Disclaimer; I do not own the characters & I did not write this for the sole purpose of earning any moolah.
"One more lap, just one more!" Hermione Granger chanted to herself as she jogged around the beautiful St Herbert Park*, situated just 2 blocks away from her parents humble abode. Pushing herself once more, she set off on a steady jog, another lap around the park, her bushy hair gathered in a ponytail, bounced in her wake.
The war had ended and there were celebrations all around. Ron was dancing like a maniac around the shrieking shack and Harry, being the complete romantic that he was, was snogging the life out of poor Ginny Weasley. Not that she minded one bit, though. Those who had survived were embracing each other, sobbing and just grateful that the other had made it through but there were some that were far too numb to do any more then sit and stare. Hermione was one of them.
Perhaps it was the encounter in the depths of the Forbidden Forest? A cruciatus curse was sent flying her way amd she, having been tortured, was slow to react. Bracing herself for the impending pain, a tall figure with white blonde hair had jumped in front of her, blocking her with his body and taking the blow for himself. His ice blue eyes sought hers and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of love behind the pain. Puzzled, Hermione had pushed him off her and sent a wandless curse towards the offending death eater. When she turned to regard the elder Malfoy, he was gone. Minutes later, cheers of "He's dead! He's dead!" erupted and Ron had come looking for her, enveloping her in a bear hug and carting her off to congratulate the golden boy. She never mentioned what had happened in the forest no matter how many times Ron & Harry attempted to shake the truth from her.
Now, three years on, she had completed her NEWTS and proceeded to a French University cum finishing school, graduating at 21 the youngest witch to ever leave with a Masters in both Charms and Potions. Her sheer hard work and determination had finally paid off and now, she was enjoying her 2nd month of complete rest and relaxation since the war, with her parents, Albert Bert Granger and Jane Granger nee Noir.
Completing the final lap, Hermione jogged the rest of the way to her parent's home, adjusting her velour tracksuit as she entered the front door. It was just past 0800 and the delicious smell of coffee and bacon wafted towards the door to welcome her. "Good Morning Mother." She said casually as she entered the kitchen, only to stop short and the gathering before her. Around the dining table sat none other then the notorious death eater & supreme mugglist Lucius Malfoy with his offspring, Draco. There they were, sipping coffee and digging into her mothers delicious pancakes as if they had done this for the past 20 years of their lives. Squinting at them, Hermione sneered "What do you think you're doing here?" "Lucius looked up and smirked just as Jane pushed her daughter into the nearest chair, right next to Draco. "Dear," Jane began "We have some explaining to do."
Hermione lifted an eyebrow and examined her mother closely, eyes flitting between the Malfoys at her dining table and her father casually eating his breakfast next to them. Jane took a deep breath and said "Hermione, darling, you are not a Granger." She dropped her eyes and kept her gaze on the dining table, anticipating her daughter's thunderous response.
"What do you mean?" Hermione whispered, some sort of realization dawning on her.
Lucius stood up and approached her, standing before her and seeking her caramel eyes with his own cold blue ones. In a voice more tender then she could have ever imagined, he said, "Hermione, I am your father. You, you are no Granger, no mudblood." He spat out the last word with a grimace. " You are as much my flesh and blood as Draco is." Hermione stared up at him and for once, the bookish know-it-all was at a loss for words. "B-but I do not understand!"
At this, Jane Granger, the supposed muggle, drew out an Ebony wand from her back pocket and placed it on the dining table. "For one, Hermione, I am no mere muggle. I am Jane Noir, Narcissa Malfoy's best friend, Lucius' Mistress." Her eyes flicked towards the elder Malfoy before continuing. "Narcissa and I met in France when she went to finishing school and when Lucius came to visit her, I could not take my eyes off him. Tall, blond, chiseled and those piercing eyes! When 'Cissy and I graduated, I moved into Malfoy Manor and the three of us lived in relative harmony. Having a mistress is normal etiquette for a pureblood male so nobody bat an eyelid. A few years later, you and Draco were born and for a few months, the two of you were raised together and you were inseparable. But then tragedy came knocking at our doorstep when your best friend, Harry Potter, survived the Dark Lord's curse. All the death eaters were called that night and Lucius left."
