A/N: I owe a big thanks to my beta (MarkDarcy) for this chapter. It was a total mess before it was beta'd. Also, I will be going to once a week posting for a bit now. My chapters are growing rather large and I want to be able to keep posting regularly.
It was the beginning of December when Samantha decided that she would tell Hermione who she really was. She was somewhat surprised that the other girl hadn't already figured it out, but she somehow hadn't. Now, however, Samantha needed Hermione's assistance researching something and she knew that if there was anyone who could find the information she wanted, it was Hermione.
What Samantha really wanted more information on was the bond her parents shared. Her burst of curiosity had come about after she heard about a pair of incidents that, taken separately, could have been coincidence. But, Samantha knew better than that.
Three days ago, while in her Muggle Studies classroom, her mother had fainted. At that exact moment, there had been a mispronounced – and extremely dangerous – curse that had been cast in the Defense classroom. Professor Snape had instantly thrown up an extremely powerful shield to protect his students. From the Slytherins who had been in that lesson, she had heard that afterwards he seemed to stagger weakly back to his desk.
The two Slytherins who had been in Muggle Studies had said that their Professor's fainting spell was attributed to the woman's pregnancy. Samantha, however, suspected differently. Unfortunately, the books she would need to consult were located in the Restricted Section and she knew she had no plausible reason to ask for a pass to it.
Harry had mentioned that Hermione had access to the Restricted Section in the notes the two had passed about this topic. But, they would have to let Hermione in on the big secret if they were to ask for her help.
So, now, Samantha was wandering around a seventh floor corridor, waiting for the Gryffindors to show up. It was almost curfew, and there was no one out in the halls. She heard footsteps in the empty hallway and she drew her wand.
"It's us, Samantha," Harry's voice came from thin air.
She relaxed, realizing they must be under Harry's invisibility cloak. He'd told her all about it when he'd visited her in the infirmary when she was ill.
The cloak was pulled off and three people were revealed. Hermione immediately began pacing back and forth before a patch of bare wall. After her third pass, a door suddenly appeared.
"So cool!" Samantha said as she followed the other two into the room. She glanced around, noticing that it looked a bit similar to the Slytherin common room, except the colors here were Gryffindor red and gold. "We're not in Gryffindor Tower, are we?"
"No," Harry answered. "Welcome to the Room of Requirement."
"The what?" Samantha asked, still looking around.
"The Room of Requirement. It changes itself to fit whatever you need it to be," Harry responded. "Last year a group of us used this room to practice defensive spells."
Hermione cleared her throat, "Harry, are you going to tell me why you dragged us out here so close to curfew and what she's doing here?"
Samantha glanced at Ron and saw barely-concealed amusement. "Maybe Ron could explain," she said with a smile.
Harry shrugged, gesturing that they should all have a seat on the couches and chairs, "Sure, why not?"
Ron chuckled as he sprawled into a chair, "I'm really amazed you haven't figured it out, 'Mione. Usually I'm the last one to know what's going on."
Hermione sighed, "Enough gloating, Ron. Get on with it!"
Ron stood up and made a theatrical gesture as he spoke, "May I introduce you to Maggie?"
Hermione's eyebrows shot up, "Maggie Smith?"
"Actually, it's Stonesmith-Snape," Samantha said with a smirk.
"No way… This is a joke, right?" Hermione said, glancing between Ron and Harry.
"Nope, no joke," Harry said seriously as Ron sat again. "I actually spent a couple evenings in Snape's quarters teaching her some basic spells when she first got her wand."
"But… but you were a squib," Hermione said, turning back to face Maggie. "And your appearance… Is that a transfiguration spell?"
"It's a long story, so bear with me, okay? My mum and dad married after they graduated from Hogwarts. My mum was a Gryffindor, but she is a pure-blooded witch. A couple years later, my mum's father did something, and my father refuses to say what exactly, but I have a feeling that it led to my father going to Voldemort.
"Apparently, my mum saw the mark on his arm and panicked. She knew she was pregnant, but I guess she hadn't told him. She went to Dumbledore who gave her a spell which would make her muggle – or a squib, really.
"For a long time, we lived in a normal muggle home outside of London. Then, five years ago my mum got a strange letter asking her to teach students in a special house. She decided to do so, and she told me all about the magical world. What she didn't tell me was that she had been a part of it.
"So we moved to the house where I met the three of you. I had no idea that the professor with you was my father. It was something I wasn't told for a couple more weeks. Then I came here for what was supposed to be a week of studying with my father. During that time, my mum was kidnapped and ended up in Voldemort's hands. Voldemort reversed the spell my mother had used, returning magic to both her and me." She paused and took a couple shaky breaths before continuing.
