all credits to @dunleejane for this idea! an amazing one, too <3
TW: MILDLY GRAPHIC INJURY DESCRIPTION
~
Theodore Nott paced impatiently around the Head's dorm with a letter clutched in his hands, Blaise and Draco watching half-heartedly.
"Are you ever going to tell us what's got your knickers in a twist?" Blaise asked, looking down from his stare at the ceiling.
"Mum and Dad sent me a letter."
"Okay, and?" Draco replied sarcastically.
"I have a twin sister."
Silence fell over the three boys. Theo had a sister?
"And she goes here."
The two looked over at him.
"Well who is it?" Draco asked. Theodore was a pale, curly brown-haired boy with chocolate eyes and lots of freckles. That's who we're looking for, he thought.
"I can't read it. You do it." Theo ran a hand through his messy hair as he handed the letter to Draco. Draco read aloud:
Now, son, I know this information is quite frankly... shocking. We had to seperate the two of you when you both showed signs of being a threat to the Dark Lord's magic. We sent her to a muggle adoption agency where they found her some muggles to live with. Dumbledore knew along with Snape, but that's all. We only just told McGonagall.
Of course, we kept an eye on her. But we could never tell you. Now that the war is over, we can. We heard of what happened to her, how brave she is, and how incredibly intelligent she has always been.
But, before we keep you waiting, we must say her name. Theo, your twin sister now goes with the last name Granger. Hermione Granger.
Theo's dropped to his knees, his black jeans cushioning the fall. Blaise's jaw dropped and Draco had trailed off in shock.
Minutes passed, the two boys on the couch holding their breath.
"I called her a mudblood," Theo murmured, not being able to take his pained gaze off of the ground.
"But that was forever ago-
"No, a few days ago. When Weasel snogged Brown and she ran off. I ran into her and called her that when we argued."
At this moment, they heard stirring from her room. She had been sleeping there. A few minutes later, they saw a curly head of hair emerge. Clad in a white, oversized sweater tucked into a pair of brown corduroy pants, she looked like she was just out of a classic love story.
"Malfoy, do you have that book I left out here?" Hermione asked, trailing off as she saw Theo on the carpet staring at her with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. She noticed that Draco and Blaise were doing the same thing.
"Um," she mumbled. "I think I'll be in the library. Night."
She awkwardly opened the portrait door. It's tall threshold stood at the top of a long staircase. When she was just about to step out, the thick toe of her combat boot didn't reach the other side. She fell forward, tumbling down the long flight of stairs.
Draco hurriedly jumped up, looking out for just a second to see her at the bottom. He raced down towards her, Blaise and Theo a few steps behind. He finally arrived at the bottom, kneeling down to assess her. Blood had pooled around a large, weeping gash on the back of her head. Her sopping curls drooped with the weight. One arm was curled in a way it shouldn't be, and large bruises stained her stature.
"She's still breathing." He looked at Theo, showing his hand that was covered in the red liquid. "But she's lost blood."
~
A month later, Hermione had grown fond of the boys. Draco had carried her back upstairs and healed her. All of the lost blood was given back by Theo, who happened to have the same blood type. Blaise had come by with all the get well soon cards and the staff to help her get well in her own room.
She was walking easily along the grounds when she saw Theo and Draco sitting by a tree on the lakeside, arguing quietly.
She decided to say hello, but she couldn't help but overhear their conversation.
"You have to tell her," Draco hissed, pointing a finger at his chest.
"No! I'm not ready." Theo dropped his head as Draco's next sentence shocked her to her very core.
"You have to tell Hermione that she's your sister! You've hid it for long enough."
She couldn't help the loud gasp she made and the shock in her bones.
The two turned around with wide eyes. "Uh oh," Draco commented.
"I- I'm your- your sister?" she breathed, sparing a glare for Draco when he corrected her by saying 'twin, actually'.
"Granger-
"No," said Hermione in a shaky yet firm tone. "Don't Granger me. You have no right to call me by my name when you hid my real one from me for so long. Theo, how could you?"
"Look, Hermione," Theo corrected himself. He walked forward, reaching an arm out and cringing when she stepped to the side. She bumped into Draco, not noticing the arm he wrapped around her shoulder. "I didn't even know until a month ago. And you still hated me then, so I was scared you wouldn't accept me. I tried so hard to make you like me, but you still favored your enemy over I."
She looked up at Draco who was gazing at the ground somberly.
"How could I do that to you?" Theo whispered, his eyes red and hands shaky. "I'm so sorry."
She slowly approached him. When she got a few inches away, she opened her arms and embraced him. Her head buried in his neck, she whispered, "I forgive you. It wasn't your fault."
After a minute, they broke apart. "I hate to be rude, but do you care if I just go by myself for a bit?" She looked up at him. "I just need time to take in everything."
"Of course," Theo smiled. "I need a nap anyway." He started to walk away but turned to call over his shoulder. "I'll see you later, Hermione."
She smiled, turning around. She hit a hard chest.
"Hey," Draco mumbled with a grin.
"Hi," Hermione replied.
"So, you favor me?" he asked with a smirk.
"I'm not going to stroke your ego, Draco."
"What?"
"I'm not going to-
"No, what did you call me?" He looked down at her seriously.
"Draco."
Without thinking, he leaned down to capture her lips with his. The firmness of it made her gasp, but it didn't stop from kissing him back. She grinned into it, making him giggle a little before focusing back on her.
All she could think was how nice it was to have two new members of her family.
