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Chapter 13
Hermione didn't know when the garden became her sanctuary over the beloved library where if she was at the library at Hogwarts or at Grimmauld Place, she usually spends most of her time in. Just looking upon it from the patio gave her peace and tranquility. Right now, the sun was setting and she was pondering the conversation she had earlier with her brother. Sitting on the patio steps that led down to the lawn while hugging her knees, she recollected a certain wizard's words.
5 hours earlier
Right now, she was overlooking the garden that she had previously enjoyed an amazing, tranquil morning with her Bella. However, instead of feeling blissful peace, Hermione's emotions were everywhere. Simply put, she was in shock. She was having a hard time processing how she was now sitting opposite of her newfound brother, whom she thought was just as oblivious as herself and Harry. Hermione was thankful for Tom for adjourning the meeting so she could have this much-needed conversation with Neville. Questions were zooming through her mind at this moment; questions of how, why, and when.
Hermione was soon knocked out of her inner turmoil at the masculine clearing of a throat. She turned her attention to the taller, but the younger wizard who had interrupted her thoughts. "I know you must have questions, a—".
"Damn straight, I have questions," Hermione hissed. She, inwardly, felt guilt at her harsh tone, but she was tired of all of these lies and secrets. The auburn-haired witch wasn't one to typically curse but in times like these, she could care less; all she cared for at this moment was getting answers. However, before this conversation could truly happen, she needed something to keep her calm before she exploded and say something that she would regret. Her Bella wasn't here with her, so she needed something else. "Tippy," Hermione called out, and after a second, she heard a familiar pop.
"Hello, Miss Hermione! What can Tippy do for you?" However, before she continued her greeting, she quickly noticed her human's anguished expression. "Does Misses want for Tippy to get her usual tea and calming draught?"
Hermione gave her little elf a strained smile, thankful for her perceptive observations. "Just tea will do, for now, Tippy. Thank you," said elf gave the witch a firm nod before popping away.
A second later, the elf reappeared gently placing a tray with a tea set, an already filled steaming mug of tea for her human, and a teacup for the wizard. "Here yous go, Miss Hermione," Tippy gave an unneeded bow to the witch before popping away, knowing her human needed the privacy of herself and the strange wizard she had never seen before.
"Tea?" Hermione asked before she took a much-needed sip. "It's chamomile with a dash of honey," she said politely. He just shook his head, "more for me then," she said flippantly. Hermione was extremely happy about seeing her close friend, who she now knew was her biological brother. She was grateful to have Neville as her brother over someone like Ronald Weasley. She loved his personality and how at ease their friendship is, which made this whole brother/sister relationship easier. But despite all of that, she was still hurt by it all, was now just agitated and annoyed.
Sighing, "Hermione, I know you're frustrated, and I'm sorry that you had to find out this way. However, I know you have questions that are demanding answers. So, please, ask them." Neville urged but his voice lacked a pleading tone.
"When?" she began tightly. "When did you find out? How long have you known?" She had spoken quietly but as before, tightly. She couldn't keep it out of her tone.
Neville looked uncomfortable but he knew he had to tell her, she deserved the truth. Taking a cue from Hermione, the formerly awkward boy finally took a cup of tea to calm his nerves. "I found out everything the summer before first year. She told me that I was brought here in 1981 by my governess. She had brought me to the Blacks before I was sent to live with the Longbottoms. She explained to me that besides the Blacks, there were only two other houses that were trusted and involved in aiding ourselves and our cause. And they were the Potters and the Longbottoms. Since the Potters already had Harry, the next best place was for me to be sent to the Longbottoms. Gran explained everything that led to why we were sent here, Dumbledore and the Order, and you. Really, she only told me before school started because she wanted me to be prepared and aware of any schemes that Dumbledore plans."
"Wait," Hermione sat back in her chair with a confused expression. "You knew who I was this entire time? Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded with a slightly raised voice.
