Chapter 10. And the Truth shall set you Free
Draco Malfoy stood to the right of the potions door staring blankly in front of him. Snape. Hermione Snape. She's Snape's daughter. He managed to shut his gaping mouth and put on a sneer for the Weasel and Potter as they came out the door but inside his mind was fumbling over all the new information. Snape. Snape is pureblood. That makes Hermione at least half-blood. She's not a mudblood. Merlin, she could even be a pureblood. It's okay to associate with her. Draco's back stiffened off the cold stone wall he was leaning against. I wonder if father knows.
Walking almost absentmindedly he made his way to his room in the dungeons and sat down at his desk. He had just managed to dip his quill in his ink bottle when a dark feathered eagle flew in the room and dropped a letter on his desk and then flew back out the window almost colliding with the black hawk that flew in and dropped another letter on his desk before leaving. Draco frowned. Who would be sending me letters in the afternoon? Why not just wait until morning?
Draco picked up the letter that had arrived first by way of the eagle. Slicing the crest open on the back he realized that it must have been his father's eagle. Still he wondered at why his father was sending him a letter so late in the day. The lines seemed to jump off the parchment and imprint themselves in his mind.
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Draco,
The Dark Lord and I have just been informed that Severus Snape's daughter has been found and reunited with her father. Your duty is to befriend this witch as she is the product of two most powerful lines in pureblood genetics. Her power will be beyond comparison. She will be a great asset to our campaign. Befriend her at all costs. Help her make the transition. You are to attempt to do this before the winter holidays as the Dark Lord expects to meet her here at our home during those two weeks to talk to her.
Your Father
Lucius Malfoy
P.S. Your mother will be sending you a basket in the morning with pastries as usual along with a gift for Snape's daughter.
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Draco pondered the letter for a minute before relaxing against the back of his chair. Snape's daughter. Father kept saying that over and over. Snape's daughter. Never once does he actually say her name. Does that mean that for once I know the whole truth to something that Father only knows a part of? Interesting. Turning his attention back to his desk he remembered the other letter and slit that parchment open with a knife on his desk.
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Mr. Malfoy,
I have the great pleasure in telling you that you have been awarded the position of Head boy this year. I'm afraid that the decision on Head girl was not official yet as of yesterday but today it has been confirmed. Hermione will be the Head girl. You will be sharing a common room together as well as recieving new rooms. Miss Weasley will also be using the common room. She or Hermione will inform you as to her situation should they feel it is right to do so. Your things will be moved by the house elves after dinner. Please remain in the Great Hall after announcements so that Professor McGonagall and I can show you to your new home.
Sincerely,
Your Head of House,
Professor Snape
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Draco closed his eyes at this announcement with a true smile on his face. Well this is gonna be interesting indeed.
Ron and Harry raced out the door fuming as they passed Malfoy and his usual smirk. The anger rolled off of their bodies in waves and the expected first years all the way up to wary fifth years jumped out of the way. Smoke was practically steaming out of their ears and nose as they reached the portrait to the Gryffindor house common room when they realized that the portrait was empty.
"Typical. Bloody typical. The stupid fat wanker is gone again." Ron exploded as he threw up his hands in vexation.
A knight in the next painting over looked at the two boys while he chatted to one of the occupants of the library landscape he was in.
"I daresay good chap what is all the ruckus about?"
Ron sneered at the knight in the rusty armour, "The Fat Lady is gone and we need in you old coot."
Sir Cadagon glowered at the insolent red head from beneath his bushy eyebrows, "I must say young man that that kind of name calling is uncalled for. However since I am in a good mood I will go and find the gaurdian you need to speak to." and with that he pulled himself up and astride his white horse and galloped off through the paintings down the hall.
"Someone has to be inside Ron." Harry said his calm voice hiding the fury he was holding within. Ron thought about this and determined it to be true so he began to pound on the portrait door much to the annoyance of several of the portrait inhabitants near by who glared at the young boys from their paintings.
The incessant pounding was finally answered and the door swung open to reveal a slightly irritated red-head who was in the process of picking up her papers which had been scattered all over the floor when the knocking had begun and scared her half to death.
"Ron, why on earth are you making all that racket?" She asked as she finished gathering up her parchments and began to roll them up by class and sticking them into a bag that laid open at her feet.
"Because" Ron said as he and Harry stepped through the portrait and slammed it behind them. "That stupid excuse for a gaurdian left her portrait again and we wanted in."
"Then why didn't you just ask Sir Cadagan to go and find her to let you in? He did it for me not thirty minutes ago." She asked as she hefted the bag onto her shoulder and picked up her book from the table in front of her.
