Chapter Text
Smooth autumn air lifted Hermione's hair off of her neck as she started the walk to Hogsmeade with her friends. The leaves were already falling and her excitement for the cozy season was already growing. Ron was prattling on about what he wanted to buy while Ginny and Harry walked hand in hand beside her. It was the comfortable peace Hermione lived for.
The day went slowly; Hermione was led from shop to shop as the rest bought everything they wanted. When she expressed her interest in going to Tomes and Scrolls, Ron groaned.
“Why do you always need to go in there?” He complained. He had his eyes trained on the window of the shop with disdain.
Hermione furrowed her brow. “Because I need a book, Ron.”
“Well, I am not going in. Death Eaters are stinking the place up.” Hermione followed his eyes to the window where Pansy and Daphne stood, chatting about a book in the blonde one's hand.
Flicking her eyes back to Ron, she glared at him, “They are not death eaters!”
“Relax,” He laughed a condescending laugh, "I'm only joking.” And with that, he grabbed Harry by the arm and dragged him in the direction of the Three Broomsticks with the excuse of getting a table.
“What is his problem?!” Hermione fumed as he left.
Ginny only shrugged, “I dunno. Let's go, I'm getting cold.” and started towards the shop.
Less than ten minutes later, Hermione and Ginny rejoined the boys at the pub. The two girls slide into the booth, Harry passing them each a butterbeer. “Find everything okay?” Harry asked Hermione with a smile. She returned his smile and began idly chatting with the group.
They fell into a rhythm of jokes and smiles that Hermione forgot why she was even upset before. It all was so comfortable and familiar, so untainted by the pains of war that Hermione let herself fall into it.
Ron left the table to grab more drinks and came back with a Lavender Brown following him like a puppy. She was all smiles and kindness until she made it to the table and saw Hermione there. Apparently between 6 years sharing a room and an entire war, the girl still hated Hermione. Not that she cared.
“Won Won, you didn't tell me you were sitting with her!” Ron shrugged and sat down. Considering there were no more seats, Hemione had hope that Lavender would just leave. Instead she decided that Ron's lap was the perfect seat and sat down.
Harry and the rest kept talking but were constantly interrupted by Lavender whispering something to Ron and her shrill giggle. Finally, Ginny had enough.
“Is there something you'd like to say, Lav?” The other girl just pouted then looked at Hermione and not so quietly whispered to Ron.
“Why are you still friends with her?” She whined, “She is friends with the same people that killed my cousin thrice removed! And she tried to get with Cormac and when he said no, she hexed him! She's not who she used to be,” The last part, she spit it like it burned her.
Harry turned to look at her, “Is the Cormac stuff true, Mione?”
“What? No! You know I’d never!” Harry looks unconvinced. Hermione doesn't know what hurts more, Lavender spreading lies about her or the fact that her best friend might believe them. Taking one last look at the table, Hermione stands and gathers her bag.
“I am going back to study, I'll see you lot later.” And to the protests of none, Hermione left the Three Broomsticks alone.
As she walks, she tries to let the environment calm her. She tries to focus on the soft call of the owls, the wind in her hair, anything. But nothing stops a tear falling down her cheek. She doesn't even know why she is crying. Honestly, much worse has been said to her face! For Morgana's sake, she was tortured!
By the time she made it back to the castle, more tears were threatening to overflow as her thoughts started to bubble over. Why was she so affected like this? It was stupid, she told herself, so stupid to cry over what Lavender said! But that didn't stop anything.
Hermione found herself curled in a small alcove, silent hiccuping sobs raking her body. All of the stress she promised Pomfrey didn't exist washing over her. She hated that she felt this way. She hated that she was crying. Her thoughts were in an endless toxic loop, cycling through every word Lavender said and every foul thought she had had about herself.
The tears aren't stopping. Everything around her blurs. Her vision is too clouded by tears to see Theo find her. He crouched beside her, speaking to her. Hermione couldn't hear any of it, the screaming in her ears taking over. Yet he didn't stop. He sat with her and softly stroked the palm of her hand. He kept talking, and kept comforting her.
“Thanks,” she rasped out when her sobs calmed.
He looked at her with a small tilt in his head, “Why were you crying anyway?”
Hermione groaned and covered her head as she pulled her knees up to her chest. Theo just raised an eyebrow and leaned his back against the wall of the alcove they were seated in. “Ron was being a git and Lavender Brown was there, so it just made it so much worse.” He nodded understandingly. He was infuriatingly good at listening.
The girl laughed a wet laugh, softly smiling up at the boy. “How are you so good at this?”
