Chapter 9: Letters

Dear Aunt Cissa,

I'm not sure if you heard yet, but I have been resorted into Slytherin. The transition has been strange, going from the towers to the dungeon. I'm only glad I'm not claustrophobic. How could you stand it being so cold down here?

Draco had been keeping a close eye on me since my arrival. I would even, dare say, he has been nice to me. He is my constant shadow for the most part.

I hope things there are going well. Only two weeks until the end of the term then we will be back for the summer hols. I didn't have too much work to catch up on, but now the professors are trying to get us geared towards next year.

I will write again soon once I am more settled if there is time.

Love,

Hermione

Dearest Hermione,

Your Uncle Lucius got quite the laugh about you complaining that the dungeons were too cold. He wanted you to know that the Snakes enjoy the cold, dear and you will adapt.

I'm glad that my Draco is keeping a close eye on you. I hope that in time you two can see past your differences and become great friends, as that was the wish of your mother and myself. We even hoped that if I did have a son, that you two would be betrothed. I know that is not going to happen now of course, but at least I still have you in my life and that is what matters the most.

Things here are well, dear. Do not worry so. Everyone misses you terribly and we are simply counting the days until the two of you return to us.

Love,

Aunt Cissa

Dear Father,

Hermione paused, her quill hanging in the air. Should she address Voldemort as father? He did turn slightly red the last and only time she addressed him as such. Chewing her lip for a moment she decided to keep the title. She was positive that he would tell her that he did not wish for her to address him as such. He was the one, in fact, which kept referring to her as his, his daughter, mine.

She was going to keep moving forward, not necessarily spying for The Order, no. She had an alternative plan. She would try to get close to Voldemort in hopes she could help him see the world as a different place. At least she had Dumbledore's blessing, not that she gave Merlin's left testicle that she did, but it was a safety net for her in case. She would bring those whom she loved and cared for safely through this. She needed to think logically…think like a snake. She could act the part, right?

Bowing her head once again she gripped her quill putting it to parchment to write her letter.

Dear Father,

I met with Dumbledore when I returned to Hogwarts and did as you asked and got resorted. I'm sure it comes to no surprise that I was sorted into your house, our house. Slytherin.

I'm doing my best to acclimate to the chill of the dungeons, the heating charms are working well at night. Draco has been extremely helpful to me while I am adjusting, it was on his suggestion that I started using them.

I will be returning in two weeks for summer hols. I hope then we will be able to spend some time together to get to know each other better. I have had time to think about everything that transpired while I was with you before, and I think I would like to know what you are like, what my heritage is.

Professor Snape has been watching over me as well. Sadly, he cannot be my shadow as much as Draco is, but he ensures that he speaks to me several times a day to make sure I am alright. Sadly, many people are questioning why I am in Slytherin now wanting answers that I am not willing to share. I thought it would be enough that I was related to my real mother, Felicity. I do go by Rosier here. I promised you, taking the unbreakable vow that no one would know who you are to me until you deem it necessary. Some still accuse me of lying that I am still just a Mudblood. Draco does his best to play interference, however, he cannot be with me all the time as much as he tries to. I chose to ignore them.

Would it be wrong of me to hex them?

Give Nagini a pat on the head for me. I…I miss you both.

Love, Your daughter,

Hermione

Hermione sent the letter to her father with a hex on it, so if anyone intercepted it and tried to open it other than him, it would incinerate. She loved magic sometimes. She had sent her letter a week ago and still had not heard from him, which didn't surprise her much. He was supposed to be dead.

Entering the Great Hall for breakfast she looked for Harry waving at him as she shuffled towards the Slytherin table with Draco. He had insisted that she eat with him. His reasoning was that she needed to show her fellow Snakes that she was accepting of Slytherin, and in time more people would not be so wary of her.

