Ch 1: A Sirius Secret: Hermione finds out some shocking news while cleaning Grimmauld Place
"": speaking
'': thoughts
'Could this place be any filthier?' thought Hermione as she scrubbed the walls of the drawing room in number 12 Grimmauld Place. Her summer hasn't exactly been the one she has planned but with Voldemort back Hermione decided she needed to be with the Weasleys to know everything that is happening. The only problem with that is Mrs. Weasley thinks they are too young to know what is happening and insists they make Grimmauld Place more habitable for the Order. "Too young..I'll give her too young! We have helped Harry in every dangerous situation Harry has been in!" Hermione huffed. Ron just looked at her and shrugged, "Mione, I know and I feel frustrated too but my mom is just overprotective. Eventually she will come around…plus when you live with Fred and George you learn how to be creative with breaking rules." Hermione chuckled and silently agreed with Ron.
Hermione could not imagine growing up in a dark house such as Grimmauld Place. 'No wonder why Sirius can't stand this place' she thought. Hermione felt bad for Sirius having to be trapped in the house that was full of so many bad memories. Since joining the Weasleys at Grimmauld Place, she has found herself seeking out Sirius more. She couldn't describe why other than that he felt familiar to her and she was determined to find out why. Sirius didn't see her as just a kid, he recognized her talents as a capable witch and he encouraged her to stand up for herself. Hermione wasn't just about to fight against Mrs. Weasley, that would be a battle she couldn't win, but she was thinking about what Ron said about being creative in breaking the rules. Thinking about rule breaking then led her to think about Harry, the biggest rule breaker of the golden trio. She knows Dumbeldore said Harry needs time after what happened in the graveyard but she needs to see how her other best friend is doing. Dumbeldore said Harry can join them on his birthday but Hermione wants to see him now. Hermione wants to talk to her best friend about her challenge in figuring out why Sirius feels so familiar to her. Ron is a great friend but Harry will sit calmly,listen to her and help her figure out this puzzle.
Hermione moves from one wall to the next which happens to be the wall with the tapestry. She can't help but admire the beautiful details of the tapestry. Hermione never realized how connected wizarding families are until now. She sees the names of many of her classmates all connected to each other. Tracing her fingers along the wall until she reached Sirius. She notices some dirt next to Sirius's name and scrubs it off. "Oh my god!" Hermione whispers. Her fingers trace the newly uncovered line and sees her mother's name and underneath Sirius and her mom is the name Hermione Celeste Black. Hermione was frozen in place. 'How could this be? I'm a muggleborn, not a pureblood. Well no wonder why Sirius feels familiar to me! Oh Sirius, he must not know…I should tell him.'
With a new found determination Hermione marched out of the drawing room in search for Sir- her father. 'How do I break the news? I can't just say "Hi Sirius! How's your day going? Oh by the way I'm the daughter you never knew you had" Be thoughtful Hermione, you can do this.' She found Sirius sitting at the kitchen table talking with Remus. The two men were so focused on their conversation they didn't notice her walk in until she cleared her throat. "Hey Hermione! Slacking off on your cleaning duty..don't worry we won't tell Molly." Sirius smiled. Hermione laughed, " No Sirius, I'm not slacking. I actually came to find you because there is something I need to show you in the drawing room." The two men got up, "I have to get going anyway..Order business" Remus said. Sirius joined a silent, deep in thought Hermione back to the drawing room. The walk from the kitchen to the drawing room felt like the longest walk Hermione had ever taken and as they got closer she started to feel her confidence waiver. When they finally reached the drawing room Hermione asked Ron to leave her and Sirius alone for a moment. Ron, happy to not have to clean this room anymore gladly left in search of a snack.
"Hermione, what is going on? Why couldn't Ron stay? You look pale, is everything ok?" Sirius rattled out. Hermione took a deep breath and gathered all her Gryffindor courage, "Sirius there is something well serious I need to show you. While I was admiring the tapestry I noticed there was dirt near your name and when I cleaned it off I learned some shocking news about you and well…me. Oh god I am messing this all up! I better just come out and say it ... .Sirius, I am your daughter" Hermione said. Sirius just looked at Hermione in shock for a minute before examining the tapestry. His long fingers traced his name and then followed the line connecting him and Jane. Finally his finger traced down to Hermione's name, "wow a daughter…I'm a father" he whispered. He looked at Hermione whose eyes were filled with tears and then he walked over to her and engulfed her in a hug. "Hermione I promise to tell you the whole story as I know it, and we can go talk to your mom but just know I am so proud to be your father and I will do everything I can to make up for me not being there" Sirius whispered.