A Sirens Song
Chapter 9
Hermione absent mindedly looked at the clock, it was only 9:00 pm, and it was earlier than she though it was. As she entered the common room she was accosted by Ginny, hugged nearly to death. "We feared the worst when you didn't come back right away. Is everything alright?" Ginny asked pulling back from Hermione a bit to look at her face. Ginny hadn't noticed that Hermione seemed to be in tears.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, "You didn't get in trouble did you?"
Hermione shook her head no, while trying to stop a sob from coming out of her mouth. Hermione still clutched the letter in her hand, "what's this?" Ginny asked.
"A letter," Hermione said in a strained voice, "from my mother."
"But wasn't you mother in the Headmasters office just now?" Ginny asked.
"It's a long story," Hermione said looking around to see who was all in the common room. It was just what was left of the Weasley's, Harry and Neville. "Where is everyone?"
"They went to bed ages ago," Ginny said looking around, "they went to bed ages ago and shouldn't be back down tonight."
"Alright," Hermione said, "if you guys want to listen then I guess I'll tell you; but you have to promise to keep it to your selves. That means you don't tell anyone unless I say you can, and I need you to take some kind of oath to keep it a secret."
"Why?" Harry asked, "Is it something bad."
"Yes, I mean no it's nothing bad," Hermione said, "but if the wrong people were to hear about it then it could be bad for me; for you even."
"Ok," Harry said. They all looked at each other and then Hermione.
"Do you promise not to tell my secret without my permission on pain of punishment of my choosing?" she asked.
"I solemnly promise so to do," they all said in unison. Red ribbons made of magic wrapped around them, before disappearing like it was never there.
"What about Ron?" Hermione asked, "he's not here should one of us fetch him or is he angry with me because of the library?"
"He went to bed sulking shortly after we came back," Harry said, "I think he's going to go on a tangent tomorrow. So perhaps you should wait to tell him until he's calmed down a bit."
"Otherwise he might try to spill the beans on what I'm about to tell you," Hermione said gravely, "I just hope he forgives me for not telling him in the first place."
"Give him some time," Ginny said, "by the way care to tell us about the library. Word is that you snogged Cedric in the library."
"Actually," Hermione said with a smile playing on her lips, "he kissed me, and I did attempt to not kiss him, but his lips were very warm and tempting I couldn't help myself."
Fred and George, came up on either side of her and wrapped an arm around her, "after all our Hermione is a warm blooded female," Fred said.
"She couldn't help but be attracted to the Handsome Cedric Diggory," George said.
"But we have it on good authority that she think Fred," George said
"And George," Fred said
"Are handsome boys as well," they finished together.
"And one evening when you're not paying attention," Fred said
"We'll sneak up on you, and give ole Ced a run for his money," George said finishing Fred's thought.
She couldn't help it she smiled, "is that a promise," she asked.
"We would give you a taste now," Fred said, "but you've a secret to share with us."
"Right," she said with a goofy grin, "you three always know how to make me feel better." She said to Ginny and the twins.
"It's our job," Ginny said, "after all what would our life be like without Hermione Granger in it."
Hermione summoned everyone towards the couch in the common area, "ok can someone put up a silencing charm, I don't want anyone to overhear this conversation."
"On it," Fred said, "if it's one thing we know how to do right it's silencing spells."
After Fred finished with the silencing spell he found himself sitting next to Hermione on the big couch. He was squeezed between her and the arm of the chair, there was George on the other side of her. Ginny sat on the floor in front of Hermione. Neville and Harry grabbed chairs and pulled them up towards the couch so they could hear her speak.
She asked them to hold their thoughts until she was done speaking, when they agreed she started speaking. "my parents came to tell me today that I wasn't their daughter, that I was adopted," Hermione started out saying, "although they love me, they say that I belong here in your world and not with them. So they are giving me a choice, or rather a chance actually. This letter here in my hand is from my birth mother, Kathrin Eleanor Black. Sister to Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda Black, Cousin to Sirius Black. She was blackened from the family tree when she renounced the Black name and went into hiding. She was a siren, I'm like my mother, although Professor Snape says that I don't look like her at all."
When everyone looked like they wanted to say something she continued on, "Please don't freak out; you promised to wait until I finished to say anything." She said smiling sadly at them, "Professor Snape and my mother were friends and she entrusted me to him to deliver to my parents, The Grangers. And he says that she was a year ahead of him in school, he had a crush on her in his fifth year. It was then that she confessed that the only reason he was drawn to her was because she was a Siren or coming into her birthright so to speak. But she had eyes for another and told Snape that they couldn't be more than friends. I've no idea who my father is, I gather that it's here in this letter but I don't know if I can read It," she finished before she started crying.
