It's another week before Madam Pomfrey concedes, releasing me from the Hospital with strict instructions for the rest of my healing. I have a host of potions to take and ointments to apply. She lets me out just in time for dinner on Sunday.
Instead of heading for the Great Hall, I begin to make my way to the library. I had sent Hermione and Neville away for dinner shortly before the Hospital's Matron came to release me, meaning that everyone still assumed I was stuck in the Wing for another night. My walk across the castle is slow, needing to stop every couple of minutes for a few deep breaths.
Eventually, I shuffle through the double doors, waving to Madam Pince as I move deeper into the library. I lean my weight on the shelves as I walk, using a Point Me charm to lead the way to the book I'm in search of. I find myself deep in the shelves, close to the Restricted Section. Muttering the spell one more time, my wand leads me to the end of the row, by a beautiful stained glass window, a wooden desk sitting beneath it. I lean down, seeing an old leather bound book at the back of the shelf. I tug it out, standing up once more. I take a moment to catch my breath, the pain in my torso becoming greater from bending. As I breathe through the pain, I admire the window. It depicts a doe and stag grazing in a field against a sunny sky. There are clusters of daffodils across the landscape and the weather seems to model that of the Hogwarts grounds.
Taking another deep breath, I take a seat at the desk, laying the book before me. The Pureblood Directory . Written by one of my ancestors, Cantankerous Nott. It lists the families included in the Sacred 28 and gives a brief history on each. This should hopefully be a good starting point in figuring out what to do about my newfound heritage. I had yet to tell anyone, nervous of the reaction I would receive. Our conversations over the last week tiptoed around the battle at the Department of Mysteries, though Hermione had filled me in on all that had happened after my injury. She and Tonks had dragged me out of the line of fire while Shacklebolt had taken down a Death Eater trying to get to me, it had to have been Lord Nott. Then Sirius' death and Harry's confrontation with Voldemort that had followed. She and Ron had told me that Harry had been a wreck the week following the events. Ron had confided in me later that he had been overwhelmed between Harry and Hermione's grief. He couldn't figure out how to help them both.
I focus back in on the book, flipping through the first few pages of pureblood drivel before finding the Nott's family history. Theirs was more extensive than the others, lending credence to the author's heritage.
"Finally managed to drag yourself out of the Hospital Wing, Granger?" I jump at the sudden intrusion, not having heard anyone approach. I look up from the directory, seeing Malfoy standing before me, blocking the exit to the aisle. He approaches with a smirk. "Cat got your tongue?"
"What do you want, Malfoy? I don't really have time to trade insults with you at the moment." I shift slightly as I turn in the desk chair, trying to hide the book. The Slytherin's eyes narrow at the movement, suspicion crossing his features. Faster than I can anticipate, he moves toward me, leaning over and bracing an arm each on the chair and the desk, effectively trapping me in the seat. His gaze settles on the pages before me, scanning their contents, before his eyes trail back to mine with a raised brow.
"You know." It's not a question. I try not to let the fear that strikes through me show on my face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." My voice is a few octaves higher than normal. "Back up, Malfoy."
He leans closer, leaving us only a few inches apart. "I don't think so, Cassandra ."
Fury fills me as the name leaves his lips. I push against his chest, trying to separate us. A pained sound leaves me, my arms immediately dropping. "Get…Away…From me." I gasp out through deep breaths, holding one hand to my chest and the other on the desk to steady myself. Malfoy's eyebrows furrow at my pain.
He straightens, staring down at me with an odd expression. I find myself unable to read him. "He's coming for you, you know? Thoros won't stop until he drags you out of the muggle filth." Malfoy pauses gauging my reaction as I finally get my pain under control. "You should speak with Theo. He was devastated when everyone thought you died. He wants to know you now that you've been found."
It's my turn to furrow my brows when I take in his words, watching as he backs up a few steps. I speak before thinking of the consequences, admitting my knowledge of the situation. "What do you mean he was devastated? We were infants."
The blond huffs out a surprised laugh. "Granger, we were five when you died." He stares at me incredulously before his eyes widen. "You don't remember?"
