Hermione's POV
Hermione and Draco arrived back in their common room to find Harry and Ron waiting for them. Draco looked up at Hermione questioningly.
"I told them to meet us here so we could talk." Draco nodded and sat in the farthest chair from the two Gryffindors. Hermione took a seat next to him. Harry sighed and then spoke.
"Look, Malfoy, since we obviously need to work together for this I'm willing to work with you. We can't be fighting each other and still expect to win against Voldemort." Draco smirked.
"For once I agree with you, Potter." Harry looked expectantly at Ron whom just muttered,
"Fine." Harry turned his attention back to Draco.
"The one thing I don't get is, why are you on my side?" Draco scowled.
"First of all, Potter, I'm not on your side. I will fight with you since I have to but I will not fight for you. Second, I don't particularly like the idea of bowing down to someone just to be used." Harry nodded.
"Well, I guess I'll see you all tomorrow. It's late and I just think I need to think some things over."
"Alright, Harry and Ron. See you for breakfast." Hermione called out as he and Ron stood to leave. Draco just watched their backs retreat. Hermione turned to stare at her boyfriend. "You really should try to be friends with them more."
"Be friends with Potter and Weasley? I stopped tormenting them, isn't that enough?" Hermione just glared him. "Fine! I'll try but it's hard to forget the last six years of hatred between us. And plus they don't seem to eager to get to know me either."
"The six years of hate didn't stop you from being friends with me, and then some." Hermione pointed out.
"Who says I hated you all those years?" Draco replied as he took her face cupped in his hands and pulled her lips down onto his. Hermione pulled away.
"So, what do you think the first dream was? I know Dumbledore said that we had traveled in our last one but we couldn't have in the first one, unless we each have some unknown twin that likes being outdoors late at night." Draco smirked.
"I wonder what the girls here at Hogwarts would say if they knew I had a twin running around somewhere that was still available." Hermione lightly slapped him on the face.
"You prat!" Draco laughed.
"I'm just joking, Herm. But seriously, I don't know." Hermione nodded her head and then yawned.
"I'm tired. Good night." She stood and slowly made her way over to her bedroom door.
"You aren't going to sleep next to me now?" Draco whined while attempting to look sad. Hermione turned back around to him and laughed.
"That pathetic look doesn't work too well on you." Hermione walked over to him and captured him in a embrace for what seemed like the millionth time that night. "Now, I'm going to bed." She pulled away and walked back into her room. As she started to close the door a hand came out to stop it and slowly pushed it back open. Draco walked in and took a seat on her bed.
"Well, if you won't sleep in my bed, guess I just have to sleep in yours." He smirked at her. She sighed and grabbed the sheets on the bed out of her way. She climbed in next to him and rested her head on his now bare chest.
"What happened to your robe?" she sleepily asked. He pointed to the floor.
"I can't sleep with that on, are you crazy?" Hermione just pulled in closer to him and was soon fast asleep.
They woke the next morning, graced with each other's presence.
"Since you are the heir to Slytherin, wouldn't you have to be related to Voldemort, Draco?" Hermione asked from her position next to him. He sighed.
"Yea, Riddle is my father's cousin. Why else do you think the Dark Lord holds him so high in his circle." Hermione nodded. "What I don't understand is, how can you be the heir to Ravenclaw? You can't be a muggleborn and be somehow related to one of the founders, or any other wizard for that matter." A troubled look crossed Hermione's features.
"I don't know."
They hurried and got ready and headed to breakfast together. Draco sat with his girlfriend at the Gryffindor table again. The four heirs didn't mention what had happened the previous night. An air of uneasiness settled upon them. Halfway through the meal Professor McGonagall came up behind Hermione.
"Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you during your lunch break."
"Alright, professor. Thanks." she responded. Classes passed by quickly. She found that the time for her to see the headmaster had come a lot faster than she had expected. She said her goodbyes to her friends and to Draco. She felt worried about leaving him to eat alone with Harry and Ron. Who knows what they would do to each other. She hoped this wouldn't take too long so she could back as soon as possible. She made her way to the Gargoyle. She spoke the password and entered up the steps. She found the headmaster's door already open so she walked in and took a seat. Dumbledore looked up at her, a very serious expression on his face.
