Chapter Eleven

Letter From Home

It was a good ten minutes before they finally reached their room. Draco kept glancing at Hermione, trying to catch her eye, but Hermione refused to look at him. Draco walked behind her. Was it just him or did she look a bit different? His eyes widened. Hermione had taken off her robe and held it in her hands. Draco noticed that her skirt was several inches shorter and her shirt was much tighter than usual. Draco continued walking behind her, his jaw wide open.

Professor McGonagoll finally stoppped in front of a painting of a young girl. "The password to your room is animagus. As head boy and girl, you won't have a curfew, but I don't expect you to abuse that privilege. Good Night," sad Professor McGonagoll stiffly before leaving.

"Hermione" started Draco, but he was cut off by the sound of Hermione's voice saying the password and entering the room.

Draco sighed and followed her into their common room. He was determined to explain why things had to be this way and why they couldn't be seen together. But it seemed as if Hermione was determined to not speak to him. Hermione had already began walking towards a door labeled "Head Girl" on the right side of the room.

Draco took her left hand but Hermione quickly pulled it away.

"Stay away from me Malfoy," she said with venom.

"Hermione, listen to me," he began. But he was cut off by her again.

"No, you had your chance," she replied coldly before entering her room and slamming her door.

Draco sighed heavily and sat down on an couch across from the fireplace. He buried his face in his hands and groaned. Did he make the right choice? That question kept nagging him all through the train ride and all through dinner. He was sure it would continue bothering him in his sleep. Maybe he should have just stayed with Hermione and kept his plans to himself. But why did he care so much about Hermione in the first place? He had never cared so much about another girl. After all, Draco did have a reputation for being a player. He usually dumped a girl after a week or two. And he never felt any remorse. Why did he feel so guilty after breaking up with Hermione? He couldn't seriously be falling for her, could he?

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Hermione slammed her door and leaned her back against the door, closing her eyes and holding back her tears. After a few moments, when she knew it was safe to open them, she opened her eyes and smiled at what she saw.

Her room was beautiful. It was decorated in red and gold. Her queen sized bed looked inviting but Hermione decided to unpack first. She found a large walk-in closet and found out that her things had already been unpacked. So she changed into silk boy shorts with a matching silk tank top and slipped in her bed. She was asleep within ten minutes.

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Hermione woke up the next day at 6:30. She quickly got up and got out of her room, heading for the shower. She went in their common room and saw a door to the left of the fireplace. She went in and took a shower. Luckily, she managed to avoid Draco. She assumed he was still sleeping. When she was done, she put on a bath robe and went back to her room.

She put on her uniform and made the same changes Blaise made and preceded to do her hair. She decided to put her hair up. She liked wearing it down but she found it was much easier to wear it up. She could take notes without her hair bothering her. She put her hair in a high ponytail, curling the ends to add a bit of glamour. She applied a small amount of makeup, making her face look natural. She got her things and went down to breakfast.

When she got to the Great Hall, she saw Blaise, Pansy and Millicent sitting at the Slytherin table. They waved to her and motioned for her to sit with them. Hermione decided to do it. Sitting at the Sytherin table with her friends was better than sitting alone at the Gryfindor table. Hermione sat down next to Pansy who was across from Millicent who was next to Blasie.

"Good morning," greeted Hermione, taking a waffle.

"Good morning," chorused the girls.

"So, how was your common room and room?" asked Millicent.

"I didn't really notice the common room till this morning but it's really nice, and I love my room. You guys have to come over." said Hermione, adding syrup to her waffles.

"Oh we will," said Blaise sleepily, gracefully taking a bit out of her buttered toast.

"We can do all sorts of things in your common room," said Blaise, "there won't be as much people there."

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Meanwhile, a good distance away, sat Draco. He was sitting with Crabbe and Goyle. They were talking about....something. Draco could remember because he wasn't really listening at this particular moment. He was too focused on the four girls and wondering why Blaise, Pansy and Millicent had gotten all buddy-buddy with Hermione.

He knew the three Sytherins probably weren't faking their friendship with Hermione. They didn't work that way. If they were going to humiliate her, they would do it in a very obvious way.

