Summary: Looking at her, he thought that the war heroine needed a savior. "I'm not a hero." Hermione said in a choked voice. "In fact, I don't even know who I am anymore." "I'm here for you. If that helps." "You know what… I decided not to be Hermione Granger anymore. So you better move fast and confirm the rumor that the missing heiress, Amelia Jane Zabini is back." A grin crossed his face as she stood up in a regal fashion showing every bit of a pureblood that she really is.
From a different Angle
iloveapplejuice
Max Aurelius played with his food during lunch during a sunny Thursday afternoon as he watched with concealed fascination the newest object of discussions in Hogwarts and other parts of the magical community. She was sitting in the farthest corner of the Gryffindor table, an isolated spot if he could comment. He watched as she ate with class and confidence as if daring anyone to drop by and make her day just yet. A grin crossed his face as she stood up in a regal fashion showing every bit of a pureblood that she really is.
He shifted his gaze across the hall and saw students from different years and houses watch her every move as she exited. Murmurs buzzed around immediately in the room and he shook his head at how typical teenagers could be. Sure he was also eager to know the real story behind the heiress and her family, especially since she is the twin sister of his bestfriend, whom he haven't seen since last night but he thought that it was up to them to relay the story if they want to. He has a funny feeling that the heiress would be present in tomorrow's meeting so why bother asking when he could have it if he just waited a couple more hours.
"What's with the ruckus in the hall?" Draco Malfoy grumbled as he sat across his friend with his hair in disarray, his eyes red, his clothes disheveled, and his face looking nothing but grumpy.
"It's out." Max replied simply. It took a long moment for Draco to understand what he meant with regards to all the jumbled thoughts inside his head.
"How is she?" Max smiled at his reply and it made Draco grumpier. "Well?"
"I think she'll live. Tell me, Draco. Have you seen her yet? I mean this week?"
"Mia? I guess… in classes I suppose. But, I'm not really focused as you could see. I was distracted with the…" he coughed and then looked meaningfully at Max, in which he nodded to signal his friend to continue. "But, I did noticed that there's no one answering the difficult questions in our lessons."
Max laughed at this. "You better put your guard up a level higher then, prince charming." He slapped Draco's back forcefully that caused him to splutter his pumpkin juice that he was downing. "I think that Blaise is already having a bad time, what with all these…" he gestured to the Slytherin table "…boys wanting to get her attention. Plus… all those handsome and hormone-driven boys who just happen to really saw her." He stood up and left Draco with a nervous heart and a grumpier disposition than he had earlier when Pansy told him that he was a passive-aggressive asshole.
Headmistress McGonagall sat in her chair in the Great Hall and watched the students of Hogwarts behave with regards to the news of Hermione Granger, being really the heiress of the Zabini line. She, ofcourse have been informed during the second month of the previous summer vacation about the girl's predicament. It was quite a shock ofcourse, to the faculty that the heiress was right under their noses all along.
As she remembers, it was one of the biggest news, second to the Potters, when it came out. Estella and David Zabini were reported to have been blessed with twins, one boy and one girl. Despite dark times, people were eager to know all about the babies, who will be inheriting the fortune of the family and who will be the next in line for the defunct but still widely acquiesced Plantagenet throne. Yes, the Headmistress thought, royalty brought the twins into such tragedy.
Albus Dumbledore told her that time that Voldemort wanted to get rid of every possible hindrance in his way, in which ofcourse resulted to the murder of the Potters, and the torturing of the Longbottoms. So, Dumbledore told her that Voldemort thought of the Zabinis as a threat for they may once again claim their rights as the rulers of Wizarding England.
So, she somehow concluded that Estella and David decided to join Voldemort's army instead of opposing him. But what bothered her is that why did they gave their daughter away and only their daughter. Why not Blaise too?
As she pondered at these curious thoughts, she saw the heiress walk out of the Great Hall. So she resigned that time will reveal all secrets.
Blaise watched her sister trim a hideous plant with such care that it made him wonder if she would someday treat him that way too. But no matter, he thought, it wasn't the time to become sentimental. He has more pending matters to attend to that may lead him into a shouting spar with his twin, and possibly, Draco cursing him to the next millenium.
He adjusted his tie a little, then a little more to enable him to breathe properly. He was nervous, to be honest but he thought that he should get it over with as soon as possible. The next meeting will be tomorrow and he already postponed his telling her it a couple of days.
He cleared his throat and she just looked up in time to see him rub the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed as if he was fighting an internal battle.
"Spit it out." Hermione, or rather Mia said as she clipped a dead leaf on the plant.
"Oh, Right." He cleared his throat once again and then finally, giving a great sigh, "Well, I need you to meet me tomorrow night, at exactly ten minutes before eleven in front of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom."