"Hello, Miss Granger. I trust that you are well?" Hermione nodded. "Yes, well, I'm sure you would like to get back as soon as you can so on to business. I'm sure you are wondering how you can be an heir. I have spent many nights wondering the same thing myself." He paused to take a deep breath before continuing. "It seems that sometime this morning one of the members of the Order came across the answer." He handed Hermione a folded note. She took it and looked questioningly up at the old man. "Hermione, I am afraid that you are not a muggleborn, or even a Granger for that matter." Hermione felt everything that she had previously known to fall apart.
"What do you mean?" she carefully asked.
"Well, I believe you will find all the answers in that." he pointed to the letter. She slowly opened it with shaking hands.
My dear Hermione,
You have grown so much since I last saw you. I remember holding
you in my arms, awestruck at how tiny of a baby you were. I am sorry I
could not have been there for you all through your life when you needed
me, your real father. It was too dangerous to keep you. The dark lord
knew where I was and he would have given anything to have you. I knew
you would be powerful from the first moment your mother placed you in
my arms. I'm sure you are wondering who she was. I'm sorry but she
asked that you never know. I had always hoped she would come around
and tell you some day but I fear that's not possible now. She died a few
days ago, which is why I must tell you all of this now. I can't reveal her
name but you look just like her. Don't think that just because we couldn't
raise you that we don't love you. There hasn't been a day go by when I
haven't longed to see you, to hold you, to just know you are okay. I
remember when I first saw you again. You were beside Harry, a mirror
image of your mother. I was so proud to learn of all your
accomplishments and to know that you fought next to Harry in the battle
against the dark. I wish I could have told you then but I didn't dare.
Voldemort knew I had a child and that she had great power, thanks to
that no good traitor rat. He would have given anything to have you in his
possession, to use you against the light. I couldn't let that happen. The
only thing I knew to do was to give you to a muggle family. I chose the
Grangers because I knew they would keep you safe. They knew you were
not theirs but I asked them to not tell you. I was afraid of what you might
do if you knew. I am telling you now, on your birthday. My home is open
to you. I beg you to come, give me the chance that I should have taken all
those years ago. I love you, daughter. Please forgive me for not being a
part of your past, but I want to be a part of your future. You will always
be mine, Hermione Black.
Love always,
Sirius Black
Hermione stared at the letter, tears running down her face. "When did he write this?"
"It's dated for three days before he fell through the veil. I am sorry, Miss…" his voice droned off as his waited to see what she would do.
"Black, call me Black." she strained to say, clenching her teeth to keep her from breaking down anymore. Dumbledore nodded.
"Miss Black, you realize you are the only heir to the Black fortune. It is yours."
"Give it to the Order." was her only response. Dumbledore nodded as he stood up from his chair.
"I would be careful about who knew about your identity. Voldemort is still looking for you." she nodded. "You may go when you are ready. Remember, you can always come to me." Hermione stood and walked out of the room, numb to all around her. 'Black, Hermione Black. Sirius… her father…. Adopted…..' She leaned back against the wall and let the tears flow freely.
Draco's POV
Draco sat and ate his lunch in silence next to the Gryffindors. He looked anxiously to the doors, hoping that anytime now Hermione would come waltzing through, her head held high at having been praised by the headmaster again. But that time didn't come. He grew worried and quickly lost his appetite. He stood from the table and quickly hurried out of the Great Hall. He rushed down the halls toward the headmaster's office. As he neared he saw a figure sitting on the floor, her hands covering her face. He slowed and sat down beside her.
"Hermione?" she looked up and he saw the tracks that her tears had left down her face. He brought his hand up and wiped them away. "What's wrong."
"Everything." she choked out. "Everything I ever knew was just a lie." Draco wrapped his arms around her.
"Talk to me." she shook her head.
"I have to tell Harry and Ron too." She started to stand up but fell back down. Draco pulled her up and took her to their common room.
"I'll be right back." he called as he ran out of the room toward the Great Hall. Harry and Ron opened the doors and stepped out as Draco reached for the handle. Instead he grabbed Harry and yelled, "Come on!" They followed behind him as quick as they could and soon all three were standing in front Hermione.
"What's wrong, Hermione?!" Harry called out. Hermione held out the letter as Harry snatched it away. Tears still fell down Hermione's face as she watched Harry slowly read. Harry let his hand fall down to his side, holding the letter and he just openly stared at the brown haired girl before him. His voice broke as he choked out, "Sirius?". Harry shook his head as he handed the letter to Ron and Draco. Draco read through it and felt his jaw drop. 'She's a pureblood. And adopted. And an orphan.' His last thought hit hard. 'She was alone, she has no family at all.' Draco walked over to his girlfriend and wrapped his arms around her. He tried to find the words to say, to make it all better but they wouldn't come. Harry placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"I am, I am so sorry, Mione." Hermione looked up into Harry's eyes.
