Disclaimer: See first chapter…

Author's note: Okay, wow! I wasn't expecting that many people to review… I personnaly thought it was rubbish. Anyway, to those people that reviewed, thanx!!! You have made me extremly happy. And just to answer two of my reviewers.

Lady lupin: Yes, your guess was right. I might do a little accompinement to this afterwards, about Hermione's Great Aunt Joan, and Patricia Evans. At the moment though, I'm concentrating on writing the next part of this.

Wmlaw: do you happen to live in England? Near Sandhurst or Crowthorne or Bracknell?

This is the chapter where you'll discover who Andrew is, and how he's connected to Hermione.

Dedicated to Laura, Phil, and Andrew.

My Favorite Brother

Chapter Two

Hermione sat huddled in a ball by the lake, tears streaming down her face. She knew that she'd be questioned about her sudden disappearance later today, but for now, she didn't care. She didn't care that she would have to reveal a secret that she had kept hidden for five years. She didn't care that her friends might not ever trust her again, once they realized she had lied to them for five years. And she didn't care that Ron had just sat down next to her….

"Hello 'Mione!" Ron said, after a few minutes of silence. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what, Ron?" Was the dull reply. "I'm perfectly fine."

"No, you're not. You are upset, and I think it has something to do with someone called Andrew." At this comment Hermione stooped gazing out towards the lake and buried her face in her knees, quiet sobs resonating to Ron's ears.

Ron looked at her, concerned. He placed a hand on her shoulders, used his other hand to lift her head out of her knees, and then asked gently "Who is Andrew, Hermione?"

She wordlessly handed him a tearstained letter.

Dear Munchkin (It read)

I've asked Mum and Dad to give this to you on your sixteenth birthday. Sixteen is a big turning point in your life and at least this way; I'll be able to be with you.

As I'm writing this, you are eleven, going on thirty-five. I mean this as a compliment as I'm proud to see you acting so mature. But remember that you are still a kid, and need to have fun in your life. Don't live in the library the whole time. There's a beautiful world, just outside your window. Don't forget that.

I can remember when you were born. I was twelve and was so ecstacic to have a sibling that I didn't mind you weren't the little brother I was hoping for. I was there at the hospital, you know. Waiting outside. You were the cutest little thing. No teeth and a little tuft of bushy brown hair. First time I held you, you looked up at me with your big cinnamon eyes, grabbed one of my fingers, and giggled. Mum later said it was just gas, but I knew the truth.

And now you're eleven and all grown up. You're sitting in the corner of the room again, reading that letter. It says you're a witch, with magical powers and stuff. You're a bit skeptical about it. I guess by the time you read this, you'll know for sure.

I hope you like your school (whatever one you go to). I bet you're the cleverest student there. I know that you'll be the most beautiful. I can already hear you laughing. You? Hermione Anne Granger, beautiful? That's what you're thinking, isn't it? Well you are. You were beautiful the day you were born, you're beautiful at age eleven, and I bet you'll be beautiful until the day you die.

And when I say beautiful, I don't just means looks. You have a beautiful personality too. You are smart, gentle, kind, hardworking. Animals love you… I'll never forget the day you brought home that stray dog. He wouldn't let anyone else near him. Only you… And you're loyal too. If someone tells you a secret, it stays a secret. You can be a bit bossy at times, stubborn too, but it's a common Granger trait, so I'll forgive you for it.

And most of all, you are loving. When you love someone, you love them unconditionally. You may get angry at them from time to time, you may want to rip them to shreds, but you will eventually forgive them. No matter what. You do it with me all the time. Because that's just how you are. Loving.

Don't ever lose that trait. It's what makes you special, makes you Hermione. And don't be afraid to get hurt. It happens. Love hurts. You will encounter heartbreak. But don't let that stop you loving. Never stop loving, munchkin, never.

I'm not going to tell you to work hard at school, because I know you will. I'm not going to tell you to brush your teeth twice every day, that's Mum and Dad's job. My piece of advice is this:

Get a job you enjoy, make friends you can laugh and cry with, love someone you can talk to, and never stop dancing. Cos at the end of the day, when all the money is spent, and all the jobs are done, there's nothing else to do but dance.

I don't think I'm gonna make it to your next birthday, and I know I won't make it to your sixteenth, so look after yourself. Look after Mum and Dad, and make sure Jamie gets on with her life. I don't want her to live with regrets.

All my love

Your favorite (and only) Brother

Andrew

Ron looked up at his friend, to see apprehension on her face. He was a mixture of emotions. Confused at to why it was in his fifth year that he discovered about Hermione's brother, yet also angry at her for not telling him sooner. The main emotion though, was still concern for Hermione.

Something in this letter had upset her, and he wasn't sure what.

Eventually he decided to say something.

"I didn't know you have a brother." Was the only thing he could think of. Hermione's face became stony, and she turned her head to face the lake again.

"I don't have a brother." She replied.

"But… Andrew?" Ron was confused.

"Andrew was my brother." Hermione answered turning her face towards him. "But he died. My brother died five years ago."

And with that, she burst in to tears and flung herself into Ron's comforting arms.

………

Well? What do you think? How many of you guessed who Andrew was? In the next chapter you'll find out how Andrew died, and why Hermione kept it a secret for so long. The next chapter should be up by next week. I already had these two finished.