Hermione stared in awe at the grand entrance.There was a golden staircase curving up and paintings lined most of the walls.You could've fit her whole house into just the entrance room.There was a giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling.To her surprise,the paintings were talking to each other. "Hello dearie.You must be Hermione." One of the paintings,a plump lady,said.
"We've heard all about you.It's lovely to meet you."A knight on a horse said
"I'll show you your new room.You must be tired after such a busy day."Lily-no Mummy- said.
"Okay Mummy."Hermione said and followed her up the stairs.They went up another set of stairs and down a hallway into a huge room.There was a beautifully carved wooden bed with a pink canopy and a large bookshelf.There was a fireplace with a roaring fire burning in it and an armchair next to it.Through a door,she could see a marble bathroom and through another was a room with robes hanging up.There were double glass doors that led out to a balcony with iron railings. "Is this all for me?"Hermione asked in wonder.Her old room only had a bed,a small wardrobe and a shelf.Mummy laughed "Of course it is.It's a bit plain,I know but we'll get toys and things to personalise it.Now go get changed into robes for bed.There are only a couple of robes,I'm afraid.They're some of Lyra's-she's your cousin.We'll go shopping tomorrow."She explained.Hermione's stomach grumbled. "What time is it?"She asked
"Nearly seven.Do you want something to eat?"
Mummy asked. "Yes please."Hermione replied
"Well go get changed and I'll bring you some toast and eggs.I'll also bring the pain potion."Mummy said and left the room.
Hermione went into the wardrobe room.It was huge,bigger than her bedroom at home.No,this is home now She corrected herself.The wardrobe was bigger than her old bedroom.
There were five different night robes hung up.She chose some light pink robes that went down to her knees and had long sleeves.
Just after she had finished changing,her Mummy returned with a tray.On it was a glass of orange juice,two slices of toast and scrambled eggs.She placed it on the bedside table and said "You can have dinner in bed.The pain-potion is mixed into the orange juice."
Hermione got into bed and placed the tray on her lap.She gulped everything down-she hadn't realised how hungry she was. "Looks like someone has an appetite.You've had a tiring day,you should sleep," Mummy said and took the tray. "The blood-adoption potion will change your appearance during the night.Good night."She said softly and smiled.She turned off the light and shut the door.Hermione felt the pain-relieving potion take effect as her body stopped aching and relaxed.Sleep soon over came her.
The next morning she woke up and sat up in bed.Her head felt lighter and she noticed that her bushy,thick,brown hair was gone.Instead,she had short dark brown hair that reached just past her shoulders.She looked down and saw that her skin was much lighter.It was pale instead of the deep brown it had been before.She got out of bed and ran to the bathroom.She looked in the mirror and saw a different face.A face with high cheekbones,a nicely-shaped nose and blue-green eyes.When she smiled,she saw that her teeth were pearly white and perfectly straight.
She ran back into the bedroom and curled up on her sofa.Hermione Granger was gone,replaced by Hermione Potter.Gone was her frizzy brown hair and smooth dark skin,replaced with short, straight hair and pale skin.Gone was the Muggle,replaced by the Witch.Everything was different.Everything had changed forever.
There was a knock at the door and Daddy spoke. "Hermione,are you awake?We're having breakfast in ten minutes."
"Yes,I'm awake."She replied and opened the door.Daddy was already dressed in dark blue robes and was beaming broadly.He looked her up and down and nodded. "Your eyes are just like your Great Aunt Cassie's," He said "Let's head down to breakfast.Grab your slippers."
Hermione went into the wardrobe room and found some slippers.She put them on and went back into the hallway with Daddy.They walked down the two sets of stairs and through a hallway into a huge dining room.The food smelt delicious.There was a wide variety of food:fried eggs,crispy bacon, buttered toast, golden pancakes and colourful fruit.
Hermione sat down and began to eat.