"Don't be, Harry. It's just a major shock to learn that I'm not who I thought I was all these years. I wish… I wish I could have known him better though." she whispered. Harry pulled his hand back.
"I, I killed your dad. If it weren't for me…" Harry's voice droned to an end, the rest didn't need to be said. Hermione's head flew up to meet Harry's eyes. She stood and unwrapped herself from Draco. She took Harry into a warm embrace.
"Don't talk like that. You know just as well as I do that it wasn't your fault."
"I wish I could believe that."
"Harry…"
"No, Hermione. It's okay, really. I did something stupid and now I'm paying for it. I just wish you didn't have to pay for it too." Harry hugged Hermione back before releasing her. "It's in the past now, anyway. We have to focus on our future." Hermione nodded.
"I guess we should head to the rest of our classes." They all reluctantly gathered up their supplies and headed to their classes.
At dinner that night Draco couldn't help but to notice how his girlfriend was quiet, too quiet. She really had taken the news hard but she was tough and he knew that. But he could tell she was struggling. Hermione just stared at her plate and barely picked at her food at all. When someone tried to talk to her she just mumbled an answer, if she answered at all. As Harry and Ron tried to get her into a conversation about, big surprise here, Quidditch. Draco mentally shook his head. He couldn't get over just how dense they were sometimes. Hermione abruptly stood and excused herself from the table and walked away. Draco and the other two Gryffindors stared after her. Finally Draco stood up and followed her out. He rounded the corner and saw her just a few paces in front of him. He ran to catch up and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, a blank look in her eyes. Draco felt his heart wrench at the emptiness.
"What's wrong, Herm?"
"I just, I don't know anymore." Draco pulled her into a hug.
"I know what you need. You need to get your mind off of everything." With that he pulled her along after him. They stopped just outside the Main Doors.
"Draco, where are you taking me?"
"You'll see." He pulled her outside toward the Quidditch field. A worried look crossed her face as she began to realize what it was he was planning.
"Oh, no, I refuse to…"
"Oh come on!" he called to his broom and it flew to his hand, followed by another which he handed to Hermione. She just crossed her arms and shook her head.
"I hate flying!"
"How can you hate it? Or are you just too afraid?" he taunted. Her answer was just a glare. "Oh I know! It's too complicated for the dense Gryffindor." He mounted his broom and narrowly dodged a swing from the enraged Hermione.
"I am not getting on that thing." she defiantly stated, pointing to the other broom which was now laying on the ground. Draco smirked and reached out to grab the girl. He pulled her closer to his broom.
"Guess you'll just have to ride on mine then." With that he lowered the broom and strategically maneuvered it between her legs and then lifted up off the ground. She shrieked as her feet left the grass. Her arms found their way around Draco's waist as he flew higher.
"You insufferable prat!" she yelled from behind him. "Put me down!" Draco smirked and dived to the ground.
"As you wish." Hermione yelled louder as the lake came closer and closer. Thirty feet, twenty feet, fifteen feet, ten feet, Draco pulled up on his Nimbus and it leveled out. Hermione finally closed her mouth as the dive stopped. He now gently glided it down to skim over the surface of the water. Hermione pulled herself closer to Draco.
"Don't you dare try that again, Malfoy." Draco just laughed it off.
AN hey there! um, sorry it took so long to get this chap up, my computers been spazing out lately:S. I know it's short and really rushed but I just had to get this info out. I want to thank the reviewers who pointed out that Hermione couldn't be a muggleborn so i fixed that as you know from reading it:P thanks so much! and thanks to everyone who reviews, you people have saved my story from being totally screwed up more times than I can count, hehe. Also thanks to Lizzie! You are beyond awesome I owe so much. in case you are wondering, she's my beta reader :) and my bff! anyway, um, I don't know if I sent the summary out for this chapter or not to all you who wanted to be on that list, if I didn't then I'm so sorry I just totally forgot and if I did, then I'm sorry for wasting the time to say this:P I will send the next chap's summary out probaly later today :D wow... I've talked alot so I'll shut up now so you all don't kill me. ;) PLEASE REVIEW thanks!
moseysdragon