Mrs.Malfoy

Author Notes: Fellow authors, you know that feeling in your gut when you have the story written in your head one way, and then that little black haired bunny is born that completely stands out from the rest and just something about it intrigues you… yes yes, my friends… Twister the Rabbit has been born! Be ready for this chapter folks…It’s a doozy!!!

He wiped the remnants of her sickness from her chin. It was no telling how long the child had been lying in the floor. He assumed hours at the very least. She still had on the robe she was wearing when he left her the morning before. Except now, it was soaked in sweat and vomit and wrinkled beyond normal wear.

Severus lifted her gently only to her body’s silent protests of an arm wiggling or a leg twitching. He managed to get her into bed and cast several cleansing spells to make her tolerable.

“Hermione,” he whispered close to her ear. “Wake up, Hermione.”

She moaned softly, but there was no other response. Severus decided to allow her to sleep off whatever ailment to which she had succumbed and retired to the study to wait. He first noticed the half empty bottle of vodka on the table and sighed.

“I should have brought a hangover potion,” he mumbled to himself. He had just sat down when a pale beige corner of a piece of paper caught his eye. He reached for it and realized he was holding a folder. He opened the cover and began to read.

“Of course,” he said aloud. “I remember drinking myself half to death when they sent this letter to me.” He received no reply to his comment, just the soft crackling of the wood in the fireplace. He felt pity for the girl. No doubt she had been in a right state after reading it. But he would have never guessed her for a stiff drink type of way of getting over her woes. Something he found they had in common.

He lifted the police report and found the last piece of parchment folded neatly by three tucked into the crease of the folder. He carefully removed it and began to open it.

“You know, it’s rude to read someone else’s private letters.”

The folder fell to the ground, spilling its contents onto the floor. Severus quickly recovered it and replaced it on the table. “Forgive me, Mrs. Malfoy. I found you unconscious and the empty bottle of liquor. Then I decided to find out what it was that forced you to commit yourself to the porcelain all night,” he silkily spoke as he stood to greet her. He took the few steps needed to stand in front of her. “I am very sorry for your loss, Hermione.”

She looked up at him. “The last person that said that got smacked across the face. I suggest you follow up with something a bit more respectful than the last man.”

His curiosity was peeked. So she went on. “He had the audacity to tell me to have a good day before he left.”

Severus smirked. “Just a smack to the face? I would have thought you to hex his bits off and hang them in the parlour for all to enjoy.”

She didn’t know why, but for some reason Hermione found that statement the most humorous thing she had heard in a long while. She began to giggle. Perhaps she needed a good laugh, even if it was subdued. She walked to the table and retrieved the folder.

“I didn’t manage to look at the will. I began to get sick after reading the officer’s report,” she said as she took the folded parchment from inside and began to unfold it.

“Ah, yes. I read that. I would have found myself quite upset over the details as well.”

Hermione looked up at him and for a split second she saw that bit of compassion he kept so well hidden inside of himself. She saw that iota of caring that he was truly capable of. It warmed her to know it existed.

“Thank you for understanding, Severus,” she said softly as she sat down on the sofa. She tucked her fingers beneath the flap of the parchment and lifted the seal free. Everything looked in order…at first.

The Last Will and Testament
Harold and Jane Granger

We, Harold and Jane Granger, do hereby bequeath our estate in full to Hermione Jane Granger, our only daughter by law.

“By law?” she murmured.

All possessions held in stated estate will be inherited by Hermione Jane Granger and no other. All possessions held in Vault 919 at Gringott’s Bank will be retrievable by Hermione Jane Granger and no other upon our death. All possessions will remain entitled to Hermione Jane Granger and no other, including but not limited to spouse, children, et al. All information regarding such account and such possessions will be found in said vault. This will is not subject to contests of any form.

Hermione looked the parchment over once more, but could find no answers to her many questions that seemed to pop into her head.

“Severus,” she started. She received a non committal murmur that acknowledged she held his attention. “Do you fancy a trip to Diagon Alley?”

After a few quick moments preparing herself for multiple possibilities and outcomes of her quest, Hermione found herself at the door of Gringott’s with Severus at her side. She paused before entering still wondering what wonders, or horrors for that matter, await inside.

