The Purest

Back to the present.

She lay there in her bed, staring at the ceiling.

She resolved that she would go to the library tomorrow and research her family name. Getting up she went to her private bathroom, and washed her face. Looking at her reflection. She saw her self in a new light.

“Hermione Kaelin Phoenix.” The hair on her arms bristled as she said her name aloud.

She felt as though something had come alive inside her, felt it creep over her skin. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. When she opened them, her hand quickly moved to pull her hair aside. She thought she saw something moving. Dismissing it as a trick of the eye she went back into her room. Laying down she stared at the ceiling, wondering what her friend would say.


She was a pureblood. Even though her parents, well, her real parents were Death Eaters-- she was a pureblood. No more being called a mud blood. She smiled. Malfoy was going to have to think of another way to torture her.

And with that she turned on her side and went to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Ron, for the last time I have no idea whets happened. When Hermione gets here we’ll ask.. Now shut up.” Harry looked at his friend. He knew that Ron was plagued by confusion. The fact that he hardly touched his breakfast was a sure sign of unbalance in the world his friend believed revolved around him.

“But Harry, I mean whets going to happen. You do realize that now she’s a Slytherin and the head girl, Slytherin house will rule. Not to mention that when she’s answering all the questions in class, she’ll be earning point for them, and we’ll lose the house cup.”

Harry eyed his friend. Shaking his head, Ron always knew how to come up with something , and feel that it was more important that the problem at hand. His ability to see a problem in something so mundane as the house cup when Hermione was quite possibly facing a personal tragedy.

“Ron I think there are bigger problems going on then whether or not Gryffindor is going to win the house cup or not.”

“But Harry, Slytherins are evil. What if she’s really evil, you know, deep down. I’m worried Harry. I mean she will have her schedule changed even more. She’ll hardly have any classes with us. Not to mention she’ll have to sit at “their” table. We’ll hardly see her, what with all the homework she’ll have to do. Nothing is going to be the same. First she’ll try to hang out with us still, but as the school year becomes more demanding she’ll start with the reasons of why she can’t be around us. All the while being exposed to them. Harry you might as well face it. We’ve lost.”

“Lost what?”

Both boys turned. Hermione stood there in her new robes. While deep in their conversation they had failed to notice how all heads had turned to watch her enter, and murmurs spread as she proceeded towards the tables.

Harry recovered first.

“Oh, it’s nothing really. I mean it is something, but not anything bad. You know.”

He could see that she wasn’t buying it. So he took a deep breath.

“You see Ron here thinks your going to take a trip to the dark side. That your going to forget about us and eventually become all Slytherinishly evil. But I told him that there was nothing to worry about.”

He looked into her eyes.

“Right.?”

It was a statement really, but it sounded more like a question than anything. He quickly wished that he hadn’t said it when he saw the hurt in her eyes. Tears started to well.

“Oh, bollocks, you two prats think that just because that now I’m a Slytherin that I’m evil. You’ve known me for almost 7 years, and you have the nerve to ask me such a thing. Grow up. When you two get your head right then come talk to me, and maybe I’ll share with you what the hell is going on.”

She started to leave.

“Hermione! That’s not what I meant!”

Ignoring him she went to the Slytherin table and sat at the end by herself. Those that were close got up, and sat even further down the table. She sighed. Lifting her chin defiantly she began to eat her breakfast.

She could hear them. All the whispers that floated around the room, in the halls, it was annoying more than anything. Deciding she wasn’t hungry anymore, her mind drifted to the library. Thinking she might be able to find something on her parents before class started. Getting up she grabbed her things and began to walk out.

“Oi, Granger.”

She stopped then kept going. She wasn’t going to answer to that name again. Not that it was bad, but I just wasn’t hers anymore. In her heart maybe, but not for real. Besides she wasn’t going to let Malfoy disrupt her as she was going to find out about her family.

“GRANGER! I’m talking to you. Just because your not a mud blood anymore don‘t think your going to get special treatment”

She stopped then. Turning to face him.

“Don’t worry Malfoy I wouldn’t expect anything less. By the way thought you should know the name isn’t Granger anymore. My name is Hermione Kaelin-Phoenix.”

