Chapter 1

Rain hit the outside of her window. For a summer's evening the weather was horrible, to say the least. Hermione felt clammy. She was unable to sleep. Usually rain helped lull her into nothingness, but not tonight. Something was brewing – something much worse than the thunderstorm outside of her window.

It had been five years since the fall of Voldemort. Five long years, they felt more like fifty. She'd aged so much during the war. The things she'd seen, the things she'd done, they ensured that for the rest of her life she'd never be normal. Whatever normal was anyway, she'd forgotten that feeling years ago.

Just after the battle of Hogwarts life seemed surreal. She, Ron and Harry were revered. They were heroes. Everyone in the wizarding world knew their names and their faces. There were children who wanted to be like them and adults who wanted their children to be like them too.

They each were awarded the Order of Merlin first class for their heroics. Harry became an Auror and so did Ron, even though they hadn't finished their time at school. They loved it. They were living their dream. Hermione however wasn't.

She had declined the job offer. She didn't know who she was anymore. Fame and fortune, they weren't the reason why she did what she did. It wasn't her, not that she knew who she was anymore. Once she was told she was the cleverest witch of her age, to an extent that was still true. But back then she wanted to learn. She studied as much as possible, she tried her best. She wanted to become a healer, a helper; she had felt like she had a purpose. Then of course she helped her friends. Deep down she knew they had needed her, without her Voldemort would've still been causing terror. But at least then she'd had a use.

Nowadays she was alone most of the time. Of course her friends would send an owl now and again. She'd reply. She'd lie and tell them how exciting her life was. Sometimes she'd even visit them, but they never visited her.

Harry was engaged to Ginny. They shared a small home in Godric's Hollow. Ron, he was still dating Lavender Brown. They'd been together since school. As much as Lavender annoyed Hermione she was glad that Ron was happy. A wedding however, was not on the cards any time soon. Ron still lived at home with his parents – though of course Molly made them welcome. Hermione saw Mrs Weasley as a mother, even more so since her parents were gone now. But still, she didn't visit as often as she should have done.

She herself lived alone. She sold her muggle home, with much dismay, and moved from Kent to Scotland – Edinburgh to be exact. She had an apartment overlooking the castle. It reminded her so much of Hogwarts. Nobody knew where she lived apart from Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts and a dear friend of Hermione's.

After the war Hermione sort of drifted apart from Harry and Ron. They all got on with their own lives. Although she knew they were always there if needed, she didn't feel the bond they once had. She spent more time with other members of The Order, especially Minerva. Though her friend could not always be there for her, she had let Hermione stay in her Manor while she was at Hogwarts. That's how she got a taste for northern air. It was what lead her into buying her apartment, and although she loved it she still felt very much alone.

"Come here Crookshanks," Hermione whispered as her bedroom door opened a crack. A little ginger face appeared in the dull light.

"Can't sleep either?" she sighed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She lay on top of her sheets, her hair a tangled mess. She wasn't bothered. "It's too hot in here," she groaned. Something wasn't right.

Crookshanks meowed, trying to get her attention. Hermione turned her head and almost jumped out of her skin. How could she have not realised that someone was in the room? Since when had she let her guard down so much?

She sat up quickly, her cat jumping up on the bed beside her protectively. Her wand lay on her dresser across the room. She cursed herself for being so careless. Even though Voldemort was gone people still held grudges, she should've been more alert.

"Who are you?" she questioned defiantly, her heart hammering in her chest. Nobody knew where she lived apart from Minerva McGonagall and of course this wasn't her. She wouldn't hide her face in the shadows.

The clouds burst outside. A rumble echoed after a bolt of lightning illuminated the room. There Hermione saw signature blonde hair.

"Narcissa Malfoy," she stated, now confident enough to stand up. She faced the woman. Narcissa whispered lumos and the tip of her wand began to glow, illuminating the room.

"It's Black now. I needed to speak with you," Narcissa spoke, her expression a mixture of anguish and guilt. She'd aged so much since the last time Hermione saw her – The Battle of Hogwarts.

It was common knowledge throughout the wizarding world that Narcissa and her son Draco had defected from Lord Voldemort before he fell. Not that Narcissa herself ever received a mark. She had still been Lucius' wife until the end of the war – which to some equalled little less than being a traitor.

