A Sirens Song
Chapter 8
Last time, Ron isn't so nice to Hermione, and the Weasley twins and Ginny cheer her up a bit. Harry and the other Gryffindor males talk of ways to get back at Ron. The Gryffindor girls have a little impromptu meeting in the courtyard, they in turn think of ways to get back at Ron. Fred and George get kicked out of potions for 'not paying attention.'
Professor Snape couldn't believe his luck, getting to kick the Weasley twins from his class. He shook his head and a laugh formed on his lips, "I wonder what had them so distracted," Professor Snape said to himself, "the potion was doing well before it started sparking." He walked to the bench in which they sat and examined their cauldron. He found nothing out of the ordinary, but when he examined the ingredients he noticed that they had pick up a wrong ingredient. He looked around at the students still working on their potions. Walking around he examined the materials they picked up, they all seemed to be at the same stage. But none of them seemed to have the extra ingredient that the Weasley's did.
He made note to discuss it with the twins during detention tonight. He wanted to find out how they had come across the extra ingredient. How odd, Professor Snape thought, well looks like it's going to be a long day.
Meanwhile the twins were stomping their way towards the common room, class still had 45 minutes left, and then they had charms. It wasn't that they disliked charms, it was that they were disappointed about the potion. Perhaps Hermione could help them with it later, she was after all very smart.
The pair of them sat down and bantered back and forth about what had gone wrong. They went over their notes from class, trying to figure out where they went wrong. They were just getting deeper into it when some students stepped in through the portrait hole.
"Hello," Harry said, "what are you two doing here? Doesn't Professor Snipe's class usually run longer?"
"It does," George said.
"But we were kicked out of class for exploding our cauldron," Fred said, "were trying to figure out where we went wrong."
"It's really not our fault this time," George said, "we were paying attention and everything."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Hermione said from behind Harry, "you're both very clever."
"At least someone believes in us," Fred said.
"What are you guys doing back here? Don't you have another class?" George asked.
"We came to get our DADA books and stuff," Hermione said, "then we have to get going, all those stairs to climb you know."
"Yes I know," George said standing up, "shall we walk you, we don't have charms until after you go to class."
"If you like," Hermione said, "it seems Ron would rather not spend time with me, and Harry's had to choose between the two of us lately. So Harry is going to walk to class with Ron then they're walking to Hagrid's before dinner."
"That's a little unfair," George said, "go and get your things, we'll walk you to DADA."
"Right," she said. She blushed bashfully before running up to the girl's dorms to grab her books for her next class. A few minutes later she came back down the steps, bag on her shoulder, "ok I'm ready."
"Alright let's go," Fred said, taking her bag from her shoulder and carrying it, "I'll take this."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome love," Fred said, "You really should think about carrying around fewer books, you'll throw your back out."
She laughed, "I usually use a weightless charm on the bag but if you can tell how heavy it is it must only work for me. I haven't had to reapply it since Professor Lupin helped me with it last year."
"That's possible I guess," Fred said.
They continued walking and chatting until they arrived at the DADA class room, "well here we are," Fred said.
"Play nice with the other kiddies," George said.
"Play fair and don't hex them in the behind when they're not paying attention," Fred said.
"I'll keep that in mind," Hermione said to them, "but I don't think were dueling today so I won't probably get the chance; but I appreciate your concern."
They laughed and kissed her on the cheek, Fred handed her back her bag before she entered the classroom. She turned in the doorway, looking at them one last time, she sighed. Entering the classroom she found her seat next to Lavandar Brown. "Hi," she said.
"Hi," Lavandar said, "where is the other 2/3 rds of your trio?"
"oh, Ron isn't talking to me because apparently I'm nothing special, and he's boycotting all conversation with me," Hermione said in a droll voice causing Lavandar to laugh, "Harry doesn't want to get caught in the middle but that kind of impossible so Harry is splitting his time between the two of us equally. It's like we're a divorced couple and Harry is our child whom we've shared custody of. And today is Ron's day."
Lavandar laughed, "your funny," she said, "but don't worry I'm sure that he won't hold it against you."
"Thanks Lavandar," Hermione said.
"You're welcome."
