Hermione awakens to the shocking revelation that she is Estella Malfoy, Draco's long-lost twin sister and Severus Snape's goddaughter. As she grapples with her true identity and the implications of her past, she finds unexpected support and comfort in the stoic potions master, who vows to help her navigate this life-altering discovery.
In this chapter Hermione will be referred to as Estella from now on*
When Hermione regained consciousness, she was startled to find herself in a cozy living room rather than the Gryffindor common room. As she looked around, the events of the morning rushed back to her. 'I passed out in front of Professor Snape! she thought, mortified. But then another memory surfaced: Why did the parchment say Estella Malfoy? Is that me, or is this all part of a prank?' Her thoughts raced so quickly she didn't notice Snape quietly entering the room. A soft cough drew her attention, and she jumped as Snape's calm voice broke the silence. "I apologize for startling you, but we have some things to discuss," he said gently. Hermione—'or is my name even Hermione?'—nodded hesitantly, sitting up to make space for him on the couch.
"Sir… who is Estella Malfoy?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Severus gave her a rare, genuine smile. "Estella Malfoy is the twin sister of Draco Malfoy and my goddaughter. She was stolen from Malfoy Manor one night while Lucius and Narcissa were attending a party. No one knows how the kidnappers got in or why they only took Estella. Despite years of searching, the Malfoys and I found no trace of her, and eventually, we were forced to give up hope. But this parchment confirms what I never expected—that Estella has been right under my nose for the past three years. You are Estella Malfoy."
Hermione—or Estella—stared at him, her mind spinning. "I've always felt… different," she murmured. "But when I got my Hogwarts letter two years ago, I thought it was just because I was magical. This year, though, I've been having strange dreams. I keep seeing a manor with a cream-colored nursery, shooting stars on the ceiling, and a woman singing a French lullaby. I felt drawn to that room and the woman, but I figured it was just the Time-Turner and my extra classes messing with my head." Snape's eyes widened slightly as he leaned closer. "Estella… may I call you that?" he asked softly. She gave him a look that seemed to say, Well, duh, that's my name. He smiled faintly before continuing. "Your nursery at the manor had cream-colored walls, a plush gray carpet, and a ceiling enchanted with shooting stars. And Narcissa—your mother—used to sing to both you and Draco. The lullaby was Au clair de la lune, an old French song."
"Sir, could we keep this between us for a few days?" Estella asked hesitantly. "I know my birth parents and Draco will want to know, but I need some time to process everything." Severus looked into her tear-filled sapphire blue eyes and felt a surge of protectiveness for his long-lost goddaughter. In that moment, he knew he would do whatever she asked.
"Of course, Estella and please feel free to call me Uncle Sev in private like Draco does ," he said softly. "But if you're worried about how the Malfoys will react, let me assure you—they will be overjoyed. Draco especially. I know he struts around like a pompous peacock"—Estella giggled at the mental image—"but underneath that façade, he is one of the kindest, smartest, and most understanding young men I know. However, not everything is as it seems. In Gryffindor, you don't see the politics that Slytherins have to navigate. Draco often has to act a certain way to fit in with a particular crowd. Don't judge him based on what you've seen; there's much more to him than that. Draco has known about you his entire life, and every year on your birthday, he wishes for the same thing—that the two of you will finally be reunited."
Estella couldn't hold back her tears anymore, and they streamed freely down her face. "Uncle Sev, what if they don't like me because I'm a Gryffindor?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Severus smiled gently. "You could be a Squib, and they wouldn't care. They just want you back where you belong—with your family. And if it truly bothers you, we could even request a resort. Hermione Granger was a Gryffindor, but Estella Malfoy might find herself a snake—or perhaps even a raven."
"Um, Uncle Sev, what are we going to do about my appearance? I can't go out there looking like… this!" Estella exclaimed, suddenly springing to her feet. She began pacing the room, muttering furiously in French under her breath. Severus watched her for a moment, calm despite her obvious distress.
"Estella," he said gently, "the first thing you need to do is breathe. Can you do that for me?" She stopped pacing, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Good. Second," he continued, "I can cast a long-lasting, password-protected glamour charm on you. It will hold as long as you need it to." Without thinking, Estella threw her arms around the usually reserved potions master, surprising both of them. "Thank you, Uncle Sev," she whispered. Momentarily stunned, Severus quickly recovered, wrapping his arms around her in a rare embrace. "Anytime, ma petite étoile (my little star)," he murmured softly.