Chapter 13
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November 15th 1991
It has been two weeks since Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville became friends after facing a troll and ever since the group of four have hardly been apart. All four of them are glad for the friendship though Hermione, and even to the lesser extent Neville, watch every word they say as Hermione hasn't told either Harry or Ron the truth about herself.
It is the Friday before Harry's first Quidditch match and Hermione, Ron and Neville are sitting in the common room, Hermione is looking over the boys' charms homework. Harry was with them but he left a few minutes earlier to go and attempt to get a book back from Snape that he confiscated with no apparent reason.
"Honestly Ronald, have you heard of proof reading your work? You've made a few quiet simple spelling mistakes." Hermione informs him.
"I was in a rush." Ron say with a shrug and a she does Harry hurries over to them, looking like he ran the entire way back from the staff room.
"Did you get it?" Neville asks as Harry sits back down,
"What's the matter?" Ron asks and as he does Harry signals to lean in so that's exactly what they do.
"I went up to the staff room and Snape and Filch were inside. Snape's leg was bloody and Filch was handing him bandages. Snape was talking about 'the bloody thing' and 'how can you keep your eyes on all three heads at once'." Harry explains in a hushed whisper, "You know what this means?" he asks, "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when Ron and I saw him, he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let the troll in, to make a diversion!" Harry explains to Hermione, everything making complete sense to him.
"No... I don't think so." Hermione says, her eyes widening, "If it's something professor Dumbledore was trying to keep safe he wouldn't steal it, no matter how unpleasant he is." Hermione says as she knows that Albus wouldn't have someone at Hogwarts he didn't trust, and from what she has seen, heard and experienced over the years Professor Snape seems to be one of the teaches that Albus trust the most.
"Honestly Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something." Ron says annoyed.
"It's not that." Hermione quickly snaps, "Professor Dumbledore obviously trusts Professor Snape, there has to be a reason for that, and if that's true then I don't see Professor Snape trying to steal something he's keeping safe." Hermione explains, knowing that she is using personal experience and knowledge which may be hard to explain.
"What makes you think that?" Harry asks, once more getting the feeling that Hermione knows something he doesn't.
"I just do." Hermione answers, realising that she is going to have to tell Harry, at least, the truth soon but not sure when she is going to do that as she is pretty sure that once she does as it may just be the end of her friendship with Harry.
"Well I wouldn't put anything past Snape." Ron comments, "But what's he after? Wat's the do guarding?" he asks.
"That would be the questions we're all wondering." Neville comments and the four of them drift into silence, all of them thinking about what is really going on.
November 16th 1991
The day has finally come, the day of Harry's first Quidditch game. All morning it has been clear that Harry has been nervous, so much so that he barely ate breakfast.
That was about an hour ago and since then the match has started and Hermione, Neville and Ron are sitting together in the stands, all four of them cheering for their friend. The game has been going on for a little while when they hear,
"Bud up there, move along." And Hermione, Ron and Neville turn to see,
"Hagrid." The trio says and they squeeze together so that Hagrid can join them.
"Bin wathin' from me hut," Hagrid says as he pats the large pair of binoculars that are around his neck, "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd." Hagrid comments, "No sign of the Snitch yet, en?"
"No." Neville answers.
"Harry hasn't had much to do." Ron adds
"Kept outta trouble, though, that's something." Hagrid says and the four of them continue to watch the match
A couple of minutes after Hagrid joined Hermione, Ron and Neville the commentator, a friend of Ron's brother by the name of Lee Jordan, says, "Wait a moment, was that the snitch?" Which causes one of the Slytherin chases to drop the Quaffle as Harry and the Slytherin Seeker dive, both heading towards the snitch as the other players seemingly forget what they are supposed to be doing. As he is faster it is clear that Harry is going to get to the snitch first but then he is purposely blocked by the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint causing all the Gryffindors to yell,
"FOUL."
"Send him off, ref! Red card!" Dean Thomas yells.
"What are you talking about, Dean?" Ron asks, sounding completely confused.
"It's something that happens in Muggle Football." Neville explains,
"If you get a red card you're sent of the pitch." Hermione adds.
"This isn't football, Dean." Ron reminds him, not even wondering how Neville knows about football.
"They oughta change the rules." Hagrid says, "Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air." He comments.
As the game continues on it becomes clear that Lee Jordan is having trouble being natural, something which isn't very surprising. What is surprising is in the air Harry suddenly finds that he's lost control of his broom, its attempting to knock him off. For a couple of minutes Harry holds on for dear life while having the worse suspicion that no one has noticed what is going on.
"Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing." Harry mumbles, noticing something is wrong through his binoculars, "If I didn't know better, I'd say he's lost control of his broom… but he can't have…." Hagrid says, sounding completely confused.
"Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?" Neville asks, looking at between Hermione and Hagrid as he figures one of them would know.
"Can't have." Hagrid says, his voice trembling, "Can't noting interfere with a broomstick except powerful dark magic. No kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand."
Realising exactly what that means Hermione seizes Hagrid's binoculars and starts to scan the crowed, knowing that someone preforming that kind of charm would be obvious.
"What are you doing?" Ron asks, not understanding.
"I knew it." Hermione gasps, seeing what she was expecting and someone preforming a curse, though the person surprises her, "Snape, look." Hermione says and Ron takes the binoculars to look at Snape, who's eyes are fixed on Harry and is muttering under his brief.
"He's doing something, jinxing the broom." Hermione tells Ron and Neville as Ron hands the binoculars to Neville so that he can have a look.
"What should we do?" Neville asks, having no idea.
"Leave it to me." Hermione says getting an idea, then before anyone can say anything she starts to run.
"What is she going to do?" Ron asks Neville, as he knows Hermione better.
"No idea." Neville answers, crossing his fingers and hoping that whatever Hermione does she does it quickly.
As she makes her way across to the stand were Snape is, having to fight to get there and knocking Professor Quirrell over as she goes, Hermione knows that what she is doing is dangerous and that she's breaking a lot of rules to do so, but for the first time she finds that she doesn't care, she has to protect Harry and this is the only way to do so.
Once she reaches Snape Hermione crouches down, pulls her wand, being glad that she listened to her Papa's advice, and whispers a few well-chosen words, the second she does a bright blue flame shot out from her wand and onto the hem of Snape's robes.
For about thirty seconds Snape doesn't seem to realise what happened, but then suddenly he gives a yelp and she quickly scops the fire off the robes and into a little jar that she had in her pocket. Once she has the fire Hermione moves away as quickly as possible, being pretty sure that Snape will never know what happened.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione, who managed to get back to her spot without being noticed, Harry who ended up nearly swallowing the snitch, but still won Gryffindor the game, Neville and Ron are all at Hagrid's hut, having a strong cup of tea with their large friend.
"It was Snape." Ron explains, "We saw him. He was cursing your broom, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you." He tells Harry.
"Rubbish." Hagrid, who somehow hadn't heard a word of what Hermione, Neville and Ron said in the stands, 'Why would Snape do something like that?" he asks and as he does Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville exchange looks, all wondering what they should say.
"I found out something about him." Harry says, deciding to tell him the truth, "He tried to get past that three-headed dong on Halloween." Harry reveals, "It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding." Harry says, causing Hagrid to drop the teapot he is holding.
"How do you know about Fluffy?" Hagrid asks, looking at the four first years in shock.
"Fluffy?" Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron ask, all sounding completely shocked.
"Yeah, he's mine, brought him of a Greek Chappie I met in the pub las' year, I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the…." Hagrid starts to say but then he quickly cuts himself of.
"Yes?" Harry asks.
"Now, don't ask me anymore." Hagrid requests, "That's top secret, that is."
"But Snape's trying to steal it." Neville tells Hagrid.
"Rubbish." Hagrid says, "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothing of the sort."
"I thought the same thing." Hermione admits, "But then why did he just try and kill Harry?" Hermione asks, wanting to believe that Albus trusts Snape for a reason, but she also knows he can be wrong about who he trusts, her Dad is proof of that, "I know a jinx when I see one. You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!" Hermione says, wanting Hagrid to believe her as this isn't the kind of thing she can't write to her Papa about and Christmas is too far away.
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid tells Hermione, sounding angry, "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an kill a student!" Hagrid says, feeling that Hermione more than the others should know that, "Now, listen to me, all four of yeh, yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel."
"Aha!" Harry says, sounding excited, "So, there is someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?" Harry asks causing Hagrid to look furious at himself before quickly hurry them out of his hut.
"Nicolas Flamel, have you ever heard that name before, Mione?" Neville asks as the four of them start to make their way up to the castle as he figures that if anyone would have heard it before it would be her.
"I'm not sure." Hermione admits, "It sounds familiar." She admits, looking like she is pondering something.
"Yeah, it does." Harry confirms, "I can't think of why though." He admits, looking thoughtful.
"So, what are we going to do?" Ron asks.
"I think we have to figure out who Nicolas Flamel is. Once we do we'll be able to figure out what the dog is guarding." Hermione explains.
"That means we're going to the library, doesn't it?" Neville asks.
