Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Hermione is not surprised to be in Grimmauld. No one is by the floo to greet them, but after a moment Sirius comes bounding down the stairs. This sets off his mothers' screams, few insults are exchanged before he succeeds in tugging the curtains into place again. Finally he walks toward Hermione who is standing between the twins.
‘Hermione, welcome to my home again. We are happy to have you. Everyone's upstairs at the moment. Go on up and get settled, dinner will be within the hour. How has your summer been?’
‘Thank you for having me. My summer was a challenge because I had to heal from my injury. But after that it was a relaxing one. Am I still sharing a room with Ginny?’
‘Yes, she is around here somewhere.’ he looks up the stairs but no one is there.
‘I’m sure I will run into her at some point.’
Hermione begins to climb the stairs slowly so as not to disturb any portraits. Once she is in her room she empties her pockets, realizing just how much she had bought. After resizing everything she begins to sort through her purchases attempting to figure out how to get everything into her trunk. She has only barely begun when Ginny walks through the door.
‘Hermione. I didn't know you had arrived. Have you been here long?’
‘Only just arrived, how has your summer been?’
‘Long, mum was not happy with us all going to the ministry.’
‘I can imagine. Did you and Ron get extra chores?’
‘Oh yeah, all summer. She has let up some since Harry arrived last week.’
‘Really? All summer? That sounds terrible.’
‘It was but summer is nearly over and she can't possibly still be mad next time we come home.’
‘Hopefully.’
Just then someone knocks on the door.
‘Dinner time.’
‘Lets go, I’m starving.’
Upon arriving at dinner, Hermione noticed that Mrs. Weasley did not acknowledge her arrival. After dinner the teens gathered in one bedroom to catch up. They all went to bed late. Hermione stayed up even later thinking over the day's interactions, somewhat concerned with how distant certain Weasleys are.
*.*
Over the next few days Hermione spends more time in the library reading then her friends would prefer but they accept that she is most likely studying for school and leave her alone. The twins are usually around for dinner but at the shop otherwise. The only one that joins her in the library is Sirius.
‘Potions again? Kitten you have been reading that same book for the last 3 days with no progress. What is so fascinating?’
Hermione closes the book and looks up as Sirius sits in a nearby armchair.
‘I found this potion that, if done properly, can tell a person who their parents are.’
‘I think I remember hearing about a potion like that. Why is it important to you?’
‘This summer I learned that I was adopted at a young age.’
‘And then you found this potion. I can understand your interest. Let me see the potion?’
Hermione opens the book again before handing it to Sirius.
‘There are some advanced level potion ingredients. And this takes an entire week to brew. I can understand why you didn't decide to brew it here. Only 2 more days before you all leave for school. Do you have everything you need? Can we check your ingredients again to be sure everything is ready for you to get started?’
The entire time Sirius does not look up. Hermione's mouth drops open in shock, she stares at him in silence until he looks up.
‘What? Mooney isn't the only one who can do research for a project.’
‘I’m sorry you just took me by surprise. Thank you for understanding my logic not to start until I get back to school. I didn't want to try to rush any of the processes. If I had known about the potion before I got my school things I would have planned to be here a few days longer. Finally give me a moment to gather the ingredients, I will be right back.’
Upon examining the assembled ingredients Sirus picked up one of the more rare ingredients, a mushroom from Africa.
‘This looks a bit moldy. Is it supposed to be like that?’
‘What? No, it was supposed to be fresh, I specifically asked the Shopkeep for a fresh one.’
‘What am I going to do now?’
‘Don't we both know a pair of young men who regularly procure rare potions ingredients for their various experiments that they then turn into products?’
‘The twins? Of course. I wonder if they have any in stock?’
‘Ask them after dinner? Go ahead and put all this away and I will see you downstairs. I'm sure dinner is soon.’
‘Oh, one more question. Do you think this will work on muggle parents?’
‘According to the book, the magic details your parents. It does not stipulate magic or muggle.
‘Besides if need be im sure there are other options if this fails. We can research if and when the need arises. alright?’
