Chapter 31: Oops?

~MJB~

July 10th, 1992 (Friday)
Location: Granger's House - Heathgate, Hampstead

Meissa frowns thoughtfully at her notes. The owl post from the day before had delivered a packet of documents about the Tonks family. So far, the law firm she has contracted has been efficient with their replies and activities. She'll have to thank her godmother for giving her their business card.

"Hey," Daphne leans against the brunette's back, her fingers digging slightly into the tension she can feel there. "You've been at that all day."

"It barely been an hour," she mutters distractedly until the blonde dug into a knot that almost has her dropping the parchment. "Oi, watch it!" she twists until the hands fell away, wincing at the slight throb in her shoulders now.

That's just great.

"Sorry." The other girl eases into a chair at the table, peering at the parchments. "Anyway, what's all this for?"

"Mm… do you remember the letter I got on Monday?"

"I remember you had received a fair amount."

"That's an understatement." Meissa rolls her eyes before sliding the parchments over so that they're between them. "Anyway, I've recently contacted a law firm about their services and well…" she gestures to the sheets. "They've provided me a fair amount of information about the Tonks."

"Mm… remind me again who they are?"

"The Matriarch is my mother's sister – well, the disowned one anyway."

Daphne's eyebrows furrow at this bit of information. "You didn't mention that before."

"Was I supposed to?"

The blonde clicks her tongue against her teeth, thinking quickly on the matter. "That's a fair point," she concedes with a mild tone. The other girl really wasn't under any obligation to tell her anything. She ignores the arched eyebrow as she peers at the photo that came along with the parchments.

A woman is looking off camera, a bright smile appearing on her face because of whoever she's looking at. There's something about her that feels familiar. The partial profile changes when the woman turns towards the camera and now she knows just who the woman reminds her of.

She looks uncannily like Meissa. Or rather, Meissa looks uncannily like her. If it hadn't been for the fact that they were talking about Meissa's aunt, she would've assumed that this woman is her mother. The same loose ringlets. The same angular face – although her best friend has the vestige of baby fat on her still. The same strong jawline. The only difference is probably the shade of brown. Her best friend's hair is as dark as a raven's feather. While the woman's hair is a shade of light brown.

"She looks…"

"I know."

She looks up at the tone. There's a neutral look to her friend's face but that tone…

Did… Did she feel bitter about the resemblance between them? Or…

Daphne turns back to the photo. Maybe it's less about the resemblance between them and more about the resemblance between her mother and her aunt.

"So…" She doesn't know how to change tracks, "we're meeting her tomorrow?"

"I don't know," Meissa confesses, tugging the letter free from the pile to place before them. It doesn't escape Daphne's attention that it perfectly covers the photo. "From what her letter said… she's not interested in meeting us. But, it seems like someone in her family is." She taps the parchment. There's an expression on her friend's face that makes her hesitate on offering to help the other girl identify the mysterious relative.

The hand on the stack is relaxed but… there's something in the air.

Daphne wants to ask, to dig into the root of the problem – don't ask her what the problem even is. Yet something in the back of her mind is exercising caution. She doesn't think the other girl would lash out at her for prying too deeply but something is bothering the blonde enough to keep her quiet.

So, she opts for something else.

"Do you want to do something else?" she asks, hoping that her friend would be grateful for a distraction.

"I…" Meissa frowns as she flips through the parchments. With each shuffle Daphne's hope sinks a bit more. "Well, I suppose?" the brunette concedes once she gotten to the bottom of the stack. "It seems I've already reviewed everything I needed."

"What is all of this for anyway?" the blonde asks as she helps Meissa tidy up. At least, she does until she noticed the blank look in her friend's face. "Uh…" She considers waving a hand but before she can even move a muscle a sheepish expression comes across the other girl's face.

That can't be good.

"So, I just realized I've neglected to tell 'Mione and you something," Meissa remarks in a tone that…

Daphne just stares at the other girl as she realizes that Meissa sounds like she's prepared to get scolded.

Just what did she do now?!

"I heard my name."

The Slytherins turn to find that Hermione has just entered the room, her already wild hair even wilder than usual. She seems like she has just woken from her nap or at least, she'd emerged from the library. If nothing else, it'd seem like she certainly lives up to her house's mascot.

