Lost Control
“What do you mean ‘It’s mine’? I know she has the same first name but still.” Hermione was confused. The picture in the file was of a laughing baby with grey eyes. “This can’t be me, Uncle Brax. I don’t have grey eyes, mine are light brown. I think I would know if they had changed color overnight. Abraxas looked at Hermione with a raised brow. He got up and walked over to her bed, picking things up as he went. Her cloak was just one thing he grabbed. When he got to her bed, he picked up one of her textbooks and read the title aloud. “The Standard Book of Spells, Year 6. Hermione, can you think of anyone powerful enough to cast a long-term glamor charm? Oh don’t look at me like I’m a maniac. I happen to be a squib after all.” Hermione was shocked into silence for the first time in her life. “Usually the parents of squibs have the children obliviated. How do you remember?” Hermione asked suspiciously.
Abraxas smiled bitterly. “I never showed any signs of accidental magic. My parents had hoped it was because I was such a calm child. Then I turned 11. When I didn’t get a letter, my father was furious. He called me a disappointment. Unworthy of being his heir. He said that I was no better than a disgusting muggle. He claimed that without magic, I would never get anywhere in life. He took me to the Leaky Cauldron. I thought that by taking me to Diagon Alley, he was apologizing for everything he had said.” He was pacing now. “I was wrong. My father wasn’t taking me to Diagon Alley. We went to the muggle world instead. He left me on the street alone. I was found by a muggle policeman. I went into foster care and bounced from home to home. No muggle wanted a child that knew nothing of their world. That stopped when I met the Blackwalshes. They helped me learn what I needed to know. My world started to revolve around them and they became my everything.” Abraxas looked close to tears. “To find out that my best friends were involved is… it just,” his face was nearly purple with rage. He was clenching his fists and his nails were cutting into his palms, drawing blood. “It makes me so angry.”
Hermione grabbed his hands. Waving her hand over his palms, she muttered a quick “episkey,” healing them. She looked at Abraxas with narrowed eyes. “Which family are you from?” Abraxas swallowed thickly and walked towards the window. “They probably haven’t changed their narrow mindedness. I just hope they didn’t pass it on to my brother.” He said looking out the window. “Hermione,” he started, voice tense. “Do you know Lucius Malfoy?” Her jaw dropped. “You’re a bloody Malfoy??” she asked incredulously. Abraxas turned to face her. “Yes. He’s my little brother. That’s not why I asked. I asked because he’s standing at the end of your driveway.” Hermione paled dramatically and leapt to her feet. “We need to leave. Immediately. I’m sorry Uncle, but your brother is a horrible man.” Abraxas glanced back towards his brother and paused. “I don’t think he’s here to harm you. Lord Black is with him and he's not one for unnecessary violence.”
Hermione ran to the window and looked down at them. “This makes no sense! Why would they be here?” She looked at Abraxas but he didn’t notice. He was looking at her file again. “Hermione, your file says that your mother was Bellatrix Black-Riddle. Your father is Tom Marvolo Riddle. Lord Black must have realized you were here. I believe he is here to assume custody of you.” Hermione was glaring at the floor. “I don’t understand this!” she suddenly exclaimed. “Then let’s go outside to get an explanation. You know the Grangers won’t tell you the truth.” Abraxas said soothingly. And with that, they started down the stairs.
As they walked to the front door -while ignoring the Grangers- Abraxas looked at Anderson and shook his head. Anderson nodded and moved to stand in front of the Grangers. He stared at them with his arms crossed and a disapproving frown on his face. When Hermione and Abraxas stepped onto the porch, Lord Black’s eyes went wide. Suddenly, his face went blank. Hermione wasn’t sure how she knew, but she was certain that he was angry, at what, she wasnt sure. He put his hand up as if to wave, but he was beckoning them closer. Lucius Malfoy’s eyes were wide and his jaw had dropped. “I think he remembers you Uncle Brax.” Hermione said, looking at him. Abraxas was looking at his brother with tears in his eyes. He took in his brother’s appearance. Lucius was tall and dressed impeccably. His long, blond hair -almost silver- was tied back with a green silk ribbon. Lucius’ silver eyes were glued to Abraxas as they walked down the sidewalk. Abraxas stopped in front of the younger, carbon copy of himself.
Lucius was openly crying now. “Brother,” he could barely speak. “Father said you were dead. Killed by a filthy muggle.” Abraxas spread his arms wide and Lucius rushed into them. As they embraced, Lord Black was looking at Hermione. “You stand and speak like a Black, but do not look like one. How peculiar.” Hermione raised her brow. “It would not be so particularly peculiar if one had cast a long term glamor charm. Or so Uncle Abraxas says…” she paused, then with uncertainty added, “Grandfather.”
Lord Black smirked. “I see that you are as witty and as bright as your parents.” Hermione looked back at the house and gasped in shock. Alan Granger had Anderson in a choke hold and had a knife to his throat. There was no sign of Emma Granger. Abraxas moved towards them but then Anderson smiled. He jerked his head back into Granger’s face, making him cry out in pain. Anderson then grabbed Granger’s knife hand, and slammed it against the edge of the porch, repeatedly. Once Granger dropped the knife, Anderson spun around and punched him hard in the jaw. Granger fell face first onto the deck.
As they all got to the deck, Anderson ran inside with Hermione right behind him. Lord Black entered after them. Around ten minutes later, Abraxas heard Hermione scream in pain and rage. Leaving Lucius with Granger, he rushed inside, only to see a bright light in the living room with Hermione in the center. As Abraxas squinted, he saw Hermione crouched over Lord Black, as if shielding him from something. The air around him started to shift. It was spinning around the room like a tornado. Hermione stood and turned around, facing away from him. It was then that he saw the blood on her back. Abraxas looked beyond Hermione to see Emma Granger standing there with a knife in her hand, frozen in fear as Hermione stalked towards her. He realized that Emma must have tried to hurt Lord Black. Abraxas hadn’t realized Lucius had dragged Alan Granger in until he heard “Oh, Merlin.” fall from his lips. “This isn’t good.” Lucius shouted.
Abraxas just stood there, frozen in shock. As the light around them got darker (it was almost black now), Lucius paled with fear. The wind in the house was getting stronger. It was whipping through the room and they could feel Hermione’s rage. It was like a physical prickling of their skin. “She’s an empath.” shouted Lucius. “Expecto Patronum!” he yelled as he drew his wand. “Narcissa! Get the two most powerful focus stones we have and bring them to me! You can portkey to my location using your ring. We’ve found Hermione, but she’s losing control of her magic. Hurry!” And with that, his patronus -a peacock- zoomed off to find his wife.