i hope you like chapter 3. feel free to let me know what you think! ;)
Hermione felt her heart pound in her chest. Did Draco know? "I must say, weasels face when you slapped him was the best thing I have ever seen." Draco said jokingly. Hermione relaxed. He was just joking. Her secret was safe.
"We better go back into the great hall. I heard that the professors want to make announcements about classes after the feast." Draco informed. Hermione sighed. She honestly didn't want to go back to the great hall. Everyone would probably be staring and talking about her, seeing as she had just yelled at, not to mention slapped, one of her best friends. She was about to reply to Draco when ginny came rushing towards her.
"Hermione! That was bloody brilliant" she exclaimed. Hermione chuckled. "You seem excited that I just humiliated your brother in front of everyone." Hermione said. Ginny shrugged. "You should have seen him after you left. Everyone was staring at him, and his face was sooo red" Hermione laughed. "Now that I got to see!" and it was true. Ron had been embarrassed many times, but she doubted they were as bad as this. Especially since all the teachers saw as well. "Come on!" ginny was tugging her arm.
They were both leaving when draco rolled his eyes. "Hello to you to ginny" he said sarcastically. Ginny stopped dead. "Did you just call me 'ginny'" she asked disbelievingly. "Well, unless you know someone else whose name is ginny and has flaming red hair, then yes I did" Draco replied, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Why?" she asked plainly. Draco shrugged. "Granger here told me on the train ride that if we were going to be friends, I had to play nice with you and potter" he explained. "And you're listening to her?" ginny said, still in disbelief. "Well, if us Slytherins have to be nice to you to start a fresh then so be it. I will have you know, however, that it is not easy" he answered. Ginny smirked. He sounded a lot like a certain someone at that point.
"Well then, ginny let's go" Hermione said, eager to end this little conversation. Ginny shrugged and walked into the great hall with Hermione. "Can we sit anywhere else?" Hermione asked pleadingly. She was NOT looking forward to seeing Ron. "There are two spots at the front of the table" ginny suggested. "Perfect!" Hermione said. And it was. It was far away from Ron.
They took their seats and began eating. Soon enough the feast drew to a close. Professor McGonagall got everyone's attention to make an announcement. "As I am sure you are all aware, the war with Voldemort killed many muggles. He held the belief that we were superior to all muggles. And so, we have decided that once every term, you will be going on a supervised trip into the muggle world." At this everyone broke out in whispers. "This is going to be… interesting" Hermione said to ginny.
"I also have been told to remind you that the forbidden forest is forbidden for a reason. No one is to enter it under any circumstances. Some of you may already know this rule but some of you," at this McGonagall eyed Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Ought to be reminded. Now, you may all retire to your dormitories. Prefects, please show the first years where to go."
There was a rush of chatter as everyone filed out of the great hall. Hermione and ginny stayed seated. The heads dormitories were in a different part of the castle. Hermione had suspected that that was what professor McGonagall had wanted to talk about earlier. Be that as it may, she had no idea where they were. Ginny and Hermione had decided to go to Hermione's room because ginny 'didn't want to spend a minute in a dormitory with a bunch of giggling girls'.
they made small talk while they waited for McGonagall. "How are your parents Hermione?" ginny asked. Shit. Hermione paled. It was better that no one asked about her parents. "they're fine." She replied shakily. Over the summer Hermione had informed everyone who knew about her wiping her parents memories that it was all a ruse so that if anyone was questioned they could say they were obliviated. Everyone had been happy for Hermione, yet no one asked her any questions about her parents at all. To be honest, Hermione was annoyed that no one thought to ask her anything about her home and family in the muggle world. Once she had offered Ron and harry to come to her house over summer and Ron quickly refused, asking why the hell they would want to go to the muggle world.
Ginny was about to speak when Professor McGonagall approached them along with- "Kingsley!" Hermione said. "Hermione-" he was cut short however by Hermione. "How dare you have the audacity to require us to do a redo year! Throughout the course of seven years, I have repeatedly saved harry and Ron's asses, been tortured, helped defeat Voldemort, was on the run for a year, and helped rebuild after the war! I know more about magic than some of the teachers! I would have thought that was enough to let me graduate! I have a life outside Hogwarts! And you have the nerve to make me redo the year" Hermione yelled.
Professor McGonagall and ginny stared at her dumbfounded. Hermione granger was yelling at the minister of magic. Ginny knew Hermione was mildly upset at being told she had to do a redo year, but she had no idea Hermione was this mad. A sudden thought struck ginny. Hermione had changed. She was more confident. But that didn't happen because of the war. She remembered Hermione's reaction when she asked about her parents. In that moment, ginny wanted to find out who they were. She had a feeling that there was something Hermione wasn't telling her.
