"What? Have you both gone mad? Hermione Granger can't be my other half." Draco said while looking at both of his parents confused and wondering if they were playing a joke on him. "She has been your other half since the day you meet her on the Hogwarts Express son?" Lucius said to Draco while looking at him. "And I only figured it out after they were brought here and she was tortured by Bellatrix in front of you. Though I wish I could have figured it out in your earlier years instead of that moment." Lucius said again while looking at Draco and then at Narcissa.
"You still raised me to hate her kind but when her blood was on our floor the color of it was the same as mine," Draco said while looking at his father with a stone-cold look. "We just thought your other half wouldn't have been a muggle-born Draco we always thought it would have been a Pureblood witch instead," Narcissa spoke up this time looking at her son. "But we were wrong especially when we saw that the effect it had on you when they were brought into our home that day," Narcissa said again while looking at Draco.
"You do realize she isn't going to speak to me? She isn't going to give me a chance. She isn't going to make it easy for me to show her I have changed. Which I have when I went to the minister's office and asked him if there were any classes I could take. Knowing my part in the war that I wasn't going to Azkaban for since mother lied to Voldemort to find out if I was safe or not." Draco said again while looking at both his parents in the face with a cold stare of his own that could match both of his parents on any day. "As well as where would I see her to actually be able to talk to her? It's not like she is going to go back to Hogwarts she will probably just take a job at the Ministry.
"I think you may be wrong Draco. I know that Hermione will be going back to Hogwarts to finish her studies." Narcissa said while taking a sip of her tea and then setting the cup back down on the table looking at both her husband and son. "How would you know this dear?" Lucius said while giving his wife his full attention to finding out how she knew whether Hermione would return to school or not.
"I spoke to my sister Andromeda a few days ago when she invited me over for tea. She told me that Hermione has been staying with her while her parents stayed in Australia. She told me upsetting news about them on how Hermione ended up having to obliviate their memories and sent them away before the war started and when she restored their memories, they got upset with her and told her that it would take them a while to understand why she did what she did to them. It was easy for her to welcome Hermione into her home as well since she thought of her as a second daughter. Hermione and Nymphadora were close like sisters. I also ended up seeing Edith Greengrass there as well. I ended up asking her what happened to them and she had told me that Albert had them go into hiding during the war but then Edith told me she had helped Andromeda when there was wounded from the war. Edith was also there when Andromeda found out about Ted's death. She started to worry that Andromeda would worry about Hermione, Nymphadora, and Remus. Daphne and Astoria but got close to Hermione as well a couple of years before the war though and they even loved Nymphadora as well.
Hermione used to keep an eye on Astoria for Daphne since she was sorting in Gryffindor and she treated Hermione like a sister as well. Daphne was also part of Dumbledore's army. They were also there when they brought Hermione there to get healed by Andromeda. Your aunt tried to heal Hermione's arm but she couldn't since the blade that Bellatrix had was covered in dark magic. Dobby ended up passing from the blade when Bellatrix threw it at them when they apparated away. "So, Hermione still has the "Mudblood" scar on her arm," Draco asked his mother hoping Hermione's scar would be like his and that it would fade over time since the person she received from was now dead. "Yes, she does but she covers it up by using a charm so no one sees it and asks her questions or feels bad for her," Narcissa said while looking at Draco. "You know we have a lot of work to do to get Hermione to forgive us or to at least trust us. She screamed the first time she saw me at Andromeda's. Got in front of my own sister and pulled out her wand and pointed it at me. I watched how my sister calmed her down and I saw how it broke her heart when Hermione kept saying "she watched, they all just watched and did nothing. The pain was endless I just wanted it to end so I could be at peace." With nothing but a blank look in her eyes. Andromeda just gave her a calming drought potion and told Hermione to go get some rest. After Hermione was back in her room Andromeda just looked at me and asked me to go home." Narcissa said now looking at both her son and husband.
Lucius saw the sad look on his wife's face then got up from his seat and walked over to where his wife was sitting and got down on his knees in front of her then took her hands into his. "I owe you my sincerest apologies daring. What I did in my past and my present was wrong of me and I know I did a lot of things that are unforgivable but I'm started my apologies to you. I'm so sorry that you lost one sister to darkness and the other sister to family mistakes. I will do everything in my power to get at least that sister that is with you to see we have changed. I make that vow to you." Lucius said while still looking at his wife and holding her hands. Narcissa just looked back at him with tears in her eyes ready to fall her. She then took her hand away from Lucius' hold and put it against his face. "You can try to apologize to her tomorrow when we go to King's Cross when we drop off Draco, she is going to be there doing the same for Hermione," Narcissa said while giving Lucius a small smile with her hand still on his face. Draco not wanting to ruin a moment between his parents got up and quietly and went up to his room to pack for the Hogwarts Express tomorrow not knowing what is going to happen.
