Thanks for all of the amazing reviews! I am loving all of the input and ideas!

This chapter was harder to write, but I hope that it is okay, it's kind of a two-parter, the next chapter should help explain some of it. As for Severus's instincts, you will have to wait and see!

'Chapter 3:

Hermione gasped for breath as pushed her body against the cold and rough stone wall. She knew her time was coming to an end -she just didn't have the energy to fight anymore. She felt the darkness growing closer and she forced her body off of the wall and began running once more. It was a never ending cycle. She hadn't stopped running, and her body was buckling under the strain. Hermione turned sharply and nearly fell down when the ground began to shake beneath her feet.

"No, no, no, no…" She pleaded as her feet began to lose purchase and she fell to her knees. She began to crawl over the shifting earth as fast as she could, but the earth itself began to split and suddenly, Hermione was falling. She screamed and flailed her arms around, trying to grasp something, -anything to slow her descent. She fell for what felt like an eternity when in reality must have been seconds. Her body slammed into a hard ground and she nearly screamed again as an acute agony shot through her shoulder. The darkness was following her.

"Don't you dare die on me…"

What?

The pain was flowing through her like fiendfyre, but Hermione manage to struggle to her knees. She couldn't see anything. Her new plane of existence was pitch black and she had no concept of what was up or down. She used her uninjured arm to fight her t-shirt off and took the time to tie her broken arm to her side. The effort nearly caused her to lose consciousness, but Hermione knew that if she did not bind her arm, it would hinder her too much.

She let her free arm reach forward until it met solid ground, and she inched forward, using her arm to guide her.

She had no concept of time or distance, but Hermione crawled with all the speed she could muster.

The ground began to shake again and Hermione wished this time whatever was coming would kill her. She was getting too tired to fight.

She fell to the shaking floor and could feel the black tendrils reaching her.

'I'm sorry'… she thought as the tendrils began to wrap around her broken body.

'I wasn't strong enough…'

Thoughts of her past began to trickle to the forefront of her mind.

"You are such a geek."

"She's a bloody terror!"

"Mudblood."

"Oh look, it's Potter's little whore."

"I swear sometimes I can never understand you."

Hermione jerked at the image of her mother's frowning face. Hermione could recall exactly what had prompted her mother to say that. It had been just before her third year at Hogwarts. Thinking of Hogwarts made her think of her friends. She would never see them again. Harry's mop of crazy hair...Ron's monstrous appetite...Ginny's dry humor...

No!

Hermione began to struggle again against the inky vines that were ensnaring her. Her whole life had changed when she had gone to Hogwarts. She had met her forever friends and discovered the amazing world of Magic. She could not give up on that.

As Hermione struggled, the tendrils of blackness began to fade away slowly. She had no idea how long it had taken, but she could barely move by the time that it disappeared. 'Finally,' Hermione thought. 'It's gone.'

Hermione was just about to succumb to sleep when the picture of two pale green eyes popped into her head. They were so familiar, and yet -completely foreign. Hermione focused on the eyes, but the harder she tried to identify the owner, the more the memory slipped away.

Draco sighed and sank onto the worn cushions on the sofa in his godfather's living room. He was exhausted, but curiosity was keeping him alert. His mother stood with her arms crossed as she stared Severus down.

"Sit Cissa." Severus grumbled as he strode toward his liquor cabinet and began to prepare three tumblers of firewhiskey. He passed one to Narcissa first before passing one to Draco. Draco took the glass with a raised brow. Severus never let him get into the firewhiskey...but then again there had never been circumstances quite like this before and they all needed it.

Severus let himself sink into his favorite chair and took a big gulp of the whiskey, relishing the burn before he settled his gaze on his family. Narcissa sat with her back straight next to a reclining but attentive Draco, both he could tell were eager for answers. 'So am I,' Severus thought to himself.

"Severus, instead of staring at us you could begin to shed light on the current situation." Narcissa drolled.

Severus took another drink from the glass before beginning.

"I have already explained how Ms. Granger was cursed at the Ministry last term and how the damaged affected her. However, I would like your assistance further in discovering exactly how it was possible for this to happen."

Narcissa's eyes narrowed minutely in thought, and what she could think of did not make any sense.

"Severus, the only conclusion I can make, and it is an impossible one -is that her Magical core had been warded at a young age. It was not an uncommon practice in the past for a head of house to essentially bind their child magic so that they can learn control as they age. However the practice involved removing the walls as the child progressed so that their magic could expand at a healthy rate." Narcissa paused and took a sip of her whiskey. "However this practice fell out of favor centuries ago. But it's impossible for Ms. Granger to have such a ward as she is muggleborn."

