Disclaimer: I think, I've already established the fact that I am me and will never be JK Rowling.

A/N: Yup, I'm back and alive. Gosh, school resumed yesterday and I am nowhere near happy. So, cheer me up with your reviews?

Speaking of reviews, thank you to all those who reviewed the first chapter. Yeah, well, I know it's just the start so I'm not really expecting too much. Oh, and I also want to thank all those who read my latest one-shot "Married Today". Reviews made me really, really happy! Allow me to be shameless and endorse this specific fic. Please, after reviewing this, do read the other one-shot, 'kay?

Anyway, that's all for now. Enjoy reading!

Chapter Two: Identity Crisis

The fact that the four of them were scrutinizing her like a hungry vulture made her sick in the stomach.

Hermione, together with Dumbledore, Harry, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor McGonagall, was currently staying inside a hidden room, which would lead to the Great Hall. Nervous voices and jolly greetings were heard outside and they did nothing to calm Hermione's frayed nerves.

Today, they would put Hermione's plan into action.

"I think," Harry started, "her hair looks a little long." He held the said tresses and combed it slightly with his fingers, trying to tame the short locks McGonagall had transfigured a while ago.

It was a great relief Harry was there. After all, he was a pubescent boy and he liked to look good in front of everybody else. Therefore, he had some idea about the latest fashion trends than the other three inside the room. If he was not there at all, Hermione predicted that she would turn out as a teenager sporting a look that was fashionable… in the late forties.

"I guess Mister Potter's right," Madam Pomfrey offered, having seen a fair share of teenage boys herself. "And… the curls do not match her… err, boyish look at all."

Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore with a frown. The old Headmaster just shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. She scowled and sighed, muttering a soft, "Oh, these kids these days," before brandishing her wand, pointing it at Hermione, and did some changes on Hermione's new look.

"Better," Harry commented, surveying Hermione from head to toe. "Nobody would even think that she" – he pointed at his best friend – "is actually a girl and Hermione Granger." With a cheeky grin on his face, he added, "I always knew you'd fit as a guy, 'Mione."

Hermione rolled her eyes and playfully hit Harry's arm. "Oh honestly," she said. "Here I am, horrified to the bones, and you go all cheeky over me. As my best friend, the least you can do is to calm me down." Her eyes were wide and as soon as she finished her little tirade, she started to worry her bottom lip.

The-Boy-Who-Lived chuckled and held both of her shoulders, giving them a slight squeeze. "Relax," he gently ordered. "You'll be fine. And besides, we're already here. There's no backing down. Just thank Merlin you have a teenage boy as a best friend to help you in pretending to be one."

"Mister Potter is right," Dumbledore butted in, giving her a warm smile. His eyes were unusually twinkling brighter than before and for some strange reason, it made Hermione more nervous. "Remember that you are not alone, Miss Granger. Four people knows about this, shall we say, little secret of yours. Do not be afraid to commit some mistakes; that is normal…"

"Just don't do it often," McGonagall offered, looking at her favorite student fondly. Knowing that Hermione Granger was doing a very hard task made the Head of the Gryffindor House apprehensive. But she trusted her. She was, after all, Hermione Granger. And Hermione Granger never backed down from a challenge without putting up a good fight.

"Yes, think of your actions first before doing them," the Headmaster continued. "You are treading on dangerous grounds and you never know what kind of person you will meet. All I am asking is for you to be careful, Hermione. And I deem it necessary to repeat it again: be careful."

Hermione looked at the four of them, amused. They were equally apprehensive, maybe even more. "Trust me," she requested them. "Trust me and be always there beside me and I know that this mission of mine will be accomplished sooner or later."

Harry enveloped her into a hug. Hermione returned his hug tightly and rubbed a comforting hand on his back. Knowing that she might be forbidden to talk to him once she was sorted into Slytherin made her forlorn. Heck, knowing that she might be forbidden to talk to all of her friends (which were mostly Gryffindors) was enough for her to rethink this stupid idea she came up with.

But like what Harry had said, they had started already. There was no backing down. All she had to do right now was to be careful, but at the same time observant and sly (she could not believe she just thought of that) in order to successfully save her kidnapped parents.

"The first years are about to arrive," McGonagall said. She was the one who would meet them and lead them to the Great Hall. "I think it is best for us to get ready."

Dumbledore looked at his magical watch and nodded in agreement. "Poppy, thank you for being here. You may now go back to the infirmary." Madam Pomfrey nodded her head, gave Hermione a small smile, before swiveling around and going back to her office.

