A/N: Hiiii!

Explanations before anything.

Hermione will still be called Hermione, because even after she found out she was Elize, a part of her will always be Hermione Granger.

And guys, in this story she wasn't aware that Voldemort's real name was Tom Riddle ok?

Thanks to all of you who reviewd and added the story to your alerts. Next chapter, a little of Dramione... Who wants it? \o/

See ya..

xx.

"So, what you are saying is that you left Hogwarts without Dumbledore's permission?"
"Yes Ron, that's exactly what I am saying." Hermione answered, rolling her eyes. She loved him and all, but sometimes he was just too slow. Harry smiled and pushed his glasses back to their place.
"I told you Harry, back in the second year; we were a bad example for her." The redhead whispered. Hermione laughed along with Ginny. They were already inside the carriages that were taking them from Hogsmead to the castle. Her friends had been really surprised to see her there at the station, and after having they bones crushed by Mrs. Weasley they had finally entered the train. Ron had being asking her the same questions for over an hour, it was getting annoying.
They had not believed her, Ginny had only smiled and said that she was glad that Hermione was coming to her senses by breaking some rules and becoming a normal person; and Harry only asked her how she was feeling.
"I'm fine." She had told him. "Just tired and with a few things to tell you when we're at the school."
The carriage came to a halt a few minutes later, the trio, plus Ginny, were laughing about a prank the twins had played on their mother earlier that week —how they had the courage to do it was still a mystery to her, after all even You-Know-Who should be afraid of a female Weasley temper.
While her friends were walking a bit ahead, Hermione stayed behind. Dinner would begin in only an hour, and she would have to face Dumbledore, which she was avidly trying to avoid, not for fright but she didn't know if she could control herself. Her temper was not something that someone wished to see too. And she was angry with the old wizard; she had every right to be. She was known to be curious and, she really wanted to know why he had done what he did.
If suddenly she appeared with her true image, the one he had tried to hide years ago, he would be ready with an excuse, he would also know that she no longer supported his actions and didn't trusted him; but acting as if nothing had changed, maybe, only maybe, she could have a chance of discovering something.
"Look who decided to return... The rebel Granger!" A sarcastic voice sneered. She had being looking at the towers, so she had to lower her head to see the owner of the voice.
"Were you worried with me ferret?" She smirked. "You didn't have too, I'm ok you see? No need to worry your pretty little head." She saw a flash of shock and surprise pass through his grey eyes, but decided against commenting; instead she started to climb the stairs, with her hands inside her pockets. It was still winter and it was freaking cold out there.

During dinner she had received a note from the headmaster, delivered by the always too eager to please others, Colin Creevy. She could feel eyes on her from three different directions but didn't search for them. A waste of time, she had told herself while drinking some of the pumpkin juice, they can look as long as they want.
The stares continued to burn a whole through her skull 'till the end of dinner and it annoyed her a bit. If those stares were from envy or even respect she wouldn't have minded at all. But they weren't and somehow she just knew that.
"...what you think?" The hopeful voice of her only girlfriend reached her ears and she had to blink a few times to focus on what was happening in front of her. "You were not even listening, were you 'Mi?"
"I'm sorry Gin... I was thinking about something and got distracted. Could you say it again? I promise I will not drift off this time." The ginger girl smiled and nodded, starting to talk again.
"Well, so, Dino asked me to go with him to the next Hogsmead weekend and..." Hermione tried to continue focused on the talk as much as she could, answering with small words from time to time while they waited for the boys to finish their dinner.

*

He still couldn't believe that that girl was the same Granger he knew. Something had changed once again, he didn't know if for better or worse, but it had. She wasn't that much in control of her emotions, when he usually said something offending she would threat him with her wand or with a physic attack; not today though, she had just shut him up with icy words, in a way he never imagined she could muster.
What possibly could be happening with the mighty Gryffindor Princess? He saw the Creevy boy deliver something to her; probably from Dumbledore. The headmaster had been almost angry when he discovered that Granger had run away. Draco himself were surprised when two days prior, Filch had entered the Great Hall saying that Miss Granger was nowhere to be found inside the castle. Oh how he enjoyed seeing the confusion and worry on the staff members that liked the girl most.
She had some nerve, so what? Leaving Hogwarts without permission was a great deed to be accomplished — he had tried once but had been caught by the blasted Filch's cat —, but that didn't meant anything. Only that she was an attention seeker like Potter. But she was his friends after all, wasn't she?
Draco stared at her during dinner, without even noticing. When he did though, even after reprimand himself, his eyes searched her mane which she called hair. He knew that she could feel his eyes on her and thought it strange when she didn't turn around and glared. She was ignoring him. Bloody Granger was ignoring him!
He watched as she left the Great Hall along with her friends, without the usual smile she always wear. He stood up and made his own way out, sighing gladly when the silence of the hallway met his ears. Silence was good. He liked it.
The peace he found when he was alone, being able to think properly and without any interruptions was wonderful. No Pansy around to cling to his arm at any chance. No Blaise to comment about how stupid Longbotton was or how his new broom was the coolest thing he won for Christmas.
He wondered if when he died, he would find peace. He had read someday somewhere, that there was a heaven, or paradise he didn't know, and a hell. Those who made good deeds when living and things like Gryffindors usually did, had a place reserved for them at paradise, next to God and angels. And those who were bad, that committed crimes against the human life and so, were doomed to hell. A bunch of muggle bullshit was what he thought about that. It was pathetic! But it made him wonder nonetheless. Which one would he ended up? Hell was more probable, well, after he completed his mission it would definitely be hell.
Draco shook his head, attempting to clear his head from such stupid thoughts about muggle culture. He hated them, damn it! He would be receiving his mark at summer breaks, he was a future Death Eater, muggles and whatever crazy idea they had was repulsive! They were nothing.
His steps leaded him to the Astronomy Tower again, like it had for so many nights in a row.

