(Hey guys! I'm sorry I've been gone for so long. School will be the death of me, I swear it. Anyway, I know y'all are probably wondering about 'Beautiful Lies', and I promise you, I haven't forgotten it! I know where I wanna go with it, now it's just a matter of writing it down. And unfortunately, B&W and Easiest Prey are gonna be canceled. I'm sorry, I just don't have the passion or urge to write on them like I do with 'Lies' and this new one. OHHH, and by the way, this is my very first Dramione fanfic, so please, be nice. If you like fluff, then you might be in the wrong place. This story is intended to be very dark. Anyway, please lemme know what you think. :D xxxxx)

(Back round):

(After the Battle of the Department of Ministries, Voldemort gained the upper hand during the summer of 1997. Once it was discovered that Harry had given himself to the Dark Lord in an apparent sacrificial meeting, everything ended and darkness reigned. Death Eaters roamed nearly every inch of the wizarding world and Hogwarts was forever changed. Anyone less than a Halfblood, and every one of Harry's supporters were killed on spot, or, if they lowered themselves to the point of praising Voldemort, they were spared their life and sent to work as slaves for his supporters and Death Eaters of all kinds. This didn't sit well with everyone, especially with both Ron and Hermione, two of Harry's most trusted and close friends. A year after Voldemort's decree went in place, they, along with Ron's whole family, gathered a small rebellion and attempted a attack on the newly formed Ministry of Magic. Tragically, they were decimated within minutes, and the only two that came out alive were both Hermione and Ginny. They were both auctioned off in the most humiliating ways; Ginny went to serve the Zabini family, and Hermione, the Malfoy's. Several years later, only Draco, his wife Astoria, and their son Scorpius were the only living members of the Malfoy name. They lived in the most exquisite penthouse in the most secret part of London. Hermione, of course, lives with them, and is the main caretaker of Scorpius. This is her unfolding story.)

Stop. Wait a second...and read this.

Carefully.

Do you like happy-go-lucky stories?

And romances?

And happy endings?

If you do, then this isn't the story for you. You should probably exit through the back door.

This story is anything but.

It includes the worst possible nightmares anyone could imagine.

In a world where evil rules, and there is no good.

BUT...

If you enjoy dark, violent, and angsty stories...

Then carry on.

Be careful not to loose yourself.

That is all.

Chapter 1: The Mockingbird

"From the deepest desires, often comes the deadliest hate." -Socrates

I really don't get it. How can two people yell and scream at each other so much, and yet, stay together? I mean, I can literally hear them from up here, the last room on the corridor of the third floor.

"Why are you out so late all the fucking time?!"

"What? I'm out late? Draco, it's barely past midnight! Stop letting paranoia fill your head! It's utterly irritating!"

A harsh, unforgiving laugh.

Then more screaming.

….And more.

Was that a vase shattering that I just heard?

And then...

Silence.

Hm...interesting. I wonder what happened between them this time. It was always something. And even if it started off as a small riff, it always turned into the biggest, most dramatic thing you could ever imagine.

Or that's how it had appeared to me lately, anyway.

It had been getting worse lately. Ever since Draco had been ordered to 'deal' with a band of rebelling Purebloods north of Oxford.

Yes, there were still pockets of them. Rebels. Determined to strike down Voldemort at his very core...the Ministry.

It was simply impossible, though.

Like trying to kill a raging, wild lion with nothing more than a plastic spoon.

I would know, too.

The day was still all to real in my mind. The day that Ron and I had planned since Voldemort himself had taken over. Ultimately, though, we underestimated everything and failed...Ron and everyone in his family paying the greatest price.

That's what still rips me apart inside. Knowing that their lives were ended in the blink of an eye. No time to hug each other, to hold each other, or to say goodbye.

Gone. Like they were nothing but dust.

Except for Ginny, that is. She was spared...God knows why, and sent to serve that snake Zabini and his family at the same time I was sent here.

I hadn't seen her in so many years...psh, who knew if she was still alive.

That thought made a thick lump form in my throat and I gasp and heave, trying to relieve the pressure, but it intensifies, and the only thing to relieve it is heavy, heartbroken sobs into my pillow.

