Hermione and Ginny were back at their room that they shared in the Borrow. Ginny was sitting on her bed flipping through Teen Witch Weekly, listening to Hermione pace while she ranted and raved about the "nerve of Mr. High-and-mighty-I –have-a-stick-shoved-up-my-ass-Malfoy!"
"I mean who gave him the right to make everyone feel like shit just because they don't have the same lineage as he. I may not be perfect but I'm a lot closer to it then he'll ever be!" not stopping to take a breath she continued while Ginny just nodded her head from time to time. "Well guess what Mr. My-hair-is-gelled-back-so-much-it-is-seeping-into-my-brain-and-killing-all-of-the-few-remaining-brain-cells-that-are-left you can't get to me! And don't come crying to me when you're hit with a hard dose of reality!"
"Go Hermione! ...So, tell me, How long have you liked Malfoy?" Ginny calmly asked, as if she was asking what today's weather would be like.
"How long have I what?" spoke Hermione with a slightly disturbing calm voice after ranting on for the past hour about Malfoy.
If Ginny had noticed Hermione's tone she didn't pay attention to it. "How long have you liked Malfoy?" Ginny asked slowly as if talking to a small child.
"What do you mean 'How long have you liked Malfoy?' I don't like Draco, I would never like him in a million years!"
"Really? Then why did you just call him Draco?"
"I didn't."
"You did."
"No, I couldn't have! That's impossible! I mean why would I call him Draco?"
"I don't know, but call this a crazy idea, it is his given name."
"I know that but I've never called Malfoy Draco before. Why should I? He doesn't deserve to be called by his given name!" Hermione started crossing her arms over her chest. "Just like you don't deserve to be called mudblood?" Ginny softly questioned.
"No one deserves to be called that!"
"Well no one deserves to be called Malfoy either... it's just as much of an insult." Ginny argued matter of factly.
"What side are you on, Ginny? Draco's or mine!"
Deciding not to mention that she had just called him Draco again, Ginny just answered the question with one word, "Both." She turned the lights off and climbed into bed, ending all conversations for the night and leaving everything on hold till the morning.
When Hermione woke-up the next morning, she realized that maybe Ginny had a point; maybe she did like Draco. But how could she? He had been a jerk to her ever since her first train rides to Hogwarts; he was one of her best friends archenemies. Why do theses things always happen to me? As if I don't have enough to worry about, I mean first I watch my Mother die, then my father kicks me out of the only place I have ever called home, simply because he doesn't like magic. And to make matters worse, I fall in love with my archenemy! WAIT! "When did like turn to love?" Hermione mummbled not realizing she spoke aloud.
"So you do love him!" exclaimed a sleepy Ginny.
"What do you mean? I love him? I don't love him!"
"But you just said 'When did like turn to love?'" Ginny pointed out, while Hermione was thinking she was too smart for her own good.
"I don't love Draco Bloody Malfoy!"
"Who ever said I was talking about Draco? I thought you were talking about Ron, with the way you two are always flirting with each other, one may come to the conclusion that you two love one another." Ginny said with a look of innocence.
Looking for a distraction of any kind just to change the topic instead of admitting to both herself and Ginny how she really feels. "Oh! Look the mails here!"
"Fine change the topic for now, but don't think you're getting away with it."
"Thank Gin, and I wouldn't expect anything less."
A rather large package landed its self in front of Hermione. It was black with a blood red writing that some how stood out and sparkled as if it were fresh blood. "I wonder who this is from…" Hermione wondered aloud, really not expecting a response. She cautiously picked up the envelope, under estimating the weight and almost dropped it.
"Well I'm guessing it's from an old wizarding family…look at the family crest, there is a motto written in Latin under it." Ginny pointed out, proving she actually listened when Hermione was talking.
"You're right but I don't recognize it."
" Well there's only one was to find out…" Ginny said hinting to Hermione that she should open the package already.
Hermione slowly broke the seal and opened the envelope; it was almost as if she was afraid of the knowledge it would present to her. She knew in her heart that her life would never be the same after she opened it and read the words in which it held. When Hermione had finished reading it a first time she read it again, and again, and again…
'My dearest darling daughter,
You do not know me, but you do know of me. I am sorry for having not contacted you sooner, due to the fact that I have been hiding for most of your life…'
TBC