SUMMARY: Ebonni is a Black, raised by the Malfoys and placed in Slytherin house. It seemed her future was pre-set for her, until she met a few people who changed the way she saw the world. She is then faced with a series of choices that could end her world or set her free. From fifth year to after the war.

September 1991 (First Year)

The Seventh of September, 1991 was a Saturday. The air held the warmth of late summer, despite a soft breeze that rustled the grasses of the grounds of Hogwarts, as the students walked among them in their first weekend since arriving back at School.

Still, not everyone was so eager to escape the castle.

A certain first year Slytherin was one of the few. The prospect of sunlight didn't particularly excite her and nor did the idea of being around people she had already decided she loathed. Instead, the young Slytherin gathered her things and made her way to the deserted school library.

Bookshelves towering over her, the Slytherin had travelled deep into the maze of the library until she found the most secluded corner she could and set up camp. The corner was to the far left and there was a small window, located on the only book-less wall that looked out onto the lake. If the Slytherin had been tall enough, she could have looked through it to see her fellow students loitering around the water and playing happily.

However, the Slytherin was far more interested in the book in front of her. It was an interesting book on the properties of muggle rose petals in Potion making. Potions was, so far, was the Slytherin's favourite subject. It wasn't just because Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin, was the teacher. As it happened, the Slytherin already knew the Professor from out of school and had already been taught a few potions. She genuinely liked the subject and had read her book three times already.

The Slytherin read quietly, losing herself in the peace of the library and the depths of the book. Until-

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't think anyone would be here."

The Slytherin looked up to see a first year Gryffindor girl stood in the entrance to her corner. The girl had bushy, brown hair that was cut neatly but wild none-the-less; big, brown eyes that gave her a certain naïve look; larger-than-average front teeth and a heavy bag of books under her arm.

"Would you mind awfully if I sat here? I'll be quiet, I promise. I just love this corner of the Library the most." The girl talked rapidly and the Slytherin almost blinked in astonishment. When, in the entire history of Hogwarts, had a Gryffindor ever asked to sit with a Slytherin?

"If you wish." The Slytherin replied, returning her gaze to her book. She neither had the time nor the patience for over-confident, eager Gryffindors. If she wanted to excel at Potions, which she did, she had to put the effort in. If she wanted a friend, she had the entirety of Slytherin house at the snap of her fingers. She certainly didn't need this bushy-haired Gryffindor who now sat opposite her, opening Hogwarts: A History.

They read in silence for a little bit. As much as she wanted to, the Slytherin couldn't quite focus on the words. There was too much running through her mind. Was this what her brother had told her when he'd said Gryffindors were no good. Was it because they were so distracting?

"I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. And you are?" The Gryffindor, now named Hermione, asked.

"Ebonni Levina Black. Pleasure."

Hermione beamed, showing off her teeth. Ebonni couldn't remember the last time she'd seen anyone smile like that. Perhaps Draco, a long time ago. Before they were 10, at least.

Ebonni's parents had died in the first war. How or Why, Ebonni didn't know or care. She would have been perfectly happy on her own. But, as it had been wished, she had been raised by the Malfoys. Once upon a time she'd been happy with the Malfoys. Unfortunately, that changed when she and Draco had started showing their magic. Previously showered with gifts and love, the two children were then forced into taming their magic early by Lucius. He wanted them to begin at Hogwarts more advanced then anyone else. He also, so he said, wanted them to be able to defend themselves.

Ebonni swallowed. There was a difference between defence and the Dark Arts. Apparently, Lucius wasn't aware. What made their predicament even worse was that whilst Draco was awful at dark magic... Ebonni was good. She had a certain flair for it. The times when she had managed to pull of a particularly nasty curse, she'd actually enjoyed the feeling. The pure power of magic causing that much damage was near addictive. Of course, she'd never attempted anything especially difficult. She doubted she'd ever be able to do something as dark as the unforgivables, but jinxes and minor curses were easy enough for now.

Draco had become quite jealous of his sister and they'd stopped being friends for a while. Even now, Ebonni still held a certain dislike for her brother. He would grow out of his arrogance, she hoped, so that they could go back to how they used to be. They used to be like real siblings. They used to have fun.

"Are you a pure-blood then? I read that only pure-bloods get into Slytherin." Hermione said brightly, pulling Ebonni from her thoughts.

"Yes. And judging by your lack of knowledge, I would assume that you are a Muggle-born?" Ebonni replied curtly, trying far too hard not to be nice to the girl. There was something about Hermione Granger that Ebonni couldn't say she'd ever seen before. A certain warmth. Yet, at Ebonni's words Hermione's smile faded which made a guilty pang in Ebonni's chest.