I know that it's really not, but sometimes, I can't help but feel that their demise is my fault. If I had never given the idea to Ron, things could still be as they were supposed to be. None of us would be happy living in a contorted world, but...at least we would have had each other to have and to lean on when things would just be too horrible.

I'd still have Ron.

And I'd still be able to stare into blue sapphires whenever I wanted to.

That simple fact makes the tears stream heavier and faster down my face, and I squeeze the fabric of my pillow in between my fingers.

Five years later, and he's still all I can think about. And he's the only thing that bring me the slightest bits of happiness when I see him in my dreams.

He never stays very long. It's more of a lingering, really. His figure will pop up in the back of my mind, and appear ever so faintly in the unfolding scene. Sometimes, he smiles, and other times, he simply looks at me softly, without ever saying a word.

And then he's gone, almost like he never was.

When I wake up that next morning, I'm pulled back into my own personal hell.

I flip around onto my back and stare at the ceiling.

What would they think, if they saw me like this? Answering to every order like a dog?

Shaking that thought of my head instantly, my eyes close shut.

…...

Waking up by myself is the worst thing in the world. I loathe it more than anything.

There's no noise coming from downstairs. Both of them must already be gone for the day.

Sighing heavily, I sit up in the bed and run a hand through my messy, overly frizzy hair.

I probably look like a feral beaver right now.

A smirk crosses my lips at the thought and I throw the covers back, stand up, and saunter into the bathroom. The mirror is definitely not my friend right now.

My clothes shed themselves off my body as I quickly slip into the shower, then turn the knob to the right a bit as warm water envelops me.

It's sad and almost pitiful that I never want to step out.

Bloody bathing myself is better than simply living every day in this house.

Eventually though, a faint yelling enters my ears and I groan, then turn the knob back to the right.

"Hermione...? What are you doing?"

It's Scorpius.

Stepping out of the shower, I grab the nearest towel and wrap it around myself before pacing into the bedroom, opening up my dresser drawers.

"I...erm, just got out of the shower, Scorp. I'll be out in a couple of minutes."

A pause...and then,

"Well, hurry up. It's boring out here."

My eyes roll in irritation, but I hurry nonetheless and quickly throw on a dull red t-shirt and pair of jeans, then slip on a pair of tennis shoes.

Opening the door a few seconds later, I'm met with a pair of liquid silver eyes.

He's the spitting image of his father, only about twenty years younger.

"Finally."

I ignore his comment and shrug, shutting the bedroom door closed behind me and follow him down the stairs.

"What's the agenda today, then?"

We pass by their house elf Poppy, and I watch her briefly clean the entryway end table as Scorpius rambles on about something or rather.

"...Didn't you hear anything I just said?"

My gaze breaks away from the elf and I turn to glance at him.

"Hmmm?"

He grumbles and then sighs as we stop at the door.

"The Ministry. Remember? I have my class today."

Oh, yes. How could I possibly forget? Scorpius' prejudice class. That had started about two years ago once he turned six.

Draco and Astoria liked to word it differently, but basically, it was a class that brainwashed Pureblood young into believing that anyone less than them was inferior and not worthy of living in such a world. I was told that it was one of Voldemort's tactics to keep his power sustained.

It definitely worked.

And I had no choice but to escort him there myself.

The irony sickened me.

With a hesitant nod and a sigh, I latched onto his land and we both were sucked up into the familiar vacuum, only to land a few seconds later in the lobby of the Ministry.

Or, at least, I thought it was the Ministry.

It had changed dramatically over the years, and I hardly could recognize it anymore.

The tiled walls gleamed brightly with the finest of silver, the high ceiling walls were decorated with paintings and murals of Slytherin artifacts and Voldemort portraits, the windows of the multiple offices stacked on top of one another were lined with the brightest of green, and of course, that infamous statue was still sitting in the center of the lobby.

Scorpius walks directly ahead of me, and as we walk, people, both employees and strangers, pat him on the back, murmur inaudible things into his ear, and pull away before walking in the opposite direction. He loves the attention. I can just see it in his structure, especially when he walks. It's not even really a walk persee, it's actually more of a strut. Again, just like his father. And his grandfather. And probably his great-grandfather, too. All of the Malfoy men have that signature characteristic of arrogance about them that could drive anyone up a wall.

