Chapter 3:
Harry, Ron and Hermione had been dropped off at the train station by the Grangers, who made sure to give Hermione and Harry big hugs, promising to write to the both of them soon. Jane had further promised to give more details on the nature of her condition and treatment, having vowed to tell Hermione as much of the truth as possible from now on.
The Trio climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express and began searching for a compartment. Hermione could not help but feel as if students were looking at her more than usual and whispering as the group passed. Maybe she was overreacting? It had only been a few days since her discovery of her paternity. She shook off the feeling and found a spot to sit with her friends.
They had just started chatting amongst themselves and getting comfortable when Luna, Neville, Ginny, Seamus and Justin entered the compartment, crowding them in.
"Hermione, is it true?" Neville asked.
"Is what true?" Hermione answered; panic beginning to rise in her chest.
"That you're not Muggleborn after all! You're actually a Black!"
Hermione blanched. How had this gotten around so quickly? "It's true," she replied quietly.
Neville and Ginny high-fived. "That makes us cousins! Awesome!" Ginny gave Hermione a huge hug. "Thank Merlin that you dumped my brother – that could have been really gross…although purebloods do tend to date each other more…"
Hermione went from white to green. "Ew! I hadn't even thought of that" Ron too, looked a bit ill. "Thank goodness that was a brief two weeks of insanity. Imagine if we were still dating…ahhh!"
Luna decided to pipe up with her own unique commentary, "Oh I never saw the two of you coming together seriously. You're both infested with Zooksies, making you completely incompatible."
Harry raised his eyebrows and suppressed a laugh as he mouthed "Zooksies?" to his best friends. Hermione just shook her head marginally, hoping to move on from this line of conversation.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, my gran told me it was some serious gossip going around the Ministry just before the holidays ended. Everyone was really shocked. You're always in the thick of things, and people have noticed. To have you suddenly as a family connection, well, I think you'll be receiving more than your usual share of Owl Post over the next few weeks," Neville explained.
Justin looked a little down. "It's a bit sad for us Muggleborns though, we've always felt that you proved these ludicrous pureblood philosophies wrong."
Hermione put her hand out on Justin's arm, squeezing it lightly. "Justin, I was raised in the Muggle world. My parents are still Muggles, along with my known family. The paternity test doesn't change that. It means I have some new family too. It doesn't change my upbringing or my belief system one iota."
"I'm glad to hear that," he replied with a small smile.
"How did it all get out, do you think?" Harry asked.
"Well, we went through official Ministry routes to have the spell performed, I assume the records were available or public, and someone noticed and started talking," Hermione answered.
"That makes sense, but you may want to take a look at this," Justin said, offering Hermione a copy of The Daily Prophet.
Hermione opened it, hoping with all her heart that the lead reporter was not that cow, Skeeter. She was relieved to see the headline:
Hogwarts' Famous Muggleborn Head Girl actually a Pureblood?
Reporting by Quill Thompson
New facts have come to light regarding the parentage of Hogwarts' Head Girl, Hermione Granger. In a recent casting of a paternity spell within the Ministry of Magic this week, it was revealed that Miss Granger is in fact, the biological daughter of Sirius Black (see 'Black: Turncoat or Hero?', back issue from September 1994 and 'Black Cleared – Innocent All Along!' October 1996.
Miss Hermione Granger became famous in the Wizarding Community as the close friend of Harry Potter, romantic interest of International Quidditch playboy Victor Krum, and as the top student seen at Hogwarts in the last 50 years, as well as honoured member of the Order of the Phoenix, and Order or Merlin, First Class.
Many have felt that Miss Granger was a likely target for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named during the recent wars, being a symbol disproving pureblood supremacy theory.
Miss Granger's maternity has not yet been identified to the Ministry, and the Prophet will be sure to stay on the story as it develops.
Hermione dropped the paper. "I'm a bit shocked. Not only is Skeeter off the story, but her more sensational remarks made in the past were not even mentioned. On top of that, it's actually fairly accurate."
Ginny took out her wand, transfigured a napkin into a small winged pig and had it fly about the room. "Well, it had to happen eventually," she said with a laugh, her friends joining in with her.
"Especially with you being a recognized war heroine and Order of Merlin recipient. If they go after you in the Prophet, they could face some serious public outrage," Justin pointed out.
"I think it is lovely that you have doubled your family, Hermione," Luna said dreamily. "One can never have too many parents."