"That madman then forcibly bonded my mum and dad, not knowing that they had been married before and still were. My mum ended up pregnant from that.
"My dad brewed a derivative of Polyjuice Potion which enables transfigurations to be cast directly into the potion. The results last for a full month. Hence," she said, gesturing to her face, "my changed appearance.
"Ron found out about my deception when Hedwig arrived with a letter addressed to me at the Burrow. Harry didn't know where I was staying and I couldn't tell him.
"No one can know about all of this, Hermione. There is way too much at stake. If Voldemort found out, my father's cover would be blown and his life would be forfeit – same for my mum's life. Then there are the twins she's carrying whose lives would be put at risk.
"Harry and I have been communicating through Dobby, but it's been too dangerous for us to meet often." Samantha stopped and glanced around. "I think that's everything… Did I forget anything?"
Both boys shook their heads and Hermione focused accusing glances on both of them, "I can't believe neither of you told me."
Harry shrugged, "Sorry, Hermione, but as Sam said, it was too dangerous for anyone to know this."
"So, why now? Why did you finally decide to tell me?" Hermione asked, turning back to Samantha and crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well, to be honest… I need your help with something," Samantha said.
Hermione cocked her head, "I'm listening."
"I'm not sure if you heard about my mum's collapse at the same time as my father cast a strong shielding spell in his class…?" Hermione nodded so Samantha continued. "Well, I need to get into the Restricted Section of the library to find a book that describes all of the aspects of the bond my parents were forced into. There's no mention of that bond in the books on bonding available to us, because apparently that type of bond has been illegal for over a hundred years."
"Why do you need to know about their bond?" Hermione asked.
"From what I heard, the shield my father cast was really strong, stronger than a normal shield. What if he was unconsciously pulling from my mum's magic to augment his own? It would explain her fainting spell and perhaps even his slight staggering."
"Hmm," Hermione said, already looking thoughtful, "If he was indeed channeling more magic than he was accustomed to, it might leave him feeling slightly off. If it's true that someone can forcibly pull on another's magic through this bond, it's no wonder it's now illegal."
"Right, but I'd really like to get a look at that book… There's also another one I'd love to get a look at. Professor McGonagall said there's a text on Animagus Transformations…"
"Why don't you ask one of your parents for a pass to the Restricted Section?" Harry asked.
Samantha laughed, "My mother wouldn't dare give me one! I think she knows me too well. Nor would my father give me a pass. Even McGonagall, who is my godmother, wouldn't dare give a pass to a Slytherin!" She became very serious now, "Look, even you can see a practical application to such a bond." She gave a quick glance to Harry before turning back to Hermione. Seeing the other girl's eyes widen, Sam knew Hermione had understood what she was getting at.
"I… I need to think about this," Hermione said. "I'll tell you what I decide through Harry's next letter to you."
Samantha rose, "That's all I can ask. Thank you, Hermione. I'd better go before someone reports me missing to my Head of House."
Harry rose and gave her a quick hug and kiss. "I've missed you," he said quietly.
"I've missed you too." She stepped away. "Ron, it was good seeing you again, too." With that, she quickly left the room and hurriedly made her way back to her dorm.
-- --
Harry watched Samantha leave before turning to glance at Hermione. "What was that last bit about between you and Samantha?"
Hermione frowned as she stood up, "I think Samantha is considering using this bond to tie herself to you so you would have access to her magic…"
Harry blinked, not sure he'd heard that right, "What?"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Harry! Why else would she be so interested in the book? Professor Snape would obviously have researched the effects of the bond. If that was really what she was interested in she could just ask him, but the book would contain the instructions and incantations in addition to the effects."
Everyone was silent; Ron was staring at Hermione, his mouth slightly open. Harry was gazing at a spot on the far wall as he considered the possible benefits and ramifications of such a bond. If he could double his magic when he faced Voldemort again… For the first time since hearing the full prophecy, he felt a spark of hope.
"Hermione," Harry said tentatively, "Will you find those books for Samantha? Please."
"Mate, if you do what I think you're considering, Professor Snape will kill you." Ron said quickly.
"Not if he doesn't know about it. Anyway, this is just speculation on our parts. Maybe we're wrong about why she wants that book," Harry said.
"I'll get the books for her," Hermione conceded, "But Harry, you need to think seriously about this. Ron's right – there's no telling what Professor Snape would do if he found out."
"Thank you, 'Mione!" Harry said, grabbing the invisibility cloak and gesturing to the door, "We'd better go now."