Chapter 8

Upon arriving at the Manor Hermione showed her adoptive parents to their room then went to bed herself. The following morning Hermione went to her parents room then showed them to the dinning room where the Notts were already sitting and waiting. "Do you always have breakfast as a family?" Hank asked as they sat down.

"Yes, we try to have breakfast and dinner together as a family." Adrianna said. "Granted breakfast is usually a quiet affair. At dinner we usually talk about how the day had gone."

"After breakfast I have to go." Theodore told his wife. "I have a meeting with our attorney, now that Tabitha is back I need to officially adjust my will."

"Wait," Hank said. "So you are putting Hermione on your will?"

"Kind of," Theodore said. "As she's...well..a female she doesn't get a whole lot when I die, most of it goes to Theo. But I can make sure she gets enough to survive until she's married."

"From what I understand the inheritance is like before the 1922 Law of Property Act. Everything goes to the male heir."

"How horrible." Jean said.

"It's how things are done." Adrianna explained. "Why doesn't Hermione sit with you today and explain everything that has happened. I of course will be around the Manor if you need anything. I will talk to everyone later." With that Adrianna and Theodore got up, said goodbyes to their kids and guests then left the room.

"I'll show you to the library." Hermione said. "We can talk there."

"You guys have fun," Theo said. "I'm going to get started on my homework, I'll be in my room if you need me." With that he left the room, followed shortly by the Grangers.

After spending most of the day explaining to Hank and Jean about what happened on her birthday then the months following, they sat in silence, Hank and Jean trying to comprehend everything. "So if Theo had been a girl we might not have gotten you?" Jean asked.

"I don't know, I don't know if Theo or I were born first, but basically yeah. There was a good chance I would have been the one raised as a pureblood."

"You said you have a glamour on you?" Hank asked. "What does that mean." Hermione sighed and stood up, with a wave of her wand her appearance changed.

"This is how I was born. They put a glamour on me to keep me safe, and to make me blend in with whomever adopted me." Hermione explained. Once again the couple sat quietly.

"So we get to meet your new friends?" Jean asked.

"Yeah, the Notts are holding a Christmas ball on Christmas Eve, all of the Slytherins I am getting to know will be there. Monday Adrianna and I are taking you into Hogsmeade to get a dress, don't worry there are some muggle clothing stores there." Hermione explained to her mother. Suddenly Theo knocked on the library door and came in. "There's a letter for you from Ginny."

"Thank Theo," Hermione said, taking the letter and giving it a quick read through. "Oh, its says Mrs. Weasley has allowed Ginny to come, I'm going to go tell her we're going to Diagon Alley Monday, see if she will meet us there. I'll be right back." With that Hermione walked out of the library, leaving her brother and adoptive parents looking at each other in confusion.

The following day Hermione, Adrianna, and Jean used the Floo Network to The Leaky Cauldron. "That was interesting." Jean said dusting herself off. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

"When we leave here we'll apparate," Hermione said. "You'll prefer the Floo after a side apparition." They walked through the Leaky Cauldron to find Ginny and Dean arguing. "Everything okay?" Hermione asked approaching the couple.

"Yeah." Ginny said glaring at Dean. "Bye Dean, I will talk to you later." Dean and Ginny glared at each other for a few moments before Dean turned and left.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," Ginny said with a shake of her head. "So who's dresses are we searching for today?"

"Just about all of ours," Hermione replied. "Mother Nott is going to show us her dress so I can find something that will go with it, as the ball is not only a Christmas ball but also officially introducing me to her friends."

"I want her to have a dress similar to mine to show the connection." Adrianna said. "Ah here it is." Adrianna took her dress to the dressing room and came out wearing it. It was a silver ball gown with a floral print skirt and an allusion bodice carrying the floral print up to the beaded neckline and capped sleeves. "Wow," The three girls said.

"Isn't that a little…" Jean trailed off. Adrianna and Jean looked at each other. "Sorry."

"No," Adrianna said. "You have every right to voice your opinion. I don't often get to wear something like this, so I went a little more daring than usual. It is a special occasion after all." Adrianna went and changed back to her regular clothes. "Now let's find dresses for you three." The four girls looked around the store as Ginny filled them in on what she and Dean were arguing about. "He's being so overprotective. He's worse than Ron and Harry combined. He doesn't want me to come to the ball tomorrow. Oh, I like this dress." With that Ginny went into the dressing room, coming out in a pine green plunging neckline mermaid dress with an illusion back with embroidery along the neckline of the back and down the back of the dress. "Gorgeous." Hermione said, as Jean walked out of her own dressing room, wearing a ball gown with a long sleeved glitter bodice and a plain black skirt. "You look great mum."

"Thank you sweetie," Jean said. "Let's find you a dress." The four girls looked around the store again, and all left with a dress in their hands.

The next day found Hermione getting ready for the ball, and worrying about how it'll go. "Are you ready?" Adrianna asked as she and Jean walked into Hermione's room.

"I'm nervous," Hermione admitted. "A few months ago most of these people hated me because I was born muggle, now they are expected to just be happy for me?"

"I still don't understand why people seem to have hatred towards muggles." Jean said.

"Can we discuss this later?" Hermione asked. "I need to finish getting ready."

"You'll be fine." Adrianna reassured her daughter. "We will meet you in front of the ball room." With that Adrianna and Jean hugged Hermione then walked out of the room. Hermione made the finishing touches then walked down to join both sets of parents and her twin brother. "You look beautiful." Theodore said, giving her a hug and a kiss, followed by Hank.

"I agree full heartedly." Hank said.