McGonagall also took off to meet the frightened first years. Hermione absentmindedly mused about the time when she first laid eyes on Hogwarts, especially the Great Hall. It was funny but she felt excited for all of them.

"Mister Potter, you may go back to your table now," the old man said. "Your friends might be wondering where you had gone."

Harry's calm demeanor complete broke. He now showed his worry as he took one last scan on Hermione. "Remember, you have to act like a guy. Hide some of your femininity first, will you? If you get busted before you have saved your parents, I hate to say this but I am going to say to you a loud and resounding 'I told you so'. I am going to blame you if all of our friends" –

- "Harry." –

- "get infuriated for deceiving them. And" –

- "Harry!" That had made him shut up. Hermione looked at her best friend warmly. "You're babbling."

He sheepishly looked at her and scratched his head. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just… worried, you know."

Hermione laughed and affectionately mused up his hair. "Remember that I love you, okay?"

To her surprise, Harry scrunched up his nose, as if in disgust. "It sounds gross coming out from you if you look like a boy." He then grinned upon seeing the scandalized look on Hermione's face. "But, whatever. I love you, too."

Dumbledore said a soft 'ahem', reminding his presence. Harry and Hermione looked at him with an embarrassed smile and the Headmaster couldn't suppress his amusement.

"As much as I hate to break this 'friendly' moment between the two of you," he started, "I have to say that Mister Potter, you have to go back to the Great Hall now. My Welcoming Speech is about to start."

Harry looked so panicky now Hermione was driven to hug him tight. "I'll be good," she said, a hint of humor in her voice. Then, turning serious, she tightened her hug. "I'll be fine, Harry. Seeing you so worried makes me apprehensive, too, you know."

"I know, I know," he said, pulling away from her. "Just… good luck. And if you ever need help, just owl me, okay?"

Hermione nodded. And with that, Harry turned away and went to the Great Hall, leaving Hermione with Dumbledore behind.

The brunette nervously cleared her voice and smiled. "I guess, this is it," she said. "I… I just want you to know that I appreciate your help, Headmaster."

Dumbledore smiled and patted Hermione's head. "It is my job to help my students in need, Miss Granger," he said. "You do not have to thank me."

She just shrugged and looked at her own magical watch. "It's almost time, Professor. I think it is better if you greet all of the other students in the Great Hall."

He nodded his head. "Good luck, Miss Granger," he said. With one last warm smile, he turned around and left Hermione alone.

Hermes Austen.

That was the name they all agreed to call the new identity of Hermione. And for her, it was the perfect name.

Hermes was the Greek god of trickery and of good fortune. And as someone who was about to take the biggest task she ever received in her whole life, Hermione knew those two were the greatest things she needed right now.

And Austen… Dumbledore said the Austens were one of the oldest pureblood families during the Victorian Era. Unfortunately, there were no known relatives alive today. The Headmaster thought it was a logical thing to do for Hermione to adopt a prominent Pureblood family name… for safety reasons, of course. He thought it would be dangerous for her if the Slytherins discovered she was a Muggle-born.

And so, Hermione said a silent farewell to her old self and a warm hello to the new her. Outside, the Sorting Hat was already doing his job and sorting the new first years to their designated Houses. Her cue to walk out from this hidden room would be after the Headmaster introduced her to the whole school as a transferee from Durmstrang.

Her eyes landed on the full-length mirror Dumbledore was gracious enough to conjure for her. Her once long tresses were transfigured into short, boyish hair. There were a few curls here and there and in actuality, Hermione just slightly missed her long hair. Now, she could manage her hair without breaking any hairbrushes.

Her face was still the same, although, with her short hair, no one would even recognize that she was actually a girl and Hermione Granger.

Her breasts were concealed through the old-fashioned way: bandages, which Madam Pomfrey gratefully gave her. Professor McGonagall also performed a slight Concealing Charm just to make sure they wouldn't be prominent at all.

Now, all she had to worry about was her actions. Harry was right – she was too effeminate to be a boy. She had to act like a boy: act messy, act rowdy, act boisterous. All these thoughts made her nose scrunched up in disgust. All in all, it meant that she had to thwart all the manners she had learned from her parents.

'Wait, I'm only thinking of Ron,' she thought, rolling her eyes. 'There are other men there who actually have manners. Gentlemen.'

Hermione released a loud groan and sat on one of the vacant chairs in the room. She was not even starting yet, but she was already having a hard time.

