Glamours and Lies
by sick-atxxheart
Chapter Seven
When Hermione woke up the next morning, she was in a strange room, in a strange bed, and completely unaware of where she was. Then, instantaneously, the events of the previous day came rushing back to her. Voldemort. My mother. My father. She began to shake unconsciously, her hands gripping the covers as the unexpressed fear caught up to her once more.
Hermione allowed the feelings to overtake her for a moment before she began taking deep, calming breaths. That was her defense mechanism, always. Counting her deep breaths until her heart stopped racing was the one thing that never failed, no matter what the situation.
A few minutes later, Hermione rolled out of bed and headed down the hallway towards the bathroom. She paused on the stone floor and listened for a moment, but there were no other sounds coming from down the hall. Professor Snape – or whatever in the world she was supposed to call him – must already be out.
Hermione quickly showered and dressed for the day, grabbed her bag, and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. This would be her first true day of classes, despite the fact that other students had already started. She only hoped that she wouldn't be behind too much.
The castle was just as overwhelming today as it had been when Hermione first saw it. The stone walls, countless portraits, and flickering torches gave everything a very medieval feel – something that was not at all helped by what seemed to be miles of winding dungeon tunnels.
Before she knew it, Hermione was hopelessly lost and wishing that Professor Snape had left some sort of map of the dungeons for her. How in heaven's name was she supposed to be able to navigate a maze like this? His quarters had been about as far away as one could go.
Hermione came to an intersection she had been through twice already and sighed deeply. There's no way I'm getting out of here, she thought miserably, slumping down to sit on the floor and lean against the cold, unforgiving wall.
What seemed like hours later, just when Hermione was quite convinced that she was going to die in the horrible maze of tunnels, she heard the sound of clanking chains moving towards her. Hermione let out a small squeak of fear and clapped her hand over her mouth, silently berating herself for possibly letting whoever was coming know she was there. She quickly scuttled backwards against the wall into the corner, hoping that the shadows would swallow her.
The noise slowly but steadily got closer, and Hermione silently drew her wand out of her pocket, holding it tightly in her right hand. She knew offensive spells, in theory; however, she had never truly practiced them in any real setting. The likelihood of Hermione being able to hold her own against a possible assailant was practically none.
Hermione held her breath as the sound reached its loudest, and nearly screamed when she saw the figure that entered the room.
It was clearly a ghost, with chains on his hands and feet and silver blood covering his clothing. The ghost was gliding a few feet above the floor with ease, as if the fact that it was levitating was nothing. Hermione thought she could determine who the ghost was: according to her reading in Hogwarts, A History, this was the Bloody Baron, the ghost of Slytherin.
Hermione tried her best to remain completely silent as the ghost continued on his way through the large room. He had just turned right into one of the connecting hallways, and Hermione let out her breath in a loud exhale of relief –
And too late realized her mistake.
In an instant the ghost was back in the room, staring her down with his frighteningly empty eyes. "Little girl," the Bloody Baron said, his voice startlingly deep. "What do you think you're doing, wandering around this deep in the dungeons? Many have gotten lost down here," he said, the threat in his voice obvious.
"I – I was just trying to get to the Great Hall," Hermione said quietly, trying to bring back some of the courage she had felt yesterday. "Honestly, sir. Please –"
The Bloody Baron's eyes narrowed. "What were you doing down here in the first place?" He very nearly growled. Hermione now wished she was not sitting in a corner; it provided the perfect way for the ghost to intimidate her.
"I live down here," Hermione replied, gripping her wand again and moving to stand up. She would not be startled by just words – she would not!
The Baron laughed, a strange grating sound that Hermione assumed was because of his lack of real organs. "The Slytherin common room is nowhere near here," he replied. "It is clear on the other side of the castle, in those dungeons. Stop lying to me, little Slytherin."
