Thank you so much for the reviews, I'm happy that you guys liked it. Someone asked me who her parents are, but you'll figure that out later in the story. I know that there's some Ron/Hermione action here, but trust me, this is the most you'll see out of this story. I actually can't stand Ron, so sorry if he's out of character in this story, he's just hard to write too. The drama should start soon. If you have any questions, private message me! Happy reading!

Chapter Two – Fake Relationships and Temptations

Hermione woke up the next day after a restless night and couldn't bring herself to get out of bed. What does one do when they find out the person they were was a complete lie? Well, that wasn't exactly true. She was still Hermione Jane Granger, but everything that made her who she was, was all a lie. Hermione was a strong, independent, intelligent and respected muggleborn witch who proved to everyone that a muggleborn witch can have as much talent as a pureblood. She worked herself hard to prove to everyone that she could do it and that she could do it better. Everyone else had the advantage of knowing about magic when they were little, but she hadn't had that opportunity. Hermione was a 'mudblood' and she was proud of it, but now she wasn't. Sure, she was still strong, independent, intelligent and respected, but she was no longer a muggleborn. What does one do when they are a muggleborn one day and no longer a muggleborn the next? Was she a half-blood like Harry or a pureblood like Ron? Was her and Ron related?

That last thought was disgusting since she has had a crush on him for ages. He was gentle, kind, understanding (once he got over his quick temper) and funny. The only thing was that her first instinct was to fight with him. If only she could flirt with him like Lavender had, maybe she would be in a different boat. Lavender and Ron had gone out for 4 months, so you never know. Goodness, she was terrible! Here she was thinking of her adoption and she went straight to her feelings for Ron. How did they ever compare? Deciding not to worry about it, she got up and got ready. Her hair was shoulder length long and she let it do what it wanted it to do, which made it still frizzy and untameable. Deciding to reply to Ron and Ginny's letter that she knew Ginny mostly wrote she picked up some parchment and a quill.

'Ginny and Ron,

Thank you for being there for me, I appreciate it. I know Ginny, bottling up emotions aren't good, but you know that that's what I do best and how I deal with things. I wish it was school so that I could have work to take my mind off of it, but since there's nothing and I already finished my summer homework, I can only think of it over and over again. Ron, you were right about the glamour charm. My dad told me that that's what my biological parents/Dumbledore used on me. I don't know how comfortable I feel about that. No matter how much of a crazy beast my hair is, it's still me. When you think of Hermione you think of my hair, it's just natural. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can come down this summer to the Burrow. I hope you understand I just want to spend time with my parents as much as I can. I still love them and I want to make sure they know that before I leave for school. This is our last year and after that it'll be harder to see them. Anyways, enough about me, how's your guys' summer going?

With love,

Hermione'

Taking her owl out, Hermione wrapped the letter around Harriet's leg and watched her fly off once more. Glancing down at her desk, she noticed a glaring white. Looking at it, it was the letter from her birth mother. Still curious, but not wanting to deal with it, she picked it up and shoved it into her school trunk. Hermione wasn't sure she'd ever be able to deal with it even though she kind of wanted to know who her parents are. They did give her up, even if it was for the greater good supposedly.

Hermione went downstairs for breakfast and was relieved that her parents were gone. There would be too much tension now, it was like they were unsure how to act around each other and were walking on eggshells. Grabbing some toast and jam, she set it on the counter while she waited for it to go off. Remembering Harry that wanted to know how it went yesterday she grabbed the phone and dialled.

"Hello?" Harry asked.

"Hey Harry," Hermione answered.

"Hey Hermione! So how did it go yesterday?"

"It was okay, I guess. My parents confirmed that I was adopted. They said they didn't tell me because it wasn't the right time and because I was always at Hogwarts. It's so stupid."

"Yeah that would be pretty hard. Do you know who your parents are?"

"No, my parents weren't allowed to know so we could be safe. Guess what though," she said sarcastically.

"What?"

"I'm not a muggleborn and Dumbledore arranged the whole thing. I'm so mad, he doesn't have a right to do that kind of stuff and leave me in the dark."

"Wait... what? So you're a pureblood? Dumbledore probably had a good reason Hermione..."

"I don't know if I'm a pureblood. I might be a half-blood like you. I really don't care Harry. He doesn't have the right to mess in other people's lives. He always keeps you in the dark about stuff until it's a really bad time and he has no choice but to tell you like the prophecy."

"I really wish we could find out who your parents are. Do you think Dumbledore would tell you if you asked? Look, Dumbledore had good reasons for that. He didn't want me to have a burden for that kind of thing. Look, I was mad, but there's nothing you can do about that kind of stuff."