'Maybe my idea was really not a good one at all,' she thought, thinking about other possibilities. If ever she agreed for Dumbledore to hide her in Merlin-knows-where, she imagined herself cooped up in a shack in an island a hundred miles away from London with dolphins and fishes as company…

She made a face and shivered. "Whatever," she mused aloud, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She was here already. There was no backing down.

'No backing down,' she repeated to herself.

"… and now, let us all give a warm welcome to Mister Hermes Austen."

She bolted upright, her heart pounding loudly inside her ribcage. That was her cue.

"This is it," she said aloud to the empty room. She strode out of the hidden room and was greeted by the hundred pairs of eyes watching her as she reached the middle of the platform.

The Sorting Hat was sitting on the three-legged stool, immobile. It still had a lot of patches and Hermione guessed that a patch or two was added to the collection of the battered hat.

"Mister Austen, you may sit down now," Professor McGonagall said, cutting her off from her musings.

Hermione gave her a secret smile. She then sat down on the three-legged stool and allowed the Deputy Headmistress to put the hat on her head.

It was still immobile, giving Hermione the time to look around the Great Hall. Most of the students were bored already, probably hungry. Others were looking at her in curiosity, questions running in their heads mostly about her.

Hermione sought for Harry's eyes and caught them. He mouthed a silent 'good luck' and that had calmed her down.

"Thanks," she mouthed back, before averting her eyes on the Slytherin table. Knowing that she would be part of that table soon made her shiver and look away from the table.

The Sorting Hat was silent for a few more minutes and Hermione started to think that it was faulty. She looked at McGonagall with a frown but even she was looking at the Sorting Hat in surprise.

"Uh, Sorting Hat?" she softly murmured.

Its answer was a very loud gasp.

It had caught the attention of the whole Hall, even the Professors, who now looked at the mysterious boy in wonder.

"Hermione Granger," the Sorting Hat murmured for her to only hear. Its voice sounded surprise… horrified even. "But, impossible," it continued, "I thought you were… dead."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up until they were hidden behind her fringes. "I… uh…" She was feeling horrified herself. She was thankful that it was only speaking softly to her and not bursting out revelations for the whole Great Hall to hear.

"Um… yes," she whispered back. "I... have reasons why I'm dressed like this, Sorting Hat. Just don't tell anybody."

The Sorting Hat shook on top of her head – it was chuckling. "Ah, Hermione Granger, I sort people. I do not tell gossips."

'Well, that was a relief,' she thought, rearranging the Sorting Hat on her head in its proper order.

"I'm afraid to say I have to repeat the words I had spoken to you six years ago," it continued. "Intelligent… very intelligent, I must say. And your bravery is astounding. Your true loyalty paves way to having new friends. And sly, I should add. It will help you overcome challenges in your life."

The Sorting Hat was telling the truth. It was speaking the exact same words it had told her when she was still a first year student.

"Ergo, my decision is to put you in Gry" –

"No, wait!" she said in a furious whisper. "Don't put me in Gryffindor, please. Put me in Slytherin instead."

"Slytherin!" he exclaimed in surprise. "Gryffindor will bring the best out of you, Miss Granger. Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am," was her desperate reply. "Put me in Slytherin, please."

The Sorting Hat was drawn silent for a while. "Well, I merely give suggestions," he said. "The final decision will always be yours."

Hermione remembered Harry's story when he said that he was almost placed into Slytherin but once he told it to put him in Gryffindor instead, his plea was granted.

"Thank you," she said. "You have no idea how much this meant to me."

A wide slit, its mouth, opened wide and declared for the whole school to hear, "SLYTHERIN!"

Hearing his announcement should have relieved the brunette. 'Au contraire,' she thought, standing up as she made her way towards the table where clapping students were seated. She chose to sit at the very end of the Slytherin table – the one nearest to the door, and dreaded the future days.

"Once again, I want to say welcome to the new students and welcome back to all of my dear students," the Headmaster said, disturbing Hermione from pitying herself. "And now, tuck in!"

"On this side is the boys' dormitory while on the other side is, of course, the girls' dormitory," a sixth year Prefect droned, seemingly bored. "This is your room." He gestured limply to an opened door. "Your things are already inside. By the way, you have other three roommates and you'll meet them soon. Now, if you do not have any questions, can I go now?"

Hermione glared at the Prefect. She was tempted to demand 'Do you like your position? Do you like what you are DOING?' He was seriously wasting his authority. She forlornly remembered that one of her goals in Hogwarts was to be the Head Girl. But then, because of certain circumstances, it was completely impossible.