He only shrugs and looks out towards the empty hall, “I dunno. I guess…my sister, Arabella, used to cry the same way so it just stuck with me. I like being there for people.”
Theodore watched as Hermione stilled for a moment, her eyes growing almost foggy. She then snapped back to herself and was looking at him with wide eyes. Her eyes held so much that Theo could almost see every thought inside her head. “What is it?” He asked because he doesn't know what else to say.
Hermione just her eyes wide as something clicked into place then the fog casted over her eyes again and she fell. He caught her and promptly began to panic. He didn't even know what happened!
Deciding that the hallway wasn't the best spot to be, he scooped her up and began walking. He ended up subconsciously walking back to the dorm, even though he knew he should probably go to the medical wing and see Pomfrey. But that was a later him problem. For now, he just wanted to get Hermione somewhere safe and private and hopefully with a more responsible person.
Busting through the door– much to Blaise and Draco's shock– Theo placed the passed out Hermione onto his bed and slowly looked back at his roommates, panic clearly etched on his face.
Draco was the one to break the silence. “What did you do?”
“It wasn't me! We were talking– well, she was crying but that's beside the point– and then she just passed out!”
“And you brought her here? Not to Madame Pomfrey?”
“I panicked!”
Blaise snorted, “Yeah, clearly.” Theo only sent the boy a withering glare. Draco approached Hermione’s sleeping figure and casted a diagnostic charm. Off of both of the other boys' surprised faces, it appears neither of them expected Draco to know such a charm.
“She appears to be fine. I suppose the only thing we can do is wait.”
Thirty minutes of stressed chattering from Blaise and Theo combined and Hermione Granger finally stirred. She woke up slowly, but was clearly immensely confused. She took in her surroundings first, then landed on the three boys watching her with barely veiled concern and intrigue.
“What is going on?”
“You passed out.” Blaise answered very helpfully.
“And why am I here?”
“Because Theodore cannot function under pressure and brought you here instead of to Pomfrey.”
Hermione decided to ignore Blaise and Draco looking obscenely proud of themselves for their sorry attempts at messing with Theo. “Okay but why was I with you in the first place?”
Theo tilted his head at her, “You don't remember?”
“No? I…The last thing I remember was…” She paused for a moment, seemed to consider her memories, then checked the time on the small watch she always wore on her wrist– a watch Draco was convinced was cleverly charmed in every way possible. “I left Hogsmeade over an hour ago… I… don't remember any of it.”
“Well I found you crying about forty minutes ago.”
Her eyes jumped to the boys, narrowing, “Did you obliviate me? I swear if this is some sick prank I will hex the–”
“Merlin, Granger! Of course we didn't obliviate you! We are worried about you!”
Hermione decided to believe their words and instead retreated into her mind, thinking over every possible reason. She also was trying to not panic in front of them, considering she felt like she had caused enough problems; That lovely little sentiment did nothing to calm her racing mind.
Not only was she panicking about passing out and forgetting everything, but also the implications of it. If this was a pattern, what else has she missed? What else will she miss? If there is one thing Hermione has always relied on, it is her mind. If she couldn't even trust her own thoughts what was she to do?
What if she forgets everything while taking her NEWTs? It could ruin her career if she messed up. So many things could go wrong and the worst part is she doesn't even know what causes the blackouts. They could happen at any time, anywhere, with anyone. Hermione didn't know how to solve it.
Her breaths started to shake her frame. She felt so stupid, not only from crying but for being helpless. She hated being helpless.
The three boys just watched Hermione as her mind spun her in circles, concern and uncertainty etched on their faces. Blaise looked sincerely out of his depth while both Draco and Theo appeared to be on the verge of reaching out to comfort the girl.
“Hermione.” Draco's voice pulled the witch out of her thoughts for a second, focusing on the sound of her name out of his mouth. It was the first time he's ever called her by her name to her face. She found he said his name rather nicely. He must have noticed her thinking, as he smirked lightly at the attention. “Stop running yourself in circles, Granger. Let us help.”
She was surprised by his interjection but ultimately grateful as she began speaking her thoughts out loud. After giving a run down of all her panicked thoughts and spiraling a bit more, Blaise asked a question: “You’ve passed out and forgotten things before?”
Hermiome nods, “Three times this year. Once in the library, once at the medical wing, and once today.”
“Have you ever passed out when you were younger?”
She shook her head, “I wouldn't know. I don't remember much of my childhood.”
Theo paused, "What's the earliest you remember?”