Fred and George wrapped their arms around her, "it's ok to cry," Fred said, "do you want Ginny to read the letter aloud?"
"We would offer," George said, "but I don't have a feminine voice at all."
Everyone laughed at George's laugh, which cause Hermione to giggle and sigh, "yes," Hermione said, "Ginny if you wouldn't mind reading the letter aloud for me. I wouldn't ask but with everything I learned today, I'm not sure I can handle it. which reminds me, Ginny, Neville, I learned from a little bird that you were trying to research in the library about something concerning me." When they nodded sheepishly, she pulled her bag up into her lap and pulled out several books that she had gotten from the headmasters office. Books that she hadn't remember putting in her bag. "professor Snape gave me these. They're for you to do the research about me. Only now that we know what I am, you can actually get somewhere. Oh, professor Snape suggested that I put aside my research on house elves and help the two of you research Sirens. Would that be alright?"
"Of course it would be," Ginny said, while Neville shook his head yes, "now that we know what we're looking for. It looks like Professor Snape has decided that he's still has the right to look after you. After all he was the one that took you to your muggle parents, right."
"Your brilliant Ginny," Hermione said encasing the girl in a tight hug, "what say we get onto the letter now? All agreed?"
When they all muttered yes and of course Ginny opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. It looked to be about a page long, very short for a letter to a daughter. It read as thus:
Dearest Daughter,
Hermione my dear, if you are reading this letter, than I must have passed into the land of the departed. It has always been my fondest wish that you live a long happy life, so you must forgive me for placing you with a set of muggle parents to guard you and to keep you. Please do not blame them for what has come to pass. I know that you have questions my love, and I shall endeavor to answer them for you in this letter.
If your mother gave you this, then you must have taken that first change, it's part of your birthright after all. If you have handsome boys drawn to you it is because they can see you for what you are, a beautiful young lady. Don't take these words lightly, for I'm sure that you are the most beautiful of girls. You were a beautiful baby, so I can imagine that you will be a beautiful woman someday.
As I was saying before I was distracted by your beauty. There will be boys that can see you for what you are they will find you attractive and they may very well vie for your affection. They my dearest daughter, are your potential mates. There will be boys/ men that can see you for what you are, that are not attracted to you; but do indeed find you beautiful. There will also be those who can't see you for what you are, and will still see you how they've always seen you. They will be the hardest to convince because they cannot see you how the others see you. Oh and never forget that there may be some girls that find you attractive, others if they can see you or sometimes if they can't can get very jealous. We won't go into how I know that, ask your uncle, should you ever meet him. Asking about 6th year and the girls from Ravenclaw. I'm sure he remembers it, and in case you don't know who I mean, I'm talking about Sirius Black. Actually he'd be your cousin, but he was always as close as a brother to me. Mother never approved of our friendship, neither did she approve of your father. Don't worry I haven't forgotten.
Your grandmother if you want to call her that, didn't know about you or about my marriage to your father. I renounced the black name and went into hiding when I became pregnant with you. It was your Headmaster Albus Dumbledore that helped up marry in secret and hide away from YOU-KNOW WHO. My father in all his greed tried to sell me to that monster. Told him one night to escape torture that one of his daughters was a Siren. So I ran, to Dumbledore and he hid me away somewhere only he and your father could find me; we were married that night. A few weeks later he was sent on a mission for the Order and by the time I realized I was pregnant with you it was too late to bring him home. My only regret is that he didn't get to meet you before I died.
I'm not sorry, this mission I'm going on I will most likely not survive, and if I do manage to live I won't ever see you again my sweet Hermione. I hope that's what the Grangers named you, for Hermione has always been one of my favorite names. I read it once in one of Shakespeare's Plays, I don't remember which one it was; but the name stayed with me. Much like you father did when I met him in my fifth year. It's true he's a year younger than I, but I felt so drawn to him that I couldn't take my mind away from him.
Alright my dear the time has finally come to tell you who your father is, I hope you're ready. Your father is a man named Remus Lupin. As I last saw him he's no family left only the friends he went to school with. He most likely will not believe you are his child so, show him this letter. show this letter to Sirius first, he'll confirm that it was indeed I who wrote this. the code word is and will always remain as; Your mum is a stupid bint… I bet her portrait sings all your faults and disloyalty to the family like, just like auntie will mine I'm sure. Enough sad thoughts, give my love, to James and Lilly.
Anyway, my dear daughter I hope that you live a long and happy life. Stay safe, don't play with too many young men's hearts and remember that I loved you first.