A couple of minutes had passed before Harry, Ron a few of the Slytherin students came crashing in through the door at the start of class. Shortly after, Professor Moody came barreling in slamming the door shut. He seemed to not be in the best of moods.
"Can anyone tell me…" Professor Moody started. The class went fairly well, after teaching the curse and the counter curse, they broke off into pairs for supervised practice. Lavandar looked at Hermione and smiled. They decided that they would work together because Lavandar wasn't too sure that Hermione would go easy on Ron if they were paired together. At least Lavandar knew that if she was paired with Hermione that she wouldn't hurt her out of spite.
"Hold your wand up higher boy," Moody said, "you can't produce a good counter spell if you're skaking with fright."
"Yes Professor," the boy said.
"Your objective is to stun your opponent," Moody said, "You can't stun your opponent if your wand is pointed at the ground."
"Yes sir," the class chorused.
Yells of hexes and jinxes they had learned could be heard being yelled throughout the room along with PROTEGO, the most common shielding charm. Professor Moody noticed that Harry and Hermione were the only ones who were able to produce a large shield charm. No one that Moody had known thus far in his life could produce a full body shield charm; but those two looked like they might actually reach a full body shield by the time they graduate if not before.
He noticed that Neville was having a bit of a problem getting the charm working and that he was unable to block a thing. He watched disinterestedly as Hermione asked Dean to switch partners with her so she could practice with Neville. He was so busy paying attention to Harry shield from Ron that he didn't notice Hermione coaching Neville with the charm as she hit him with a Jelly Legs Jinx. And he certainly wasn't watching when Neville finally managed to block it.
Finally when the class was nearly over he had them return to their seats, "Well done," Moody said, "very well done. I expect a 7 inch parchment due next class of the effectiveness of the Protego shielding charm and other shielding charms related to it. Class Dismissed."
After nearly every student said their good byes they marched rather chattily from the room. Once outside, Harry pulled Hermione and Neville aside to talk to them about class.
"I noticed that you switched with Dean to help Neville," Harry said.
"I thought that since he was having a difficult time, that I would give him a hand," Hermione said, "Professor Moody seemed preoccupied with other things and didn't seem to notice Neville having a problem."
"That's very nice of you Hermione," Harry said, "I wasn't going to say anything against it, it's important to keep track of your friends and help if need be."
"Harry Potter," Hermione said in a sarcastic tone, "is you trying to give me a guilt trip to get my help for the paper due next class? I'll have you know that I refuse to do your homework for you."
Neville and Harry laughed a little as they started walking down the stairs towards their next and last class for the afternoon. "No that's not what I was saying at all Hermione," he said with a harrumph, "I was just going to say that I think what you did was great even if no one else noticed."
"Harry," Hermione said with an exasperated sigh, "I would have done it for anyone of my fellow Gryffindor class mates if they looked like they were having trouble."
Harry and Neville gave her a brilliant smile as they entered the History of Magic classroom. Hermione sat in her regular seat next to Harry, who sat next to Ron. Usually she would sit in between the two but seeing as Ron wasn't speaking to her, well it just wouldn't work. Hermione sighed as she pulled out her parchment and quill to take notes. She wished she was allowed to use her Muggle notebook and ballpoint pen for taking notes, imagine how much parchment it would save. She couldn't help but laugh at the idea of Witches and Wizards saving parchment or recycling.
Harry looked at her with a raised eyebrow in question, she shook her head, "tell you later." He just smiled and nodded his head. She took it for meaning when they were at dinner she would spill the reason she was laughing in class.
Professor Binns , ghostly figure that he was, tended to drone on and on and on… you get the picture. Hermione was the only one who paid attention in the class, thus being able to take the only complete set of notes on the subject. Some thought it was because she was Muggleborn that she was so interested in the class; but then second year came along and most Muggleborn students along with most of the others seemed to tune him out or fall asleep in class. It was then that the students along with some teachers decided that it was just because she had to know everything, and do well in everything. While some thought it endearing, some thought it completely annoying, she was already so much smarter than some of the other students did she really need to rub it in that she was immune to the droning's on the History of Magic Professor? Apparently so.
