A Secret

Chapter 3: Earth Shattering News

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything related to it. JKR does.

Pairing: R/Hr, and G/H

The battle had ended. Dumbledore, Kingsley, Tonks, and Lupin had rounded up all the Death Eaters, including Malfoy. But not without a fight. Malfoy had sent dozens of hexes at them, but they had all bounced back onto him. Malfoy was now unconscious, lying on a stretcher that was hovering up and down in the atrium of the house.

Soon all that were left were Dumbledore, Lupin, the Grangers, Harry and several of the Weasleys.

Anne and Eric were in the kitchen, trying to clean the house up Muggle-style. Molly and Arthur were helping Dumbledore, along with the twins who were trying out their new trick, one that makes somebody a neat freak with an uncontrollable urge to clean. No one knew why on earth the twins would design something like this, but it was coming in handy as Fred and George polished and dusted the ornaments on the mantle piece.

Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry were on the stairs. Ginny and Harry were talking animatedly in whispers. They sat on the first landing, and Ron and Hermione were above them on the third. They weren't talking, just holding each other. So much had happened in the last hour.

Hermione finally looked up at Ron. 'In your letter, you said you had something you needed to tell me.'

Ron gazed down at Hermione. Her brown, bushy hair that outlined her perfect face. Her brown eyes that were wet with the unshed tears from the trauma of the day. And her petite figure that fit perfectly against his gawky and lanky one. He knew then it was true.

Before he said it, though, Ron cupped Hermione's face in his hands and kissed her deeply. 'I love you,' Ron said when the kiss was over.

Hermione responded by kissing him again, and whispered, 'I love you too.' The couple embraced each other lovingly.

Ginny and Harry watched the two above them, but kept silent. They knew that this moment was for Ron and Hermione only. They hadn't seen each other in a month, and the only reason they were together now was because Hermione had been in grave danger. Harry couldn't even begin to imagine how Ron must have felt when he got the letter from Hermione. He himself had been scared when he got it. But Ron must have been distraught. Harry felt he would have been if something had happened to Ginny.

'Ron, Ginny, come here, please,' Molly called up the stairs. As she did, both Lupin and Anne signaled for Harry and Hermione to come towards them.

Ginny jumped up and waited for the slowpoke Ron to finally come down the grand, polished wooden staircase. The stairs slowly wound down and around the lobby, with about five steps in between each of the five landings.

'Ron, this is serious. There is something you should know about Hermione,' Molly said as she looked at her youngest son. He never would expect what she was going to tell him, and she wasn't sure she wanted to tell him.

Hermione slowly walked down the stairs and over to her mother, who was in the corner of the foyer. She hugged her mother as soon as she reached her. Hermione was at a loss for words. Anne just held Hermione close as she cried into her hair. Eric joined his girls and embraced them tightly. The Grangers' world had changed. Forever.

Harry stumbled toward Lupin, who tried to smile at him, though it was evidently forced. Lupin squeezed Harry's shoulder, as it didn't feel right for them to hug. Harry would have hugged Sirius, but-

'Harry, there is something about Hermione that no one knows, not even her,' Lupin informed Harry.

Dumbledore had been talking in conference with Tonks, Kingsley and Moody, but he now he broke away and wandered towards Hermione and her parents.

'Hermione, could you and your parents join me in your office, which is where also?' Dumbledore spoke quietly.

Hermione gravely nodded, and showed Dumbledore to the study that was off the hall.

Hermione and her parents each took a seat across from the one seat Dumbledore took.

Dumbledore took his half-moon glasses off and rubbed his eyes with his long fingers. He wasn't sure where to start. He chose to start at the beginning of his initial realisation, almost five years ago.

'Hermione, when you started at Hogwarts, five years ago, I knew there was something more about you. I never really knew what it was until today. And now, I must tell you.' Dumbledore knew he must choose his next words very carefully.

Hermione's eyes widened and she tightened her grip on her mother's hand. She was scared to know what Headmaster Albus Dumbledore would tell her.

'Hermione, you are not a Muggle-born. You are actually an almost-pure-blood' Dumbledore said, braking the news right away.

She couldn't speak. Hermione looked from one parent to another, thinking that if they weren't her parents, who were?

'Anne and Eric are your parents, though, both legally and biologically. They, however, are Muggles, of Squib ancestry. Originally, the Grangers were a pureblood family, many, many, many generations ago. It is very confusing. How about I try to explain it slowly?' Dumbledore said. He wanted to help, upon seeing their confused faces. He began to explain completely.

'Many years ago, one of your pure blood ancestors married a fully-fledged Muggle. Their one child was a half-blood. Then that child married another Muggle and had a child that was a quarter-blood. That child then married a Squib and had another Squib for a child. That Squib married a Muggle, and the magic in the Granger family disappeared altogether.'

'Of course, there had been another line, but they too died out. Hermione is all that is left. No one knows why she has the magic, but there is no doubt about it. After Harry, Hermione probably holds the strongest magic in England.' Dumbledore looked up from his clasped hands and let his eyes bore into Hermione. She still hadn't said anything, just held onto Anne and Eric. But now she felt she must.

'Professor Dumbledore, sir, I feel as if there is something else you haven't told me. Something I may not like. Is that true?' Hermione said as she tentatively spoke up.

'Yes, I am afraid there is something else. This is the most important part and the most influential part on your life. The Grangers were originally regarded as the royalty of England. With you, Hermione, now England will look to you for strength. You will be viewed as the princess in a time of dire need. But this all comes with a price. In order for the people of England to feel as though they have chance, they will want an heir to the new Royal Family. It is not a necessary requirement, but if you want England to unite against Lord Voldemort, Hermione must bear a child.' Dumbledore said, unhappy that he had to be the one to tell Hermione this.

Hermione couldn't speak, and only clung to her parents tighter. Eric, on the other hand, could speak.

'What you are saying is that my fifteen-year-old daughter must bear a child, just so that England can unite against Lord Voldemort?' Eric said, quite horrified.

Dumbledore sighed, 'Yes that is what I am saying. But what I am not saying is that she must make her decision now. Anne and Eric, you must first decide on a worthy husband who would appeal as a prince or a future king for your daughter. But the first thing that must be done is for you both and Hermione to move into Twelve Grimmauld Place for security reasons. I am sorry for all of these sudden things that have happened to all of you in the past hour or two.'

Hermione whispered audibly, 'May I please be excused?'

'Yes, you certainly may.' Dumbledore said comfortingly before standing up. He gestured towards the door, trying to understand in his own way how she must feel.

Hermione slowly stood up, and took her time approaching the door. When she finally opened it, she saw Ginny talking with Molly, Harry by Lupin, and Ron. Ron by Arthur. Talking. But who stopped and looked at her when he heard the door open. Hermione didn't know if he knew but she knew one thing. She couldn't face him.

Hermione ran up the stairs, with tears streaming down her face.