You're mother
Kathrin Black
There was silence for a short while as they pondered all the information in the letter. No one knew what to say, Hermione was not only the daughter of a pureblood witch she was related to Sirius Black. Remus Lupin was her father, they could see the resemblance just thinking about it.
Hermione wished that she could go and see Sirius right this minute to ask him if it was all true. She didn't want to wait till the end of the year, she wanted to go and find them right away and find out if what her mother wrote was true. Did Dumbledore really secret her away, and then make it possible to marry them? Why hadn't he told her before?
Hot angry tears rolled down her cheeks at the feel of betrayal from the Headmaster. She couldn't find it within herself to be angry with Professor Snape, after all he said he didn't know about her father.
"Hermione are you alright," Harry asked.
"I'm alright," she said giving him a watery smile, "it's just a lot to take in."
"It's alright," Ginny said, "it would be a lot for anyone to take in."
Hermione looked at Ginny and smiled, "you're so good to me," Hermione said, "I really don't deserve you guys."
"Of course you do," Fred said.
"As a potential mate, I must say that you couldn't have chosen two finer specimens," George said.
"But if you find that you're trying to choose between us," Fred continued.
"You could always choose," George said.
"Both of us," they said together, "after all we are a pair."
Hermione laughed for the first time since dinner, shaking her head as she laughed she leaned over and gave them each a peck on the cheek. "I'm not quite sure it works that way," Hermione said, "but you do realize that I won't be of age for a few years yet so; no need to rush things."
"Just keep us in mind when you make you decision," Fred said, "we won't be angry if you don't choose us. We just want the chance to prove that we could be good together."
"I'm sure we could," Hermione said blushing, "let's just get through this year before we start talking about mating rituals and all that."
"Deal," the twins said together.
Hermione looked over at the clock and it was 10:30pm. "perhaps we should thing about getting into bed, but first perhaps we should brainstorm. Do you think professor Dumbledore would allow me to owl, Prof., uh my father and ask him to meet me at Hogsmeade next Hogsmeade weekend?"
"I think that would be a good idea," Ginny said, "we can think of what you'll say to him. I'm sure everything will come as a bit of a shock to him. After all his wife has been dead since the first Wizarding War."
"I know," Hermione said, "I just hope that he doesn't try to keep me out of his life. He is my father after all."
"Which means that you're not a Muggleborn witch anymore," Ginny said, "your half-blood like Harry, possibly more. Your mother was pureblood, and Remus I think is well I'm not sure, but you're also a siren so maybe that over rules blood status. Sirens are rare anymore, there's only one every few generations, and it usually skips a generation which makes you very special."
"I suppose," Hermione said, "will you and Neville help me look through the books tomorrow. I don't think Cedric will be interested in coming to the library to see me again for a while."
"I don't know about Neville; but I'd love to," Ginny said.
"Sure sounds fun," Neville said, "someone has to protect you two."
"Of course Neville you're our knight in shining armor," Ginny said giving the older boy a kiss on the cheek.
"Oi," Fred said, "what are you doing sister dear? A bit young to be kissing boys aren't you?"
"Oh come off it," Ginny said, "it was just a kiss on the cheek for crying out loud."
"That better be all it is," George cut in.
"Of course brother dear," Ginny said, "I promise not to pick a boy you'd never approve of."
"See that you don't," the twins said together, "now off to bed with you."
"You've got lots to do tomorrow. Classes to go to," George said.
"Lunch to eat," Fred said.
"The library to invade," George said.
"All in all I'd say you'll have a very busy day," they finished together.
Hermione and Ginny laughed, "has anyone ever told you that your increasingly confusing when you do that?" Hermione asked, standing and walking over to where they were sitting.
"All the time," they finished together. Hermione laughed again as she bent down and gave them each a kiss on the cheek. she would have given Harry and Neville one as well but she had the slightest feeling that it would be a bit odd. So she settled for a warm smile and said goodnight.
"You don't suppose Ron will be talking to me again anytime soon do you?" Hermione asked.
"I wouldn't count on it," Harry said, "don't worry about it, he'll come around eventually."
"I hope you're right Harry," Hermione said, "well I'm going to bed, I have to get my beauty sleep after all."
"Goodnight," Harry and the rest of the group called to them.
After the girls went up to bed, Harry and Neville sat with the twins as they discussed the tournament. Fred and George spoke with Harry about their ideas for their very own joke shop. Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. That's what they would call it, of course it wasn't the first time they made reference to it. it was always their dream to own a joke shop, after all they were born on a day devoted to tom foolery.