Adjusting herself onto the bench next to Draco she leaned her head on the table. She had not been sleeping well since her arrival, and mornings were the bane of her existence. She was used to sleeping with Crooks at night. She had asked Hagrid to look over him since some of her dormmates were downright hostile to her, well, one really. Pansy Parkinson. She warded her bed, trunk, and everything else she could think of. Unfortunately, she couldn't ward a cat.

Hagrid was overjoyed to take Crooks in, and they both seemed to get along quite well. Even Fang liked him. She would have to ask Hagrid if he would take him this summer as well until she could figure out her living situation. She shivered thinking about Crooks and Nagini meeting.

Hermione let out a loud grunt when something landed on her head. "Ow." She lifted her head shifting something large, and soft off her head. It crinkled when she touched it. Laying it flat in front of her, it was an ordinary brown package with strings tying it together. Looking up she noticed that birds swarmed the room dropping off mail.

Draco leaned over peering down at the package. He took out his wand, waving it over it briefly before nodding. "It's safe." He shrugged.

Hermione rolled her eyes tugging at the string, pulling open the wrapping. He was taking his job protecting her to the extreme sometimes. She knew he was right to check for something nefarious, it was just he seemed to think her dense and didn't know any better.

Git.

Pulling the wrapping apart she let out a small giggle. She couldn't help it. Inside was a large Slytherin blanket. Laying on top were two letters. Picking them up she shifted through them noticing one was for Draco.

"Here." She said handing him the letter.

He took it furrowing his brows for a moment looking back at the package, and then the letter in his hand. "My mother sent you a blanket?"

Hermione shrugged.

Pansy let out a low hiss slamming her hand down on the table. "What? Are you two betrothed or something?"

Hermione looked up at her tilting her head to the side. "Would that be a problem?"

Of course, she and Draco were not betrothed. Eww. Not that he found him repulsive anymore, it was just that they were related. Albeit further away, but still.

Pansy stood leaning over the table towards her. "Yes!' She shrieked.

Hermione looked around noticing the hall suddenly got deathly quiet.

"You are nothing but a bloody Mudblood!" She screamed pointing at her. "I don't know how you got into Slytherin, or why you are wearing glamours to look different, but I see you for who you are! You are a Mudblood whore trying to go after a pureblood to better your station!" She was panting by the time she was done with her little speech.

Hermione let out a low sigh taking out her wand shrinking her blanket and letter putting them in her robes. She looked up at Pansy giving her a sweet smile. "I know it must be awfully hard for you to understand given your limited brainpower to comprehend, but I am in Slytherin because I belong here." Hermione stood slowly placing her palms on the table leaning closer to Pansy, so their faces were mere inches apart speaking lower. "I will try to explain it to you using smaller words for you to understand. You know my last name is Rosier. Use your brain, child. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out that I am part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Get used to me being here, you're stuck with me for two more years. This many." Hermione said giving her a two-fingered salute.

Draco jumped up grabbing Pansy by the wrist as soon as she drew her wand on Hermione. "Don't." He shook his head. "Don't even try it Pans. I'm warning you."

Jerking her hand away from him, she let out a growl. "Taking the whore's side?" She seethed.

Hermione chuckled standing up from the table grinning at her. "You're one to talk about being a whore from what I've heard."

She would skip breakfast. She turned on her heel leaving a spluttering Pansy and chortling Slytherins.

She made her way back to the dungeons to read her letter. Drawing the curtains around her bed she flicked her wand warding it from intruders before pulling out the items enlarging them once again.

Picking up the blanket she rubbed it against her cheek feeling the warmth radiating from it. It was soft smelling slightly of a musky, spicy scent.

Hmm. It smelled familiar to her.

Picking up the letter she flipped it over breaking the seal.

My dearest Hermione,

Words cannot express the joy I felt getting your letter and your desire to get to know me better. I had feared you would turn me away knowing my past transgressions. I know I have said it once before, but I understand your reservations, as well as your fear. Please know you have nothing to fear from me. I will never hurt you. You are mine, and I only want to protect you. I hope in time our relationship will grow and you could learn to love me, as I already do you.