"Yes." Harry, Ron and Hermione answer and the four of them continue to walk in silence.
November 24th 1991
It has been a week since Hagrid gave Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville the a clue to what The Three Headed dog is guarding in the form of the name 'Nicolas Flamel' and ever since Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron have been searching the Library for any leads, but so far they have found nothing.
It is Sunday morning and as Hermione always wakes up before them Ron and Harry aren't surprised when Hermione isn't waiting for them in the common room to go to breakfast together, but when they are surprised when they get down to breakfast and see Neville, but no sign of Hermione.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asks as he and Harry sit down across from their friend.
"She's already eaten." Neville reveals, "She's gone out to a place on the grounds that she likes to study at when she wants to be alone." He explains.
"Should we go find her?" Harry asks, sounding concerned.
"No. She'll be back by dinner." Neville explains, "Sometimes Mione just needs some time alone." He explains before going back to his breakfast, as he does Harry and Ron exchange looks both thinking the same thing, why would Hermione choose the grounds to spend hours alone when it is freezing out there.
Out on the grounds, near the Womping Willow, at the tree that she likes studying at, Hermione is sitting along with her books, and several of her blue flames in jars around her to try and keep her warm.
Even though she is so happy to be friends with Harry and Ron Hermione has found that sometimes she just needs to be alone, sometimes she needs to have time where she doesn't have to watch every word she says, sometimes she need a chance to be Hermione Lupin-Black rather than Hermione Granger. So, even though it is freezing Hermione finds herself being quiet happy sitting out in the cold with her books, alone as she doesn't have to pretend.
For hours Hermione just sits and studies, warming herself with her conjured flames, honestly she wouldn't be surprised if she is the only one on the grounds, or that's what she suspects until she hears footsteps.
"Hermione." A voice says and Hermione looks up and sees Hagrid, "Wha' you doin' out here?" Hagrid asks, sounding shocked.
"Studying, thinking." Hermione answers.
"It's freezin'." Hagrid says, "Come on, you need a cup of tea." Hagrid tells her, there being no room for questing in his voice and so Hermione packs up her stuff and follows Hagrid's to is hut.
A few minutes later Hermione is sitting by the fire in Hagrid's hut, warming herself when Hagrid hands her a cup of tea
"There that should warm you right up." Hagrid tells her.
"Thanks Hagrid." Hermione responds as she uses the cups to warm her hands.
"What were you really doin' outside Hermione?" Hagrid asks, "A person doesn' sit in the cold for no reason." He says, looking at Hermione concerned.
"I…. I needed a break from lying." Hermione admits, "Neville knows about who I really am, but Ron and Harry don't, no one else does." she reveals, "It's tiring, thinking about everything I say, making sure I don't say something I shouldn't." she says, looking sad.
"Then don't." Hagrid tells her, "If your Papa was here he'd damn well be telling you the same thing, don't continue lyin if it hurts you."
"What if the truth will hurt more?" Hermione asks, "What if Harry and Ron hate me once they know who I am?" she asks, looking afraid.
"If they do then they weren't really your friends." Hagrid tells Hermione, understanding Hermione's fear probably more than anyone, "Yer not your Dad Hermione, what he did has nothin' to do with you and you shouldn' be make yerself miserable keepin a secret. He's not worth that." Hagrid tells Hermione.
"Thanks Hagrid." Hermione says, with a small smile, actually finding Hagrid's words helpful.
December 20th 1991
It has been almost four weeks since Hermione had tea with Hagrid and he told her not to keep the secret if it makes her miserable and ever since Hermione has been thinking about telling Harry and Ron the truth, she just has no idea how to.
It is the last day of the semester before the Holidays and Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron are just leaving potions after a class where Snape took fifteen points from Hermione for helping Neville and ten from Harry for not telling Hermione not to help. Because of that it is no surprise that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville want to leave as quickly as possible, but they find that difficult as there is a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead with two enormous feet sticking out of the bottom a loud puffing sound that tells them that Hagrid is behind it.
"Hi Hagrid." Neville greats.
"Want any help?" Ron asks as both he and Neville stick their heads through the branches.
"Nah, I'm all right." Hagrid says, "Thanks."
"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Malfoy's drawling voice says from behind them, causing all four of them to turn, "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts? I suppose that that hut of Hagrid's must see like a palace compared to what your family's used to." He comments and unsurprising Ron dives at Malfoy at that, unfortunately just as Snape comes up the stairs.
"WEASLEY!" Snape yells, causing Ron to let go of Malfoy's robes.
"He was provoked, Professor Snape." Hagrid says, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree, "Malfoy was insultin' his family." Hagrid explains.
