Chapter 7:
Hermione didn't care where she went, she just ran; ran until she collapsed by the lake and cried. This couldn't be happening to her; she was supposed to be part of a wonderful, loving family, not the Malfoys. She refused to accept that Ferret-boy was her brother. She pulled her knees to her chest and cried. They were all lying; wait this is just a bad dream; she was going to wake up on the train to Harry and Ron, possibly Neville and Ginny too. She tried it all, pinching, kicking and biting herself, nothing; she was still sitting by the lake with tears streaming down her face.
"Miss Granger?" a female voice came behind her. She jumped up with her wand at the ready. "It's alright Miss Granger, it's just me." Hermione relaxed a bit when she realized that it was Professor McGonagall. "What are you doing out here you silly girl, you are going to catch a cold and trust me, that is no way to start a new term," she said with a small smile.
"Oh don't worry about me Professor, I'll be fine," Hermione said quickly and forcefully wiping away her tears. "I just came out here to… relax, you know, before the stress sets in."
"Miss Granger, I saw you run out here; you are getting away from more than the stress. You were going so fast I thought someone was chasing after you." Minerva looked at her star fifth year Gryffindor with concern, "I followed you to make sure that you were alright before I took my suspicions straight to the Headmaster."
"I appreciate that Professor thank you, but your concern isn't necessary, my problems are my own to bear with the current events."
"I thought not, but would you care to share."
"No."
"Then would you allow me to sit with you?"
"I suppose." Minerva took the open seat next to Hermione and they were in silence for a good while before Hermione spoke again. "Professor, do you mind if I ask you for some advice, for a friend?"
"Of course not dear, but please, call me Minerva, we have spent a great deal amount of time together this summer, it is only appropriate. While we are in each other's private presence please. It wouldn't due for a student to be on a first name basis publically while she is still in school; unnecessary rumors start to fly around."
"Ok… then please do me the same courtesy." Hermione thought for a moment, "Minerva, I just received some… interesting news from… well let's just call them distant relatives. Um, well, they just confided in me that they have just found their daughter that they, well, um, lost contact with many years ago." Hermione started.
"That's great Hermione," Minerva rejoiced.
"Yes I thought so too, until I was told that I have known this girl for many years. She was adopted and loved by her family and now she is confused by whether or not to forgive her biological family. They are an old pureblood family you see and this girl's biological family and have given her hell, even if not intently for the past five years. They meant well when they gave her up but she is unsure if she can let go of it all and go on living her live with them and pretend like it never happened."
"She doesn't have to."
"What?"
"She doesn't have to forgive them immediately Hermione, torment is one of the hardest things to forgive and forget. The only thing your friend can do is just go day by day and work though the differences she has had with her biological family."
"I suppose that makes sense, but what about her adoptive family, does she just forget about them?"
"Of course not, I am sure that if she made a reasonable argument, her biological family would make an exception and allow her to go visit the family that raised her." Hermione sat in silence confirming that what her mentor said made sense, and once again the two sat in silence for a moment.
"Well, Hermione, you should go to bed so that you are fresh for your classes tomorrow." Hermione nodded, as she walked away, Minerva said, "Hermione are you going to forgive them, your biological parents."
"How did you…"
"Hermione, I am old but not blind. I do not think that you would hide a muggle friends name from me even if she is a pureblood; you are the type of girl to have given your 'friend' a name. And if it were a student you would have given them a made up name if not given their real one. The second you asked for advice, you paused, confirming my theory that the advice you are asking is for yourself. I didn't read your mind, since I do not possess that ability; I just put the pieces together."
Hermione listened to her professor before replying, "I don't know."
"You should at least talk to them, hear them out as parents. Trust me Hermione, children complete us as humans, it is in our nature to love and forgive."
"I'll keep that in mind Professor." Hermione smiled as she helped her professor to her feet and they walked up to the castle together. This was a lot to process in such a short amount of time.
That night, Hermione laid in bed awake thinking about the events that had unfolded in just a few hours. She thought about how to approach Draco, she couldn't do it directly without being criticized for approaching the king snake and then she had it. She was going to send him an owl, she went to her desk and scribbled a note and signed it sister, and then she wrote a note to Snape asking him a quick favor, but that one she sent immediately. Then as soon as it was out she lie back down and fell asleep with her mind finally, even if temporarily at ease.
A/N: Hey all, here it is, the next installment! I know it is short but I will try and make the next one longer. I also must regretfully inform you that since school is now back in session; my updates are going to be more spermatic due to a lot of out of class work. I appreciate any criticism from you all; it is only to help me improve. I will update as soon as possible, Thanks, Puppyluv09