Severus digested Narcissa's words.

"Let us assume that you are correct, and she had her core bound, would that have protected her from such a curse?"

Narcissa nodded, "Yes, if the ward had never been dissolved the sheer force of the curse could have easily fractured the ward, but such a thing would need constant renewal as Ms. Granger grew, and it would have to be by the original caster. Warding Magical cores is dangerous and very difficult, that's why it fell out of favor. But it was needed at the height of the witch hunts until schools like Hogwarts were established."

Severus's eyes bored into her own. "For argument's sake, let's pretend that this was possible. What exactly would that imply about Ms. Granger?"

A deep seeded dread filled Narcissa's body, "That Ms. Granger is not who she seems."

Severus nodded and stared off in the direction of the guest room.

Draco frowned at his mother, horror seeping through him. Was his mother saying what he thought she was? That Granger wasn't a muggleborn? Then who in Merlin's name was she?

"What exactly are you saying Mother?" Draco asked quietly, apprehension coloring his words. He had never cared for Granger but what she was implying could change everything.

Narcissa gave her son a small smile. "I am saying that whoever she is, Ms. Granger is not a muggleborn. That kind of warding must be done in a child's infancy as soon as their core begins to develop. If Ms. Granger was a muggleborn, no one would have known she was Magical until her first burst of accidental magic, and by then it would have been too late to place such a complex ward."

"So, who is she, and who would do this?" Draco wondered aloud.

Severus grit his teeth in anger. "I do not know the first, but as for the second, I can only think of two such wizards who would perform such deceit, and one of them is insane. The other -"

Narcissa nodded in agreement. "Albus Dumbledore."

"Wait, I know his barmy, but why would he ward, hide and then lie about Granger? Who is she that could be so important?" Draco questioned. His mother and godfather seemed set in their agreement though. Not that he disagreed, just found the situation so bizarre, it was hard to wrap his head around.

"I don't know Draco. Perhaps her Muggle parents know something?"

Severus frowned. "I am...uncertain. My first impression of them suggests that they are clueless, but I was not looking for hidden truths. However, I did promise to reunite them with Ms. Granger as soon as she was stable."

Narcissa nodded. "It would be a good time to question them, of see if their minds have been tampered with. Perhaps tomorrow, as the hour is late. I must return to the Manor. I do not want Lucius or our...guest to be suspicious of my absence. I told him i was going to Zabini Manor, so my tartiness should be excused. Slipping away tomorrow may be difficult though. So keep me informed."

Severus nodded his agreement as Narcissa stood and faced her son. "I love you my Dragon." She murmured as she hugged him to her. Draco fought off his embarrassment at the display of affection begin paraded in front of Severus, and hugged his mother back.

"Be safe, Mother." He answered.

Narcissa kissed Draco's cheek before nodding to Severus and apparating away.

Draco fought off the desire to fidget under the heavy stare. He cleared his throat. "I'll just go start another batch of nutrient potion then." before dashing away, leaving Severus alone to his thoughts.

Draco leaned against the door frame and stared at the mystery woman laying there. Granger -or whoever she was looked like death warmed over, but they were hopeful that she would make it. Severus had charged him with keeping after her again as he went to fetch her parents. Draco huffed and glared at the witch.

"I thought Potty loved to cause a commotion. You are obviously tired of living in his shadow. Thought this big stunt up did you?" Draco accused her in frustration. He began to pace before stopping to glare at her some more. There wasn't any heat behind it, but the action made him feel better. The swot had been his academic competitor and his natural enemy at Hogwarts. But now knowing what he knew, having cared for her...He just couldn't hate her. Not while she lay prone in his bed.

"You always did love to challenge me." Draco murmured before he gently smoothed her hair from her forehead. Her normally bushy hair was lank about her face and it made something in Draco ache.

"If you die I will hate you forever." Draco confessed quietly. He raised his wand to quickly check her vitals and breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed an improvement.

"Do you remember in second year, when I called you a Mudblood and the Weasel's wand backfired on himself?" Draco mused aloud. "You looked so upset…and I felt like a tosser."

The sound of apparation startled Draco out of his memories.

"Hermione!"

Draco jumped off the bed like it had cursed him just in time before a woman took his place.

"Oh thank God…" A man breathed as he entered and went immediately to the bed.

"So she is okay now?" The man asked, emotion coloring his voice. Draco noted that his eyes were shining in unshed tears and his fist was balled up, no doubt trying to stay composed. They couple before him were obviously the Grangers.

