Chapter 11

Months passed by quickly and before you know it, December's snow rested itself on the British grounds and the Christmas vacation was a couple of days away. Orion, after being granted his parents' permission, invited Draco and Hermione to spend the holidays at Hampshire Manor, Neville and Susan were both obligated to spend the holidays at home but promised to visit.

Orion, Hermione, and Draco packed their things and flooed over to Hampshire Manor from the Headmaster's office to find themselves on the first floor living room of the manor. Hestia greeted them all warmly: "Welcome! I'm very glad that you accepted Orion's invitation and we're delighted to have you, well Draco's used to us since we're family but Hermione, It's your first visit, we want you to feel at home dear!" Hermione was grinning uncontrollably and answered: "Thank you so much Your Grace! The pleasure is all mine!" and then Draco said: "Thanks Aunt Hestia, has Twinky prepared my usual room or another one perhaps?" Hestia smiled and said: "No it's the usual one dear, the one next to Orion's. As for Hermione I'll call Kindy to show you your room."

Then the Duchess called said house-elf who popped in and showed Hermione her room, as she entered it, she was taken aback! It was breathtaking! The room was enormous, more of a suite than a room, the wallpaper was ecru and had royal patterns, there was a sitting area with luxurious cream-colored couches and in the back in front of three long windows with ecru curtains was a queen-sized bed so luxurious that maybe a princess has one just like it! She opened the door to her suite's balcony and contemplated the beautiful view of the garden.

"Is the room to your liking Hermione?" asked a gentle voice

Hermione turned around to find the Duchess smiling at her. Hermione nodded and told her: "It's the most beautiful and wonderful room I've ever seen Your Grace! Thank you so much!"

Hestia beamed at her and told her gently: "I'm glad you like it! By the way, call me Aunt Hestia, Orion told me how fond he is of you, you're just like a sister to him Hermione, he cares about you that much!"

Hermione replied: "I care about him too, he's the brother I never had!"

Hestia: "Indeed, now if you'll come with me, Sirius would like to meet you, he's in his study."

Hermione followed the Duchess to the Duke's study, she entered and saw Orion and Draco sitting there too, she took a seat next to Draco. The Duke then said: "Ah, you must be Hermione! I'm Orion's father and I'm very pleased to have you and Draco over to spend Christmas with us."

Draco replied: "Thanks a bunch Uncle Sirius! It's always great here, far better than at my parents' house!"

Sirius laughed and then said: "Yes Draco, I know you and Orion have a great time together planning what I fear might be most disastrous! But you know that you're going to spend one day at your parents' house right?"

Draco frowned and replied: "I know Uncle, and I dread it!"

Sirius: "Now Draco, I'm sure your parents missed you and would want to see you, now Hermione, how are you finding your stay so far, has anything disturbed you?"

Hermione: "On the contrary Your Grace! Everything is great! Thank you so much for having me!"

Sirius: "You're more than welcome!"

Draco and Orion then went to Orion's room to read some Quidditch magazines while Hermione went to the Library along with the Duchess. Walburga was already there. Her eyes left the book she was reading as they entered.

"What do we have here?" Walburga asked

"Oh this is Miss Hermione Granger, a friend of Orion's from school" Hestia answered.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Black!" Hermione said.

"It is isn't it? Are you by any chance a Dagworth-Granger?" Lady Black asked.

"No, I'm muggle-born." Hermione answered.

"I see, and why do you think you're worthy to enter this library? I see your blood isn't!" Walburga spoke coldly.

"Please Walburga this isn't necessary…" Hestia said hastily.

"Oh, but it is Your Grace, well Lady Black, I want to ask you something, what makes blood worthy?" Hermione asked.

"Its Purity of course!" Walburga exclaimed!

"Technically speaking Lady Black, blood has only one composition!" Hermione said.

"You know what I mean! I mean ancestry, noble ancestry, magical ancestry!" Walburga exclaimed again.

"Ah! Well I have another question Lady Black, since the Black Family's ancestry goes back to centuries behind, your family's founder was magical right?" Hermione asked.

"Yes!" Walburga said

"Okay, so the founder inherited the name black from his parents, but he was the founder of the Black magical line so He was the first magical member of his family, am I correct Lady Black?" Hermione asked.

"mmm…yes.." Walburga answered.

"So that makes the founder, without a doubt, since he was the first magical member of his family, a muggle-born! So if centuries after the moment during which we speak, my family line continues, It'll be a pure-blood family as well! So a muggle-born, if he treats their magic the right way, can found a pure blood line as well! And I must add as well that a muggle-born, since he doesn't inherit his magic, so it must be a gift! So he must be worthy of lots of things since he was worthy to be granted magic in the first place." Hermione explained.

Walburga and Hestia stared at the young witch for what seemed like an eternity and then Lady Black spoke up: "Has anyone ever told you that you are the brightest witch of her age? You should've been a Sytherin! And intelligence and brightness goes a long way with Walburga Black! Welcome to the manor Miss Granger!"

Hermione smiled and said: "Thank you Lady Black, I am honored to even be invited for a day at the Manor, let alone spend the holidays, I am indeed overwhelmed!"