CHAPTER TWELVE
Summary: Hermione's secret is discovered by The Order of the Phoenix. Before Harry is rescued, she needs to be first. But from who? With the help of Sirius she learns to put the past behind her, and with the help of two Weasleys, they show her a happy future. But Hermione isn't who she thinks she is, what she discovers will change her life for good. Rated M for a reason.
Disclaimer: All original characters and canon events belong to J.K. Rowling. Non-canon events are my own ideas. I am not making any profit from posting this fanfic.
Page count: 8
Hogwarts - Friday 12th January 1996
Before entering the classroom, Hermione placed kisses to the beaming twins' cheeks and promised to sit with them at lunch. Padfoot entered the room first, as if scouting for danger and he walked over to Hermione's seat, she didn't know how he knew where she sat, but she didn't question it. She removed her required belongings from her bag and got comfortable, waiting for the lesson to begin.
Thankfully is wasn't a long wait as Professor Snape glided into the room, his robes billowing behind him as they always seemed to do. Hermione had come to think of it as his signature, just as Dumbledore had hi twinkling eyes, Harry had a constant mop of messy black hair and the mischievous smile the twins always seemed to sport on their faces.
"Quieten down," he ordered, the whispers stopping. "Miss. Black is a regular student wishing to complete her education, so I suggest you all stop staring at her like idiots," he drawled. Some of the class looked scolded and turned to face the front, no longer looking at her. "It also wouldn't be wise to anger her," he added and the rest of the class paled and turned away from her. She sent Snape a thankful look and he nodded almost unnoticeably.
Hermione was sitting at the end of the bench and thankfully Harry was sitting next to her, with Ronald on his other side. She hadn't spoken to him since that day in Grimmauld Library, but he hadn't stopped staring at her since she'd entered the great hall.
Half way through the lesson she sighed whilst stirring her cauldron, Ron was practically drooling and she was becoming annoyed. She heard a snarl and looked down with a raised eyebrow.
Padfoot was stood up with his teeth bared and his eyes narrowed on Ron. Ron gulped and paled, swiftly looking away from her.
"Miss. Black, keep the mutt under control."
Padfoot turned around and snarled at Snape.
"Sorry, Professor, you know how he can be, he's a little protective and I sometimes question his sanity," she winked at the now pouting dog.
Snape's mouth twitched in amusement. "As do I, Miss. Black, on a regular basis," he then turned and started to make his rounds of the classroom, insulting every student's attempt at brewing their potion.
~000~000~000~
After attending Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, Hermione and Padfoot entered the great hall for lunch. The twins were already seated, but they were unusually sat at the end of the table, rather than the middle. She assumed they had done it for her, to give her some semblance of privacy.
She made her way over to them and they stood when she reached them, they smiled and greeted her and she took a seat in-between them with Padfoot on the floor behind her. She filled a plate with food for him and placed it on the floor before filling a plate for herself.
"I take it you're sat here for a reason," she spoke, motioning to their new seating arrangement which happened to be the closest seats to the great hall doors.
"Well, we didn't want anything like this morning happening again, -" began Fred.
"- So we decided it was best to have an easy escape route to keep you safe," George finished.
She felt her eyes watering and she quickly kissed their cheeks for their thoughtfulness, they beamed in response.
"So, anything good happen in classes, Love?"
There it was again, the form of endearment fell from George's lips and her stomach fluttered.
"Not really, Padfoot snarled at Ron for drooling over me for over half of the lesson, he then snarled at Snape and I teased him on his mental sanity." They heard a growl from Padfoot and she laughed. "Arithmancy, most just stared at me, even Professor Vector, so I didn't get much work done," she grumbled and they chuckled at her. "Ancient Runes wasn't too bad, just a lot of whispers."
"Only half a day to go," Fred commented her.
"Care of magical creatures, at least I know Hagrid won't treat me any differently. Then I have charms, that'll be fun," she sighed. "Finally transfiguration, Professor McGonagall will keep everyone in line."
"She will," they nodded in agreement.
"So, to take your mind off everything do you want to give us another lesson?" George asked her.
"We have a meeting tonight," she reminded them.
"We can just stay behind afterwards, or even just stay away from the others, they'll be learning the patronus anyway, but thanks to you we're more advanced," Fred grinned.
"A sparrow?" George said suddenly.
"No," she shook her head amused.
"Bear?" Fred asked hopefully.
"Nope."
"Tiger?" George supplied.
"Nope."
"Dammit," he cursed and she laughed at his frustrated expression. "We will figure it out," he promised.
"This century?" she teased.
"Cheeky witch," Fred nudged her and she laughed at him.