‘Thank you for your support. After I have the results I promise to owl you. I will see you at dinner.’
After dinner, Hermione follows the twins upstairs into the sitting room and sits between them on the couch.
‘Hey, can you help me? I have a project that I'm working on but one of my ingredients isn't as fresh as it needs to be for the potion. Do you happen to have this African mushroom, without mold?’
‘Gred, I don't have our entire shop inventory memorized, do you?’
‘I do not Forge, I'm sure we can check in the morning.’
‘This one is a bit more rare then most of what we normally have on hand. We may need to stop by the apothecary. Tell you what, you give us this one and we will give you the fresh one, no charge.’
‘Deal. Do you think you can try to get it for me before I return to Hogwarts?’
‘Anything is possible, we will know more tomorrow. Tell us more about this project?’
‘Let me complete the project then i will tell you all about it, ok? I promise to fill you in within the next 2 weeks.’
‘We look forward to your owl with bated breath.’
Hermione hugs them both before saying goodnight.
*.*
Hermione is starting to get worried. It is now 10am on september 1st. Soon they would be leaving for Kings Cross. She has not seen the twins since she asked for their help. Sirius keeps telling her that they will come through, but Hermione is becoming doubtful.
Mrs. Weasley says they are leaving at 10:30. Hermione is already packed, breakfast was served at 8. There is nothing else for her to do until everyone leaves. At 10:15 the twins arrive through the floo. They find Hermione pacing in the library.
‘Sorry it took so long. This was a tricky item to track down. But we got it this morning.’ George explains.
Fred hands her a box larger than expected. ‘We included a few products so that mom wouldn’t think we were up to anything. You should probably put this in your trunk before she asks about it,’ he whispers hurriedly.
As soon as Hermione gets her trunk closed again, Mrs Weasley calls down the hall that it is time to leave. They take Ministry cars to Kings Cross and board the train.
*.*
It is calming getting back into school routines. The simple task of walking through the halls and navigating the stairs reminds Hermione of her first year and how wonderful everything seemed. She enjoys the variety of food served in the Great Hall at meal times, and how peaceful the grounds are when you take a stroll after dinner.
In her room, Hermione organizes her books on the available shelves, hangs her clothes and sets up her cauldron. She places a notice me not around it to keep her roommates from disturbing it. Most ingredients get added in the evenings. Hermione prepares a schedule to ensure that her schoolwork and the potion can both get completed.
She also sends a note to Madam Pomfrey stating that she will have time to meet the 2nd Sunday of the school year for tea and to discuss the summer. Madam Pomfrey responds that she is happy Hermione is remembering to meet with her and discuss her concerns.
On the first Saturday of term, Hermione begins her potion just before dinner. The first step takes 30 minutes. When she enters the common room, Ron is irritable. He states that they will be late for dinner if they don't leave soon.
Over the next week, Hermione spends as much time with her friends as possible, hoping that after the coming weekend they would still be friends. Ron spends much of this time in a grumpy mood, always snapping at the smallest things.
Finally Saturday has arrived. Everyone is headed down to dinner. Hermione says she needs to put her bag away and they should go ahead because she will catch up. With a shrug Harry, Ron and Ginny begin the walk down to dinner. She rushes up to her dorm, none of her dormmates are in the room.
Hermione gathers the final ingredients before approaching her cauldron. Hermione turns off the fire below the cauldron, then adds three drops of blood and stirs four times clockwise as instructed, before adding the parchment to the cauldron. Hermione counts the 60 seconds in her head then removes the parchment.
A moment later the parchment is dry enough to be carried but the results are not ready, it will be another 10 minutes before anything appears on the parchment. Hermione takes a moment to get ready for dinner. She then grabs the parchment and leaves Gryffindor tower. The common room is deserted as are the corridors on the upper floors. Hermione walks at a pace that will allow the results to be read just before entering the Great Hall.
At the bottom of the staircase Hermione finally allows herself to look at the parchment. She stares unblinking at it as she reads the words. In her peripheral Hermione can see her cousin approaching the doors to the great hall. Time to begin the show.