Hermione decided to agree with her friends, and think of this change only based on the positive and not the negative. Her parents loved her and raised her well. Her birth mother was a mystery still, but her father was a good man, and had been publically proven innocent when the war had ended. He had cared about her, even without knowing she was his child. Harry was her brother in nearly every way, and she would continue to find family connections within the small British Community, some who she would enjoy, like the Weasleys and Neville, and others she may not, like the Malfoys.
News had travelled fast.
The whispers and the pointing had continued in the Great Hall over dinner and announcements. Many of Hermione's fellow students had asked her about the article, some pointing out that they were related to her. Many had asked about her mother, and Hermione had answered honestly, that she knew virtually nothing about her.
Hermione was rather surprised when Professor McGonagall approached and asked Hermione to come to the Headmaster's office after dinner to discuss her situation. Hermione had agreed. Leaving her friends in the Great Hall, she approached the statue guarding Dumbledore's office and gave the password: Sour Patch Kids.
As she entered the office, Hermione found that the Headmaster had also requested the company of the four Heads of House. Hermione sat in the only available seat, beside Professor Flitwick, catching a rude glare from Professor Snape as she sat down.
"Well, I have to say, I am rather surprised at this turn of events. I had no idea Sirius had any children. Based on his actions during the war, I would say that he did not know himself, either," Dumbledore began. "Would you care to enlighten us on these recent events, Miss Granger?"
Hermione took a breath and began retelling her story: her mother's illness, her insistence during last term that Hermione could not donate a kidney, how the truth had come out about her adoption, her unsuccessful search in the Muggle world, followed by her research at the Wizarding Library of London, and her plea for help from Kingsley and Alastor.
"I would never, ever have thought it was Sirius. I had no expectations that my parents would even be magical. It hurt—knowing that when I found him, he was already gone. I have no leads about my mother, nothing at all."
"Trust me, it's not a huge loss," Snape said snidely.
"Severus!" Professor McGonagall said, raising her voice, "The poor girl did not even know him well, and I daresay you knew less of him than you think you do. You don't need to tarnish his memory for her."
Hermione cut in, "I know what he did to you. I know about the bullying and the incident in the Shrieking Shack. I don't know what caused such loathing in the two of you, and I don't want to get in the middle of it, especially now. I completely disagree with his actions, and would never condone such behaviour. I can assure you, I do not take after him like that at all. I can tell you though that I saw how he was with Harry, whom he looked at as a son. He loved him, and would do anything for him. That was why he came to our aid at the Ministry in 5th year. He would do anything for the people he loved. That's what I am going to remember." Hermione looked pointedly at Severus Snape as she explained this. She knew there was much bad blood in his past with her father, but she did not want it to tarnish her present.
"I'm still me," she added softly.
"Of course you are, dear," Sprout said soothingly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Have you considered how you would like to be addressed as the term progresses? Do you still want to be called Hermione Granger, or are you looking to legally change your name?"
Hermione answered quickly, "I'm still Hermione Granger. This is all so new; I haven't really had time to think of anything else, well except the house…"
"What about the house?" Dumbledore asked.
"Harry insisted that we share. He added my name to the deed at Gringotts."
Dumbledore stroked his beard. "That was very appropriate, but now I must ask you, are you willing to continue to let the Order use Grimmauld Place for its occasional meetings?"
"Oh of course! Harry and I have no intention of living there at this point. Even after school ends, we'll have to focus on a full renovation of the house for anyone to live there full time, and the Order meetings are so infrequent now that the war is over…I don't see it being a problem at all."
"What we all wanted to say-"at this, McGonagall gave Severus a sharp look, "-was that we support you, regardless of your heritage. If you have any concerns or problems that arise, please feel free to come to us. If we can be of assistance in your search for your mother, please let us know."
Hermione looked up at Dumbledore. "You wouldn't happen to know who she is, would you?"
He shook his head, "Your father was rather popular. I could not say." Snape snorted.
"Do you have something to add, sir?" Hermione asked.
"No, only to say that your father charmed many women during his years here. Good luck, you'll need it," he smirked.
"That is a horrible thing to say, sir."
"It's the truth. We were in the same year, and he had many girlfriends, and groupies around."
Hermione sighed. "All I know is that she was younger than he was. The records say nothing of her name, just that she was 15 years old. I had thought she may be a witch, since she seemed to have gotten past the administration regulations for adoption without identifying herself. It sounded as if she may have Confunded them."
