Chapter 6
After getting through the awkward—on the part of Hermione and Harry—introductions, the five witches and wizards took their seats to settle in because of their soon to be lengthy conversation. Bellatrix sat in one of the armchairs next to the couch the was occupied by Harry and Hermione—with the witch holding onto her friend for emotional support. And Sirius and Narcissa occupied the couch opposite of the teens.
Narcissa decided to speak up first; the room was filled with a pregnant silence and no one seemed to be interested in speaking. "Hermione, dear, I'm sure that this must be confusing for you, and for you too, Mr. Potter. Every interaction that we have had were…unpleasant, but just know, we never wanted to act that way towards you and hopefully at this moment we can answer any questions that you may have." She told the two teens softly, with a kind expression on her face.
"Mrs. Malfoy—" Hermione began but was interrupted.
"Narcissa, please." The blonde witch corrected.
"Umm, sure. Ah, Narcissa, I mean no offense, but how can I trust what you say is true. Like you said, my limited interactions with your family have been less than desirable. That doesn't give me much faith in what you say to me." Hermione said nervously, while softly clutching her torso. Narcissa saw this action.
"Hermione, you need to keep your body relaxed. I can tell that you are straining your body. Please, we don't mean to cause you more pain, but when you hear us out, I believe you'll be able to trust in what we say." Narcissa said with a concerned expression.
Another voice spoke up, grabbing both teens' attention. "Hermione, Harry, I trust them, and what they say is true. I know you are skeptical, but please hear them out and your questions will be answered." Sirius said pleadingly, earning him two small nods.
"Okay, Sirius, I'll hear them out, for you," Hermione said plainly.
"Hermione, maybe you should tell them about your dreams," Harry suggested gently while putting his hand over hers.
Looking at her friend, Hermione sigh, "This may be a bad idea—to let you in my mind—but it may be easier for you," indicating towards the three adults, "to see these dreams rather than having me relay them to you."
"Well, if you're sure, it may be best," Bellatrix said before all three painlessly slipped into her mind. Hermione could barely make out their presence, but she watched the dreams play over again with three spectators observing. Once they were over, the adults slipped back out and looked intently at Hermione. "So, you have figured it out," Bellatrix said simply with a small smirk on her face.
Rolling her eyes, the witch retorted with a snort. "Not really, Harry was helping me piece them together, but I hadn't been able to figure out what exactly they mean. That's why I asked Sirius for his assistance, but he insisted that we needed to have another in this conversation for help answering my questions." She said as she sent a half-heartedly pointed look at the animagus.
"Well, instead of giving us attitude, why don't you two tell us what you have deduced, so we can start to answer your questions. And he was right, we needed to be here for this discussion because there is a lot to discuss, and a lot of information for both of you to understand." Narcissa said sternly.
This stunned the two teens, but nonetheless shook out of their shock, and Hermione began to tell of their theories. "Well, after hearing of my dreams, Harry suggested that I might be the little girl that was present in all of my dreams, especially after that one dream where I was watching through the eyes of the little girl. He also suggested that it was you, who was in my dream in the library, in this library," Hermione finished while she looked around the room. All three adults had unreadable expressions locked onto their faces when Hermione returned her gaze back to them. "It's true, isn't it?" Hermione said with a realization settling in when their expressions didn't change.
Clearing her throat, Bellatrix spoke up, breaking the silence. "Hermione…there is a story that we would like to tell you. But first, what do you know about the Russian Revolution?"
Hermione scrunched up her nose. "Wait, huh, what?! What does that have to do with anything?"
"What do you know of it?" Bellatrix reiterated her question, ignoring the girl's frustrated question.
"It was in 1917, when the Bolsheviks rose up and dismantled the monarchy and established their own chaotic government, and then a year later murdered the entire Imperial Family. Again, what does that have to do with anything?" Hermione spoke, frustratedly.
