rises from the dead Yes, I know it has been a while. But you know how it goes- school, homework, and my pathetic attempts to have a social life. The good news is that I have bought a notebook and I have the structure up for the next four chapters. No writers block when I'm writing! So, without further ado, I give you Chapter 19 of Sphinx.

Sun was shining through the tent walls, throwing light on the face of a pretty young witch. She squinted against the light as she rubbed the bits of sleep from out of her eyes.

"Morning sunshine," said Draco, who was already awake and dressed.

"I still can't figure out how you can get up so early and be cheerful about it," Hermione retorted, flinging her legs out of bed.

"Early to bed, early to rise."

"Like you got in bed early last night. I was asleep before you even came in."

He shrugged and turned back to polishing his wand.

Muttering about how early it was, she began rummaging in her bag for some clothes. The Hogwarts students had not been allowed to bring anything but a small bag for their journey. It had been decided that they would journey to Beauxbatons to seek aid. It was discovered that McGonagall knew where Beauxbatons was, as revealed to her by Hagrid.

"Hermione?"

"Yes," she said, looking over her shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything." Hermione stood up, walked over and sat on her cot across from Draco. "So what is it?"

"I was wondering if you could tell me about your parents."

"Oh, well, they're both dentists and Muggles, and-"

Draco shook his head. "No, I meant more like who are their parents, what countries are they from, how did they meet?"

"Why have you taken such and interest in my parents?"

"I'll explain later, can you just tell me?"

"Okay. Well, my mum and dad's names are Cecilia and Brian Granger, my mother's maiden name being Carter. My mum's family is from Scotland and my dad's from England. They met in medical school. My dad's parent's names are Christian and Abigail and my mum's are John and Kate. Except, I've never met my mum's parents. Everyone on my mother's side is dead. I think I have a picture with me if you want to see what they look like." She rummaged through her bag and came out with a still Muggle photo. "That's them."

Draco took the picture and looked at it. The woman, as Narcissa had described, looked almost exactly like Hermione. Brian Granger was dark and had specticals. "Hermione, can I borrow this for a couple of days?"

"I don't know what you want from it, but you can have it."

"Thanks."

With those words Draco swept from the tent while Hermione resumed finding some less rumpled clothes to wear.

"That's her," said Narcissa, tossing the picture onto a side table. "That's Victoria Newchurch. I don't know the man standing next to her, though. I can only assume he's her Muggle husband."

Draco nodded. "His name's Brian Granger. That's Hermione's mum and dad."

"Have you told her anything yet?"

"About her parents?'

"Obviously."

"No."

Narcissa leaned back and sighed, rubbing her temples.

"What am I supposed to say, mother?" asked Draco, "Hey, Hermione, how's the weather? Oh and by the way, everything about your ancestry is a lie. You're a half blooded witch, and your mum was a pure blood. That would make for a pleasant conversation. Hermione doesn't like being wrong about things. Plus, if anyone should tell her about any of this, I think it should be you."

"Me?" said Narcissa, visibly shocked at her son's suggestion. "Why should I tell her these things? You are closer to her."

"Yes, but you knew Victoria. You would have the answers to questions that I can't begin to answer."

Narcissa sighed again. "Alright, Draco. Bring her in here."

"Draco, what is all this about? Your mum isn't angry with me, is she?"

"Of course not."

"Then why does she want to see me?"

"For a friendly chat."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him as the two continued their walk from Hermione's tent to Narcissa's. "For some reason, I don't consider that to be believable."

"Well it is."

Accepting that she would not receive any more information from Draco, she continued the walk in silence. Hermione knocked on the tent door then entered the Veela's tent.

"Sit down," said Narcissa, as she indicated a chair. Hermione took a seat and looked nervously around. She began to relax when she saw that Draco was going to be staying in the room; also that Isadora was present, though asleep.

"Hermione," Narcissa began, "Have you ever met your mother's parents?"

Hermione shook her head. "They both died before I was born."

"What of any aunts or uncles?"

"I've never met any on my mum's side, and my dad is an only child."

"Well, it is your mother's side we are concerned about at the moment, so you do not need to worry about your father's side."

Hermione hesitated, and then said, "Ms. Malfoy, I don't mean to be rude, but what is this about? You aren't making any sense? Why does my mother matter in this situation? Does this have anything to do with what Mr. Malfoy said when I was fighting him?"

Narcissa raised her eyebrows, "What did he say?"

"Well, I was fighting him and was losing, so Draco stepped in and began for fight in my protection..." Narcissa looked at Draco, who refused to meet his mother's eyes. "...He then said, 'Draco, you would defend a half-blood against your own father?'"

Narcissa smiled a little half-smile. "Then I guess you know the big secret. You're a half-blood, Hermione."

"What? I thought that was just something Mr. Malfoy said to throw Draco off, to confuse him or something. I don't think he meant it."

"He did. Your mother was a pure blood."

"But Carter isn't a wizarding name! It's Muggle-"

Narcissa held up her hand to silence her.

"Hermione, do you know why you weren't told this?"

Hermione shook her head no.

"It is because your mother, Cecilia, or Victoria, which is her real name, renounced magic. Her uncle, Matthias Perkins, tortured Aurors under the orders of Lord Voldemort. After witnessing that, she snapped her wand in half and went to live in the Muggle community. However, her father, John Newchurch, was the only male born of Aimee Roques and Walter Newchurch. So the entire Newchurch fortune was inherited by John. Victoria's mother, Kate Parkinson died in childbirth, and her father died approximately a year after she left the wizarding community. The entire estate lies in the hands of the Ministry because Victoria is their only child, and will not claim it."