Harry who seemed unable to pay attention to this particular lesson doodled on the corners of his parchment. He occasionally looked at Hermione to see her concentrating on her notes. When the class finally ended the students all except Hermione burst from the room as soon as they possibly could. She took the time to say good-bye to Professor Binns who still beyond any reasoning she could think of, still couldn't remember her name and called her Miss Grant. She left the class room a tad annoyed that after 3 years of having her in class he still couldn't remember her name.
She walked to the common room to get some of her homework done before dinner. To her surprise the room was empty, so she claimed the table in the far corner. She spread out all her book and parchment and set to work on the easiest of homework assignments that she had to do, History of Magic.
Time was passing slowly and if Hermione was reading the clock right it had only taken her 30 minutes to finish her first assignment. Before starting on her other assignments she started to wonder where everyone was. It was only 4:30 and dinner wasn't until 6:00. Instead of taking more time to ponder she started on DADA, and then transfiguration. If she finished before dinner she would have extra time to research in the library. That thought alone spurred her on, and she finished in less than an hour. No doubt the boys would be wanting help with their assignments later.
It was now 5:30 and she still had time before dinner, what was a girl to do? She decided to take a short walk around the lake.
She walked sometime around the lake until she found a log that looked big enough and sturdy enough to sit on. She watched the giant squid play in the water, she even laughed at his antics as he splashed water towards her. She looked around for a nice sized rock and transfigured it into a football.
She tossed the ball into the water and stood back as the giant squid shot the ball back at her. She couldn't help it. She giggled. After looking at her watch she realized it was nearly 6:00. Saying goodbye to the giant squid she headed back to the castle and to the great hall for dinner.
Upon walking into the Great Hall she was accosted by Harry who had been worried about where she was.
"I was in the common room until 5:30 then I went for a walk."
"We couldn't find you." He said.
"Did you even look?"
"Of course we looked," Harry said, "we looked in the library and down by the lake but you weren't in either of those places, and when Lavandar said that she hadn't seen you in the dorms we figured you were hiding out. So we came to the Great Hall to work on assignments."
"I was in the common room most of the time," she said with a sigh, "I didn't see anyone come in or go out in the whole time I was there. After I finished my assignments I went to the lake, and played fetch with the Giant squid."
"Sounds fun," Harry said playfully, "you should invite us along next time. You really shouldn't be out by yourself."
"I would have invited you along if I had seen you along the way," Hermione said, "it doesn't matter now, I'm here, you've found me."
"Don't worry about it," Harry said dropping the subject. He really wasn't very subtle, "let's just eat."
Hermione gave him a fake smile before sitting down at the table across from him and Ron. "What we're not good enough to sit beside now?" Ron asked in an angry voice.
She looked at him shaking her head no, "I thought it'd be easier to talk if I sat across from you. Easier to see your face that way."
"Right," Ron said flashing her a brilliant smile, "Are you going to sit with us in potions tomorrow?"
"If you want me to," she said, with a small smile.
"Of course I want you to," Ron said.
"Then I will," she said smiling brightly.
She saw the twins come up behind her and sit next to her. She helped them fix their plate and pour their pumpkin juice. "There you go," she said, "how goes your plans for entering the tournament?"
"We'll let you know next week," Fred said.
"Oh not completed yet?" She asked.
"Can't tell you," they said together.
"No fun," she pouted.
"You shouldn't pout Hermione its unbecoming," George said.
"But I like pouting," she said.
"When you pout," George whispered into her ear.
"It makes us want to kiss it away," Fred continued with a whisper.
"And cause a look of shock and a blush, to appear in its place," George finished.
She swallowed hard, and her face reddened in the most becoming blush they'd ever seen.
"Boys," she whispered, "You shouldn't joke around like that. A girl can only handle so much flirting from two handsome boys." Picking up her glass she took a sip hiding behind her cup.
The boys just goggled at her, not knowing what to say. Ginny and Neville shared a sideways glance, they had taken to spending every free moment in the library trying to come up with some reason only some students could see her beauty and some couldn't. They hadn't come up with much of anything because it seemed all the books on the subject were missing from their place in the library. Someone had either checked them out of they were being withheld from them on purpose. Who would want them from looking up what could be causing Hermione's change?
