Chapter Four - A Birthday and a New Friend

Rounds on Sunday ended in the Room of Requirement, where Hermione and Draco combined their essays for their Alchemy class on Golpalott's Third Law. Professor Snape had even offered the duo a smile, if one would call the smirk-like grimace a smile, when they turned in their essay. They were tasked with creating an antidote based on the combination of minor poisons their professor had amalgamated. Hermione and Draco had found a near-perfect antidote, having used their research to guide their process. The other two teams had not succeeded in creating an antidote to any of the poisons, let alone the amalgamated poison.

Surprised, Hermione left the class in awe that Professor Snape had awarded her House points instead of revoking them, albeit less points than Draco had received, it had been a first in her time at Hogwarts. She could not recall any student receiving house points from her Alchemy professor, ever. Her pride took her through supper with Harry, who took it upon himself to weaponise Professor Snape's actions and turn it into another piece of propaganda revolving around Draco and the professor allegedly working with Voldemort. Inwardly, Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry's reaction. She was finding it increasingly difficult to tolerate his presence, but when he spoke, she had half a mind to cast any of the silencing spells. However, crossing the "Chosen One", especially with his elevated status and the remorse the students had for the previous year's actions, would make her year problematic. Offering him a nod, Hermione stood from the table and went to wait for Draco to begin rounds.

Rounds were silent, until they arrived at the Room of Requirement. Hermione paced, allowing Hogwarts to create the room she deemed hers. With her door appearing where the blank space had just been, she rushed forward and opened it, allowing Draco to follow suit. Together, they ran through the spell and plans for her birthday. Hermione planned to arrive just after Herbology, allowing her ample time to sort herself out and for Draco to meet with her. As they exited and went to part ways, both sighed in relief that this would be the last time Hermione would need to temporarily remove his memories. Casting the spell, Hermione rushed down the corridor towards the Gryffindor commons, filled with anxiety and eagerness for her birthday to arrive.

xXx

Hermione awoke to ice frosting the windows as the sun rose on her birthday. She had spent the night in the Room of Requirement on the sofa she had begun to get used to utilising. The room adjusted itself to fit her need of a washroom. Entering the hot bath, she soaked until her nerves were calm. Upon entering the main area once again, Hermione's stomach let out a low groan and she gathered her satchel, cautiously tucking her potion inside with the grimoire, setting off to eat breakfast. She was in the Great Hall before anyone else woke up.

Spotting Dobby apparating to deliver more food, Hermione smiled. "Dobby, can you please do me a favour and please pack me two filling suppers for this evening? I will be studying with a classmate this evening and may miss supper."

Dobby's eyes shone with excitement at Hermione's attention, "Of course, Ms. Granger! Dobby do for friend of Harry Potter!" With that, Dobby apparated into the kitchens before she could correct his statement, where he hurriedly made her the meals whilst she ate eggs, ham, and toast. Looking up at the sudden sharp snap that she knew was the sound of apparition, she saw Dobby holding a box for her. "Ms. Granger, Dobby has returned! Food is warm with spell for Ms. Granger!" he beamed at her.

"Thank you, Dobby," Hermione smiled and patted his hand. As much as she hated using the house elves, she understood that she would need them sometimes and that they were prideful of their jobs, even if some were still unpaid servants, by their own choosing in Hogwarts.

Charms had passed uneventfully that morning. Harry sat further down the table at lunch, and just as Hermione was about to stand, having eaten her fill, she noticed a lone owl was carrying a large parcel and headed her way. She did not need to wait long to see what would happen, as the owl dropped the parcel in front of her. Picking up the attached letter, the envelope was addressed to her in the elegant calligraphy she knew to be Narcissa Malfoy's, with an added note, "Hermione, Open this in private". Tucking the parcel under her arm, she wandered back to the Room of Requirement where she would spend her free period before Herbology. She tucked the parcel and box of food prepared by Dobby behind the sofa, readying herself for the evening.

xXx

She made her way directly to the Room of Requirement after Herbology. She knew that Draco would arrive in half an hour's time. Being sure to dodge everyone, Hermione felt her head becoming heavier and cloudier. Now that she thought about it, last night was the first night she had no dreams at all in years.

