Hermione sobbed quietly in the corner of Dumbledore's office while the two stricken men in front of her talked quietly. Thoughts were running through her head at high speed, so fast she could barely comprehend them; but all she knew now was that her entire life had been a lie, and surely everything would change. Her brown, bushy hair had turned dark and curly; her brown eyes had turned black; and her tanned skin had turned pale, pale white. She didn't particularly dislike her new look, as she had never been fond of her old one in the first place; however, to have such a change take place in such a fast amount of time really didn't make sense.

Hermione Granger had always been book smart, and as soon as she had found out she was coming to Hogwarts she had gotten all the books she could on magic and read them. Coming to the school, she had felt sufficiently prepared. Now, however- now she didn't even know who she was.

Her mind told her without hesitation that what she had just experienced was the fading of a glamour charm. She had read about them in one book or another a month or two ago, and she had stored it in her mind just in case it would ever be useful. Hermione was glad she knew what had happened, but that didn't quite explain why, or how, it had happened to her.

Her parents had told her for as long as she could remember that she was adopted, and she had had no problem with that. Hermione's parents loved her, and she had no doubt about that simple fact; however, she hadn't been able to stop herself from wondering late at night about her real mum and dad. They had to be out there somewhere, didn't they?

--

Severus Snape was surprised. No, Severus Snape was beyond surprised- he was shocked. Never in a million years had he expected anything- anything- to come out of a desperate one-night stand with Bellatrix Lestrange. He had blocked it out of his mind as a meaningless night they had both needed, simply for the purpose of comfort. He had thought it meant nothing, and would come to nothing.

Apparently, he had been wrong.

With the carefully trained eye of a spy, he kept shooting glances at the crying girl across the room. She didn't notice. Dumbledore was talking to him, but Severus was only listening with half a mind; the old man would make his own plans regardless of Severus' responses, and it was just easier to not speak. This change of the status quo scared him, because in the back of his mind he knew who she was, what she was, and what it would mean for her- and he hated it.

Finally, Severus returned to listen to what Dumbledore was saying, and he was glad he did. "There's no doubt the girl is yours," the Headmaster said quietly, with the calm manner that seemed to be ever-present on his face. "Even you can't deny it, Severus."

The pale-faced man was silent for a few long minutes before his voice broke the silence. "I can't deny she's mine." His five words confirmed Dumbledore's question, and the old man smirked.

"Well, Severus," he said, smiling. (With that smile, Severus knew things would not go well.) "Even though the girl was adopted, there are laws in effect for circumstances just as these. By Wizarding Law, if a glamour charm has been placed by force and then removed, the child must be returned to her biological parents at once, if possible."

The low growl that escaped Severus' throat unbidden expressed his displeasure. "It's not possible," he said quietly, firmly. Dumbledore's smile only grew wider.

"Yes it is, Severus, and you know it. You must take the child and return her to her mother, or else Wizarding Law will have to step in."

Severus was not stupid, and he knew that Dumbledore was right. There was no way around Wizarding Law, for each law had books and books of rules and regulations that went along with it, for extreme cases such as these. Even he, who was so connected to both sides of the spectrum- light and dark- had to abide by them. He would have to take the girl to Bellatrix.

In all essence, he was taking the girl to the Dark Lord.

--

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione looked up at the Headmaster's voice, and she hastily wiped her hand across her face in a feeble attempt to dry her tears. "Yes, sir?" She said, working hard to keep her voice level and steady and her hands from shaking. Across the room, she could see the man she knew to be Professor Snape look surprised. She guessed it was at her composure, but she couldn't be quite sure.

"What you have just experienced," Dumbledore began, and she looked up at him once again, "is the effects of a glamour charm being removed."

Hermione nodded slowly. "I know, sir. I could tell, from what I've read about them. But that doesn't explain why... sir..."

The pale-faced man smirked again, but Hermione didn't pay any attention. She could see Professor Dumbledore's mind working to come up with an explanation, but when he did she actually believed him.

"Do you know what Azkaban is, Miss Granger?"

When he was done explaining, his story made sense. At the same time it scared her, for she knew nothing would ever be the same. She had read about Voldemort, the Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; and he had always seemed cruel. She knew he was cruel. So for her to have to go into his ranks to meet her... real... mother?

Merlin. I have to say that this is the worst first day of school- ever.

--

This really isn't a fantastic chapter. It's extremely short. But I wanted to update, so here you are. I tried not to make the characters OOC, but I'm not sure if I succeeded. Thanks for all your reviews, and please leave me some more!