A/N: Thank you to everyone who has viewed this story. It always makes me smile to see the numbers increase. Please continue to make me happy *puppy eyes*
~ 4ever
The voice proceeded to tell Hermione everything about his and Eileen's relationship, and how she'd left in the middle of the night with baby Vivienna.
It devastated us. Severus had gotten so attached to you that he cried when he found you and Eileen were gone. And Severus does not easily show emotions.
Your birth really helped him. I think he was nearing the brink of suicide. Then you were born and he was like a different man. He truly bonded with you...and then you were taken.
You were taken, with no clues as to your location. Severus was so unhappy he began drinking and smoking. Eventually, I had to erase his memory. He would have attempted again—and mostly likely succeeded—if I had not.
Hermione could feel her anger seeping into her thoughts. How could you erase all his memories of me? She asked furiously. You had no right!
Tom flushed, ashamed suddenly of his actions. Do not fear, Enna, I set a trigger. He will remember you again if you say his first name. Severus.
Hermione let her anger dissipate. There was no use holding a grudge if her brother would remember her...eventually.
I regret everything that I ever said to your mother when I was in a rage, Tom continued. Things were...not going well then. There was a great Wizarding War, and Eileen and I were on opposite sides of it.
Then I attempted to kill some of my enemies, which Severus tipped me off about, and nearly succeeded, if not for that little brat. Tom took a calming breath.
I cast the spell and it...bounced off. It came back at me and I was banished for several years by the sheer power of it.
Merlin, but I want him dead.
Another deep breath.
That is why I would like for you to attend Hogwarts. The wizarding school, he clarified, seeing her confused mental face. He is the son of two powerful magicians. There is no doubt he will be admitted.
Please, Enna. Give me a chance. I want to help you learn magic. Think of all the fun it will be. I will teach you all sorts of interesting tricks. You can learn to fly, turn invisible, which is called Illusioning, or Masking, and how to turn into an Animagus, which is—
An animal form! Hermione exclaimed excitedly, clapping mental hands. She subsided, feeling embarrassed, Tom smiled at her.
Indeed, Enna. An Animagus is your animal form, much like an alter-ego. Your shape will be based off of your magical power and your qualities, both good and bad.
Wizards and witches start Hogwarts when they are eleven, so we still have a couple years to work on these powers. Tom grinned.
"Hermione!" A female voice called. She sounded thoroughly frazzled. "Everyone went home already. They left presents!"
It would seem that I have gifts to open, Hermione commented dryly.
I will speak to you later, Enna. Remember, I am always available for you to come to, no matter what the situation. You will always have a—mental—shoulder to cry upon.
Hermione smiled. Goodbye...Father, she whispered mentally.
"Coming, Mum!" Is what she uttered aloud.
Two years later, Hermione was a powerful, brilliant young witch and quite the formidable opponent.
She had the ability to Mask herself, thus rendering herself invisible to all but the most highly-trained witches and wizards; she could fly, both with and without a broomstick, a power that her father had told her was quite rare and special; and she could transform into her Animagus forms at any time, running or otherwise.
Yes, forms. She had three; also rare.
Tom commented that her forms all had different levels of power and could all be useful.
Her first was a sprightly, red fox. Though not exactly pleased with the form, she admitted that could be very helpful: it was fast and cunning, although not particularly inconspicuous.
Her second was a beautiful golden lioness. Tom, although disgruntled, agreed that this likely meant she was going to be sorted into Gryffindor, despite her Slytherin blood.
Her third was the most powerful and very rare; Tom admitted that practically no one had a magical animal Animagus. She had the top of a black-haired girl with pale skin and such blue eyes they were almost violet, while the bottom half was a tawny lion (again, Gryffindor). As if that wasn't magical enough, she had silvery wings that looked like those of an angel that she could glamour or use: they weren't just decoration; they truly worked.
An awed Tom told her that the human top was what she would look like without the glamour spell Eileen had cast on them both. She had taken flight a few times to test out her wings, and she'd shared her vision so he became her, saw the view from her eyes.
A few months after Hermione found out her Animagus forms, she finally managed to keep her shirt on when she transformed back and forth from her Sphynx form. Thankfully; she didn't need perverted guys looking at her boobs if she shape-shifted.
She had been studying magic for a little over two years, and she knew a lot of it. Spells, hexes, curses...the lot.
She knew quite a few Dark spells and even more Light spells, she could brew Felix Felicis in her sleep, which she knew from attempting once. It was dangerous, yes, but she had managed. It was probably the hardest potion she knew, although Veritaserum was a close second, as it took a month to brew.
She could transfigure practically anything into anything else, and herself into several inanimate objects.
And she was nervous as hell.
Today was the day that she would either be asked to attend Hogwarts, or...not. She truly hoped it was the former. She'd been reading a lot about magic and the castle itself.
She wiped her sweaty palms on her jumper, nearly subconsciously.
You'll be fine! Tom reassured her. Just be the charming, intelligent, mature young lady we both know you are.
She was slightly comforted, but kept quiet and pretended to read so her mother wouldn't ask if she was sick.
The doorbell rang.
A/N: Ok, how is it? Outstanding, Exceeds Expectations, Average, Poor, Troll? Please let me know in a review!
~ 4ever