Entering the room that had become hers, the young witch had requested Hogwarts recreate the room identically to the one she awoke in that morning. She was neither certain what would come of her evening, and she wanted to be ready for the possibility of spending another night in her room. She gathered the parcel, note, and food, placing them on the table in front of her, as she sat on the sofa. Pulling the vials out of the potion and the grimoire, she turned the pages until she arrived at the elegant "17" in the borders.
Going over her spells to ensure she had not forgotten them, she attempted to regain clarity of mind through her nerves. She had not noticed Draco enter the room until he tapped her shoulder. With a startled jump and her wand at the ready with a hex, she lost her train of thought and offered him a weak smile as she lowered her wand, but not before muttering "Grimoire" to release his memories.

"Hello, Granger. We agreed to meet now. Do you have any questions before your spell comes undone?" Draco asked with a genuine curiosity that she had never seen before from him.

"I have many, but the first is why do I need you here?" she inquired as she continued to look up at him.

"That's a fairly good question; I'm here because Mother and Father cannot be. They should be here for you as they are the ones that cast this spell. Have you put the remaining pieces of the puzzle together yet?" Draco sat down on the sofa facing her.

"Have I? I mean I think that it is odd that Nyx and I share identical birthdays and that my parents were not surprised I was a witch, and that they never had a real birth certificate or pictures of my infancy. But that is just a coincidence. Right? But these dreams, they hint that I am not really Hermione Jean Granger, but someone else and that the Malfoy family had to hide me to protect me…" She snapped out of her thoughts with a start when she heard Draco clear his throat. "I have suspicions. However, they are only that… suspicions," she spoke barely above a whisper as she struggled to find her voice.

"You have not put it together? That the people we were searching for information on the other night and you are all entwined? That your parents were in fact purebloods and not just some muggles?" Draco inquired before realising he went too far.

"How would you know?" her eyebrow rose.

"I know because I needed to know. I have known for years... but as you will find out, it needed to be kept secret. If the Dark Lord found out, he would have had you executed in place of Harry Potter. Whilst everybody thinks bloody Potter" he spat with venom "is the Chosen One, you are what will truly be the one to rival the Dark Lord and take your place above all others."

With that, Hermione found her head swirling, she rightfully believed that this was another symptom of the spell wearing off. She cast Tempus, realising it was nearly time for her official birth celebration. Draco must have noticed, as well, since he stood up and took her by the arm.
Guiding Hermione to lay back on the sofa, "Your potion, where is it?" he asked.

"On the table. The vials are all of the same potion," she responded, attempting to sit upright. Her thoughts were floating in and out of her head faster than a Firebolt. Draco retrieved a vial and handed it to her. Drinking the potion, Hermione felt her mind gather a small grasp on her thoughts. "Thank you. What am I to expect?" she asked as her voice and head began to feel heavier.

"You will most likely fall asleep, but wake up with a clear mind. Did you open the parcel you received this morning?" Draco stood impatiently.

"No," was all she managed before he took the parcel from the table and placed it into her hands.

"Open it, you will need it once you are done today".

Opening the parcel, Hermione noticed there were three emerald and black bags. The first bag contained a Gringotts' vault key, a handsome amount of galleons, the Peverell necklace that she had growing up, a set of matching earrings, and a simple matching bracelet. Placing the contents aside, she opened the next bag. This one contained several Victorian style gowns that looked as if they would fit her perfectly, along with matching heels and robes. She noticed that the bag had an undetectable enlargement charm on it to fit it all without being easily noticed. Turning her attention to the last bag, she opened it cautiously. In the last bag, she found copies of Black's and Peverell's Family Grimoires, along with several journals from Atropa and Kronos, an old magical photo album, two newer matching magical photo albums, and a large box. Once again, she noticed the charm on it.

Feeling herself sink into the sofa, she decided to look more closely at everything once her mind cleared and attempted to place the items onto the table. Draco, noticing her situation, took the items and placed them on the table for her.

