A Conundrum

“Are you okay, Hermione?” Hermione jumps, a little startled by him appearing next to her. She had not been the same since the seminar.

“Oh, um yes.” He gives her a disbelieving look. It has been a week since the seminar. A whole week of processing it all. That she wasn’t who she thought she was. Or was she and it was really just about her bloodline not being what she thought it was. No matter how smart she was, the questions swirling around in her mind hurt her 12 year old brain. “I promise. I will be fine. Just a lot on my mind. Ready for the Halloween feast tonight?” She tries to change the subject. He still didn’t look like he believed her but he let it go for now.

“Yes. The seminar apparently has made a lot of people tense so the Headmaster has made the feast more exciting somehow. Performances and he’s allowing those who were raised on the old ways do their rituals out on the grounds as long as they keep it small and they are in bed before 1.” She nods her head, having read about the old ways he was talking about. it was something she was interested in but had decided to put on her later list. Hogwarts was already a bit overwhelming on its own, though she wouldn’t admit that to anyone.

“Let’s get to class.” She pulls out a container from her bag to fill with fruit and follows him to their first class of the day.
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“It’s leviOsa, not LeviosA.” Ron Weasley mocks her as they walk out of chams in front of her. “ She’s a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she doesn’t have any friends. All that hand waving. Pick me! Pick me!” He jumps in the air waving his hand like a bit of a loon. The boys surrounding him laughing was what broke her though. She moved to run past them and get away but she doesn’t make it far before a hand grabs her wrist and pulls her back.

Her eyes were already full of tears so she couldn’t see well who stopped her but she did notice whoever they were was taller than her and they had pulled her behind them as if to protect her.

“Say that again, Weasel.” the male voice she had to think of who it belongs to, snarls at the group of now surprised boys. “Let me guess…you said the spell wrong and waved your wand around like the stupid bloodtraitor you are and she corrected you to save you from harming yourself and others. Just like in transfiguration I see.”

Gregory Goyle. That was the voice. Why would…Oh…right…the results of her potion. She hadn’t thought about it showing on his as well…of course it would. She quickly wipes her face, hoping it wasn’t too red.

“Here you go,” whispers Crabbe as he hands her a tissue. She gives him a small smile of appreciation before wiping her face.

“What would you know about it, Goyle?!” Weasley snarls back, not scared of the boy. Ron was just as tall so they were looking eye to eye as the tension fills the air quickly. “I’m surprised you would even defend a mudblood like her.” Gasp fill the area at his words. She didn’t know what that word meant but it didn’t sound good. Ron pales as he realizes what he says.

“Mr. Wealsey.” Professor Flitwick comes out from his classroom, glowering at the red head. “Detention in my office right now! We do not use that language, do I make myself clear?! And 50 points for not only that foul language but for mocking your fellow classmate!”

Everyone in the hall watches as he follows the Charms Professor back to his class, looking like he was at deaths door. She almost didn’t see his older brothers, all 3 of them, staring at his retreating back in disbelief.

“Oh, and Weasley” Goyle calls out. The red headed boy looks back, suddenly looking annoyed again. “Never call my sister that word again or I will involve my father.” She looks down, a blush building up in her cheeks. If she had been looking up still, she would have seen many surprised faces.

“I get it, you know.” The hall had cleared now, people heading to lunch before it was over. Lisa Turpin was a Ravenclaw muggleborn and as pale blonde as Malfoy. But then again…”Image my surprise when the inheritance potion showed I had a half brother only a few months younger than me. Come on, let’s clean you up. Boys, you willing to wait?” Goyle and Crabbe nod, moving to stand by the stairs, not far from the restrooms.

Lisa pulls her in and grabs a nearby towel to wait and wipe down her face. Hermione lets her do what she wants as the girl digs into her bag and pulls out a few hair supplies. She keeps talking as she works.

