Before you begin reading, I am going to warn you now, this is going to become a Dark!Dramione in its sequels and this story only prepares you for that. There will be trigger warnings in certain chapters, especially as memories begin to arise. Though I am typically a Dumbledore lover, this is not and will not be Dumbledore friendly. There is Ron, Molly, and Dumbledore bashing, and pretty hardcore at times. If you do not like these types of stories, get out now. I will not reply to anyone that leaves hateful comments on this story because they did not read this forewarning and they don't like the story. But, alas, I thank those that are in fact reading this and I hope you enjoy!

**Disclaimer: I, rather unfortunately, do not own Harry Potter, the world in which he exists, or any of the characters our beloved Queen, J.K. Rowling has created. I make no profit nor benefit from this story, other than tickling other people's fancies and my own. I only own the fantastical ideas and creations of my own imagination, such as added events, changed events, altering personalities, new characters, etc.**

Oh, there will not be any titles to the chapters in this trilogy. The dates are more than enough and will not usually be day after day. Just through the early parts here there will be consecutive days within the entries. And I want to shout out to my only beta-reader for this story, Erulastiel-Ithilwen.

Please, read, follow, favorite, and review! Much love. -F.A.L.-


4 August 1996

Hermione was woken upon hearing a harsh rapping on her window. Only one thing could make that sound, so she sat up with a start before racing to her window. Lifting open the glass pane, she allowed the first rays of the morning light and the gentle, cool breeze that gave false hope of a crisp day instead of the sweltering heat this last week had brought to London. The black regal looking tawny owl glided past her and perched on the back of her desk chair, hooting its dislike to be kept waiting. Not recognizing the owl, which was now holding its left talon out for her, she took her wand from the bedside stand and waved it towards the letter. After learning about witches and wizards hexing and cursing mail sent by owl last year, she found several spells she could use wordlessly to detect most curses and hexes. Once she finished her examination of the letter, she untied it from the owl and began looking over the envelope. Spotting a crest in the wax seal, a regal shield with a "M" in the center and two dragons on either side, she hesitated in revealing the contents. The owl was still waiting, impatiently, on her chair and let her know it with a loud hoot. She knew she needed to not only read the contents, but needed to respond. This owl refused to leave otherwise.

With a long sigh, Hermione cleared off her bracelet stand and allowed the owl to perch there so she could utilize her chair and desk. Leaving the window open, she sat down and began to reveal the contents. Noting the steady hand and proper calligraphy behind it, she read the letter.

Granger,

I am certain by now you are already aware of who is writing to you. I will not take you as a fool, but in case you are still weary, it is I, Draco Malfoy. Of course, now you are certain and most likely cursing me for this, but I urge you to continue reading. There is sensitive information and my mother's owl, Meda, who is a new acquisition this summer for special subject letters like this. As you know, the Dark Lord has returned. But as I write this, I need to ask for assistance in protecting Mother and myself. It is rumored, and often rumors here are never actually rumors, that I will have to take an Unbreakable Vow with Aunt Bellatrix in front of the Dark Lord. The matters within the Vow are that I help the Death Eaters gain access to Hogwarts, I kill Dumbledore, and that I ensure you are dead by the end of the school year. The Unbreakable Vow is to take place 12 August in the afternoon, which is the next meeting under-aged wizards and witches are allowed to attend. Mother and I are not on this side, and we cannot stay much longer for fear of our lives. Please, I implore you to relay this message into the right minds and help us leave before then. You have no reason to help Mother and I, but in return for our safety, we will give you our memories of each meeting we attended and any other information we may have. As a personal favor to you, I will stand up to my own house and protect you when we return to Hogwarts 1 September. Send word at once of your decision and do not hint at yourself being the sender. Keep it as vague as possible as all letter and mail is thoroughly inspected upon arrival to the Manor.

