The Truth About Hermione Granger

Before Hermione knew it, the Easter Holidays were over and she was heading back to Hogwarts via the Flu Network. Her father would aparate to Hogsmeade and make his way up to the school from there. Her mother was heading back to her house which was someplace in Ireland. She would be moving to Snape Manor this summer.

When Hermione tumbled out of the fireplace in her father’s office, she was surprised to find Harry, Ron and Draco all there waiting for her. Ron and Draco were glaring at each other and Harry was standing between the two of them, apparently holding the peace. As soon as they saw her, though, any and all animosity was forgotten and all three boys ran to greet her at once. Draco backed off and allowed the other two to say hello first.

“Welcome back, Hermione,” said Ron, punching her shoulder playfully.

“We’re glad to see you again,” said Harry, abandoning all pretence and throwing his arms around her in a large hug. “We’ve missed you!”

Hermione returned her hug and grinned at Draco over Harry’s shoulder. “I’m glad to see you, too,” she said, pulling away. “I had SO much fun and just wait until I tell you what happened!”

“I got your letter, Mione,” said Draco, giving her his famous half-grin.

Hermione stopped suddenly and studied Draco for a moment. “Did you?” she said, smiling back at him.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling bigger.

Hermione only smiled back at him for a moment and finally shook her head. “Anyway, just listen to this,” she said, sitting and motioning for them to sit. “You are NOT going to believe this!” And she proceeded to tell them about her mother.

“You’re joking,” said Ron as soon as she finished.

“No, Ron, I’m not joking,” said Hermione with a grin. “She’s really alive.”

“That’s wild,” said Draco. “How on Earth are you going to explain it to the Dark Lord?”

“I don’t know,” said Hermione. “I’m sure my father will think of something.”

“He will,” said Harry. “Snape is brilliant.”

All three of them just stared at him. “What?” asked Harry. “He is! Just because I don’t like him doesn’t mean I can’t admit that he’s a genius!”

Hermione giggled. “It’s just so strange to hear you say it,” she said.

Harry only shrugged.

At just that moment, Snape’s office door opened and in walked the potions professor. He stopped suddenly as he saw the four of them sitting there. “What are you doing in here?” he asked, half sneering and half smiling.

“Sorry, daddy,” answered Hermione. “They were waiting here when I got back and we just got to talking and…. Well, anyway, we were just about to leave.”

“Were you?” he asked. “Very well, Poppet. Just make sure you don’t get into any mischief.”

“I won’t daddy,” said Hermione, stopping to kiss his cheek before they all left.

As soon as they were in the hall, Harry and Ron made their excuses and left Hermione and Draco to themselves. Hermione was certain they’d only left in order to give them some time alone, which she thought was very nice of them.

“Mione,” said Draco as soon as the other two boys were out of ear-shot. “That letter… well, I really don’t know what to say….”

Hermione glanced at him to see that he was grinning widely. “Well, it’s true,” she said. “I know because I wrote it subconsciously.”

Suddenly, he threw his arms around her and kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy, Mione!” he said. “I love you, too!”

Hermione grinned into Draco’s neck as she returned his embrace. “I’m glad,” she said softly. “I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”

“How could you NOT be sure?” he laughed. “After the things I’ve said to you? Even after I told you that I’d always loved you since I first saw you? Come on, Mione! How could you NOT know?”

Hermione only giggled as she pulled away to look Draco in the eye. “I don’t know,” she said. “Now that you mention it, it does seem sort of silly.”

He nodded. “It’s nearly dinner time,” he said. “I’ll walk with you to the great hall.”

Hermione grinned as the two of them headed off, hand in hand, to the Great Hall.

* * * * * * * *

Hermione was almost relieved when she felt the familiar burn on her arm the next day. She was beginning to think Tom had forgotten her. Since she was in Care of Magical Creatures, she glanced over at Draco, but he didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy dealing with one of the many animals on the grass that day. In fact, NONE of the Slytherins were making eye contact with her. Hadn’t they felt it? Or had Tom only called her?

It seemed like ages, but finally, Hagrid released them from class. She made her excuses to Harry and Ron and hurried over to Draco. “Can I talk to you for a moment, Draco?” she asked.

That brought knowing grins from Crabbe and Goyle. Draco rolled his eyes at them. “Sure, Mione,” he said, leading her away from the rest of the class. “What is it?”

“Did the Great Lord call you just now?” she asked.

He looked up sharply. “No,” he answered. “Why?”

“Because,” she said. “He called me.”

Draco grinned. “Well, that’s all right,” he said. “You’re one of his favorites, after all. Nothing to worry about, really.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well, usually, when he calls just ONE of us, it’s because we’re in trouble,” he answered. “But, like I said, you’re one of his favorites. He’s not likely to be angry with you. And trust me, you don’t EVER want him to be angry with you.” He only shuddered at that, choosing not to expound.

“Well, what could he ever want with just ME?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Perhaps to see how you’re coming with curses or something. Or maybe he just wants to have afternoon tea with you. But, stop worrying and get going, already. He won’t wait forever, you know.”