“I haven’t talked to Malfoy. He’s been avoiding me. I’m not one to chicken out though so I wrote to both my mum and to Lord Malfoy. Harsh to learn I was born from a bet. My mum knew and accepted it. She’s a muggleborn witch. Had listened to her parents guilting her and had married a muggle. Didn’t turn out so well and they had just divorced when Lucius Malfoy had propositioned her. There was no sure chance they would conceive but they made a 3 month deal to try. I was conceived towards the end. He paid her 1000 galleons to help with baby care and they separated just like that.”

“How do you feel about it?” Hermione couldn’t help asking. She had not written to her parents yet…too worried about what they would say.

“Not much really. Surprised of course. I always knew my dad wasn’t mine biologically, they married when I was around 6 years old. Loves my mum. Decent step dad. We aren’t overly close or anything. He came with his own daughters and a son. Anyways, I still didn’t expect a story like that though. She was basically paid to have a baby. And she wasn’t the only one.”

“She wasn’t?” Lisa shakes her head.

“No, I think he picked 3 women. A muggle, a muggleborn, and a half blood. Ironically I know the boy with the muggle mum. He’s a few years younger. Should be here when we enter our 3rd year I think. Or maybe 4th year.

Anyways, his mum doesn’t know about magic. She had cheated on her husband after he cheated on her. Drama drama. She moved into our building a floor down during her pregnancy. Mum made her a baby basket and they have been friends since.”

“He didn’t leave her money too?”

“No clue. Probably. He’s pretty loaded. She lost everything in her divorce and her flat is decently furnished for the small job she has. It would make sense. You’re done.”

Hermione looks in the mirror to the sides of her head braided down to her neck where her now more tamed curls were now in low ponytails.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Look, you should give Goyle a chance. He haves to be a little follower to Malfoy already as it is. What they show to the world may not be the same as in private. He also looks eager to have a sibling.” Lisa winks and walks out the restroom. Hermione gives herself a moment before following.

The girl was nowhere to be seen but the 2 boys were still there waiting for her.

“Hello,” She gives her brother a small smile, unsure what to say.

“Hello Hermione…is it okay I call you Hermione?” She nods, processing that he wasn’t talking like she normally heard him in the classes they shared. He must have realized because both boys were now rubbing their heads looking awkward. “Sorry, we only talk like that around Malfoy. Parents orders…”

“Why?” He shrugs.

“Our fathers owe his. So we protect Malfoy while away from home. He’s a bit…pompous about his status and smarts so we find it easier to dumb it down. Our fathers don’t care as long as we do well on our OWLs and NEWTs.”

“Oh…doesn’t seem fair to do that to yourself.”

“It’s kind of funny. Like an inside joke,” Crabbe grins. She couldn’t help giggling as she thought about it.

“Gregory Goyle,” Goyle holds out his hand to her.

“Hermione Granger, I guess Goyle too.” She shakes it. “I haven’t talked to my parents about it yet.” She admits.

“That is okay. We already wrote our fathers. Apparently they had expected to hear about it.”

“Really?” She looks at them confused. The boys frown as they think over how to explain.

“If I remember correctly, it was about a theory about inbreeding? And magical power differences in the blood statuses. They were drunk when they talked about it so it’s not fully clear. It was just remembered enough when they were sober that they just went with it anyways. Met woman before one of them marries their arranged betrothals. Hoped something ame of those nights. I think only a few of the men were a bit honest with the women and paid them.”

“My father did to the half blood woman he met.” Crabbe admits.

“So, it…” She didn’t know what to think of that.

“Yeah…I know. I’m sorry to say but he doesn’t seem overly interested in meeting his other children. I told him about you and how it shows 1 other. He seemed a bit bummed it was only 2.”

“Why be disappointed in the numbers if he doesn’t care to know us?” It was ridiculous to hear.

“That would be because they all hate how many children the Weasleys have.” They turn to see a group of older Slytherins walking towards them. Adrian Pucey was the one who spoke. “My father was there when the bet was made. He was also the only sober one and happily married so he didn’t participate. Said it was funny though. A bunch of grown men pouting and plotting. I think the goals were 9 children each?” he smirks at their gobsmacked expressions.

