A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter. Huge thank you to lanamarymack for alpha/beta reading this chapter! You can find me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter four and be on the lookout for chapter five in a few days.
Hermione did not know entirely what to make of Regulus Black. All of the previous information that she knew about him was in bits and pieces from Sirius — who was bitter and wistful about his younger brother who'd died much too soon — and Walburga — who was fawning and immoderate in her praise for him. She had not known what to expect of living with him at Grimmauld Place.
To her great surprise, she was pleased to find that he was a relatively normal teenage boy, not that different from Harry or Ron. And, he was actually genuine in his desire to have a sister, as he'd professed on the train platform. He did not go on any diatribes about muggleborns and he was not rude to her despite learning all the details of her squib heritage. She found that she actually quite liked him.
Regulus had made it his mission to help her study for her OWLs, wanting to make sure that she would pass with flying colors. "You probably need the help, being related to a Montague," he teased her ruthlessly, before he'd seen her ambition to do well. "Besides, you don't want to disappoint father and mother."
Hermione didn't think much about making an impression on Walburga and Orion, but she did sort of want to stick it to the Black family that she had done just fine without the help of being raised in their family. She had thought she was a muggleborn for her entire sixteen years and really still was muggleborn, despite her new circumstances. Plus, she wanted to show Orion that she'd been right when she insisted he sign her up for ten OWLs.
Being an only child her whole life, Hermione hadn't expected to enjoy having a brother quite so much as she did, and she was sure it was mostly because of who Regulus was. It made her heart ache, knowing what it was that Sirius had left behind, and how bad it must have been for her friend's future godfather to actually leave.
Orion took Hermione to the Ministry on a rainy day in July to sit for her OWLs. Apparently, it had taken him calling in several favors to arrange for the private testing, but he would accept nothing less for a member of the Black family. He waited in the atrium of the testing facility every day while she furiously scribbled away at the theory portion of exams and the wand-waving practicals. Though she didn't feel close to Orion, it was sweet in a way to know that he was supporting her this way.
And, when she received her results a few weeks later, Orion was the first to celebrate her Outstanding marks. He hugged her — actually hugged her — while complimenting her on her skill. "Excellent work, Hermione. You've proven yourself in this family ten times over," he said, unable to wipe the smile from his face. "I can just imagine how furious Pollux will be to learn about this," he added, thinking of his father-in-law.
Walburga was pleased as well and called for Kreacher to prepare them a feast to celebrate.
Hermione was worried that her results might cause some strife in the nascent relationship between her and Regulus, but her new brother was happy for her. "Finally, I have someone to share the burdens of success with," he told her when he snuck into her room later that evening, carrying a flask of firewhiskey that he really shouldn't have.
She didn't want to seem like a prude and so she drank some, until her head went fuzzy and warm. They laughed and talked about Hogwarts, until she could barely keep her eyes open any longer. Regulus tucked her into bed and for the first time since she landed in the past, she felt somewhat at home again.
Once her OWL scores had been finalized, it was up to Orion to get her enrolled and sorted at Hogwarts. One morning, at breakfast, he let her know that they'd be making the journey to Hogwarts, just the two of them. "Wear your blue robes and have Walburga fix your hair," he ordered. "You never know who we will run into up there."
Hermione, who was too excited at the prospect of returning to Hogwarts, shot up the stairs before she could finish the breakfast on her plate. She wore the blue robes as expected and sat at the vanity while Walburga did her hair, tied back with a cream coloured ribbon.
"There," she said, pleased with her handiwork. "I say, you might even be more beautiful than Narcissa."
Personally, Hermione did not think that was possible, but she flushed under the compliment anyway. She was unused to having her looks referenced in any positive way, instead of her mind. When she was ready, she returned to Orion's side, eager to get going.
They used the floo in Grimmauld Place to access the Headmaster's office, which was empty when they arrived. Orion cursed under his breath, seeing it as a snub to be kept waiting by the enigmatic Headmaster. But, he also took it as an opportunity to warn Hermione off of telling him the truth of her circumstances.
"I don't think I have to remind you to keep quiet about where you've come from," he said, looking at her sternly.
Hermione wet her lips, thinking that keeping quiet was the last thing that she wanted to do. "But Headmaster Dumbledore might be able to —"
"He will not," Orion insisted. "He is a smart wizard, but he has a mind of his own. You don't know what you could be getting into by revealing such a valuable secret."
She stilled from the implication that Headmaster Dumbledore would use her future against her in some way. She didn't think that sounded very much like the wizard she knew. "But, help will always be given to those who ask for it at Hogwarts," she parroted, unable to stop herself from arguing.
"I insist," Orion said, staring down at her. "Don't forget that I am now legally your guardian. I don't have to enroll you in Hogwarts. So, think very carefully about your next steps."
Hermione frowned and sat on her hands to keep from crossing her arms over her chest. She couldn't do anything about it in front of Orion, but that didn't mean that she couldn't approach Dumbledore at some point in the school year. And, she'd just have to convince him to keep the matter between the two of them, keeping Orion Black — and the rest of the Black family — out of it.
Before they could debate the topic any more, the wizard himself was sweeping into his office. "I hope that I haven't kept you waiting long," Dumbledore said, though he didn't sound regretful in the slightest. "I understand that you have another student to enroll, Orion?"
"Yes, this is my daughter, Hermione Granger," Orion said, pressing a hand to her shoulder. It felt equal parts suffocating and comforting to know that she'd been fully embraced by her new little family.
"Daughter?" Dumbledore asked, looking at her over his half-moon spectacles. "Should she not be Hermione Black, then?"
Orion gave the other man a small smile. "Hermione has been living with the name Granger for nearly seventeen years. I see no reason to disrupt things for her, more than they already have been," he explained smoothly.
