Author's Note: Thanks to everyone leaving reviews, favoriting and following. Sorry it's taking so long between updates. I wanted to update Semper first but am kind of stuck on the next chapter, so I turned to this one instead. Hope everyone likes it so far and hopefully, I will be updating Semper within the next couple days.


Mistaken Identity

- Chapter 7 -


Ella Talliver entered the front door to the house, flinging her clutch onto the table positioned against the wall right inside the foyer. She immediately made her way into the living room, hoping that her husband had already made it home from work.

"Walter? Are you home, love?" She called out as she entered the room. Walter Talliver emerged through the doorway opposite from where she stood which led to the kitchen.

"Ella? Is everything okay? Has something happened to Morris?" the elder man's eyes held a bit of trepidation as he met his wife's worried gaze.

"Yes," Ella replied automatically, then rethought her reply, "I mean, no." she tried again, biting her lip as she continued. "Well... maybe?" she sighed when Walter cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Look, nothing has happened yet, but I'm afraid that something is fixing to. Something that may take him away from us forever."

Seeing his wife was distraught, Walter walked over and gathered her into his arms. He held her to him as he rubbed her back soothingly as he murmured into her hair. "Tell me what's happened, sweetie."

Ella took a steadying breath, releasing it against her husband's chest. "Morris met a girl tonight."

She was taken off guard when her husband's chest began to shake as rumbles of laughter emerged. "This isn't funny!" she exclaimed as she drew back. She shot a glare up at him that, unfortunately, didn't seem to have the desired effect as he continued to chuckle.

"Ella, honey, you knew this day would come eventually," Walter said. "Our Morris has always been quite charming, albeit a bit awkward at times, but we knew he'd find himself a girlfriend eventually."

"Her name is Hermione Granger," Ella stated pointedly, waiting for the moment her words would hit home.

It took only a couple of seconds for Walter's amused expression to be wiped from his features. His smiling lips turned down into a frown as his brows crinkled in concern. "Hermione Granger? The Hermione Granger?" he asked disbelievingly.

Ella nodded. "Yes. Apparently, she showed up at that comedy club of his and they seemed to have hit it off."

"Merlin help us," Walter groaned. "So what did he say while you were there? Does he suspect anything? You don't think she mentioned something, do you?"

"Thankfully, he didn't seem to be aware so she must not have." Ella moved to sit down on the couch with a sigh. Her husband followed suit, sitting down beside her. "But he mentioned a date this Friday, so there's no telling when something might slip." She gasped as a thought occurred to her. "What if he has a mishap while in her presence? Oh, Walter, what if she discovers his secret?"

Walter put his arm around his wife comfortingly. "It'll be alright, sweetheart." he murmured, but to be honest, he was as worried about Morris as his wife.

It was true, Morris wasn't his son by blood, but Walter had raised him as his own. The Tallivers had taken little Morris under their wing as a favor to Ella' s sister, a true witch who had worked for the Ministry of Magic years ago.


- Flashback -

It had been twenty years ago that Olivia Brookstanton had shown up on her younger sister's doorstep, a two-year-old Morris in her arms, though he hadn't been called Morris at the time. His name had been Harold, a rambunctious child with bright red hair and a massive amount of freckles on his adorable face. The Tallivers looked confused as they invited their surprise guest in.

"Good evening, 'Liv," Ella greeted her older sister, "What brings you here? And who is this?"

"Hello, Ella, Walter," Olivia replied as she shifted the child in her arms. "I'm sorry to drop in on you uninvited but I simply had no other choice." she nodded to the toddler who was staring at the couple in awe. "and this little one is Harold, though I don't think we'll be keeping his name as such. I wouldn't want to risk it."

"Risk what?" Walter frowned.

He didn't like the fact that his sister-in-law, a witch who happened to be employed by the Ministry of Magic had suddenly shown up in their home with a child that they knew was not hers. They knew because Olivia suffered from the same inability to conceive a child as Ella did. It was troubling and he intended to get to the bottom of it.

"What are you doing here, Olivia, and who does that little boy belong to?" he inquired.

"I'll explain, Walter, but first, I need to do something," Olivia said.

The dark haired witch then proceeded to hand the child she held over to her sister. Caught by surprise, Ella had no choice but to gather the boy into her own arms as she watched Olivia began to cast wards as well as silencing charms all around the house. When she was done, she turned back to them, slipping her wand into the sleeve of her robe as she did so. Taking a breath, she exhaled it slowly before beginning to speak.

"I became guardian to little Harold just a few short hours after he was born. My boss brought him to me, under orders from the Minister himself, and demanded that I care for him. Naturally, I was shocked at the order. I mean, here was this amazing little bundle of joy and he was being given to me out of the blue." Olivia looked into her sister's eyes, knowing she would understand.