“9 children?! In total or…”

“In total,” Marcus Flint rolls his eyes at the stupid decision. “My father actually just decided to just a have a mistress to meet those numbers. My mother gave him 3 children already and they were older so my mother was determined to not have more. The mistress is a muggleborn who at the time needed her apprenticeship sponsored and paid for. I’m the youngest for my mother but through the other woman, I have 4 younger siblings. I’ll graduate before they show up here.”

This was getting crazier to hear. But it also made her not feel alone in the situation as well.

“The goal of 9 children was because the Wealsey demons had been mere babies at the time and they were sure Mrs. Weasley would have more. Which she did with one more boy and a girl who will be here next year. Seven children to beat. Plus the bet about magical prowess.”

“Who is winning?” One boy she was sure was named Graham Montgomery or something close enough, asks.

“Lord Nott.”

“Really?” Goyle looks interested at that. The 5th years nod.

“He was the one who told them purebloods were not as powerful due to inbreeding. His 2nd wife had told him so and he was upset when he looked into it. He didn’t participate in the bet, already knowing the answer. His new wife was a pureblood from France so it made the point irrelevant for him. He had 2 sons from his first marriages, and his 3rd son Theodore Nott is his smartest child from what I hear. Second in your year, right behind Miss Granger here.” She couldn’t help looking away from their staring. She ends up meeting Goyles eyes and noticed their eyes were the same color.

The older boys smirk at them once more before continuing on to wherever they were going. “Welcome to the folds, Miss Granger.” One of them calls out before they all turn down another hall.

The 3 first years were unsure what to do now.

“Would you like to come to lunch with us? We still have 30 minutes to eat.” Goyle asks.

“Sure. And..um Hermione is completely fine.” He smiles like she had just told him he was going to be the next Minister.

“Okay. And please, call me Gregory.”

“Vincent” Crabbe offers as well.
______________________________________

They got quite a few stares when they entered the Great Hall and sat together at the Slytherin table. A red amongst the green. Word had already spread though so no one really looked surprised to see her there. Malfoy looked displeased at the sight of her but didn’t say anything. He did sit far from her though. Between Nott and Zabini in fact.

Gregory showed interest in her study schedule while they ate so time passed quickly as they talked before they had to split for their next classes.

Wealsey sat far away from her in History of Magic when he showed up last in the door. None of the other boys said anything either, just giving her a few curious glances as they took their own seats.

She sat with Neville in Herbology and Professor Sprout, probably already having heard about what happened, made Ron sit without a partner.

She was a bit excited for the Halloween feast. Lavender and Pavarti had decided to wear some jewelery to match the color scheme and it gave her an idea.

“I’ll meet you in the Great Hall Neville, I just want to freshen up real quick” She says, pointing to the bathroom.

“Okay. See you there.” She digs into her bag in front of the mirror. Her mum had packed her a small bag for her to use in holiday celebrations since she wouldn’t be home for their usual traditions. An orange metal cat ear headband quickly gets placed on her head, careful to not ruin the braids Lisa Turpin had done for her.

“Where is that marker…” she mutters as she digs her hand in the bag. Face paint markers had been the best option they found and since she used a quill at Hogwarts, wouldn’t get them mixed up with her other stationary. However, it did mean she had to find them. “Aha!” She pulls out the rubber band tied up collection of face paint markers.

She rarely if ever put anything on her face so it took longer than she hoped to do a simple cat face with eyeliner as well but once she was done, she was quite satisfied with the overall look. Based on what she has learned so far in the wizarding world, most wouldn’t get it but anyone whos been in or raised in the muggle born would and that was enough for her.

Packing her bag back up, she tosses it onto her shoulder and heads towards the door.

Her eyes widen as she steps into the hall. A troll was staring at her dumbly. It didn’t look like the ones in the book in the fact that it was skinnier than the drawings. It didn’t make it any less freightening. Its club was hanginf lazily in its hand but it was starting to move up as the troll moved towards her.