Harry was surprised that the argument between Hermione and Ron could be cleared up so quickly not to mention so easily. Harry couldn't help but think there would be a second wave of Ron's temper before the day was out, and they would be once again on non-speaking terms. He had no idea then how completely right he was.
x.X.x.
Hermione walked to the library after dinner to meet Cedric. She had no idea why he would ask for her help when surly there was someone in Hufflepuff who knew the library as well as her. Ok that wasn't completely true, only madam Pince and maybe a few of the teachers knew the library as well as her. She was after all the resident know-it-all, it was her duty. She smiled at the thought because it brought her back round to thinking about Cedric.
She entered the library as quiet as humanly possible, putting her things down on the most secluded table, she sat and waited. Pull a piece of parchment from her bad she started revising her potions assignment from the day before. She was in the library after all.
Sometime later when she was nearly finished with revising her assignment she looked up to see a very handsome Cedric, staring at her.
"Hello," she said, "how long have you been standing there?"
"Not long," he said, "you look very refreshing siting they're working on assignments."
"Oh?" she asked slightly curious, no one had called her refreshing before. Menacing yes; but that's only because she's rather nosy.
"Yes," he said leaning down. "How was dinner, I noticed that you and the youngest male Weasley seem to have patched up whatever argument you were having."
"You've very observant, " she said with a bit of a laugh, "to answer your question yes we've seem to have made up. I don't know how long it will hold though, I seem to offend him or upset him at every corner these days."
"I'm sure he'll grow out of it eventually," Cedric said, "maybe he's jealous of the attention you're getting. He wishes it was him getting all the attention instead of his best friends. Although one would think that he would be just as upset with Harry as, Harry is always the centre of everyone's attention in seems."
"You sound a bit bitter yourself," Hermione said, "are you sure you're not the one that wishes to have all the attention?"
"I'll have plenty of attention before you know it," Cedric said in a low whisper, "because not only do I plan on entering the tournament I plan on getting picked as the Hogwarts champion."
"Oh so you plan to enter then," Hermione said, "I think you'll do well."
"I thank you for your acknowledgement," Cedric said leaning close to her, "it means a lot to me."
"You welcome," she said sincerely, "so about that book you needed help finding."
Cedric leaned back so he was standing up straight, she had succeeded in distracting him. I really have to figure out a way to silence her before she gets the chance to distract me, he thought to himself. "Here is a list of things I need information on," Cedric said, "although I'm not totally sure what books I need to find."
"Some of the information you need for these might be in the restricted section," Hermione said looking over the list, "you may need to get permission from the teacher for that, when is your assignment due?"
"Next week," he said, "but I have potions again tomorrow afternoon so I could ask Professor Snape for permission to get access them tomorrow afternoon. But I still have no idea what book I would be looking for."
"I can help you there," Hermione said, "you can find general information on all of these things in Potion Ingredient Uses 101 and 102, but to get a good detail on some of these you'll need a book called, 'Banned Potions and Their Uses' which is in the restricted section. Seeing as two or three of these ingredients is mostly used for evil purposes."
"How do you know so much about so much?" Cedric asked curiously.
"I like to read," She said, "doesn't matter what it's about if it has useful information in it I tend to read it."
"And have you read this restricted book?" Cedric asked.
"No," Hermione said a little too quickly, "but I've read about it in another book that uses it as a reference."
"Would you mind showing me to the books that aren't in the restricted section," he asked whispering seductively into her ear. Ever since he met her before the Quidditch World Cup he wanted to kiss her something awful. He had dreams about what her lips felt like. Sure she was only 15 years old and a bit young to be kissing boys; but that didn't stop Fred and George Weasley . He didn't imagine that it would stop Viktor Krum either; so why should Cedric stop.
Hermione stood from her seat and pointed to the books, "I'll show you," she said tentatively as she walked towards a row of books that were out of view of Madam Pince. She wasn't sure that being alone with him was such a good idea. Sure she wondered what it would be like to have such a handsome guy interested in her, but she didn't want to lead him on. She wasn't even sure if having a boyfriend was a good idea. Something must be terribly wrong with her, if not one but four older boys were falling over themselves to get her attention.
"The books you're looking for are right here," she said pointing to two rows above her head. "I can't reach so perhaps you could get them. I'm sure you know a summoning spell or two."