"Why?"
"Well…" he, then snapped his head towards her and got irritated when she didn't even posed any kind of interest to this matter. "Don't ask me why! Just do it!" His nervousness turned into agitation as he waited for her reply.
She took off her gloves and then gave him a scrutinizing look. "Fine."
He exhaled another sigh and then offered his arm to her as they exited the greenhouse. They entered the castle, and Mia made a motion to remove her hand on his arm but he just took her hand in his and gripped it tightly as if to tell her that nothing else should matter besides family.
People were looking and pointing at them as they whispered words that she didn't bother to comprehend. She felt that she should be brave and face everyone else like nothing has changed. But she did try. Nothing worked. So she thought, while taking a peek at her twin, that maybe it is really time for her to accept change. Maybe, just maybe, things will come out better though in a different light and a different angle than from what she had expected.
At last it was finally Friday, and at around ten in the evening, Harry James Potter phased around a dim- lighted place that almost resembled of a courtroom. It was big and spacious. He was standing on a platform with four chairs in it. It represented the four houses of their school. He was wearing the required attire for the night. Rich black robes with an insignia of their association in his breast pocket, partnered up with a red long sleeve shirt in order to represent his house.
He was holding a black facemask that reminded him of the Grim Reaper that used to haunt him every night when he was five. He sat on Godric Gryffindor's chair and felt a surge of pride ran all over him as he realized that he would be reliving his legacy. It thrilled him a lot but tonight he felt dread at the pit of his stomach as seconds passed by and his bestfriend's arrival nearing. He would have a lot of explaining to do when he, together with the other three men who will be occupying the chairs, reveals his identity to her.
She would ask him a lot of questions and she would probably yell at him too and try to hex him if it got worse. That, he could handle. But to what he had done to her, guilt and pressure present in his chest, he might not forgive himself if he saw her eyes turn blank and cold like what happened in the dorm when they were packing. He shivered when her eyes flashed through his mind once again. It was like second year all over again, as if Hermione from the Hospital wing was back and petrified. Only this time, he's the reason and not a basilisk.
He covered his face with his two clammy hands and found the darkness more depressing. Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him and he knew that the other representatives have arrived. He sat properly and gave the three new arrivals a nod of recognition each. They all sat in their chairs until one of them finally broke the silence.
"Man, is this cool or what?" At this, they all turned to look at the speaker and cracked up instantly. It was the Headboy, Justin Finch-Fletchey with a broad grin across his face.
Finally, Max Aurelius composed himself and remarked as he placed his facemask on and said, "Alright, they'd be hear in a minute. Straighten up gentlemen."
They followed his instructions and also placed their own facemasks. An air of seriousness surrounded them as they waited for the audience to arrive and the meeting to finally start.
"Somehow, this doesn't feel right." The Ravenclaw represented said in a deep voice as he looked at his schoolmates. He took off his mask for a while to rake his hands through his curly auburn hair. He replaced his mask again when no one said a word.
Harry looked at him and saw a flicker in his black eyes and then, he realized what Anthony Smeath meant.
"It would seem like we're ganging up on her." Anthony said rigidly.
"This is why The Knights were formed long ago Anthony. You got to keep that in mind. It just happened to be her and it just happened to be us. It wasn't anybody's choice to put neither of anyone of us in this position." Max said in a deep and solid voice. "However, it is our own choice that we stayed by this and continue our duties. We passed the tests given to us last summer and that should be enough proof that all four of us…" He turned at each one of them. " As well as the others, are strong enough and determined enough to finish what we were appointed to do." He paused for a while as he wondered what words would be good enough to encourage them. "Trust is something we give to each other. We need that in every mission we will be soon triumphing. I know that what we will be facing onwards is dangerous. But gentlemen, at this dark time, when the majority of the people party night and day without any consent to the sacrifices of the previous war and is ignorant of what's really happening, hope is something we give ourselves when we can't find anything anymore. Am I clear?"
With his speech closed, the doors opened and there came in two lines of seventh year students that were clad in the same robes as they are and shirts in their respective houses, with the exception of facemasks. The last to enter were Blaise Zabini and Amelia Zabini.
Upon seeing her, Harry's throat closed and he hoped that tonight's meeting would finally clear up the dark cloud that has been hovering in his and Hermione's friendship.
Working duration: Three hours (April 22, 2007)
Number of Words: (excluding the title and endnotes) 1,954
iloveapplejuice: I would like to notify you that questions regarding the story won't be entertained but rather answered as the story itself progresses. However, I would be willing to entertain questions with regards my writing style, personal life or whatever you please. Thank you again, for your kind consideration and moral support.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and other things associated with it such as characters, places, events, etc. are owned by J.K. Rowling and other publishing houses. I gain no profit through this story.