As she turned to walk away she felt her body come alive again. The same feeling like something sliding across her skin. But she decided it was just the thought of her name that excited her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He saw something black slide across the side of her neck and disappear under the collar to her back. He recognized that mark. this was most interesting. He had to tell his father at once!

Immediately he went to the nearest fireplace he could find. Reached into his pocket for the small drawstring bag of floo powder he always carried with him, in cases of emergency of course.

Throwing it in he stated clearly as possible. MALFOY MANOR- LUCIUS MALFOY. Sticking his head in he saw his father sitting in his recliner reading the paper.

“Father”

Lucius looked up surprised to hear and see his son in the fire place.

“Draco! What are you doing? I told you that floo powder was for emergencies only!”

“I know, I know, but this is an emergency. I need you to come and see me at once there is something you must know that I am not at liberty to speak in such an observable way.”

Lucius knew something had excited his son. Draco did not get himself dirty on purpose without some reason or another. And the fact that he requested his father in person meant that it was something that could not be spoken where others might be listening.

After what happened last year the Ministry tightened security severely. So now not only are all owls being screened, but the floo system was wired to allow the ministry to eves drop on conversations that went on within them.

“Very well. I shall be there shortly.”

“Oh father before you come find out what you can about someone with the name Kaelin-Phoenix. Good bye.”

And Draco’s head disappeared.

Lucius sat there. Eyes wide in apprehension. No way . He thought. It just wasn’t possible. Quickly he grabbed his coat and cane, then apperated to Hogsmeade.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draco had barely made it to Potions. He had gotten all sooty while talking to his father, that even a scurgify charm hadn’t made him feel clean. Entering the dungeon room he saw her, she was now on the Slytherin side of the classroom sitting there by herself. Unfortunately he also noticed that the seat next to hers was the only one unoccupied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

She watched as he slowly walked towards the desk. Making a scene of himself by pulling the chair as far as he could away from her. Then sitting down on the farthest edge of the chair.

She sighed. Was that the best he could do. How pitiful.

Professor Slughorn began the class with a brief lecture on the importance of ingredient preparation.

But just as he was about to begin the door swung open, and in walked Lucius Malfoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He looked about the room for his son, and found him. No sooner did he see his son than he saw who his son was sitting next to. Noticing the change in uniform as well as the side of the class she was now on.

“I’m apologize Professor, but may I please have a word with my son?

Slughorn nodded

”Draco, you may go. But I expect to see you during your free hour to complete the assignment.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She sat there. Her mind was in a jumble. There outside the classroom was someone whom she did not expect to see. Someone who had to know her parents. Someone who could tell her about them.

“I’m sorry professor, I’ll be back I have to go to the bathroom.”

Without waiting for an answer she got up and ran out the door.

When she saw them down the hall. Walking quickly away.

“Wait! Mr. Malfoy! Please wait!”

She saw them stop. Draco looking at his father questioningly.

When she reached them she did not hesitate.

“I will not bother with civilities as I have no time for idle chitchat. I can see that Draco has wasted no time in his efforts to inform you of recent events. I know you know who I am, and I know you knew my parents. Disregarding past disputes, will you please tell me about them.”

He looked at her now in a new light. Why hadn’t he seen it before. She looked just like them. The same unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The same conviction in every task they undertook. She was no ordinary witch, and soon she would know herself as she was meant to know all along.

He inclined his head in silent agreement, and held out his arm. Surprised as she took it and they began to walk down the hall.

Draco stared utterly dumbfounded. What the hell was going on. There was his father walking arm in arm with that girl. He had barely been able to tell his father about the mark he saw sliding over her skin. When she had called out. His father had quieted him, and waited for her without hesitation. Now, and now he was walking down the hall with her as if it were a day in the park.

She turned to him then.

“Draco, you may join us. If you wish.”

The audacity! He looked to his father then, was that a smile on his face? What the bloody hell was going on?

Lucius notice the confusion that etched itself across his face. He nodded from him to have patience, and led the girl down the hall with his son in tow.