Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine :(

A/N: Sorry it's a bit later than expected but please tell me what you think!

"Protego" Hermione did the only thing that was sensible as the house elf and well dressed women ran towards her. They came to a stop just in from of the shield.

"Aphrodite, is that really you?"

The woman seemed to be on the verge of tears and the house elf was skipping and jumping around the hallway.

"Aphrodite? That's not my name! Who are you and what do you want from me?"

"My name is Maria Romano and I think ... I might be your mother!"

"What? I'm not your daughter! I have parents; I was just going to find them!"

"The Grangers? What happened to them? They did look after you well didn't they?"

"How do you know about them?"

"Maybe we should sit down for a bit, would you like to come to the living room? Corolis please arrange for some tea to be bought to the south parlour"

The house elf disappeared with a crack. Hermione had to think for a moment. Was it really wise for the war heroine to go into a room with a complete stranger who claimed to be her mother? She hadn't even attempted to attack her at first and fro some reason she trusted the woman, somehow it felt as if she would fill a space left empty by the absence of the Grangers.

The woman seemed to take the emotion on her face as a yes and walked away. She led Hermione through a maze of corridors most with magical paintings on the wall. If you had asked even Hermione wouldn't be able to tell you how to get out, the maze was so big! At last they entered a living room through some big double doors. It was decorated in traditional Slytherin colours, emerald green and silver, with dark oak furniture and plush sofas. Maria sat down, almost sitting on her long, golden blonde hair. Hermione sat down opposite, taking in as much detail as possible about her surroundings. Bookshelves lines one of the walls, full of leather bound books, most of which she had read.

"You take after your father I see."

"What? I thought my dad was in the army"

"No. Mr Granger was in the army, your true father is a pureblood. He has stakes in many large businesses in the muggle world, Loves his bookshop to death. Whatever happened to the Grangers anyway?"

"I was just going to fetch them from Australia, I hid them during the war, and they don't remember me so they can't be traced"

"Probably a good job too"

"Why? I will get them back to England eventually"

"No. Your father will forbid you. You and your sister shall not disobey him"

She felt anger boil up inside her at her mother and whoever her father was, how dare they take her from the Grangers after they had looked after her for most, if not all of her life!

"MY FATHER! WHY WAS HE NOT THE WHOLE TIME I WAS BEING TAUNTED AND TORTURED ABOUT MY BLOOD? WHY DID HE NOT LOOK AFTER ME, RAISE ME? WHY WAS I SEPERATED FROM THIS FAMILY? MADE TO FEEL INFERIOR? IF HE DOESN'T LET ME GET MY TRUE PARENTS I'LL RUN AWAY FROM THIS GAHSTLY SLYTHERIN PLACE!"

The kind lady from a few moments ago had turned cold

"You will do no such thing young lady; you will be prised in the wizarding world once you have been introduced to the court. You will marry before you are 25, to whomever, as long as your father deems him worthy of such a precious jewel. You must do as he says or face the consequences."

"WHY? WHY SHOULD I? WHAT HAVE YOU EVER DONE FOR ME? I WILL MARRY WHEN I WANT AND NOT BE FORCED INTO SOME BETROTHAL OR ANOTHER! I WILL NOT BE RULED BY MY FATHER!"

"Aphrodite Valentina Romano, you will go to your room and await the arrival of your sister. You must understand that we did what we deemed best in the situation we were faced with. All will be explained later but for now you must calm down and clean up for when your father and sibling return. Corolis!"

"Yes mistress"

"Escort Aphrodite to her rooms immediately"