The laughter was cut short when a beautiful and imposing eagle soared into the great hall, landing elegantly on the Slytherin table and in front of Malfoy no less, carrying a red envelope.
"Oh, shit!" George grinned. "Someone's got a howler," he sang and everyone had turned to watch the scene unfold.
Malfoy gulped and reached for the letter, the eagle flying away immediately.
The letter floated in the air and took on the form of a mouth, moving as it spoke the words written on the parchment.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" the voice exclaimed; his skin looked a sickly pale colour. "I have been informed by Sirius that you have not only put your hands on a woman, but a Black no less. How dare you treat a lady that way? I thought I raised you better. And to not only harm a woman, your cousin, Lady Black and The Blue Mage too, what on the name of magic were you thinking? If you treat your cousin with anything less than respect and kindness, you will feel my hex from Malfoy Manor! Do I make myself clear?" He nodded immediately.
The letter suddenly spun around and in Hermione's direction and spoke in a much softer and kinder tone.
"Hermione, Dear, you will make a wonderful Lady Black, I am proud that it is you that has the responsibility of continuing on the line of our noble house. If there is anything you need, anything at all, please do feel free to owl me. I presume that with Sirius as your father, you will need a mother figure and I would be delighted to be that for you, My Dear. There are traditions that must be taught to you that can only come from a mother. Draco will give you the owl address. Congratulations on your title, I am honoured to have you as family, you will make the House of Black great again."
It then spun back to Malfoy.
"Heed my words carefully, Draco!" the howler warned, before setting itself ablaze and turning into a pile of ash and smoke that rained down over Malfoy's head.
The hall was quiet, that was until Fred and George stood up and applauded loudly.
"Bloody brilliant, never seen something more entertaining in my life!" George said loudly for all to hear.
"And that's saying a lot, considering all the things we've done," Fred commented.
George nodded in agreement with his twin's words. "Yeah, like that time we glued Percy to a garden gnome."
"Or when we cut Bill's hair in his sleep."
"Or when we set fire to Charlie's broom."
"Or when we locked Ron in a closet filled with spiders," Fred offered with a grin.
"Or that time we stole Dad's wand to try and do an unbreakable vow."
"Or when we put itching powder in Mum's cardigan, I'm surprised we survived that one actually."
"Merlin, what about the time we glued Ginny's tampons to Bill's face!" George spoke with a terrifying grin. Ginny had gone bright red and was spluttering in embarrassment.
"That was last week," Fred said laughing.
"Yeah, we're not one to recycle pranks but I think we should with that one, funniest thing we've ever done. I don't know who looked more outraged. Bill, Ginny, Mum, Dad," George listed off, Hermione was trying to stifle her giggles and the twins winked at her.
"Messrs. Weasley," Dumbledore's voice spoke.
"Professor," they greeted with a cheeky grin.
"As amusing and creative your pranks are, I don't think it's acceptable talk for the dinner table."
"Of course, Professor, sorry," they replied, looking far from apologetic. They sat down and turned their attention back to Hermione.
"I still can't believe you did that to Bill," Hermione laughed. "I thought Sirius was going to pass out, he couldn't stop laughing. You could've at least waited until he wasn't on the staircase to wake Bill, he almost fell down them. You could've killed my father before the adoption papers even came through."
They grinned at her. "Sorry, Love, we'd been waiting hours for him to wake and we couldn't wait any longer."
"What am I going to do with you?" she said fondly, shaking her head.
"Keep us, hopefully," Fred spoke, as George said. "Anything you want." She laughed at them.
"So, Mummy Malfoy was awfully cheery," Fred commented.
"Don't you just love how she managed to slip into the letter that she and Malfoy were related to The Blue Mage half a dozen times?"
They snorted at her.
"It was more than that actually," George said.
"Of course, most Pureblood families are related in some way, but the Malfoys and Lestranges are the closest relatives to the Blacks, she managed to scold the blonde ponce, offer you her help and remind and gloat to everyone, just how connected she and the Malfoys are with being related to The Blue Mage," Fred spoke.
"Is this what my life's going to be like from now on?" she sighed.
"Afraid so, Princess," Fred spoke. The twins took her hands and gave them a squeeze and she felt a nudge at her back, Padfoot.
"We'll be a buffer for you, we won't let anything happen to you," George spoke and she smiled at them all, knowing he meant his words.
~000~000~000~
"I hope everyone had a good holiday," Harry spoke and he received murmurs in reply. "Good, today we'll do a quick review of what we learned before the holidays and then we'll start on learning how to cast a patronus." Murmurs of excitement broke out. "Break into small groups and duel between you, in half an hour we'll start patronus lessons. Hermione and I will be wandering around if you need us."
