A/N: Okay, so I may have dropped the ball on this story for a minute. Alright, a LOOOONG minute. But I haven't abandoned it! As proof, I present to you, the next chapter of Green Finch.

Chapter 4

Hermione was starting to get frustrated. For almost a week, Nott had been hovering. If they had a class together, he was always sitting right behind her. If she was in the library, he was usually just a few tables over. If she went to find another book in the stacks, he was usually just a row over from her. At meals, he wouldn't stop bloody staring. Her only respite was when she was in Gryffindor tower. But of course, there was no possible way for her to concentrate on her homework when everyone was up there.

It was a Sunday evening in early October, and Hermione was in the library, hidden away in the furthest corner of the restricted section. Hermione had figured out at the beginning of term that because of the content contained in the books, most students were reluctant to go in the section, meaning Hermione could study in peaceful quiet, away from the whispers and stares of other students.

She was working on her ancient runes homework when all of sudden, the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up. She turned to look behind her, and was unsurprised to see Nott hiding in one of the stacks, pretending he wasn't trying to spy on her, hiding in a book. Exasperated, she pushed her chair back, and walked purposely toward him.

"Why are you spying on me?" She asked as she stood in front of him, hands on her hips.

Theo lowered the book he'd been pretending to read. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

Hermione stomped her foot. "Yes you are!" She whisper yelled. Looking around quickly, she hissed at him, "If you're worried I spilled your secret, don't worry. I didn't."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Except to Weaselette?"

Hermione had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Well, I swore her to secrecy. And she won't break a promise to me."

Theo waved a hand in the air. "I don't care if you told her." Hermione looked confused and was about to ask why, when Theo continued. "And as to why I've been spying on you. I haven't. I've actually been wanting to speak with you."

Hermione took a step back. "About what?"

"Your birthday is September 19th correct?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Yes. Why?"

"Was there anything strange surrounding your birth?" Theo asked, internally praying to whatever gods were out there that he wasn't pushing his luck.

"No." She replied, folding her arms over her chest. "Why the sudden interest in… Oh my god! You don't think I'm your sister do you?" She started laughing. "That's rich. Me! Your sister. Can you imagine?"

Theo looked at her with complete seriousness. "I have reason to believe you might be. If you could just answer my questions-"

Hermione had stopped laughing. "You have got to be out of your bloody mind. I'm a muggleborn, remember?" She interrupted.

"I'm not, I'm afraid." Theo said apologetically. "Look, I just found out myself, and I was raised thinking that my sister was dead. The only reason I found out was because of a document that was only activated when she came of proper age."

"So, what does that have to do with me?"

Theo sighed. "We were twins. Her birthday was the same as mine. The same as yours."

Hermione took a few steps back, shaking her head, her wild curls flying around. "You're mad." She whispered. "You're absolutely mad. It's impossible."

Theo took a step towards her. "Look, I know that it sounds crazy, but I think I have a way to prove it…"

"NO!" Hermione shouted, forgetting she was in the library. "I don't know how you got this mad idea in your head, but just forget about it." She turned on her heel quickly and ran to the table she'd been using, and gathered her belongings haphazardly and shoved them in her bag. She walked back over to Theo once her bag was slung over her shoulder. Getting right up in his face, she warned, "Stay the hell away from me." She turned, and just as Theo thought he was going to get off with just a warning, suddenly her fist collided with his nose.

"FUCK!" He yelled, clutching his nose.

Hermione was looking at him, shaking. "Or else."

As she started to run away, Theo called after her, voice in pain, "She named you Hermione!"

Hermione ran out of the library and didn't stop until she was in Gryffindor tower, tears streaming down her face. She raced up the stairs, ignoring Ginny shouting her name, and threw herself on her bed, sobs racking her body.

"Hermione!" Ginny shouted. She sat on the bed, and put her hand out to rub Hermione's back. "What happened?"

Hermione said something into her pillow.

"Didn't catch that." Ginny said gently.

Hermione turned her head so that her face wasn't shoved into the pillow, and then sat up, tucking her knees into her chest. "When I was born," she began. "I wasn't supposed to survive. The doctors discovered a problem with my heart while my mum was pregnant with me. After I was born, I was taken directly to the NICU, a place for babies who are born with problems, where they thought I was going to die."

Ginny looked at her confused. "I don't get it."

Hermione looked at her knees. "Somehow, my heart fixed itself. The doctors couldn't explain it. Everyone just said it was a miracle. As if I'd been healed by magic."

"Hermione, I don't understand what you're telling me."

Hermione looked up at Ginny, tears threatening to fall again. "Nott and I have the same birthday." When Ginny still looked like she wasn't getting it, she continued. "His sister died at birth, in unexplained circumstances. I was supposed to die, but didn't. And apparently his mum named the baby Hermione." She said, her voice cracking.

Ginny gasped. "Mione. You don't really think you're Nott's sister do you?"

Hermione nodded her head yes, not trusting herself to not cry if she spoke again.

Ginny looked at her with pity in her brown eyes, and then reached out and hugged the curly haired witch. "It's going to be alright. You don't have to claim him if you don't want to!" She said kindly, rubbing Hermione's back as she began sobbing again. The two girls stayed like that for several moments while Hermione cried into Ginny's shoulder. Eventually Hermione began to calm down, and Ginny took out her wand, and conjured a clean handkerchief, giving it to Hermione.

Hermione wiped her eyes, and hiccupped. "Thanks," she said quietly.

Ginny smiled sadly. "So how did you react when he told you this?"

Hermione flushed. "I said he was crazy, told him to stay the hell away from me, and then I punched him."

Ginny gasped. "You punched him?"

Hermione nodded. "In the nose."

Ginny fell back on Hermione's bed, laughing. "I can't believe you punched him!"

"It's not funny Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed wetly, reaching out to swat her best friend's shoulder. "I might have broken his nose."

Ginny laughed even harder. "Well, I don't think you have to worry about him coming anywhere near you for a little while. You probably terrified him."

Hermione buried her face hands. "I need different friends."

Ginny rolled over on to her side. "Sorry, Mione. Don't think you can get any new ones right now," and promptly proceeded to start laughing again.