Peace is liberty in tranquility.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
It was weird how they all fitted together as a family, Markus mused to himself once during dinner. He and Kurt have been startled upon finding themselves meeting Elisabeth and Hermione. They had just come home from one year of traveling, and it took quite a lot of explanation as to why they now had two new ten years old sisters. After he got to know each of them, though, Markus wished that he was still in Hogwarts to protect them; or best to shelter them all at home. If they could read his mind, Markus knew that they would hit him immediately with one of their large tomes. He chuckled to himself at the thought. Both were so tiny in their ten years old bodies, but he knew that they could be downright terrified if they wanted to.
They knew that Hermione and Elisabeth were not actual twins, what with Hermione adopted to his family, and only knew Elisabeth for a mere day before that. Though, they would have fooled everybody with how well they got on together. They both passionate about books and could be found in the library daily after their lessons. Sometimes the rest of the family would join them, and that was where the house elves usually found the Derwent for dinner.
His mother has taken it on herself to teach them Pureblood etiquette and traditions. Hermione has complained at first, said that it went against her feminism view. However, his mother would have none of it. Adelia was known for getting things her way for nothing, so Hermione soon accepted the lesson. Markus could saw how Hermione gradually agree and eventually like it. She would groan less and less after it was over. He and Kurt even got the honor to help them in their dance lessons, where he could tell that Hermione enjoyed them immensely. Hermione even let him know that she used to be a ballerina when she was younger, which helped them skimmed through the walking lessons easily. It was not as if they needed them; both Hermione and Elisabeth already held themselves with confidence and grace that others wished to accomplish. Markus could also tell that Kurt and Elisabeth enjoyed those dance lessons too. They got the chance for the 'father and daughter' dance they hadn't and wouldn't have. He even saw a few tears shed on their faces during the first dance they shared.
Elisabeth, the future niece that he would never now have. She was Derwent through and through. Her peculiar hair was already a telltale sign for the outsider. Studious like a Ravenclaw but also ambitious like a Slytherin. She was loyal to a fault and could be vicious once someone hurt her people. People should be wise and not touch what was her. Elisabeth would do any Derwent proud. Truthfully, both Elisabeth and Hermione would do them proud, Markus was sure of it.
From what they have told him, Markus knew that things about to get dangerous soon. He was scared of the danger his family would go into in just a few years. Markus wouldn't back down, though. He has promised himself to fight tooth and nail for them, especially his two new special sisters. "Pariter Magis Valemus" meant "Together We Are Stronger" in Latin. It was their family motto, and he would stand by it regardless of what might happen. He would contend himself with researching ways to aid them for now; that what he was best at after all. Voldemort would soon regret touching his family, he thought darkly.
In less than two months living here, Hermione has somehow come to consider Derwent Manor home. She mourned her old life, of course. Hermione cried for each and one of them when they appeared in her dreams. Hermione often wondered when will be her next time seeing them again. She was not quite sure if she would be lucky enough to survive the war this time.
She was back to that fateful day again. Hermione was well aware that she was dreaming. She could feel her actual self, writhing to escape. No matter how she tried, though, she was still underneath Bellatrix. Hermione could remember how Bellatrix's bated breath felt like as the woman taunted her. She could feel the dagger on her skin. The cool metal brought her goosebump that called out danger! Hermione could still remember the pain as each word carved onto her arms. Even in dreams, the pain stayed the same, but where her actual self was screaming, she was too tired to say a word. Hermione could see Greyback on the side, his face full of disgusting desire. She could see Narcissa Malfoy's indifferent face, but her wide eyes might have betrayed her. She could see Draco Malfoy turned against it all, either because he was scar-
There was no night where Hermione didn't wake up screaming from nightmares. After one month of putting up silence wards, she found Elisabeth standing outside of her bedroom one night when Hermione startled awake. Elisabeth just silently came to sit next to her and tentatively hold her hands in hers. When Hermione woke up the next day, Elisabeth was already gone. Their routine repeated like that every night, and their bond as twins became closer and closer.