"You mean there is something the almighty Miss Granger doesn't know," Cedric said playfully. He leaned forward just a bit putting an arm on either side of her head. She craned her neck to look up at him, she suddenly felt very short. "I'm not scaring you am I?" he whispered.
She quickly shook her head no, which made her a tad dizzy. To keep from falling over she reached out and touched his arms, she shivered as the warmth from his arms crept through her hands and over her skin until she was covered in goose bumps. She looked up to see his eyes burning into her, she couldn't help but blush. She turned around to face the books, trying to distract herself from his piercing gaze.
Before she could step away, he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling back into him. "Ced…" she started to say before he hushed her with his voice. "Hermione," he whispered, "you've no idea what you do to me."
She gulped, "perhaps you better tell me," she whispered trying to keep from sounding confused.
"When your around me I feel like my skin is on fire," he whispered loosening his grip on her waist just a bit, "when you smile at me I feel as if I could fly. You drive me to distraction. I know your younger than I am, but it's only by two years. I dream of you at night, and during the day I can't get you out of my head. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss you."
Hermione was stunned to silence, she didn't know what to say. She was broken from her reverie when Cedric turned her around in his arms. She looked up at him a bit confused as to what he planned on doing. She looked into his eyes and became lost in the beauty that was Cedric Diggery. She put her hands on his arms to try and keep her distance.
"Can I kiss you," he whispered, "I promise that I won't kiss you again unless you ask me to. But I see that way Fred and George dote on you, and they have had the pleasure of receiving your kisses; but I have not. I don't believe it's fair."
"But they were only kissed on the cheek," she admitted with a blush, "although I seem to reward them at least once a day."
"See totally unfair," he whispered nudging her cheek with his own. She was at a loss, how could he have gotten so close without her notice? "So I'm going to kiss you now."
She didn't answer him, she just looked into his eyes and his lips latched on to hers. After a few seconds she closed her eyes. Their lips moved together in a sinful motion before Cedric reached out with his tongue and licked her lips with his tongue. She shuttered at the sensation and unwittingly opened her mouth as if to say something. His tongue invaded swirling and tasting her mouth before she finally gave in to him, this boy who was Cedric and kissed him back.
Their tongues battle for dominance. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck as Cedric wrapped his arms around her, holding her so that even if she were to stop him she couldn't escape. There would be no forgetting her now.
All coherent thought was forced from Hermione's mind when Cedric kissed her full force. Then suddenly they were separated. Cedric was sent spiraling across the room, while a totally different set of arms enveloped Hermione. All her concern was for the boy on the floor that she couldn't figure out who was restraining her.
She looked up to see not only Harry; but Ron as well. That wasn't the worst part of being discovered snogging in the library, the kicker was that Professor Snape had been with them. Hermione blanched at the thought of being caught by a Professor. Oh she was in trouble now.
"Have you gotten what you came for Mr. Diggery," Professor Snape asked in professional voice, "if you haven't I suggest you get it and get out of the library and back to your dorm."
Cedric spared a glance at Hermione trying to apologize with his eyes. He grabbed the book from the shelves where Hermione had showed him, and all but ran from the aisle.
Hermione looked at Professor Snape in confusion, what was going on? One minute she had been showing Cedric the books he had been looking for, the next he had declared that she was all he could think about and kissed her so passionately that she thought she had dreamed it. Because who in their right mind would want to kiss Hermione Granger?
"You Miss Granger will come with me to the Head Masters office," Professor Snape said.
She hesitated a moment before answering, "Yes sir," she said.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," Professor Snape said, "you will got and find your head of house and let her know that I have found Miss Granger and we are now on our way to the Headmasters office if she would kindly meet us there."
"Is something wrong Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Yes something is wrong," Professor Snape said, "your parents are waiting for you in the headmaster's office. When we couldn't find you we asked Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley where you were. I did not expect to find you the way we found you. If I find you in any such position again you will receive a month's worth of detentions. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir," Hermione said.
Hermione watched Harry and Ron scamper towards the Gryffindor common room. Why were her parents here? Were they going to make her come home? Did something happen? Question after question were running through her mind; but it never occurred to her that her parents weren't her parents. Had it occurred to her then perhaps she would have known something about what was going to happen.
