Shades of Grey
By: Destiny's Darkness

Disclaimer: Not mine in so many ways. Original ideas, however, are.

Chapter Eight

"Why did we have to deal with him?" Ron whined, tagging behind Hermione as she picked up the pillow and blanket from the couch. "We could have just turned him out on the street."

"I wanted to, Ron. Trust me, I wanted to. But Dani would have gone back out and found him the moment I left."

"So?"

"Ronald Weasley, I don't like this situation any more than you do. But my best friend was not spending the night with a known Muggle-hater." She dropped her armful back onto the couch, then paused to plump the pillow.

Behind them, Dani rolled her eyes. "And you three would have him bruised and bloody in an alleyway within an hour. Which is why I stayed too. You needed a chaperone."

Ron grinned lecherously. "My bed had extra room in it, you know."

"Which is why she stayed in my room," Hermione sighed, tossing the sound over her shoulder as she made her way to relieve Harry from his Draco-watching duties in the kitchen.

He stormed out a moment later, his face only a little red. "I don't care what you said, Dani; the Lord of the Manor has not been punished by that stupid spell."

She found herself rolling her eyes again. "Relax, Harry. The Hand of God punished Draco. Just because you don't know the details doesn't mean it doesn't happen."

They sat in silence for a moment, Harry calming himself down and Dani studying him carefully while Ron eyed the kitchen door. Finally the redhead spoke up. "So what happened to you?"

"Nothing, really. I've not been particularly good or particularly bad. And that's the way it is for most people, not clearly on either side of the line."

That. Yeah, that he could understand. A wicked grin grew on his face. "What happened to Hermione?"

Hers matched. "That, my friend, is for her and her alone to tell you."

A crash interrupted his begging before he could properly begin. Hermione and Draco started screaming, accentuating their points with smaller crashes.

"Oh, no, you don't," the Muggle laughed, grapping Ron's arm and stopping him from charging in there. "She can defend herself. Plus they have a lot of sexual tension to work out."

Two words stopped both Harry and Ron in their tracks. "That's not sexual tension!" Ron yelped desperately. "That's hate."

"Please," she responded, smirking at the identical, horror-struck expressions. "Have you seen the way they look at each other? When she insults him, you can see hurt in his eyes. And the same goes for her, much of the time. Your insults don't affect him any where as remotely, even when you insult his parents." She gave a little shrug. "And when there's not a fight, and she makes one of her stunningly intelligent comments, he looks proud of her. Plus, I know she had the hots for him, and did you see the way he looked at her when she came back from dancing at the club last night?"

"Ogres would look at her that way in that outfit," Harry grumbled, stung by the idea that she might have been attracted to both him and Malfoy, of all people, at the same time.

"An ogre would look like he wanted her in a dark alley somewhere. Draco looked like he wanted to protect her from anything that could ever hurt her, after ripping out your eyes for looking at her too. That, my friends, is sexual attraction, bordering on love."

"What!"

Harry was off and running for the kitchen, Ron on his heels, ignoring the knocking at the front door. Dani debated the slightest fraction of a second before going to see who was interrupting her daily dose of drama.

"Belle!"

Hermione froze, mindful of Malfoy's wand pointing between her eyes while hers scraped his throat. They were both breathing heavily, eyes aflame. Well, hers were, at least. The narrow-mind git! Ungrateful little… argh. She's simply been trying to treat him like he wasn't a murderer and explain about the effects of the anti-Muggle spells. Didn't that just prove my point that you don't belong? The arrogance of that… that… pauper! You'd think having your family fortune and redistributed to Muggles affected by Voldemort would have taken him down a notch or two, but no.

Through her rage, she vaguely saw Harry and Ron watching nervously from the doorway and somewhat heard Dani talking to someone on their way down the hall. "Belle, dearest, you have a guest!"

Suddenly the other voice, mixed with the obvious warning in Dani's voice, broke through the red haze. As the stranger swept into the kitchen before the blonde, all three boys instinctively turned to see how Hermione was going to explain to this stunningly elegant woman why exactly she was practically pinned under Malfoy on the table and they were pointing sticks at each other. But Hermione had moved. She'd shoved Malfoy away and slipped past him, going to the woman with outstretched arms.

"Aunt Meredith," the brunette murmured as she allowed herself to be air-kissed on both cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

"Did you think that I wouldn't come say hello to my favorite niece whenever I get the chance? We've got a lot of catching up to do." Instantly making herself at home, she dropped her coat and purse on hooks on the back of the door, hooks the boys had yet to even notice. "Isn't this suit just adorable?" Both Dani and Belle agreed as she ran her hands down the smooth cut of the fabric. "Can you believe they called it retro?" Anyway, I stopped by your apartment building and you doorman said you were staying here, so I decided to pay you a visit."