We stop at a set of silver doors, and I'm given a set of dirty looks by a couple of passing people before the doors open.

Mr. Dayd, director of the class, nods down at Scorpius, then glances briefly up at me.

"Good to see you, Scorp. Are you ready for today's lesson?"

I cringe involuntarily, but compose myself a milisecond later before either of them can notice, and Scorpius nods a couple of times.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Very well then. Come on in," the teacher says, and opens the doors a bit wider so that he can pass through.

I stand back and fold my arms over my chest.

"I'll be by in an hour."

Scorpius, as usual, ignores me and disappears around one of the many corners in the room. Mr. Dayd however, pauses before shutting the door and eyes me with disgust.

I can't stand his demeaning looks. He does it every single damn time I come here.

I snap, a little too harshly.

"Can I help you?"

My remark earns a cruel smirk from him, and he shakes his head and shuts the door softly.

I stand there for a few seconds, my eyes trailing the intricate design on the door before shaking my head and turning to leave.

People are talking about me. I can hear them. Clear as crystal, really.

Are they really that stupid? I'm literally walking past them, and I can hear my name, followed by insults, coming from their own mouths.

I pass by an older woman who's talking to a man when I catch what she's saying...

"That's Hermione Granger, you know."

"Oh. Harry Potter's friend?"

"Yes. Not anymore though."

A single, simply, yet...oddly penetrating laugh.

"Ha! Right you are, Mrs. Cawlins."

I hate being here. There's too many memories, and too many things and items...and, thoughts to remind me that I'm not welcome here anymore. Every stare is distasteful, hateful, and cruel. Even from the smallest of children. They're all going to end up like Scorpius, no doubt. Little spoiled children with everything handed to them on a silver platter because their all of pure blood. And they're probably taking that revolting class, too.

I stop midstep, rotating my head to look down a corridor, then back around, peering into the lobby once more.

How did it come to this?

I mean, logically, I know how this came to be...but...maybe I'm still in denial about it.

5 bloody years later, and I'm still thinking that this all isn't real...that maybe, I'm living in some sort of nightmare.

A never-ending nightmare.

What a stupid, naïve thought. I'm so desperate to believe that things could change.

That'll never happen.

The annoying ring of the intercom up above rocks me out of my thoughts, and I focuse attentively.

"Attention...attention, will Hermione Granger please report to the Muggle Containment and Control offices as quickly as possible? We-"

Oh, just lovely. And here I was, thinking that I'd be allowed to leave.

There's only one person in that department who'd want to spend more than 5 seconds on me.

Well, maybe want is too strong of a word.

Malfoy.

I can feel eyes burning into my back, and I turn around to head in the opposite direction, towards the department, and a few people watch me as I walk past them. The rebellious part of me wants to retaliate their stares with a insult, but I know better. Insulting anyone higher than you, in this world, would result in the most brutal punishment.

…...

"Level twelve, offices of Muggle Containment and Control."

The gates of the lift open swiftly and I step out, looking around at the cubicles that contain different men and women in the department before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Oi,"

I look to my left and a bulky, older looking man lfolded his meaty arms across his chest, giving me the most intimidating stare he could manage.

"Took you long enough to get your arse up here."

I want to snap, but instead, hold my tongue and roll my shoulders back silently. He lets me by, and I shuffle down the hallway, stopping at the last door on the right.

He's probably in there, just waiting to-

"Ahem."

My eyes slowly trail over to meet none other than Pansy Parkinson. She's looking at me as if she has just told the biggest secret. I scowl slightly, and then she returns it.

"Are you stupid? Walk in! With your feet!"

If we had still been in Hogwarts, I would have whipped out my wand right then and hexed the bint from her feet. I never could stand her, and now that she was considered above me, she never let anyone, especially me, forget it.

I swallow my bitter feelings and snap my head away. She taps her foot impatiently before someone calls her name and she storms off.