"And may I ask, how your ward—"
"My daughter," Orion said forcefully, wanting to make the point clear to the other man. Hermione was not sure why it was so important that everyone saw her as a familial relation, but she knew that this was some sort of unspoken argument between the two of them. She did not think that she would be made privy to such discussions, either.
"How your daughter came to be with you?" Dumbledore asked, looking a bit disdainfully at Orion. "After all, she's been living without you for nearly seventeen years."
"You certainly do not need to know any of the details of Hermione's circumstances or how she came to be in the family," Orion insisted, his tone icy and cutting. "All you need to know is that she is a Black and she needs to be enrolled at your school."
"I only ask because the timing is a bit odd," Dumbledore continued, like he had not heard anything Orion had just said. "Young Sirius has—"
"I will not be speaking about my errant son today," Orion insisted, rather glaring at the other wizard.
Oh, Hermione thought. Dumbledore thought that she was some sort of replacement child for Sirius. It was no secret that there was a very large, Sirius-sized hole in the family, and while she might be able to begin to fill it, Hermione was not naive enough to believe that she could ever patch over that crack. She did not get the impression that Walburga saw her as a replacement — just more of a distraction.
"Father, maybe we should look to Beauxbatons, if my attendance here is going to be a problem," Hermione said softly, though it was the last thing that she wanted.
Dumbledore cleared his throat unsure of himself. "No, no, there is of course a spot for you here, Miss Granger," he reassured her. "I just wanted to ensure that there are no irregularities."
Like being from two decades in the future, Hermione thought to herself snidely. No problem — even if she had to wait a little while longer to speak with Dumbledore without Orion overhearing, she could be patient. Things weren't really so bad at Grimmauld Place, to her surprise.
"I understand that she sat her OWLs already?" Dumbledore asked, returning his attention to Orion.
Orion smirked at the Headmaster, before pulling her official results from his robes, sliding them across the table. "Yes, and I am sure that you will find them all in order," he insisted, as if Dumbledore would have anything to complain about it. "Hermione should be all ready to start in her sixth year, with Regulus."
Dumbledore could not disguise the look of surprise as the cascade of Outstandings on her official results. Hermione let herself feel pleased with herself for being able to surprise the normally unflappable wizard. "Well, it looks like these are all in order," he agreed, using his wand to create a copy of the results, placing the duplicated document on his desk. "And which classes will you be continuing with?"
She nibbled on her lower lip, thinking of her plans to winnow down her class list. She wished she could continue with all of them, but knew it wasn't possible. "Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Ancient Runes," Hermione said. If there was one thing that she was certain of, it was that she would be able to handle the class load.
"Are you certain? Seven NEWTs will be difficult to balance," he said, looking concerned.
"I'll manage," Hermione said insistently. "My father agrees as well," she added, looking up to Orion. He seemed excessively pleased with how she was handling things.
"I will have Professor McGonagall owl you your book list," Dumbledore said, with a shrug. "And you will be sorted at the Welcoming Feast."
"There is no need to sort her. Hermione is a Black. She will be a Slytherin," Orion said, too forcefully.
Dumbledore made a noise of disagreement. "With all due respect, Orion, your eldest son is in Gryffindor. You are not the Sorting Hat," he said, dismissively. "Hermione will need to be sorted properly."
"Then do it now. I can see the old thing there in your cabinet," Orion ordered. "I won't have her made into a spectacle, being sorted with all the children."
After a moment of hesitation, Dumbledore was crossing the room and pulling the Sorting Hat from its spot on the shelf. He settled it on top of Hermione's head and she bit her lip, wondering if she should have mentioned to Orion that the first time she was a Gryffindor, too. And nearly a hatstall. They could be there all afternoon.
The Sorting Hat spent its time hemming and hawing, but it did not actually give Hermione much insight at all to what it was thinking. Maybe with her new familial circumstances, it would have realized that Gryffindor was not the optimal house for her this time around. Really, she would probably end up in Ravenclaw and would just have to hope that Orion wouldn't be too put out by that. After all, the Ravenclaws weren't like the arch-enemies of the Slytherins.
"SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting Hat said proudly.
Hermione sat in stunned silence. She really had not been expecting that one.
"See, I told you. She'd be in Slytherin," Orion said, looking far too pleased with himself. "I suppose that a father really does recognize the attributes of their children that will make them successful in a particular house."
Dumbledore did not look pleased at being bested, but seeing as she had been sorted into Slytherin, there was nothing to argue about, apparently. "Well, if that's all for today," he said, trailing off. "Look for an owl with your book list."
Orion nodded and stood, before taking Hermione by the arm to lead her into the direction of the floo. Once they had stepped through into the safety of Grimmauld Place, he addressed her. "Based on the look on your face, you were not a Slytherin before," he said simply.
"No, I most certainly was not. Muggleborn, remember?" she asked, staring at him pointedly. "How could you be so sure? Did you confund the Sorting Hat or something?"
"The fact that you even thought of that shows me that you are perfectly suited to your new house," Orion answered with a smirk. "You'd have to be blind to not see how cunning and ambitious you are, Hermione. Now chin up, I expect you to thrive in Slytherin. And Regulus will be there to help you get acclimated."
Hermione nodded, knowing that there was nothing else to be done to change the outcome of the day's events. And, she supposed it would be nice to have a familiar face in Regulus, close by. And really, would being in the same house as the Marauders have been a blessing or a curse? She wasn't entirely sure. She would want to talk to Sirius and Remus for help, but would she have been able to act normal around James and Peter? That remained to be seen.
Still, every day spent in the past she was finding she knew even less about herself than she thought she had.