Draco Malfoy

Hermione sat there, her jaw gaping open. Draco Malfoy was now on their side, the Light's side. She knew that despite all he had done to her in the past, she could not allow him and his Mother to die if found out, and she needed to ensure that the Unbreakable Vow never takes place. Taking a roll of parchment, she responded.

Draco, darling,

I do hope that you are well. I received your letter and I am going to do all I can to ensure your family is welcomed to my home before the summer is through. I will be in contact with you again about the situation later this week. Please give your Mother my best regards and inform her that I am looking forward to meeting her.

Mia

P.S. This part is under a spell I specially created. Anyone who sees it will just see a picture of a golden snitch flying through clouds, but you said you wanted vague and not obvious, well here you go. I will see what I can do. Expect a letter in three days.

Once she finished her letter, she folded it, placed it in the envelope from which hers came, and cast 'Reparo' on the wax, successfully resealing it as if it was never even opened. Tying the letter around the talon of Meda, Hermione realized that she would have to fight her own friends and loved ones to protect the world she knew. Meda left with a soft hoot of pleasure and Hermione stood, getting ready for her day.

Later in the evening, Hermione had bid her parents goodbye and per tradition, she was met in her backyard by Dumbledore and escorted to Grimmauld Place. Arriving just before supper, Hermione was welcomed by Molly Weasley and Ginny with hugs and then ushered upstairs to put her trunk and Crookshanks into the room she would share with Ginny. Once settled in, she retrieved the letter from Draco and set out to find Harry. Harry needed to be the first to know, and she knew she would need his help convincing everyone else. Finding Harry in the room beside the one she shared with Ginny, she knocked on the door before slipping inside. Harry was alone and she took the opportunity.

"Harry!" she ran forward and hugged her best friend, gaining a hug in return. "How was your summer?"

Harry gave her a weak smile as he released her; "Not as bad as last summer, but I still hate it there".Hearing Hermione sigh, his voice took a tone of complete seriousness, "Hermione, what's wrong?"

"Before I tell you, you must promise to keep an open mind and remember that this person is a victim right now, for the first time in his life, he is actually a victim".Harry nodded his head and she continued, "I got an owl this morning, from the looks of the contents, this person needs help within the week. He is being forced into actions and possibly an Unbreakable Vow if we don't rescue him and his mother". She handed over the letter and allowed Harry to read for himself. Hermione watched as his face went from laughter at realizing Draco needed help, to anger that Draco would need help, and then a small spark of the hero complex she knew shone through. Harry planned on helping Draco, but she knew the cost would be much higher than Draco bargained for.

"Hermione, I'll see what I can do, but you need to add more stipulation onto his own. If we do succeed in this, he will need to continue not using magic, so he cannot be traced, same with his mother. They will, also, need to abide by any rules the Order may give them, and that may include not returning to Hogwarts for Malfoy. We can run it by Remus later; he won't allow this to be shown to Dumbledore. Remus has been on edge with many members lately". The young witch only nodded before they heard Molly calling everyone for supper.

After supper and another Order meeting, Harry pulled Remus to the Tapestry room with Hermione. "Remus, we must talk in privacy, so if you please, cast the silencing charm," Harry's words were brief and nervous.

Remus cast the spell and looked at the two teenagers before him. "What is it?"

Hermione gave Remus the same lecture as Harry before handing him the letter. His face was blank until he looked up at her, "Hermione, if we do this, he will have no where safe to go. Any Order members would torture him and his mother, and if Dumbledore found out, you would not be here. I understand the urgency, and I will find the right people to help, but we need a safe house first. That will be on my list for tomorrow. A new safe house. We will be needing it after Sunday". Remus nodded at Harry and Hermione before handing her the letter, "Keep it hidden and safe, I will be back tomorrow. Until then," and he walked out the door. Hermione hid the letter in her jeans pocket as she had all night, before parting ways and heading to bed. Sighing, she got into her pyjamas, secured the letter in her mother's travel jewelry box, which she brought to Hogwarts each year, and laid down with her Advanced Runes schoolbook until she fell asleep. She didn't even notice Ginny entering later that night.

xXx

5 August 1996

Hermione was violently shaken awake before sunrise. She shook her head and wiped her eyes clear before looking for what, or rather who, woke her at the ungodly hour. Spotting him sitting on the edge of her bed, "Hermione!" he whispered frantically. "Hermione! Wake up!"