"I'm not lying!" Hermione said, a touch of anxiety lacing through her voice. She stared at the ghost for a long moment, and decided the time had come for her to truly voice what was going on. "I – I'm Professor Snape's daughter," she said softly, meeting the frightening eyes of the ghost dead on.
That certainly shut the Slytherin ghost up, at least for a moment. "I was unaware Severus had a daughter," he finally said, still glaring at her. "I am not quite convinced."
Hermione sighed. "I look like him, do I not?" She asked tentatively. There was no need for the Baron to even dignify that question with an answer; she looked exactly like the Potions Master, there was no doubt about that. However, there were still so many questions out in the open.
"Why did he not tell me?" The ghost asked, squinting at the girl once more.
Hermione sighed again, unconsciously wringing her hands. "We just found out two days ago," she confided, glancing up at the ghost. "This is all rather… new."
The Bloody Baron was silent for a few long moments, and Hermione felt immensely uncomfortable as she sat and waited for him to respond. Best case scenario, he showed her the way to the Great Hall. Worst case scenario, she was still stuck here… or perhaps the ghost would hurt her? Hermione was unaware of the rules for ghosts as to moving tangible things, but she didn't particularly want to find out – at least, not like this.
It seemed like ages until the ghost finally spoke. As he did, he backed away and bestowed upon the girl what appeared to be a grimace, but Hermione could tell was meant to be a smile.
"I guess you are a little snake," the Baron said. "You will have quite a time – what is your name, girl?"
"Hermione," she answered shyly, smiling at the ghost's acceptance.
The Bloody Baron nodded shortly. "You will have quite a time navigating your years here, Hermione, as the daughter of one of Slytherin's finest." The ghost chuckled deeply. "I daresay you'll be one to watch."
He turned away from her and Hermione quickly scrambled to her feet, slightly confused by what he had just said. "Please, sir?" She said. "Can you show me the way to the Great Hall?"
The Baron glanced back at her. "I am always willing to help a snake," he said, waving his hand and indicating her to join him on the long trek to breakfast.
Up in the Great Hall, Severus Snape was methodically alternating between taking bites of his dry toast and sips of his coffee. Dumbledore was just finishing asking him to come to his office later that day, which Severus had agreed to with his customary eye roll.
He was grateful for the fact that Dumbledore had not yet told the rest of the staff about Hermione's parentage, and his newfound fatherhood. He wasn't sure he could handle the unwanted attention that piece of news would warrant.
The Potions Master surveyed the room, first giving a cursory glance at the Slytherin table to ensure that no one was out of line. It was essential for Slytherins to maintain their image. While they may be the cunning, stealthy, and perhaps even untrustworthy ones, they were certainly the most sophisticated.
Satisfied that each snake was conducting him or herself in an appropriate manner, Severus then began going down the rows of faces, looking for one in particular.
My daughter.
He was surprised and slightly displeased to see her not in attendance. Surely, with all the studying she had apparently done before coming to Hogwarts, she would know that breakfast was usually considered a compulsory event for students?
Severus contemplated for a moment what could have happened to cause the girl to not appear, when it suddenly dawned on him. Oh, Merlin.
Severus had deliberately chosen his quarters to be in the furthest corner of the castle's dungeons, as a means to be away from wandering students as much as possible. He knew the maze of the dungeons by heart, and he often found the long walk to his rooms relaxing. However, he had left Hermione all by herself to find her way to the Great Hall.
The man rose abruptly and turned away from his seat, fully intent on searching the dungeons until he found the girl, when the doors of the Great Hall swung open. There stood Hermione, chatting animatedly with the Bloody Baron, who looked almost happy to be around her.
Severus sat heavily back down on his seat, eyeing the girl. He could see Dumbledore's grin in his peripheral vision. "Problem, Severus?" The old man said slyly, the twinkle in his eyes obnoxiously bright.
Severus shot him a dark look. "Stop meddling, old man," he replied quietly, turning back to his toast.