-Flashback-
Jane, dressed in simple muggle clothing and clutching a small bundle to her chest, dashed out of Malfoy Manor and clutched the back of his robes. Her tears mixing with the furious storm as she begged Lucius not to go, knowing full well that were he to go, there was no turning back.
He turned and enveloped Jane in his cloak, kissing his child's forehead tenderly. "You must go Jane, I do not want my children to be used as a pawn in the Dark Lord's sadistic game of chess. I have no choice but to leave Draco because of Narcissa's influential family. Were they both to disappear, the Dark Lord would figure out that something was amiss. You, you I can protect." With that, he placed one final kiss on Jane's lips and apparated.
Jane had crumpled to the ground crying and as if the little bundle could feel her mother's pain, she started crying too. Mother and daughter stayed under the downpour, sobbing for the loss of the man they both loved. After gods know how long, Narcissa joined them, bringing with her Jane's and Hermione's belongings, the look of pain apparent in her eyes. "Go, Jane. We will meet again. Take care of her."
And with that, Jane apparated.
-End Flashback-
Now, tears were steadily streaming down Jane's cheeks as she struggled to continue with her tale. "I fled to muggle London and then I met Albert. He was a man who straddled both worlds, a squib who agreed to help me, to raise you and to protect you till the time came that Lucius would finally be able to call you his daughter again." Jane sobbed now, shoulders shaking with the effort to control her emotions.
Hermione stood up and placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Mother, you went through all the pain and suffering, all the pretend and espionage to protect me?" She was granted a nod as she turned to face her new father. "Father? My father?" She whispered. Then in a low chuckle she added lowly "I look nothing like the Malfoys. Perhaps this is some kind of mistake?"
A sudden comprehension crossed Lucius's face. "Jane dear, would you care to reverse the potion's effects?" Hermione stared at the two of them puzzled as Jane lifted her wand. With a simple swish&flick and an incantation in Latin, Hermione began to feel tingly all over. Draco, who had been listening passively all this while, formed an "O" with his mouth and conjured up a mirror, shoving it in front of her.
In place of Albert's dark chocolate eyes, she had the signature piercing blue eyes that all the Malfoys had. Her hair, once bushy, was reduced to tamer curls even though the original colour shade of dark cocoa had been retained. A gift from her mother then, considering her mother had the exact same curls in that exact same shade. Smiling, Hermione gingerly ran a forefinger over her arm, staring pointedly at her skin which, she could have sworn, was a shade darker a mere 3 minutes ago.
Hermione turned to regard her father and –gulp- brother. Raising a questioning eyebrow, she asked (her voice, thankfully, remained the same) "What will happen to me now?" Lucius chuckled in response, the first time she had ever heard him done so. "My dear, you are returning to the Manor with us. There is where you rightfully belong, my child."
Turning to her mother for some support, Hermione was surprised to see her trunk in front of Jane, all her belongings obviously in there. "Mother?" She asked, hesitantly. Jane smiled sadly "We agreed to wait till it was all safe before we all returned to the Manor and things would resume as it had 20 years ago. But Cissy is gone and I, I have fallen in love with Albert. You, my dear Hermione, return to the Manor. It is where you belong."
With another smile, Jane shrunk Hermione's trunk and placed it in her palm, folding her fingers over it. "I love you, my dear, my daughter, remember to write." Unable to hold back her tears, she held onto her mother for as long as she could before Jane pulled away and stood next to Albert. Following Draco and Lucius, she kept her gaze on her mother as Lucius apparated, taking her along with him.
Author's Note;
This is the very first fan fiction I have every written for the sole purpose of it to be posted & shared. I hope you all enjoyed it & leave reviews so that I know if I should continue or not or what needs improvement.
'VA