Inside
Chapter Twelve: Siblings- Part I
Hermione's POV
The rest of September passed by, and before I knew it we were headed into November, and then, it was December. And along with the holiday came a meeting that would change everything…
"You want me to meet your Mother?" Harry asked as he looked up at me from his place on the couch.
"Yes." I nodded once with my hands crossed behind my back.
"Why?" He asked. "Now, don't get me wrong Hermione, I'd love to meet her, it's just… I mean, have you asked Ron to come along as well?"
"No," I told him as I slowly sat down beside him. "I haven't, and, Harry, I'm not going to."
"So it's just going to be us then?"
"No, well, sort of. Harry, please hear me out. It is sort of important that you meet her, you see, she… we… you and I… we're…"
"What is it Hermione?"
"Just come with me tomorrow, please. Please, Harry, you don't understand how important it is to me. And, if you do come everything will be explained."
"Alright," He agreed after a moment with a sigh. "But Ron's not going to be happy about being left out."
"I know that, but as much as I care about him, he really can't come."
"And I take it you won't be telling me until afterwards why?" I nodded. "Okay, well, have fun telling Ron… because I'm not going to do it."
"No," I said sarcastically, "Of course you're not."
"Ron, I promise you, I promise you, I will tell you everything when we get back." I pleaded with him.
"Why can't I just come?" He pleaded with his hands shoved deep in the front pockets of his jeans and his back leaning against the wall.
"Because, Ron, because you…"
"Because…?"
"Because you just can't!" I cried out. "Ron, I'm sorry, but you can't!
"When we get back everything will be explained to you, every little detail! I'll tell you myself! And when you find out the whole truth then, then you will understand why it has taken me so long to tell you, but I just can't tell you anymore than that until after tomorrow. I'm sorry."
He took in a big breath that expanded his chest before walking away, leaving me alone in the empty and dim corridor.
Ron! I wanted to call out, but stopped myself before I had even gathered enough breath to.
"Am I a bad person?" I asked from the window seat later on in Severus's office as we sat snuggled together; I in his lap with his arms wrapped around me securely.
"Why would you ask that?" He wondered softly before leaning his cheek down and resting it atop my head.
"Because I feel like one," I told him honestly. "I can't tell Ron or Harry anything, I feel like all I am doing is lying to them, like I can't even be their true friend. They ask me something I either have to tell them a complete lie of just a pinch off the truth. I can't be honest with them about anything; other than what I've completed from my classes."
"You're not a bad person Hermione, you're just doing what you feel is right. By not telling them the truth you are protecting yourself and your Mother. And also Harry's pride for his Father, which, is not exactly deserved, but he holds onto it with all of him."
"I know," I said as I closed my eyes and slanted my head back to face the ceiling. "And all of that is going to be taken from him tomorrow, all of it. Every time he has ever stood up for his Father is going to be shot to hell… all the good, positive things he has ever said. Oh, Severus, I am going to take all of that away from him, he is going to hate me! He'll never want to see me again, let alone speak to me.
"I am just so torn with this entire thing. A part of me wants to go through with all of it, the truth and all, but then there's this other part of me that wants to just pretend it never happened. That Hugo and Rose really are my parents, and not James and Narcissa. That I'm an only child, muggle born, simple… but I know I can't. I know that it has to happen, I just wish it didn't have to be with Harry… or Draco."
"You will be fine, Hermione, you are the strongest person I know, with friends and without." He told me while lacing his fingers within mine and hugging me tightly. "I know that it is going to be hard, but just know that you will get through it, in time, and that I will be here whenever you need me."
"I love you," I breathed as I pulled the covers up closer to my chin with my free hand before cupping it around his forearm and bringing his hand to my lips and keeping them there for a long moment.
"I love you," He responded back softly while leaning down to kiss the side of my head and pulling me closer towards him; tighter.
My eyes drooped down slowly with the feeling of his lips against my skin.
the next day . . .
"First of all," Narcissa began after the four of us had gather around the table; Harry and me beside each other, Narcissa across from us and Draco to the left of me and opposite Harry, "I must apologize, I know that it is only Hermione and myself who knows why we are all here… Harry, I know we have never met before. And, without saying too much too soon I know you know from Hermione who I am to her."
"Yes," Harry said, "You're her-"
"Please, Harry, allow me to do the talking right now." She cut him off. "I don't mean to sound rude, but I need to be the main speaker; for what I am about to reveal to you, to all of you - except Hermione, of course - will be very shocking."
"Mother, what's going on?" Draco wondered with a quizzical look.
"Patients, Draco," She smiled at him before reaching out to squeeze his hand. "All of your questions will be answered shortly."
The four of us sat in silence for a moment, exchanging awkward glances every now and again, until, at last, she began telling the story of which I had heard a dozen times over again.
Draco's face went from red to white, and from white to red; his fists clenching and relaxing. I sat in wonderment and anticipation at how they would react, but, mostly, how Harry would take it, or if he would even let himself accept it. His Adam's Apple moved up and down slowly as his eyes stood still in their sockets, not blinking once. His breathing stayed rhythmic, steady for the longest time.
I kept my focus on him as she continued, moving it every so often to Draco, and to her.
"And so, Hugo and Rose are not her parent's, but the couple I chose for her, the couple who I believed would care for her best."
"She's-" Draco choked while looking over at our Mother, "She's my sister?
"I have a sister?" He added, this time looking at me in a whole new light.
"Yes, Draco, she is your half sister." Narcissa smiled as a small tear left the corner of her eye, "And Harry's."
"NO!" Harry boomed; sending the chair he had been sitting in reeling backwards with a swift kick and the three of us jumping in surprise. "YOU LYING BITCH!"
"Harry!" I cried, "Harry, please," I begged him. "She's not-"
"SHUT UP HERMIONE!" He shot at me. "YOU!" He barked again with his attention back towards Narcissa. "You bloody damn LIAR! My Dad DID NOT RAPE YOU! You lying idiot!"
"NEVER SPEAK TO MY MOTHER IN THAT WAY!" Draco boomed as he too shot up; I clapped my hands over my mouth from the animosity of the scene before me.
"You said that everyone at the party was drinking! INCLUDING YOU!" He went on, ignoring Draco's comment. "No! NO!" He hollered before throwing open the door and leaving, slamming it shut with full force; his screams sounding all the way through the hall until at last another door slammed, and he was outside.
"Hermione," Narcissa said softly. "I am so sorry you had to see that, please forgive me."
"No," I told her through a choked voice. "You don't need to apologize, he's always - he's always been so proud of his Father; I knew he wouldn't believe it. I just knew… I knew he wouldn't take it well. He'll never speak to me again…" I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip harshly and began sobbing at how much hatred he had shown me. I didn't know how I had gotten there, but the hard floor was pressed against my knees and the chair I had been sitting in was knocked on to its side and behind me.
I was crying so hard I could barley breathe, and the next thing I knew I was gathered in a pair of arms and rocked back and forth rhythmically; a pair I had never before felt.
"I'm sorry too Hermione," Draco apologized as he pulled me into his lap. "So, so sorry… So bloody sorry…"
I don't know if it was the knowledge of us both knowing we were related, but all the hatred I had once had for him dissipated and I felt instantly safe; loved in a way I had never before felt.
I snaked my arms around him and hugged him tightly as I continued sobbing against his comforting shoulder, with the sound of his voice cooing over and over, "It's alright Hermione… it's alright… you're okay… you're okay… everything will be fine… I'm here… I'm not going anywhere."
TBC