(If it's alright I'll just continue on with the story. I don't know when I'll get the chance to update again and I'm on a roll.)
x.X.x.
Harry and Ron headed towards the common room to find Professor McGonagall, they first place they looked was her office. They knocked on the door and were greeted with a "Come In." upon entering they were greeted with a smile, "Professor Snape said to tell you that he and Hermione are headed towards the Headmasters office."
"Oh thank you," she said, "I'm heading there now, if the two of you could make sure the common room stays in a state of order, I would appreciate it."
"Of course Professor," they said.
Harry was shocked to see his friend lip locked in the library, but he decided to wait until she could explain to think any more about it; but he was quite certain that she was swayed by Cedric. The Hermione Granger he knew would never meet up with someone to snog in the library.
Ron on the other hand was upset that she would be kissing some boy in the library. The fact that it was Cedric Diggery didn't matter. It was the fact that she would snog someone in the library. The place which she spends most of her time. That she would use an excuse to meet a boy in the library because he needed help when she really intended to snog his lips off, was unfathomable. What would his brother say? Would they be upset that after all the attention they were paying her that she went and snogged some other bloke.
"What's wrong Ron?" Ginny asked as they walked into the common room.
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Harry asked.
"Well besides the fact that Ron looks like someone killed his dog," Ginny asked, "nothing really. So what's wrong."
"Professor Snape asked us where Hermione was when we were in the great hall apparently her parents are in the headmasters office. I hope it's nothing serious; but that's not the kicker. She was to meet Cedric Diggery in the library to help his find some books and when we found them they were wrapped around each other, snogging their brains loose."
Harry didn't miss the look of complete and utter betrayal on Ginny's face, "she wouldn't do that," she muttered under her breath, but what the boys didn't hear was the, "to me," part of the sentence. The fact that Ginny felt betrayed that Hermione would kiss a boy in the library was startling; but perhaps it was that Hermione hadn't told Ginny that she planned to kiss the sexy boy from Hufflepuff that had Ginny feeling betrayed. Of course anyone who knew Hermione wouldn't think that she would kiss someone person let alone in the library.
Fred and George looked at each other and then shrugged, it's not like they were dating her. They were a little upset that it had happened under their nose, but they were pretty sure that Hermione hadn't started it. It was most likely Diggery that put her up to it, he had stared longingly at her since the start of term. He was bound to try to kiss her sometime.
"I don't think she would want you talking about her behind her back," Fred said.
"Maybe you should wait till she returns before you resign yourself to being angry," George finished.
"Aren't you two mad that she kissed another when you've clearly been marking her as your territory," Ron asked.
"Hermione doesn't belong to us Ron," Ginny said speaking up, "she's not an object."
"But aren't the two of you upset that she would kiss another bloke?" Ron asked.
"No Ron," Fred said, "but it looks like we'll have to up our game."
"Can't allow Diggery to get one up on us," George said.
"Just be careful," Harry said, "Professor Snape threatened Hermione with a month of detentions if her caught her in a predicament that again. I'm not sure but he seemed un-characteristic upset with her over it. I don't know it's something to look into."
"I wouldn't over think it," Fred said, "maybe the thought of Hermione kissing anyone just make him want to gag."
"I wonder what her parents want," Ginny said absently to no one in particular.
"I don't know," Harry said, "but Snape looked concerned, apprehensive even."
"I'm sure she'll tell us when she comes back," Fred said, "try not to think about it. I'm sure it's nothing."
"Why are you guys taking it so easy," Ron asked, "aren't you angry with her for kissing that Hufflepuff?"
"No Ron," George said.
"Because we plan to get a kiss from her eventually," Fred said, "besides were just friends it's not like were dating. And contrary to belief we don't own her, nor would we want to."
"As Ginny so eloquently put it," George said, "she's not an object and we don't own her."
And that was the end of the conversation, there was no more said because Ron stormed up to the dorms in a sulking manner.
Meanwhile Hermione walked behind Professor Snape the whole way to the Headmasters office. "Come along," Professor Snape said, "I won't say a word about the library if you promise to stop sulking."
"I'm not sulking Professor," she admitted, "I'm just worried, what could be so important that my parents would visit me at school."
