To Meet History

Chapter 13- Her Family Line

"I opened my eyes to a new perspective soon after my agreement to join him," Le-Annette said, turning her eyes away from her attentive audience. She stared off into the corner of the room that the light didn't touch. "All of my inner feelings were enhanced. I awoke angry. I was angry that I had to become this creature of darkness. I was angry that I was now so different from my friends. And I was angry, overall, at Salazar. But that anger was strange. You see, for every ounce of anger I felt for him, I also felt love. I discovered soon after I discovered my feelings that other vampires could read me as well. Zion turned to me and said not to feel such anger at Slytherin. When I asked why, he replied that Salazar had wanted nothing else that day but to go and see the birth of his fourth son, but a spell he was developing went wrong. He died."

Hermione patted Le-Annette's hand. The vampire turned her sad eyes to her descendent and forced a small smile to show that it was okay.

"I'm sorry," Harry said.

"Don't be. You have not heard the complete story. When I left the room, I found my friends waiting for me outside the door. They knew on sight that I was not the Le-Annette that they had left to die in that room. Bathsheba, I remember, was fighting tears. I opened my mouth to explain my reasoning for choosing this path, but she nodded her understanding before I could even form words. My children refused to come to me. They refused my hugs for days until they were satisfied that at least some small portion still remained of their own mother.

"I stayed at Hogwarts long enough to raise my first two children to the age to where they could take my place teaching both Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. In the time I did remain there, Zion remained with me. He taught me all I needed to know about being a vampire. But when it came time for me to leave, I begged Zion to stay with me. We had fallen in love, you see. He said that I would have it no other way. We traveled the world together. I learned much about him as we did so, but there were still things I didn't know of him. All I had learned, to think of it now, was that he had been a wizard when he was human."

Le-Annette sighed. All in the room were quiet, waiting to see if this was the end of her story. It didn't seem like an end. The two professors and their students all exchanged glances, wondering what the rest of the tale was. They all knew there was more.

"That...is an amazing story, Aunt Le-Annette," Hermione started.

"But...I don't understand. Why did you tell me not to be sorry?" Harry asked, his eyes narrowing.

The vampire gave a small laugh. "I'm sorry," she said. "You are all laboring under the delusion that that was the end. I shouldn't have paused as such. No, there is more to tell. More to be understood."

"Then tell us," Draco said bluntly.

"It is difficult, Draco. You see, I took on the habit of paying attention to anybody in my family line that was of some sort of significance. Lysander's descendents were great wizards and witches, as well as Selig's and Taima's. But Nola, my daughter, married a Muggle and she bore no children into the Wizarding world. This fascinated me. I had become so used to the way of magic that I had forgotten how Muggles were. I watched her line closest of all. Not one was born of magic. Not one...until my little Hermione,"

Le-Annette smiled fondly down at Hermione, who blushed slightly. Le-Annette continued.

"I have always been close to your mother, Hermione. She was like a daughter to me. Zion, I must mention, had a talent. One that took me a long, long time to discover. He was a prophet, a seer. He revealed to me, about a month or so before your birth, Hermione, that you were to be the first witch in that branch of my family since Nola. I rushed to be at your birth. Your mother was so pleased to see me. I told her, as she began her labor, of the talents you would have. She was so happy! She even gave me the privilege of naming you. I named you after Bathsheba's first child, Hermione Jane."

"But what of the other family lines? What became of them?" Remus inquired, appearing to be deeply interested in this.

"Ah...now here is something of a shock that is coming to all of you. I suppose you all have noticed by now that, though distantly, Hermione is related to Lord Voldemort," Le-Annette said, a slight grin on her face as Ron managed to gasp and cringe at the same time. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Yes, and?" Severus persisted.

"That's not the only relation of mine in this room. I'm related to two others here...Draco...and You, Severus,"

A collective gasp circled the room. "How?" was the only thing Ron could squeeze out of his mouth.

"Lysander's line leads to Severus and Selig's leads to Draco. I was at both their births too. Although, Draco's father wouldn't let me in. If Narcissa hadn't been otherwise occupied, she would've let me in, but Lucius forbade it. As for Severus, neither of his parents wanted me there...and for that one, I must apologize."

She looked meaningfully at Severus, who had his normal sneer in place...though this time, it hid something behind it.

"I know what your life was like, Severus. I'm sorry."

The Potions Masters shrugged but seemed to silently refuse to meet anyone's eye.

"What about Voldemort's birth? Were you there for that as well?" Harry asked, somewhat forcefully.

Le-Annette sighed once again. "That...is a long story in itself..."