Author’s Note - Hey guys. Chapter number 12. Hope you all like it.
Disclaimer - Harry Potter is not mine. Nor will it ever be.
Chapter 12 - A Lot To Take In
Before she knew what was happening, Hermione was being surrounded by hugs. She wasn't sure if the office door had even opened properly yet. After a bone crushing what seemed like an hour-long hug, Hermione was freed from the strangers grasp to see a rather pretty middle aged woman standing before her beaming broadly. Beside her was a man of about the same age, also smiling enthusiastically. Hermione couldn't move. Were these people really her parents? It was all very hard to take in. She had waited for this moment, dreamed of it for weeks. Now the reality of it had struck her like lightening. She didn't even know these people. Sure, they shared the same blood but what did it really matter? She would never have any childhood memories of them. They should have been the ones teaching her how to ride a bike, or in the magical world a broomstick at the age of five. But it wasn't them. It had been the parents who had brought her up. The Grangers. They had brought her up to be the young woman she was today. Not these strangers before her. Upon seeing the look upon her daughter's face, Gabrielle's smile faltered.
"I'm sorry Mia. I know this is very difficult for you. We don't expect you to take to us straight away. We completely understand if you are feeling resentful towards for now but we would really appreciate it if you would give us a chance." She said. Adrian nodded in agreement. Hermione rose an eyebrow.
"Mia?"
"Oh, I'm sorry darling, you don't go by that name anymore. Forgive me." Gabrielle apologized. "I am Gabrielle and this is Adrian." Hermione looked up at Dumbledore uncomfortably. He nodded in a silent understanding.
"Maybe it is best if we should all sit down to discuss matters." He said motioning to the seats in front of his desk. Another had appeared making there four. Hermione looked at them and remembered she had yet to meet her brother. The chairs were high risen at the back. Very comfortable looking. As she and her 'parents' began to approach them Adrian announced "You have yet to meet your twin brother.". Seconds later one of the chairs swiveled round to reveal Blaise Zabini.
The two teenagers take a few moments to realize what stood before them.
Blaise's eyes nearly departed from his head and Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs. Gabrielle and Adrian looked at Dumbledore alarmed. Dumbledore chuckled quietly and took his seat at his desk. Hermione's scream faded and she backed to the other side of the office.
"Y...You're kidding right? Th...This is some sort o...of sick j...joke right?" Hermione stuttered. Dumbledore shook his head softly. "I am afraid not Miss Granger." Hermione started to breathe heavily.
"Of all the families in the world." She muttered to herself not wanting to believe the truth. Blaise seemed to be in the same kind of situation as her. He was muttering, trying to reason with himself. The parents looked bewildered. The looked at Dumbledore helplessly.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Zabini. Please calm yourselves for the moment. We have important matters we must discuss." Dumbledore said in a firm but pleasant tone. Hermione looked up at him frustrated and took a seat and pulled it as far away from Blaise as she could. Gabrielle and Adrian sat down next to Blaise.
"Well, this must be very difficult for you both and I will not be as rude to say I understand, however, I ask that you try to get on for the sakes of yourselves and your parents." Dumbledore started. "Miss Granger, as you are now aware, you are a Zabini. You were born with the name Mia Cadi Zabini. You will now have the second name Zabini though you don't need to tell anyone else. Do you wish to go by the name Mia?"
Hermione looked at him bewildered. "No. I go by Hermione." She said boldly. Dumbledore nodded.
"Very well. During holidays, as you are still an underage witch, you will go to the Zabini Manor to stay, unless of course you wish to stay at school or if your parents give you permission to stay elsewhere. Mr. Zabini (junior), I trust you will make Hermione feel welcome, as I am sure you would have anyway and make sure certain friends of yours do the same." Blaise nodded glumly.
"Albus, is all of this really necessary?" Adrian asked worried.
"I am afraid it is." Dumbledore replied. "Well at the moment, time is getting on, so I will let you go off to bed. I would like you both in my office before classes tomorrow. About eight thirty should do. Off you go now."