“When I was five-ish?” Draco made a face, “Is that not normal?”
All three boys shook their heads. Hermione furrowed her brow, “It's not like I was obliviated,”” she snorted, “I was raised by muggles, remember?"
“Hermione, are you adopted?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Someone could have charmed your memory when you were younger, and every time you have passed out was because you got reminded of something.”
Her mind took that possibility in and dissected it. “I’ve never asked.”
“Well, just ask, yeah? That easy” Blaise smiled.
“Oh, of course! So easy,” Hermione scoffed, “Why don't I owl my parents, who are in Australia, and ask them out of Merlin knows where if I'm adopted!” She didn't care if she sounded manic, personally she felt a bit manic. The array of emotions she has felt in the best thirty minutes have left her feeling lost, confused, and cranky. Hermione would probably feel bad about the amount of sass she was giving Blaise since he was only trying to help, but that was later her problem.
Blaise only grinned and handed out a piece of parchment, “See? The plan is perfect,” So perhaps Hermione wouldn't feel bad about yelling at Blaise later. Accepting the paper, she sat down at the nearest deck and began writing a small note to her parents. Once she was finished she used the wax at the desk, green of course, and sealed it. When she looked at the letter, it was embellished with the Malfoy crest. She stood from the desk, “I don't have an owl.”
Draco shrugged, “You can use mine.” He took the letter from her, looking at her neat scrawl across the front.
Hermione decided that she has had enough of their presence and says her farewells and leaves the three boys' dorm. Back in her dorm, she knows that she cannot fall asleep no matter how tired she is. So she heads to her desk and summons her notebook and gets working. She had made substantial progress on recreating a time turner, in fact she thinks she's made some improvements. For now, she is only finalizing her build plan, then she could get to the rune and charm work. Then she could finally make a change.
~*~
Dear Hermione,
We have so many apologize for you dear, some greater than others. You've faced things we wished to keep you from, and yet we failed. In the simplest terms, yes you are adopted. We so desperately wanted a child then you showed up in our life and I knew that there was something special about you. We thought that you were a normal girl with unfortunate circumstances, as they only told us that your mother had died and your father could not care for you. So we raised you as our own. Know that we never cared that you are a brilliant witch, know that you will always be our daughter.
P.S. Please visit us this summer! The beaches here are wonderful, and I heard rumors of a magical shopping district with a grab library. Sound right up your alley!
Love,
Mum and Dad.
~*~
Draco was enjoying his breakfast amongst the normal amounts of glares from other houses and the laughter from his friends. The only reason he still showed his face around the castle was because he was required and because his lovely friends forced him.
The owls had just arrived for the post, dropping a small letter in front of Hermione, a package the Greengrass sisters, and a letter for himself. He was reading his normal correspondence with his mother then he saw Hermione's color drain from her face. He watched as she shot up from the table and left without an excuse, clutching the letter to her chest.
The boy stood up in time with the rest of the snakes, each face reflecting the same concern for the girl. Daphne said something about fetching Pansy and she left first, Astoria keeping pace with her. Theo started in Hermione's direction and Blaise and Draco flanked him on either side. He even saw Ron and Harry walking slightly in front of them, all apparently concerned for their friend.
When they all landed at the hallway splitting off into three different directions, not counting the one they just came from, the group stopped. Harry started searching in his robe for something, pulling out a parchment of sorts, but Draco just turned to Theo. The boy nodded in a direction and the three snakes set off, leaving the gryffindor boys behind.
Harry checked the parchment and then followed the snakes, "How’d they know?” The chosen one muttered to the weasel who just glared at their backs.
Turning down another corridor, they finally approached the alcove Hermione had set herself up in. She sat there, a muggle pen in hand with a notebook open in front of her. The pen was being repeatedly hit on her knee, her face twisted in a mix of anguish and the brink of tears.
The three boys that got there first slowed, not wanting to crowd her. Harry and Ron had no such qualms, approaching the girl immediately.
“‘Mione, what's wrong?” Harry asked lightly, clearly concerned for her. The girl remained silent, the only sound being the pen hitting her leg.
The red head decided to chime in, “Why’d you leave the Great Hall like that?” Hermione remained just as silent.
They started saying things to her, waiting for her to give any reaction. Draco stopped paying attention the moment he felt something brush at his legs. Looking down, he saw Hermione's horrid cat that he was slowly growing quite fond of. The rascal seemed to have free range of the castle since he always found Draco at the most random of moments.
Scooping the cat up, he walked closer to the golden trio only to hear Ron doing his grade A comforting.
