conviction | SSHG

four

A soft sigh leaves the lips of Hermione Granger as she plops down on the couch in her living room, an envelope in her hands. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in as much of it as she can. She couldn't afford to live there any longer, no matter how much money she got from the Ministry due to her part in the war. The emotional price of knowing that her parents-the Granger's-would never enter the threshold of the house ever again, for they didn't even remember that it existed. Wendell and Monica Wilkins would live out the remainder of their days in Australia, not knowing the life they left behind when they were Wendell and Monica Granger. 

Thinking about her adoptive parents slowly turned to her thinking about her biological ones, the ones she found out about less than twenty-four hours ago. The envelope that she had put beside her on the couch was from them. Hermione didn't know what the letter contained and a small part of her wanted to just throw it in the fireplace and be done with it. Lucius and Narcissa didn't try to have a hand in how she was raised or in her childhood. They also could've stopped so many terrible things that happened to her and her friends during the war, they could've stopped Bellatrix before she permanently scarred Hermione's arm. She doesn't owe them anything but a bigger part of her knows that they are her family and family is the most important thing to Hermione, regardless of whether or not they were there for her in her childhood. 

With trembling fingers, she rips open the envelope and pulls a piece of parchment out of it. Hermione frowned as she realized that there's still something that's slightly heavy in the envelope. She tips it and a black key falls out into her lap. Hermione looks at the key with a frown for a few moments before redirecting her attention back to the piece of parchment. She unfolds it and slowly reads the letter. 

Dearest Ophelia,

We would love to get the opportunity to be able to answer all of the questions that you have for us. In the envelope is the key to Malfoy Manor, which is a representation of the fact that the door is always open to you. Come by whenever you wish, but please at least once before you return to Hogwarts if you are returning. Hopefully, we will see you soon.

Narcissa Malfoy 

Hermione sighs and places the letter down on the couch beside her, placing the key on it.  She enjoys the silence for a few moments until there's a knock at the front door. With a small sigh, Hermione pulls herself off of the couch and walks down the hall to the front door. After a few moments, she opens the front door and her jaw drops at the person standing on the other side. 

"Hey, Granger, mind if I come in?" Draco Malfoy asks, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

He was wearing a black leather jacket, a white tee shirt, black slacks, and black dress shoes. Hermione wordlessly moved out of the way for Malfoy to come inside, which he did; albeit reluctantly. Hermione closed the door behind the blonde and they stood in tense silence for a few moments. They just simply looked at each other during these moments, not completely accepting that they were siblings. 

"Mother..uh...told me that we're...uh..." Malfoy trails off.

"Siblings?" Hermione finishes for him with an arched brow.

"Yeah, that. When did you find out?" He asks, crossing his arms in front of his chest. 

"Not even a day ago" Hermione replies, copying Malfoy's stance. 

He slowly nods his head, a guilty expression taking hold of his face. 

"I'm sorry" He says quietly. 

Hermione arches a brow at him, silently urging for him to continue. 

"I was an asshole to you and so many other people for so many years because of the bullshit that our father was spouting my whole childhood. I was a terrible brother and for that I'm truly sorry" Malfoy apologized, his voice laced with sincerity. 

Hermione sighed. How was he supposed to be a good brother if he didn't know that they were siblings?

"I accept your apology, Malfoy, and it's not your fault that you haven't been a good brother. Just start making up for it" Hermione says with a small smile on her face.

Malfoy slowly nods his head. 

"Since we are siblings, it would be best if we called each other by our first names" Malfoy says. 

"Alright, Draco" 

"Good, Hermione"