My stare stays blank as I take in this information. There's no way he's telling the truth. I remember growing up with Hermione. I remember our fourth birthday party for Merlin's sake! Hermione made our dolls fly around the nursery when we were three. That was her first accidental burst of magic. Before I can get too lost in my thoughts, I return to the conversation. "You're lying."
"Gra- Rosie. That's what Scarhead and the Weasel call you, right? Rosie, I was there. So were Daphne and Astoria Greengrass and Pansy. We were all at my home, playing out in the gardens while our mothers had tea. We were in my treehouse, trying to learn how to play an Exploding Snap game I stole from my father's study. You and Theo got into an argument, I don't even remember what it was about. You went to leave and find your mother, but fell out of the tree. You hit your head." My mouth hangs open as he speaks, trying to process his words. "Daphne ran to tell your mum. When they got back to us she was levitating you away, taking you to St. Mungos. We never saw you again. Everyone was told that you passed from a head injury after getting to the hospital."
The tense silence following his story stretches between us. Tears threaten to fall from my eyes as my world crumbles for the second time this week. Again, some part of me recognizes the truth in his words, just as I had with Dumbledore. I push myself to my feet, snatching up the book from the desk and clutching it to me.
"You're right, I don't remember. I remember Hermione and my parents, not whatever life I apparently had as Cassandra. I don't care what Lord Nott wants. I'm not his daughter, she died. Even if it wasn't a physical death, Cassandra Nott is long dead. I am Rosie Granger, a muggleborn daughter to dentists and the twin sister to the smartest witch in this school. Not some pureblood princess." I take another breath and begin to move toward him, planning to leave Malfoy and this conversation behind. "Tell your friend that I'm sorry for his loss, but I won't risk losing my sister over a technicality of birth." I shove past the Slytherin, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible.
"So you rather him lose his sister all over again?" I don't stop at his question, intent on making it back to Gryffindor Tower. "Your secret won't stay secret for very long. I suggest you come to terms with it."
-
I stare into the fireplace, mind racing as I curl up in an armchair and absentmindedly thumb through the directory. Malfoy's words weigh heavily on my mind. How could I possibly have been Cassandra Nott for a portion of my childhood but have memories of being Rosie Granger during the same time?
I sit silently, waiting for everyone to return from the dinner I skipped. It's time I tell Hermione what I've learned. She deserves to know and I don't think I can keep it a secret from her much longer.
It's a few minutes later that the portrait hole opens, Gryffindor students begin to trickle in as they return from the Great Hall. Behind a group of giggling third years, I see Ron's tall figure. I push myself to my feet, waiting on them to spot me. Harry is the first to notice, nudging my twin and pointing toward me. Hermione turns, looking at me in surprise. I give her a small wave.
"Rosalind! When did you get here?" She questions as they make their way to me.
"Finally sneak away from Pomfrey?" Ron snickers. I grin at his suggestion.
"No, she released me before dinner. I wasn't hungry so I made my way up here to wait for you guys." I answer with a shake of my head.
"Well it's nice to see you back on your feet, Rosie." Harry claps a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"Trust me, no one is happier than me to see myself out of the Hospital Wing." I say with a sigh. I turn my attention back to my sister, taking one of her hands. "Can we talk in the dorm? It's really important."
Hermione looks at me in confusion before nodding. We say our farewells to the boys before I allow her to lead the way upstairs to our room. Thankfully, Lavender and Parvati haven't made their way up here yet. I make my way to my bed, sitting and running a hand over the duvet. "I've missed my bed." I murmur with a sigh.
My sister takes a seat on her own bed, across from mine. "What's wrong? What did you need to talk to me about?"
I grimace, trying to figure out where to begin. "At the ministry, do you remember the Death Eater that was calling me Cassandra?" She nods at my words. "Well, I had a run in with him before I found you all. We exchanged curses and he hit me with a killing curse." Hermione sucks in a sharp breath but I keep speaking. "It bounced right off my shoulder, as if he hadn't cast anything. That was when he started calling me that name and asking me how I was alive. He was as surprised as I was.