"I filled James in on the living arrangements," Dani clarified at Hermione's confused expression. "You know how he worries when you don't stay at the apartment. It stems, of course, from his undying and eternal adoration for you."

Meredith cast a sharp glance at Malfoy, who hadn't quite concealed his amusement at the idea. "I'd love a cup of tea, dear. Would you mind terribly?"

"I believe we have some Earl Grey," Hermione replied, even as she filled a kettle from the tap and set it on the stove. "I hope that will do."

"Tea is tea. I do hope you all will join us?" Though she directed the question at the three boys and Dani, they realized that she wasn't actually asking. They sat. "I know Dani, of course. But I don't believe I've met you three."

"Of course. I apologize, Aunt Meredith. Forgive me for being rude." Hermione joined everyone at the table. "This is Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter, and next to Dani is Draco Malfoy."

"Pleased to meet you two at last. Hermione mentions a great deal about you in her emails. But I'm afraid I don't recall hearing much about you, Mr. Malfoy."

"Yes, well," Hermione interrupted, "I was planning on sending off one of those emails later today. I guess I can take you off that list."

"I needed to take a few weeks before the Challenge. This season has just been insane—everyone's trying to outdo each other! Did you hear that Anita Barvalo imported three wild jaguars for the New York Children's Charity auction? She had a jungle theme, you see," Meredith explained in a lightly mocking tone. "And then Morgan Trimens decided that our rainforest theme was too similar and too soon after, so she changed the entire theme to 'In Queen Victoria's Court'. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to hunt down Victorian era decorations in Madrid? Much less any sort of attire? I'm telling you, Hermione, you're missing out by continuing you education at that nutty school of yours. And the extra year before university pushes back your Political Science degree."

Hermione leaned forward. "I'm sorry I won't be able to see the Challenge again. How's you caption this year?"

"You would probably know better than I would, dearest. It's Sir Mitchell Halingsburg."

"Mitch? How wonderful. He must be so thrilled about the new boat."

"He is. He handles her like she was made for him, which of course she was, but it's like they read each other's thoughts." The dark-haired woman raised an eyebrow at her niece. "But shouldn't you already know that? Weren't you two rather… involved last season?"

"Actually," Dani corrected, smirking at her annoyed best friend, "I believe the final consensus was that they eloped before Belle left him for another man and broke his fragile heart."

"What nonsense. Two dates, that's it, and we decided we were better as friends."

"Oh, posh. I got it straight from the horse's mouth. In his own words, he's positively in love with you."

Hermione laughed, leaning back in her seat. "And I'm supposed to believe you? You've been pushing us together ever since he was knighted."

Before Meredith could respond, Draco interrupted. "He's knighted? Well, Granger, I must say, I'm not sure if I should be surprised or impressed." The chaos he was expecting was never unleashed. Harry and Ron had made a point of deliberately ignoring him. Dani and Meredith both frowned while Hermione smiled, a delighted expression that left Malfoy apprehensive.

"Malfoy, is it?" Meredith snapped her own expression unforgiving. "Well, you must not be very familiar with our Hermione or you'd know that she doesn't hold with any of this rubbish about dating beneath her having better blood. You shouldn't read everything you read in the papers. That reminds me," she continued, turning back to Hermione, "who is your escort for the ball next Friday?"

Her only answer was the confused silence and Hermione's blank look.

"Surely you've heard?"

"Of the Christmas Eve ball? Of course. How is Aunt Elizabeth?"

"She—she's fine, though I've never understood why she lets you call her that. She'd take a horsewhip to anyone else if they tried it. But—"

"Well, she loves me best."

"Belle. Darling. Tell me you've heard the news."

"I believe I received an invitation a few months ago, but I wasn't really planning on going."

Meredith fell back and covered her eyes with trembling fingers. "She wasn't planning on attending. She wasn't planning on attending. I mean, I knew none of the dressmakers were bragging about dressing you, but I just though you were keeping your gown a secret to stun everyone with your arrival." Her voice picked up on the trembling with a touch of hysteria, though if it was amusement or panic was unidentifiable. "They've only been planning this particular ball for two years. And one bothered to tell her about it."

Hermione exchanged worried glances with Dani. "What is it? Is something wrong with Aunt Elizabeth?"

"Oh, no," the woman laughed. "She's fine. In fact, she's more than fine. She's planning to make an announcement at that ball. Your announcement."

Dani gulped, a strangled gasp, but Hermione froze. Whatever the three boys expect the strange declaration to cause, it wasn't for the blood to rush from the brunette's face, her eyes to roll back in her head, and for her to collapse. Harry leaped from his seat and somehow managed to get to her side before she hit the floor. He cradled her head, brushing the curls from her face.

