be with us right now. However it is strong enough that you will gain traits, as your mother did.
"These traits include but are not limited to a special release of pheromones that attract the opposite sex, don't worry Miss Granger; they are only released on will. Also the gift of a particularly beautiful song that attracts males when you are in danger or of any particular... needs," Dumbledore coughed slightly and his cheeks went a light pink colour but continued on.
"Also once you come of age, you're body will cease to age until you have found your mate and consummated your bonding. This is what your song is for, even in more civilised time, it is a great help for you.
"Which leads me to your panic attacks, as your coming of age increases, so too does your need to find your mate. It is my belief that your panic attacks occur when you are intimidated by other women or are around other men when your mate is not present. This is designed to warn your body to get away from the impending threat."
"So wait," Hermione interjected. "Does that mean I already know who my mate is if I can tell when I'm around males who aren't him? So I don't get to choose my mate?"
"Well, yes and no," Dumbledore explained. "You haven't consciously chosen your mate, but your heart and soul know who is best for you. However, it also has something to do with the magic of the other mate choosing you also. You as a siren, do not necessarily need a mate, though it is one of the most important things to a siren's heart.
"This is why sirens used to sing to men sailing on boats nearby in a bid to find their mate, and when they find the men they summoned were not their mates, they would drown them in a fit of panic to escape the strange men."
"That seems a little drastic," Hermione muttered darkly.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, it does seem so." Suddenly Dumbledore looked at her a little more seriously.
"You do know Hermione, that other creatures aren't so lucky with their mates?" he questioned her.
"What do you mean Professor?" she looked at him confused.
"Some creatures need their mate's acceptance in order to live past a certain stage in their life," he explained.
"Yes, I know that. Are you saying some members of this after school group are looking for their mates?" she asked not quite grasping what the old man was on about.
"Yes Miss Granger, more specifically Mr Malfoy over here," Dumbledore hinted looking at Malfoy.
Hermione slightly opened her mouth in surprise. She had completely forgotten he was there. He had been so quiet and patient while Dumbledore had discussed Hermione and only Hermione. She glanced over at him and saw he had his hands folded in his lap; he was avoiding eye contact with her. She looked back to Dumbledore with an unreadable expression on her face.
"This is also a heavy topic that concerns the both of you," he continued.
Just then, there was a knock on the office door.