Hermione stared at the results with disbelief. There was absolutely no denying it now.

She still wished it was wrong. "Are you sure this is correct?" she hopefully asked her former professor.

"Yes, Miss Granger - or shall I say Miss Dolohov - it is correct."

Suddenly the room started to spin, and, before anyone could grab her, Hermione fell to the floor.

"I think it was quite the shock," Snape deadpanned. "Thorfinn, please pick her up and put her on the couch."

Thorfinn carefully picked her up, noting how good she felt in his arms.

Antonin stood up to check on his daughter as Thorfinn placed her on the couch. Meanwhile, Narcissa had called a house elf for a wet washcloth, and upon receiving it, placed it on Hermione's forehead.

The cold, wet sensation seemed to work, for the young woman moaned, moving as if to sit. "What happened?"

"Stay still, my dear, you fainted after you found out the results," Narcissa told her.

Hermione leaned on her elbow and looked at everyone around the room, fixing her stare on the dark-haired wizard.

He returned her gaze. "I guess I am a little offended that you passed out," he told her jokingly.

She thought he was serious until she saw he was smiling and she smiled as well.

"Sorry."

—

A couple of days later found Hermione sitting with Narcissa on the patio. It was a common occurrence by now. She took a deep breath, inhaling the faint smell of lavender mixed with roses.

Hermione found the scent oddly comforting, especially after the past couple of days.

It seemed surreal to her that, in a matter of a couple of days, her entire life had changed. As she neared the cup to her lips, she let her thoughts wander.

She realized that Narcissa had asked her something, only she had missed out on what. "I am sorry, Narcissa, what were you saying?" she said, placing her tea cup back on the table.

"It's alright, my dear, you have had a lot to think about lately."

Hermione scoffed. "That's the understatement of the century."

Narcissa laughed and was about to say something when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Lucius motioning her over.

"Excuse me, Hermione, apparently my husband needs to see me. Why he doesn't just come out here, I have no idea," She murmured, rising to her feet and crossing the distance to the patio door where Lucius stood.

"What in the world is so important, Lucius, that could you not join us outside?"

"I figured it would be better to show this to you before Hermione sees it." He extended the newspaper to his wife.

Member of the Golden Trio Actually a Pureblood

By: Rita Skeeter

It is with great shock that this reporter has found that one very famous, decorated muggle-born is in fact a pureblood whose father is actually a former Death Eater. She also happens to be engaged to another former Death Eater.

One wonders if Miss Hermione Granger, or, rather, Hermione Dolohov is actually as smart as everyone thinks she is.

What do the other members of the golden trio have to say? Has she misled them as well?

Narcissa scanned the article. The pictures looked really close. "This one was taken from our house when she met Dolohov. How did she do that?"

Another picture portrayed Thorfinn and Dolohov at a pub. "We can't keep this secret, we'll need to show her."

"She is not going to take it very well, I imagine," Lucius said.

The blonde witch took a deep breath. "I'll do it."

"I still have some connections at the Ministry. I could reach out to some-"

"Not yet, let's see her reaction first. Hopefully, she didn't inherit her father"s temper."

Narcissa returned to her seat with the newspaper in hand.

Hermione turned to Narcissa with a smile on her face. "What did Lucius want?"

"Sweetheart, try not to be too angry. We'll find a way to deal with it."

"You are making me nervous. What's going on?" Narcissa slid The Daily Prophet copy across the table.

Hermione picked it up, gaze skimming the page. She went very quiet until she didn't. "I am going to smash that bug!"

Before Hermione could get another word out, a small owl that she recognized as Ron's crashed into the teapot, dropping off an unmistakably red envelope.

A howler.

As she reached for the letter, it started to smoke.

"Hermione, do you know to whom this clumsy owl belongs?"

She cringed, still staring at it. "It's Pig, Ron's owl."

She took a deep breath as the owl stood up and flew away. "Hermione, you better open it."