"Harry James Potter! Why in Godric's name are you waking me at this time?" she demanded a little too loudly, causing Ginny to stir in the bed next to hers.

"It's Remus. He sent a Patronus; we need to meet with him, now! It is urgent and we need to stay quiet".

"Let me get dressed then," she shooed him out of the room and went to her trunk. Finding a pair of denim shorts and a pale blue crop top, Hermione got dressed, grabbed her wand, found and placed Draco's letter in her pocket, and followed Harry out of the room. Once in the corridor, she turned on Harry, "Where are we meeting him?"

"We need to be silent, can't wake Walburga. Just follow me". Harry descended the stairs without any notable sound and Hermione followed with a nod.

At the bottom of the stairs, she followed Harry into a smaller room in the back of the corridor. As soon as they both stepped inside, the door was shut and room silenced before they had time to register their surroundings. Remus chuckled before looking at the two teenagers in front of him. "Sit. We have much to talk about and very little time to do so. I suspect Molly will be up soon". Everyone took a seat; Hermione and Harry sat on the loveseat while Remus took the wooden chair in front of them.

"Hermione. Harry. What I need to say is going to be hard to hear, but necessary, so please, keep an open mind. It is about Dumbledore and the Order. It is, also, about the plans I have been making and Draco". Once she and Harry nodded, Remus continued.

"Harry, I know you think Dumbledore is trying to help you, but he is really using you. We found out from a source that I can't name currently, with memories to prove his words, that Dumbledore is luring you to certain death, along with Hermione. Now, I know you are aware of the prophecy, but what you don't know is that Dumbledore is the true recipient of the title Dark Lord, just no one has used it in a hundred years. He turned on his own friend, stole the man's wand, and one day decided to rid the world of evil. It was sudden and no one truly knew why, that was until our source infiltrated those thought processes. If you don't believe me, there is a way to prove this information within the walls of the Ministry and Hogwarts. There is, also, evidence of you both being misplaced during infancy. Hermione, you are no muggleborn, you are from a long line of Dark wizards and Harry you were never to be placed with your Aunt. I was to be your guardian in the case that Sirius was not able to do his godfather duties. It was in his Will and in his Incarceration Contract. I know, you have many questions, I will answer them, but let me explain the Incarceration Contract.

"It is a legally binding contract between the Ministry's Wizengamot and the incarcerated, in this case, Sirius. It stated that you, Harry, were sole heir to him and that he recognized you as his godson and his true heir to the Black name. It, also, had several clauses that would enable any of his responsibilities as a Black to be handed to others until you turned of age, 17, all of which were enlisted to myself and Cassiopeia, Hermione's mother. Yes, she has a Black name. No, she was not considered a Black, though her blood was. Cassiopeia's mother is Lucretia, but she was not conceived as a Prewett, she was not Ignatius's daughter by blood. She was Aldrich Selwyn's daughter, making her Sirius's cousin, but no one knew this until our source found the information locked in Dumbledore's Gringotts vault. Dumbledore hid this from everyone, and even charmed the Black Family Tree to remain void of Aldrich, Cassiopeia and you, Hermione. It is unknown who your father is due to Cassiopeia leaving her family before you were born. She was never married, and died in the First War.

"Had Sirius known he had a true Black heir, he would never have been able to make such a contract, as Hermione, you would be true heir to the family. Harry, you need to know that part of the responsibilities left to me were you being raised in Black Manor. I only found out when Sirius asked me about you after you both rescued him. I noticed then, Dumbledore was hiding secrets and lying to the whole Wizarding community. I formed a small group, and we have been uncovering Dumbledore's tracks and slowly finding a way to have it come to light. Sirius had rewritten his Will after Arthur's attack. He knew, at that point, about Hermione being family. I have scheduled a trip to Gringotts for the both of you tomorrow. You both have Wills to read, tests to be taken, and most importantly, charms to be removed".

