Hermione

It was late November, Saturday, and all the students who could were down in Hogsmeade. Daphne and Draco tried to drag me along but I declined. Saying I still had homework to do, I had to do the same thing with Harry and Luna. Instead, I was sitting in the musty owlery, petting Hedwig who nipped my fingers lightly when I stopped. The Hogwarts library was impressive in its own way, but it mostly held books for educational purposes. I wanted to find out why I was turned into a secret. I wanted to know why no one knew where I was until I was dropped off at the Dursleys'. Asking Dumbledore didn't seem to be a wise idea, I seemed to get the chills every time I am in contact with the wizard.

I sighed and looked at the letter in my hand if anyone could tell me what I wanted to know it would be Sirius, but I was hesitant to send the letter. He could lie on a piece of paper, he couldn't lie to my face. I sighed again and ripped up the letter. Maybe Professor Lupin will tell me. I said good bye to Hedwig and made my way to Lupin's office. As usual, I found him hunched over his desk, his ratty robes swaying lightly on the floor. I cleared my throat and he looked up, giving me a curious glance before going back to the paper in front of him.

"What can I do for you, Hermione?" He asked politely.

I chewed my bottom lip thoughtfully. This man was close to my parents, maybe not as close as Sirius was, but close enough. The question was if he would tell me. "Harry told me something interesting a couple months ago. I tried to find the answer myself but the library doesn't really hold onto old papers."

Lupin looked up at me again, clearly uncomfortable. "What did Harry tell you?"

"I am sure Harry has told you all about it Lupin. I want to know why I wasn't living with my family. Why they chose to hide me like some dirty little secret."

"That is not my business to share Hermione. If Harry-"

"Harry knows?" I interrupted and Lupin nodded. "How long has he known?"

Lupin shrugged. "Since he went to go live with Sirius, I guess."

I turned around and stormed out of the room, furious. He knew and he lied to me. He lied right to my face. In my anger, I didn't notice the group of first years huddled in the corridor, so naturally, I ran into them. Several turned and looked down at me and then quickly turned back around. What was going on?I got up and pushed myself through the crowd and noticed a kid on the floor.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"The kid got beat up by a seven year Slytherin." A first year replied excitedly.

"What?" I growled. "What did he do to deserve that?"

"He bumped into him."

My eyebrows rose in surprise. "Do you know who it was?"

The first year scrunched up their face in thought. "Marcus Flint."

Flint. Just the name makes me want to throw up. He reminded me of Dudley, arrogant, selfish, and thinks he is above any law. Draco told me Flint had to redo his seventh year because he failed his N.E.W.T.S. He lost any cred he had after that and now resorts to beating up first years to feel powerful. I went over to the first year on the floor, helping him stand up.

"Let's get you to the infirmary," I suggested.

"Get away from me snake." The boy hissed, sounding more snake like than me.

"I was trying to help." I defended.

"I don't need your help." He snarled. "You will probably take me right back to Flint."

"I would never do such a thing," I replied angrily, here I was trying to help the boy and just cause I was a Slytherin he was refusing my help. Rudely, I might add.

"Hermione?" I looked up to see Harry and his little gang walking towards us and my anger instantly shifted to my brother.

"Fine, help yourself then." I spat at the first year, turned around and made my way to Harry. Harry saw my murderous look and turned, trying to run away and I threw a stunner his way. It would have been comical if I wasn't so furious.

"Slytherin on the rampage!" A first year yelled and they all took off in the opposite direction.

"What is your bloody problem?" Ron yelled at me.

"This is between me and Harry, stay out of it Weasley."

"It's only been a few months and she's already starting to act like a Slytherin. Attacking Harry for no reason." Ginny muttered.

I ignored her and grabbed Harry's still frozen arm and started dragging him down the hall. "If any of you follow us, I will hex you." I threatened.

I dragged Harry to an empty classroom, locking the door and putting a silencing charm on it. After I was satisfied we wouldn't be disturbed I turned back to Harry and released him from the spell. "Blimey Hermione, what's gotten into you?"

I glared at him. "You looked me right in the eye and you lied to me."

"What?"

"You told me I could trust you." My anger was dwindling, now all I felt was betrayed.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. You can trust me."

"Then why did you lie?"

"What did I lie about?"

"You told me you had no idea why our parents kept you and sent me away!" I screamed I needed to get the anger back. Anger was better than tears.

Harry visibly paled. "It's not like Hermione. I just didn't want to hurt you."

I half sobbed and half laughed. "You weren't trying to hurt me? Lying to me hurt way worse than whatever you decided to keep to yourself."

Harry sighed, sitting down on a dusty desk, he looked up at me. "Sirius told me when I was in the third year. He wanted to tell me everything before he died."

"Died?"

Harry nodded. "Sirius was sent to Azkaban- a prison on an island with dementors as security- he was there for twelve years before he escaped. He was accused of giving up our parents that got them killed and killing Pettigrew. Anyway, the dementors were at Hogwarts, looking for him so Sirius started babbling, thinking he was going to die."Harry sighed again. "He told me quite a few things, one of those was the story of a twin sister who my parents put into hiding."

"Why would they do that?" I asked quietly.

Harry looked extremely uncomfortable, squirming in his seat. "Our parents didn't want to Hermione. They wanted to keep you with us but Dumbledore convinced them that it would be safer for all of us if you were gone. Hidden from Voldemort. Safe."

"Dumbledore." I spat venomously. "Looks like all Dumbledore wanted to do was make sure Voldemort picked you to fulfill the prophecy."