"Now let's go in," Adrianna said to Theodore. "We have to introduce them." With that Adrianna, Theodore, and Theo walked into the ball room, leaving the door cracked open.

"Hello dear friends," Adrianna said. "As you know we are here for our traditional Christmas ball, but there is another reason for celebration today. We are welcoming home our daughter Tabitha Nott." She paused for the applause that filled the room. "Seventeen years ago we made the toughest choice ever, choosing between our twins. And this past September we were able to welcome our daughter home. She is here tonight with her adoptive parents, so please be on your best behaviour. May I welcome Mister and Misses Granger and Hermione Granger, now Tabitha Nott." With that Hermione walked into the ball room between her adoptive parents. Hermione smiled as everyone gasped. She wore a silver ball gown with a decorative silver leaf from her right hip to her left shoulder, branching off into two small straps, one goes around her shoulder the other goes across her back to her right hip. "Now, let's start the ball." Adrianna said she and Theodore walked out to the ballroom floor and started dancing, followed by Hank and Jean, then finally Theo and Hermione. "How are you feeling?" Theo asked Hermione as they danced around the ball room.

"Anxious," Hermione admitted. "A few months ago all these people hated me because of my blood."

"You'll be fine," Theo said. "If anyone causes you trouble just let me know, you know I won't let anyone talk bad about you now." Hermione just smiled at Theo.

The rest of the night Hermione spent the night dancing first with Theodore than with Hank. "May I have the next?" Blaise asked as he and Pansy danced next to Hermione and Hank.

"Of course," Hermione said. "Dad, this is Blaise and Pansy, they are some of Theo's friends."

"Hello," Hank said. "You two are taking care of my daughter right?"

"Of course sir." Pansy said. "You look amazing Hermione."

"So do you Pansy." Hermione said, admiring Pansy's long sleeve off the shoulder black mermaid dress. With that she continued the dance, seeing Ginny dance with Theo. After dancing with Hank she moved into Blaise's arms. "Enjoying yourself?" He asked.

"I'm okay," Hermione said. "This is a little weird." Blaise chuckled.

"You're doing fine," Blaise reassured her. "No one would have thought that you only came to this world only a few months ago."

"Daphne helped a lot with explaining rules and protocols." Hermione admitted.

"You know, Draco wants to dance with you." Blaise said, nodding towards the blonde who stood off on the side with a woman who had long blond and black hair.

"Well, if he does he can ask me himself, I won't say no." Hermione said. "But I think I'll sit the next dance out and have a drink with Daphne." At the end of the dance Hermione went and pulled Daphne to a table with her. "I love your dress." Hermione told Daphne, who wore a blue empire dress with elbow length sleeves that flowed down.

"I love yours." Daphne said. "Are you doing okay?"

"Yes, no, I don't know." Hermione admitted as Ginny joined them. "This is so much."

"I would be having more fun if people would dance with me." Ginny said.

"I have an idea," Daphne said with a smirk. "Blaise," Blaise, who stood not far with Draco, walked over. "Will you dance with Ginny the next dance? She's bored."

"Of course," Blaise said. "I never turn down a dance with a gorgeous lady."

"Granger," Draco said. "Will you dance with me at the next dance?"

"Sure Malfoy." Hermione said. "I'll come to you when the next song starts." With that Malfoy and Blaise walked away.

"Enjoy your dance." Daphne told Hermione. "Draco is as close to professionally trained as any of us are."

Hermione smiled as the current song ended and she went up to Draco.

"Malfoy, Misses Malfoy." Hermione said.

"Miss Nott." Misses Malfoy said. "It appears I have to apologize for mine and my husbands past behaviour."

"You're fine Misses Malfoy," Hermione said. "I respect that you and your family have beliefs, and how I was raised clashed with those. Now let's go dance Malfoy." Malfoy and Hermione went onto the dance floor.

"When we come over for Christmas dinner tomorrow." Malfoy said. "I was wondering if you and I could talk together, I feel like we have some...apologies to have."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Hermione said. The rest of the night Hermione alternated between dancing with the Slytherins she knew and sitting down with Pansy, Daphne, and Ginny. After saying goodbye to everyone at the end of the night she went up to her room and fell fast asleep.

The next day Hermione went down to breakfast and ate with the Grangers and the Notts. After breakfast they all went into the living room and opened presents. "Make sure you come and see us." Hank said as he and Jean hugged Hermione goodbye.

"Love you sweetie." Jean said as they went out to their car. The rest of the day Hermione sat curled up in a chair in the library with a book. "Hermione," Theo said, walking into the library. "Drake and Narcissa are here."

"Okay, I'll be there in just a second." With that Hermione closed her book then followed Theo into the dinning room and sat between Malfoy and Theo.

"Did you have a great night?" Theodore asked Narcissa.

"It wasn't that bad," Narcissa said. "It just made me miss my dear Lucius even more."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said. "I can't imagine how hard it is for you two."

"Thank you, may I call you Miss Nott? It feels weird calling you Miss Granger and trying to be nice to you."

"Of course," Hermione said. The rest of the dinner was spent with polite conversation, and after dinner Hermione and Malfoy went into the library. "What's up Malfoy?" Hermione asked as they sat apart from each other.

"I wanted to officially apologize for my behaviour the past five years." Malfoy said. "I know I don't really have an excuse but seeing as you are my best friend's sister I think it's time we put the past behind us."

"Sounds like a great plan." Hermione said. "So am I to call you Draco?"

"Only if I can call you Tabitha." Malfoy said. "Deal?" Malfoy extended his hand.

"Deal." With that Hermione shook Draco's hand and they returned to their family.