*.*
Hermione walks toward the Great Hall slowly staring at the parchment in her hands. As she approaches the doorway to enter the dining hall she is so distracted that she accidentally walks into someone. Looking up, an apology on her lips she sees Malfoy and stops in her tracks. He snatches the paper out of her hands and begins to read it. Hermione tries to get the parchment back.
‘Granger? Who is Lyra? Why is my aunt's name on this parchment?’
‘Apparently my name is Lyra. I only just found out.’
‘What do you mean your name is Lyra Lestrange?’ He sounds angry. Despite trying his best to keep his voice down, it does carry into the Great Hall but not far, some people can almost hear what they are saying. Mostly everyone can tell they are arguing about something, possibly the parchment they both seem to want.
‘I'm adopted. I don't know anything more right now.’ She is equally as angry, he is still keeping her parchment from her.
Hermione snatches the parchment back and stomps off to sit at the Gryffindor table.
‘What's that about?’ Ron asks.
‘I learned something new. I'm not sure how to feel about it yet.’
Hermione places the parchment on the table absently as she reaches for something to drink, Harry picks it up and begins to read:
Birth name: Lyra Lestrange
Daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange and Rudolphus Lestrange.
Birthdate: 08/13/1979
Adopted name: Hermione Granger
Adopted by Jane Granger and Dan Granger.
Birthdate changed during adoption: 09/16/1979
‘Hermione? You were adopted? I didn't know that.’
‘Neither did I, Harry. At least not until this summer. I'm sorry, I'm not hungry. I will see you all later.’ Hermione grabs the parchment and storms away.
Ron had read over Harry's shoulder and was getting mad. He gets up and follows Hermione.
‘You were adopted? You lied to us. How could you?’ his voice rises with every word.
‘Ronald, I told you I literally just found out. I don't know what this means yet. I need time to think about it.’
‘I can't believe you. What haven't you lied about? Your parents are the Lestranges? How can we ever trust you?’ Ron is yelling now.
‘Can't trust me? Are you serious? I can't control who my parents are. I haven't lied about anything.’ Hermione cannot help but yell back. She tried to prepare herself for this, but his words hurt just the same.
Hermione stomps away from Ron and turns down an empty corridor. When passing a classroom, a hand grabs her and pulls her inside. Looking around, she sees 3 female slytherins in her year.
‘Why were you talking to Draco?’
‘None of your business, Parkinson.’
‘He won't tell anyone what happened. Just keeps muttering about someone named Lyra.’ Pansy Parkinson’s voice softens slightly.
‘Who is Lyra?’ Daphne Greengrass asks.
‘What does it matter?’ Hermione snaps, already tired of being questioned tonight.
‘There is only one person named Lyra on anyone's family tree. She happens to be the Long Lost Lestrange. If you know anything about this you should tell us. All our parents need to know what is happening. She was kidnapped at a very young age and her parents were distraught.’ Parkinson says quietly, just above a whisper.
‘I didn't know all that. All I know is I'm adopted and just completed the heritage potion. Here are the results.’ Hermione shows them the parchment.
‘You really are Lyra. We need to write to our parents. Can we talk more after we hear back?’ Tracey Davis asks.
‘I suppose.’
‘Have a good night, Granger.’ Daphne says before leading the other girls out of the room.
Hermione heads to the owlery and begins to write her promised letters.
Dear Padfoot,
I completed the potion we discussed and I don't know what to do with the information. It turns out my parents are both alive and purebloods. Also I believe you are my cousin?? I'm sorry I'm a little freaked out. I'm sending a copy of the results so you can see them.
Someone in my year told me that Lyra was kidnapped as a baby? Is this true? Who would kidnap a baby? Should I write a letter to my birth parents? Please write back. I am so confused.
Hermione ‘Lyra’ Granger
*.*
Twin Terrors,
I completed my project. This summer I discovered I was adopted. I was attempting a heritage potion that would tell me who my parents are. Enclosed is a copy of the results. After you read them, please remember that I am still Hermione. Your brother has already shared his opinion and I am not particularly pleased with it.
HG
*.*