"I was informed of his parentage and the reasoning behind him being placed into my care. I did not agree with it and I felt horrible, I assure you, but I had to do as I was told. In the end, it didn't matter though. As I watched him grow, I came to care for him like he was my own." Tears glistened in her eyes as she reached out to ruffle downy, red locks. "Now, however, I've found it is unsafe to keep him any longer." she turned her gaze away from Harold and back to her sister. "My husband has decided to align himself with the Dark Lord. I beg of you, sister, please take him, keep him safe." Olivia pleaded, all the while hoping that her sister and brother in law would not insist on knowing the whereabouts of Harold's birth parents.

Silence reigned for a moment as the Tallivers digested what Olivia had just told them. Finally, Ella asked the question that the older witch had prayed she wouldn't.

"What of the child's parents? You claimed you did not agree with the reason for him being placed with you. What was that reason?" Ella stared intently at her sister. "and do not lie to me, 'Liv." she added tersely.

Olivia sighed, her eyes falling closed for a moment before opening again to meet Ella's as she confessed the heinous way in which Harold had been unwillingly separated from his parents.

"Harold was the last born in a set of triplets and Minister Minchum took him out of fear caused by his triskaphobia. He was placed in my care shortly thereafter," she explained.

"But Minchum's out of office now, isn't he?" Walter asked. "Why not just give him back to his rightful parents?"

Olivia shook her head sadly. "I wish it were that simple," she murmured. "Unfortunately, Minchum ordered that the entire family be Obliviated on the night he took Harold."

Walter and Ella gasped, their eyes immediately training themselves on the toddler who was still sat comfortably in Ella's arms.

"I've had him for a little over two years now. I cared for him as if he were my own and up until now, my husband hadn't interfered, but..." Olivia's eyes looked desperate now. I cannot assure his safety if Rupert does indeed devote himself to that monster. Please, Ella..."

"Of course, 'Liv," Ella reassured her sister. "We will take him."

"There's one more thing," Olivia sniffed, once again drawing her wand. "I will need you both to swear to me that you will not tell anyone of where he came from."

"How can we do that? I'm sure everyone will wonder about his looks, he doesn't exactly look like he's related to us." Walter argued.

"I can fix that," Olivia stated. "I will cast a glamour to mask his hair and eye color. We could also do away with his freckles. You can say you are fostering him, perhaps for another relative or something."

The couple nodded in agreement and Olivia proceeded to cast the spell. Soon, the little boy's flame colored hair had changed to a light brown and his blue eyes had shifted to hazel. The multitude of freckles had also faded away and his skin was clear and fair. When she was done, the Ministry witch turned to scan the room. Choosing a table that stood against the living room wall, she raised her wand once again and with a flourish of her hand Transfigured it into a small crib. Taking the child from Ella's arms, she placed him inside the crib before turning back to the couple.

"Now, the Vow, if you don't mind." she urged. Then proceeded to tell them what was required of them. "I need you both to kneel with me. We will then join hands and when I cast the binding spell, you will both repeat what I am fixing to tell you. Understand?" When the couple nodded, Olivia continued. "You will both say 'I vow to take care of... Morris as our own and will not inform him of his paternity until he is of age."

"Morris?" Ella inquired.

"It's his middle name," she informed them. "I figured it would go well with your last name."

"Morris Talliver," Ella tried out the new name, as she shared a look with her husband. They had both wanted a child of their own for so long... a small smile lifted her lips as he nodded to her. "Okay, we're ready," she stated.

Walter and Ella moved to kneel before Olivia, who knelt as well, clasping each of their hands with her free one. She then placed the tip of her wand against their hands. Olivia recited the incantation for the Unbreakable Vow and immediately a red light issued from the wand to engulf their hands. Ella and Walter then repeated what the other woman had told them previously. The light brightened a bit more before gradually fading away, leaving an invisible bond behind.

The three rose to their feet in silence, Ella and Walter maintaining their hand holds even as Olivia dropped her own. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a shrunken bag containing the toddler's clothing and other necessities which she returned to its original size. Putting away her wand, she approached the crib and set the bag aside. Running a hand lovingly over the now chestnut curls of the little boy who was standing a bit wobbly, with the aide of the railing, Olivia leaned down to kiss his small forehead before turning away.

She briskly walked to the door and opened it, pausing only to utter a soft "Thank you," before disappearing into the night.

- End Flashback -


Since that night, Walter and Ella Talliver had raised little Harold - now Morris - as their own. They had fudged his age by a few years in order to throw off any suspicions and in the process of raising him, had fallen completely in love with the boy. To them, he was, in essence, their son. When Morris had come of age and the time to inform him of his past had arrived, the Tallivers had found themselves unable to reveal the full truth. They had told Morris about them not being his birth parents but had left out how they had come into custody of him. Instead, they had stayed with the cover story. They were his foster family and they had no idea who his real parents were.