"Granger, you can worry about the other box and reading the letter after," Draco said as he noticed her reaching for the letter, "cast your spell now".

Not needing to be told twice, Hermione muttered the incantation. "Dolorem Resistentiae," her hand moved eloquently as if she had been practising since a child, "Mente Puriore," flicking her wrist down and to the right before pointing it skyward. Her body tingled from the effects before she felt herself begin to succumb to the effects of the potion. Draco urged her to close her eyes. Heeding his advice, she lost consciousness as her eyes fell closed. The sudden oncoming and ebbing of pain, and the cloudiness of her mind, were too much for her to handle.

xXx

She was waking up. "Nyx! Wake up! We need to leave now! I know it is your birthday, but Nyx, we need to hurry!" an older woman's voice was screaming at her. "I wake, Aunt Cissy," the sound of a young girl's voice sounded from her own mouth. "Good. Uncle Lucius is setting up the floo for travel. Let's get you dressed". With that, she found herself dressed in a pink jumper and black skirt. "Why this? Not me, Aunt Cissy," she whined. "You need to wear it where we are going. Come along, love". The older woman took her hand and they walked to the next room where a much younger Lucius Malfoy was standing by the fireplace. "Ready?" he asked them. With a shy nod from her and the woman, he stepped into the fireplace, "Leaky Cauldron" and disappeared into the green flames. The woman and her followed suit and soon were stepping inside a room in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Is everything settled?" she could hear the older woman ask. "Yes, Narcissa. We just need to get Nyx to the Granger home, and charmed, before the Order or Death Eaters find out about her location. If we can do that, she stands a chance to live," Lucius's voice filled with concern for the child. "What about Atropa? Won't she be able to find her when the time is right?" Narcissa asked with worry. "No, by the time Nyx is ready, Atropa will be dead. You know the Order is what killed Kronos. We must keep Nyx safe. Let us go before we are found here. Her magic is too strong and she has no control. We need to remove her from the Wizarding World and into the muggle one, now". He picked her up and gave her a genuine toothy smile before she felt the air in her lungs disappear for a moment.

Suddenly, she felt the air return to her lungs with force and she realised they had moved, well disapparated. Looking around, she spotted a small yellow and brown house with a yard and a black car in its driveway. The nearest house to that was much further down the street on the other side of the road. "Are we here?" Narcissa looked at the pair of them with disgust in her eyes. "Yes," Lucius looked at the yellow and brown house before stepping forward, "we are. Narcissa, please put up the wards to offer more protection for Nyx". Without another word, the pair continued to the house whilst Narcissa began casting wards.

Lucius knocked on the door and it opened to the Grangers. She looked around the house and looked back at Lucius, "Why here?" she inquired. Lucius did not know how to tell her without hurting her. Nyx, you will be living here until you are ready to become what you truly are. Aunt Cissy and I will be watching you. You won't know that though. Your memory is going to be erased and when you are ready, you will remember all of this. I need to leave you with a few words. Nyx Jean Peverell, you will one day become the strongest witch in the world, and you will have the right and ability to rule this country as its queen. You will have abilities that others know not, and you are the heir to many wondrous gifts. We, that is to say your Aunt Cissy, Draco, and I, are your god family. We love you, but you are in danger. The Order wants you dead, and will most likely kill your mother before you get to know her. They killed your father when he refused to take their side during the war. He and your mother never took sides. Your parents died to protect you and, now, we are protecting you by sending you here. The Death Eaters want to raise you as one of their own and use your magic to bring back You-Know-Who. These muggles are decent people. You will learn to love them and treat them as your own parents. They know the danger they offered to be a part of, so fret not. Your father gave this to you when you were born, keep it always," he tapped the necklace that never left her chest until a few days ago, when it had vanished and reappeared in her gifts from the Malfoys.