"Be that as it may. Fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid." Snape says, "Five points will be taken from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful that it isn't anymore. Move along, all of you." Snape says and Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle roughly push past the tree, causing pine needles to scatter everywhere.
"I'll get him." Ron says angrily, "One of these days, I'll get him."
"I hate them both, Malfoy and Snape." Harry says, also frowning.
"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas." Hagrid says, "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat." Hagrid says and the four students follow Hagrid into the Great hall.
As they enter the hall Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville are shocked, it looks amazing. There is holly and mistletoe hanging all around the walls along with twelve Christmas trees standing around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles, as Minerva and Professor Flitwick hang the decorations.
"How many days you got left until yer holidays? Hagrid asks the foursome.
"Just one." Hermione answers, "And that reminds me, Nev, Harry, Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library." Hermione tells them.
"Yeah, we should be." Neville says, causing Ron to tear his eyes away from Professor Flitwick who is conjouring Golden Bubbles that he's putting all over the branches of the tree that Hagrid just brought in.
"The library?" Hagrid asks, sounding shocked as he follows Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville out of the hall, "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
"Oh, we're not working." Harry says, sounding happy.
"Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is." Ron explains.
"You what?" Hagrid asks, looking at the four of them in shock, "Listen here, I've told yeh, drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guardin'."
"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all." Neville explains.
"Unless you'd like to tells us and save us the trouble." Hermione adds.
"We must have been through hundreds of books and we can't find him anywhere, just give us a hint." Harry requests, "I'm sure I've read his name somewhere."
"I'm sayin' nothing'" Hagrid says.
"Guess we'll just have to find out for ourselves, then." Ron comments and the four of them leave Hagrid.
A couple of minutes later Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron arrive at the library the place where they have been looking for weeks, but with no success as they have no idea where to even start, they have no idea what Flamel has done to get himself into a book.
Once they get to the library the foursome go in different directions. Hermione pulls out two lists of subjects out and hands one to Neville while keeping one for herself, Ron goes off to one of the rows and starts to pull books of the shelves at random and Harry wonders over to the restricted section, the place you can only get a book out of with teaches permission.
For almost ten minutes Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville search before they Hermione, Ron and Neville head out of the library where Harry is already waiting. As the other three walk out Harry gives them a questioning look and they all shake their heads in response.
"You will keep looking while Nev and I are away, won't you?" Hermione asks, "And send us owls if you find anything?" she asks.
"And you could ask your parents, or maybe even your grandmother, if they know who Flame is." Ron says, "It'd be safe to ask them." He comments.
"Not Gran." Neville says, being pretty sure that his gran will have a few things to say if she asks about him.
"Well Hermione, it should be safe for you." Ron argues.
"Yeah." Hermione says, forcing a smile as she suspects that if she asks him then there is a possibility that Remus will ask Dumbledore why his daughter will be asking about Flamel, and together the four of them head to lunch.
Many hours later classes for the day have ended and most of Gryffindor have headed to bed, though Hermione is one of the few who is still awake, sitting by the window, occasionally looking at a picture that is clutched in her hands, a picture that she took out of her album.
"Hermione." A voice says, snapping Hermione's out of her thoughts and she looks up to see that Harry is standing next to her, and that the common room is empty besides the two of them.
"Harry, hi." Hermione says to him.
"Are you okay?" Harry asks as he sits down next to Hermione's legs as she is sitting in the window sill.
"Yes. I'm just thinking." Hermione answers.
"Anything you want to talk about?" Harry asks and hearing the question Hermione looks between the moon and then back at Harry.
"I don't want you to hate me." Hermione finally answers after a few long moments of silence.
"Hate you? Why would I hate you?" Harry asks confused and Hermione hands over the picture that she is clutching, being completely confused Harry takes the picture from Hermione and looks down to see two babies, one a girl with brown hair and brown eyes with grey flicks and the other is a dark-haired boy with green eyes, a boy that Harry just knows is him, "I don't understand." Harry says, looking at Hermione for some kind of answers.
"Your Aunt and Uncle may be your only blood relatives, but they're not your only family." Hermione reveals, "Your parents and my parents were best friends, considered each other family." Hermione reveals, "That photo was taken about a month before your parents were killed, it's me and you. That's how I knew who you were on the train, it wasn't your scar." Hermione explains to Harry.
"That's…." Harry says, sounding completely shocked as he trails off, "Why don't I know any of this?"
"That's a long story." Hermione admits, "And a painful one." She adds, "I can tell you the whole thing if you'd like." She offers, knowing that it should be Harry's choice.