"Do you have everything packed Hermione, dear? I don't want you to forget anything for school." Andromeda said to Hermione while sitting on the bed and looking at her while she picked up books to put in her truck. "Yes, Andromeda I have everything ready for school. It's just going to be very different for me without Ron, Ginny, and Harry there." Hermione said while sitting next to Andromeda on the bed. "Well don't worry sweetheart. I saw Neville's grandmother the other day and she said that Neville was going to come back. I also saw Edith last week and she told me that Astoria and Daphne are going to be coming back as well. So, you won't be alone this school year and you know you can always reach out to them when you start to have trouble." Andromeda said again while pulling Hermione into a hug and running her hand on Hermione's hair. "Know this though you are always loved by the people around you and we will always be there when you need us. I will always be there for you honey. You will always be my second daughter and every day I'm thankful that I didn't lose you either." Andromeda said again while still holding her in a hug.
"I love you, Andromeda. Thank you so much for always being there for me and please don't worry I will be back on holiday breaks so you and Teddy are not going to be alone." Hermione said to Andromeda while still in the hug. "I promise I will write to you every two weeks and if I ever need help, I will see if I could just floo call you. Also, if I run out of the scar ointment you made, I will not hesitate to write and ask for more." Hermione said again while pulling away from the hug now and looking at Andromeda. "Just promise me you will also have fun every once in and while. Not just think of studying all the time or don't go looking for trouble. The danger of things is truly gone so I just want you to enjoy your last year of school and to be a teenager." Andromeda said again while putting a hand on Hermione's cheek then pulling away to go stand by the bedroom door. "So are Harry, Ron, and Ginny going to come by in the morning at Kings Cross to say goodbye to you as you leave for school, or is it just going to be Teddy and me?" "No, unfortunately, they can't make it so it will just be you and Teddy saying bye to me. They told me that they all had to be up early for training so they can't come." Hermione said to her as she put the last item she had in her truck and closed it up and ready for the next day. "That's okay hopefully you can see them during your break when you come back from school. Oh, and before we got carried away with your packing for school, I came up here to let you know that dinner is ready." Andromeda said to Hermione as she was still standing at the door. "What did you make?" Hermione asked her hopefully wondering she made one of her favorite meals for dinner. "I made grilled cheese and tomato soup I saw that it was a bit chilly outside so I thought a nice hot soup and sandwich will do for dinner tonight," Andromeda told Hermione. "So, hurry up downstairs. I put Teddy in his playpen and he has now been trying to figure out ways to get out of it and I don't want him to climb on the table." Andromeda said as she walked downstairs to check on Teddy to make sure he didn't get out of his playpen. "Coming," Hermione said as she as well walked out of her room and closed her door to her bedroom to go downstairs to have dinner.
As Hermione and Andromeda were eating their dinner there a conversation about school continued as well as keeping an eye on Teddy who was sitting at his own high table. "So, do you know anyone else that is coming besides Neville, Astoria, and Daphne? Or should I just be surprised to see who it is?" Hermione asked Andromeda with a smile and laugh. "Well, I do know that Draco is coming back from what Narcissa told me. I'm not sure about the others though. But I'm sure if one comes back, I think they will all come back. The Slytherin house had its rough last year with everything that happened so I think all they would want is some peace in their lives. After all, I think after finding out that Voldemort himself was a half-blood, I think they would view things and people differently for the better. "You know I forgave them?" Hemione said as she dipped her sandwich into her soup. "The Malfoy's I mean? They had nothing to do with what Bellatrix did to me and I don't blame them. It's just I still have to work on the flashes and PTSD that this war has caused me. Bellatrix was far too gone I, unfortunately, saw that when she decided to go after Ginny after she ended hitting Tonks with the killing curse.
"You miss, her don't you honey?" Andromeda asked her as she took a sip of her water from her glass. "I do. She was a sister to me and growing up in the muggle world I never had siblings so having Tonks around was the best. Plus, she always knew how to make me feel better every time Ron hurt me and Ted was like a second dad to me being a muggle-born himself he understood what I was going through in the wizarding world. I miss him a lot too. He would always tell me to fight for the wizarding world because that is where I belong just like every other muggle-born. To never give up, to always protect my loved ones." Hermione said as she was stirring her soup with her spoon. "Ted was always like that with me when we were dating. He would always tell me that I had a mind of my own outside of the pureblood society. Even when we had Nymphadora and I would call her Nymphadora and Ted would call her Dora. He did the same thing with me when we were dating, he would call me Andy instead of Andromeda. He told me once it was out of endearment when he was upset with me it was Andromeda when he was happy it was Andy." Andromeda said to Hermione as she started to laugh a little remembering how her late husband was with her.