"Move, move, move," Meredith ordered, shoving Draco and Ron out of her way. "My purse. Get me my purse, boy." She waited until Ron had fetched the bag from where it was hanging on the back of the kitchen door, then snatched it from his hands, digging through it like a madwoman. "Oh, where are they? Always in my way, right until I need them. Come on, quit hiding from me. Aha!" She pulled out a small vial, yanked out the stopper, and waved it under Hermione's nose.

"Is that… is that smelling salts?" Ron asked.

Draco snorted. "You're a quick one, Weasley, aren't you?"

Ron ignored him. "You keep smelling salts in your purse?"

"Of course," Meredith murmured, obviously distracted. "For my oldest daughter, you see. Pathetic little weakling of a child, really. Can't turn on the telly without seeing something that makes her feel faint. Don't know how she ever had children."

"Be nice," Dani laughed. "She's just a bit delicate."

"Don't be diplomatic; I know exactly what she is. She's my daughter, after all. Here she comes." Indeed, Hermione began to fidget, her nose wrinkling at the odor. As she began to flutter her eyelashes, then blink her eyes, Meredith laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Easy now, dearest. Take your time."

Hermione flushed as she realized where she was, and Dani met her gaze with a wicked grin. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

"I apologize, Aunt Meredith," she said finally. "There's no excuse for losing control of myself like that."

"Nonsense. You've had quite a shock."

Harry looked sharply at her. "I don't believe I understand what the shock was."

"You don't understand what the shock…" Meredith trailed off, stunned, while Hermione used the opportunity to climb back in her chair. "You've never told them."

"It never came up," she defended herself in the same tone of voice as when Harry confronted her three mornings before.

"It never came up?" Dani asked, in an incredulous voice, and with a pointed look at Malfoy that was missed by no one.

"Well, it's not like Harry's parents being murdered."

"Your parents were murdered?" Meredith asked Harry, distracted just as Hermione knew she would be. She began to mother him, patting his hand and pouring him more tea. "Oh, you poor, dear boy. How horrible! No wonder you and Hermione get on so well."

Another road Hermione didn't want to travel down. "Um, Aunt Meredith," she interrupted. "Did you say the announcement was being made next week?"

It was a feeble ploy, and they all knew it. "Yes," her aunt answered anyway. "The Grangers were supposed to send you—"

"You know, maybe this is something we should discuss in private." Hermione stood and began gathering the teacups. "If you boys could excuse us?" She shepherded them out, a meaningful motion aimed at Dani. Keep them distracted. Dani hesitated a moment, but finally nodded her agreement.

As the door shut behind her, Dani found herself being closed in on. "What is going on?" Harry demanded.

"It… it's not my place to tell," he managed.

"Hermione fainted," Ron muttered to himself. "I've never seen her so weak before. Not even when Voldemort was trying to break her." He looked back up from his hands, his eyes scared.

The girl opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words to help. "I'd tell you if I could, but I can't. It's really not my place. And I don't even know what she has told you."

"It's her place to tell us."

At first Dani didn't recognize the dark, dangerous voice. Then Harry turned back to face them, his face white and fists clenched. Her heart twisted for him, reading the anguish on his face. "And I'm thinking she should have told us a long time ago."

"Maybe not." Dani's voice was strong, defending her friend. "If you had the opportunity, had the choice, to keep people from knowing about your parents and Voldemort, and his attempt to kill you, would you tell anyway? If you had a secret that would completely change how people treated you, how they thought of you, would you tell them anyway?"

Her voice ended and silence took over. The boys sat down around the room, stunned, somber. She tried to engage them in conversation a few times, unsuccessfully. And so they waited. Every once in a while, Hermione or her aunt's voice would rise, loud enough that those outside the kitchen could hear them but not understand the words. Time passed slowly. Ron fidgeted. Harry rubbed his scar. Draco smoothed his hair. Dani hugged her knees. The morning light began to fail as noon approached. They sat there, in that room, for just over an hour, but it could have easily been days. Time crawled.

The kitchen door finally opened, and Meredith slipped out. With a kiss on Hermione's cheeks and a good-bye to the other teenagers, she got into her car and her driver pulled away from the house. All attention turned to Hermione as she curled up beside Dani on the couch. "Did you know?"

The blonde shook her head. "You think I wouldn't have been screaming with you if I did?" She smiled, hugged the worn-out brunette. "I'm so happy for you."

"What's going on, Hermione?"

She looked at Harry, and met his gaze evenly. "It's a bit involved."

"Well, maybe you should clear some things up. Ever since this vacation started, we keep learning that you have more and more secrets. You don't look the same. You don't act the same. People don't even call you by the same name. And every instinct I have tells me that this is the real you. What other secrets could you have? Have you ever been honest with us?" His voice wasn't quiet when he started, but it gathered in rage and intensity until it was a full-blooded roar.

