Chapter Two
As the whirling sensation stopped, Hermione anxiously scanned the extravagant room before her. To say it was big would be an understatement; it seemed as if it stretched on for miles. It also looked homely with the light green walls and wooden floor. She was brought out of her inspection by a small high-pitched voice.
"Miss has returned!" Squealed the small house elf before her. "I am Trixie miss, it is good to have you back. I will show you to your parents, leave your case and Coco will take them to your room. And your er…cat." Crookshanks was hissing at the house elf. Hermione placed him on the floor and he stalked off.
"Just this way miss." Hermione followed the elf nervously and partly shocked. She should have known there would be house elves, it was a manor after all.
"Trixie," she asked, stopping the elf. "Are you well cared for here? I mean do you like serving my er...family." The elf looked shocked. "Of course Miss, the master and mistress are the most wonderful people. And they even give Trixie a day off a week!" She squeaked. "I'm a very lucky elf, look at my clothes. I serve them willingly." And Hermione did look. Trixie had on a neat shirt and skirt with an apron on top. This made Hermione feel much better, surely they couldn't be too bad if they treated their elf like this. She smiled, "lead on then please, Trixie."
They walked down the corridor and stopped outside a huge door. Trixie knocked and poked her head round the door. "She has arrived master."
"Oh good, please show her in," came a man's voice and Hermione nervously entered alongside Trixie.
"Thank you Trixie, you can return to your other duties now," a beautiful witch smiled. Before focusing on Hermione. "My dear, you are beautiful." Hermione blushed, she wasn't used to such compliments.
"Thank you." She replied politely. Hermione studied her mother quietly, her hair flowed in perfect waves down her back and was almost black. Her emerald green eyes shone brightly as she took in the sight of her daughter. She turned her eyes to her father next and took in his unruly brown hair, so much like Hermione's own. Next she looked at the young man standing beside his father. His hair was a mix between dark like his mothers and bushy like his fathers. This must be Thomas, she thought. He looked to be about the same age as her and she wondered if he was her twin. Her thoughts were interrupted however, when her mother spoke.
"Alexis, or should I say Hermione. Welcome home." She exclaimed as she ran up to her and gathered her in a bone-crushing hug. Her father walked over next to give her a hug. "I'm glad your back," he whispered, squeezing her tight. Thomas looked awkward, but had a tentative smile on his face. She smiled back and stood waiting for her parents to speak. She didn't have to wait long though.
"Come and sit, we will explain everything to you." Smiled her father, and led her to one of the pristine couches.
"You must understand that you were both born in a very dangerous time." Her mother started to explain. "You Know Who was very powerful and considered everything to be a threat. Your father narrowly escaped after he refused to join the death eaters."
"Your mother was expecting you at the time and it was widely known she was to have twins. You Know Who was very interested in you both, we still don't know why. On the night of your birth, Albus Dumbledore came and advised us to pretend that one of you was still born. He took Hermione away and placed her at a muggle orphanage." Her father explained.
"Now, you were adopted by the Granger's, I'm sorry, but it was the only option at the time and I hope your childhood was not too horrible. We have missed you, every single day since then." Her mother said quietly, tears threatening to fall from her anguished eyes.
"It's ok, I understand it had to be done and my childhood was wonderful." Hermione replied. "The Granger's really cared for me and treated me as their own."
Their father spoke, "I'm glad they took good care of you, they are in my debt. Now you may be wondering why we chose to wait this long to tell you. We were convinced that You Know Who's downfall was just temporary and we were right. Dumbledore's passing came as a great shock. He was the only one he was afraid of. With the exception of Harry Potter, of course. We saw in the prophet that you were at the ministry with Harry when You Know Who appeared. And also just recently, at the school when the death eaters broke in. I am so glad you are safe, but me and your mother are unsure if it would be safe for you to return to Hogwarts this year. We have some brochures for Beauxbatons."
"NO!" Hermione shouted, startling her parents. "I need to be at Hogwarts this year. Harry needs my help. Dumbledore left us an extremely important task."
"Hermione dear, the death eaters broke in last year. Hogwarts is no longer safe. And with Albus gone the threat is even more." Her father replied gently.
"I know that, Professor McGonagall has taken over as head mistress and has destroyed the cabinet that allowed the death eaters into the school. That was their only way in. Extra safety measures have also been added so Hogwarts is still the safest place to be!" Hermione pleaded. "And don't forget, I am of age now and can decide where I want to go myself."
"I agree with Hermione, we are of age. I would like to go to Hogwarts with my sister." Thomas butt in.
Their parents sighed. "We will think on what you have said. But I am not promising anything. We just want you both to be safe." Liliana told her children gently.
The twins nodded in agreement. "I noticed before that you called me Alexis. Is that my birth name?"
"James you eejit!" Her mother exclaimed. "Yes dear it is, although the name Hermione suits you very well if you wish to keep that. Of course, on all official documents it will be Alexis Cara Hallow."
"Yes, that would be ok," Hermione smiled.
"Perhaps I should show Hermione around the place?" Thomas asked.
Their mother beamed. "But, of course! Remember, tea will be served for 6pm. Have fun."
x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x
Hermione felt awkward as she walked with her brother down the hallway. It had been an overwhelming day to say the least, and the thought of having a brother made her smile. She had wished for a sibling every year when blowing out her candles.
"So Hermione, welcome to our fathers haven." Thomas announced as he opened a huge
door. Hermione gasped and walked in the room in a daze, looking happily at the sheer amount of books.