“Honestly, woman, you will never know unless you go inside,” Severus said exasperated.

“Will you stay out of my mind, please?”

“Trust me, if I was in there, you’d know about it,” he said as he swept past her and held the door open.

She took his cue and proceeded to the first table in the lobby. “Hermione Jane Granger…Malfoy. I would like to be shown to my vault please,” she said to the goblin. He turned towards the larger holding area where Lucius kept her allotted money for her personal use. “No, Vault 919 please,” she amended.

The goblin looked over her studiously, and stepped away from the counter. He disappeared into a room and returned with a small key. “Do you have proof of your identity?” he asked her suspiciously.

Hermione had already removed her wand to allow him to examine it, but Severus was quicker on the draw and cast a charm that glowed light blue around her.

“Very well,” the goblin said as he led the way down a long corridor.

Hermione kept a few paces behind the goblin, Severus right behind her. She turned her head slightly. “What was that spell?”

“An Identity spell. Ancient Goblin magic. If the aura glows blue, the person is who they say they are. If it turns green, then they are false. He had to believe the spell. Goblin’s are bound to the ancient magic.”

Hermione kept that in mind as she followed the creature to a large metal door. As soon as she stood in front of it, the bolts began to swell and creak. A bright light began to shimmer across the surface as it adjusted to her magic.

“The vault recognizes you. Insert your key and you may enter,” the goblin said as he handed her the key and stepped aside.

Hermione did as he instructed. The door opened to a large room that, at first, seemed empty, save for an oak table covered in boxes in the far right corner. She entered with Severus on her heels.

“NO!” the goblin shouted. “No one is allowed to enter other than the intended recipient of the contents of the vault. She must retrieve the boxes and then give her permission aloud to the wards that you are allowed to enter.”

Hermione nodded to Severus that she would be fine and pulled the boxes one by one off the table and onto the floor. She opened the first one she came to. A very dark and ragged piece of parchment was lying on top of an old tattered book. She picked up the book, of course, and read the title.

“Wenlock,” she said as she ran her fingers over the gold filigree that adorned the cover. “An arithmancy book?” She placed it on the table and picked up the parchment. It was thick with layers and folded several times over. She began to unfurl the paper only to find that the bottom touched the floor even with her hands over her head.

“It’s a family tree,” she said to no one in particular.

“May I?” Severus asked.

“Oh yes, I forgot.” She cleared her throat. “I allow Severus Snape to enter this vault and peruse the contents therein.”

She and Severus both felt a tingle in their magical beings, a sure sign that the wards adjusted to fit Severus into the vault unharmed. He took a tentative step. Nothing happened. He took that as confirmation that he was indeed allowed to enter and did so. Hermione handed him the family tree and began to read from the top.

“Wenlock…Bridget Wenlock, the arithmancer. This is her family tree.”

“But why would it be here?” Hermione questioned.

“That was your preferred subject at Hogwarts, was it not? I would be hard-pressed to suggest your parents thought you would find this information interesting to say the least,” he assumed.

Hermione acquiesced to his logic and removed another paper from the box. Severus fumbled with the family tree for a moment while she read the text.

“Holy Merlin Father of Magic!” she exclaimed.

“What is it?”

“I’m…This can’t be!”

“Spit it out, woman!”

She handed him the document. His eyes went wide with intrigue. “Is it possible?”

“I…well that is to say…I don’t believe it’s true. But if it’s here, if I was meant to find it, then I don’t know. Why wouldn’t they tell me? Why didn’t they just tell me when I was old enough to understand?”

Severus’ attention was then fully committed to the family tree in his other hand. There at the bottom, as he thought, was a single name.

“Hermione,” he said softly.

“What?”

“No, look. Hermione Jane Wenlock Granger.”

Hermione all but ripped the list from his hand and searched it for some meaning. It was true. The document left in Severus’ hands was a real adoption certificate.

“But if this is real…” she began.

“Then you are more pureblood than even the Blacks.”

Hermione got this glint in her eye that Severus caught. It was almost desirable, almost luring. “This means I’m more pureblood than Malfoy.”

AN: /snicker… oh what fun I’m gonna have with this!!