Hi Everyone!
I do not own HP. Buuuuuuut, I've figured out how many chapters are gonna be in this fanfiction. There will be 32 in this one, and I've begun the outline for Year 2. However, I do return to school tomorrow so in the week before classes start I'm hoping to finish year 1 and start on year 2. uploads will still be every Friday. Thanks! Enjoy this chapter!
ekrichards
The remainder of their Christmas Break passed without incident. Hermione had started to practice her violin twice, or three times a day. The first day she touched the bow to the strings and started to play, Severus immediately regretted it. The screech that came from the instrument was like nails on a chalkboard. Severus had locked himself in his potions room and spent the day making potions because he couldn't handle the noise. He had to admit, she had gotten better in the last week and a half.
Harry loved his new Nimbus 2000 and flew whenever it was nice out, or not snowing. He and Draco flew around, pretending to play quidditch, as they threw a make believe quaffle at each other, throwing it through a hole in the nearby tree. Lucius and Severus had watched from the library windows and discussed their chances of getting on to the Slytherin Quidditch Team.
"I do believe that both the Seeker and a Chaser are graduating this year, so there will be two spots for them to try out, should they wish. I am going to assume Draco will?" Severus said.
"Indeed. I also think Harry will try out as well. They are best friends, and practically inseparable," Lucius replied. "I know Draco wants Chaser. He loves being able to fly around as fast as he can and makes goals. Not to mention, he isn't the most observant boy on the planet.
"I can attest to that," Severus said, amused.
They had spent New Years Eve and New Years Day with the Malfoys, and had a splendid time getting to know each other and simply having fun. In that moment they were able to forget about everything besides being good friends, and being in good company. There was no mention of the Dark Lord, of his plans, of training, of Dumbledore, of Hogwarts, or of Bellatrix. All three adults allowed the children to have sparkling grape juice to give the imitation of wine. Draco, being silly, had decided to walk around and be the cockiest, most formal Draco they had seen from him. It was almost sarcastically formal, to beat. Narcissa, Lucius, and Severus all had wine, obviously.
But, now, they had just sent their children back to Hogwarts through the Hogwarts Express. There were a few tearful goodbyes from Narcissa, but overall, everyone was excited that they were heading back to Hogwarts to learn and to be back in a place that all three knew as their second home. They had found a compartment to themselves, luckily. Fortunately, most other people had already found compartments, so the trio didn't think they would have to share. They had said hello to the other Slytherin first years, and to Marcus Flint, who came by to check on everyone. Ten minutes into the train ride, there was a knock on the compartment door.
Neville was standing at the door to the window looking in expectedly. Hermione, seeing that it was Neville, immediately jumped up to open and unlock the compartment door.
"Hi, Neville! Have a good holiday?" Hermione asked cheerfully.
"It was alright, how about all of yours?" Neville responded.
"Good!" Chorused Draco and Harry from the floor where they were already playing with Harry's new Gobstones set.
"Hey, listen, do you three mind if I share your compartment? No one else is letting me sit with them."
"Not at all!" Draco piped up. "Do you want to join our game?"
"No, thank you though," Neville said. "I was actually hoping I could talk to Hermione for a bit."
"Sure, Neville. What's up?" Hermione asked as she placed her bookmark.
"Are you still willing to help me this term? And can I still come to your daily study sessions in the library? They were extremely helpful last term, and they helped me get more Exceeds Expectations rather than Acceptables and I even got a few Outstandings."
"I'm glad they were so helpful Neville. Of course, you can continue to study with us. We like having you there!" Hermione responded, genuinely happy.
"Thank you," Neville beamed. "Would you be able to help me with the Colloportus and Alohomora Charms? I don't think I'm getting the movement of the wand right."
"Of course. I assume you want to practice it now?"
Neville nodded. And so that was how they spent the remainder of the 4-hour train ride. Hermione and Neville spent the time locking and unlocking their trunks, the compartment door, lockets, anything that could be locked or unlocked really. Luckily, the large amount of practice helped Neville, he had been able to unlock things nearly 15 times in a row. He was pleased. The game of Gobstones lay forgotten on the ground the moment the trolley came through, and all four were munching on licorice wands and chocolate frogs.
