Harry Potter: Heir of the Dark Lord

Part 28-Friends no matter the Circumstance

(Harry pov)
Hermione remained in the hospital wing for several weeks. There was a flurry of rumors about her disappearance when the rest of the school arrived back from their Christmas holidays because of course, everyone thought that she had been attacked. So many students filed past the hospital wing trying to catch a glimpse of her that Madam Pomfrey took out her curtains again and placed them around Hermione's bed, to spare her the shame of being seen with a furry face. Me and Ron went to visit her every evening. When the new term started, we brought her each day's homework.

Noctis has been visiting her as well. In regards to Noctis, Ron and I have been contemplating Draco's assertion about Noctis and Delphini being Voldemort and Bellatrix's children. Initially, I was hesitant to accept this claim, but upon further reflection, the evidence seems compelling. Ron expressed a desire to confront Noctis for clarification, but I suggested that we should first discuss this matter with Hermione.
Ron:" If I'd sprouted whiskers, I'd take a break from work," he said tipping a stack of books onto Hermione's bedside table one evening.

Don't be silly, Ron, I've got to keep up," said Hermione briskly. Her spirits were greatly improved by the fact that all the hair had gone from her face and her eyes were turning slowly back to brown. "I don't suppose you've got any new leads?" She added in a whisper, so that Madam Pomfrey couldn't hear her.
Ron:" It wasn't Malfoy, even though I was so sure that it was him."
Harry:" Well...we don't have a lead, but there is one thing that we learned."
Hermione:" What is it?"
Ron and I look at each other and back to Hermione.
Harry:" Draco denied being the Heir of Slytherin, but he mentioned another person who might be opening the Chamber of Secrets."

Hermione: "He mentioned Noctis, right?"
Ron: "Yeah, he did. And guess what? Noctis and his sister Delphini are the children of You-Know-Who and Bellatrix Lestrange! We've been friends with the children of the most dangerous dark wizards all this time. Can you believe that?"
I glanced over and saw Hermione's expression. Instead of showing shock or fear, she appeared calm and composed, almost as if she had anticipated this situation.

Harry:" Hermione did you...already know?"
Hermione:" I did."
Ron:" WHAT!!! How long!!!"
Hermione:" When we first met him on the train and then in our first year, I did some research into his background and found out."

Ron: "And you never thought of telling us this crucial information?!"
Hermione: "I understand why you're upset, but it wasn't my secret to share. And please remember that Noctis is not like his parents. I don't know much about Delphini, but I believe she feels the same way."
Harry: "I just can't believe that both of them are related to Voldemort! Why didn't he tell us?"
Hermione: "Harry, imagine if it were you. Would you want people to know that your parents were You-Know-Who, the most evil dark wizard ever, and Bellatrix Lestrange, the most evil witch responsible for committing numerous atrocities?"

Ron and I exchanged a glance as we listened to Hermione's explanation. It made sense - if my parents were Death Eaters, I wouldn't want anyone to know either.
Hermione: "It worried me that the Ministry of Magic was looking for them, but thankfully he confided in me that they had given up due to lack of new information."
Ron: "I understand your point. But I really wish he would trust us and be honest with us. I mean, we're his friends."
Harry: "I think that's precisely why he didn't tell us."
Ron: "What do you mean?"
Harry: "Remember what Noctis was like during our first year before we became friends with him?"
Ron: "Yeah, he was always quiet, kept to himself in the common room or the great hall, and didn't want to be around people most of the time. I used to think he was just trying to act cool because of his relations of being a member of the Black family."
Hermione: "No, it's actually the opposite. He did all that to avoid feeling vulnerable."
Ron:" Vulnerable?"

Hermione expressed concern that if the public knew the identities of their parents, Noctis and Delphini would face rejection and isolation within Hogwarts and the entire wizarding community. She noted that despite being in Slytherin, Delphini might fare relatively better. However, she worried that Noctis, a Gryffindor, who is also the You-Know-Who son, would face significant prejudice due to Gryffindor's reputation for reacting strongly against anything associated with dark wizards and dark magic.

Harry: "I understand that Gryffindor and Slytherin don't like each other, but do you think they would dislike Noctis so much just because of his parents?"
Ron: "Yes, they might. Remember, it's not just your parents that were killed, Harry. You-know-Who killed many families during the first wizarding war, including those of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw students."

Hermione told us about the leaked prophecy regarding the possibility of Noctis or Delphini becoming a dark lord capable of destroying both the muggle and wizarding worlds. Initially, it was believed that Noctis, being referred to as You-Know-Who's heir, would fulfill this ominous destiny, leading the Ministry of Magic to search for him. However, the discovery of his twin sister led to doubts about the authenticity of the known prophecy.
Harry:" So you think the prophecy about them is a fake?"

In the conversation, Hermione mentioned that both Noctis and Dumbledore have begun to believe that the prophecy may not be entirely accurate. Initially, Noctis shared with Hermione that in our first year, Dumbledore had informed him that the prophecy consisted of two parts, implying that someone in the Ministry intentionally leaked the second half while concealing the first half. However, upon learning about Delphini, Dumbledore began to question the widely known prophecy and started to consider the possibility that it might be a fabrication.
Harry:" Why would someone fabricate a prophecy, knowing that it might cause a lot of trouble?"
Noctis:" That is the question that Dumbledore and I are trying to figure out."

We shifted our gaze to Noctis as he approached us, with Cyrus wrapped around him.
Noctis: "How are you holding up, Hermione?"
Hermione: "I'm okay. How long have you been standing there?"
Noctis: "For a while. I believe whoever fabricated this prophecy had a specific motive in mind."
Ron:" Who in the world would do all that?"
Noctis:" No idea? But whoever it is covered their tracks so well that even Dumbledore having trouble finding the culprit."
Noctis also said to us that he was surprised as both of us were understanding about learning who he was, he expected us to yell and no longer wanted to associate with him. Ron and I stated that while they were a bit upset with him, we quickly got over it as Hermione explained to us, and we sort've comprehended the situation he was facing.
Ron:" If you think we would turn away from you after learning all this then you got another coming."
Harry:" Same, you're not getting rid of us that easily. We're always gonna be friends no matter what."
When we said that Noctis smiled which we felt to be real.

Noctis:" Thanks guys, I mean it."
Harry/Ron/Hermione:" You're welcome," the three of us said together.