Now knowing what to do, she rushes backwards back into the bathroom and runs to a stall once she was out of its sight. It locks right as the troll enters the room with a bang.

It couldn’t see her. She could hear it starting to get angry at that fact. It slams its club nearby, breaking whatever it hit. She thinks it is the table along the wall. Why she was worried about that, she wasn’t sure but it was keeping her from screaming like an idiot and drawing attention to herself.

“Hermione!” She could hear Neville, Harry, Gregory, and Vincent yell from the direction of the door. “We brought help!”

“Move out the way before you get killed!” Professor Snape snaps at them. “Miss Granger, when I say so, run towards the door.” He orders.

She nods, despite him not being able to see her. She could hear curses being thrown at the troll. The stalls at the end of the row are hit, making her own stall rattle and shake. She takes a deep breath to keep calm, really really really trying not to freak out.

More footsteps could just barely be heard and spells being called out immediately followed.

“Now, Granger!” She slams her stall door open, making a run for it to the door. The 4 Professors fighting the troll block her from it’s view as it seemed to be both fighting them and looking for her.

She didn’t necessarily mean for it to happen, but as soon as she was out, she was in Gregory’s arms and crying. He hugged her to him tightly and let her cry into his robes.

Eventually Madam Pomfrey arrives with a calming draught, making her a bit sleepy.

“Poor dear. I think she would do well to stay in the infirmary overnight.” was the last she heard before passing out in her brother’s arms.

How easy it was to think of him as her brother…
______________________________________

Hermione didn’t wake up until the next morning. To her surprise, her mum was sitting next to her bed.

“My baby!” Her mum leans to her side and pulls her into her arms.

“Mum!”

“You had me so worried when I was told what happened! How are you feeling?”

“Fine, I think.”

“Good, because someone already has some explaining to do on why there was a troll in the school.” A tall burly man in very nice dress robes strides into the infirmary, with Gregory walking in behind him.
“My, aren’t you a pretty one.”

“Demarkus?” her mum looks at him in surprise.

“As Beautiful as ever Lydia.” her mum blushes a bit, surprising Hermione once again.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“My son is in the same year as our daughter.” he states, just looking at her with an unidentifiable look in his eyes.

“Yes, well…makes sense now why I could not find you when I learned I was pregnant with Hermione.” She clears her throat. “Curious to how you know now though?”

It was his turn to be a bit red in the cheeks.

“I and a few of my…friends…were the ones to ask the potions professor to run an inheritance potions test on the school.”

“There was a potions seminar a week ago mum. I planned to write you but when I saw the results, I didn’t…I didn’t know what to write or ask…” Hermione tells her.

“Oh, honey. I’m sorry I never told you. Truthfully, even when we learned you are a witch, I never thought to wonder if your birth father was magical as well.”

“Does dad know?”

“Yes, we were separated at the time. It was a rough patch in our lives and we had considered divorcing. By the time we talked again, I was 6 months pregnant and had tried every way I thought possible to find Demarkus but I didn’t even have his last name.

It took some therapy but dad wanted a redo with me and since he was infertile anyways, he wasn’t overly upset at me being pregnant with another man’s child. We took it day by day as we worked through it. He loved you the moment you were born and in his arms. Promise.”

“Touching.” Mr. Goyle interrupts. “I do not have much time right now to be here so I will be blunt. I did not have any plans to meet you. However, now we have. Do to wizard law and your mother not being magical, I am now your magical guardian. It does not mean I am taking you from your mother, it just means, if something happens, they call me. Like last night, when Gregory wrote me after learning the Headmaster had no plans to let your mother know you were in the infirmary. Usually your head of house is your magical guardian until you come of age and it is there job to communicate with your family.

Here is your new vault key. It is your trust vault, much like Gregory has his. I trust you to use it wisely and not spend it all at once. Gregory has some of his money in investments, something you should consider.

