Hermione Zabini

Chapter One

Hermione's POV

I exit the cab, paying the driver and grabbing my things. Home sweet home. I had promised my parents that I would stay with them for a few days before joining my best friends Ron and Harry like we did every summer. Opening the door of my childhood home, I breathe deeply. It smells just as I remember-the products Mum uses to clean, Dad's cologne. There is also a new smell, one of perfume. Maybe Dad got Mum some. "Mum, Dad! I'm home!" I call out, glad to be back. Mum answers. "In the living room, darling!" she shouts back, and her voice seems tinged with sadness. I set my trunk and my cat down before walking into the living room. My parents were sitting there, along with another man and woman and I boy I know from school-Blaise Zabini. We're in the same year, but he's in Slytherin. I don't know him well, but he's always been civil to me, never calling me Mudblood or teasing me. In fact we mostly ignore each other. I have no clue what's going on here, however. How do my parents know the Zabinis, why do the Zabinis look ready to cry with joy, and why do my parents look so sad? 

It's a collision of worlds that shouldn't mix, and all I can get out is, "Why-wha-," unable to string together a sentence. Mum interrupts. "Darling," she says kindly, "you may want to sit down." I sit, and the woman seated next to Blaise, who must be his mother, Mrs. Zabini, begins to speak. "Ar-Hermione, there's no easy way to say this. I am your mother, and this is your father and your twin." I'm confuse. My head is spinning. I look at Mum. "I-that can't be true. I mean, you're my mother...right?" Mum can't say anything. She just shakes her head and my world crashes down around me. I look at the Zabinis, at Mrs. Zabini-my mother. "Please explain this to me," I whisper, voice shaking. "How? I don't understand." She smiles gently at me, and begins to explain.

"You see Hermione, when you were a baby you were taken from us. You were brought here and Mr. and Mrs. Granger were kind enough to raise you as their own. We've been looking for you all of your life, and thanks to a comment Blaise made when he returned home a few days early for a family event, we were able to find you. I know this must seem shocking but we want you to know that we're here for you. The Grangers have allowed us to bring you home for the summer holidays. You shouldn't need to pack any clothes, we have a wardrobe filled for you at home. All you should need are the things in your school trunk and anything you want from your bedroom here. I'm sure you have lots of questions. We can answer a few now. 

Lots? Try millions. First, I settled upon, "Who took me?" My parents exchanged glances. "That's best saved for a safer location. You never know who might be listening," my dad said carefully. "What about my house? How was I not put into Slytherin?" My mum answered this time. "Same answer as before, best saved for a more private conversation." Apparently details of my circumstances were taboo here. So I chose a safer question. "Why don't I look like you guys? And what is my real name? I mean I know you didn't name me Hermione since the first time you addressed me you started saying another name." My mum smiled. "You have a Glamour Charm on you to keep you safe. Your birth name is Ariana Calypso Zabini." With that I excuse myself to go pack my things. Mum says, "Blaise, go help your sister and get to know her a little." Blaise follows me up the stairs and I pack a few things. I turn to my brother, who is sitting on my bed. "How long have you known? That you had a sister, I mean." He looks at me. "I've known since I was nine. My-our parents told me that nobody could know about you until you were found. I mentioned something about a Muggleborn being top of the class and that you were named Hermione Granger. I think they had been told your initials. They asked your middle name, and I said I thought it started with a J. Then they shooed me out of the room and started talking, and today we went to the Granger's house. Mum and Dad told me this morning that we were going to get you today." The words come tumbling out of him. I smirk. "Easy, Blaise! Slow down! It's not like we don't have all summer to talk!"

I finish packing my things and my brother and I head back downstairs. It's amazing how easy it is to talk to him considering that today is the first time we've ever spoken. It's odd, I thought it would be hard to think of the Zabinis as my family, and yet it's already natural for me to think of them as my mother, father, and brother. Mr. and Mrs. Granger are still sitting on the couch. I give them a quiet goodbye and then I head over to my family. Dad smiles at me. "We've already Flooed your things to the manor. You can go first. Ask to go to Zabini Manor." I nod, and Blaise smirks. "Oh, sis? Watch out for the beasts." "What beasts?" I start to ask, but Blaise nudges me into the fireplace and throws the Floo powder in, calling, "Zabini Manor!" The world whirls around me and I tumble onto the floor of my new home.