Remus stopped speaking as a soft vibrant light flickered in the room, "Molly is awake, we must finish this part another time. I came with more important news. Hermione, there is a safe house, only you can find it, though. It is Aldrich's family home and only his own blood can locate it. Once the charms are taken care of, you will be able to find it with just a single thought. It is the safest place for us. I hope I can count on both of you to pack your belongings tonight, in secrecy, and be prepared for leaving here tomorrow. Once we have that location, we will be able to procure a portkey there with Hermione's blood. As for Draco and his mother, our source is looking for an ideal time to remove them early next week. They will be moved to the safe-house. I know, this is sudden, you have questions, but Molly will be wondering why there is a silencing charm up and we can't stay much longer or word gets to Dumbledore. He is already suspicious. Can I count on you both to be ready tomorrow?"

Hermione looked at Harry, she saw his emotions flash before her. Betrayal, confusion, pain, loss, and love. That was all she needed. Harry just confirmed her own thoughts, Remus is being honest, he is actually protecting us.

"Yes, Remus," she said steeling her face to prepare to reenter the Order; the place she thought was actually protecting the Wizarding World. As she stood, she heard Harry's pain in his quiet response.

"Yes. We will be ready". The males stood and the three walked towards the kitchen where they could smell Molly's pancakes, bacon, sausages, hash, and fruit salad being made. With stomachs growling, they entered the dining area and sat down.

"Good morning, Mrs. Weasley," Harry and Hermione greeted the matron witch at the same time with false joy. Their world had just been upturned and now, they needed to figure out this new world.

Molly jumped. "Merlin! You two are up early. Good morning, Harry. Good morning, Hermione. Hello, Remus. Sleep well?"

"Er, no. The nightmares are still coming and the connection is growing stronger," replied Harry rubbing his scar. Hermione nodded and began setting the table with Remus helping Molly gather the food.

"Hello, Molly. Is Dumbledore still coming by tonight for the meeting?" Remus levitated the food to the table. They sat down, piled food on their plates, and ate.

"Of course, he will be. There is something he needs to discuss and it is about the security of the school". Hermione kept eating and lost herself into her own thoughts of what she had just found out earlier and what else Dumbledore could be lying about. Harry, on the other hand, did not miss Molly's remark about the school.

"Is there a breach, Mrs. Weasley?" panic lacing his voice as Remus shook his head at Harry to not continue the conversation.

"No, dear. Just the Order topic for tonight. Why don't you and Hermione finish up, and go wake the others," she dismissed Harry.

Harry nudged Hermione and the two finished eating with haste before excusing themselves. They climbed the stairs and Harry guided Hermione into a small room near Sirius's bedchambers. Opening the door, Hermione saw it was the Black library and filled with dust. Hermione spotted a sofa near the room's fireplace and sat down, waving for Harry to do the same. The room fell into a silence that would have made any librarian happy, it was comfortable, but inquisitive. Their eyes remained forward as Harry found the words to relay his thoughts.

"Hermione, I can't believe everything I have known is a lie, and that we are actually considered cousins to some extent. I am not familiar with how claiming what cousin you are works in our world. You know, my father, though a Potter, is a Black through my grandmother, Dorea. What are we going to do?"

"I-I think we need to find out everything Dumbledore hid from us and lied to us about. We need to know who we are and if Remus is the one to help, we need to trust him," she took a shaky breath before continuing, "We, also, need to figure out if we can trust anyone in the Order. I need to rescue Malfoy and his mother. We can't allow Dumbledore to continue destroying and taking lives. He is no better than V-Voldemort for all he has done".

"I know, Hermione. Lets just trust Remus and get answers. We will help Malfoy and his mother as soon as we get out of here. But, Hermione, we can't keep talking about this here. Everyone will be up and we don't want to be overheard". As if on cue, a floorboard creaked in the corridor.