"I'm not sure," Professor Snape said, "but I wouldn't fret about it."
"Of course Professor," Hermione said, "easy for you to say, it's not your parents in the headmasters office."
"Well there is that," he said with a smirk, "it's all for the best I would think , as both my parents are deceased and if they were here it would be as ghosts and that would just be odd."
"I can see how that would be a tad uncomfortable," Hermione admitted, "do I apologize for you parents being deceased?"
"No," he said, "no that was a long time ago, even though I miss my mother terribly I wouldn't wish my father here, alive or in ghost form."
"Oh," Hermione said, "well I'm sorry about your mother then, I'm sure she's in a better place. I'm sure she's looking down on you smirking at you for have this fool conversation with a fourth year."
"I'm sure she is," he said trying very hard not to smile, Kathrin your daughter has you sense of irony about her, Severus thought.
Inside the headmaster's office, Mr. and Mrs. Granger waited for their daughter so they could tell her something important. The Headmaster had graciously allowed them to use his office. However the three teachers would be in hearing range so they could rescue Hermione if she started to feel over whelmed. The Grangers decided that it wouldn't be necessary for them to leave, as she would probably repeat everything they said to her to begin with.
x.X.x.
Professor Snape ushered Hermione through the door into the Headmaster's office. "Have a seat my dear," Dumbledore said, "Your parents have something they wish to tell you. All that you require is an open mind. Your Professors and I will be here should something happen."
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, "What is it you wish to tell me?"
"Ok before you say anything we ask that you don't say a word until we finish what it is that we came to say. First off you should know that you aren't our daughter." Her mother said as soothingly as possible, "don't get us wrong, we love you like you were our own, and we made a promise to protect you until you could protect yourself. We've a letter from your birth mother that you're to read when your alone. We ask that you keep the information in the letter to yourself unless you wish to share with your friends."
Her father handed her the letter in a way that seemed rather unfamiliar to her. Had her father always been that distant? She hadn't thought so.
"We must tell you that certain matters were taken into effect the end of the summer," her mother said, "but we'll get to that in a few minutes. First thing you should know is that your mother, your birth mother was a Pureblood when it came to witches and wizards. Her name was, is, Kathrine Eleanor Black. I believe there may be more information in the letter she wrote to you. Your father is in fact alive, and was one of your Professors last year. However he doesn't know that you exist really. She died before she could tell him, and she didn't tell him by letter because it could endanger not only you but him. So she never told him.
"As of the end of the summer you have a choice," her mother continued, "you can come and live with us at the end of the year and stay with us, stay a Granger. Or you can tell your father and go live with him, it's your choice really."
Hermione didn't know what to say she just looked at them like they had told her she owned the moon. "Why now?" she asked.
"Well you see your special Hermione," her father said kneeling in front of the chair she was sitting in. "your mother was special as well. You see this summer when we were in Italy some of what we call your birthright started to appear, you may have noticed that your hair seems to have worked it's self out, that you don't have to fight with it as much. You may also have noticed how some of the boys treat you different and how some haven't noticed that you've changed at all. Then you've the people that have noticed but don't act like they've noticed because they aren't attracted to you, they just see you for what you are."
There was a pause, her father's speech all made sense to her now, she had noticed all of those things. This explained the way the twins, and Cedric and even Krum were with her, it explained Ginny and Neville. It even explained Harry and Ron not seeing her for anything other than a know it all book-worm. "What am I?" she asked, "is it something horrible?"
"No my dear," her mother said trying to keep her voice even, "you a Siren."
"A Siren?" she asked a little befuddled.
"Yes," Professor Snape said, "madam Pince noticed something odd about you at the beginning of term. It seems you've started coming into your birthright early. Although you won't have your full abilities until you turn 18. But you've already attracted some boys to you, they would normally be potential mates; but your too young for all that. When you turn 18 your full nature will strike and you could very well be forced to pick a mate just to calm down the effect you have on people. Although it won't change how people see you, you'll just stop effecting them."
Hermione was flabbergasted, she had no idea what to say, "so your saying that the only reason that Cedric and the twins are so interested in me is because of what I am?" she asked, "they wouldn't like me otherwise right? Is there any way to turn it off or suppress it?"
