Portraits

sarahmay

Rating: PG
Genres: Angst, Mystery
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 25/11/2004
Last Updated: 29/11/2004
Status: in_progress

Every picture and painting in the wizarding world moves…but who is the woman in the only one that doesn’t? Could she change everything a world believes? *Title will change...eventually...*

Chapters

1. The Portrait

2. September 21, 1997

1. The Portrait

Disclaimer: Don't own it…

Special thanks to Jenna Kathleen…haha…saved my life…im not going retarded thank god!

Summary: Every picture and painting in the wizarding world moves…but who is the woman in the only one that doesn't? Could she change everything a world believes?

3001

“Adam, stop,” Jennifer McDermott giggled as she tugged on her boyfriend's hand.

“If I have too,” Adam smiled, pressing his lips against hers.

“Wait a minute,” Jennifer moved away from him as he started to trail kisses down her throat.

“What? A minute ago you couldn't wait one more second,” Adam smiled, but Jennifer was staring at the wall behind him.

“Hello?” She asked.

“Jen, it's a painting…how long were you in the library?” Adam asked, putting a hand to her forehead.

“It's not moving,” Jennifer replied, stopping a few feet from a portrait of a woman sitting in a long maroon dress, her curly hair reaching her bosom.

“She's probably sleeping,” Adam replied. “Let's go.”

“Well, okay,” Jen agreed reluctantly and followed her boyfriend down the corridor…

******

“Professor Weasley, may I ask you a question?” Jennifer asked her transfiguration professor the next day.

“Of course,” Matthew Weasley replied, perching himself on the corner of his desk.

“Well, are there any portraits in the wizarding world that don't move?”

“Not that I know of. Why do you ask?” He responded.

“I found a portrait last night. Of a woman, but she wasn't moving,” Jennifer replied, shaking her head slightly.

“Really? Where was it at?” Matthew asked.

“On the ninth floor. The woman, she had on a long maroon dress, and she had curly long hair. I didn't get a chance to look at it very long, but she had almost a haunted look in her eyes,” Jennifer replied in thought.

“I tell you what. If you can give me her name, I'll give you 75 points,” Matthew told her, figuring if there weren't supposed to be any immobile portraits in their world, she most likely wouldn't find a name.

“Okay, well, I need to go to the library,” Jennifer sighed, before disappearing out the door.

******

Instead of going to the library, she made her way to the ninth floor where, surprisingly fast, she found the portrait.

“Who are you?” She wondered aloud, as she stood before the painting.

Jennifer carefully examined the painting, and just as she was about to give up, she saw something barely legible in the bottom right corner.

JE `98

“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” Jennifer asked herself as she stepped back from the painting to look at it again. Around the woman's neck was a fine chain with an emblem pendant hanging from it.

She quickly drew a rough copy of the pendant and dashed off to the library.

“Madam Jameson, do you have any books with family crests?” She asked the librarian 5 minutes later.

“Just a few, they're in the back over there,” the older woman replied, pointing towards the back of the library.

“Thanks!” Jennifer smiled, and walked briskly to the back of the library. She quickly found the 3 books of family crests and set to work.

She checked every year ending in 98, but found nothing, so then she began the grueling task of flipping through every page and comparing crests. Luckily, she found a match within the first fifteen minutes and smiled triumphantly. Godric Gryffindor.

But which Gryffindor had worn the piece of jewelry? There was picture after picture of woman with pendants, but not one looked anything like the woman in the painting. They all had black hair and fair skin, while the woman in the painting had chestnut locks and had a tanned look. Suddenly a name popped out at her. Potter.

It wasn't the woman from the painting, but this time there was a short biography in the margin.

When Audrey Gryffindor, the only child of John and Beth Gryffindor, married James Potter in the mid to late 1800's, the Gryffindor name ended. The Potter line was born and although they did not carry the Gryffindor name, they produced one of the most powerful wizards in history. Harry Potter.