"Dumbledore would never do that Hermione."

"You may worship the git, but I don't. He is manipulating everyone, he probably even helped Voldemort become who he is." I argued.

"Hermione." Harry groaned, rubbing his temples. "Dumbledore is the leader of the light side, why would he do that?"

I shrugged. "Who knows? Power, fame or maybe he has a savior complex."

"You've been hanging around the Slytherins for too long."

I smirked at him. "It is my house after all."

"Doesn't mean you have to be as slimy." Harry quipped.

I rolled my eyes, "Anything else you wish to tell me?"

"I don't think so. That's pretty much all Sirius told me."

"Can I ask you a strange question?"

Harry shrugged. "Sure."

"Do you know if snakes like Slytherins or something?"

Harry scrunched his face in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"First day of class, a snake crawled up and curled around my leg. I put it in a cage after class, big enough for it to leave, but it hasn't yet."

"Can I see?" I shrugged and pulled the snake out of my bag carefully. Harry grabbed the cage and the snake started hissing violently. My mouth dropped open in shock as Harry started hissing back, I watched in amazement as Harry and the snake seemed to be talking. "Apparently you have found your familiar."

"Uhh… what?" I asked confused.

"Most magic folks have one. They create a special connection to an animal."

"I know what a familiar is Harry. What I want to know is how you know that?"

"I can talk to snakes." He replied nonchalantly like it was the most common thing in the world.

"You can talk to snakes?" I repeated. "You realize only Salazar Slytherin and his descendants could speak to snakes right?"

"I know. Voldemort is an heir of his, he can speak to them."

"That doesn't explain why you can."

"The theory is that when the killing curse rebounded off of me and killed Voldemort, some of his power transferred to me."

"So I can't talk to snakes?"

"Probably not." I was about to answer when the door suddenly burst open, revealing Dumbledore and Snape standing in the doorframe.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked confused.

"Are you all right Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" Harry replied.

"Some students came to me and said you were being attacked."

I rolled my eyes. "I suppose that was the Weasleys?" I turned and glared at Harry. "And you wonder why I refuse to get along with the dunderheads."

Harry choked out a laugh while Dumbledore looked rather lost. "Why was the room warded?"

"I wanted to talk to my brother without people interrupting us."

"Severus, please take Hermione back to Slytherin. Harry, you and I have some things to talk about."

"Yes Professor." Harry handed my snake back and left the room, trailing after Dumbledore.

I looked over at Snape. "He reminds me of a puppy."

Snape's lips twitched. "Come along Hermione. I have better things to do on a Saturday then escorting you around the castle."

I grinned up at him, my eyes shining. "But I do so love our walks, Snape, they make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside."

Snape glared at me. "Keep it down or you're going to start unnecessary rumors."

I winked at him and took off down the hall. "You worry too much. It's Saturday, who would be roaming around the castle when they could be at Hogsmeade or in stuffing their faces?"

"You obviously don't worry enough, Hermione." Snape sneered.

I grabbed my chest and mock swooned. "When I hear my name from your lips it makes everything feel so right."

Snape rolled his eyes and stopped walking. "Silly girl, take yourself back to your dorm."

"Yes, sir!" I laughed, running away from the irate professor.

TLTLTL

Severus Snape

I watched as Hermione skipped down the hall, not a care in the world. With the way the girls acts you wouldn't think she was brought up in some horrible environment. I watched her till she was gone from sight, and then I made my way to my private quarters. The Dark Lord wanted a word with me, keeping her from him was getting harder and harder. He couldn't seem to stop thinking about the vixen who so abruptly entered his life.

He sighed, throwing on his death eater robes before flooing to the Leaky Cauldron, then apparating to Malfoy Manor. He entered the dining hall, following a house elf who looked close to keeling over. "Severus, how happy I am to see you." I mentally shuddered as Voldemort greeted me.

I bowed low. "My Lord."

"What news do you bring me?"

"All is quiet at the moment my Lord. The Order of the Phoneix has rendered useless at the moment, and Dumbledore seems to think Potter should learn Occulmency."

"And the students? Any potential characters I should know about?" My mind instantly went to Hermione, and I cursed myself for thinking about her now. I pushed her to the back of my mind but I was too late. "Who is she?"

I mentally cursed again, Dumbledore was going to kill me. "She's a promising student, my Lord. She is quite adept in all her classes, her grades rival those of Draco and Theo."

"I would like to meet her." He stared at me, his red eyes glowing darker. "Will that be a problem?"

I bowed low once again. "Forgive me my Lord, but she does not know who you are." At this Voldemort glared, urging me to explain myself before I was tortured. "She just recently came to Hogwarts."

"Recently. Why?"

"She was a late bloomer. She didn't show any signs of magic until her fifteenth birthday."

"Is she a mud-blood?"

"Half-blood my Lord," I answered through gritted teeth.

"Bring her to me, Severus. I will not ask again. I want to see her during the Christmas break."

I bowed. "Consider it done my Lord."

Voldemort nodded. "Good. You are dismissed."

I walked out of the room as fast as I could with out seeming like I was running away. Dumbledore and Potter were going to kill me. What am I suppose to tell Hermione? I just signed her death warrant. I sighed and apparated back to the Leaky Cauldron andflooed back to my private quarters. I need to report this to Dumbledore, but first I think a stiff drink is in order. Or maybe five.

A/N: Here is chapter eleven. What did you guys think? Did you see that little twist coming? As always read and review. Sorry for taking so long to update, but I was having trouble deciding if I should write the last part or not. Until next time…

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