"No, he wouldn't tell me. He would say something like, "The world isn't a safe place yet and never will be so no I can't," because that's just who he is. Yeah but don't you notice that when you do find out that you're screwed? Have you ever felt like that?"

"Look, Dumbledore isn't as bad as you're making him out to be. We might be entering into a war so that would put you in danger. Yes I've felt like that, but then I realized that he was right in not telling me sooner."

"Like I'm not in any danger right now! No offence and don't ever change, but Voldemort wants you and I'm one of your best friends who everyone believes is muggleborn. We're both going to participate in this war and what if I die? What if my biological family dies? Then it's too late to find that out. I'm sorry Harry, but I have to go. I have a few things to do today."

"Alright, I'm sorry for making you mad. I understand your reasoning. When we get to Hogwarts, we'll talk to Dumbledore if that's what you really want to do. Goodbye Hermione. Oh by the way, guess who I'm dating?"

"Who?"

"Ginny, I just asked her out when I went to visit her and Ron at the Burrow. Anyways, bye.

"Goodbye Harry and congrats, I'm happy for you!"

"Thanks."

Hermione hung up the phone and sighed. She had gotten a little angry over the phone, but who could blame her? Hermione wasn't mad at Harry, but she was at Dumbledore and this surprised her. She's never been angry at a teacher because no matter what she respected their positions. This was different for her though. She felt like she was right. Sure, there was a war coming, but she deserved to have the chance to know who her family was and get to know them before any one of them including her died. Hermione had so many questions like how could you possibly give me up even if I was in danger?

She put her plate away and slumped against the counter trying to decide what to do next. It was the summer and she already did her homework, so what could she do? Like someone had heard her prayers, the doorbell rang. Hermione walked to the door to answer it and when she did, she was surprised. Ronald Weasley was there at her door wearing a goofy smile. Without thinking, Hermione threw her arms around him looking for some much needed comfort. Ron stumbled back a bit, but still held her. They stayed like that for awhile until Hermione pulled away blushing.

"Sorry about that Ron. Anyways, what are you doing here?" she asked surprised.

Ron smiled, "You sounded like you needed some company in your letters and a little bit of fun, so here I am."

"Thanks Ron, come in. Yeah, the past couple days have been a little rough and since I'm done my homework, there's nothing to do," Hermione said blushing.

"It's such a typical thing for you to do; I haven't even started my homework. Don't worry, I think we'll figure something to do," he said.

"Shut it Ron! It's not my fault that I don't like doing last minute homework. You should do yours soon by the way. So what do you have in mind?" she asked.

"I know, I'll do it soon. You mentioned a swimming pool; did I say that right, last year so maybe you could show me it?" Ron suggested.

"Yes you did, I'm surprised you remembered that. Sure, I'll bring you do you have any trunks?" Hermione said while they walked to her room so she could grab her bathing suit.

"I brought some, so are you ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Hermione said as she brought them outside.

The walk was actually quite fun and not awkward like Hermione had predicted. It had started out a little quiet, but then Ron started acting like his ridiculous self and Hermione had no choice but to laugh at him. Since then, the conversation had been easy and light, both of them steering away from the conversation about the adoption for the moment. Hermione had to point out several muggle things and explain them to Ron, but she didn't mind because that's mostly what Ron did when Harry and her had first entered the wizarding world. Finally they arrived at the swimming pool.

Hermione walked up to go pay, but Ron held her back and paid for them. She was extremely surprised that not only did he pay in muggle money, but that he understood how to do it. The only person in the Weasley family that knew was Ginny and that was because Hermione had invited her over to her house one summer and they went shopping while she explained how to use muggle money. Ron and Hermione both went into the separate change rooms and met back at the pool.

Hermione was wearing a bikini, but she felt a little self-conscious in it. She had a toned body from all the years of dance, but this was the first summer where she hadn't continued it. Ron was wearing a pair of black trunks and had gotten into shape since he had joined the school quidditch team that Hermione couldn't help but now love.

"Ready to hop in?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, let's go!" Hermione replied.

Ron jumped in the water completely splashing her, so she quickly joined him and went to dunk him underwater as revenge. They quickly went into an all out battle splashing and dunking each other. At some point, Ron had even picked her up and tossed her back in the water. Hermione had wished that he would do it again, but he seemed content with just splashing her. After awhile, a couple their age had approached them for a chicken fight. After Hermione explained to Ron what it was, he had immediately agreed and lifted Hermione onto his shoulders. He was quite tall so she was outside of the water by a lot and was shivering. She didn't really care because she never got to do this kind of thing with Ron.

The chicken fight soon began and the couple, Marc and Hanah, quickly went to push Hermione off of Ron. Hermione had grabbed onto Hanah to stop herself from falling, but failed and fell into the water pulling Hanah down with her. The girls both laughing, they decided to have a rematch. They played over and over again, either team winning and laughing. Finally after they were all tired, they hopped out of the pool and went to the concession to grab some ice cream. When they got their ice creams, they all sat together on their towels.