The envelope burst before she could reach for it, the unmistakable voice of her best friend coming out.

"Are you kidding me, Hermione? So you lied to us all this time? I bet you're loving all the attention. And what do they mean you are going to be married to one of them? We were supposed to be together!"

Hermione could do nothing but stare she started to cry as she realized her friends might accept that she is a pure-blood now. As the howler continued to yell until Narcissa managed to burn it.

"I think we have heard enough from Mr. Weasley, don't you?"

"I couldn't agree more."

Hermione longed to go to Diagon Alley... She had not been there since it had come out that she was a pure-blood. She was currently staying with Malfoys; she hadn't wanted to go back to her muggle parents. Besides her, both Thorfinnn and Antonin were staying at the Manor. Narcissa had thought that, as her godparents, offering her a place to live while she got to know her father was the least they could do.

Hermione walked toward the fireplace and reached for the floo powder. She heard footsteps somewhere behind her. "I am just going to Diagon Alley, Narcissa. I haven't left the manor in a while, I am starting to feel a little cooped up."

The laughter she heard told her it wasn't Narcissa. When she turned, Thorfinn was leaning against the door frame.

"Do you really think I am going to let you go to Diagon Alley alone? Only to get attacked when you set foot there?"

She looked annoyed. "I can take care of myself, Thorfinn. I have survived a war, I'm a big girl," Hermione replied, not bothering to keep from giving him an eye roll.

"I know you have, we all did. But you are something else now. As a pure-blood princess, you need to understand the need for an escort."

When she didn't reply, he added, "It's either me or I can get your father. Your choice. Though I thought maybe we could have a lunch date." The last bit held something of a pleading tone.

She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine, you can come. But you can't hex anyone."

He laughed. "I do have a little bit of self-control," he said, grabbing her right hand with his left one and scooping up some floo powder.

—

Once they arrived at Diagon Alley, Hermione took in her surroundings and smiled as she saw children running around. She was so happy that these children were going to be able to have a happy childhood and not worry about fighting a mad half-blood set on wiping out muggle-borns.

From their place on the street, she could hear the owls happily hooting as children came out from the pet store with their new familiar.

Thorfinn looked at her. "Okay, beautiful, where do you want to go?"

Hermione looked up at him, having almost forgotten his presence. "Um... bookstore first, then I better get some new robes or Narcissa won't be very pleased," she told him with a smile.

"I should have known you would want to go to the bookstore first. And you are right, Narcissa would be very disappointed if you don't get something more… fitting."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but she said nothing as she led him into the bookstore. As soon as she walked in, she smiled and took a deep breath: it smelled of new books and parchment, scents that were always very comforting to her.

She turned to Thorfinn, realizing that he, too, had a pleasant smell: sandalwood. She enjoyed his smell more than she should have.

Hermione blushed at the sudden thought and hoped that, despite his smirk, he hadn't noticed... He was about to say something when he heard someone say something as a blond head came bounding into view.

"Hermione, how lovely to see you. And this must be your fiancé," Luna said dreamily.

"Luna, I'm glad that you are still talking to me," she told the other witch as she gave her a hug.

"Why would I not talk to you? It's certainly not your fault that you are a pureblood or that your fiancé is a giant ex-Death Eater."

Hermione laughed. "It is so good to see you! Do you think we could get together sometime? I miss talking to you."

"I would love that."

When the Ravenclaw was about to walk out, an idea came to Hermione's mind. "Luna, do you think we could do an interview for the Quibbler? About me?"

Luna was beaming. "I would love to give you an interview, let me know when." The blonde skipped out the door.

Hermione was laughing again. As she stepped further into the store, she turned halfway towards Thorfinn.

The look on his face was priceless. "I thought you didn't like the article."

"Oh, I hated the article. But if we do an interview with the Quibbler, we can share our side of the story."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"No, but we are doing it."

"Spoken like a true pure-blood princess."