Chapter twenty four
The night before the ball was a restless one for most of the students but as ever Hermione was using this night to get some homework done though a certain raven haired boy was making it harder for as the night grew on.
Hermione and Harry were the last up and both were sitting on the sofa, Harry sat sprawled out with Hermione sitting hunched over the table. Harry finished several magazines about quidditch and found that playing with Hermione's hair rather more entertaining, curling strands around his fingers before gently needing the back of her neck with his callous fingers that never failed to send shivers down her back.
"Hermione aren't you tried yet" Harry drawled shifting forward to lean his head on her shoulder. Hermione rolled her eyes and smirked patting his knee.
"If your tired Harry go to bed" she ordered before returning back to her homework, missing the pout Harry threw at her before snaking an arm around Hermione's waist.
"I'm not that tired… I thought we could go to bed" Harry offered as Hermione sighed and turned in his arm to lean over him. Harry smiled innocently up at her running his fingers beneath her shirt.
"Harry I have homework… besides neither your room mates nor mine will enjoy any of that show" Hermione reprimanded soft causing Harry to raise an eyebrow and smirked at her.
Hermione rolled her eyes and pressed her hand against his forehead and pushed him back into the sofa with a grunt. Hermione turned back to her homework while Harry chuckled trailing his fingers beneath her shirt.
"Oh I don't know Hermione I think the guys might be impressed" Harry offered while a mischievous look crept across Hermione's face before she lent back against Hermione looking as though deep in thought.
"well…I suppose we could go upstairs, at least the rest of the guys will know your telling the truth if- I mean when you boast about our time together and seeing me naked" "on second thoughts I'm happy down here" Harry snipped placing an arm possessively around Hermione's waist.
Hermione gave a proud smile before she returned to her homework but before she could pick her quill up a parchment flew onto the table directly in front of her. Hermione sat up with a start and stared at the blank parchment; she examined it closely before picking it up, by now Harry struggled to sit up beside her and studied the parchment with her.
"What's that?" Harry questioned frowning at it, suddenly words seemed to drip on to it and Hermione gasped dropping it as though it burned her. Harry bolted forward pulling Hermione protectively against him, studying the parchment that still remained blank to him.
Hermione, I wish to tell you that… I'm your father, you've found me after all these years and I've found you too.
You might… no you're probably will be shocked and even surprised that I'll admit that I know near enough all about you.
And not just because your Hermione Granger friend to Harry Potter but because I discovered that I was your father when you discovered the man you've called your father isn't.
How I discovered this I can't explain in this letter… but rest assured that I've never be more proud in my life to have discover that I have a beautiful, brilliant and wonderful daughter.
And even f you never want to meet me I shall be happy to know that the man you've called father will carry on taking care of you.
You can of course ask me what you wish… I shall to answer what you wish to know to an extent
Hermione watched in wonder as the words trickled across the parchment she glanced to Harry was still frowning wondering what exactly was going on.
"it's my father… he's speaking to me" Hermione told him meekly feeling her stomach tighten, her hand fell in to her lap and Harry seeing her look grabbed her hand tightly in his hands.
"Hermione you don't have to respond if you don't want to" Harry assured running his thumb across her knuckles. Hermione thought for a few moments then took up her quill and help the tip to the magic parchment before her.
Harry gave her a smile and a tight squeeze of her hand "I can leave" he offered but Hermione shook her head and began to write.
I…I don't know where to begin. I'm grateful to speaking to you, I must admit to feeling apprehensive about this moment.
It's quite unnerving that you might know everything about me and I know nothing about you.
Hermione pulled her quill back and Harry watched in wonder as the words faded as though the parchment drank the ink.
You have nothing to fear… what I know about you Hermione is nothing but good… in a way I've always known you but never dared entrained the thought that I could call you my daughter.
I can't explain now how I discovered the truth but I've written to your mother and father and explained that I would like to speak to you and that it was up to you if you would want to respond.
I can tell you one thing… you have inherited one proud trait of mine, you have my eyes. I've seen pictures of you and may I add silly newspapers that published any bad word about you or your relationship with Harry show nothing of your true character… or Harry's
Hermione couldn't help the smile lifting the corner of her lips, Harry gave her a look and Hermione sighed.
"My father said that what was written about us back in fourth year proved nothing about our characters… I think he may like you" Hermione told him feeling her body relaxed against Harry who was smiling proudly.
Hermione waited for the parchment to clear before she pressed her quill tip to the paper again.
Thank you… Harry is a great wizard and an even better person. I sent only one letter to my parents… to tell you the truth I felt guilty of showing interest in speaking with you. My father has been affected by all this as have I… but I need to know… did you love my mother.
