Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Over the next week Bella begins searching for any injured teenagers between 15-18. Since her daughter was kidnapped at such a young age it is possible that her appearance or birthdate could have been changed. When she began checking the records at St. Mungos there was no one that was injured enough to warrant the physical reaction Bella had experienced. No magical child at any hospital that was severe enough.
Bellatrix was distraught, Rudolphus didn't know how to react. On one hand he was happy that Bella was looking for their daughter again with such determination, on the other hand his concern was growing. With each dead end he was coming to the realization of who his daughter likely was.
‘Bella,’ he began. ‘Sweetheart, look at me.’ Bella spun around mid tirade about how hopeless this search was becoming. Before she could utter a word, Roddy pulls her close, wraps her in his arms and kisses her. As she melts into his embrace, he ends the kiss and presses his forehead against hers.
‘Bella,’ he begins again. ‘This is a very tedious process. And I know you are getting frustrated but i think the answer is much more simple then you have realized.’ He can see the confusion on her face immediately. ‘My love, did you fight with any one at the ministry?’ She shakes her head slowly. ‘Do you remember what Dolohov was saying about the young witch he injured that night?’
Again she shakes her head but this time more aggressively. Rudolphus tightens his hold around her waist as Bella begins to step away from him. ‘He cursed this young witch and would have killed her if one of her friends had not thought to silence him. If she is our daughter she will be recovering for a while. We need to find out more about her. Doesn’t Draco return home tomorrow?’
There was a small nod of her head but nothing more.
‘Let's talk to him and if it is our daughter then we can confront Dolohov together. Agreed?’ Bella nods again before kissing her husband. Rudolphus continues to kiss her as he backs her up against the wall. She can get back to her worrying and plotting later, right now they are busy with other matters.
*.*
The next day Hermione was nervously glancing at her watch. They were about to pull into the station and she still didn't know what she was going to tell her parents. She will be needing to take things easy and get extra rest. Hopefully they will be understanding of her condition.
Gathering her trunk and Crookshanks’ carrier, Hermione makes her way to the exit as the train slows before stopping. Harry and Ron don't notice how worried she looks as they part and head toward their families. Hermione slowly and carefully drags her trunk in her mothers direction.
‘Hello Hermione, how was the rest of the school year?’ Jane Granger, who had been sitting on a bench, rises and begins walking with Hermione toward the car park. Hermione grits her teeth as she struggles to keep up with her mother before answering.
‘It was fine, nothing too challenging. O.W.L.S. was a bit more challenging than other years' tests but I am confident that I did my best.’ Her mother does not comment on how much Hermione seems to be struggling nor does she offer to help. When they arrive at the car, Hermione does her best to get the trunk into the boot of the car as quickly as possible before climbing in and placing the Crook's cage next to her.
‘Mum, where is father?’ Hermione asks.
‘Your father had to do an emergency procedure this afternoon and was unable to join me. We will see him at home for dinner.’
Upon arriving home Hermione slowly drags her things to her room. Sitting on the bed, Hermione realizes that she is too tired to put her things away. Instead she lays down to take a nap before dinner.
Moments later, it seems, there is a knock at her door.
‘Hermione? It's almost time for dinner, come set the table.’
‘Yes mum.’ Hermione goes to her trunk, pulls out the vials needed and drinks them before heading downstairs to do as she was told.
Sitting at the table, Hermione does her best to pay attention to the conversation between her parents, suddenly she realizes she must have missed something as they are both staring at her in silence.
‘Hermione, did you hear your father? He asked why do you seem so tired today? Normally you have much more energy when you get off the train.’
Hermione looks from her mothers disapproving frown to the look of anger on her fathers face.
‘I apologize father, I seem to have caught the Doxy Flu that had been going around the school during the last month. I had hoped to avoid it. But I'm sure I will have more energy in a few days. If you will excuse me, i'm going to go lay down-’
‘No you are not, you will stay there and finish your dinner. You know we expect more from you than this. You will clean up after dinner. You better not be planning to spend the summer relaxing and reading. You will be returning to your normal chores tomorrow morning. We will discuss if you deserve to visit your friends this summer.’
Her father pushed away from the table and stormed out of the room.
‘Hermione, you know better than to act like this. With one last disapproving glance in her direction Jane left the room.’
Silence fills the room as Hermione picks at what remains on her plate. Hermione continues to eat until she is certain her parents are in their room, before getting out of her seat and starting to clean up.
After finishing the dishes Hermione slowly begins to climb the stairs leading to her room. She is nearing the top when she hears her mother trying to calm her father through their mostly closed bedroom door.
‘Dan you can't keep yelling, Hermione is bound to be coming up stairs as soon as she is done in the kitchen. Do you want her to hear you?’
‘I don't care if she can hear me,’ he yells. ‘I'm tired of her attitude. Ever since she started that school she never does her chores. She is always disappearing and then when she does bother to come home she tells us tales about some random disease that I have never heard of. This is ridiculous. When will it end? Every year she grows more disrespectful. I never should have allowed you to talk me into adopting her. When will it end Jane? Tell me because I can't take this much longer.’
‘Dan, lower your voice. You know she will be asking to visit her friends again soon when she does we can go on holiday and forget about this whole mess alright? Remember that in the magical world they are of age at 17? After that do you think she will be trying to visit all that often? She already only barely comes home, then she tries to leave again almost immediately after. I'm sure this summer will be no different.’
‘Fine I guess this will probably be one of the last summers she spends with us. I wonder if she will even attempt to come home next summer.’
Hermione is stunned. I’m adopted? Father doesn’t even want me? Things between herself and her parents have never been perfect, but it never occurred to her that things were this bad.
Her eyes start to well up as she climbs the rest of the stairs before slowly walking toward her room.
Passing her parents door she couldn't prevent herself from looking inside. Her parents were embracing in a passionate kiss and were beginning to remove each other's clothing. Looking away in disgust, Hermione hastens her steps, deciding to silence her room before taking the remaining potions for the day and crawling into bed.
Hermione’s last thought was: I hope tomorrow is a better day.
*.*