"Oh!You've changed!"Clara said
"She has.She's completely your sister now."Daddy said
"You've grown taller!We'll definitely need to get new robes now.And we need your school supplies and wand.We also need to decorate your room the way you want it."Mummy said
"Can I get some sweets and toys when we go shopping?" Harry asked
"Where am I going to school?"Hermione asked
"Harry,yes you can get some sweets and toys,"Mummy said "And Hermione you are going to the same school as Harry.It's called Mayfair School for Magical Children"
"Are you shopping with us Daddy?"She asked
"I'm afraid not.I have work."He replied
"What do you do for work?"Hermione asked
"I'm the Deputy Head of The Global Department of Magical Law Enforcement."He said
"What's magical law enforcement?"
"It means catching bad wizards and witches."
"Okay.When do I start school?"
"It's half-term right now but you'll start on Monday."Mummy told her
"So we have 5 days until school then."
"Yes,"Mummy said "When we go shopping,I'll get you some late birthday presents.It's a shame that we missed it."
There was a crash as Clara knocked her glass off the table and it shattered.
"Oh dear.Temmy!Clean this up."Daddy said
A small creature appeared suddenly.It had long,thin arms and a large head with huge ears and bulging blue eyes. It snapped its fingers and the broken glass and juice vanished.
"What is that?"Hermione asked
"It's a house-elf.They clean and cook and will do whatever you tell them.We also have Muggle slaves too but house-elves have magic and muggles do not. Try telling Temmy to do something."Mummy explained
"Okay.Um...bring me a glass of mango juice!"Hermione said.Temmy disappeared with a pop and re-appeared with a glass.It handed it to Hermione "Do you require anything else?"It asked. "No,that will be all,"Mummy said and it disappeared again. "Daddy needs to go to work now.Say goodbye,we'll get dressed and go shopping."
Daddy nodded "I do need to go.Have fun shopping.Goodbye."He kissed Mummy,Harry and Clara on their cheeks then kissed Hermione's forehead.He walked out and the door slammed shut.
"Go get dressed so we can go shopping ."Mummy said to them.Hermione went up the stairs with Clara and Harry then went down the corridor into her room.Harry's room was next to hers and Clara's was opposite.
She chose some peach-pink robes and stared at herself in the mirror.Just yesterday,she was getting dressed in second-hand clothes and eating cereal with her old parents and today she was wearing luxury robes and eating breakfast prepared by a house elf.Everything had changed.But maybe for the better.Her parents were afraid of her,they chose to give her up.The muggles would've hurt her for being a witch.They could have tried to burn her.It was safer here and her bedroom was so pretty and-
"Hermione,are you ready?"Mummy's voice jolted her out of her thinking.
"I'm just coming."She called and went out into the hallway.Mummy was there with Clara and Harry. "We'll be flooing to the shops"Mummy explained.They went downstairs again and through several corridors.Hermione stared in wonder at all the things around her.There were golden chandeliers and vibrant paintings.
"Hermione,don't stop to look at everything or we'll never get to the shops.I'll give you the tour afterwards."Harry said.
"Sorry."Hermione said and caught up with them.They finally got to a room with nothing but a giant fireplace with huge green flames in it
"This is the Floo room.It's just like yesterday.Just take this powder,"Mummy gave her some of the glittery powder "Step into the fire and throw it to the floor then say 'Faulkner Station'"
"Why didn't we Floo straight here yesterday?"Hermione asked
"We wanted you to see the house from the outside." Mummy explained.
Harry went first,then Clara. "You go next."Mummy told her.She stepped into the fire and shouted "Faulkner Station" as she threw the powder down.In a flash,she was suddenly in a different fireplace.She was offered a gloved hand by a Muggle and he helped her out of the fireplace.He bowed and said "Welcome to Faulkner Floo Station,Miss"
Hermione looked around.She was in a room similar to last night.Behind her was a row of Floo Fireplaces and there was a cafe in the corner.She saw Harry and Clara waving from across the room and quickly joined them. Mummy soon flooed in and they all took the escalator up.They exited the station onto a busy road.
First,they went into a robe shop.They took the escalator up to the children's floor and began to look around.Hermione stroked one of the robes that was made of a soft,green velvet.
"Can I get this?"She asked.
"Of course."Mummy replied.She took a set cream robes with blue flowers from the rack. "Do you like these robes?"She asked.
"I do.And I like these."Hermione said and held up a set of blue robes with a lace collar.
"We'll get them."Mummy said.
They spent about half an hour choosing robes then they paid for them. "Temmy!"Mummy called and it appeared "Take these bags home."
