Disclaimer: I'll try not to give you the impression that I am J.K. Rowlings, but I can't make any promises!

Thanks again to all of my wonderful reviewers! I'm sorry that this chapter is so much shorter than the last two chapters, but you'll just have to accept this for now, but I was at least thinking about what was going to happen this chapter because it's just after that major turning point. I'll just stop talking now and let you read!

Previously on Phoenix Flames

Harry looked at the map one last time and could see beyond any shadow of a doubt, that this was no trick. Suddenly everything that had seemed entirely too strange about her behaviour this year made complete and total sense. Why she'd slapped him when there seemed to be no reasoning behind it, why she knew where everything seemed to be even though she played dumb every now and then, how she knew absolutely everyone already just as she had known them.

"Hermione?" he questioned to the figure hugging Ron.

As she pulled away rigid with shock, his question was answered.

"Hermione!" the other three shouted in total shock at the same time.

'What on earth is going on?' all four of them thought as they looked upon the girl who had been so deceptive and mysterious to them all . . .

Chapter 12 - Some More Changes

The only thought running through Hermione's head at that point was 'Holy shit! This is NOT happening!'

Ron looked at the girl before him in shock, then to Harry, then to Hermione again, "Harry what are you talking about? This isn't Hermione. It can't be. . . Hermione's dead remember?"

Harry looked at Hermione and said to her the three main questions going through his mind at the time, "Why on earth would you do this Hermione? Why would you need to hide? Why did you lie to all of us?"

Hermione sighed, "I wanted to tell you, really I did . . ."

The three onlookers nearly died of shock at the confession and stood rooted to their spots to see what would happen.

"Then why didn't you?" Harry said, his voice totally serious.

"I'm not allowed to, I was forbidden to tell anyone because I could put myself at risk," said Hermione still skirting around the real issue; what had happened to cause this sudden change to herself? She paced around the room being followed all the while by their eyes and had the strange impression of the presence other watchful eyes.

"At risk of what?" said Lavender, having finally found her voice.

Hermione hung her head in defeat and said, "I couldn't risk being discovered. I really didn't want to hide, but I was given no other choice."

"Discovered? By who? Who or what could possibly be so dangerous to you that you would have to change and lie about who you are?" asked Harry. Hermione could tell he was just a little more than upset about the whole situation. Ron andGinny still were completely shocked about the whole thing, and she couldn't tell whatLavender was really feeling.

"Anyone, everyone . . . I don't really know who, but there are spies everywhere for him," said Hermione shutting the door knowing she was probably going to end up having to explain everything to them before they would let her leave.

"Who? Voldemort?" asked Harry not caring about the flinching of the other three at the mention ofYou-Know-Who's name, "But we already basically know that you couldn't trust anyone in Slytherin then, so why hide it from everyone else?"

"No, not Voldemort!" said Hermione also not caring at the flinching of the others, "Why on earth would I be friends with Draco if it was Voldemort, even if he probably won't become a Death Eater? I'm not talking about Death Eaters here, I'm talking about the Black Widows and Jack Willis!"

"Who?"Harry, Ron, and Ginnyinquired simultaneously while Lavender just stood stalk still and listened to the conversation.

"I'm not sure if I should be telling you all of this, but I've a feeling you won't let me go until you do." At Harry's sharp nod Hermione continued seeing that there really wasn't a way out of this anymore, "The man who killed my parents and nearly killed me by shooting me three times!" Hermione's eyes grew dark and cruel at the mention of that man, which frightened the others very slightly causing them to shift uncomfortably.

"Black Widows though? Who the hell are they? Why haven't we ever heard of them before?" asked Harry.

"They are a gang thatmy parents belonged to. I'd never heard of them either until I was in the hospital three days later. It seems that they are very much about keeping quiet about who they are and what they do . . . kind of like the mob or something . . ." Hermione explained.

"But, why would you have to go undercover? Wouldn't that mean it was a muggle gang and that you're safe in the wizarding world?" asked Ron finally.

"You would think so yes, but it turns out that Jack is a wizard and there are a lot of wizards in the gang, in fact, very little of the gang is of the muggle persuasion.Anyways, they have spies at the school . . . probably their kids, I don't know because it's all very hush-hush with them."

"But why are you undercover?" pressed Harry impatiently.

"I was going to get to that Harry!" said Hermione growing somewhat agitated with his antics, "Well, when my parents were killed, I nearly killed Jack and two of his buddies with my powers; so that would cause any person in their right mind to probably want to try and kill me too. Well, considering the fact that those gunshots were fatal, and I'm not dead, he would begin to suspect that I was more than a mere muggle. He tried to convince the court of that, but he was still sent to jail considering it was a muggle court and they have very little indication that even being a real witch is possible outside of mythology and cartoons."

Harry opened his mouth about to try and get her to make her point, but she cut him off. "I'm getting there, don't rush me. So anyways, Jack was more than pissed that his secret was uncovered and that I was able to get away from him, so he made a public announcement to his gang that I was to be hunted down and killed. So I had to leave muggle London because it was safer in magical London for the time being. But I still wasn't safe enough and a lot of circumstances had changed since the death of my parents. So I had my identity and appearance changed and convinced everyone that Hermione Granger, was dead so it would just be easier to get on with life."