Hermione sighed as she watched Draco head to the Great Hall with the rest of the students. Finally, as he turned out of sight, she turned and headed up to Gryffindor Tower to retrieve her Invisibility cloak. She tucked it under her robes and hurried from the tower quickly. As soon as she scrambled out of the picture hole, she slipped into the cloak, being careful to be sure nobody was around.

All the way down to the Dark Forest, she worried about what he could possibly want with her. As she stepped into the trees at the edge of the forest, she wondered if she was even going to the right place, but seeing as how she didn’t know where else to go, she continued to the little clearing.

But, Tom wasn’t there.

Wormtail was.

“Hello, Miss Snape,” he said, nervously wringing his hands. “Th- the Dark Lord sent me to f- fetch you. Come along, take my hand.”

She didn’t trust him wholly, but took his hand anyway.

“That’s it,” he said. “Now, just relax.”

But, before she could even attempt it, she felt a sudden jerking sensation and in a flash of light, they were in a very ornately finished room. There was a fire in the large gothic fireplace, the mantle of which was decorated with cherubs and gargoyles. Two large, green padded chairs sat in front of it with what looked to be a large tea table between them. A large, green Chinese rug sat under the chairs and table and on the walls were hung several paintings of witches and wizards doing various things: one was stirring a cauldron full of something unseen, another was writing furiously in a journal and still another was eyeing her suspiciously.

It was one creepy room.

“Wait here, Miss Snape,” he said, ducking out of the room.

Hermione sat primly in one of the chairs and glanced at the suspicious wizard who was still eyeing her. “Who are you?” he asked her rudely.

“I’m Hermione Snape,” she said. “I’m a favorite of Tom’s.”

“A favorite, eh?” he said. “Well, I don’t like the looks of you!”

“Well, I don’t like the looks of YOU,” she replied, turning away from him.

She heard him grumbling something behind her, but did not turn to look at him again.

Finally, Tom entered the room, smiling genially and Hermione stood to greet him. “Hermione,” he said, crossing the room and hugging her. “How have you been?”

“Just fine, Tom,” she said, returning his hug. “And you?”

“Oh, I’m well,” he replied, releasing her. “Sit, sit,” he said, motioning to the chairs. Hermione sat and he took the chair opposite her. “Wormtail will be bringing dinner soon,” he said. “I thought we could have a nice chat.”

Hermione felt like punching him, but only smiled nicely. “Of course,” she said.

“So, tell me, Miss Snape,” said Tom. “How is school?”

“Wonderful!” she replied. “I’ve got top marks so far.”

“Do you?” he asked, smiling at her.

Hermione nodded, trying her hardest not to look away from his hauntingly green eyes. They always scared her. “We just had an exam in charms and I got 125 percent!” she told him.

“Well, that’s wonderful!” he exclaimed as Wormtail brought in a tray with the tea service on it. “Wormtail, Miss Snape just told me that she got 125 percent on her charms exam.”

“Very good,” said Wormtail a bit venomously as he set the tray down. “The house elves will send dinner in a few moments.” With that, he left.

“I don’t think Wormtail likes me,” said Hermione.

“Don’t mind him, Miss Snape,” he said, pouring the tea. “He doesn’t like much of anyone.”

Hermione grinned, feeling herself relax again. Tom had this effect on her every time she met with him. He seemed so darned NICE it was hard NOT to like him. “No, I don’t expect he does,” she said, sipping the tea Tom handed her.

He smiled across the table at her.

It would be a pleasant dinner.

* * * * * * * *

Hermione didn’t return until late that night. It turned out that Tom had wanted to see how she was coming on curses and on her hand to hand combat, so he’d taken her on himself. He was very pleased with how she was coming along and would have gone on forever if she had not reminded him that she had to be back in her common room in only half an hour, so Wormtail had aparated back to the Dark Forest with her and saw her to the edge of the school grounds, where she’d pulled on her cloak and headed back up to the castle in the dark. By the time she tucked the cloak under her robes and made her way to Gryffindor tower, it was nearly curfew. All she really wanted to do was get to bed, but unfortunately, Harry and Ron wanted an explanation first. They grabbed her as soon as she came in.

“Where were you?” demanded Ron.

“We didn’t see you at dinner,” said Harry. “And Malfoy said you’d been called. What does that mean?”

“Tom called me,” she said. “He wanted to talk, that’s all.”

“To talk?” asked Ron. “He wanted to talk to you?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m one of his favorites, after all. He wanted to see how I’m doing on curses, too.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” asked Harry.

“Because, I had to hurry!” she said. “Now, please, I’ve got a headache from all that work and from being around him for so long. Besides, it’s getting late and we all have classes in the morning.”

“All right,” said Ron. “But you have to tell us all about it tomorrow.”

“I will,” she promised heading up to her room. Without a word to Parvatti, who was still awake and studying on her bed, Hermione shoved the cloak into the bottom of her trunk and locked it tight, then changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. She was dead beat.

Plus, Tom had given her something very serious to think about just before she’d left earlier that night.