You are registered as my daughter at the ministry so you are now Hermione Wellington-Goyle.”

“Wait…my name is Hermione Granger” she quickly corrects him.

“That is your mother’s husband’s name. Your mother’s maiden name will do. It has nothing to do with the muggle world so keep both if you want, I do not particularly care.” He meant it about being blunt. Hermione was still too shocked to have more of a response to all this.

“The aurors are questioning the only Professor not in the Great Hall when the troll got in. He has been taken to the Ministry. And the school board is ordering the Headmaster to be questioned as well since he is the one connected to the wards.”

“Father, what happens now for us?” Gregory asks from his now position on the other side of Hermione’s bed.

“You are my children and I expect you to do your best while here. We can talk more later. Hermione, feel free to write me anytime you feel like. Gregory has one of our owls. Protect each other. I have already heard about Mr. Weasley and will be talking to his father.”

“What happened with this Mr. Weasley?” Her mum turns to her as Demarkus nods at them and leaves.

“Hermione was partnered with him in Charms class and tried to help him get the spell right. He didn’t like it and made fun of her after class had ended. He called her a foul word.” Gregory says angrily.

“Did he get in trouble?” Her Mum looks between the two with concern.

“Yes ma’am. detention, and loss of points right in front of us. After that, I do not know. His brother is a Prefect though so I’m sure their parents may have been written to by now.” He shrugs uncertain.

“What is a prefect?”

“An older student selected to help keeps other students from breaking rules.They monitor the halls at night for curfew and they showed us the common room our first night.” Hermione explains.

“Well, more than that. They help students in need of assisting. CAn give and take points and give detention. Our assigned prefects gave us a whole tour of the school our first day of classes. And they do weekly reports for our head of house.” Gregory adds.

“Really?” Hermione looks at him in disbelief. “I am, Francine is nice but she’s in a bunch of clubs and we rarely see her. And Percy…he studies harder than me and does not like to be disturbed when he’s in the common room. He does get after his brothers though.”

“Weasley and Adams are just the 5th year Prefects for your house. If I am correct, Crawford and Kingston are your 6th year prefects and Sloane and Bennett your 7th year prefects. The 5th year prefects are the ones assigned to help you around the school and tutoring. Makes sense now why Weasley and Potter were late to our first class of Transfiguration.”

“You’re right, now that I know that. The rest of us just followed everyone else to the class since it is a combined class of all four houses. But shouldn’t Professor McGonnagall have known?”

“Professor McGonnagall is your head of house, the transfiguration professor, and Deputy Headmistress.” He reminds her.

“Makes sense why she never has time for us.”

Her mum pulls her closer as she listens to them discuss things she doesn’t understand.

“I wish I could help, dear. But don’t forget you can always write home.”

“Yes, mum.” Hermione adjust herself to look at her mum better. “Mum, you’re taking all of this better than I would have expected. Especially about Mr. Goyle…”

“Lord Goyle.” They turn to look at him. “Sorry…I just…um, he is Lord Goyle of the Noble House of Goyle.”

“Oh…what does that mean?”

“Nothing much. A manor, and a well known long family tree. Family vaults. Deep family expectations. Properties in Britain, France, Germany, and Greece.”

“Oh…” Right…

“Okay, that is…unexpected.” Her mum says. “And yes, it did throw me for a loop but I’ve been through enough that…I’m just taking it all in stride as best as possible. I’m here for you right now.”

“Thanks mum.”

Madam Pomfrey shows up after that to check her over. She patiently answers all of her mums questions before releasing Hermione. Her mum gets a tour from the 2 of them as Professor McGonnagall was not immediately available to take her back home. They have breakfast together and Hermione introduces Neville and Gregory introduces Vincent.

After hearing about Professor McGinnagalls lack of time for her students, before she leaves, she does talk to the Professor, much to Hermione’s embarrassment.

It was apparently needed though and the Professor promised to do better and talk to her prefects as well.