"What circumstances?" askedLavender suspiciously.

"Well, like my being a phoenix for one, my parents putting me into the Protection Program for two, finding out that Snape is my uncle for three which would put both him and I in trouble with not only the Black Widows but the Death Eaters as well, having to sever all ties with everyone close to me for four, having to learn and adjust to the story that the Protection Program gave me and making sure that I had cover stories for any slips that me or any of the teachers might have for five, having to change my style so that I would have an easier time of not being Hermione for six, and having to try and control my powers for seven, but those are just the most important ones," said Hermione ticking them off on her fingers.

All of their mouths had almost quite literally dropped to the floor at the mention of Snape being her uncle (except Harry, whose jaw had dropped at the mention of her being a phoenix, having not known about it himself.)

The room was in a tense silence for a long while of the four of them trying to register everything she had just told them.

Harry was the first to speak, "A phoenix? You . . . you're a phoenix?"

"Yup."

"And all the teachers already knew about this?" he continued, causing the others to finally figure out why Hagrid and Hermione had looked so tense at that little slip up at the beginning of October.

"Yup."

"And Snape is your . . . uncle?" asked Harry mortified at the very concept of that thought.

"Yup. That seems to be the way of things . . ." said Hermione looking at Harry as though expecting him to speak once more, but instead got the shock of her life as he burst out laughing.

They all looked at him as though he had grown another head. "Harry, have you lost your marbles?" asked Ron.

Harry calmed down enough to say, "I can't believe it . . . Snape! Of all people, Snape is Hermione Granger's uncle!" He immediately began laughing again and this time all of the others joined in having realized the hilarity of that statement.

Hermione was the first to stop laughing and wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes, "You guys, he's really not that bad!"

"Sure Hermione, whatever you say," said Ron sarcastically.

"Hermione, it's so good to know you're alive!" said Harry pulling her into a hug and completely forgiving anything that she had said and done since September.

"Uh . . . thanks Harry," said Hermione quietly, caught off guard at his sudden warmth towards her.

"Um, I don't mean to ruin them moment or anything, but could I please talk to Hermione . . . alone?" asked Ron signaling that they should leave.

The other three all nodded, knowing what was probably going to happen, and left. Hermione also could figure out what was coming next.

"So . . ." said Ron trying to break the ice and get it over with.

"So . . . I guess this kind of changes things now huh?" said Hermione hurrying him along so she could go and finish up her homework that she had neglected.

"Yeah, kind of . . ." he said fidgeting. "Look Hermione, don't take this the wrong way or anything, but you're like my second sister, and I really don't think that I can date you anymore, you know?"

"Ron, I know exactly what you mean. You're like a brother to me, but I wanted you to be the one to figure out that we really weren't meant to be, considering it could have blown my cover otherwise," said Hermione and then noticed the Firebolt still in her grasp and began to hand it to him.

"Keep it! Goodness knows you'll need it if you're even going to attempt to take on Harry or Malfoy or Ernie in quidditch, and besides, I did get it for you. Think of it as a REALLY late birthday present," said Ron pushing the broom back to her.

"Ron you're the best friend a girl could ask for," said Hermione excitedly hugging him, giving him a small peck on the cheek and running back down to the Ravenclaw common room.

As she entered the common room, she was greeted by Terry Boot.

"Hey Dallas, what's up?" he said casually.

"Not much, just got a present from Ron," said Hermione holding her Firebolt with pride.

Terry nearly choked, "A Firebolt! Wow, that's great! The other teams will barely stand a chance against us now," Then he looked her in the eye and said, "So things are going pretty well with Ron I take it?"

"Oh yes, things couldn't be any better! We just broke the relationship off because we realized that we were more like best friends anyways, so now we're just best friends and nothing more," said Hermione wondering what his point was.

"Really? So would you mind if I asked you a question?" he said becoming somewhat nervous.

"Um . . . sure Terry, ask away," said Hermione already knowing that he was about to ask her out. 'Just what I need . . . another boyfriend . . .'

Terry looked shy for the first time ever since Hermione had known him, "Would you like to go out with me?"

"Sure Terry . . . why not?" said Hermione not having the heart to tell him that she really didn't think they would work out for very long and that she didn't really like him in that way because love was non-existent to her anyways.

"Great, I can't believe it! I thought you would have said no," said Terry like he had just asked for the hell of it.

"Just remember not to assume things about me Terry, that'll get you in trouble with me faster than you can say quidditch," said Hermione as a caution.

"Sorry . . . I'll remember that, I'm going to go tell the guys if you don't mind," said Terry kissing her cheek and running over to his friends talking excitedly with them.

"I'll see you later Terry," she said waving to him. He nodded her way and Hermione sighed and shaking her head as she walked up the stairs. 'I'm going to have to pull him aside and explain to him the 'Granger's Guide to Dating' and really, really soon . . .' she thought.

OooOooOooOooOooO

A/N: Next chapter you'll hear about the alleged 'Granger's Guide to Dating!' and please, if you want to flame me about this chapter for some reason, go right ahead! Anyways, review… PLEASE!