I've Been Living A Lie

~* Hey everyone. I'll skip the author note here because I don't have anything to say! Hope you enjoy, please review! *~

Chapter 6 ~ Miranda Durshwood

Hermione was sitting in her favourite armchair by the fire, with her two best friends, Ron and Harry. She was studying for Arithmancy, while Harry and Ron busied themselves in a game of wizard chess.

'You two should really study more, then maybe you would have gotten more OWLS, Ron, I'm talking to you more than Harry.' Hermione scoffed.

Miranda Durshwood, the girl that Hermione had been wondering about all week, came and sat on the rug in front of the fire. This rug had two large lions on it, and the background was a reddish-maroon colour, but that was besides the point.

'I hate lions.' Miranda suddenly said.

'Why? I mean, you were put in Gryffindor by the sorting hat.' Hermione pointed out.

'I should have been in Slytherin.' Miranda pouted.

'The Sorting Hat said that I would have done well in Slytherin, but it still placed me in Gryffindor.' Harry pointed out.

'You idiot! Hey, I know who you are! You're Harry Potter. Famous idiot who seeks attention. Trying to defeat the Dark Lord. You will fail Potter.' Miranda said. Ron, Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances. Only followers, or spawn of followers of Voldemort refered to him as the Dark Lord.

'The Sorting Hat was wrong to put me in this cowardly house.' Miranda spat. 'It should have put me where I truly belong, Slytherin. All my family were in Slytherin. It's not fair! Daddy will be so angry when he finds out. He'll think I'm going wimpy or something.'

Miranda waved her hands over her head in frustration. Hermione caught a glimpse of a black line on her arm, but couldn't see the entire mark, because Miranda saw her staring, and quickly pulled her pyjama sleeve down. Miranda glared at her, causing Hermione to feel uncomfortable. Hermione shot Harry and Ron a worried look, which caused confusion between the three friends.

'Anyway, I want Dumbledore to get that stupid hat out so I can have serious words with it. I want a re-sorting!' Miranda said haughtily, smacking her hand on the rug.

'Oh come on Miranda, Gryffindor ain't that bad you know.' Ron said, while his Bishop was disembouling Harry's Knight.

'Not that bad? My father will FREAK when he finds out! Oh no no no, this isn't right. I should definitely be in Slytherin.'

'Why do you think that Miranda?' Hermione asked. 'Does it have something to do with the black mark I saw on your arm?' Miranda frowned.

'What? This?' She rolled up her sleeve to reveal a tattoo of a yin-yan with cross-bones under it. Hermione sighed and hoped her relief didn't show on her face.

'Little girls like you shouldn't have tattoo's like that.' Hermione said. Miranda gave her the most intense death stare she had ever gotten.

'And who are you to tell me what I can and can't have? My father gave me this tattoo himself.' Miranda said proudly.

'Well then, he mustn't be a very good father. . .' Hermione said. Miranda pulled her wand on Hermione.

'Not a good idea Granger.' She spat. Ron and Harry looked on in interrest, watching the small girl face up to Hermione, but Hermione just laughed.

'Neither was that, Durshwood.' All of a sudden, Hermione dawned on realisation, and it showed on her face. 'Durshwood. . . Oh Miranda! I know you from the orphanage!' Hermione stopped dead as she realised what she'd said. Ron and Harry turned slowly to face Hermione.

'You never told us you were adopted Hermione.' Harry said softly, Hermione looked like she was going to cry.

'Yeah Hermione, how could you keep that from us? We're your best friends!' Ron added. Miranda looked like she'd just seen Nearly Headless Nick for the first time.

'I-I-I'm sorry Harry, Ron, I was going to tell you, eventually, when the time was right, I-I-I just, couldn't, not yet. . .' Hermione ran up the girls staircase.

Miranda shot them both evil looks.

'Maybe that's why you're not in Slytherin Miranda, you were adopted.' Harry suggested.

'I didn't know I was adopted.' Miranda said quietly.

'Really? Who are your parents?' Ron asked.

'I don't bloody know now, do I?' She snapped.

'I mean your adoption parents.' Ron corrected himself.

'Oh, Mr and Mrs Durshwood.' Miranda said. Harry rolled his eyes.

'Well DUH,' he said. 'What Ron means, is what are their first names?'

'Oh, um, Joel and Loren.' Miranda said.

'Ahhh, never heard of them before?' Harry said.

'You should have! They are D -' Miranda stopped herself from saying anymore. 'You know what? I'm going to bed.' She said innocently. And without letting another word slip out of her mouth, Miranda climbed up off the Lion Rug, and followed Hermione's footsteps up the girls staircase.

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~* That's a bit short, I know, but I wanted to put in the part that explained Hermione's connection to Miranda, and I wanted to "tell" Harry and Ron that Hermione's adopted, but without giving it away that Harry's her unidentical twin brother. Please review! If you like, you can check out my other stories, they're on my Bio. *~

~Gryffindor Gal~