"I wish one day I could have what you and Ted had. Maybe I can get that a chance after I finish Hogwarts because I know I probably won't get the chance at Hogwarts with everything going on with me." Hermione said as she took a drink of her water. "You never know sweetheart. It was very unexpected for me when Ted and I got together. It just happened suddenly and honestly; I don't regret it at all. I ended up having a chance with my soulmate." Andromeda said as she got up from her seat to take Teddy's plate away and put it in the sink as well as her own. "If something is meant for you it will happen with no planning whatsoever then you just got to enjoy the ride because it will feel like you are on a roller-coaster sometimes," Andromeda told Hermione again as she started to do the dishes that were in the sink. "Your right I can't plan anything in my life. As of now, I'm just going to try to enjoy it with school and my second mom and nephew in life. Then I will see what else comes my way." Hermione said to Andromeda as she put her cup and plate in the sink as well and giving Andromeda a side hug as she was doing the dishes. "Though I hope you don't mind if I go to bed early since we have to leave early for the train station," Hermione told Andromeda as she was still hugging her. "I don't mind at all dear. I was planning on going to bed myself after the dishes before I put Teddy to bed. They both looked at the little boy now that was starting to have pink and purple hair. "Okay, good night. I love you. Oh, I also wanted to ask would it be okay if I asked you to send Astoria or Daphne some calming drought and the scar cream you make. I packed some in my trunk but I don't know how long it will last me." Hermione asked as she was at the kitchen door. "Of course, dear I will even send them some dreamless drought as well. Don't think I don't hear you some nights in your room having a nightmare." Andromeda now said to Hermione as she turned around to dry her hands from finishing with the dishes. Hermione then smiles at Andromeda when she said that to her. "You know you really are the best." She said to Andromeda as she went out the door to go to her room to go to bed.
The next morning Hermione got up at a decent time to get ready to go to the train station and when she was dressed and brushed her teeth. She took all of her things downstairs and wait for Andromeda and Teddy. As she got to the last step, she saw Andromeda with Teddy on her hip come to the stairs. "Are you ready sweetheart?" Andromeda told her with a smile on her face as Teddy looked at her as well and gave her a toothy grin. "I sent everything to Daphne and Astoria last night so if you see them just ask them when you run out. I also packed you some breakfast for you to eat on the train since we would have to leave early this morning." Andromeda said to Hermione as she gave Hermione the bag of food that she can put in her beaded bag. "Thank you." Hermione put the bag of food that Andromeda gave her in the beaded bag that she decided to bring with her and just put extra things that couldn't fit in her truck. They left the house then and drove to King's Station to go to Hogwarts as they got to the station to platform 9 3/4 Hermione went first and then Andromeda with Teddy. "Well here goes nothing. I'm off to school." Hermione said as she turned to Andromeda. Andromeda then pulled Hermione into a hug. "Remember what I told you, sweetheart. Just have a little fun and spend time with friends just as much as you studying. Now get on the train I'm sure both Daphne and Astoria are looking for you. Also please write to me when you get to school." Andromeda said now looking at Hermione. "I will I promise," Hermione said as she pulled away from Andromeda and got on the Hogwarts Express.
As the train left the station Hermione started to look for a place to sit in an empty compartment or find the compartment that Daphne and Astoria were in. When she couldn't find them, she figured that they were probably visiting with fellow Slytherins that came back to repeat last year so she found an empty compartment, put her things away, and sat down to read a book she brought for the ride to school. After a while, the door to the compartment opened to Hermione looked up and saw that it was Daphne and Astoria. "Hi Hermione sorry we couldn't find you earlier we were just visiting with the other Slytherins that came back this year," Daphne said as she sat down across from Hermione. "It's okay I figured if I didn't find you guys that's where you were," Hermione said as she put her book next to her. "What book are you reading?" Astoria asked Hermione wondering what book it was. "Pride and Prejudice," Hermione said looking at her. "Oh, I loved that book. I also finished Romeo and Juliet over the summer. I really loved William Shakespeare." Astoria said to Hermione with a big smile on her face. "Yeah, you should have seen our mother's face when Astoria dragged us into muggle London to go to the book store to buy his whole book collection," Daphne said to Hermione while laughing about how her mother looked during that trip. "Do you by any chance have some scar cream in your beaded bag or is it in your truck. I wanted to use some on my "I shall not tell lies" Scar. This thing just doesn't want to go away no matter what I do to it." Daphne said to Hermione knowing that her friend understood what she was going through. "Yeah, I have one in my bag and the other in my truck," Hermione said as she summoned the scar cream from her beaded bag and gave it to Daphne. Daphne took the cream and smiled and her friend as thanks.
"So, who did you guys see that we're back from Slytherin House?" Hermione asked both of them wondering how many of them were back totally to repeat last year. "Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis, Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, and of course Draco Malfoy," Daphne said while handing the cream back to Hermione. "Well, this going to be an interesting year," Hermione said to both Daphne and Astoria. "You can say that again," Astoria said while looking at her sister then at Hermione while laughing making the other two girls join in as well.