"So how long have you guys been going out?" Hanah asked them.

Hermione was about to say that they weren't, when Ron cut her off, "We've been going out for the past 6 months."

"Really? That's how long Marc and I have been too!" she exclaimed.

"That's pretty crazy," Hermione said as she looked at Ron in confusion, but he wasn't meeting her eye.

They hung out for about another hour before Hermione and Ron left for her house again. The whole time they were at the pool, Ron was actually acting like her boyfriend and it was confusing her like crazy. Why would he say that they were dating, not that she minded since she was pretty sure she loved him, but she was curious. The sun was setting while they were walking back in silence with tension between them. Hermione was quite sure that she wouldn't be able to take it any longer when Ron stopped her.

"Ron, what are you doing?" Hermione asked.

Ron took a deep breath, "I had a lot of fun today with you and I want more days with you like this. For the past 6 months, I don't know why but I can't stop thinking about you. I love you Hermione and for some reason during school I kept messing it up by making you mad. Now I understand if you don't feel the same way about me, but I enjoyed being your boyfriend today even if it was fake. I want it to be real, Hermione will you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course I feel the same way, I love you too! Yes, I'd love to be your girlfriend, because like you I liked being your fake girlfriend today," Hermione said as she looked at him happily.

"Well I'm happy you did too," Ron laughed, "I have been planning this out with Harry and Ginny's help for awhile now."

"That's how you knew how to say swimming pool and you knew about muggle money!" she said as she figured it out.

"Yes, that would be why," he chuckled.

"Thanks Ron," Hermione said.

Grabbing her hand, Ron walked with her to a nearby park hill and sat down with her. Finally Hermione couldn't take it anymore and kissed him. It was somewhat clumsy at first, but then it was fine after that. Pulling away, Ron lifted Hermione onto his lap and held her.

"So how are you really doing? You didn't sound okay in your letter," Ron said seriously.

"Not that good to be honest, but I'm dealing with it. Did you know that I'm not really a muggleborn?" she asked.

"You're not? What are you then?" he asked confused.

"I'm not sure. I know that my birth mother was a witch, but I don't know if my biological father is," Hermione replied.

"Oh... Well you know that Harry and I will help you figure this out if you want," Ron said.

"Yes, I know, thanks for that by the way. I'm not sure what I would do if you guys weren't here for me," she said quietly.

They spent the rest of the night just talking and remembering the silly stuff they did when they liked each other but didn't know the other one did too. They stayed away from talking about the adoption once more, because Hermione didn't want to sound like a broken record repeating how upsetting it was for her and Ron didn't know quite what to say. He thought he worked on him emotional range of a teaspoon, but he didn't want to test his luck since the night was going so well. Soon though, the night ended and they had to go their separate ways. After a quick goodbye kiss, they both left home.

When Hermione was home, she noticed that her parents were in the living room watching television. She stood in the doorway for a bit and decided to tell them the news.

"Hey mum and dad," Hermione said in the doorway.

"Hey sweetie," her mother said in return.

"Guess what?" she said a little excited.

"What dear?" her father asked.

"I'm going out with Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"That's wonderful Hermione. I'm very happy for you," her mother said but it was lacking the usual excitement.

"Well, I'm just going to grab a glass of water and then I'm off to bed. Goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight," her parents echoed.

Hermione walked to the kitchen feeling her chest swell in disappointment. In normal circumstances, her parents, well especially her mum, would be extremely happy for her, ask for details and want to celebrate. It was a little embarrassing, but now she wished for that. Why did everything have to change? She thought that she made it clear yesterday that they were her parents and nothing could change that. Maybe now that Hermione knew about the adoption, they were glad that they didn't have to act like her parents anymore. Grabbing a cup, she suddenly wanted to have a drink of vodka. Sure the stuff was disgusting, but she craved the feeling of not feeling anything where she could just be numb. Contrary to what everyone thought, Hermione had gone to a fair share of parties with her dance friends. Sure they had to drag her out in the first place and she didn't drink much, but she still had gotten drunk a couple of times.

Shaking herself out of it, she put the vodka that she had taken out back into the liquor cabinet. Hermione could practically feel Ron's disappointment if she had decided to drink it. Drinking wasn't going to help her problems she repeated to herself in her head. Short term relief, Long term pain, she chanted in her head. She wasn't about to become an alcoholic because she found out she was adopted and her adoptive parents might not love her anymore. Sighing in relief that she had a lot of self control, she headed to bed wondering what would've happened if she had actually drunk the vodka instead of putting it away and why her parents were acting like this.

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