A/N: Oh my gosh, I haven't updated here in a long time!! I'm really sorry. But I do have good news. I'm currently writing chapter nine of this story. Yes, nine. lol, I just have been too busy to update it on here. I would like to thank my brother Fred though, 'cause he's read all of the chapters up to date, and has told me that they're really good. But, shhhhhhhhhhh don't say anything about the next chapters to these lovely people bro! I'm really, really loving writing this story, and have taken into concideration all of the advice that everyone has given me in the reviews. Please continue. :o) Read and review! Thanks!
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In front of Harry stood a little girl that couldn't have been more than four years old. Her hair was pulled up into two tight ponytails at the sides of her head-- where bushy brown hair fell to just above her shoulders. Her face looked familiar to Harry as he inspected her chocolate brown eyes, and her dimpled cheeks. She was dressed in a bright yellow t-shirt and dark blue-jean overalls.
"Hi," Harry spoke, momentarily unsure that he got the right house, "What's your name."
"Tabitha Kay Granger," the young girl said, smiling proudly.
"Hello Tabitha," Harry grinned widely, "Is your Mum or Dad here?"
"No," Tabitha shook her head, and as her ponytails bobbed back and forth, "But my sister is."
"Your sister?" Harry frowned.
"Uh huh!" Tabitha grinned widely, "Sister! 'Mione."
"Hermione," Harry whispered under his breath, "She never told me that she had a sister…"
"'Mione!!!!" the young girl called loudly.
"Who is it?" Harry heard the familiar voice call from the top of the stairs.
Tabitha opened her mouth to yell up the stairs, but quickly stopped and looked at Harry, "Who is it?"
Harry smiled, "Harry."
"Harry!!" Tabitha screamed up the stairs.
There was a pause as Harry was sure he heard what sounded like a strangled gasp, then thumping, followed by a loud crash.
"H-Hermione?!" Harry called up tentatively.
Slowly Hermione creep down the stairs, her eyes wide.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice sounded funny to Harry's ears-- like she'd been crying.
"Yeah," Harry attempted a smile, "Errr-- hi."
Suddenly Hermione's eyes widened as she thumped down the stairs.
She walked up to Harry, pushing her small frame up to eye level with Harry, "You die, come back, wander into my house and all you say is 'hi'?!?!" Hermione paused a moment as tears trickled down her face, "Hi."
Harry smiled widely as he wrapped his arms around Hermione-- who held onto him with enough force that Harry was sure he heard his back snap.
"Hermione," Harry's voice was hoarse, "I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. I really did, but I was scared that if I did that Voldemort would go after you."
"Who's Voldemort," suddenly Harry was aware of the continued presence of the small girl.
"Oh," Hermione's head suddenly turned to look at her sister, "Umm, don't worry about it Tabs. Why don't you go play with Chex? See if you can teach him that new trick that you were trying to show him."
"Ok!" Tabitha grinned and ran off down the hall.
Harry watched her turn around the corner before he looked at Hermione, "How come you never told us you had a sister?"
Hermione looked at her feet as she walked over to the steps and sat on the bottom one-- Harry moved to sit beside her, "Because. I was scared to."
"Why?" Harry's blunt question made Hermione squirm uncomfortably.
Finally she looked up, and made eye contact with one of her best friends, "Mum told me at Christmas time on our first year at Hogwarts that she was pregnant. I was positively thrilled about it, and couldn't wait to tell you guys. Then Mum told me something. She-she said that when I was just two years old she had been pregnant. But when she was seven and a half months along, the baby died-- they're not sure how. But the doctors told her that she probably would not be able to have another baby. And so told me not to tell anyone about it-- just in case. That summer Tabitha was born."
Harry's voice was quiet as he spoke, "That doesn't explain why you haven't said anything for the past four years."
"It's stupid," Hermione spoke, her voice cracking as fresh tears spilled down her face.
A smile came to Harry's lips, "Hermione, us taking on a full grown mountain troll when we were eleven was stupid, mixing up Polly-juice potion when we were twelve and going into the ministry of magic after Voldemort was stupid-- trust me, it won't be stupid."
Hermione smiled at Harry as she spoke, "I was worried, because I thought that if I told-- well, if I told 'the magic world' about Tabitha, then somehow that would make it so she would become a witch. And I don't want her to be."
"Why not?" Harry's calm voice relaxed Hermione.
Hermione sighed, "Because I don't want her to get hurt. Voldemort is at full power right now, and if Tabs were a witch, then Voldemort could hurt her. But if she's just a muggle like Mum and Dad, than he might leave her alone."
Harry thought about this for a moment, "You're a great sister you know that?"
"Thank you," Hermione choked out.
Without warning she suddenly threw her arms around Harry's neck and started to cry again, "Oh Harry! I don't know what to do! I'm so scared right now, and- and, I was so upset when I was told you were dead. And now you're alive, and that means-- that, that," suddenly Hermione stopped as she moved back and looked at Harry-- her eyes wide, "Oh my God Harry. That means that Voldemort will be after you!! You have to run! You can't stay in one spot Harry, he'll be after you. We have to find a spot, we have to get you out of here, you can't stay. Oh my God! You-you--"
"Hermione!" Harry grabbed her by the shoulders in an attempt to calm her down, "Hermione, calm down, it's ok. Everything will be ok as long as I stay here at your place."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"There's a protective barrier put around the house" Harry explained, "It was put on here, and I can't be hurt as long as I'm here."
"Who put it on?" Hermione questioned as she stood up.
"Mum," Harry said the name as casually as he possibly could.
Hermione stopped in mid-movement, "W-Who?"
"Mum," Harry said again, "She's alive. And so is Dad."
"What?!" Hermione's voice bounced off the walls just as her doorbell rang, "Y-Your Mu-M-M……." Hermione's voice stumbled as she tried to spit out the thoughts which were filling her head.
Harry tried his hardest not to laugh as the doorbell sounded off again, "I think someone's at the door."
Hermione's eyes were wide as she absentmindedly opened the door. Harry, however immediately became locked in on the dark figure standing ominously in the doorway…
...........to be continued.............
A/N: Was it good??? Lemme know with one of your lovely reviews!! Thanks!