Ch.1: Glamours and Potions: Hermione's morning takes a startling turn when she discovers her appearance has drastically changed, resembling someone entirely different. Seeking help, she approaches Professor Snape, who uncovers a shocking revelation: Hermione may actually be Estella Malfoy, his long-lost goddaughter, separated from her family for thirteen years.
Hermione lay in bed, her thoughts racing over the events of the previous night with Harry and Sirius. Poor Harry. He finally finds his godfather, only to lose him again so quickly. And why can't Dumbledore get Sirius a trial? Maybe I should bring it up to Harry—he might be able to talk to the headmaster. With a tentative plan forming in her mind, she got up quietly, determined to shower before her roommates stirred and filled the room with their usual morning gossip.
As she lathered her hair, Hermione froze. Something was wrong. Her fingers slid effortlessly through her hair—no tangles, no stubborn curls to fight. Confused, she finished rinsing and stepped out to look at herself in the mirror. Her breath caught in her throat, and she whispered, "Holy hell," as she took in her reflection. Her once bushy brown curls and warm chocolate eyes were gone. Instead, icy blonde hair, sleek and falling to her ribs, framed her face, and her eyes sparkled with a vivid sapphire blue. Her skin looks paler, her features subtly altered. She leaned closer to the mirror, her pulse quickening. Calm down, Hermione. It's probably just a prank. Someone in Gryffindor must be playing a joke. But deep down, her gut told her this was something far more serious.
Throwing on her uniform and pulling a hooded cloak over her head to hide the changes, Hermione decided there was only one person who might be able to help. 'If this is some sort of potion prank, Professor Snape will know how to fix it.' The walk to the dungeons felt like it stretched forever. Every shadow in the empty corridors made her jump. Finally, she reached the portrait guarding the professors' quarters and addressed the painted figure of Salazar Slytherin. "Could you please tell Professor Snape that Hermione Granger needs to see him? It's an emergency." Salazar slipped out of the frame, leaving Hermione alone in the dimly lit hallway. Minutes dragged by, each one more nerve-wracking than the last, until she heard the smooth, drawling voice of Professor Snape.
"Miss Gran…" His words faltered as his dark eyes scanned her from head to toe. His expression flickered, and for a moment, he seemed startled, though he quickly masked it. 'She looks like Malfoy… but that's impossible,' he thought, staring at her brilliant blue eyes and pale hair."Sir, I think someone pranked me and altered my appearance," Hermione blurted out, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. "I need your help to reverse it." Snape studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Miss Granger, come in. I'll need to run a few tests, but rest assured, I'll determine the cause."Relief washed over Hermione as she followed him into his laboratory, hoping he could provide the answers she desperately needed.
As Severus gathered his supplies, his mind raced. 'How is it possible for her to look exactly like Estella? No one knows about her except me, Draco, Lucius, and Narcissa. Could this be the result of a charm or potion wearing off? But don't get your hopes up, Severus—what if she isn't your long-lost goddaughter?' A soft cough snapped him out of his thoughts. Hermione stood nearby, watching him expectantly. "Miss Granger," he said, his voice steady, "I'll need to prick your finger to collect a small sample of blood. I'll add it to this parchment and pour a potion over it. The results should tell us what's causing this." Hermione nodded gratefully, holding out her finger without hesitation. "Thank you, Professor. I know I could have gone to Madam Pomfrey, but I was worried she might just dismiss this as a prank and let it run its course." Severus gave her a rare, genuine smile. "Miss Granger, there's no need to justify your decision. Madam Pomfrey likely would have consulted me anyway, as this does appear to be potion-related. You made the right choice."Hermione returned his smile with a small one of her own, feeling reassured as she watched him work with meticulous care.
'What if this isn't a prank?' Hermione thought, her mind swirling with doubt. 'I mean, I've been having strange dreams all year—dreams where I don't feel like myself. But maybe that's just from overusing the Time-Turner and taking on so many classes.' Her eyes flicked nervously to Professor Snape as he worked, carefully mixing the potion. Though it only took him ten minutes, it felt like an eternity to Hermione.
"Miss Granger," Snape said gently, breaking the silence, "I'm going to pour the potion over the parchment now. This should give us the answers we need." Hermione nodded, clutching the edge of the table as she watched. The moment the potion touched the parchment, it began to glow with a soft silver light, and words slowly materialized across the surface. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the phrase Genealogy of Estella Malfoy. Before she could fully process what she was reading, the shock overwhelmed her, and the world around her faded to black.
Severus stared at the parchment in his trembling hands, his face even paler than usual. He was pulled from his spiraling thoughts by the sound of Miss Granger slumping to the floor. Reacting quickly, he levitated her unconscious form and brought her to his private quarters. Gently, he laid her on the couch, draping a blanket over her for warmth. Now is not the time to panic, he told himself firmly as he made his way back to the lab to retrieve the parchment. The words on the document seemed to burn into his mind:
Genealogy of Estella Narcissa Malfoy
Born: June 5, 1980
Mother: Narcissa Malfoy (née Black)
Father: Lucius Malfoy
Brother: Draco Lucius Malfoy (twin)
Maternal Grandparents: Cygnus & Druella Black
Paternal Grandparents: Abraxas Malfidus Malfoy & Gomeisa Indigitamenta Nott
Godparents: Severus Snape & Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black)
His hands shook as his eyes darted back to the couch, where Hermione—no, Estella—lay sleeping peacefully. 'How can I tell Lucius and Narcissa? he wondered, his mind racing. How do I explain this to Estella? He gazed at her face, so familiar and yet so changed by the years they had spent apart. My goddaughter,' he thought with a pang, lost to me for thirteen long years.