"I am not," the Headmaster said, looking overly appalled at the suggestion. Once more, Severus rolled his eyes. "I think," Dumbledore continued, "that your daughter will turn out to be quite the Slytherin."
The Potions Master had no response to that; unfortunately, someone else did.
Apparently, Professor Minerva McGonagall had been eavesdropping.
Hermione smiled one last time at the Bloody Baron, thanked him for helping her find her way to the Great Hall, and tentatively took a seat at the long Slytherin table. Across from her was a blond boy she remembered as Draco Malfoy from the Sorting Ceremony, and two boys who appeared to be his followers. They looked at her disdainfully when she sat down, and Hermione nearly laughed. Apparently, everyone else was too afraid to attempt to sit with them.
Hermione quickly filled her plate with eggs, fruit, and a piece of toast, and then began to dig in. When she looked up, she couldn't resist her curiosity. She sent a quick glance at the Head Table, and found Professor Snape's eyes boring into hers. The man gave a quick nod and then returned to his own breakfast.
Startled, Hermione looked back down at her plate, unsure of what that subtle nod meant. Her thoughts were interrupted a moment later, however, by Draco Malfoy's voice.
"You're Hermione Granger," the boy said, his voice one part arrogance and the other part coldness. Even his face spoke of superiority.
"Er, yes," Hermione said, wincing internally. Once again, the conundrum of what exactly her last name was had come up. "I'm Hermione. You're Draco Malfoy."
Malfoy stared at her appraisingly for a moment. "You're a Mud –" He suddenly cut off, glancing at the Head Table. Hermione turned and followed his glance, only to find Professor Snape's eyes watching them. Surprisingly, Malfoy seemed rather abashed. "Er, you're Muggleborn," he amended. "Muggleborns typically aren't in Slytherin."
Hermione hesitated. Was now the time to reveal her true parentage? She knew that technically, she was no longer considered to be Muggleborn, even though she was Muggle-raised. However, she had no idea what Professor Snape would think about her revealing such a crucial, and new, piece of information. And frankly, Hermione wasn't sure she was ready to admit the newfound truth to someone who was, well, alive.
On the other hand, however, Hermione wasn't a Slytherin for no reason. She could already tell that nearly all of the Slytherin House looked to Draco as some sort of leader, despite the fact that he was just an eleven-year-old compared to some of the older students. However, Hermione knew that attaching herself to that sort of leadership and power would be beneficial in the long run.
For the third time, Hermione glanced up at the Head Table and again met her father's eyes. One more barely perceptible nod was given, and this time Hermione knew exactly what the man meant.
Hermione took a deep breath and stared directly at the silver-eyed boy. "I'm technically not a Muggleborn," she said quietly. "But it's kind of a big secret right now, and not something I wish to share in the Great Hall. As soon as we get back to the Common Room, however, I'll tell you."
Hermione barely concealed her smirk as Draco's eyes lit up in anticipation of a secret. He would be the perfect ally, she knew. His motives were obvious: he desired power and superiority over others, and he possessed the ability to obtain them. Hermione only wished on the most basic level for comfort and new knowledge to learn, but her encounter with Voldemort had left her wondering. The desire for power and control was alluring to Hermione as well, and it was an interest she intended to explore further.
Breakfast went quickly after that. As they headed back to the dungeons to their Common Room, Draco walking beside her, Hermione's mind was racing to determine what she would say. It would soon enough be common knowledge that she was Professor Snape's daughter; that much she knew. It would be too difficult a secret to keep under wraps for very long. However, whether or not she should reveal the identity of her mother was a source of confusion for her.
As if in answer to her question, Hermione suddenly felt a foreign presence inside her mind. She started quickly and stumbled on the stone floor. Quickly, she righted herself and tried to place the strange feeling. It was as if something was pressing against her thoughts, trying to place new ones in their place. Hermione immediately tried to resist it, since it was actually rather painful, but then she heard a voice in her head. She immediately recognized the deep tone, and stopped fighting the intrusion into her thoughts.