Thomas chuckled, "Just like father."
They sat down at a table in the centre of the room.
"So a bit of a shock then? I mean all of this, not just the books." Thomas asked smiling.
"Yea, you could say that, I'm still trying to process it." She answered, "When did you find out?"
"Two weeks ago, although all they would tell me was that I had a twin sister, I'm glad that we finally know the truth."
"Yeah, It's weird you know? I always hated being a single child. It just feels….right now." Hermione replied.
"Awh, don't get soppy on me sis." Thomas smirked. "So what's Hogwarts like anyway? I'm excited to go."
"Do you think they will agree to let us?" Hermione asked. "They didn't sound too sure before."
"Of course they will. Give them a day or two and they will see we are right. Plus we will be going anyway. They can't stop us."
"I suppose, I just don't want to disappoint them, we've just really met." Hermione muttered.
"Hermione, there is no way you could disappoint them. Dumbledore has kept them up to date with all your achievements. Helping Harry Potter with; the Philosophers Stone, the basilisk, Sirius Black, the Triwizard tournament, and the fight at the ministry. They are really proud of all you have done, I am too."
Hermione blushed. "I did what I had to do."
"Exactly, that's why you need to go back. This task you have to do is important isn't it?" asked Thomas.
"Yeah, it is. Very." She answered. They were quiet for a couple of minutes.
"Anyway, I know you are in Gryffindor, "Where dwell the brave at heart" Thomas mocked.
"And what is wrong with that!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Only that, you might be brave but with bravery comes recklessness and sometimes stupidity." Thomas laughed.
"Fine, what house would you be In then?" She asked.
"Slytherin, like mum and dad."
Hermione spluttered. "Mum and dad were in Slytherin?"
"Yes, I have to say they are very cunning, ambitious, resourceful and of course pure blooded. The perfect Slytherins."
"But Slytherins are evil!" Hermione said indignantly.
"Not all, if every witch or wizard in Slytherin was bad there would be loads more death eaters. There have been good Slytherins, our parents included." Thomas argued.
"But still…" Hermione trailed off, at a loss of what to say.
"We will see when I get to Hogwarts." Thomas told her. "Now let me give you the tour."
Hermione agreed and followed her brother out of the room. They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the house. It was huge and Hermione was sure she would get lost in it. They were interrupted by Trixie.
"Dinner is served master and misses." The tiny house elf squeaked.
"Thank you, Trixie. Can you please tell my mother that we will be along shortly?" Thomas asked nicely.
She followed Thomas silently to the dining room where she sat across from him. Her mother was seated to her left and her father at the head of the table.
"How did the tour go dear?" Liliana asked her daughter.
"It was fun," Hermione replied eagerly. "I can't believe all the books there are in the library."
"They are yours too, feel free to take whatever you like." Their father smiled at her. He was glad at least one of his children shared his love of books.
Hermione beamed. She did love books.
x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x
Dinner was lovely and they ate quietly. When they were all full they retired to the sitting room.
"Hermione dear, we have invited Xenophilius Lovegood from the Quibbler and his daughter round tomorrow to ask a few questions and write an article. We would prefer everyone to read the facts out of that than the rubbish the daily prophet spits out. Is that ok with you?" Liliana smiled at her daughter .
"Yes of course, that makes a lot of sense. I'm actually friends with Luna. We met last year." Hermione replied smiling. "It will be nice to see her."
"Well that's even better than we thought then." Her father smiled. "Also we were thinking of having a ball before you return to school. It will give Thomas a chance to get to know some of your friends before you both start school. And also for you to meet some more of your family."
"And most of them are crazy," Thomas whispered to her under his breath, causing Hermione to smile.
"That sounds like a good plan," Hermione smiled. "Speaking of, may I please be excused to go and write to Harry and Ron? They will be angry to hear it from anyone else."
"Of course dear, Thomas will show you to your room." James said motioning to his son. Hermione once again followed her brother out of the room and to her quarters, where he left her to write her letters in peace. She didn't take in much of the room as she strode over to a desk, which sat in the far corner and pulled out some parchment and a quill.
Dear Harry, Ron and Ginny
Thank you all for my presents. That bag will come in very handy carrying all my books Harry. And Ron, thank you for the diary, I've wanted it for ages! Ginny thanks for the book, it made me laugh. I will have to look through it for a hairstyle for my ball….
Speaking of… I found out this morning that I am adopted. It was a huge shock. I'm still trying to take it all in now! This afternoon I met my biological parents and twin brother Thomas. They are really nice and Thomas is starting at Hogwarts in September. I really hope that you will all like him.
So I'm afraid I won't make it to the burrow this summer. But I will see you at my ball if not before then. I'll be in touch!
With love, your best friend
Hermione…. A.K.A Alexis Cara Hallow
xoxox
She left the note on her desk to send in the morning and finally gazed at her room. It was exquisite; the walls were a teal colour, which went perfectly with white drapes on her four-poster bed and windows. The carpet looked extremely soft and she took her shoes off and marvelled at the feel of it on her feet.
There were two other doors, which turned out to be a large bathroom and a walk in closet. She marvelled at the size of it. Her clothes would not even take up half the space in the wardrobe. She decided to unpack quickly and get it out of the way. "Accio trunk," she said and her trunk came flying through the door. She opened it up and started putting her clothes on the shelves and hangers. Leaving some pyjamas out she went to the bathroom and changed, before crawling into her new bed. It had been a very tiring day and she fell asleep almost immediately.