Chapter Seven: Uploaded May-18-2023

I do not own HP : this is a plot bunny based of the books/movies

Hermione's POV:

I was rounding the corner when I felt a hand around my elbow and I was yanked into an alcove behind a statue.

A second hand was pressed to my mouth as I heard the distinct sound of fabric landing on the stone floor. My heart was in my throat as my panic escalated.

Then his voice broke the silence, "Don't freak out-it's just me."

His hands left my body, and I turned on a dime with my bag over one shoulder and I just swung.

"Harry James Potter!" Two more hits to the shoulder, "Don't you ever grab me like that again! "

His hands were up in full surrender, "I'm sorry- I'm sorry! I won't do that again, I just had to grab you before you ran into Ron."

"Before I ran into Ron? Is there something wrong?"

Harry shifted left and right on his feet, his head tilted forward so his hair fell over her glasses but still he remained silent.

"Harry-what is going on?"

His green eyes locked onto mine as he stilled. "That is what I want to ask you Miney, " His hands moved and pulled the map that must have been in his back pocket.

The colour drained from my face and my eyes widened, "Who all saw-"

"Just me."

"Harry I-"

"What is going on Miney? I kept checking once I saw who you were with, and you were together for hours. I know it is not a school assignment, so I am confused on why you spent so much time together: he is one of HIS best friends, what if he was spying for the Inquisitorial Squad?"

I snort out a laugh, "Absolutely not."

"Then, are you two dating?"

"Harry- that is absolutely disgusting-"

"Then why were you together for hours?"

I hold his gaze for what seems like minutes, trying to silently plead with him to not make me say this truth out loud yet. To let me keep this secret as mine for a little while longer. But a flicker of light shone against his glasses and changed the focus of my gaze to the scar on his forehead: a stark reminder of his pain, his reminder of the family he once had and lost in all but a moment.

With a defeated sign, I braced myself to tell him everything,

"It's complicated Harry, it doesn't make sense but it does. It's frustrating and it's terrifying but I am not scared of what is happening or what will happen, " I felt tears pricking at my eyes.

"Two years ago, the time turner I was using messed up my magical signature. Reversing time for almost a full year, every day for hours added time to my core and essentially myself as well. I am a year older when you count all the extra time I gave myself. So, Right now I am of age in the wizarding world Harry, and when I went to Gringnotts this year to convert my money, I was given a letter.

This letter that should have been given to me when I turned 16, but according to the magic I already am. It was from my mom. My biological mother, I should say."

I reached into the bag hanging haphazardly from my shoulder, pulling out my journal. I open the front cover to hand Harry the copy I made.

"Theo has the original letter, but I confirmed it with my own wand Harry. It wasn't charmed, or altered. But this letter tells me that I am Theo's twin sister. And tonight, we just confirmed it with a potion that contains both our DNA."

His jaw was clenched, but his grip on the letter was soft as he read the lines that have caused me such turmoil over the past few months. His eyes were a reflection of every emotion he was feeling- concern, relief, compassion. Yet there was still that linger sadness in them, and I knew the reason why-

"I couldn't tell you yet, not until I got to talk to Theo about this. I love you Harry, and you are a brother to me in some sense as well, but with everything that has happened over the last couple years, I didn't want to hurt you. I see now, that by hiding it from you, that I have inadvertently hurt you. I am so sorry Harry- I should have told you long before you dragged me into this alcove."

He just swallowed while nodding his head as he was finishing the last few lines of the letter, but when he lifted his head to meet my gaze, he had a soft smile tugging on one corner of his mouth, "We can't tell Ron yet. He will lay an honest to God egg over this."

I felt like I was gasping like a fish out of water for a few minutes as those fifteen words just bounced around inside my head. Harry James Potter was cracking a joke over one of the most emotional conversations we have ever had. Once I realized that, I could stop the laugh that burst from my belly, no matter how tight I squeezed my sides, or how firm I pressed my mouth into my hand.

My eyebrows knit together and the tears I tried to hold back came rushing out in this strange, almost minical emotional outburst. This was not the reaction from him that I was expecting at all.

I tossed my arms around his neck, and I buried my face into his scratchy oversized shirt and nodded in agreement.

Ron can definitely not know.

"And," he pressed both my letter and the map into my hands, "These should be in your care for safe keepings."

"Harry-"

"I also want to meet him-eventually, once you too sort out everything." He shrugged as his arms tightened around me.

I hugged him a little tighter in that alcove, the past few hours catching up to me in an instant: confirming my family, having heart to heart conversations. And this chilling sense of reality is blowing at my back. I am Hermione Jean Granger, a known muggleborn, best friend to Harry Potter. The life I have lived in the wizarding world has shown me that I have no desire to support the other side of whatever is coming.

My blood may be as pure as they come, but the treatment of those who come to this world completely unprepared is shameful and wrong. Yet, it is the same people that treat me like the scum of the earth, that I now know I share blood with. But I cannot walk the same path that I know my biological father and possibly my very own brother are walking.

I think for the first time in my life since coming to the Wizarding world, and to even Hogwarts itself, that I do not know anything about what my next steps are going to be. But one thing for certain, I am grateful to have my best friend by my side as I sort this out one painful step at a time.

Theo's POV

Each step we took towards the dungeons pushed more and more theoretical scenarios flashing in my mind's eye: there is no way to claim her without putting her in more danger.

If I claim her as a Nott she will be sold off to the highest bidder by either my father or the Dark Lord. She would be used to breed, the very thing my mother did to protect her from that fate would be for nothing.

If I claim her as a lover, I couldn't imagine the torture they would but her through for corrupting a pure blood line.

If I tried to stop her, would she think of me as a sympathizer to this lunacy? That I believe that it is my blood that makes me superior? Would she make me her enemy like the famous Black brothers?

We made it back into our dorm and wands were out as soon as the door closed behind us: silencing and a notice me not spell was cast.

"Do you think we should host daddy Nott a baby shower for his darling little girl?"

I turned to narrow my eyes at Blaise while Draco sent a stinking jinx towards the tanned moron.

"You cannot tell a soul about her. You cannot joke about this, you cannot let anyone know." I brought both hands to my temple and pressed my palms against my forehead.

I was nauseous with even the thought of my father finding her: and the silence of the room seemed to mirror that thought.

"How do I do this? How do I keep her safe and in my life at the same time? I just got her…I can't lose her."

"I have an idea-but you are not going to like it…and neither will she."

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Thank you,

KBN