Hermione Zabini

Chapter Nine

Ariana's POV

I blink in shock. Am I totally sure I just heard him right? After all, Theo did betray me a few weeks ago. But when I look into Draco's eyes, I see the truth. There's guilt in his stormy grey eyes, telling me that Theo didn't write that letter-Draco did. He starts to stutter out an apology: "A-a-ari I didn't-I just-I was-I'm sorry." I cut him off. "Save it, Draco. You were jealous. You knew what you were doing. And oh, by the way, I thought  I saw you in the garden at the Christmas party. Now I know I definitely did-why else would you have been brooding so much after Christmas? What a perfect solution to just write a letter and spell it to be in Theo's handwriting? Then I would get him out of the way and you would have a clear path. Well, Draco, too bad. You failed! Now, if you'll excuse us, Theo and I will be going." Grabbing Theo by the hand, I flounce back to the castle with him in tow.

 Third Person POV

The owl swooped over England. Taking care to fly above the clouds, it hooted quietly at the other owls that passed it, also carrying letters. From its origin at a manor in the countryside, it was headed to Hogwarts to deliver two life-changing letters. The first was delivered to a fourth-year girl at the Slytherin table. The second was flown to two sixth year boys in the Gryffindor dorms. (Who do you think got the letters-both the Slytherin and the Gryffindors? First one to guess it right (please don't read ahead and then come back) will get a shoutout!)  The girl opened her letter first. It said:

Dear, we've never been entirely honest with you about our family. Visit the Black Lake at midnight tonight and take the portkey that will appear. It will take you and two others to us and we will explain everything. 

-Your Loving Parents

The sixth year boys opened their letter to find this message:

Go to the Black Lake at midnight tonight and meet the fourth year girl you'll find there. Both of you should accompany her as you take the portkey that is there. There is a secret you must learn.

The boys surprisingly received the note well. Despite the fact that it was unsigned and it did not say who they would meet, they were always up for an adventure. The girl trusted the letter only because it came from her mother's owl and was in her father's handwriting. That was they way they always did it- Mum's owl, Dad's writing or Dad's owl, Mum's writing. They'd taught her from a young age that this was how she would know if it was truly her parents communicating with her, as her parents had been Death Eaters and if the Order of the Phoenix had captured them, they would most certainly try and get her to come to them so she could testify. If that happened, it would be the same parent for both owl and handwriting. This was their secret code, and she'd never told a soul, not even her very best friends. She decided to tell her friends at lunch about the letter.

Blaise's POV

I sit down to lunch next to my sister. Emery is a few yards away, and I nod and smile at my little brother. Pansy takes the seat across from me, the last of our group to sit down. She looks worried. "What's wrong, Pans?" I ask. She sighs. "I got a letter from my parents at breakfast this morning. They told me to go to the Black Lake tonight and take a portkey that two other people would be taking too. Apparently there's some big family secret to tell me. I have no clue at all what it is though, so don't ask. The note was definitely from my parents, though-I can tell. I'm just nervous about what they're going to tell me is all, I guess." Ari speaks up. "It's okay, Pans. We're here for you, no matter what." Pansy looks at my twin gratefully. "Thanks, Ari. That means a lot."

Pansy's POV

At quarter til midnight, I steal out of the dorm and head towards the lake. I spy the portkey waiting-it's an old metal plate with a flower, a pansy, on it. It's the designated portkey my parents gave me at birth. Each member of our family has one. I'm a bit early, and at two minutes until midnight two figures stride up to me. It's too dark to see them clearly, but I resolve to get a good look at them once we make it home. At midnight, the portkey glows and we all latch onto it, letting it take us to my parents.

Once there, we land in a bit of a heap and I'm able to see my companions. Their identities are an absolute shock. Who are they, you ask? Why, it's Fred and George Weasley.

To be continued...muahahaha! Why do you think the twins are at Pansy's house? Were you right i guessing their identities? Let me know in the comments! Are you loving the story? Be sure to vote, follow, and add the story to your reading list-that way when I update you'll be the first to know. I read every comment, appreciate every vote, and follow back! Word count was about 850 words-sorry it's shorter than usual, but I wanted to have the scene with Pansy's parents telling the secret be in another chapter. We'll see how far I get on chapter ten in the next couple of days-definitely by next week, hopefully by Friday. After I post this I'm going to just put the convo between Pansy, her parents, and the twins down so I don't forget my ideas, then sign off for the evening and take a break. Love you, bookworms!

~msreadsalot88~