Draco shrugged and went back to his cereal. Maybe he was thinking too much of it. They probably just liked her, that's all.

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Hermione was just finishing her second waffle when the mail came. A large brown barn owl came, delivering her subscription to the Daily Prophet. She unrolled the newspaper and looked at the front page. There, she saw a picture of a black limo that looked as if it was in the middle of a multi car collision. She saw moving Ministry officials obliviating what looked like Muggles. Hermione read the headline.

"HEIRS TO FRENCH THRONE DIES IN MUGGLE CAR CRASH"

Hermione promptly fainted.

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Hermione woke up a half hour later, laying down on white cotton sheets. She opened her eyes and saw Blaise, Pansy and Millicent quietly talking and looking teary eyed. They immediately surrounded her when they saw she was awake.

"What am I doing here?" asked Hermione, she tried to get up but they gently pushed her back down so she was laying down.

"Perhaps it's best you stay laying down," said Pansy, her voice breaking.

"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry," said Blaise in a shaky voice.

"What?" asked Hermione. She was really confused now, what was she doing in the Hospital Wing? Her headache wasn't helping either. "What are you guys-"

Hermione stopped. Millicent had just handed her a rolled up copy of the Daily Prophet and a thick envelope. Millicent's hand was shaking. The memories of this morning immediately began flooding back to Hermione. Breakfast, that picture and the headline in the Daily Prophet, that horrible headline. Tears began to flow form Hermione's eyes.

"We have to leave now Hermione," said Blaise, who was crying a little.

"We have classes, but we'll come back to see you." said Pansy, sniffling.

"Dumbledore said you didn't have to go to your classes today," said Millicent, wiping her eyes.

They each gave Hermione a hug and left, leaving her in her misery. Madam Pomfrey came, telling Hermione she could leave. Hermione slowly got up, taking the newspaper and letter, and slowly went up to her room.

In no time at all, she was already facing the entrance to her room. She said the password and went to her room, collapsing on her bed. Hermione began to heavily cry. She couldn't believe it. Were her parents really dead? How could life be so cruel to her? Memories of her childhood began rushing back to her.

She remembered he fourth birthday. It was her very first big birthday party. Her previous birthdays were quiet family affairs. Which meant that her mother and father would take her for a day trip somewhere. The previous year, they went to the beach and had a quiet picnic.

Her fourth birthday party was years ago, but Hermione stilled remembered that day vividly. Her parents had bought her a new light pink dress and small pink Mary Janes. Her hair was done in tight ringlets and Hermione remembered all the compliments she got that day. All of her neighborhood and preschool friends were there, along with their parents. Hermione also remembered seeing other people and children she didn't know.

Her mind went to another memory. She was seven years old and her father was teaching her how to ride a bike. She still remembered how worried her mother looked as she stood by the door, watching he father put a helmet on Hermione. She got many scrapes and scratches that day but she remembered how determined she was to get it right. By dinner time, Hermione was riding without her father's help. She remembered how proud she was of herself and the sound of her father laughing as she rode in circles around him.

She remembered they day she got her acceptance letter to Hogwarts. How proud they were. Now that she thought of it, she realized that her parents weren't at all suspicious of a letter sent by an owl. When she told them, they were absolutely glowing with pride.

Hermione's face was tear stained. Tears continued to fall as she reminisced on past memories with her parents.

It took her over an hour to calm herself down. When the tears finally stopped, she remembered the letter. She pushed away the newspaper, she wasn't ready to read that article just yet. She looked at the envelope. It had her name in a fancy script. She knew right away it was from her Grandmother. It had her distinct and intricate handwriting and the royal seal. Hermione opened it.

My Dear Hermione,

It seems as if tragedy has struck our family once more. I never thought I would outlive both my children and my son in law. I've never felt such sorrow. I wish I did not have to concern you mind with more thoughts, but it's something you have a right to know.

It all starts with Aurora Zabini, your father's mother. She was a beautiful woman and looked so much like you when she was your age. She attended Beaubaxtons while Tom Marvolo Riddle attended Hogwarts. They didn't meet until Aurora became a deatheater when she was 20 and he was 21. Soon after they met, they fell in love. Five years later, they got married. Only a few people attended, me included. I was one of Aurora's best friends.