After a while they decided it was time for bed, and for the first time in weeks. Fred and George Weasley had their heads filled with something other than Hermione Granger.
x.X.x.
The next day started out as it usually did, Hermione dressed and walked with Lavendar, and the other girls down to the common room. Once the others finally immerged from their rooms. The girl headed for the Great Hall. Hermione and Ginny sat next to each other whispering in hushed tones about this and that.
Soon after breakfast was served, the boys came into the hall. "started without us I see," Harry said.
"Of course," Hermione said gleefully, "did you expect us to sit before this glorious feast and starve whilst we waited for you?"
"But of course," Harry said with a grin, before they started laughing. Everyone at the table started at them a bit dumbfounded. "what?"
"Nothing," Fred and George said together, "we were just in awe at your ability to joke around."
"You haven't seen nothing yet," Harry said before drumming out a nonsense tune with his knife and fork.
Hermione burst into a giggling fit, she couldn't help but laugh at Harry's bad grammar. "you're so funny Harry," she said.
"You should laugh more often," Ginny said with a smile before she too continued eating. Eventually before breakfast ended, Ron joined the rest of Gryffindor in the Great Hall.
Totally ignoring Hermione Ron took his seat next to Harry and started filling his plate with random things. He then proceeded to fill his mouth with food, Hermione trying to smooth things over filled his cup with pumpkin juice and sat it down next to the cup of water that sat next to his plate. He looked at the two cup and instead of having his favorite drink with his breakfast like he normally would. He picked up the cup of water and chugged it, before putting it down and continuing on with eating breakfast.
Hermione felt like she probably deserved that so she took the cup of pumpkin juice back and drank it herself as she finished her breakfast. Standing she grabbed her things, telling the whole table that she was going to stop at the library before class because she needed to finish an assignment. Everyone except Ron said they'd see her later.
"Ron," Ginny said, "what is your problem this morning?"
"I've no problem," Ron said giving his plate a hard look. He didn't want to talk about it. the fact that he had walked in on his best friend kissing a boy in the library was something he didn't want to think about. The problem was that he didn't really see her as a girl, she was just one of the guys. She was the person they went to for help with their homework. In fact the idea of Hermione kissing a guy just bugged the hell out of him. It would be along the same lines of walking in on Harry or one of his brothers. And then there was the fact that he was starting to realize that she wasn't one of the guys, and that possibly she might have more going on in her life than hanging with him and Harry. That Hermione wasn't really one of the guys was throwing his thought patterns totally off. So much in fact that he was trying to avoid the subject of his discomfort; which unfortunately was Hermione.
"Then why did you snub her when she handed you the pumpkin juice?" Harry asked.
Ron didn't answer, he just stood up gathering his things and headed towards class. He left without glancing back. he left them staring after him, it never occurred to him that he could be not only hurting his friends but that he was hurting himself.
Harry stared after Ron, "what is his problem?" Harry asked, "so is he ignoring all of us now?"
"I don't know mate," Seamus said, "but I think he's in shock about something. What happened recently that could have him acting like that?"
"When we accompanied professor Snape the library in search of Hermione last night she was snogging Diggery," Harry said.
"That would do it," Dean said with a grin.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Well Ron's never really seen Hermione as a girl," Seamus said, "I don't think any of us have really put her in the girl category because she's always hanging out with you and Ron. I think maybe since he's seen her kissing a boy that he might have to come to terms that one of his best mates really isn't a 'Mate' at all."
"I guess that could be enough to cause someone to go into shock," Harry said, "but really Hermione's always been a girl, granted she's never really acted like your typical girl before."
"Yes," dean said, "but even we can see that she's a girl, just because she doesn't act like one doesn't mean she's not one. Although being one of the boys usually keeps "the Boys" from noticing that she's really a girl. I can see how he would flip out; but to ignore her entirely, well that's a different matter."
"Wait Hermione's a girl?" Lee asked trying very hard not to laugh.
The whole table burst out into laughter, when someone from Ravenclaw stepped up to the table to say something. "who's really a girl?" the boy asked.
"Hermione Granger," Lee said.
The whole table burst out into laughter, it's not that they were making fun of Hermione. They weren't but it was still funny that so many boys from Gryffindor considered her one of the guys. Ginny and Neville looked each other, causing them to sober completely. Was laughing about the situation while Hermione was off feeling stupid for reaching out to Ron constitute as making fun? That's what it was starting to look like.
A/n: yes I know it's horrible back to the shorter 4,000 word chapters.
Any ways I don't own Harry Potter in any way, shape or form.
I want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews. They are beautiful and inspiring, you know who you are. Please don't stop reviewing.