"Because I didn't want to wait. Alright Virginia!" He yelled at her. Shrugging she climbed up the stairs to the girls' dormitories and disapeared from view. Ron didn't notice his best friend staring after his sister with a glare cold enough to freeze a volcano. He plopped down on one of the couches and waited while Harry joined him.
"So what the bloody hell was that about mate? I mean when the hell did she start hanging out with Malfoy. Malfoy of all people. I mean he's her enemy. And Snape. What the hell did he mean by his daughter. You think he's playing some sick joke on us?" Ron looked up exasperated but slightly hopeful by his last idea.
"No Ron," Harry shook his head. "I don't think it's a joke. I remember in one of Hermione's letters at the beginning of the summer she mentioned something about being adopted. But I don't remember her saying anything about Snape. Maybe..." Harry's green eyes glimmered. "Maybe Dumbledore and Snape are trying to protect Hermione from the Death Eaters and Voldemort by saying that Snape is her father. That must be it." He exclaimed excitedly.
"Okay," Ron said slowly. "But that still doesn't explain why Hermione was hanging out with Malfoy."
Harry bit his lip. "Well he's probably just trying to get under our skin and since Hermione is supposed to be the daughter of a Death Eater maybe she is putting up with him for appearances."
Ron nodded emphatically, "That must be it. Hey maye I'm gonna go upstairs and write Hermione an apology stating that we didn't understand the circumstances and that we forgive her. You want me to put in a bit for you too?"
"Sure Ron," Harry said distractedly as he noticed Ginny's shadow coming down from the dormitories. "Go right on ahead. Hey invite her to hang out with us at the first Hogsmeade weekend."
Ron nodded and headed up the stairs not noticing his sister coming down with her bag slung over her shoulder and dragging her trunk behind her.
Straining a bit Ginny dragged her trunk over to the portrait door and pushed it open. This thing is so heavy. Maybe I should just let the house elves move my stuff later on tonight. No, no. Then I wouldn't have my schoolwork with me and all my clothes would be here and the others might ask questions. It will just be better to move it all know. After all, it's really not all that heavy. A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Where are you going Ginny?"
Frightened Ginny struggled with the trunk trying to get it out the door.
"Ginny, Ginny, Ginny. Where do you think you are going?" The person's hand grabbed hold of her arm and jerked her around. Blue eyes met green and Ginny shuddered.
"Dumbledore has given me permission to room with Hermione since she seems to be having a bit of trouble adjusting to his suprise."
The dark haired boy stood before her unmoving before he slowly nodded, "Fine. But you will owl me the password to your new room before midnight tonight or I will beat you within an inch of your life do you understand me?"
Ginny nodded, scared out of her wits, and drug her trunk through the portrait hole and down the hall leaving a very angry Harry Potter standing in the entrance watching her walk away.
Hermione followed Professor McGonagall through the hallways and byways until they reached her office and sat down in the chair the teacher pointed to. Waiting, wondering if she was going to receive some kind of lecture for harming herself, Hermione bit her bottom lip in anxiety. If only Snape hadn't blown my high.
"Miss....Snape." Professor McGonagall's lips thinned in disgust. "I am pleased to inform you that you have been chosen as Head girl. At first this year Dumbledore thought it would be best if the Heads stayed in their respective dormitories but after careful consideration he has changed his mind. After dinner I will show you and Mr. Malfoy, the Head boy, and Miss Weasley to your new dorm. Miss Weasley will be staying with you for obvious reasons. It will be up to you and Miss Weasley to inform Mr. Malfoy of the situation however, should you choose to. Of course once the baby is born it will be rather obvious. That is all Miss Snape. You may go and pack your things if you wish. The house elves can move it after dinner for you."
Hermione started to walk out the door just a little bit more than irritated. That bloody git. He said this whole parentage thing would stay between the two of us. Now everyone knows.
"Oh by the way, your name is being changed on all of your records." McGonagall's voice rang out from behind Hermione just as she reached the door.
Hermione cringed and then nodded to indicate she had heard her. I'll just leave my stuff for the house elves to get. It doesn't even matter anymore. They are too stupid to realize they are being indentured.
Hermione walked down the corridor to the Great Hall trying in vain to avoid anyone she knew and recognized who would want to talk. Once there she saw Ron and Harry trying desperately to get her attention so that she would sit near them at the back of the table. She arched her right eyebrow at them and smirked as she walked past them to the first chair at the front of the table directly next to Ginny who was already waiting with her trunk at the end of the table.
"I take it Professor McGonagall already informed you of our change of residence." Hermione said as she sat down next to her friend who was reading the book from the ride up to Hogwarts.