Her nose then scrunched up in disgust upon thinking of the current Head Girl. It came as a huge surprise for her. And she had bet that most of her classmates were also surprised once the Headmaster introduced their Head Girl– Parvati Patil, the one half of the Gossip Duo. Not that she hated Parvati. She was still one of Hermione's friends. She knew Parvati ever since first year and she just thought that being Head Girl was too good for the Gryffindor. But since Dumbledore appointed her, she trusted him. She couldn't do anything, anyway. She just wished that her counterpart, kind-hearted and intelligent Ernie McMillan would be able to make-up for Parvati's mistakes.

"Can I go now?" he asked once again, now looking annoyed. "I have other important things to do…"

Hermione forced a smile on her face and politely thanked the annoying Slytherin before going inside her room.

The first word that popped up inside Hermione's mind was 'green'. Everywhere she looked, the interior design of the room was green, with hints of silver for accessory. The next word was 'cold'. Her new room… no, the whole common room was freezing cold once she stepped inside its premises. The smoldering fire did nothing to warm the whole room, making Hermione think that the whole room was charmed to be freezing cold, even during the summer.

Hermione located her bed at the very end of the room paralleled to another one and sat on it, surveying the whole room more clearly.

There were four beds in the room, including hers, and Hermione distinctly remembered that the Prefect told her she had three more roommates. It was a surprise, remembering that in the Gryffindor dormitories, approximately eight students were sharing a room.

'Filthy spoiled brats,' she thought, making a face, as she made a move to start fixing her things.

She allowed silence to ensue around the room, quite contented that no one was bothering her… yet. But as if on cue, the door creaked open and she was driven to look up to see who the newcomer was.

She only knew a few things about this Slytherin – one: his name was Theodore Nott; and two: he was a complete bastard to her and her other friends. She assumed that he would be her new roommate and she was not that thrilled to be living with him for the rest of her ten months.

"Eh," he said, catching sight of Hermione, who gave him a meek smile as she stood up. "The new kid in school!"

"Err…" she started, slowly stretching her right hand. "I'm Hermes Austen and I am your new roommate."

He had scrutinized her for minutes (hours for Hermione) until he broke into a bright smile. Instead of shaking her offered hand, he fisted his own hand and waited for her to give it a bump. The brunette, confused, stared at it before hesitatingly bumping her fist with his. "Hello, Hermes Austen. My name is Theodore Nott."

"Theodore," she repeated, a bit surprised at his too enthusiastic greeting.

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "I like you, so I am allowing you to call me 'Teddy'!"

Now, Hermione was downright dumbfounded. Where was the bastard Theodore Nott? Because in front of her, all she could see was a jolly Slytherin named 'Teddy'.

"All right," she said, returning a genuine smile. 'He seemed nice,' she thought. 'Maybe I just misjudged him before." "Thank you for accepting me here, Teddy."

He chuckled, and to Hermione's great surprise, swung an arm over her shoulder as if they had been best friends forever. He froze for a moment and looked at Hermione in surprise. "You feel weird," he said. "And you look pretty wimpy to pass as a guy" – this time, Hermione was the one who froze – "nah, whatever."

Teddy then ruffled her head and gave her a boyish grin. "Since you are new here, I am going to organize a Welcoming Party! Oh, I'm so excited! There will be a lot of drinks… and food! Gah, I have to ask help from other people! And…"

"Teddy, you don't have to," Hermione said, cutting him off from his excited babble. "It's really all right."

"Oh, nonsense, Hermes," he said. "It's just proper for you to receive a warm welcome from the other Slytherins. Goodness, a little party will lighten up the whole common room. Have you seen it? It is depressing."

Now, she was really baffled by Theodore Nott or Teddy or whatever. He was a completely different person from the student she remembered as a bastard and a bully. But then, Hermione remembered that she was a Slytherin now and things were completely different from the life she had before.

The door creaked open once again and this time, Blaise Zabini came in.

"Blaise!" was Teddy's enthusiastic greeting as he hurtled towards the newcomer to give him a friendly hug. "Oh, I missed you so."

"Theo, seriously," was Blaise's not-so-enthusiastic greeting as he pushed away his overly excited friend.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Teddy'?" he asked with an adorable pout. Hermione's eyebrows shot up until they were hidden behind her fringes.

"Whatever," Blaise said, pulling away from Teddy completely to go to his own bed – across from Hermione's.

That was when he caught sight of Hermione and stopped. "Oh, you are the new transfer student."

The brunette nodded and offered her hand once again. "Hello, my name is Hermes Austen."