"We managed to clear her Magical core, and it will take time for it to fully recover, but she should recover." Severus informed the pair, watching them closely.

Noah closed his eyes in gratitude. "Thank you. You have no idea...Thank you." He repeated before reaching his hand out for Severus to shake, which he did.

"However, we did find some things that I would like to discuss. Draco if you could stay with Ms. Granger, we will be in the living room."

Draco nodded and pushed himself away from the wall. "Of course."

Jean gave her husband a nervous look before leaving their daughter with the blond boy.

"What-"

Severus held up his hand to silence them. "Please, sit."

Noah pulled his wife onto the couch and they both stared at the dark man in apprehension.

"We -myself, and a charms expert, were able to discern exactly what was wrong with your daughter."

Jean grasped her husband's hand tightly. "Please," She began. "Tell us."

Severus merely stood and reached for a vial of clear liquid. "What I am about to discuss is sensitive and will upset you. However, the information is of great importance and therefore I cannot allow any mistakes. This is a serum called Veritaserum. It will not allow you to lie to me."

Noah narrowed his eyes at the man. "Why would we need that? Are you trying to accuse us of something?"

Severus sighed. "No. I think you are innocent, but I think that your minds may have been tampered with, and i need to ask you some questions."

"We swear to answer honestly. This is our daughter for Christ's sake." Noah growled out.

"Oh honestly Noah, he is trying to be thorough. I will take it." Jean snapped, reaching for the vial. Severus nodded and summoned a cup of tea before adding three drops to the cup.

"Drink this."

"Jean-"

Jean leveled a glare at Noah before downing the lukewarm tea. She immediately felt drunk. Her body was warm and her head grew fuzzy. "Wow…" She muttered blinking her eyes wide.

"What is your full name?" Severus began.

"Jean Marie Granger." Jean answered without hesitation. She blinked owlishly at Noah before giggling.

"Who is this man?" Severus asked indicating to her husband.

"My husband, Noah William Granger."

Noah stared at his wife in worry. She was acting drunk, but her words were clear and sharp.

"Is Hermione Granger your real daughter?"

Noah jerked sharply and glared at the man, "Of course she is!" He shouted.

"Ye...no." Jean stuttered in confusion. Her eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth.

Noah stared at his wife in disbelief. "What do you mean, I was there...in the delivery room. That is our baby." Noah turned on Severus. "What the bloody hell do you think you are getting at?"

Severus felt something within him constrict tightly but just leveled his gaze at the man. "When My colleague and I saved her life, we came in contact with old magic that had been cast on your daughter when she was born. Which should be impossible, as that kind of magic can only be cast on a known magical core by the child's guardian."

Severus paused in his explanation to let his words sink in. "There is magic that can alter your mind. I believe that you and your wife were a victim of this magic. Memories were planted in your minds, so that you would truly believe that Ms. Granger is your daughter. But she was planted with you, with her magic bound so that her magic would not develop as it should. It was this magical binding that saved her life months ago and then in turn began killing her."

Noah sagged against the sofa. "I can't believe this...I can't…"

"Mrs. Granger, did you and Noah ever want children before Hermione?"

"Oh yes, but the doctors told me I couldn't conceive. Hermione was our miracle." Jean answered against her own volition, her hand flying to her mouth. What this man was saying was too much to process.

"And when did she begin to show signs of magic?" Severus pressed.

"When she was two odd things began to happen around her, we only knew that it was magic after she got her Hogwarts letter."

Severus frowned wondering about how the ward on her core would affect her accidental magic.

"Was it often that her magic flared?"

"No." Noah answered at the same time as his wife. He glanced at her, but she was silent. "No, after the first bit we took her to a specialist and then it stopped all together. Nothing strange happened until she went to school."

"Did she ever see the specialist again?" Severus asked, anger coursing through him, though he outwardly just looked curious.

"Yes, she saw him again every year for check ups." Jean answered, though her voice had gone flat. Was it possible that Hermione wasn't her baby?

"If what you are saying is true...why would someone do that? Give her to us and fake our memories?" Noah wondered aloud as he held his wife.

"That, Mr. Granger is exactly what I want to know."

"Severus!"

Severus glanced up to see his godson running into the living room like a wild man.

"Severus! She's waking up!" Draco shouted again and all three adults leapt to their feet and followed Draco to the room.

They crowded around her bed , all trying to be there as her as she shifted in her sleep and groaned softly before her eyes flickered open.

Well that was Chapter three! Hope it didn't disappoint. The scene with the Grangers was hard for me to write, so i apologize if it seemed stiff. Review please, your comments give me inspiration and energy to keep going :)