"Umm. Actually it was Professor Dumbledore who informed me. Right after I woke up to see you and Professor Snape storm out of the medical ward. What was that all about anyways?" the red-head asked as she conjured up a bookmark to hold her place.
"Oh. Snape and the others found out something about me they didn't know and Snape had to attempt to lecture me. His first act of fatherhood. It didn't suit him well."
"I heard Ron and Harry ranting about it while I packed up. They think it is all Dumbledore's idea to protect you from the Death Eaters and You-Know-Who. They think he figures if everyone believes you are the daughter of a pureblood, even Snape, then you will be protected or something. It's funny isn't it." she said as she watched Hermione try so hard not to bust out laughing.
"Oh it's so cute sometimes how their minds work!" Hermione managed to say while she gasped for air.
"Oh Hermione I have a favor to ask." Ginny said while she tucked her book away into the bag on top of her trunk.
"Anything Ginny. After all you are making me an auntie." Hermione whispered as Parvati and Lavendar sat down across from them at the table.
"Well it's really two favors." Ginny said anxiously as the rest of the students began to file into the hall. "First I wanted to know if you will help me study this year. Dumbledore has agreed to let me take my O.W.L.S. during the Christmas Break and providing I pass them then next semester I will have to play catch up on what you all are learning this semester plus next semester so that I can graduate with you."
"Ginny you know I would love to help. On one condition." Hermione said making sure that the other two girls were still caught up in their little gossip session.
"What?" Ginny asked apprehensively.
"When we graduate from Hogwarts you and the baby come live with me."
Ginny smiled with tears in her eyes. "I would like that very much."
"What's the second thing?" Hermione asked as the food began to fill up the middle of the table.
"Oh, um. I need you to help me research custody law and things of that nature. I don't want the father, and I use that term loosely here, to ever have any rights to the baby."
Hermione looked at her friend and saw the determination in her eyes, "Of course Ginny. If it's that important to you I will help you research it and I will even help you file the paperwork and everything."
The red-head looked at her friend relieved, "Thank you." The two girls ate in companiable silence waiting for dinner to be over so they could go to their new common room. Finally Dumbledore stood up at the high table.
"Quiet. Quiet down everyone. It seems I was remiss in one of my announcements yesterday as I forgot to announce the Head boy and girl. Head Boy this year is Draco Malfoy of Slytherin and Head Girl is Hermione Snape, formerly Hermione Granger, of Gryffindor." Gasps were heard all around the vast room but Dumbledore continued on as if it were still as quiet as a tomb. "If you have any issues or problems regarding school or your private life I urge you to go to them for counsel. That is all. You may go to your dormitories now."
Dumbledore waited until everyone left the Great Hall before motioning for the three students to follow him. He led them down a corridor that was very familiar. As they passed a large grotesque statue of a gargoyle they realized that this was the hall Dumbledore's office was on. As far as they knew it was the only room on this hall. Dumbledore stopped at the end of the hall in front of a statue of a fairy lounging on a mushroom. He turned to the students.
"Your password is 'Fae'." The moment he spoke it the fairy stood up and giggled and suddenly a door apeared in the wall where before there had only been stone. "Have a good evening." He said as he walked off back the way he came.
Walking in the three students didn't even really take in the splendor around them as they were mainly focused on the object hanging on the wall in front of them. A large mirror stood there taller than Draco by at least a foor and wider than all three of them. Attatched to the side of its gilded frame was a note.
'This mirror is actually a portal that will transport you to any room in the school. Use it as you would the floo network. You can also merely watch what is happening in a room as well. However, bathrooms and bedrooms are off-limits.'
After the three of them played with the mirror for a few minutes tracking all the students making out in empty classrooms and then watching Ms. Norris be chased out of the dungeons by Snape, Draco decided to speak up.
"Alright. I don't want to sound like an ass but will somebody tell me why a sixth year is rooming in with the Heads?"
Hermione bit her lip and looked and Ginny who nodded giving Hermione permission to tell him. "Ginny is seven months pregnant."
Draco's mouth hung open for a few minutes until finally his mind came up with the one question that neither Hermione or the teachers thought to ask. "Who's the father?"
Ginny took a deep breath and undid the concealment charm, which not only concealed her expanded waist line but also all the bruises and cuts that covered her body. Hermione gasped while Draco clenched his fists in anger.
"Ginny, tell me who did this. I know we haven't been the best of friends. Hell we haven't even been friends but I swear to Hell and back again that I will kick the person's arse." Draco said through gritted teeth.
Ginny lowered her eyes and gathered her courage before she had enough nerve to look the other two in the eyes. "Harry. Harry is the father and he did this to me."
To Be Continued in Chapter 11...