When he had started displaying bouts of accidental magic, they had done their best to explain it away. They had not wanted Morris involved in the magical world, not with the Dark Lord on the rise again if rumors were to be believed. But now the war was over. Voldemort had been defeated months ago. And Hermione Granger was evidently on their foster son's radar.

Walter wrapped his arms around his wife, his chin resting on the top of her head. "Everything will be just fine, darling," he repeated, trying to soothe his wife, even if he didn't quite believe the words he used.

Ella shook her head and peeled away from her husband. She turned from him, her shoulders slouching as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. "I don't know if it will be, Walter. There's so much that could go wrong."

Walter sighed, "What's the worst thing you think will happen?"

"The worst thing," Ella sighed, "Is that he winds up hating us for keeping this secret from him for so long." she wiped at her eyes to keep her vision from blurring. "We were so naive to think that he would never encounter another witch or wizard, even in the Muggle world. We should have told him years ago."

"Then why don't we?" Walter replied, holding his wife close. When she glanced up at him, he gave her an encouraging smile. "You mentioned he invited us to see him perform next Friday. We can tell him the truth then."


Hermione pulled back from George's embrace, blushing a bit before offering him a seat. Once he was settled onto the couch, she disappeared into the kitchen, returning shortly with two cups filled with tea. She offered one to George and with the other in hand, sat beside him on the sofa.

George offered a small smile as thanks and began rubbing at his temple. Sighing heavily, he looked to Hermione. "Would you, by any chance, know where we should start?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose we could start with you filling me in on all you know. No matter how minuscule, George, I want to know everything."

George nodded and set his cup of tea on the table in front of him. "Well, you saw the memory in the pensive." At Hermione's nod in confirmation, he continued, "I can't say that I remember much of anything, but looking back, I do remember feeling like there was a part of me missing."

Hermione was shocked to hear this but didn't know what to say. She didn't want to mention Fred, for fear of upsetting George. So she was totally taken by surprise by what George said next.

"When he," George cleared his throat and continued, his voice strained, "When Fred died, I died. Life didn't have a purpose for me anymore. But, after this news, I don't feel as...lost anymore. When Fred was still here, we talked once about feeling like there was a piece missing from us, but we weren't sure what it was." George paused and turned to look at Hermione with determination, "I think Harold was the piece missing. I'm not going to let another brother slip through my fingers again."

At this confession, Hermione felt an overwhelming urge to hug George but didn't know why. She had never been close to either of the twins, even when the war had been raging around them, they had interacted only on occasion, her school-hood crush on George notwithstanding. But now, she had to hold herself back from gathering the red head into her arms and squeezing with all her might. Another blush came to her cheeks, unbidden, and Hermione felt confused. Why was she reacting like this now? Suddenly, an image of Morris emerged in her mind.

She shook her head, banishing her thoughts. This wasn't the time for her to be thinking of George or Morris in that fashion. Instead, she grasped George's hands. "We're going to find out what happened to Harold, I promise."

"Thank you," George replied, looking at her as if she were the answer to his prayers. Hermione blushed again.

George pretended he hadn't noticed the color rising in Hermione's cheeks, filing this anomaly away for later. Instead, he focused on filling her in on what they had to go on, which wasn't much.

When he was finished, Hermione sighed. "Well, I can begin my research by going to the courthouse. There could be some public newspapers or documents that may give some indication of Harold. Hopefully, that'll give us something to go on."

George nodded, taking the last sip of his tea before setting the cup down and rose to his feet. When Hermione did the same, George once again gathered her to him in a hug. "Thanks again, Granger. You don't know how much this means to me." he murmured into her curls.

"I think maybe I do," Hermione replied softly.

Pulling back, George gave Hermione one of the patented Weasley Twin winks. "I'm going to head back to the Burrow and let everyone know that the brightest witch of our age is on the case." he said with more teasing in his voice than there had been in quite a while. "I'll send an owl in a couple days if that's alright? In case something turns up."

"That's fine," she smiled in return. "Maybe I'll have a bit of good news for you by then," she added, half hopeful.

George nodded, then after collecting the Pensieve, gave a final "Goodbye," before Apparating from the living room.

After the resounding crack following George's departure had faded away, Hermione sighed deeply as her mind began to go back over all that had just happened. From meeting Morris Talliver and taking an instant shine to the handsome comic, to coming home to find her best friend's older brother and school-hood crush waiting for her with a surprising revelation, it was a lot to take in. Exhaling slowly, Hermione allowed her thoughts to settle, thinking it best that she get to bed soon.

After all, she had research to begin tomorrow and a Friday night date to prepare for.


tbc...