"Yes. Is that a problem?" Hermione asked defiantly, her Gryffindor side finally showing.

Ebonni gave in; she grinned. "No. Not at all."

July 19th 1996 (End of fifth year)

Ebonni Levina Black sat in the dark corner of the Library. The very same corner that she'd sat every single Saturday since her first week at Hogwarts, more often than not with her secret and only best friend.

Despite everything Ebonni knew and all the rules she lived by, a forbidden friendship had formed between the Slytherin and the Gryffindor. Even though Hermione loathed the Malfoys and most Slytherins, didn't trust Snape and hated that Ebonni did- she was satisfied when Ebonni told her that she was Neutral in the war.

Likewise, Ebonni despised Potter and Weasley. Though, whilst Hermione thought all Slytherins were evil, Ebonni hated Potter and Weasley purely because they were morons. The way they treated Hermione sometimes was despicable. They didn't care that they'd both be dead several times over if it weren't for Hermione.

Ebonni closed the book she'd been attempting to read, sighing heavily. It was all going to change now. No matter how many times Ebonni told Hermione that she was neutral, it could never change the fact that she was about to go and spend the summer with Lord Voldemort. It didn't stop Hermione from remembering seeing Lucius at the ministry that summer and it certainly didn't stop Ebonni remembering how good she could be at the Dark Arts, if she was given the correct incentive to do them.

There was no denying that, had Dumbledore offered her protection, Ebonni would have taken it. She had no emotional attachment to her parents and Draco was beyond help. It would be hard for her not to see Snape, Ebonni supposed, but she would get over it. She barely saw him outside of school now, anyway.

However, Dumbledore had not offered any protection to any Slytherins who might not want the dark path. He'd practically ignored them all to focus on the golden boy. So, Ebonni was doomed. She wasn't going to ask for help so she'd just find her own way.

"You're thinking again."

Ebonni looked up, a smile tugging at her anxious expression. Hermione stood in the entrance to the corner, hands on her hips. She was late, as always. It was probably due to 'her boys' as she called them. They had no idea that Hermione had friends other than themselves. Ebonni doubted if they even knew she existed, though that was a perk of being quiet.

"Yes, You should recommend it to Potter. He might end up killing less people."

Hermione, by now used to Ebonni's dark humour, crinkled her brow and leant against a bookcase. "Harry didn't kill Sirius, Ebonni. Your aunt did. So stop being sarcastic."

Ebonni rolled her dark eyes and folded her arms. Hermione was too forgiving to her boys. Ebonni would have easily cursed them into the ground had they ever even looked at her the wrong way. Then again, Ebonni always enjoyed getting her own secret revenge whenever they were insensitive or mean to Hermione. They never did find out who stole all their ink in third year. Ebonni smiled a wicked smile at the memory.

"Alright. I get it. My aunts a serial murderer- blah blah blah. What's your point?"

Hermione huffed. "I didn't have a point." She said promptly. "But if I did, it would be to tell you to be careful this summer! We know for a fact that Malfoy is a Death Eater now and I don't want you to come back after the summer like your aunt."

There had to be, statistically, at least a 50% chance that Ebonni would end up like her aunt. She already showed a flair for the Dark Arts. She was a Black, raised by the Malfoys. She was a Slytherin and rarely felt any sort of positive emotion unless it was attached with Hermione or Draco. But Ebonni could never tell her dear Hermione that, so instead she smiled.

"Hermione, I can assure you I have no intentions of becoming a mass-murdering psychopath over the summer."

"Promise?" Hermione asked, her chocolate brown eyes suddenly and inexplicably sad.

"I promise." Ebonni said, but she couldn't meet those sad, brown eyes. Damn Hermione and her ability to get the truth out of her! It wasn't fair! She was a Slytherin, for Merlin's sake. She was supposed to be good at hiding things.

Still, it was good enough for Hermione who quickly grinned and all the stress flooded from her face. "Good! Now, I have to go make sure Harry's packing. I can't believe Dumbledore's making him go back to his Aunt's over summer. He's in mourning!"

Hermione left not long after, leaving Ebonni mulling over her life. It had been wrong to promise Hermione anything. Ebonni couldn't even promise herself anything. She had no idea what the summer would bring; If the Dark Lord would even bother himself with her and Draco's presence. They were only children, after all. Certainly not Death Eater material.

Ebonni left the Library only minutes before it was due to shut. She had her own packing to do before the summer and she'd have to check Draco's as well. With only a day left until the return journey to London, Ebonni found herself not looking forward to summer in the least.

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