Chapter Two
Once they finally reached the station, the three quickly changed into Muggle clothing and departed, only to get their next surprise. Where they were usually able to find their families by the red-haired beacons that were the Weasley's, they now couldn't find them. Harry hadn't expected the Dursley's to be there- heaven forbid they do anything sensible in regards to him, but a quick glance around revealed that Hermione's parents weren't here either.
They finally met up with the twins and Ginny, who were still searching in vain for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "I don't like this." Hermione said, after explaining their problem to the other Weasley's. "It can't be a coincidence that all three of our families missed getting us."
Ginny didn't reply, still surprised by Hermione's new look, but the twins nodded. "Let's just wait until everyone clears out." Fred said, sitting down on his trunk. "You already sent a letter to Dumbledore, so he should be here soon." George agreed, plopping down beside his brother.
The station cleared quickly, though the group got a few odd looks. Just as a small Muggle-born Hufflepuff led her family out into the Muggle world, there were three loud cracks and Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape were suddenly standing before them.
Of course, all three adults' attention was at once turned to the girl that none of them recognized. While Dumbledore and McGonagall looked worried however, Snape moaned. "Oh, bloody hell." He said, surprising all the students, who had never actually heard Snape swear before.
McGonagall looked just as shocked, but Dumbledore just patted the man comfortingly on the shoulder. "Ms. Granger, I presume?" He said, grinning down at the girl.
"Professor, something's not right." Hermione said instead of answering his question. "On the ride, I was suddenly in pain and I blacked out and then woke up like this."
"And now, when we got here, none of our parents were here." Ginny added. "Not the Dursley's either."
"Ah." Dumbledore's slight smile faded. "Yes. I was aware of that. Come children, as much as I dislike saying it, I need the six of you to accompany us back to the castle and I shall explain everything."
"Come, boys, you will be with me," Minerva said, gesturing to the twins. With a wave of her wand, she shrunk their trunks. "Albus, if you take the young ladies, I'm sure that Severus will have no problems with Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley."
Orders issued, she took each twin by an elbow and Apparated away.
Albus grinned. "Well, you heard the woman." He said. "Harry, Ronald, Severus, we shall see you momentarily."
The Headmaster didn't even bother shrinking the girls' trunks. He placed a hand on each girls' shoulder- as neither had gotten off of their trunks- and disappeared silently.
Severus, for his part, was trying and failing to hold his usual scowl in place and he knew that both boys could see it. "Come along," he said, hauling each boy to his feet. He shrunk the trunks and shoved them in a pocket before following his colleagues.
The group traveled in silence up to Hogwarts and then to Dumbledore's office.
Only when they were all seated and had been offered Lemon Drops did any discussion begin. "I'm afraid I have some bad news for all of you." Albus said, looking gravely at all of the children. "Voldemort has struck and made a defining statement. He must have been planning this before he was even resurrected, but last night he led attacks on all three of your families."
The children all gasped, but before they could speak, he held up a hand. "Before you ask, the question is yes. Misters Weasley, Ms. Weasley, I'm sorry but your parents are both gone. Mr. Potter, your aunt, uncle and cousin were all murdered, as was a young Muggle boy who was staying over with your cousin at the time."
"Piers..." Harry muttered, thinking back to the mean child who had often held Harry's arms as Dudley beat him up.
"Yes." Dumbledore acknowledged, before turning to Hermione. "Ms. Granger." He said, steepling his fingers on the desk in front of him. "Your situation is a little more delicate than the others."
"My parents are dead, Professor Dumbledore." Hermione spoke up at once, not rudely but firmly. "I know they are- I felt it."
She was braced for an argument and only slightly disappointed when she didn't get one. "You are right, Ms. Granger." Dumbledore admitted, sighing. "The Grangers are dead, that was not the situation I was referring to."
"My appearance, then." She said, knowing by the looks on McGonagall and Snape's faces that she was right. "There was a glamour on me, wasn't there?"
Again the elderly man nodded. "Yes, Ms. Granger. It wasn't quite a surprise to us, but we had felt it best not to inform you of it. Your parents- the Grangers-" He hastily amended, "Being alive allowed the glamour to continue to exist. When they died, the magic entwined around them, hiding you, failed."
He fell silent, letting the room absorb the information.
"So, she's not Muggle-born." Ginny spoke up finally, voice hoarse. "She's...a half-blood, at least. One of her parents had to be magical to hide her."
"Yes." Dumbledore said. "But I'm afraid there is a bit more to the story than that. Ms. Granger, I would like you to stay here and I will attempt to explain. Minerva, why don't you take the Weasley's to your office, let them contact their elder siblings."