"What did you get for Christmas, Neville?" Harry asked, through a mouthful of chocolate.
"I got a new plant, several books on Herbology, a new Remembrall, and some new quills and ink."
"What's the new plant, Neville?"
"I got a gillyweed plant. It's not rare or anything, but I love plants, so I'm happy with it."
"That's so cool, Neville," Hermione said. "Did you bring it with you?"
Neville nodded. "It's in my trunk because it's still small. I hope to set it around in the boy's dormitory this term, as long as Ron doesn't destroy it. He's always making fun of me."
"Aw, Neville, if he tries to touch it, I'm sure Professor Sprout would love to take care of it for you. Would I be able to see it?" Hermione commented.
"Of course!" Neville nodded eagerly.
"Neville, can you keep a secret?"
"Sure. What is wrong?"
"So," Hermione began. "There is something very valuable underneath the school at the present time. It was made by Nicholas Flamel, and we don't know who or how old he is. It's the Sorcerer's Stone, which is something that someone in the school is trying to steal, we think."
"Interesting," Neville said. "Could it be Professor Snape?"
"No," Harry practically shouted, glaring at Neville. Neville gave an alarmed look at the black-haired boy. "Sorry," Harry mumbled, shifting his eyes to look at the floor.
"It's okay," Neville said.
"It's got to be one of the other professors, because it's not Sev- Professor Snape," Hermione said. "I don't think any students besides us and Weasley know that the stone exists, nor do I think the students would care about it."
Neville narrowed his eyes at her slip up. "What are you three not telling me?"
Hermione looked at Draco, who shrugged.
"If you want to tell Neville, I don't think Uncle Sev would mind," Draco said. Harry, who had rejoined the conversation, nodded.
"I think Neville can be trusted with knowing. But Neville, you can't tell a soul about this either," Harry warned.
"Okay," Neville said, looking warily at the trio of Slytherins. "You're scaring me, what is it?"
"Neville," Hermione began. "Professor Snape is my biological father, and he is Harry's too. When Severus took us in this summer due to the new law, he found out that I was actually a magical child and that I had semi-permanent appearance charms on me. He then did a potion after he got Harry and found that he had two biological children."
Neville was silent for a moment. The trio held their breath, figuratively, to see if Neville would accept the uncomfortable truth that he was best friends with the children of the professor he feared the most.
"Well, at least you'll never run low on potions," Neville grinned. "So, are you half brother and sister, or are you twins?"
"We're twins," Harry said. "Our mother, when she died, sent me to go live with her sister, but sent Hermione to the muggles when she was born, because James didn't know that she had a girl. The whole story is incredibly complex."
"Wicked," Neville said, sounding oddly like Weasley. "Can I ask who your mother is?"
"Lily Potter," Harry said.
"Whoa," Neville said. "So, your mom must've had a rough time after she married James Potter."
Hermione nodded.
"This is a lot to process," Neville said. "I feel like I'm missing a lot of information."
"We told you everything that we know," Harry said, shrugging. "But you're right, it does feel like we're missing a lot of information somewhere in there. Like, why did mum give Hermione up at birth? Why were we kept apart for years upon years, then somehow we managed to get together. Maybe we could ask Dad. Oh! Neville, you should come have tea with us sometime in Dad's quarters. I'm sure if we asked, he'd be okay with it, if you are."
Before they knew it, they were arriving at Hogsmeade Station. Hermione lugged her trunk and owl out of the train and gave them to a nearby attendant and thanked him for it. The boys followed suit, and they walked off towards the waiting carriages.
"Have you ever wondered what is pulling the carriages?" Hermione asked. "It doesn't mention it in Hogwarts, A History."
"Hermione," Neville said. "I'm sure the carriages are just bewitched to move once they know people are on it."
"I could ask Father," Draco said, stuffing the last chocolate frog into his mouth.
"That would be nice, Draco, thank you. I'm curious."
Draco nodded, hopping into the carriage and shutting the door behind him. The instant the door was shut, the carriage started moving. They chatted about various things throughout the duration of the trip, excited to be back at Hogwarts for the remainder of the school year. They went through a majority of the feast, paying attention to their friends, only stopping to pay attention when Dumbledore spoke, or when the prefects told them it was time to go to bed.