After a year of being on the run, her peaceful life at Derwent Manor took Hermione days to adjust. After their family breakfast, Adelia would sweep them away to learn pureblood etiquette. Hermione has to admit that she was reluctant at first. Hermione didn't want to become the second Narcissa Malfoy. However, Hermione has to concede that she has come to love them, especially those dancing lessons. Oh, Merlin! How she has miss ballerina! Afterward, she and Elisabeth would retrieve into the library. It was where they would either read or plan for their upcoming Hogwarts years while eating lunch Dot brought for them.
There were two house-elves in the manor: Dot and Zinky. While Zinky attended to the heads of the house, Dot attended to them. Learning from her S.P.E.W. year, Hermione has quietly asked Elisabeth about the house-elf matter one day in the library, before acting on instinct and scaring the poor elf. The other girl has explained that while it was correct that a few pureblood families would mistreat their house-elves, working toward improving their living and working conditions would be better than freeing them. Since the bond between house-elves and wizards has lasted for centuries, house-elf magic became dependent on the wizards. If parted so long without a master, they would become unstable. Hermione stored this knowledge away for her future projects and promised to do something later, once she was not fighting against Voldemort.
In the afternoon, they would divide the time between learning family history, Occlumency, dueling, and small Unspeakable related' s projects with Joseph. Occlumency was something Hermione wished she has learned sooner. True, she has read through its theory in her fifth year to help Harry, but she never got the chance to practice beyond that. According to Joseph, it was something that most prominent pureblood families usually taught to their children. Although Derwent was not a prominent family per se, they were mostly Unspeakable, and their minds need to be protected. For that, their children were taught from a young age so they could perfect the art sooner. Hermione was glad for this because she did not think it would be wise for Dumbledore, or worse, Voldemort knew what she and Elisabeth knew. It was not that Hermione didn't trust Dumbledore. She knew that he would do his best to get rid of Voldemort. However, his willingness to sacrifice others unnerved her. Hermione has promised herself that there would be no second Harry this time. She wouldn't allow Dumbledore to use someone as his sacrifice. For their project, they were currently working on listing out a complete Phoenix's tears usage list. Sometimes, having the Head of the Department of Mysteries as a father has its peak, especially when concerning these projects because they need quite a few Phoenix's tears.
Despite how busy the Department might be, the Derwent always spent dinner together. Afterward, they would spend time in the tea room to talk, play chess, or sit in companionable silence while everyone read. Months slipped past with the same routine. In all honesty, after all the 'adventures' Hermione has gone through, she welcomed the peaceful life at Derwent Manor with open arms.
July 31st, 1970
They knew she needed time alone today. As much as she has come to love the Derwent, she wanted to spend this day alone. Hermione made today an exception for herself to reminisce about her past or future. It didn't seem to matter at this point anymore. Conjured a birthday cake image in the air with her wand, Hermione softly whispered:
"Happy birthday Harry." She gently blew it away.
She promised to herself that the boy Harry, who would be born to James and Lily this time, would not suffer the same fate as her Harry. Her sweet Harry, her brother in anything but blood. And before she realized it, she has broken down crying again.
Damn those tears anyway!
She faintly recognized someone sitting next to her. The next thing she knew, she has been swept in a hug. She vaguely awarded that it was Elisabeth, for her hug was always firm and warm. Hermione's sobs came in louder as she let herself cried it all out.
September 19th, 1970
On official Ministry paper, Hermione Derwent would be born on the same day as Elisabeth Derwent, October 25th. However, only the Derwent knew that Hermione's actual birthday was September 19th.
She didn't expect anything for today. But the family's birthday party that they pulled off brought tears to her eyes. Unlike other times, this time, it was happy tears.
For the first time in years, she felt like she belonged somewhere.
Author Note: I know I promised the next chapter would be on Friday, but this one has taken me longer than I expected. I also promised that this one would be longer, but unfortunately, I got it all mixed up. Sorry! Rest assure, longer chapters are coming up. I won't say which to not disappointed you guys. Thank you for reading! xxx
p.s: I felt so stupid for not realizing that I can use the "horizontal line" in the Doc Manager instead of using the underscore, which didn't work anyway.