“Honestly crying over a piece of paper isn't the worst thing you've done! Why are you so put out about it?” Harry smacks the boy's red hair, quickly covering up for the boy.
“We are just worried about you ‘Mione. You've been distant…”
Ron snorts, “Yeah because you've been slumming it with the snakes,” Hermione finally looks up, her blank face replaced by anger. Crook jumps out of his arms, nudges his legs then waddles away towards Theo. The boy takes that as permission.
Before Draco can even think through his actions, he grabs the weasel by the collar and pushes him against the hallway wall, his arm lightly cutting off his airways. He can hear Blaise hiding his snickering behind him but all he can hear is the blood rushing in his ears and the Gryffindor's labored breaths and his delightfully panicked face.
“Draco,” Hermione speaks up, “Let him go.” Looking back at her face, one so empty of its normal golden light, he gives Ron one last push before letting him go, walking back with his arms up.
When Ron finally recovers his breath, he looks between Draco and Hermione. His panicked face is replace with one full of disgust, “Are you fucking shagging a death eater?” He sneers at Hermione. The acquisition sits between the two sides, the air silent with the anticipated snap. Before Draco can murder the man himself, Hermione beats him to it.
“What the fuck, Ron?! I am not shagging anyone! And do not call him that!” Her hair grows as she yells at her former friend, power crackling around her. Even though Draco knows perfectly well what his witch is capable of, he still is amazed by her.
“If you aren't shagging, why are you defending him, huh?”
“Because he is my friend. And even if he wasn't, I would defend him regardless against your disgusting accusations!”
“I’m impressed they are even here, considering how hard you are to be friends with.” Ron spits at her. Draco feels a hand land on his shoulder before he can beat the ginger up. He turns to see Theo shake his head at him and the blonde boy knows his friend is right and that hurting the weasel won't help the situation even though it would make Draco feel so much better.
He watches as Hermione takes a breath. He sees her fiery eyes empty, replaced by dull hard brown. “Harry, get Ron out of here,” She says in a mechanical voice and cuts Harry off with a simple “please” before he can argue. The chosen one nods and grabs a fuming Ron and drags him out.
When the gryffindors are finally out, the three boys take a step forward towards her. Blaise stays slightly behind, soon joined by Daphne, Astoria, and Pansy. Draco can hear Blaise explain to the girls everything they know but he doesn't care when the witch in front of him looks on the verge of a breakdown.
“Hermione?” Draco pleads softly, waiting for her to lift her face. When she finally looks at him, he can see her beautiful face void of all emotion. She looks empty without her eyes glowing with passion or eyebrows twisted in concentration. He needed her back. “What happened, love?” He whispers to her, kneeling in front of her sitting figure. She pulls out the letter and hands it to him before scooting back and resting her back on the wall of the alcove. Draco scans the letter, takes a deep breath and hands it over to Theo.
He doesn't know what to do. He knew this wasn't just about her being adopted. Knowing her mind, she probably made millions of mental jumps to get to wherever she is. She's brilliant and if she didn't know what to do, what could he do? He didn't deserve to be here either. Ron was right about him, he was a death eater and a witch like Hermione needed better. What was he even thinking about? Draco wanted to hex himself. Even in a time when someone else so desperately needed help, he was thinking of himself. He disgusted himself.
By the time he came back to his surroundings, Theo was sat next to her, whispering things to her and pointing at things she was writing on her little parchment. He was far better at this than any of them. Draco stood to back up but a hand tugged him back. Hermione was holding his hand. Hermione wanted his presence, even as useless as he was. So he stayed.
He watched as Theo slowly coaxed Hermione out of whatever box she trapped herself in. Slowly her eyes regained its normal honey coating, all of the dull brown fading away. Her mental walls were coming down and Draco held onto her hand tighter, wanting to show her he's there for her.
When tears fall from her eyes, the girls rush forwards. They tackle her in a hug and she laughs. Draco looks over towards Theo who isn't relieved or worried like the rest of them. He looks…shocked, almost confused. Sending a questioning look over to his friends he gets a mouthed later in response.
Hermione finally chokes out, "I'm adopted.”
Suddenly a comet comes crashing through the window, red fiery blase blinding everyone. Draco only has three seconds to reach for Hermione before burning takes over everything thought.
Every one of them is dead in minutes. Everyone one of them but the single animagus. When the crash ended, Blaise scurried his little ant body away from the smoke. Blaise traveled through the ruins of the castel, alone.
Blaise Zabini was the only person on earth. The asteroid had wiped everyone out.
The end.