He remember then of his wolf friend and how even he had abandoned him. He had been marveled with the animal when he first saw it. It was good in a way to have someone there next to him, even if only an animal, to just stay and don't say anything; to hear him while he talked about everything that was happening. How weak of him, craving for company. He snorted, angry with himself. He was Draco Malfoy for crying out loud! Pureblood playboy, heir of the Malfoy fortune and a future killer.

Then he scowled, running his hand through his pale blond hair.
What a beautiful story he was building for himself.

*

How dared him? Treat her like she was a small child who couldn't walk with its own legs? Well, he was terribly mistaken if he thought she would go back to be his puppet. She didn't care if he was disappointed, he was the headmaster, he should have known she was leaving the grounds the moments her feet touched the stone steps of the stairs; not that she was complaining though. She was glad that he didn't find out.
Hermione sighed, she was tired. The day had been a long one and tomorrow they would be back to classes. The halls were already empty when she came out from Dumbledore's office so there was no one to ask themselves why the most prized student of Hogwarts had such a dark aura around herself and a scowl on her face.
Oh how she wanted to spat at him that she knew everything, that she knew that he had lied to everybody all those years. But no, she had been polite with him all the meeting, pretending to be ashamed with herself and she even allowed a few fake tears slid down her cheeks. He seemed to have bought the whole act in the end. And her friends said she was a bad liar… Well, maybe discovering the truth, unlocked some hidden trait of her personality.

Lie to Dumbledore had being quite easy and incredibly she hadn't felt so guilty like she used to feel before when lying to someone.
She was tired now, and bothered. Nothing seemed more appealing than her warm bed inside the girls' dormitory. The Gryffindor Tower was almost empty when she arrived; most of the students decided to call an early night because of the classes next morning. Hermione smiled when she saw Harry stretched on one of the armchairs. It was a bad habit of him, wait for her to come back every time. He was like a brother to her and she took care of her family.
"Hey…" She whispered, poking him lightly on the shoulder. His green eyes, red with sleep and tiredness, slowly opened. "I told you once that you shouldn't wait for me."
"Bullshit!" He grumbled with a hoarse voice and blinked a couple of times, awkwardly rearranging his position on the chair. She took in his disheveled appearance; his black hair all messy and dark bags under his eyes. He seemed older than he should be. This war had taken so much from him – from all of them.
"It's not bullshit Harry. And don't forget your manners, please." She raised her chin, and despite the serious expression on her face, her eyes were full of mirth. Harry smiled at hearing her motherly tone; but the smile quickly faded, giving place to a worried frown that took over all his face. "Are you ok Harry?"
"Yeah…" He mumbled, clenching and unclenching his hands.
Hermione sighed and sat herself on the floor, next to his legs. "You know you can tell me everything right?"
"I know… I-I just don't want to add anything else on your shoulders 'Mi. You already have enough problems." His voice sounded so broken, defeated. Hermione gripped his hands between hers. They stayed in silence for a bit longer, relinquishing on each other company. "Before I went to The Burrow for Christmas, Dumbledore showed me some memories of Voldemort, well not exactly from Voldemort himself, but about him. He was Professor Slughorn most prized student, did you know?"
"No, I didn't. I never knew his normal name, so I couldn't research, and you never told me." She answered, resting her head on his knee. His eyes turned to her, surprised and guilty. "What?"
"I thought Ginny had told you…" Hermione shook her head, denying. Harry cursed under his breathe and run his hand on his hair. "It's Tom Marvolo Riddle." Her heart skipped a bit. "So... He wants me to retrieve some memory from Slughorn. Apparently he is hiding something. I wholeheartedly wish that he knows a way to kill that monster and end this war so..." She had stopped to really listen what Harry was saying the moment he had said that name. Her brother's name. It couldn't be true, could it?
Well, she was totally screwed if it was. Merlin, she was Voldemort twin sister. And she was fighting against him. Against her own brother.
"Hermione? Hermione?" Harry called. Her vision focused again and her eyes found his. "You drifted off... Is something wrong?"
She swallowed, struggling to maintain her emotions on control, it would do no good to let the shock — and slight happiness — she was felling be seen by Harry.
"I-I'm ok... Just tired. Long day." She said, faking a yaw. "Good luck with your plan Harry. I know you will do greatly. See you tomorrow." She stood up and left the common room, missing the questioning look that the now alone boy, had on his emerald eyes.

A/N: Don't forget to let me know what you think! It's really important! Oh, and: DID YOU LIKED?

xx, J.