She handed the bags to it and then it disappeared again. "Let's go get toys now."
They left the store and walked to Hamley's.
Hermione got so many toys.She got a giant dollhouse, stuffed toys that walked and talked,a rocking pegasus and many more.Harry and Clara both got flying trains and bubble wands.
They got the toys delivered home and went to a sweet shop.They got Fizzing Whizzbees, Ice Mice, Sugar Snitches,Exploding Bonbons and Chocolate Frogs.Hermione was suddenly reminded of how,just yesterday,she and her muggle parents had gotten sweets.They weren't magical sweets-Muggles weren't allowed any magic- but they had been very tasty.
Hermione's eyes watered at the thought of her old parents.She nearly burst out crying but held the tears in.She wasn't meant to be thinking about her old parents and she couldn't cry in the middle of the street.But then it was too hard and she began to sob.Mummy stopped walking and told Harry and Clara to do the same. "What's wrong?"She asked
"I-I um...the Acid Pops hurt my tongue."Hermione lied.Mummy hugged her.
"Poor thing.It'll be okay," She said and took Hermione over to a bench on the side of the street.She handed Harry some Galleons and told him "Go over to the cake stand over there,"she gestured to a colourful stall near to the bench "and get cakes for all of us. Hermione's a bit upset and she needs something nice to cheer her up.Take Clara with you,Hermione and I need to talk alone."She sat down next to Hermione
"Are you sure that's what it's about?Because I remember being quite upset when I was taken from my muggle parents."She said
"You had muggle parents?Did you have to take the potion?"Hermione asked
"I used to.Then I got adopted by the Black family and I got two brothers.And I did have to take the potion but it didn't change my appearance all that much.My face shape just changed and my hair got darker.Anyways,I know it's scary and sad at first,but soon you'll see that it was necessary to take you from your parents." Mummy said
"It wasn't necessary.My parents wouldn't have hurt me.They just wouldn't."She said and shook her head as more tears fell down her face
"Maybe not but you would've grown up alone,with no-one like you to talk to.They couldn't have helped you with schoolwork like we will.They wouldn't have understood you.As a witch,you are much more important than them and your relationship would've become formal and stiff.They could've gotten frightened of your magic and hurt you.So many bad things would happen if you stayed with the filthy muggles.And they chose to bring you to the Muggle Contacting Centre,they chose to give you up."Mummy explained
"I just want to be with them though.They didn't want to give me up,they were just scared that they would be arrested if they didn't." She said
"They did choose to give you up,they were scared of your magic.You can't be with them.They don't remember you exist." Mummy said softly.Hermione noticed that her eyes were watery.
"What?Of course they remember me,I'm their daughter."Hermione said
"They don't.Their memories have been wiped of you ever existing in their lives.You can't go back to them.They have forgotten you.It's easier to try to do the same and forget they existed.James and I are your parents and I promise we will always keep you safe and care for you.But don't talk or even think about your muggle parents again."Mummy told her
"Why not?I want to still remember them even if they don't remember me."She said and wiped her runny nose.
"I know what it's like.You want to remember them,you want to hope they'll return and save you.But it's so much easier to forget.Just forget.Call me Mummy and James Daddy.Play with Harry and Clara like an older sister should.Pretend to be Hermione Potter,a pureblood witch.Pretend to be happy.Keep pretending until one day you aren't pretending and you've become someone else."Mummy said as a tear rolled down her cheek.She sniffed,sighed and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.She then wiped Hermione's nose with the handkerchief and stood up.She went over to the stall and joined Harry and Clara in choosing which cakes to buy.
Hermione sat and thought about what she said.Her parents didn't know who she was.To them,they weren't even her parents.Maybe Mummy was right.It would be easier to forget,to pretend that she had always Hermione Potter.Pretend that she had always been the daughter of Lily and James,pretend that she was always Harry and Clara's older sister.Pretend,pretend,pretend until she finally believed the lies she told herself.Maybe one day she would forget about her real parents.Her mummy with a soft,lilting voice and fluffy black hair that smelled like coconut.Her daddy with warm brown eyes and a kind,deep laugh.It would be so much easier to forget all about them.