All rights go to J. K. Rowling
"Hello Children." The portrait greeted Roxy, Fred and James. "It's been a while."
"Hello Aunt Hermione." The children smiled back at her. They greeted her as Aunt, despite not actually being related to them, because she had always been close to the Weasleys and Harry. In fact, Ron was certain that if and when she came back, she would actually become a real part of the family. "Do you know where the real you is?"
"Afraid not, kiddos. I wish I did. Harry and Ron always looks so sad when they see my portrait, it breaks my heart. Who are the new additions?" She waved at the Malfoys, who waved back in a trance-like state.
"They are Evangeline and Scorpius Malfoy." Fred replied. "But they're a lot better than Uncle Ron claims their father to be."
"Is that so?" Hermione asked the blondes. They were at a lose for words so they just nodded. "Well you'd best be off to bed. I don't want any of you to be caught after lights out." Everyone left apart from Eva and Scorp, who were still staring at the portrait of their mother.
"You guys coming?" Fred shouted at them.
"In a bit. We just need to say goodnight." Fred shrugged and ran after the others.
"Mum?" Eva whispered to the portrait.
"What was that, Miss Malfoy?" The portrait asked.
"Nothing." Scorp replied for his sister, as he dragged her away from the portrait. "Eva?" He questioned once they were out of earshot.
"Scorp, that was Mum." Eva whispered.
"Yes, it was." Scorp nodded.
Eva face palmed and walked in a circle. "How could I have been so stupid! We have been staring at it our entire lives and haven't noticed even though it turned into a ferret and did the chicken dance whilst juggling apples multiple times!" Eva shook her hands in the air.
"Eva, calm down." Scorp hissed. "Eva!"
"What! How are you not- How are you so calm?"
Scorp grabbed his sister's wrists. "Eva, there must have been a reason why Mum didn't tell us. Heck, it must be similar to why she never goes out in public without hiding herself! We can't tell anyone, she kept it a secret for a reason. We'll talk to her about it when we see her in a week." Eva nodded. "We should probably go to bed. Night Eva."
"Night Scorp." Scorp started to walk away. "Scorp?" She whispered.
"Yes?" Scorp turned slightly.
"Our Mum is The Hermione Granger." She kept her voice low.
Scorp smiled slightly. "Yes, she is."
Eva grinned. "Screw Harry Potter. Our mother is the real reason why the world wasn't plunged into darkness." Scorp grinned too. Eva walked past him. "Night Scorp."
Both of them headed off to bed, feeling more proud of their Mum than they have in their entire lives.
The next week past very quickly and everyone had settled into Hogwarts nicely. Roxy, Fred, Eva, Scorp and sometimes James or Nikolas were always seen together and got along really well. Roxy, Fred and Eva were best friends, and the Malfoys were starting to grow on the young Potter. Scorp got along with the Gryffindors but his best friend was still childhood friend Nikolas. Within the week Scorp had been crowned Slytherin Prince, the first one since Draco Malfoy had left school. And Eva had been crowned Gryffindor Princess, of course. They were both incredibly proud to be taking after their parents, but thankfully, had not followed in the rule breaking aspect. Fred very much took after his father and late uncle, constantly sending the corridors of Hogwarts into disarray. The girls of their group frowned at this, but the boys were always having a good laugh.
Both of the Malfoys were doing incredibly well in classes, causing a bit of fun sibling rivalry as they competed for the top. Secretly everyone in their classes were envious of their brains. Hermione Granger was a role model for every student at Hogwarts, since she had disappeared every student had wanted to be like her even more. Some people thought it unbelievably unfair that the Malfoys were the ones who resembled her the most.
The night before the reunion, Roxy, James and Eva were doing their transfiguration homework. James threw his quill down and turned to the blonde.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Complete work so easily! I've barely done the first paragraph and I can see that you are about to finish your last sentence in 3... 2... 1." Eva put down the quill and let the ink on her parchment dry. "What's your secret?"
"I don't have a secret James." Eva sighed. Roxy ignored the two, they seemed to have this conversation every night. James didn't seem to be able to get it through his skull that someone other than Hermione could be smart, let alone a Malfoy.
"I think you're trying to be the next Hermione Granger." James accused.
"Isn't everyone? We all want the best grades."
"I don't think that is your reason for it." Eva stiffened. "You're doing it to make up for your father's and family's sins, make your family proud again. But you're just making everyone else look stupid."
"What?" Eva whispered.
"Dick." Roxy hit James's head with her book bag, the conversation had never taken this turn before. "Not everything is about family. Unlike you, Eva doesn't act with her family's name constantly in her mind. Everything you do is to use the Potter name to your advantage. Eva studies, not because of what her father did, but because she actually enjoys it. You should have seen her face when she unpacked all the books she brought, she brought her whole bloody library!"
"But-"
"James," Eva interrupted, her eyes had gone cold, an infamous Malfoy defence, "I know what my father did, I know what he put your father, uncle and the world through. But if my Mum can forgive him, then that should be enough for the world. And if his children, who have to live in the shadow of what their father did, can forgive him then that should be enough for the universe. I'm sorry that Ronald Weasley doesn't seem to be able to look past what he did. Your father seems to be able to, they acknowledge each other as acquaintances now, not enemies. Why can't you use your father as your role model? Not your Uncle."
"What does your mother have to do with this?" James snapped back.
"N-Nothing. She's just the one who has to live with him for the rest of her life..." Just then, an owl started pecking at the windows of the Gryffindor tower. "Periwinkle!"
"What?" James was confused, until he saw the owl.
"Hello, Periwinkle." Eva opened the window and let the beautiful snowy owl rest on her arm. "I see you've got a letter for me." She took the letter from the owl's talons and gave the owl a treat. James was gawking at the owl. "What?"
"She's beautiful. I've never seen such a fine specimen."
"It's Mum's bird. Dad gave Periwinkle to her as a present one year, he said something sappy, along the lines of 'pure white to show the never blemished true love' he felt for her." Roxy burst out laughing.
"From what I've heard of your dad, I could never picture him saying anything like that." Eva smiled at her friend.
"He only seems to act like that around my family. He's a love sick fool around Mum, it's really quite funny." Eva looked at the letter and read it
Dearest Eva,
I'm so proud of you, I hear from your brother that already you have managed to beat him in classes... as your mother I should say let him have some of the grades, but being a very competitive bookworm and fellow Gryffindor I just encourage you to keep on beating him. It's what I did to your father, and it drove him bananas. You'll find it very satisfying.
Please could you meet us at the Viaduct Courtyard when the reunion starts?
Your father has owled Scorp so he knows as well.
Lots of Love
Mum
"Who's it from?" Roxy asked.
"Mum, she wanted to make sure I was ready for the reunion tomorrow."
"Was it just your father that attended Hogwarts?"
Eva hesitated. "I'm not sure." Roxy raised an eyebrow. "I'll see you both in the morning." She replied quickly and gathered her stuff, heading up to her dorm. "Goodnight Roxy." She ignored James.