Blaise eyed her hand curiously before gently grasping it to shake her hand. His handshake was gentle… polite even.

Before, Hermione could always see Blaise Zabini with Draco Malfoy. She assumed that they were best friends, if Slytherins even knew what a 'true best friend' meant. But then, despite the fact that he was always with the Prince Bastard himself, she rarely heard him talk.

Hermione then vaguely remembered the time when he became her Potions partner and he was… surprisingly tolerable, or dare she say it, polite. He never talked to her, even insulted her, and that was the day Hermione thought that maybe not all Slytherins were bad. This idea of hers completely changed once Zabini was again flocked beside Malfoy, not even doing anything to stop his 'best friend' from bullying a first year.

"Blaise, what do you think of throwing Hermes a Welcoming Party?" Teddy asked, cutting her off from her thoughts.

She directed her eyes toward the Italian, who then rolled his eyes.

"Theo," he said, "you've been throwing Welcoming Parties for new Slytherins ever since fifth year. Don't you think it's time to stop?"

"Nope," was Teddy's nonchalant shrug as he went to Hermione's side once again and swung an arm over her shoulder. "I think we can be great friends and a friend of mine always deserves the best!"

"You barely even know him," Blaise murmured, annoyed.

"Um," Hermione said, trying to butt in. Her eyes had gone completely wide, horrified. 'Are they seriously Slytherins?' she asked herself. 'They are acting… completely different from what I have observed ever since I laid eyes on them. And I rarely commit mistakes.' "I think… Blaise is right." She followed her little comment with a sheepish smile before returning back to fixing her things.

"Not fair," Teddy whined, acting like a three-year-old. "Why is it that Blaise is always right?"

Hermione surprised herself by laughing softly. To further surprise her more, Blaise started to help her fix her things, an amused smile visible on his face.

"Forgive Theodore," he said under his breath. "He can be… immature most of the time."

Hermione laughed once again. "It's fine," she said. She liked her roommates more as minutes passed by.

Their bedroom door opened once again and Hermione assumed it was her third roommate. Inside her mind, she was already thinking what her other roommate would be like. Would he be adorable, just like Teddy? Or maybe polite, just like Blaise?

"Draco!"

Hermione froze.

"Draco! Draco! Tell them that I can throw a Welcoming Party!"

She turned her head slowly and as she laid eyes on the newcomer, her face completely paled.

"Get off me, Theo," the Ferret said, pushing the clinging Slytherin away from him. "Ah, seriously!"

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Blaise watching the other two with amused eyes.

"Blaise! What the hell is wrong with him now?" Draco Malfoy asked, annoyed.

"Well, we have a new roommate and typical Theo wanted to throw a Welcoming Party for him," was his answer.

And that was the time when Draco's eyes landed on her. Hermione's blood completely froze as she forced herself to stand up and offer her hand for a handshake. "Hello, I'm Hermes Austen."

He scowled, glared at her hand, and turned away, muttering a soft, "Whatever."

Teddy frowned and grasped Hermione's aloft hand, shaking it for Draco. "He's Draco Malfoy," he said. "And don't worry, he's just like that. Don't mind him."

"Okay," Hermione managed to squeak. She could not believe her bad luck. Fate might have been evil for making her a roommate of the boy she had detested for years.

"Are you all right?" Blaise asked, frowning.

"What?" she asked. "Oh, I'm perfectly fine."

Inside, she was screaming in protest.

'Great. I am very much looking forward to living with smarmy Draco Malfoy for the rest of the school-year.'

A/N: And, end of chapter two! How do you like it so far? Was it okay? So, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott were introduced in this chapter. I don't really care if they were out-of-character. I mean, they were not really introduced properly in the book series. Thus, I characterized them into someone I deem fitting for the fic and voila! Charming Blaise and Adorable Teddy. I have awesome ideas concerning those two.

As for those who are wondering what her real mission was and what the hell happened to her parents (why they were kidnapped), it will slowly unravel soon as the story progressed. But, do you get the gist? If you're confused, tell me in your reviews so that I'll be able to somehow answer it without spoiling the future chapters.

Anyway, that's about it. I assure you that I'm going to update every Thursday. I've written all chapters, remember? Oh, and there are forty-two chapters already. I was bored last Tuesday and wrote an epilogue… and I kinda like it. If I got wonderful reviews for chapter forty-one, then I think I'll just send the epilogue to those who're interested in reading the epilogue.

That's about it. Ciao for now!

With love,

2booklover4

P.S. Anyone wants to be my Beta Reader?