"The first day I woke in the Hospital Wing, after you all left, Professor Dumbledore stayed behind to speak with me. He told me that, while I was unconscious, he received a letter about me. A letter questioning my parentage." I pause, trying to gather my bearings, not daring to look at Hermione. "It was from Lord Thoros Nott, claiming that I was his dead daughter, Cassandra Nott."
"That's not possible!" My sister interrupts this time. "We're twins!"
"I said the same to the Headmaster, Mya. He pointed out our physical differences and offered me a potion that would test the theory." I stare down at my hands as they sit in my lap, dreading what I have to tell her next. "The potion proved that I'm Theodore Nott's twin sister."
Shocked silence hangs between us for a few moments, neither of us knowing what to say. I slowly lift my head, chancing a glance at the only sister I have ever known. Hermione sits across from me, staring off into space, mouth open in shock.
"Who else knows?" She finally whispers.
I swallow the lump in my throat. "Madam Pomfrey, Professors McGonagall and Snape, and the Notts." I say, deciding not to make the situation worse by mentioning Draco Malfoy.
Hermione nods slowly, meeting my gaze once more. "Well, I don't care what the potion or Lord Nott says. You're my sister. You'll always be my sister."
A sob escapes me as I lunge across the space between us, wrapping my arms around my twin tightly. I don't think I realized how much I needed to hear her say those words.
It's several minutes before I'm able to compose myself, pulling back and settling on the space next to Hermione. "There's more." I tell her hesitantly. She nods, encouraging me to tell her.
"I found out that Cassandra Nott died when she was five years old." I watch as she processes my words, features twisted in confusion once again. "Apparently she fell out of a tree and hit her head. Everyone was told she died afterwards at St. Mungos."
"But I have memories of us together before we were five." Hermione says, eerily similar to the thoughts I had earlier this evening.
"I know. We must have had our memories tampered with. It's the only reason I can come up with for us to have those memories. I assume that Mum and Dad are the same. Whoever put Cas- whoever put me with you all made sure that all of us believed I have always been with you." I say, forcing myself to openly admit that I wasn't a Granger.
"But why? Why would somebody put you with a muggle family? Why would somebody have taken you at all? Who would have done it?" Hermione lists the questions, pulling at strings in an attempt to unravel the mystery.
"They said Nott's mother took me to the hospital. Do you think she gave me away? Or did someone take me from her?" I shake my head with a sigh. "I really don't care how it happened. I'm just glad that their actions led me to you." I take Hermione's hand once more, squeezing.
We just sit in companionable silence for a few moments, absorbing our conversation. I try to think of how to proceed. Do I give Theodore a chance? He did lose his sister. I would be devastated if I lost 'Mione. How do I keep away from Thoros Nott? How do I protect Hermione and our parents from him? Would Theo help me if I asked?
"Should we tell the boys? The Order?" I question, turning to my sister. "How do we tell Mum and Dad? We have to figure out a way to protect them. We can't let Lord Nott get to them if he tries to get to me. They have no way to protect themselves against witches and wizards." Anxiety strikes through me at the thought of them in danger because of me.
"We should tell Ron and Harry sooner rather than later, they should know what we're getting into. I'm not sure about the entire Order. Maybe Ginny and the twins. Possibly Neville and Luna. Other than that it should be on a need to know basis." Hermione pauses, thinking.
"As for Mum and Dad, we need to come up with a plan. They're not safe anymore, especially with you being a Nott entering the equation. They're already in danger from our ties to Harry and the Order, now it's doubly so. We need to find a way to get them to leave the country. Maybe we can convince them to head for the States or the Continent, or even Australia. Anywhere away from Britain."
I mull over her words. "They'll never leave us behind. Not willingly."
"Well we have a week to figure out how to convince them."
I nod, standing and stretching. "Let's go ahead and tell the guys. Rip off the bandaid."
"I'm sure Ron will take it well." Hermione says with a roll of her eyes.