“Harry Potter,” Jennifer thought aloud, “his father was James. JE! James Potter. Damn, who could JE be? His mother was Lily Potter. Wait a second!” She ran from the library despite the cries of the librarian that it was, in fact, a library. By the time she made it to Professor Weasley's room, she was completely out of breath.

“Professor - I need to ask - you - a question,” Jennifer said, as she tried to regain her composure.

“Yes?”

“What was Lily Potter's maiden name?” Jennifer asked, anticipation taking over her.

“Evans, why? Have you figured out the painting yet?” He asked.

“Harry Potter painted whoever was in the painting. He had to of. The painter signed it `JE' and the woman in wearing the Gryffindor crest. He combined his parent's names - James Evans - and he was the last remaining heir to the Gryffindor bloodline!” Jennifer exclaimed.

“I would swear it sounds like it could be Hermione Granger Weasley, but you can only give a family crest to your wife or husband - it's impossible to do otherwise,” Matthew told her, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“I think I have an idea on how to find out who it is,” Jennifer told him. “I'll tell you if I'm right in class tomorrow,” she added before heading back to the library.

The first thing she did was get the compilation yearbook since 1996. It took several trips to bring them all over, but it was a span of nearly 1100 years.

After checking the class of 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, and finding no other girl besides Hermione Granger that could possibly be the woman in the painting, she looked up the class of 2016. Jacob Weasley was the only familiar face in the class…but surprisingly he didn't have the Weasley red hair trademark. It was more of an auburn color, so Hermione's hair color must have toned it down. She checked each year for the next 500 years of the Weasley family. Not one Weasley had red hair. Every single one but Jacob had either black or dark brown hair and for the most part, startling green eyes.

“Oh my god,” Jennifer whispered, as everything finally clicked into place.

******

“Professor Weasley, are you up?” Jennifer banged on the door.

“Jennifer? What are you doing? It's almost midnight,” Matthew replied, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Ron Weasley never had any children,” Jennifer stated.

“Come again?”

“You're not a Weasley,” Jennifer repeated.

“Jennifer, you're delirious,” Matthew replied, and almost had the door shut when he heard her whisper something.

“You're a Potter.”

“What?”

“Jacob Weasley was never really a blood Weasley. Hermione's the only one that the woman in the painting can be, and you said yourself that it could only be possible if she was his wife.”

“I can't believe you, Jennifer. Do you know how ludicrous that is to even suggest?”

“Follow me, I'll prove it to you.”

They ran back to where Jennifer left all her books and picked them up and preceded to the ninth floor right to where the painting hung on the wall. Jennifer showed each and every piece of evidence to Professor Weasley and when she got to the last bit of evidence that none of the remaining Weasleys had the trademark hair, did he finally realize what had happened. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were lovers and his whole family had been a lie.

“So they cheated behind Ron's back?” Matthew asked, as he stared at the portrait.

“They were married, and I think that Harry knew she was pregnant. And then when he gave his life to defeat Voldemort, he had made sure that someone would be there to take his place, and he wanted Ron. There was only one child in that family. I think Hermione wanted to honor Harry's memory because I don't think she could ever love anyone but him. I think they got married because it would make life easier. It was like a way for both of them to honor Harry and his son. I don't know. And as far as records show, you're the last of the descendents of Gryffindor.”

“July 9, 1998?” Matthew said suddenly, wiping his hand across the date the painting was painted.

“What?”

“July 9, 1998. The date.”

“Four days before he died,” Jennifer breathed, her voice quivering. “She knew. They both knew.”

Author's Note: I know this is weird…but that's okay…so please review and tell me what you think!!! Love ya all!!! - Sarah

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2. September 21, 1997

Disclaimer: Don't own it…

Special thanks to Jenna, who wrote my diary entry and who will continue to do so because I have no idea how to journal or anything of that sort!!! Enjoy and please review!!! - Sarah

“I have some of her belongings in my Hogwart's safe,” Matthew stated after a moment or two.