"Mione, I desperately wanted to tell you," Neville said with a pleading look. "Ever since we became such amazing friends, I got to know you so well and with each passing break I would always plead with Gran to tell you, but I couldn't. It was never my place to tell you, and it wasn't the right time to tell you. It always had to be Bellatrix to tell you."
Hermione jerked, confused and astounded, "hold on, you know about what actually happened with your parents and Bella?"
"Yeah, during the winter holiday right after the Azkaban breakout, Bellatrix paid Gran and I a visit to explain to us what truly happened that night. It was really tense at first, both Gran and I were pointing our wands at her chest, but she shocked us by just holding up her hands in peace. She pleaded with us to hear her out. Eventually, we did but not without a few choice words from Gran. She explained to us what truly happened that night. All we knew before her explanation was what the Aurors told my Gran, and despite knowing everything revolving around us, she allowed her grief to get the better of herself and instantly believe the story that was given to her. So, after Bellatrix told us the truth, obviously Gran didn't believe her. Bellatrix didn't want to show us, but she knew that the only way for us to believe her was to see the memory of that night. It hurt to watch, but it gave me a newfound respect for her.
"She also gave me the reason that I have been desperately seeking as to why I couldn't tell you. Mione, I was never allowed to tell you because it wasn't my place to tell you. Which upset me considering that I'm your brother, but she explained that she had to be the one to tell you. You deserved to hear it from her. Aside from the fact that she is your soulmate, she is the one that you connected with when you were first brought here, she was the one who took care of you, and she was the one who took you to live with the Grangers."
"Oh," Hermione said while nodding her head slowly before she looked out to the garden. She didn't know what to say. She appreciated the explanation and understood all of the reasoning, however, she didn't have any words to better articulate her response.
"Mione, I know as much as you do. However, the only difference is that I knew longer than you. There is still so much for the both of us to learn, but just know that I am the same person that you have known since the first time on the train. And I am always here for you, and always will be."
Hermione simply nodded before turning her gaze to the wizard. "What do we do now? Where do we go here?" she asked quietly.
"For the two of us, I hope that our relationship will grow to that of a real brother/sister bond. I'm sure with time, we will be. In general, I'm not really sure. Learn, I guess and rely on our loved ones and each other. That's all we really can do until we head back to Hogwarts, or at least until you and Harry have to go back to Grimmauld Place with Dumbledore and the Order." Hermione nodded her head at Neville's answer, silently, before she turned her gaze back to the garden, pondering the answers that she had received. Most of her questions have been answered, and for right now, her thirst for understanding was quenched. Following her example, Neville did the same allowing for a comfortable silence to blanket over them.
Hermione was appreciative of Neville's transparency, but she still couldn't help but be vexed about everything. She hoped that from this point on, there wouldn't be any more secrets and lies. However, before she could think any further, Hermione tensed as she felt a soft hand rub against her left shoulder blade. Turning her head slightly, she caught the glimpse of blonde tresses. Upon noticing that it was Narcissa who walked up behind her, she relaxed and return her lazy gaze on the gorgeous orange and purple sunset. "I don't know how the both of you are able to sneak up on me."
She heard a soft tinkling laugh that came from her left side as the older witch settled right next to her. "You think too much. Too preoccupied that causes you to be unaware of our approaches." Narcissa draped her arm over the girl's shoulders. "Pet, what's got you so distracted? Does it have to do with Neville?" She asked as she rubbed the younger witch's back. She felt the girl tense before she felt slight movements and heard soft sniffles. "Oh, sweet girl," Narcissa cooed softly, pulling the girl into her embrace, as she heard the girl begin to sob. She gently rocked Hermione back and forth while whispering reassurances before after a few minutes when the sobs turned into sniffles again. "So, you want to tell me what is going on in that lovely head of yours that led to you crying, hmm."
