Chapter 1- Confessions

"What are we going to tell Hermione?"

"I don't know, however she does deserve to know the truth."

"Truth about what Daddy?" asked a voice from the doorway.

Hermione Jane Granger stood in the entrance way to the kitchen waiting for a response. 'What are they hiding?' she thought. Mr. and Mrs. Granger turned to the child they raised with all the love they could give.

"Oh Dear! Please come sit, I'll get some lemonade." Replied Jane Granger.

As Hermione took the vacant seat between her parents and Jennifer got the refreshments, Chris Granger thought of a way to gently break this life altering news to his only child, his beloved daughter.

After her mother sat down, Hermione sat anxiously, but quietly, waiting for her parents to explain their odd behavior, all the while, she lightly sipped her sweet lemonade.

"Darling, ah….your father has something to tell you, Chris?"

Chris gave his wife a glare of irritation, but continued. "Hermione, we haven't been completely honest with you, and we can't keep it hidden any longer. I, um, well, I'm not able to have children and," he gave a nervous laugh but still continued, "I'm, well not-"

"Dad is this one of those adult talks about having children, because if it is, I'm OK with not listening," Hermione interrupted.

"NO Hermione, that's not what your father is saying," replied Jennifer. "Well, the fact is, is that we," Jennifer motioned between her husband and herself, "Are not able to have children, we were never given that privilege."

"Hey, wait a second, you had me, so you were able to conceive."

Chris was the quickest to respond, "No, dear, we didn't." He sighed and continued. "Because we weren't able to have children, we decided to take another root."

"Donor?"

"No." Chris was becoming irritated by the second. Why can't I just come out and say it? These skeletons can't be hidden too much longer. She's my daughter for crying out loud. "We adopted. You are our adopted daughter."

Hermione had taken a huge gulp of lemonade and when her father had told her that she was adopted she couldn't hold back; she spewed her mouth full all over the table. When she regained her breath, she exclaimed, "What? I'm adopted? How could you keep something like this from me? I HATE YOU!"

Without another word, she stood with so much force the chair fell to the floor with a loud crash. In a flash, she fled from the kitchen to her room slamming her door with a loud bang in her rage. Hermione didn't notice the river of tears flowing down her mother's cheeks.

"Rudolfus, we need to talk."

"In a minute, Bella. I'm busy."

"NO, NOW!"

Rudolfus jumped at his wife's tone and obeyed, "Alright, Dear. Come sit, let's talk." He patted the seat next to him, which she took with tremendous gratitude. As she took the offered seat and braced herself for a much anticipated explosion, her husband marked his place and set his book down on the sitting room table before him. Here goes nothing she thought.

"Darling, I've um, been keeping something from you."

"Is it an affair?" She shook her head no. "Then please continue."

"Sixteen years ago, I bore a child. It was, well is yours. But, we were in danger and I didn't want it to be involved."

"Was it a boy, or a girl?"

"I believe that the nurse said it was a girl but I can't be too certain. I refused to have any contact with the child for fear that I would become attached and not be able to let go."

"Why not give it to your sister?"

"I would have gladly given it to Narcissa, but they were as deep as we were. Not to mention, she was on her way to having her own." Rudolfus nodded in understanding. "I'm so sorry, I never meant for it to get this far."

"It's quite alright, I'm glad you told me." Seeing his wife about to ask a question he knew was coming he said, "Before you say it, no I'm not mad, just shocked." She smiled in thanks and her husband put an arm around her pulling her into his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder as he kissed her crown and said, "Don't worry Bella, we will find our child. I promise."

TBC