The Truth About Hermione Granger

As Hermione and Mr. King walked through the arch into Diagon Alley, Hermione blinked at the sun that screamed into her tired eyes. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and the sun was only irritating her more. She had told Mr. King that she wanted to know for sure if Professor Snape was her father and if he wanted to know who she was, so Mr. King had sent him a letter telling him what had happened, but not who the girl in question was. He had yet to receive a reply.

Hermione didn't get far into Diagon Alley when she heard a familiar yet unwelcome voice behind her.

"Hello, Granger!"

Hermione turned to see Draco Malfoy standing there with his father, both with smug looks on their face. "What do you want, Malfoy?" she sighed.

"Nothing," he said, looking completely innocent. "Can't one say hello to one's schoolmate without an interrogation?"

"One, yes, Malfoy," answered Hermione. "But you, no!" Hermione turned to leave.

"You see what I mean, father?" Draco said, loud enough for her to hear. "Muggle-borns are so rude!"

"For your information, DRACO," sneered Hermione, turning back to him. "I was adopted my Muggles. I'm a full-blooded witch!" The look of complete horror and shock written all over both Malfoys' faces was reward enough for Hermione as she turned and walked down the street.

"Those Malfoys are just as horrible as..." Mr. King trailed off. "As You-Know-Who, himself!" he finally finished.

"I know," answered Hermione. "I can't stand that Draco Malfoy! He's a horrid brute!"

Mr. King only grunted in assent.

Hermione met up with Harry and Ron in Flourish and Blot's while her grandfather was paying for several rolls of parchment, three new inkwells and a new quill for her. It was more than she'd need for the entire year, but Mr. King told her that it was probably the only time he'd get to buy her school supplies for her, so she let him splurge a bit. Harry and Ron wanted to know if Mr. Alan was her father, and Hermione was forced to tell them no.

"Does your grandfather have any other ideas?" asked Ron.

"One," said Hermione, avoiding both boys' eyes.

"Well, come on!" said Harry. "Who is it?"

"I'd rather not say until we know for sure," she replied. "It would change everything!"

"We'll always be your friends, Hermione," said Harry, throwing an arm over her shoulder. "Even if your father is Snape!"

He and Ron laughed and Hermione masked her true feelings with a week smile. "Thanks, Harry," said Hermione.

By this time, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had caught up with them and Mrs. Weasley was looking at Hermione sympathetically. "Ron told us, dear," she said, patting Hermione's shoulder. "If there's anything I can do for you, you just ask, all right?"

Hermione smiled weakly at the older woman. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," said Hermione. "I'm sure I'll be fine."

Ginny suddenly threw her arms around Hermione and hugged her tight. "It's so sad, Hermione!" she wailed.

"Really, Ginny, I'm fine!" said Hermione, prying Ginny off her and smiling at the girl. "I'll be fine. Thank you, though."

Ginny simply nodded and Hermione smirked at Harry and Ron. They only smiled back at her. "Well," said Hermione as her grandfather joined them. "Shall we go? Oh, sorry, Mr. King- I mean, Granddad- this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."

"Yes, Mr. Weasley, I know," said Mr. King. "I worked with his father at the Ministry up until the time Olivia became ill. You were just a baby then! And this must be the one who was still unborn!" he added, indicating Ginny.

Hermione watched as Ron turned beet red and Ginny smiled nervously. She only smirked at them.

"Yes, this is Ginny," said Mrs. Weasley. "My youngest and only daughter!"

"Molly!" exclaimed Mr. King. "Why I haven't seen you in ages! Goodness, I didn't even recognize you! You've lost weight!"

"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley. "Nine pounds and five ounces, to be exact!" She patted Ginny on the head to indicate that she was referring to giving birth since the last time they'd seen one another. This time, Ginny turned red.

"We've still got to stop at the apothecary," Hermione interrupted to spare anyone else any more embarrassment. "I've got to replace some potions supplies." She hesitated. Just the mention of potions made her think of what having Snape for a father would be like. Quickly, she swallowed the lump in her throat. "And I've still got to pick up my books. Speaking of books, how about that Dark Arts book we've got to get this year; 'Things That Scare Even Me?' Sounds awfully strange!"

"Yes, and the guy's name!" agreed Ron as they all left the shop together. "Artemus Flint? I mean, who is he? I've never heard of him. At least the rest of the authors of our school books are famous!"