Two years later, your father was born. Very few people knew that Robert's father was Tom. Most believed she had a baby out of wedlock. Aurora and Tom's marriage was kept secret. Tom didn't want Aurora to get hurt. He even tried to get her to stop going to deatheater meetings, but Aurora wouldn't hear of that.

My story continues with your mother and father. They both went to Beaubaxtons, but they didn't talk very much while they were in school. It wasn't till after school that their love blossomed. They didn't meet again till your mother was 22 and your father was 23. They were at a ball for your mother's birthday.

Four years later, they married. The following year, they had you. When you were born, everyone immediately fell in love with you. Everyone was very taken with you. You were the cutest baby I had ever seen. (Not to mention the most beautiful young lady now). Aurora loved you so much. You looked just like her when she was a baby. But you were rarely seen out of the company of Tom. He was enchanted by you. Whenever he came home, he would go see you. He loves you so much. And he misses you very much.

Anyways, on with my story. When you were almost a year old, something horrible happened. There was a deatheater raid and Aurora, who even though was aging was still very beautiful and energetic, was there, still attending meetings at her age. She was captured by an auror, and not just any auror, but by James Potter. He took her in for questioning. She was given veritaserum but before James Potter could ask her any questions, she poisoned herself, so that she wouldn't give Tom away.

We were all devastated and heartbroken when we found out. Even you noticed that she was gone. You would ask for her all the time, and cry when she didn't come. We were all very sad. But our sadness and anger would not match that of Tom's. he was the most angry and heartbroken. That same day Aurora died, Tom heard of a prophecy, I know not what it contained, but it made him, if possible, even angrier towards the Potters. A few nights later, he went to the Potter's, seeking revenge. It was that night, tragedy struck once more. Tom was said to be defeated and was thought to be dead. What puzzled me was that apparently, it was little Harry Potter's doing.

After we found out, we were afraid that the Ministry would find out that Robert was Tom's son. So your mother and father, along with you, went into hiding. They did this to protect you. They even changed their names from Riddle to Granger. They both didn't have a strong liking to the Muggle world, but they went anyway, to protect you.

You are loved so much Hermione, by me and your grandfather. He told me he wishes to see, but will wait until you are ready. Your parent's funeral will be in 2 days on Saturday morning. I wish it was not so. It's not right for a mother to bury her children. I love you so much Hermione.

Much Love From Your

Grandmother

Hermione stood there, shocked. Suddenly, Blaise, Pansy and Millicent came in. Hermione saw Draco behind them.

"Draco let us in," explained Blaise, she was holding a picture, "I found it Hermione! I found it!"

But Hermione never found out what she found because at that moment, for the second time that morning, she fainted.

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Author's Note- I hope you guys liked this chapter. Tell me what you think. I also added this time line. I hope it helps. I know a lot of you are probably confused. I did a lot of research for dates (well, years actually) in the book. Once I found out what year J.K Rowling put for Hermione's birth, the rest was easy. Hopefully, I did it correctly. I had to estimate how old Harry's parents were when they had Harry though, so their year of birth might not be accurate. I also didn't know what James Potter did for a living so I made him an auror.

TIMELINE

1933 - Tom is born

1934 - Aurora is born

1954 - Aurora becomes a deatheater at 20.

1959 - Aurora and Tom marry.

1961 - Robert Riddle (Hermione's father) is born.

1962 - Elizabeth Habsburg-Bourbon (Hermione's mother) is born.

1969 - James Potter and Lily Evens (Harry's parents) are born.

1986 - James and Lily graduate from Hogwarts.

James starts auror training. They marry some time after.

1988 - Robert and Elizabeth marry.

1989 - Harry Potter is born.

1989 - Hermione Riddle is born.

1990 - Deatheater Raid. Aurora dies.

1990 - Tom seeks revenge. He apparently "dies". James and Lily Potter also die.

1990 - Riddles (Grangers) go into hiding.