Hermione chewed her lip while Harry wrapped his arm around her pressing a kiss to her forehead as her words disappeared.
Harry studied his girlfriend amazed at her strength and her determination, despite her words.
Hermione… I wish I could tell you I love your mother…but our-our union was a brief one. But I believed that we might have been happy but she made the right choice with remaining with her husband… I know it may not seem so now but…but I have things, things that will affect you from my past that would have made it hard for your mother and you.
Never doubt your mother's choice to leave me that night… she made the right choice, and though you may dislike her for what I say next it is true and you as I know always stood by the truth.
Your mother could and would never love me…she loves your father, she fights for him.
Hermione frowned at her father's choice of words and glanced to Harry who looked at her. But she shook her head and went back to the parchment.
But I would have known the truth…I've been lied to for nineteen years, my mother never seemed happy.
Hermione bit back a small sob but took strength in Harry's arm tightening around her.
Your mother…she loves your father but what she did… though I know she would never regret what that night created –you- she felt guilty and always will. As do I, for I would love nothing more then to have declared the moment you were born that you were my daughter.
Hermione held tightly to Harry feeling the tears building up in her eyes. Harry held her for a few moments before Hermione returned to the parchment.
You said that there was things about you that would affect me…I… things have been happening to me…things I can't explain, it nearly cost me my friendship. What is happening to me?
The words barely had time to fade before words appeared
I can't explain to you fully in this letter… but when you feel like meeting me I shall explain it all. But I'm half wizard and half something else… if you were not my daughter I have no doubt you would be magical but as my daughter you inherited a quarter of my half. Thankfully the affects are not as strong in you but you will change… you may sense others around you, their blood, moods, power and even scent… you have a unique power now Hermione but I promise if you remain with Harry and Ron you will be able to control them… your new powers are linked to your emotions and once you have them under control you will have your powers under control. I have the up most faith in you.
Hermione blinked a few times as the words slowly faded from the parchment however the words were stamped in her brain. Harry was famous in his own right but her father had mentioned Ron- not as Ronald Weasley as he had been mentioned in the papers but as Ron.
Only three words appeared next 'good night Hermione' before the parchment faded away with the words and Harry stared at her.
"Hermione… love, please tell what happened" Harry asked as Hermione looked at him her mind was moving at incredible speeds.
"I think… I think my father… my real father is closer to us then I first thought" Hermione admitted as Harry sat up and raised his eyebrows.
"Who" Harry questioned with surprise however Hermione shook her head scowling at her self for not figuring that out.
"I don't know… but something about what he said, he said that I was quarter something but he refused to tell me in the letter. He said I have unique powers and that if I remain with you and Ron then I should be able to control them… Harry he called Ron by his first name, he said he knew of us because of what we did but in all the newspapers mentioned Ron as Ronald" Hermione explained as Harry frowned watching her.
"What else did he say" Harry enquired as Hermione took a deep breath "he said I have his eyes" Hermione admitted still processing all she had read.
Silence engulfed them before Hermione slowly feel asleep against Harry and he summoned a blanket to cover his girlfriend and himself.
Harry barely slept watching his girlfriend in her fitful sleep, no doubt still pondering what she had spoken about with her father.
Hermione saw her eyes reflected in the forest… but she saw deep golden yellow eyes too watching her. The moon glistened through the trees.
She knew she was being watched and she shook but felt the need to fight… the scent surrounding her was threatening and deep down she wanted to fight to prove her self.
The eyes moved but the pair identical to her own remained still… soon the wolf cries rose up in the air and she saw the first sights of shadows. Menacing beast like creatures paced back and forth growling however the largest of the beasts bared his fangs at her.
A elder wolf seemed to slide up beside her but gazing down she felt no ill feelings… the elder wolf glanced to her before stepping in front of her but the largest beast jumped on him and ripped his throat out. Howls wound into the air and Hermione seemed to snarl at the large beast. It growled at her and slowly made his way towards her, swinging it's claw at her Hermione threw her arm up and felt the claws slice through her flesh but instead of blood a golden stream flowed from her arm and soon engulfed the surrounding forest.
Hermione I love you… my daughter I will protect you. They can not have you
The familiar voice still echoed around her mind as Hermione awoke to the soft dawn light and Harry protective embrace and his small smile. Hermione pecked him on the lips and rushed to the bathroom. She looked at her self was surprised that her eyes were more yellow. Looking to her arm she saw faint red marks running along her arm where the beast slashed out at her.
Hermione washed her face, the only thing on her mind was that voice… she knew it, it was her father's voice and it was more proof that it was someone she knew better then she thought. And she would find out.