You may tell others of your true parentage, the voice of Severus Snape said, strangely disembodied. However, expect a lot of attention as soon as you do. This is unfortunately unavoidable. However, do not reveal to anyone other than Draco Malfoy who your mother is.
With those words, the voice was gone. Hermione was slightly puzzled. Why in the world should she only reveal the whole truth to Draco Malfoy, and no one else? Regardless, she decided to herself, she really had no other choice and no reason not to trust the man who was her father. If he thought it best, then it most likely was – in the present moment, at least. If he said confide in Draco, then confide she would.
As soon as they arrived back at the Common Room, decorated in soothing greens and silvers, Draco promptly picked the set of chairs furthest from the main area and took a seat. Hermione followed his lead and sat down next to him. However, she did not speak, and instead looked pointedly at Draco's two followers, whom she had learned were Crabbe and Goyle.
"Vincent, Greg," Draco spoke with an authority that did not fit his eleven-year-old stature. "Give us some space, would you?"
Without so much as a word of protest, the two bigger boys both ambled off in the same direction. Draco smirked. "So," he said, turning to Hermione. "What's the story?"
Hermione sighed. "Well, first you must understand that I just discovered all of this two days ago. It is almost as new to me as it will be to you. The bottom line is… I was raised by two Muggles, but they are not my true parents."
Draco eyed her suspiciously. "Who is, then?" He asked.
Hermione took a deep breath. "Professor Snape is my father," She said quietly, carefully watching the boy's face.
The reaction was both predictable and surprising at the same time. Hermione watched curiously as not one but three emotions flickered across Draco's face: surprise, confusion, and disbelief.
One more deep breath later, Hermione asked the all-important question. "Do you believe me?"
Draco was silent for a long moment as he stared at Hermione. "You certainly look like him," he admitted. "I've known Professor Snape… well, Uncle Sev to me… since I was born. If it is true… I bet he's shocked as hell."
Hermione nodded at that. "That he is," she revealed. "It's all very confusing. I don't quite know what to think of it. Everything's changing so fast." Draco nodded at her, and Hermione suddenly flashed back to a very similar face. "I… I think I saw your dad yesterday, Draco."
Draco's back immediately stiffened and his face grew unreadable. "My father?" He asked. "Where would you have seen my father?"
Hermione worded her next response carefully, to see if Draco could gather what she was trying to say from the coded message. "I went to meet my mother," she said quietly. "Your father was there."
The boy's face drained completely of color. "Your mother is–" He whispered, staring directly at Hermione.
"Bellatrix," Hermione whispered back, leaning slightly closer to him, as if someone else knowing would somehow make it easier.
Draco leaned back once more, and was silent for such a long time that Hermione wondered if he had gone into shock. When he spoke once more, however, his words were strong. "Hermione," he said. "I'm not sure you realize – you mustn't – but that makes us family."
It was Hermione's turn to stare in shock for a long moment. "What?" She finally responded. Everything was changing so quickly.
"Bellatrix," Draco whispered the name, "Is my mother's sister. That makes us cousins."
Hermione looked tentatively at Draco, unsure of exactly what he felt about that piece of news. Her experience with the boy's personality so far came off as rather cold and manipulative; however, she had learned to expect the unexpected.
Draco's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I want to talk to Uncle Sev about this," he said quietly. "But Hermione – you should know. You're family now. And Malfoys always protect their own."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at that.
Their explanation of how Hermione had come into existence had been awkward, muddled, and terribly embarrassing, but they had made it through. Bellatrix and Severus stood in front of the Dark Lord, carefully not looking at one another and waiting for the man to speak. Voldemort's eyes were not upon them; rather, they were staring off into the distance in contemplation. Both Death Eaters knew that what he said next would be important, and undoubtedly life-changing.
They were not wrong. Seven little words, only eight syllables, and Severus instantly knew that things would be different.
"I want to see the girl again."
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