Meanwhile Kingsley was cowering at the hand of Hermione's wrath. You did not want to be on the receiving end of her anger. "I'm sorry Hermione, I really am, but right now I really need to talk to you, Ron and harry" he said, regaining his composure. Hermione groaned. "don't even mention Ron's name to me" when Kingsley looked confused ginny filled him in.
"he was badmouthing Hermione for protecting Slytherin in front of everyone so she yelled at him and slapped him because he was being a prat" ginny said casually. Kingsley looked surprised. "Then I will let them know separately. You three will be awarded with order of merlin 1st class at a dinner this weekend. The muggle cabinet have decided to award you with something or the other. I don't know what they called it."
At this Hermione paled. Everyone at the cabinet knew her, seeing as she was royalty. They could not find out about her being magical. There was only one muggle who knew her secret outside the family. The muggle prime minister. "Kingsley, can I talk to you alone?" she asked in a strained voice. Kingsley nodded, still fearful that she would start yelling again.
Once she knew no one could hear her she started talking. "How much do you know about the royal family?" she asked. If he knew a lot about them then it wouldn't come as such a shock. "Not much. I have only met the queen, king, and their daughter." Hermione sighed. Here it goes. This would be the first magical person that she told her secret to. "Well, now you've met another member of the royal family" Hermione said with sarcastic jazz hands. Kingsley just looked confused. "What? Where?" Hermione gestured at herself. At this Kingsley's mouth dropped open.
"you're of royal blood?" Kingsley exclaimed. "a little bit louder Kingsley, I don't think they heard you at the top of the astronomy tower" Hermione said sarcastically. "Sorry. I just found out that I let a child of royal blood run around Britain for a year!" Hermione scowled at the word 'child'. "It doesn't matter. I would have done it either way" Hermione said. "Hold it. Who are your parents?" Hermione sighed. Here goes nothing. "My grandmother is the queen. My parents are heirs to the throne. I am in line after them" Kingsley groaned.
"Any other royal family members I should know about?" he asked. "I have an aunt, uncle and 2 cousins" Kingsley rolled his eyes. "I meant in the cabinet" Kingsley said. "I know the prime minister" Hermione replied casually. Kingsley looked as if he was going to explode. "we'll just have to make the muggle award anonymous. I still can't believe I never found out you were royal" Kingsley said.
"Your what?!" a voice yelled from behind them. Hermione turned to find ginny standing there. "How come you never told me?" she asked in a hurt voice. "Can I explain later?" Hermione asked, desperately. Ginny nodded. Just then Professor McGonagall appeared with Draco Malfoy.
"Miss granger, it is time to go to the dormitories." Professor McGonagall informed. "I'll see you this Friday." Kingsley said before leaving. Draco was curious at what that meant but kept his mouth shut. "Come on ginny" Hermione said. Professor McGonagall led the way to the head dormitories.
There was a portrait, exactly like the fat lady, at the entrance. "Am I right in thinking miss Weasley is to know the password too?" Professor McGonagall asked. Hermione nodded. When Draco made no protest professor McGonagall turned to the painting. "unity" as soon as Professor McGonagall said that the portrait opened. "I will see you tomorrow morning" and with that, she left.
"After you, good ladies" Draco said gesturing at the portrait hole. Hermione rolled her eyes before walking in. ginny followed her, dumbfounded. "Since when did you get so nice?" she asked Draco. This time, Draco rolled his eyes. "didn't we have this conversation, like, an hour ago?" he said. "I know, but it's still weird that of all people, you, Draco Malfoy, are being nice to me" ginny replied. "The-" Draco was about to make some remark when Hermione interrupted. "Can both of you just shut up?" she interjected. Ginny shrugged. Draco walked into the room and the portrait swung shut behind him.
When Hermione got a proper look and the room her mouth fell open. It was about the size of the Gryffindor common room and had bookshelves, desks, armchairs, even a fireplace. In one corner there was a small kitchen. There were two staircases that led to two different rooms. "Come on, ginny, let's go upstairs. Good night, Malfoy" Hermione said.
And so, the two friends made their way up the staircase and into one of the rooms. Hermione was hoping that ginny would forget about the conversation she had overheard earlier. It was all in vain. The second the door was closed and locked ginny turned to Hermione. "Now you can explain why you never told me you were royal."