Mudblood No More

A Trip to the Hospital Wing

Five years later, Hermione Granger was seated in Headmaster Dumbledore's office, waiting for his arrival. 

"Miss Granger," came a soft greeting. The headmaster took his seat, and looked at Hermione expectantly. 

"Professor Dumbledore, I understand that I should have gone to Professor McGonagall, but I think that you're the only one that can help me," Hermione looked at him with pleading eyes. 

"Of course, my dear. You are welcome to come to me with any problem you may encounter."

"Thank you, professor," Hermione sniffled. The events of the night before were starting to come back. "Last night, I was helping my mum clean out our attic, when I found adoption papers in one of the boxes. When I asked her, she admitted that I was adopted! I'm not even a Muggleborn, I'm a Pureblood!"

"I see. If I may ask, have you any idea who they could be?"

By now, Hermione was in tears. "No, I don't know who they are. All that Mum told me was that they were one of the darkest families in the Wizarding world, and I was removed from their home." 

Albus Dumbledore was not a man who was easily surprised or shocked. However, after hearing this, he couldn't stop his jaw from dropping open. Dark family? He knew exactly who her birth parents were. Of course, he'd been informed of the removal of the Lestranges' daughter, and he'd also wondered what had happened to her, but never could he have thought that she was one of his best students. 

Unlike the public, he'd been told that Hermione Lestrange, in fact, was not dead, but merely relocated. The whole time, he'd been against it, because it wasn't that sweet, innocent little girl's fault that her parents were bad people. She should have been allowed to stay with the people she knew and loved. He, however, hadn't known that she'd been living with Muggles. 

He should have realized, though. Putting her with a Wizarding family was too risky, because the Malfoys were well connected, and they could have easily found her. Muggles were the best choice. However, he had to admit that it was smart that they'd placed her in England, right under the Malfoys' noses, while they were out searching the world. 

Still, Albus couldn't stop himself from cursing his damn ignorance. It was so obvious; how could he have not seen it? 'Hermione' was not a common name, and who else would given their daughter such an usual one? Not to mention, when he had visited Hermione's house to give her her letter, he noticed that all of the pictures with her seemed to be taken after she turned two. At the time, he had just put it off simply as his imagination. Surely they had Hermione's baby pictures upstairs in an album, right?

Ye the years matched up. When the Lestrange girl was born, he had wondered if she would be his student, or if her parents would prefer to send her to another school. He remembered that after that fateful Halloween, he was thinking that the daughter of two of the most evil people was likely going to be in the same year as Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. How on earth could have Albus missed all of the signs?

"Miss Granger," his solemn voice cut through her sobs. "I do not mean to cause you any more distress, but I believe that it is your right to know: I know who your birth parents are. I am not sure that you will like it, but if you would like to find out, I would be more than happy to tell you." 

Hermione had managed to calm herself, and she replied with a shaky voice. "I-I have to know. I have to." 

"Are you sure, my dear girl? There can be no return from this. You are aware that your biological parents were supporters of the Dark Lord, yes?"

Hermione gave a brief nod, and murmured, "I need to know." 

"Very well. Miss Granger, your biological parents are Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange."

"What?" Hermione asked hoarsely. "I- I can't have heard that right."

"I'm sorry, but it's true. You were taken from the Malfoys' home when you were two, the night your parents were arrested after torturing Alice and Frank Longbottom. I could arrange for a potion to confirm it if you would like, but I am certain of this." 

Hermione was silent. There was a strange feeling in her lungs, and she felt as if she needed more air. She automatically sucked in a deep breath, her mind unable to let go of the fact that  but it didn't help. She tried again, before she realized that it was of no use. She faintly registered that she was hyperventilating, and that it was beginning to escalate,  but she didn't care anymore. It was all too much. Dumbledore's office began to fade out, and all she could see was Bellatrix that night at the Ministry, the sound of her bone-chilling cackle taking over her ears.

Within moments, everything went black. 

When she stirred, she could see a form moving about her, and she could hear a few voices. 

"Seems to have fainted from shock... she'll be awake any minute, I expect... Gave her a strong Calming Draught, so she should be fine.." a woman's voice was murmuring next to her, and she could hear bottles clinking from the same direction. 

"Poor 'Mione," a male's voice said this time. 

"Wonder what she saw that made her faint like that..." 

"Maybe she saw someone going at it," Ron offered helpfully. 

Harry snorted, and said, "Is that all that you can think about? I swear, we've got to get you to go see a shrink." 

"Like Reducio?" 

Harry made a strangled sound, and as Hermione's vision focused, she had to suppress a laugh at the sight in front of her.  

Hoarsely, she asked, "Harry, Ron?"

Both of them quickly rushed to her side. Madam Pomfrey was long gone, so each of them claimed a side of her, and within moments, she was sitting up, and had a glass of water in her hands. 

After taking a long sip, she gave a light chuckle. "I didn't even have to ask." 

"That's what we're here for, Hermione," Harry said, patting her leg. "By the way, what was it that made you faint? Madam Pomfrey said that it was from shock..."

"Settle in, boys. I've got a long story to tell..."