"Everything, my dear," Narcissa spoke up this time. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Narcissa continued on. "All of the information that you know of the Russian Revolution is wrong." Hermione, again, went to interrupt, but the blonde witch raised her hand to silence the girl. "I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm saying that the events that you know of, are a farce; a cover story. A mask over what truly happened, twelve years earlier." Narcissa paused, gauging the witch's reaction. "You see, the real revolution wasn't a revolution at all, it was an assassination of the Imperial Family because they refused to bend to the will of their murderers. But before telling you of the events, you need to know the backstory.
"As you know, much of the Wizarding World had their governments clearly separate from their muggle counterparts, just like it is here in Great Britain, as well as across the ocean in the United States. However, the Russian monarchy ruled over both worlds, with the Tsar primarily overseeing the non-magical folks and the Tsarina overseeing the magical communities. The ruling family, or rather House, were the Romanovs, and they were not just the Imperial Family and rulers, but they were also one of the most powerful and influential houses in the entire Wizarding World. The Romanovs, though, were not the only magical royal family. In fact, almost all royal families were magical, but the wizarding communities in those countries wanted to keep their world completely separate from the muggle world, for fear of exposure. However, the Romanovs remained steadfast in keeping the governments combined, greater transparency between leaders—or spouses for that rather—and this made for the empire to be in a peaceful state between both worlds, and there had never been incidents of exposure. This Most Ancient and Noble House had set a precedent in the world and it was that that marked them as one of the most influential governing bodies and Houses in the world.
"They had ruled for centuries over all of Russia with valor, just, wisdom, and resourcefulness. They were unmoving in their beliefs and as to how they ruled, though it varied from Tsar to Tsar. They were neutral in every way, never picked a side of light or dark, they were truly gray. Unfortunately, this is what led to their deaths—their unyielding nature. It was during Nicholas II's reign when the war between light and dark was emerging. The Dark Lord had yet to be born at that time, but nonetheless, they were making themselves known, figures from both the 'dark' and 'light' side were trying to persuade the Tsarina, and by extension, the Tsar, to align with their respective beliefs. However, they were unmoved. They instead remained neutral in the warring sides. However, this was not the accepted response that one side could and would not take. After numerous attempts at persuasion, they all ended with that same results.
"This enraged the leaders from that side, causing them to believe that the only way to accomplish their goals within Russia was to eliminate the Imperial Family. To eradicate their dynasty and ensure no other could rise up and claim their rightful place on the throne. So, one night, the Alexander Palace was attacked, and by the end of it, the Imperial Family was dead, and the cover story that you know of was constructed." Hermione took in Narcissa's words, who are they talking about? Who killed the Romanovs? And what did this have to do with me? Hermione thought, but before she could voice her questions, another voice spoke up.
"However, that wasn't how it ended," Bellatrix said, grabbing the teens' attention. She was looking intently at Hermione. "Most followers of that side did believe that ending, believed that everyone was killed. However, that night ended differently than they wanted it to. Not everyone in the family died. Two," Bellatrix said while holding up two fingers, "the two youngest children escaped before they could be killed." Hermione could tell where this was going, but she was hoping that she was wrong. "The last daughter and last son of the Romanov line: Anastasia and Alexei." Bellatrix could see the inner working cogs moving in the young witch's mind, she could also tell that the girl didn't want to voice her theories for fear of them being true. "They were taken away by the governess' at the behest of their mother. They brought them to a different time, separated them, changed their names, and secreted them into the present world." Bellatrix finished her statement when she saw the girl ready herself to speak her questions.
Hermione looked to be frustrated, she had a lot of questions and unsaid statements racing through her mind, and she needed to get them out before she went mad. "So," she said slowly, "the November Revolution was a farce, the rumors of Anastasia and Alexei being alive are true, and I'm guessing there must be an important as to why you are telling me this." All three adults nodded their heads, but none said anything, knowing that the girl needed to get this out. "And these dreams…this little girl…Anya…is me." It was more of a statement rather than a question, but she received nods nonetheless. Sighing, Hermione finally decided to voice her big theory, "I'm Anastasia aren't I, Anya is short for Anastasia…"
"Yes, Hermione," Bellatrix said slowly, "you are Anastasia."