"Oh my dear, you shouldn't fret over the boys," Professor McGonagall said, "you're perfect the way you are. You should embrace what you are, not hide from it."
"Is there any way to suppress it?" she asked again, "so that when I'm around people who might be harmful to me, I can guard myself of hide what I am?"
"I don't know that there is," Professor Snape said. He watched as her face fell, she looked so sad, "but if there were a way it would be in here." Professor Snape pulled out some books he had hidden behind him.
"Your friends were in the library looking for anything that might help them discover what was going on with you." Professor Snape said, "We weren't sure if you wanted everyone to know, so I took the books from the library. I'm sure they would love you to death if you let Longbottom and Miss Weasley help you research. You can take a break from House Elves for a while." Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore couldn't help but snicker at Professor Snape's revelation. They almost couldn't believe that he knew what she'd been doing in her spare time.
Hermione giggled a little wiping the tears from her face that she hadn't even noticed were there. "Tell me about my mother," Hermione said, "what was she like?"
"Your mother," Severus started, "hmm, she was a year ahead of us. She was smart and beautiful and I had a little crush on her in my 5th year. We became fast friends, and she always seemed to know when something was bothering me. She started coming into her power, her birthright the year before and she told me what she was, she told me why I was drawn to her. She also told me that she had her eyes set on another. You see she Sirius Black's Cousin, sister to Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda. She was blackened from the family tree by Sirius's mother when she renounced the Black name and went into hiding. They assumed that she was working with the order. The night you were brought to the Grangers, it was I that took you to them. She asked me to keep you safe, to deliver you to the Grangers. She made me promise, your father was away for over a year on a mission and didn't even know she was pregnant or that he had a daughter. She died a few days later in a mission that Professor Dumbledore sent her on. She knew beforehand that she wouldn't survive; but to this day I've no idea who your father is as she didn't take his last name when she married.
"She buried in the same place as Harry's parents," Professor Snape said, "would you like to go back to your dorm?"
"Give me just a minute to process all this," Hermione said, "would it be possible to tell my friends if they promise to keep quiet. Or does it not matter if anyone knows who my mother is? What about my aunts I don't suppose they would care to know about me?"
"Andromeda, is the only one who knows," Professor Snape said, "I never told the others, but Narcissa said after Kathrine died, she thought that she looked as if she'd borne a child. She hoped that it was a girl, and that she would take the traits of her mother. So I think she knows she's a niece out there some place."
"Who are they married to?" she asked, "do any of my cousins attend here?"
"Draco is your cousin," Professor Snape said watching her face scrunch up into a scowl, "and Nymphadora Tonks, she an Aurour, you may or may not meet her during the tournament. But you've got to decide who you want to live with before the end of the year. Everything you need to decide is in that letter from your mother. If you've no more questions we should get you back to the common room. I wouldn't tell the school about your mother, but if your friends can promise to keep it a secret. If they can make an oath not to tell until you give permission I don't see why you can't share the news with them."
"Mom, dad," she said giving them each a hug, "thanks for telling me all this. I'm not sure what my decision will be."
"You belong in this world," Mr. Granger said, "you belong with you father. Not that we wouldn't like to see you on occasion; but you belong here with your family if they'll have you."
"Mom?" she asked trying very hard not to cry.
"Your fathers right dear," she said, "you belong here. We would only get in the way of your growth. You should decide before the end of the year. We do love you, you know, despite all our attempts to push you away."
"I love you too," she said teary eyed, "Mum, Dad, goodnight." She turned and headed out of the room, letter in hand, trying very hard not to sob until she got back to the common room. Professor McGonagall walked behind her slowly, making sure she reached the portrait hole safely before she disappeared into her office to think over everything that was happening.
A/N: ah a cliff hanger, well now you finally know what I know… lol. I hope I sated your curiosity even if it's only temporarily. I thought you might like a longer chapter. It's a onetime thing I've been working on it since 1:30 pm. It is now 5:50pm. It took me that long to write 5,000 words. I already had 2500 words written when I started working on it.
Hope you enjoyed it. I'm working on the next chapter as we speak, and if we don't lose power (keeping fingers crossed) I'll post as normal on Wednesday (maybe Thursday) no promises. If not I'll see you when the power comes back.