"When you get to Hogwarts, you will meet Draco again, but things will be different because you will not remember him and he will have to protect you. You are a wonderfully talented child and we love you. Dark times are coming again one day, and I am afraid that I will be on the wrong side, as that is where my father put me many years ago. Do not hold those deeds I and my family must do against us. Aunt Cissy will be in touch the moment she knows you are ready. You take care of yourself and when you finally remember these words, give Draco a hug. He will need those". Tears began to fall onto her cheeks, "I love you, Uncle Lucius," her voice meek and quiet.

Narcissa entered, and they began a nonverbal spell that made her feel like she was being squashed inside before her memories faded, replaced by the false ones she believed to be true. A pat on the head from Lucius, as Narcissa smiled at her, "We love you. One day you will remember and take your rightful place, but until then, be safe, love". A flash of blue light and a cold feeling ran through her as she lost consciousness.

As she lost consciousness from the spells, she remembered a few moments of her younger childhood before they disappeared. Playing in a vast garden with a toothy blonde boy, two handsome parents that were reading to her as she fell asleep, making a mess of the kitchen as she and Narcissa made cupcakes before the house elves cleaned it, and the toothy blonde boy kissing her cheek the night before her third birthday, wishing her goodnight. Other glimpses of her past flew through her head and were obliviated the moment they slowed down to be caught. She woke up with the Grangers peering down at her and was told that she hit her head when she complained of pain. A cake was brought out and so was a gift. Nyx opened the gift to find her own locket in there, but she had not realised it was her own, she thought it an actual gift. Once the cake was eaten, Nyx, having become Hermione, was tucked into bed.'

xXx

Hermione crashed into consciousness with a start as more memories filled her mind of her younger years. Remembering what Lucius said, she looked around for Draco. He sat on the floor beside the sofa waiting for her to wake. She smiled at him and rolled off the sofa into his lap to give him the hug she promised his father. "From your father," she whispered as she hugged him. Draco had been startled, but slowly wrapped his arms around her. It felt right, to him, that his best friend was offering him comfort, though he was cautious about accepting. Their history at Hogwarts was volatile and he was certain there would be many conversations in the future about it.

"I want to finish opening that parcel and then I would really like to thank your mother for all her help. Could you help me arrange that?" she asked with a gentle voice.

"Yes, Granger. I would be able to easily arrange that, seeing as you are supposed to be spending time with my family beginning tomorrow. Father has decided to have a servant of his cause the school to be shut down for at least a week". Suddenly, things started to make sense, the clothes, the texts and photo albums, and the Gringotts card. The puzzle was beginning to find its completion in her mind.

"Granger-" Draco began.

"Don't call me that. Call me Nyx. We are friends, are we not?," she interrupted.

"-Nyx, everything will sort itself out, but I was told to warn you that if students have belongings that are rightfully yours, and many do, that by the end of today, those items will be forcefully returned to you. They will be waiting in your dormitory, which if you shared before, you will no longer. Your heritage and magic will prevent anyone from sharing that you do not wish to share with. Hogwarts knows this and will accommodate it. One more thing, you are still sitting on me".

Nyx blushed and stood up only to find herself ready to fall again as her head had not fully cleared. Draco caught her and helped her sit back on the sofa. "Oh, so you can kiss me when we were kids, but not let me sit in your lap?" she teased before realising her stomach was growling. "How long has it been?"

"Since you drank the potion? Four hours," he ignored her comment about him kissing her as children and wondered how she knew that. "You must be hungry. Dinner is almost over, though. Do you-" he was cut off by Nyx holding her hand up.

"Food is in the box," she pointed to the box at the far edge of the table, "Dobby made it earlier at my request. Care to join me?"

The two sat and ate dinner in silence. Nyx was beginning to wonder how everything would change and how she now fit into this community. Things were already changing, she knew her true identity and her magic was about to become unparalleled. Deciding she should enter the Gryffindor tower before anyone can see her rightful possessions begin to pile up, she stood up and thanked Draco once more. Before she could leave, he forced her to open the last box, where several vials of Polyjuice Potion with several strands of hair were perfectly in place. "You need one, before you exit," Draco stated, pointing to her hair. "You are blonde now, and other features have changed. You will raise more questions than you can answer," he offered.
"Whose hair?" Nyx looked at the vials, recalling her only other attempt at drinking Polyjuice Potion and grimaced.
"Yours, from before today. I had to get it off you during rounds, and Mother ensured it was your hair before placing it with the vials. It holds enough of your essence as Hermione Granger to maintain that persona until we are safe at the Grangers tomorrow evening," Draco explained.