“Such as?” Jennifer asked.

“Well, I've never really looked through it, but I think there might be some diaries,” he replied, looking over at his student.

“Can you get them?” Jennifer asked hopefully.

“Yeah, let's go,” Matthew replied, and they gathered all of the books they had taken up to the painting and returned to the transfiguration classroom.

“Just leave those books on the table, the safe's upstairs.”

Jennifer did as she was told and followed him up to his office and over to a wall. Matthew pressed his hand against one of the stones and a door handle appeared. He pulled it open and they both stepped into a small room. There was a trunk in the corner, which Matthew proceeded to open.

“Here,” he said, handing Jennifer a small book. “There are about two more of those.”

“September 21, 1997,” Jennifer read aloud after opening the book somewhere in the middle.

Today was the day. Harry and I were finally married. Of course only Ron, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall know that we got married, after all they were witnesses and Ron was The Best. Well, I mean we had to dub him something, he is our best friend, plus I don't have many female friends. He was both Best Man and Maid of Honor, something I think he was very proud of.

I am extremely happy right now. I never thought life could get any better, but now that Harry is by my side for the rest of it, I know it can. I know we are only seventeen years old, but we have both decided that we want a family as soon as we can (and maybe that was a little of my persuasion). Professor Dumbledore pulled us aside after the ceremony and told us that our head boy and girl dorms had been switched around to where we were able to share a room. Merlin bless him.

I have to hurry up, Harry is waking up and he doesn't know about my journals. But I do have to say this, I never thought I could ever have a chance at happiness, I was wrong; with Harry, I am much happier than I have ever been. Now, to break this to the parents.

I'll write soon. I promise.

“Wow,” Matthew breathed.

“This is so amazing,” Jennifer smiled at him through glazed eyes. “Finding out something that happened so long ago. Knowing that this one entry has changed so much.”

“So I'm a Potter then?” Matthew asked, finally realizing the impact this made on him and the rest of his family.

“Yes, I mean, we'd have to trace it back to see if you actually have the last name Potter, or if it would have changed. But I think you are, because if you have the Weasley name after a thousand years, well,” Jennifer trailed off. “I'm sorry if my curiosity has hurt you, Professor,” she whispered.

“Call me Matthew…we're only a year or two apart in age. Plus you probably know more about me than I do by now,” Matthew sighed, running his hand through his messy hair.

“Do you want to read any more tonight?”

“No, not right now,” Matthew replied. “I need to talk to my mother.”

“Okay,” Jennifer sighed and turned to leave. “One more thing, Prof- Matthew.”

“Yes?”

“What happened to the rest of Ron's family?”

“Ginny married Draco Malfoy. It's been so long that I'm not sure if we even are in contact with whoever they are nowadays. The twins were bachelors their whole lives.” Matthew smiled as he remembered the stories he had been told as a child about how his ancestors invented Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, the biggest joke shop in wizarding Europe. “Bill died in the war, Percy was disowned I believe. Charlie, what did Charlie do? Oh yeah, he got killed by a dragon,” he finished.

“Killed by a dragon? Not to be insensitive, but that's kind of funny,” Jennifer grinned.

“Yeah, I always thought so too,” Matthew smiled half-heartedly.

“See you tomorrow,” Jennifer told him before leaving the room.

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

Tomorrow was going to be a very long day…

******

“Nathaniel, I need to take the day off from classes for a family emergency,” Matthew told the headmaster the next morning.

“Is everything okay, Matthew?” Nathaniel asked worriedly.

“Everyone's okay, it's just something extremely important,” Matthew replied.

“Okay, well, say hello to your mother and father for me.”

“Will do. I'll see you tomorrow, sir,” Matthew said before exiting the room.

He headed back to his office where he flooed to his parents home.

“Mum? Dad?” He called.