"Really," said Hermione as they walked into the bookstore for their books. When the store's owner handed them all copies of 'Things That Scare Even Me,' Hermione opened the book to the first page. She read through the dedication, which said, "To my darling Erinlexi. Thank you for all your help and support," and then scanned the page. The publication date caught her eye.

"Hey," she said. "This was first published in the year 1863! The current copyright is now held by Erinlexi Goldwood. I wonder if that's the same Erinlexi as in the dedication."

"You read TOO much," said Ron, shaking his head at her.

Hermione snapped her book shut. "Well, excuse me for being interested in things!" she said.

Harry just smirked at them. "You two sound like an old married couple!" he said.

Hermione just rolled her eyes and sighed. She found her grandfather talking with Mrs. Weasley. "I'm ready granddad," she said. "I've got my books."

"And I'll bet you already know when they were published, don't you?" he asked, chuckling.

Hermione wrinkled her brow in surprise. "What?" she said.

"That's the first thing your grandmother always did," he laughed, seeing in her face that he had guessed her. "You're just like her!"

Hermione smiled up at him. She was really happy to have found him!

* * * * * * * *

The next day, Hermione received a letter from Mr. King saying that Professor Snape had agreed to meet her and do the test on the first day of school, but as to whether or not he would take her in, he'd said he would have to think about that. Mr. King told her that he hadn't told Snape who she was, so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable during the welcoming feast, but Snape asked that she report to his offices immediately after Dumbledore dismissed them.

When she went to bed the night of August 31st, she had a hard time sleeping and mostly tossed and turned all night and when her grandfather came to take her to the station the next morning, her stomach was doing flip flops. Mr. King walked through the barrier with her and helped her onto the Hogwarts Express, telling her to be sure she sent him an owl telling him what came of Professor Snape. She promised that she would and kissed his cheek before he left. She settled down in an empty compartment and stared out the window, watching for Harry or Ron. The train took off before she caught sight of them, though, but she didn't really want to talk to them right now. She figured they'd find her sooner or later, so she settled against the window and stared out at the passing countryside.

"Well, well, well!"

Hermione turned to see Malfoy standing in the door to her compartment, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. "What do you want?" she asked, half-heartedly.

"Where's your sidekicks?" drawled Malfoy. "Potty and the Weasel! Have they deserted you, finally? Did they finally figure out that you're no good after all?"

"Go away," said Hermione quietly.

Malfoy just stood there for a minute. "What's the matter with you?" he asked finally. Hermione waited for some smart jibe, but it never came.

"You wouldn't understand," she said, going back to staring out the window.

"What makes you think that?"

Hermione wanted to tell him to shove off, but when she turned to say it, he looked almost sincere. "Trust me," she said.

"Try ME!" he replied.

"My parents were killed in a train wreck and when I went through their personal things I found out I was adopted and it turns out that the man who is probably my real father I can't stand at all and if he really IS my father I'm going to have some severe problems!" she said all in one breath.

To her surprise, Malfoy almost looked apologetic. Behind him, Crabbe's face contorted into something akin to sympathy. "Sorry," mumbled Goyle. "Didn't know."

"Yeah, Hermione, sorry," said Malfoy. "Come on, guys. Let's go bug someone else." Thankfully, they closed the door when they left.

"THAT was odd," she whispered to herself, settling again against the window.

She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, Harry was shaking her awake and telling her that they were almost at school. She'd missed lunch, but Ron had saved her a cauldron cake so she wouldn't starve before the feast. After they had all changed into their school robes, Harry told her about something very odd that had happened.

"He did WHAT?" she asked, almost not believing him.

"Yes," hissed Harry. "Just after we found you here, Malfoy came along and asked if you were okay. We thought he was going to say something horrible, but when we told him you were fine, he just nodded and said that you might need some friends when you woke up and to stick around for you. He seemed really sincere."

Hermione smiled weakly at Harry and Ron and told them about the earlier exchange she'd had with their 'beloved' classmate. Ron just frowned. "I hope he's not planning something," he said.

"Probably not," said Hermione. "He seemed really sincere and Goyle even offered condolences BEFORE Malfoy said anything about it."

"I think Goyle's mom is dead," said Harry. "I think."

Ron nodded. "She is," he said. "His dad's remarried, though."

Hermione only sighed and watched out the window as the train slowed and then stopped.

Somehow, she just wanted this day to be over with....