"Bottoms up!" Nyx's voice pitched higher than she intended as she raised the vial that she placed her hair in and drank it in one gulp. A sour wince fell on her expression as she felt the familiar bubbling of her skin, signifying the alterations. "What did I look like?" she asked softly.

"You will see in your mirror tonight when it wears off. I would suggest sleeping in here or asking the castle to remove your roommates to protect our secret," Draco touched her unruly mane of hair. She smiled and thanked him again.
Clearing the food and collecting everything, she placed everything back in their bags, shrunk the bags to fit into her satchel, vanished the extra vials of potion, and raced back to the tower. She understood Hogwarts would alter for her. She could feel Hogwarts surging through her magic as it heightened with each footfall. Entering the Gryffindor girl dormitories, Nyx noticed that there was a new door at the end of the corridor. Walking to it, she pushed open the door and realised it was her dream bedchambers. No one else could enter, she noted as she felt wards appear and adjust to her blood and magical signatures.

The large bedchamber was covered in black and silver with a simple emerald green trimming. The bed was a larger four-poster bed with silver curtains. She had her own blackened rosewood desk and wardrobe, along with her own fireplace and washroom. Smiling, she noticed a corner that was beginning to fill with items before turning to glance out her windows. Making a mental note to sort the pile later, Nyx placed her satchel down and decided to make certain her belongings had all been transferred from the bedchambers she once shared with Lavender. Leaving her new bedchamber, she made her way back to the old one and noticed her belongings had successfully been transferred. With a sigh of happiness, she retrieved her wand from her pocket, Accio-ed her homework, and sat in the corner of the common room, waiting. She had the inclination on an intuitive level that she needed to wait.

Harry came through the portrait, and she realised she was waiting for him. He spotted her in the corner and excused himself from Dean and Neville. "Hermione, how are you?" he asked gently. She grimaced at the name, but knew she needed to keep her expression blank.

"Couldn't be better, Harry. I have had a fantastic day".

Harry gave her his best smile and leant down to awkwardly hug her, "Happy birthday, 'Mione. I looked for you after Herbology, but I couldn't find you, not even on the map. Now that I mention it, Malfoy and a few others were off the map, as well. Did you want to do anything this weekend for your birthday?"

"No, I am just going to spend it in the library and work on some homework. I was just really busy reading all evening and looking at some gifts my family sent me. Thank you".

With that, Harry left with his head down, whilst Nyx had opened her text and began her essays. They were not due for another few days, but she wanted to ensure they were completed in time. Having missed her rounds that evening, she set her focus on her homework.

She entered her bedchambers later in the night, gathering the letter from Narcissa and reading it.

"Dearest Nyx,

Happy birthday, love. We have waited fourteen years for you to come into your own and for us to be able to recognise you as who you are. Draco has many of the answers you seek, and he offers his knowledge willingly. I know our family has done some terrible things in the past, as has Draco, please do not fault him for his actions. He was following our directions to protect himself and you. When you come home, we will tell you anything and everything you want to know. Lucius has even retrieved a pensieve for us to share our memories with you. Home, for you, is the Peverell Manor. Your father's pendant now is one of the secret keepers. Wear it and you will be able to access it. Please, burn this letter once you read it. We look forward to your visit tomorrow. Stay safe.

Love,

Narcissa and Lucius"

Nyx felt tears prickle at the corners of her eyes as she read and re-read the letter before placing it into her fireplace and ensuring it was ash. Her parents' Grimoires would wait, as would their journals. Taking her necklace out of the bag and box it was in, she slipped the familiar pendant around her neck and slipped into her pyjamas. Once she was in bed, she fell fast asleep. However, her mind had only begun to wake up.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading!

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