“Matthew, dear, what are you doing here?” Beth Weasley, his mother, asked as she walked into the room.

“Mum, I have something very important I need to tell you.”

“Well, let me get your father,” Beth replied, concern in her eyes. “David, come here, Matthew has to tell us something important,” she yelled up the stairs.

“What are you doing home, Matthew? Don't you have classes?” David asked as he entered the room.

“Yes, but I've taken the day off,” Matthew replied, sitting down in a chair.

“The students getting to you - Professor Weasley?” David grinned at his son.

“Potter.”

“What?” Beth asked.

“I don't know if there are even any Weasley's left,” Matthew laughed hollowly.

“Matthew, what on earth are you talking about?” David asked.

“It was never Hermione and Ron, it was Hermione and Harry. I've got her diaries. They were married and everything.”

“That's nonsense!” Beth cried. “I won't hear anymore of it.”

“Look at the damn diary!” Matthew replied, pulling the diary out of this robe pocket and opening it to the entry Jennifer had read the night before.

“How? Where?” David tried to manage a complete sentence. “Where did you get this?”

“That old trunk that no one ever looked in. There are about three of these. We've only read that entry though.”

“We,” Beth asked.

“My student saw a painting hanging on the ninth floor of a woman, but it was a still painting and I offered 75 points or so if she could give me the name of the woman in the painting. It's Hermione Potter,” Matthew replied, raking his hands through his hair.

“Jennifer's theory, she's the student, is that they both knew that Harry wasn't going to make it through the final showdown with Voldemort and so Harry wanted Ron to look after Hermione because he knew she was pregnant. And so they got married, but they never slept together because Hermione's heart belonged to Harry. She couldn't just forget him. So Ron was the father-figure, and that's how it all started,” Matthew finished. “She said it a bit more eloquently, but you catch my drift,” he added as an after thought.

“Oh, and we're the last remaining descendents to Godric Gryffindor.”

“Oh my goodness,” Beth sighed as she sank into the nearest chair.

“Please tell me you're joking,” David pleaded.

“I wish I were, but it's all there. Jacob Weasley is a Potter. And Jennifer also figured that if I was the last Weasley, then I was also the last Potter. Dad only has sisters, and I'm an only child, so I'm the only one that can carry on the name,” Matthew sighed, standing up and walking over to the fireplace. “I should get back to school. Fire-call me when you've absorbed all of this.” And with that he was gone.

******

“Professor!” Matthew turned around and saw Jennifer running after him.

“Yes, Jennifer,” he asked as she caught her breath.

“Have you talked to your parents?”

“I just got back from seeing them. It was quite a shock and I told them to give me a call when they were ready to talk,” Matthew replied.

“I don't think I slept at all last night. I just kept thinking about everything!” Jennifer exclaimed.

“Yeah, I think I dozed off for a few minutes. Then my alarm clock woke me up,” Matthew sighed.

“Well, you'll have to tell me when you want to continue reading the diaries. I've got a few open periods during the day normally, so I shouldn't have homework to do, so just whenever,” Jennifer smiled.

“Are you on something?” Matthew asked; no one should be that energetic after getting no sleep.

“I just had some of this muggle drink called Red Bull. It gives you energy!” Jennifer replied. “Well, I better get down to lunch! See you later, Professor!”

Matthew watched as she bounded off down the hallway and shook his head. All he wanted at this moment was to crawl into his warm bed and sleep for a year. As he walked into his bedroom, he decided to write a note to Jennifer.

Tonight at eight in my classroom.

Matthew

“James, here boy,” Matthew whistled and James, his black owl, landed on his arm. “I want you to give this to Jennifer McDermott. She should be at lunch right now.” The owl gave a gentle hoot and flew out the open window.

Matthew unclasped his cloak and dropped it over the desk chair when he noticed one of the diaries lying open on his desk. He was about to close it, but curiosity took hold of him and he began to read the entry.

December 8, 1997

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