However both she and her son had served the Order well during the battle. Narcissa was even awarded for her bravery against the Dark Lord. Hermione could tell that for years she'd lived in fear. She had to admit, she was a good actress, which is why she still held contempt toward her. Not a lot, but enough. And it was only because for years both mother and son had held onto old beliefs, and helped those who wanted her dead.

"Was it that pressing that you couldn't send an owl?" Hermione questioned her, her contempt evident in her voice.

"You didn't give anyone an address," the older woman spoke matter-of-factly. She'd travelled a long way and there wasn't much time.

"I didn't want unexpected visitors," Hermione replied. She walked past the woman and took her wand. For just a moment she felt herself again.

It didn't go unmissed. Narcissa's eyes fell to Hermione's hand,

"I'm not here to hurt you."

"It's just in case," she quipped with a shrug, "I don't know if people can change so easily. Forgive me if I'm bitter."

The older woman stood tall, and nodded. She'd been told that the girl was harder now. She had seemed to cut herself off from the world. Narcissa found a lot of herself in that.

"I can understand that. I had to beg Minerva for your address, she's rather stubborn."

"Well I'll be having words with her later. She obviously wasn't stubborn enough."

Narcissa cleared her throat at the remark,

"Please Miss Granger, this isn't about the past. I need your help. My son has been taken."

Hermione's brow furrowed. Draco was her age could he not look after himself by now?

"What about your sisters?" she asked genuinely curious. The Black sisters were powerful witches, all three of them, surely the situation wasn't that dire.

"Bellatrix has already agreed to help me. But Andromeda can't – Teddy has already lost his mother, he needs her," Narcissa's voice deflated. The witch sat down on the bed trying her best to supress her tears. She was no longer the proud kept wife of years before, but she still had dignity. It was obvious that Hermione didn't particularly like her, but there was nowhere else to go, "Please. Bellatrix is the only Auror who is able to help. The ministry is refusing. They're saying that he willingly left, but I know my son."

Hermione sighed, kneeling down beside her. Crookshanks left the room.

"Calm down," she whispered, her hand tentatively touching Narcissa's knee. She sounded like her old self, just for a moment, "What's happened?"

Narcissa's watery blue eyes looked down at her.

"It's Lucius, he's taken Draco. He's doing something. I've no idea what. But it isn't good."

Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes. Lucius Malfoy had always been an idiot. Oh of course he tried to act noble, but he was anything but. Even when Voldemort was at the height of power he was too cowardly to follow his orders. Even Voldemort himself thought so. Yet amazingly he still held the respect of other death eaters. Surely now they wouldn't respect him, not after he yet again weaselled his way out of another life sentence in Azkaban.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems," she sighed, trying to reassure the other woman.

Narcissa shook her head, forcefully wiping tears from under her eyes.

"You don't know Lucius, not like I do."

Hermione snorted,

"He's a coward. He's—"

"Capable of anything!"

Narcissa stood up, Hermione quickly following suit. The older woman had her back to her, her shoulder's slumped in defeat.

"I've heard rumours that he is finishing where the Dark Lord left off."

"That's absurd," Hermione shook her head, "He has nowhere near the power or brain to do that. This is Lucius Malfoy we're talking about!"

Narcissa turned to face her,

"He was only following the Dark Lord to see what he could learn. And trust me; he has learnt a great deal. He puts on a façade and that is what makes him so powerful. He's manipulating. He's evil. He'll stop at nothing to make Draco like him – if he doesn't, then I fear for my son."

Hermione studied the once noble witch, she scrutinised her. Her story, her appearance – this wasn't an act. After a moment she dared speak.

"What exactly has he been learning?"

Narcissa met her gaze, her eyes growing distant,

"Mass control – ancient magic. If he gets enough people to follow him, the whole world will suffer."

Hermione shook her head,

"It's only been five years."

"Five years is enough time to gain a following. He's been busy," Narcissa spoke. She took a step forward taking Hermione's hands into her own, "Please Miss Granger, please help me. You stopped the Dark Lord, you can stop him. And like you said it's just Lucius."

Hermione let out a breath; she stood still unable to meet Narcissa's eyes.

"I will try my best Ms Black. But I wasn't alone before."

"You're not alone now," Narcissa replied, a smile of relief on her face, "Myself and my sister will be with you."

"No," Hermione shook her head, her eyes finally meeting the other woman's, "We had a lot of the wizarding world support us. This time we won't, until I prove them otherwise."

"I know you can Hermione, that's why I came to you."