The professors looked at each other, each of them shrugging and shaking their heads. They obviously had no idea where she should start looking. Hermione would have to continue the search unassisted, even though they had offered her help, they had no clue.
"I'm not expecting an instant explanation. I was shocked I found out about Sirius so quickly. Something tells me it will take much longer to find my mother, if I ever discover her at all."
A twinkle had returned to Dumbledore's eye. "I have no doubt you are up to the task, Miss Granger. And now, to other matters…sherbet lemon?"
Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room, and told her friends what had occurred. Ginny and Lavender were indignant on her behalf. How dare Snape make disparaging remarks about her father! What a git!
Hermione was upset about that, but in her heart, understood. She had been teased and bullied and misunderstood in school, and that hadn't stopped when she left Muggle primary school to come to Hogwarts. Many people hated her and didn't even really know her. She could only assume it was the same for Professor Snape and her father.
The Gryffindors in the common room had all voiced their support. Most had already read the reports exonerating Sirius Black and illuminating his war efforts. He had, after all, been awarded a posthumous Order of Merlin, Second Class. Most seemed to think that being a Black was a good, thing, with the exception of the family's unfortunate habit of turning out Slytherins.
"At least your father was in Gryffindor. You are obviously from the better branch of the family!" Dean had joked.
"Ew, Draco Malfoy is your cousin—his mother is Narcissa Black," Seamus added.
"I figure I just have to take the good with the bad," Hermione said glibly. "There's really nothing I can do about it."
"Are you above hexing family members, Hermione?" Ginny said, merrily.
"That depends on whether you are referring to yourself, or to Malfoy," Hermione replied, to much laughter in the Common Room.
The news could have been taken a lot worse.
In other parts of the castle, the news was not being taken so well.
In the dungeons, Severus Snape sat in his quarters, nursing a Fire whiskey, wondering about the odd twists that Fate took. His best student – Sirius Black's daughter! Of all the ridiculous thoughts. Hopefully, she had inherited her brains and talents from her mother. In fact, hopefully she had inherited her complete character from her mother. Snape hated that dog, and the thought of Hermione Granger remotely resembling Black made him sick with anger. One of the only students that he respected – the progeny of the man he least respected. Snape laughed mirthlessly to himself. Fate was a strange thing indeed.
Further in the dungeon, Draco Malfoy was writing to his mother. He was stunned. He and Granger had been relatively civil to each other since the war had ended, especially as they were Head Boy and Girl. Draco's family were very firm believers in keeping family business private. Blacks did not air their dirty laundry in public, so to speak. Neither did Malfoys. What was not known outside of the family was that Bellatrix and Narcissa were not close, and never had been. They were completely estranged by the end of Draco's fifth year. It would not do to make mention of it, especially before the end of the war. Draco had little family left. His aunt and uncle were languishing in Azkaban; both were shells after the Dementor's Kiss had been performed. Draco had an aunt and cousin on the Black side, the ones related to that Mudblood Ted Tonks….and now Hermione. That was his closely related family.
How to deal with this change? His mother had spoken often of what it was to be a Black. The family line had basically ended, until now. Would Hermione Granger take it up as her own and try to revive it? Draco knew she would not welcome his input, and there was no way she would confide in him as things stood. He wrote all this to his mother. It was a long letter, full of old discussions on the family, mixed with the newer information about Hermione. What to do? Should they approach her? Was there any way to make her see them as Blacks, as well as Malfoys? Did they even want her to?
Draco was enough of a Slytherin to see the advantages in the connection. Hermione Granger was no idiot; she would see them as well. He would have to decide if he genuinely wanted her as a family member, or if only wanted the appearance of civility for advantageous purposes. He sealed the envelope and headed to the Owlery, hoping for a quick response from home.
Author's Note:
I've gone and reposted the first three chapters as they have now been beta'd by my wonderful editor, wellyuthink, who not only has helped me clean this story up, but has stuck with me for over three years on my WIP story The Obvious Choice. That's commitment right there
For all of the lovely reviews, thank you so much. I've thought over each and every one, and will address some of the comments raised in future chapters. I'd like to point out that in the prologue, I indicated that the mother used all of her Slytherin cunning to keep the truth quiet. Hermione is going to start searching for her mother and find over the next few chapters that she hid her tracks rather well.