My fingers find the knob of the door and I twist it open, peering inside before slipping in and shutting the door behind me.

It's unseasonably freezing in here. My legs start to quiver and I clench my jaw in order to prevent my teeth from chattering.

I can see his backside perfectly. He's sitting behind his desk, looking down at what appeared to be a folder of papers or something. It takes a few more seconds, and a cough from me before he turns around and pierces me with stormy grey eyes.

"Are you deaf?"

My gaze hardens slightly.

"No."

"Well then, are you handicapped?"

Again with the moronic questions.

"No. Why-"

"Really? Hm," He pauses, glancing at the grandfather clock sitting oh so perfectly against the nearest window, "You were called seven minutes ago. It only takes three to get from the lobby to the floor we're located on."

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. What's he doing? Timing me now?

"I don't understand what you're trying to say."

He groans in irritation and stands to his feet, rolling back the sleeves of his shirt until I can see the Dark Mark strewn perfectly against his pale skin.

"Forget it. Scorp's in class?"

I nod once, glancing out the window.

"Yes."

"Good."

There's a few moments of silence, and then he walks towards me before clearing his throat.

"I bet you're wondering why you're here."

I rotate my head to look back at him and tilt my head out of genuine curiosity. He did have a point. I was never allowed to come up to the department. It had only happened once or twice before, and that had been at least a year ago. I guessed the reason I wasn't allowed in on a regular basis was because they were cautious about a person like me being able to sneak out information to other people. But to who? I didn't know. Anyone I would have told was dead.

"Well, yes, actually, I am."

Once again, there's a brief silence, and he walks up to me until he's just a foot or two away, and eyes me with something I don't recognize.

"I've been promoted."

Another pause.

And yet another one.

His eyebrows raise impatiently, like he's waiting for something.

Oh...God, is he serious? Does he really want me to-

"Don't you have anything to say, Mudblood?"

Again, my jaw muscles tighten as I try to hold back a cold remark and breathe out through my nostrils. Better to tell him what he wants to hear instead of being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse.

"Congratulations."

That annoying, stupid smirk covers his lips instantly and he pulls away, turning back around and walks back towards his desk.

"That's better. Anyway, in preparation for my promotion that is going to take place on Monday, the Dark Lord has asked me to do a favor for him. Which, obviously, I didn't hesitate in accepting..."

Blah, blah, blah. God, he's so full of himself. How could anyone put up with it?

"...And he's waiting for you in cell number four."

Shaking my head a bit, I frown.

"What?"

Another sour look paints over his face, but he slumps back down into his chair casually.

"Open your fucking ears."

Prat.

"Sorry."

"I said, the prisoner is waiting for you to retrieve him in cell block number four. After Scorpius is done with his class, go get him and bring him back to the house."

I glower and cross my arms tightly over my chest.

"...Why?"

My response causes his expression to darken dangerously and the muscles in his own jaw twitch. I know what that means.

He's trying to hold back a scream.

A moment later, his voice comes out raw and shallow.

"I'm going to pretend that I didn't just hear you question my orders. Now, get out of my sight."

Finally.

I was more than happy to turn on my heels and open the door of his office back open, shift out, and make my way back to the lifts without stopping to circumvent the words that were being directed at me.

The gate closes on the lift and a sudden curiousness washes over my like a bucket of cold water.

I wait, and wait some more, never getting off at any of the other floors until I reach the bottom of the Ministry and walk out.

"Level One, Undesirable Imprisonment Facility and Court Rooms."

It's so quiet down here. And cold...even colder than Draco's office had been.

And I know the reason for that.

As I step out, a blood churning scream fills my ears and I cringe wildly, shooting my head to either side.

And then...

Silence.

Dead...stagnant silence.

I block the images of what just happened out of my brain and compose myself, fold my arms behind my back, and glide through the tunnels, looking around at the difference cells. I don't really stop to look inside. I know that if I did, anger, and sadness too, would overtake me and I couldn't control it.

And who knows what I'd do once my emotions took over.

And then see it. A metal cut number four plastered onto a door, where two guards with cloaks on stand on either side.

I stop mid-stride and swallow heavily, taking a moment to myself, then proceed forward.