"Harry. Hermione?" the voice called out, gaining volume as it came closer.

"Ron, in here!" Harry called out, noticing Hermione's body tense. She had been avoiding Ron since the end of the school year. Harry and Ginny were confused about the sudden change in her heart, but neither wanted to confront Hermione about it.

"Oh, there you are. Mum made breakfast. Fancy coming down and eat?" Ron's stomach overpowered his voice as a grumble was heard.

"We already ate, Ronald," Hermione snapped before storming out of the library and into the room she shared with Ginny. Her thoughts began to flood and she fell back onto her bed. Nothing made sense anymore. How can her mother be a pureblood, and her father, too? How could Dumbledore, the man that protected her and rewarded her frequently for being ingenious, betray her and her family, lie to her, hide facts she would want from her? With her head spinning, Hermione set her resolve. She was going to pack, and get answers.

xXx

Two hours later, Hermione found herself under a pile of texts and tombs in the Black library. If there was somewhere she could get help with her family, it was there. She canvassed the shelves looking for anything on her family and how to break enchantments on tapestries to reveal missing information. So far, she had almost no luck in either department. She did, however, find a spell that can use her blood to identify her on the tapestry she belonged to. If the tapestry accepted her, she could utilize her bloodline and control the enchantments on the particular tapestry. It was a step in the direction she needed, but if she revealed the tapestry, she would need to conceal it again after to protect herself. Dumbledore was brilliant and would notice if she did not conceal it after.

Harry had entered the library and brought Hermione a sandwich. She took it, grateful for the distraction.

"Harry, I found a way to see if I am a Black. But if I do this, I need a way to conceal the information I reveal on the tapestry. I have had no luck with finding anything about Lucretia having children and being married twice, let alone anything about my mother or myself. I wish there was a way to do so here". She sighed in resignation. If there was something to be found, she would have been able to summon the text for it.

"Hermione, ask Kreacher. He has been around for over a century. He would know. Also, we will be going to Gringotts tomorrow, those goblins can help, too". Harry stood and left.

"Kreacher!" Hermione found herself calling the elf's name as soon as Harry left. Kreacher appeared in front of her, he looked as if he swallowed something wretched since Sirius forbade him from insulting Hermione's blood status.

"What does you want?" he snarled.

"I need to know everything about Lucretia and Aldrich. I, also, require your silence in this matter to anyone else. If this is unacceptable, I can call for Harry". Kreacher bowed his head in defeat and nodded.

"Fine. Kreacher speak none of this to others. Lucretia was a bad girl. She almost disowned by her father. She tries to break betrothal to Ignatius. Married Aldrich she does. Two babies. The male dies before one from Ignatius. He blames Linky. Evil man poisoned baby blames Linky. Linky loses toes for it. Linky head on wall near father. She saved girl from Ignatius. Cassiopeia was good girl until Mistress kills her father. Aldrich dies and Lucretia force marry Ignatius. No whiny children. Cassiopeia runs away before finishes school with Master Regulus. Kreacher there. She has baby. Trusted Hogwarts master and dies. Master Regulus runs away from Dark Lord and dies too. Baby never found, Kreacher think dead". Kreacher shook as he remember his master fondly. "Cassiopeia and Master Regulus has girl. She taken away, killed. Kreacher wishes for her. He wishes for baby Mistress to lives".

Hermione stiffened. Kreacher's words were starting to make her dizzy. Regulus, Sirius's younger brother, the Death Eater, was possibly her father? She sat down and collected her thoughts, "Kreacher, can you charm the tapestry to hide names?" Kreacher nodded. "I need you to follow me". The witch stood and quietly crept into the tapestry room. "Kreacher, I am going to do a spell and put blood on the tapestry, you are to wait, please".