Hermione, who'd never had a particularly easy-going temper either, felt her own rage build. "Back off, Potter! It's not like I'm trying to trick you. There are just some aspects of my life that I'm not comfortable discussing, with you or with anybody."

"And it's easy for me to talk about having my parents murdered by the most evil wizard of all time?"

"You only found out about that when you were eleven years old. I've been dealing with this my entire life. My entire life. You could never understand why Dumbledore left you at your aunt and uncle's, but I do. It's hard, Harry. It's hard to have that kind of attention."

"Hermione?" Ron asked, quietly interrupting. "What are you talking about?"

She paled. "You see, I um…"

"What Hermione is trying to say," Dani interrupted, "is that the Grangers aren't her biological parents."

"What?"

The brunette looked up, not even sure who blurted out the question. All three boys wore identical expressions, complete with slack jaws and wide eyes. "I, um, I'm adopted. I was adopted at a very early age." She tossed Dani a nervous glance before watching Draco open and close his mouth like an albino goldfish.

"You're a Pureblood, aren't you?"

"What?"

Ron leapt from his seat, beginning to pace as he tried to work things out aloud. "It makes sense. You're a really powerful witch. You know more about the Wizarding World more than anyone I've ever met, except maybe Dumbledore. I bet your parents aren't even den-hists, are they?"

Dark brown eyes blinked once, twice, before she tried to answer. "Yes, they are, in fact, dentists. And why wouldn't I just admit to being a witch?"

"Because you're hiding from Voldemort, of course. You wouldn't want him to come after you."

"I wasn't even born in July. I was born in September. What would Voldemort want me?"

"I don't know. Maybe your real parents were Death-Eaters who betrayed him. Or maybe they were killed fighting for the side of the light. Or maybe…"

"Ron?" Bless him, he'd eased her stresses with his silly ranting. "I'm muggle-born. Through and through. Remember? Anti-Muggle spells? Make me go all "blah"?"

He sat back down, slightly defeated.

"My parents met in college, along with their four best friends: Dani's parents and the Grangers. They had an arranged marriage. Then they died and everyone was surprised when the lawyers read the will and discovered that this energetic little two-year-old was given to the Grangers. Not to family, though there was plenty of it around and willing to take me in. Several filed custody suits to be declared my legal guardians. But my parent's lawyer was extremely thorough, and none of the suits lasted. So after a few years, the Grangers adopted me. I consider them my family. Their oldest son is my big brother. Their younger daughter is my sister. They raised me, taught me how to ride a bike, and encouraged me in my studies." She shrugged. "Raising a witch wasn't part of the deal, but they dealt with it."

"That's the big secret then?" Malfoy scoffed.

"Part of it. See, my parents were muggles, but they… they…" she paused, struggling to find the words to express herself. "They were members of the… well…"

"Hermione isn't middle class. She's a member of the royal court, complete with titles and all."

The brunette fancied she could hear a cricket chirping through the silence, probably from somewhere in Antarctica. Ron and Harry were both shaking their heads slowly, as if they wanted to deny what she was saying. Draco was just flat-out denying it. "Yeah, then what's your "title"?"

"Lady Hermione Jane Wyndham Granger, Duchess of Alhenborough, Countess of Ebenshire, Countess of WIndaine, and Baroness of Mershole."

"You have four titles? Four?"

"I have four important titles, along with a few lesser known ones. You see, families die out. I was the last child borne in either side of my family, and as several of my older relatives passed on, they named me their heirs and left me their titles. It's a family tradition. Dani's going to be the Baroness of Duneson one day."

"Holy shit," Harry muttered. "And all this time I thought you were just Hermione Granger."

"I am Hermione Granger," she snapped back. "Why do you think I go by another nickname? It's easier, both to stay out of the spotlight and to simplify my life. And besides, they're just titles."

"I'm guessing that your Aunt Elizabeth is leaving you her title." He drew the comment out slowly, still figuring things out.

She winced. "Sort of… um…"

"Christ, Belle, can you not tell anything yourself?" Dani drew herself up to her full height. "'Aunt Elizabeth' is more commonly referred to as the queen. She's going to name Hermione as one of her official heirs, just after her own descendants."

To be continued…


Author's Note: How was that for a plot twist? I was a tad uncomfortable bringing in the royal family, but I'm hoping I didn't commit some major taboo by doing so. That was the question that inspired the vast majority of this fic (other than the Anti-Muggle spells): which blood is better: semi-Pureblood wizards or Muggleborn royalty? Please, please review. I was really trying to go for originality, and I'd like to hear if I succeeded. Love it? Hate it? Let me know.

And look! I updated in less than a month. Hell has frozen over.

Destiny's Darkness
January 18, 2006