Fred gasped. "Oh Merlin. We've gotta tell Charlie -"
"And Bill and Percy." George added.
They jumped up, each grabbing a younger sibling. Ginny was trembling, but looked calm, so George took her. Fred took Ron, who was deathly white and hadn't said a word. Yet. He was going to blow and when he did it was best that Fred have him.
Without a word, they left with Minerva following behind them.
Weasley's gone, Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Harry, if you would just wait out in the hall-"
"No." Harry didn't even let the man finish before he objected. "Whatever this is, Hermione doesn't need to hear it alone." He said, shooting a glance at Snape, who had a look on his face that Harry had never seen before. Dare he say it, the man almost looked...sorry.
"Harry," Hermione turned to her friend. "Maybe you shouldn't stay," she said, biting her lip to keep from begging him to stay.
Harry knew exactly what she was thinking, however, and wasn't standing for it. If he couldn't get away with self-sacrifice, then neither could she. "No way, Hermione." He said, hugging her. "We're all in this together, remember? Kill Voldemort and then on to Dragons. The three of us together. Always."
She didn't look reassured. "But Harry, what if it's something really bad?" She half-whispered. "I don't want you not to be my friend anymore."
"Hermione, I have a lunatic mass-murderer after me, who has just risen again." Harry laughed. "If that hasn't made you run in the other direction, away from me, you're really not getting rid of me. I'm staying."
He put an arm firmly around her shoulders and shot a defiant look at both professors. Snape still had none of his regular emotions on his face- he almost looked amused now- and Dumbledore looked absolutely happy.
"The three of you plan to work with Dragons?" The white-haired man asked, blue eyes twinkling at the thought. "I always thought perhaps you three would grow out of enjoying recklessness."
That gained a small laugh from Hermione. "Apparently, we've made it a way of life." She said. "They've decided they want to continue with their daring adventures and I have to go along and keep them alive."
"Not true." Harry protested. "It was all Hermione's idea. 'It'll be fun'- those were her exact words. She's the troublemaker, Professors. You just think she's a good student- but Ron and I have been keeping her safe from all of her recklessness since first year, when she went after that troll."
She gasped at his words. "Harry James Potter, that isn't true!" She protested. "Professors, he's lying."
"Is it?" Snape spoke for the first time since they'd entered the office, folding his eyes and staring down at the girl. "Because if I remember correctly, points were awarded for them rescuing you from your foolish attempt. If you didn't really go after that troll, I shall rectify the points situation."
Harry and Hermione stared in horror at their teacher, unsure of what to say.
Luckily, Dumbledore stepped in. "Really, Severus," he scolded his Potions Master. "You cannot yell at them for ten months a year and then expect them to laugh at your jokes."
Snape grinned- he actually grinned- and shrugged. "Who said I was joking? I always wondered why such a smart girl stayed with those two, as I've never seen a more reckless pair of Gryffindors. Now all dreams I have are dashed if she's just as bad."
Dumbledore grinned as well, both at the man's words and at the confused looks on the faces of his current students. "I am sure you will simply re-manipulate the situations, my boy," he encouraged Severus. "And I am glad for the support the three of you give each other." He said, smile fading as he turned back to Hermione. "Young Hermione will need all the support she can."
"Who are my real parents?" Hermione said, seeing that it was time to get serious. "Obviously it's not someone good. I would assume they're Slytherins, or at least one of them are, because Professor Snape is here. Is my father a Death Eater- is that what's so bad about it?"
The two professors shared a look. Well, she wasn't the cleverest witch of her year without reason.
"It's a very precarious situation, Ms. Granger," Professor Snape took over speaking. "One that requires delicate handling, if it is to turn out successfully."
"Please, Professor." Hermione looked up at her Potions Professor pleadingly. "We can discuss strategy later, but I have to know-right now. Who is it? I have to know exactly how bad this is."
Severus snuck a look at Dumbledore. She was wearing her most stubborn expression, which meant she wasn't going to listen to anything else until she got her answers. But would she be coherent enough for a discussion after he told her the truth?
"She's stronger than you think, Professor." Harry said, seeing the man hesitate. "She'll be alright. You're worrying her more now, just by not telling her."
Now that was probably true, Severus admitted to himself, watching her as she watched him with anxious brown eyes. "Very well." He said. "Ms. Gr- Hermione," he quickly amended, stepping up right in front of her. "This is not how anyone ever wanted you to find out, but..."
He broke off, just not knowing how to come out and tell her. Oh well, it looked like all of his secrets were a thing of the past anyways. There was no delicate way to do this so, he just came out. "You are my daughter."