"Well, look at who just rejoined us!" Daphne teases as Meissa sweeps the parchments into a folder, tying the folder close with a few pieces of twine.

"You've been locked up in the library for the last hour," the brunette remarks as she finishes tidying up.

"Sorry – I…" Hermione frowns as she smooths down the wayward strands. "Been trying to verify a few things."

"How is that going for you?"

The irritated noise from the Gryffindor sparks a barely stifled snort from the raven haired Slytherin. Only past experience has her ducking in time to avoid a swat from Hermione.

"Hey I didn't even do anything!"

Hermione just gives her a withering look that actually has Meissa thinking, for a brief moment, that she's in trouble. Instead of touching into that hot mess, she decides to switch tracks.

"Are you done researching for today?" she asks, all but shoving the folder into a bag – out of sight, out of mind.

"For now," Hermione agrees as she brush past the pair to get a drink. "I need more books – Do you think the stores will have anything on medical?"

"Uh." Meissa exchange looks with Daphne, mentally reviewing the stores she could remember. "Probably?" She doesn't think it's a high number at all. "You probably won't have much luck there," she mutters, glancing at Daphne.

"I have to try."

Meissa frowns at the Gryffindor's desperation, not understanding the emotions there.

"Okay," she tries to placate the other girl. "I have plenty of books in my personal library if you don't find what you're looking for in the store." She doesn't try to dig deeper into the why. At some point, Hermione will enlighten them to the issue she's dogging at. Until then, Meissa's content to wait it out.

"So," Daphne looks at Meissa as Hermione busies herself with her glass of water "What was it you forgot about?"

Meissa grimaces slightly at the reminder as Hermione looks on, leaning on the counter to get a better bead on the conversation.

"Right…" Meissa sighs. "So… there's…" she does a mental count of the key events, "two things you probably should know." She fights back the flinch at the sharp looks she instantly gets from her friends. It doesn't bode well. "First thing first," she rubs her fingers against the Celtic thumb ring as she considers her words, "I'm emancipated – it became official about a week after the term ended." She considers the time frame before accepting her own words.

"WHAT?!" is Hermione's instant response, the cup in her hand slipping before she can recover. Thankfully the cup didn't fall too far before clattering against the countertop.

Meissa flinch at Hermione's reaction, the screech near headache inducing just for the sheer pitch of it.

"YOU'RE ONLY TWELVE!"

"It would seem that she wasn't twelve at the time it became finalized," Daphne observes in a tone that seems bland.

Except she knows better.

This is the Daphne who shuts her out.

The one who push her away when they're both being reckless.

"MEISSA!"

"Hermione," she counters in an even tone, keeping her gaze steady on her best friend and fellow Slytherin. Has she already worked out the reason for the emancipation? The blonde is a brilliant girl, it wouldn't be too far of a stretch for her to have figured it out. "There's a reason for it," is all she says in defense to her decisions.

"What reason could you possibly have?!"

She lifts her right hand for them to see – knowing full well that to them all they'd see is a simple metal band on her forefinger. Once she has their full attention she mutters the release spell, sensing the coil of magic fading away.

"Wh-?" Hermione stares blankly at the ring. She doesn't really blame her for being unaware. Daphne, on the other hand, instantly recognizes the ring for what it is. The slight snap of the blonde's magic signals Daphne's recognition as she straightens up from the relaxed stance she had been in.

"Lady Black," Daphne intones as she dips into a formal bow – just the right amount of deference and respect, "Congratulations and may your House prosper." She struggles to keep herself from visually flinching at the formal greeting. She'll be hearing more of that once the news breaks.

"Thank you," she acknowledges with a nod of her head. "However… I hope that among friends, titles won't mean a thing." She waits a heartbeat for the words to register with her best friend and… A smile threatens to take hold of her mouth as Daphne's shoulders relax a margin.

"Um, muggleborn here, what am I missing."

The Slytherins look at their host, blinking as they… not quite come back to their senses but become aware once more. Of course Hermione wouldn't quite know all of the ramifications.

"What part do you want me to explain?"

~MJB~

Let me know what ya'll think!

Next chapter should be available next month on the 1st or 2nd (depending on my work schedule)

Also, for anyone interested, I'm currently working on a Pokemon AU with the Proud and Noble Cast! Let's just say my muse (she knows who she is) kicked my imagination into overdrive and I had to write this.