"I'd really like that." Harry answers, being worried about Hermione using the word painful, but he figures it can't be worse than what he's imagining.
"Well, to start my real name isn't Hermione Granger, it's Hermione Lupin-Black." Hermione explains, making sure that she says her real name quietly.
"I don't understand; why would you go by a different name?" Harry ask, sounding completely confused.
"To protect me from how people will react to hearing that last name, the way they would treat me, what they may even do to me, if people knew whose daughter I am." Hermione explains, and Harry gives her a confused look, "It will make sense once I finish the story." Hermione explains. "I'm the biological daughter of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin." Hermione says.
"How's that possible?" Harry asks confused, though he can't help but wonder why it would be dangerous for Hermione if people knew whose daughter she is.
"In the magical word men can get pregnant, and well… it's complicated, and I'll explain it to you some time if you want, but the point is that I have two fathers." Hermione explains, "My fathers were at school with your parents, and were best friends with your Dad and another boy by the name of Peter Pettigrew. The four of them were practically inseparable." She explains, and Harry has to smile at that, "After Hogwarts my parents, your parents, Neville's parents, Peter and others joined an organization that Dumbledore formed to fight against Voldemort."
"You said his name." Harry says, sounding surprised.
"My Papa taught me not to be afraid of a name." Hermione says with a half-smile, "Your parents knew that Voldemort was after them, don't ask me how that I don't know." She admits, as Remus didn't tell her that she isn't even sure if he knows, "But they knew so they went into hiding under an enchantment called the Fidelius Charm." Hermione says and she takes a deep breath, "That meant that their, your, location was only known by one person, their secret keeper." Hermione says and Harry frowns as he suspects he can guess where this is going, "A Secret Keeper can only divulge the secret they are keeping willingly, no spell or potion can get them to reveal it, not even torture." Hermione says, and her voice starts to shake slightly, "As far as everyone knew my Dad, Sirius, who was your Dad's best friend, was your parents Secret Keeper."
"What are you saying, Hermione?" Harry asks, needing Hermione to actually say the words he is thinking otherwise he's not going to believe it.
"My Dad's the reason your parents are dead, he told Voldemort where to find you." Hermione explains and as Harry looks too shocked to speak Hermione quickly continues talking so that she can tell Harry the rest of the story, "The day after your parents were killed our parent's friend, Peter confronted Dad in the street and yelled that he betrayed Uncle James and Aunt Lily and by all accounts Dad killed him and twelve Muggles, he's be in the Wizard prison, Azkaban, ever since. I have no memory of ever knowing him." Hermione explains and then once more takes a breath, "My Papa, Remus, arrived home from a mission that he was on for Dumbledore shortly after and he spent four days in Ministry custody before Professor Dumbledore got him released because he had nothing to do with what Dad did. Papa raised me alone but he argued, more than once, with Dumbledore about you living with your Aunt and Uncle, he was against it." Hermione says and for the first time since she revealed the truth Harry looks up at her, "Papa knew, because of things your Mum said, that your Aunt and Uncle hates magic and so he knew that even if you were safe at your relatives house you probably didn't feel wanted or loved so he kept trying to get Professor Dumbledore to let him visit you, let you come live with us, but Professor Dumbledore kept refusing. He kept saying you were safe at your relative's house." Hermione explains.
Hearing that Harry can't help but snort as he doesn't consider his aunt's house to be home and he knows his aunt doesn't want him to consider it to be his home, "So, my parents are dead because your Dad, who was one of their closest friends, betrayed them?" Harry asks, fury in his voice.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Harry." Hermione says, the words feeling pretty shallow, but she has no idea what else to say, as she reaches out to try and take Harry's hand, but he pulls away, "I'm…" Hermione starts to say.
"No." Harry says, standing up, "I… need to go to bed, it's late." Harry says before quickly heading upstairs, dropping Hermione's picture as he goes, as he needs to think about everything Hermione just told him.
As Hermione watches Harry go a part of her wants to follow him, but because she has no idea what to say she doesn't, she just hopes that one day Harry forgives her.
It has been well over an hour since Harry left Hermione and ever since he has been lying in his bed, running through everything Hermione told him and the more he thinks the angrier he becomes.
His parents would be alive if it wasn't for Hermione's Dad. If it wasn't for him he would have grown up with them, and if it wasn't for Professor Dumbledore chances are he would have grown up with Hermione and her other Dad. He had someone fighting for him, he had someone who truly wanted him, and he didn't even realize.
For hours Harry just lays in his bed, thinking, being angry, feeling pain, before sleep finally claims him just before dawn.
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