Cutting her finger with her wand, Hermione cast the spell she found earlier. Finding Lucretia's picture, she ran her finger along the area beneath the name. After a few minutes, she spotted the tapestry beginning to alter. The name Aldrich began to form in place of Ignatius. Cassiopeia and a unity tie to Regulus took shape. Her own name began to form. Before she could finish the spell, she heard Walburga screaming about the tapestry being violated. Kreacher, however, saw what he needed to affirm that Hermione was the child he was talking about. "Kreacher, conceal this, please! No one can know. My life is in more danger if they do". Kreacher obeyed without hesitation.

People crashed up the stairs and Remus was the first to enter the room. "Hermione, what did you do?" The Weasleys and Harry made their way into the room and waited for a response from her.

"I thought I could remove the scorch mark from Sirius, as a last way of honoring him". Her reply smooth and unworried. "Apparently not, Walburga ensured it wouldn't be removed without a blood spell. I am not doing Dark Arts to honor him, he wouldn't want that. I tried a spell I found, though. It just didn't work". Shrugging, she pushed through everyone and went back to her room. Lying down, Hermione fell asleep.

xXx

It was past supper when Hermione awoke. She had a headache and decided to find herself a Pain Potion to help. Making her way to the kitchens, she overheard Molly and Arthur talking in hushed tones.

"Arthur, we can't let her know. If she finds out, we are all in trouble. Ron is already getting enough grief from her. It is only a month more before she leaves. Just wait".

"I understand, but if she doesn't find out from us, she will when she gets back to Hogwarts. What then? She will turn her back on us for lying to her. Molly, Ron is already in trouble with her, if she finds out what else happened from anyone else, she won't ever trust us again".

Deciding it was time to make herself known, Hermione continued walking, putting a little extra pressure in her steps to be heard. A clearing of throats and smiles met Hermione as she stepped into the kitchen. "I missed supper, I was wondering if there was an extra plate for me?" she asked with a feign ignorance to the conversation she almost walked in on.

"Of course, dear. Come and eat. The meeting is starting soon, so we must head downstairs. Put the plate in the sink after and I will care for it once we are done". Molly summoned the plate of food and handed it to her before leaving the kitchen.

"Hermione, after the meeting, I want to have a quick word with you. Is that okay?" Arthur asked as he began to follow Molly.

"Thank you for the plate, but I am going to bed early tonight. Remus promised to take me to Diagon Alley in the morning. I wanted to pick up a few books before we head there to get school supplies". She smiled and sat down.

"That's right. Remus mentioned something about you wanting books and Harry wanting a new broomstick to compete with the Malfoy child this year. Alright, well, when you return, please come look for me. What I need to tell you is urgent". With that, Arthur descended the stairs, a soft buzzing sound could be heard, and Hermione knew, the meeting was underway. She finished eating, knowing Remus would fill her and Harry in when he saw them tomorrow, and returned to her room. Gathering her bathing items, she found the washroom empty and resolutely decided to take a bath to relax.

Even though Hermione spent an hour in the tub, the water was still as warm as when she entered. Deciding to get dressed and read in bed, she dried off, drained the tub, and pulled her hair into a rubber band before wrapping it in a towel. Her light green nightgown felt like silk over her skin as she slipped into her fuzzy white slippers and pulled on her matching robe before gathering her stuff and heading back to her room.

"Oi! Watch it!" an angry voice sounded as she accidentally collided with a human wall and tumbled to the floor. "Oh, it's you, 'Mione. Let me help you," Ron offered her a hand.

"No. Never. Get away, Ronald. I don't need help from you". She stood, brushed herself off, ignoring the looks Ron was directing at her. Honestly, she could not care less what Ron thought about her, as long as he left her alone. Hermione may have been glad to miss the way he looked at her as if she were a possession or food. She entered the room she shared with GInny and slammed the door shut, not caring that she just gave Walburga another reason to start screaming. Putting her bathing items away and gathering a book, Hermione found herself wrapped in the blankets on her bed and reading herself to sleep. The events of the day being pushed from her mind as her breathing evened out.