Hermione was in shock, "So does that mean I own an estate?"

Narcissa smiled. "That's right."

"And I'm related to the Parkinsons?"

Narcissa nodded; Hermione showed a look of disgust. "Would you like to see who else you are related to?" asked Narcissa. Hermione, curious, nodded.

Narcissa unrolled a piece of parchment. "For your use, I found and wrote up part of your family tree. Your ancestry actually goes back to the fourteenth century, but I felt you would only need the nineteenth and so on."

Hermione eagerly looked over the parchment. Draco, also interested, came to join her.

Lines weaved in and out, connecting all different names. Hermione saw that her family had married into the Parkinson family at least twice. She saw other names that she recognized, such as Brown, Rookwood, and Patil. But there were two lines that were of particular interest to her. Apparently, her great-grandparents, Aimee Roques and Walter Newchurch had had three girls in addition to John. One, named Minerva, which was connected to Daniel McGonagall.

"Narcissa," she asked, "Is Minerva Professor McGonagall?"

Narcissa nodded. "Minerva was once married to Daniel McGonagall. He died during the first war against Lord Voldemort."

Another line and another child of Roques and Newchurch was a girl named Amanda. Her name was linked to Geoffrey Weasley. Under there names was a single son, Arthur, whom was connected to Molly Kirth.

Pointing to that spot on the parchment, Hermione asked, "Does this mean I am related to the Weasleys?"

"Yes," said Narcissa, "And if I'm not mistaken, Ronald Weasley is your second cousin."

A small strangled laugh erupted from Draco's throat.

"Why is that funny?" asked Hermione.

"You dated him."

"Well, I didn't exactly know, did I?"

"You kissed him."

"Shut up," Hermione growled at him as Narcissa shot Draco a disapproving look. Draco shrugged.

"Well," said Narcissa, "Do you have any questions about this? I imagine this is all new news to you, so you may be confused."

"No," she said. "I think I'm okay. Everything makes sense now. Mr. Malfoy's comment, my mum's reluctance to send me to Hogwarts; it all makes sense."

"Alright then. Well, would you like to join me for a cup of tea?"

"That sounds very nice, but I'm kind of tired. You know, processing all of this information at once. I think I should go lie down."

"Alright, but feel free to come by anytime."

Hermione thanked the Veela and left for her own tent, a scene from her childhood playing in her mind:

'You should have known that they would send one to her eventually. The genes were passed down to her. And frankly, I am more than happy to send her. I'm sick of the flower pots bursting when she gets angry.'

'Brian! I don't want her to have it. Not like I have. Not after what I saw happen...'

'Come of it! That was your decision that you made. Don't tell me you are going to use that as an excuse for Hermione not to go.'

'Why not? I don't think she should be exposed to that world.'

'Victoria, she is going to be exposed to it whether to try to stop it or not! It's in her blood, your blood. She can't help it and neither can you!'

'Look, how about this? We send Hermione...'

'No!'

'I wasn't finished. This is my idea. We send Hermione, but we leave her the option of coming back anytime to this world anytime she wants. We can permit her to quit Hogwarts if she doesn't like it.'

'I still don't like it, but I guess you're right. We should leave her the option of being able to choose for herself.'

Hermione shook her head, clearing her thoughts. Pushing back her tent door, she arrived finding Draco lying on one of the cots.

"How did you get here before I did?" she questioned.

"You took the scenic route. Plus, I'm a fast walker."

"Okay, whatever."

Draco sat up. "So how do you feel about all of this?"

"You sound like a shrink. Okay, well I guess I feel betrayed. I mean, being Muggle born was something I knew and trusted was true. Now that I find out one of the only solid things in my life was a lie... I just don't know what or who to trust anymore."

"You can trust me," he said, grinning.

"Yea, sure I can trust you."

"Hey, I'm honest with you."

"How?"

"Well, I'm honest about your servitude period. It ended yesterday."

Hermione looked at him doubtfully. "Has it really been that long?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Oh." Hermione stood up and began to gather her things.

"I know, you are just crushed because I won't be the first and last person you see everyday now."

"Draco!" Hermione picked up a pillow and threw it down on him.

"Hey, when did this relationship turn abusive?" Draco grabbed her wrists and pulled her down on the cot with him. He switched both wrists to one hand and pressed her down against him. "Now you can't throw anymore pillows!"

"Draco, let me go!" she laughed, trying to break away from his death grip.

"Alright, alright," he said, letting her go.

"Someone has a need for power," Hermione mumbled under her breath as she threw her pack on her back to leave.

Hermione tossed and turned that night. The conversation with Narcissa had brought many questions to her mind. Why didn't her mum just join forces with the Aurors the light side? Why did she want to be Muggle? Did she ever use her magic anymore? Where are the pieces of her wand? Why did she have me- didn't she know the gene would most likely be passed down to me? The questions kept piling in her head with no answers being offered.

Unable to sleep anymore, she threw on robe and began walking around outside. The sounds outside calmed her thoughts and she let her feet wander. To her surprise, her feet brought her to the tent door of Draco Malfoy.

'Why not?' she thought, as she opened the tent flap.

"Draco?" she said softly.

Draco looked up at her. For a moment he stared at her intensely, his silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight. He then got up from where he was sitting, walked over to Hermione, wrapped his arms tightly around her, and then kissed her.

Well, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that I have the next chapter almost completely written. The bad news is that I still have to type it up. Will have it here soon! I promise!

R&R!

Dragonfires