A very pale Hermione and a shocked Blaise darted out of their headmaster’s office and shot into their dormitories like a bullet not saying a word to each other once.
[Girls Dormitory]
Hermione lay on her bed in silence. It was the early hours of the morning but there was no chance of her catching any sleep. The sound of Ginny's gentle snoring could be heard which comforted Hermione only slightly. She had told Ginny what she had found out in Dumbledore's office. Ginny, being Ginny of course, comforted Hermione for a while before giving her some space. Now Hermione was alone, left to think about her life. Until just a few months ago, she had always believed that she was a muggle born. She had always believed her parents were hers and she had always believed that her life was great. Now, looking back on her old views of life, it seemed she had been a completely different person. That was what scared her. She didn't want to be that different. She had always felt comfortable being Hermione Granger. Now she was Hermione Zabini. Hermione was yanked from her thoughts by a quiet tapping on her window. Wide-awake, she stood up and slid the window up. A black owl swept in and dropped a letter on Hermione's bed before perching itself on her bedpost. Hermione sat back down on her bed and fumbled with the seal on the envelope. She already knew who it was from.
Dear Hermione
We are dreadfully sorry about our brief meeting. It didn't quite go as planned I presume you know. Albus has explained to us of your previous, should we call it 'tiffs' with Blaise and his friend Draco. We are sorry about the way that this has worked out. We never planned anything like this. We hope that you can come to forgive Blaise and hopefully in time you will also forgive us. If you wish to, you can come to the manor this weekend, with the school's permission of course, so we can get to know each other a bit better. You can take a friend if it would make you feel more comfortable. We hope to hear back from you.
Gabrielle and Adrian aka Mum and Dad
[Boys Dormitory]
Blaise was sitting on his bed, speaking to Malfoy. He hadn't told her who his sister was yet. He didn't want Malfoy having kittens just yet. Malfoy was however, trying his best to pry it out of Blaise.
"Come on man, just tell me who your sister is." Malfoy moaned, falling back onto his bed. Blaise shook his head.
"Seriously, I don't want you to kill yourself just yet. You'll find out soon no doubt."
Malfoy groaned. He hated not knowing things. He was one of those people who got bugged easily and hated surprises.
"Puh-lease." He whined. "I'll do your homework for a week if you tell me." Blaise thought for a moment.
"Two weeks." Blaise retorted. Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Two weeks."
"Alrighty, but you aren't going to like this."
"Shut the hell up and get on with it."
"Look, do you want me to tell you or not."
"YES DAMMIT."
"Ok."
"Well..."
"Um it's HmneGanr." He mumbled. Malfoy stuck a finger in his ear, twisted it and pulled it out again.
"Sorry, what?"
"Hermione Granger." Blaise said quietly. Malfoy sat up too fast and fell off of his bed with a bang.
"WHAT?!?!?"
[Zabini Manor]
Gabrielle and Adrian were sitting in their manor speaking.
"Do you think she will come this weekend?" Adrian asked worriedly. Gabrielle shrugged nervously and bit her lip.
"We'll find out soon I guess." She said quietly. Adrian nodded.
"Will Blaise be coming?" Adrian asked.
"Of course." Gabrielle replied. "As will Draco be if Mi- uh I mean Hermione decides to take a friend. We all need to get to know each other better."
"I guess."
The large black owl that had been in Hermione Granger's dormitory no more than ten minutes ago was now soaring towards Gabrielle, a letter tied neatly around it's leg. Gabrielle quickly untied it and began to read aloud.
"Dear Gabrielle and Adrian
Although you say you know about my previous encounters with Blaise and Malfoy, you will never know the full extent of them. It is very difficult for me to accept that I am a part of your family. You have to understand that I grew up with muggles and I have always known myself as Hermione Granger. Although my second name is now officially Zabini, I will be keeping to my Christian name Hermione. I am not ready for this to be out in the open yet so I would appreciate it if you did not let the news of me get out. I will come to your manor this weekend but I will be taking my friend Ginny Weasley. I hope to get along with you and maybe I will eventually come to terms with all of this. I make no promises though.
Hermione."
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