Getting woken up by someone screaming had to be one of the worst ways to awaken. When that someone was your fiancé screaming at you to get out of his bed, it made it even worst. It also made her quite confused, something she loathed being.
"Theo? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Are you daft, woman? I don't know who you think you are, but I have a fiancée. She won't take too kindly to finding you in here. Now, I don't know how you got in, but I suggest you quickly find yourself the way out."
"Theo…" she said as she reached out for him, nearly on the verge of tears. The tears leaked from her eyes as he jerked away from her and spat, "Don't touch me!"
"Theo, please. I don't know what's going on! Why would you say these things to your fiancée?"
"You are not my fiancée, Witch. The whole world knows my fiancée is Hermione Granger, and you are most decidedly not her."
"I… what? Theo, did something happen to you at work? Are you okay? Because I am Hermione."
Theo scoffed.
"You most certainly are not."
"I can prove it! Ask me anything, something only I would know."
"Alright then. What did you beg me to do to you just last week?"
Of course he would ask that, she thought as her face turned bright red. She mumbled her answer.
"Come now, I can't hear you."
"I asked you to dress up as a professor and spank me while I was wearing my Hogwarts uniform," she squeaked, throwing her hands over her face. Theo's face showed his surprise that she was able to answer his question. The surprise slowly melted away, replaced by a naughty smirk.
"And what did you call me?"
Hermione groaned and peeked out from between her fingers as her face heated further.
"I'm waiting."
"Professor Nott."
The words came out in a rush, but he clearly understood her.
"Hermione? What happened to you?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
Theo guided her to the mirror hanging on their bedroom and what she saw there caused her to shriek. Her brown, not quite bushy anymore, hair was now straight and black. Her whiskey coloured eyes were now a silver colour that reminded her way too much of Draco Malfoy. She looked… well, if she was honest with herself, she resembled what she assumed a baby from Draco and Harry would look like.
"Theo… I… what?"
"I don't know, love. All I know is that I went to bed before you last night, and when I woke up, you looked like this. I couldn't figure out how a stranger ended up in bed next to me, hence the yelling."
"I… look like –"
"Draco."
"Harry," she finished her sentence at the same time Theo said Draco. Theo squinted at her.
"You do look a bit like Harry. Actually, you look like what I assume their kid will look like once Harry finally goes into labour."
"I thought the same thing! Theo, what's happened to me?"
Before he could answer, an owl arrived, pecking at their window. The owl had the same regal, self-important look that all Malfoy owls had, but she knew that it wasn't Draco's owl. Sharing a look with Theo, she gave the owl some treats and took the envelope. An envelope that bared the Malfoy crest on the seal. It was not, however, Draco's owl. She eyed it suspiciously; the elder Malfoy had never warmed to her despite Draco and Harry's relationship. Deciding it wouldn't hurt to be cautious, she waved her wand over it, but it came up clear of any curses or hexes. Slipping a finger under the seam, she broke the seal and took out creamy coloured parchment.
To my daughter,
I'm sure this will come as a shock to you, but you are not who you think you are. I'm unsure why my missing memories have suddenly returned to me, but I can only be thankful that I can now remember my daughter. Let me try to explain.
When I was at Hogwarts, I fell in love. This certainly is not uncommon, however, as a Pureblood, I was expected to forget about my lover and marry a witch my father had chosen for me. I did as he requested but refused to stop seeing my love. I had thought my wife and I had an arrangement, as I knew my love had with his wife, but I was apparently quite wrong. Both our wives knew about us and supposedly consented to our forbidden relationship under the condition we give them children.
We both fulfilled those requirements.
However, there was also another unexpected, but not unwanted, child. You. We were both unaware that either of us were possible bearers. If we had known, perhaps I could have convinced my father to let me marry him instead. Knowing I was already looking for a way out of marriage with the news of you, my wife stole you from us, removed you from our memories, and placed you with a Muggle orphanage.
I have many regrets in my life. That this happened to you, is my biggest. I only ask that you give me a chance to get to you know and through me, know your other father, James Potter. As I am unsure of where you were placed, I do not know if you know my name. If you do, I only ask once more that you give me chance.
Your father,
Lucius Malfoy
The letter fluttered soundlessly to the floor as it slipped from her hands. She could barely hear Theo saying her name, concern written over every syllable. She was vaguely aware of Theo picking up the letter and reading it through, hearing various words break through the pounding in her ears. Most were profanities, although one that really stuck out to her was 'scandal'. And oh, what a scandal it was.
"Hermione? Love, are you okay? This has to be a shock."
"A shock? A shock, Theo? I just found out my biological parents are Lucius Malfoy and James Potter, and I don't even want to think about the timing on that. I think this is more than a shock. What am I going to do?"
"Do you want to see him?"
"No…I don't… yes. I think I do."
She took comfort as Theo wrapped his arms around her. Just then a thought occurred to her that had her laughing out loud.
"What's so funny?"
"Just imagining the look on Draco's face when he finds out. My half-brother is a bit of a drama queen, after all."
"Which one?"
They both starting laughing at that and, as Theo's arms tightened even more around her, she couldn't help but think that everything was going to be okay.
Written for: The OTP Prompt Competition.
Pairing: Hermione/Theo
Prompt: [word] scandal
QL Season Four, Practice Round
Prompt: Pureblood!Hermione
Thanks to Raybe for betaing this and Liza for helping me out. I wasn't planning on using Lucius/James as her fathers, but once I had the idea in my idea, I just couldn't let it go. Read and review!