Leaning back still in the strong feminine arms, Hermione looked at Narcissa with sad eyes before leaning back in to place her head on the older witch's shoulder, gazing out to the now disappearing sun. "I just don't know how to feel anymore. I'm frustrated and annoyed about everything. All of the lies and secrets and the deception. I'm angry at Dumbledore for fucking up my life. I'm angry at not having a choice or a say in everything that happened in my life. I'm angry about having to be ignorant for so long." Pulling out of Narcissa's embrace fully, she scooted back to turn and get a better look at the fair-haired witch. "Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for having you, Bella, and the others in my life now, but I'm angry that I've had no say in anything."
"Oh, my luv," Narcissa said as she grabbed a hold of the younger witch's hands. "You have every right to be angry and annoyed. Your life has been decided and planned out and manipulated since you were three years old. Your parents and sisters were murdered because of a power-hungry man declared it so. You were taken out of your life, sent to the future, and ripped from the people you connected with to be protected. You have been lied to your whole life about your true identity and find out that the people who claimed to care about you only cared for their own personal gain. You learned the deception that surrounded you since you became friends with Harry and that Weasley boy. And then on top of that, you find out that you have a brother, a prophecy and a soulmate who was the one that you were ripped from when you were first brought here. You of all people are allowed to angry."
Hermione lightly laughed at the long explanation, "well, when you put it that way. You make it sound it so easy to feel this way, but I don't want to offend you or Bella and everyone else. I'm angry but I don't really want to blame any of you when it was not your fault, to begin with. I told Bella this morning that I was annoyed at everything, even my situation with her, but that doesn't mean I don't embrace her. I honestly just don't know what to do. Neville said that from the point on all we can do is just learn and bond with each other, and that includes everyone too, but that doesn't help me with processing all of this." Hermione spoke solemnly as she looked down.
"Hermione," Narcissa said as she gently grabbed the girl's chin, pushing it up to look at her face. "You are not going to offend us by feeling this way. You have been lied to your whole life. Eventually, your thoughts and emotions will balance out once you truly get used to all of this. As for Neville, it is easier for him to say that because he has had five and a half years to adjust to this information. You've only had a month and by the time you go back to the Order's headquarters, you will only have two months to process before being thrown back into the lions' den, literally. So, relax for now. You have Harry, Sirius, myself, and Bella, we will help you. But for right now, let's just sit here and relax, however, we do have dinner soon." Hermione smiled softly at the older witch before turning back to look at the now glowing stars and moon.
Hermione stood, gazing out of her large window, wearing a thoughtful expression. Yesterday had been an emotional day for the young witch, and after her conversation with Narcissa, she made a promise to herself. She had always prided herself in being strong and confident, unyielding in her personality but for the past month, she has been nothing but an emotional wreck. Hermione knew she needed to accept what life had thrown at her, and embrace to become who she meant to be. So, she promised herself that she would be her true and confident self and learn and embrace everything that now encompasses her new life. She owed it to herself to do this. And knew that with Bella, Narcissa, Harry, and now Neville at her side, she could do anything.
Having made her promise to herself, she turned from the peeking sun behind the grey clouds to her bedroom's door as a knock grabbed her attention. As she turned, whoever rapped on the door, now opened it, taking entrance. Hermione smiled brightly at seeing the familiar raven curls of her love. Meeting the dark witch halfway, the light brown-eyed witch gave Bella short, tender kiss. Leaning back, holding onto the older woman's strong arms, Hermione beamed. "Hello, love."
"Hello, little dove," Bellatrix smirked.
"I assume you are here to walk with me to breakfast?" Hermione asked.
Bella gave the girl a mocking pout, "what, do I really need to have a reason to come to your room, besides just seeing your beautiful face?"
Hermione gave an unladylike snort at the pout, "those pouts won't get you anywhere, but no, you definitely don't need one." Hermione laughed as the raven-haired witch's pout deepened before giving her a chaste kiss. "Breakfast, now?" Hermione gave her witch a toothy grin.
Shaking her head at the girl's cheekiness, Bellatrix stepped back, holding out her arm. "Yes, breakfast. Shall we?" Hermione looped her arm under Bella's, who led them out of the bedchamber and down to the elegant, yet simple breakfast nook reserved only for family members.