I know I have only known of you for only a few short weeks, but you are always on my mind, and my gut churns thinking of you in any real danger. Narcissa advised me that this is what love feels like. When you care about someone, you think about them, worry about them. You feel anxiety when they are not near you, unsure if they are safe. That is what I am feeling regarding you.

I don't regret restoring who I was supposed to be. I can say however, I don't enjoy all these emotions I feel when you are away from me. I am working on it. I have thought several times sending Narcissa to come and get you to bring you back to my side, so I know you are safe. Knowing your intelligence, and that education is important to you, I have refrained from doing so.

I sent you this blanket to help keep you warm at night even though you will be home shortly. I didn't like the thought of you being cold when I could easily fix that for you. I had it charmed so it will always stay at the perfect temperature year-round. Thank Salazar you didn't end up in Gryffindor again. I don't think I could bring myself to purchasing one of those for you no matter how cold you were. (That was my attempt at a joke, I hope you understood that. This too is something new for me. Humour.) I slept with it once to ensure that it worked as it should.

Nagini is restless without you. She has taken to sleeping in your chambers at night. I read your letter to her and she perked up when you mentioned her. I don't know who is more nervous about you being away, me or her.

Make sure you stay close to Draco, and Severus when you can. I understand they can't follow you everywhere, shouldn't follow you in certain places. It would put my mind at ease knowing you are trying to stay safe. Inform me immediately if anyone should give you a tough time with anything, and I will take care of it for you.

Keep your ears and eyes open, my little one. Trust in yourself.

See you soon. Stay warm.

Love,

Your father

Hermione smiled down at the letter. At least he was trying, and her effort to get closer to him was working. She let out a small shiver thinking about him handling anything. She would like to see Pansy's face if she ever knew who her father was. That may be worth it right there.

She only had a week left here at Hogwarts and then she would be back in uncharted territory once again. She was preparing herself for it. She wished she could wipe her emotions from her face as easily as Professor Snape did. She would have to speak to him before they left.

Tugging her curtains back she placed her letter in her trunk placing a hex on it in case someone tried to read it, they would only read gibberish. She had her trunk warded, but she was not taking any chances.

She found Draco leaning against the wall at the foot of the stairs when she left her dorm. She gave him an innocent smile standing next to him. "Everything alright?"

"Did you have to goad Pans into a fight?" He asked as they started walking out of the dungeons.

"Am I to blame she came to the wrong conclusion?"

"No." He sighed. "She is just…protective of me."

"More like she obsessed with you." Hermione retorted. "She is always watching you. It's kinda creepy if you ask me."

He let out a small snort shaking his head. "I know. She can be a bit much at times, just try to avoid her this last week if you can. I don't want to be punished for failing to protect you if she should hex you. My father could be punished as well."

Hermione grabbed his arm stopping him. "That won't happen. If something happens to me, then it will be my fault, Malfoy, not yours. I will ensure no one gets punished for the actions of someone else."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Still bossy I see."

She let out a chuckle shaking her head walking again. "Maybe."

"So, why did my mother send you a blanket? Is it too cold for you in the dungeon, Rosier?" He teased.

"It wasn't from your mother." Hermione paused for a moment. "It was from my father actually."

"Your father? Mother never did tell me who he was. So, you know who he is?"

Hermione nodded not meeting his eyes.

"Well?" He prompted.

"I can't say right now. I'm sure you will find out soon enough."

When he did find out, she was sure he would be even paler than he was right now. She had to admit she liked this friendly Draco. They had banter back and forth now, but he was never insulting. It proved to her even more that you never knew what someone was really like until you got passed the pureblood/muggle-born bullshite that seemed to consume the magical world. Something she hoped to change. Some people were hopeless, like Pansy Parkinson.

'One problem at a time, Hermione.'