The twins immediately took Hermione's hands and walked away from the rest of the D.A. heading over to a corner in the room, Padfoot stayed in his place by the side of the entrance to the Room of Requirement, watching the rebellious, duelling students in pride.
"So, the last time we practiced you both managed to conjure a dull grey glow. What we are aiming for is a bright blue-silver colour, once you have secured that; your patronuses should take form."
"Okay, then, now that we understand what we need to do, it should be easier now," Fred commented.
"It would go a lot quicker if you just showed us yours," George grinned.
"No!"
He scowled and she laughed at him.
~000~000~000~
"I'm quite proud of you both," Hermione said, as they made their way down the corridors, making their way back to the common room. Padfoot was slightly ahead of them, using his enhanced senses to make a path that kept them out of the way of a certain evil professor and pet students.
"You are?" Fred asked surprised, his ears turning pink.
"Of course I am," she hit his arm gently. "You managed to conjure a silver glow, it took me months to do that, you've done it in about six weeks. You just have to keep making happy memories, ones that you can use and before you know it, you'll be part of a small percentage of wizarding folk that can cast a patronus, not to mention, you can officially join The Order."
They beamed at her. "Are you still going to join The Order?" George asked her.
She frowned. "I'm not sure, I'm supposed to stay neutral and nothing has happened to force my hand yet. Merlin knows I want to, but I can't."
"It's okay, we understand," Fred said softly.
George took her hand and laced his fingers through hers and Fred slowly put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side slightly.
"You hardly flinch anymore," George spoke, giving her a gentle look.
"Sorry?" she said confused.
"You hardly flinch when we touch you now," he explained. "Before you would jump a mile in the air at the simplest of touches and now look at you."
She shrugged. "I suppose you make it easier, I know that you'd never do anything to hurt me, you've proved that countless times, especially after everything you've done for me. You're patient with me, you don't judge me and you don't get mad or hurt when I flinch away from your touch. It was a case of mind over matter, I suppose. It's only with you two though, no one else and Sirius and Remus don't count, since I've been fine with their touch since they found me. They' were my saviours, and I knew I could trust them with my life and my safety. I can handle touches such as this," she gestured to their current position. "But anything else will take a while."
"We don't expect anything from you, Hermione, especially not after everything you went through. We told you, you make the first move. You control our actions. You're the one in charge," Fred spoke softly.
"You're far too kind to me."
~000~000~000~
Thank Merlin it was Friday, no more classes filled with idiots. 'Dunderheads, the lot of them,' he thought with a snort.
He exited the gates of Hogwarts, walking off the grounds and to a safe place to apparate. He turned on his heel with his wand in hand, his black robes billowed as he disappeared from view, only to land outside the wards of a cabin high in the Scottish Mountains.
He slowly walked through the invisible barriers, the wards accepting his magical signature and his blood.
He made his way toward the small cabin that was maybe ten feet in length and width and twelve in height. The old cabin looked deserted and rotten, pieces of wood missing from different sides of the cabin, the windows were glassless and there were holes in the roof, but appearances could be deceiving.
Snape opened the cabin and stepped inside of the warmth, the biting Scottish Mountain temperature being forced away from him as the lit fireplace greeted him.
The room was simple and practical, much bigger that what is should've been and far more habitable than it should've been. Two large black couches sat opposite each other, near the fireplace with a glass coffee table in the centre. An entire wall was made up of books and a small kitchen area was off to the right, leaving only two doors, one a bedroom and the other a bathroom.
"Agent Comet," Snape greeted.
"Severus," he replied with a tilt of his head.
"Your identity?"
"Still unknown." Severus smirked as The Unspeakable lowered the hood of his cloak. "We need to talk about Hermione Black."
"Yes, we do," he agreed.
They both took seats opposite each other and The Unspeakable flicked his wand, summoning a bottle of fire whiskey and two tumblers from the kitchen.
"It is true, what you told me."
"Obviously," Snape drawled with a roll his eyes.
"I believed you to some extent, I just needed to see it for myself."
"And?"
"Frightening," he replied, causing Snape to smirk.
"Yes, she is. She was terrifying before all of this came to be, what with her power, intelligence and knack for vengeance, now she's more powerful than ever."
"He'll want her; we can't allow that, I won't allow that to come of her."
"Why?"
"You know very well why, things are different this time around," he shrugged. "I will need help protecting her."
"She can protect herself," Snape said confidently. "Her power grows stronger by the day, as does her control. She will not follow The Dark Lord and she will not fight for The Order, not unless her hand is forced."
"And it will be. You're in a better position than I to observe her. I'll get you any information I can on possible abduction plans so it can be thwarted."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Snape said.
"I do, I am protecting The Blue Mage and in doing so, I am also protecting my family."