Prologue: Protecting The Malfoy Daughter

The woman with the tired, but happy blue eyes gazed lovingly at the baby that was in her arms. The man, who was her husband, stood next to her, with another baby in his arms. Surrounded by only her parents, husband and sister, the Malfoys and the Blacks celebrated the birth of the newborn baby twins, Draco and Mia.

Bellatrix strode into the room, like she usually did, but this time she was sighing, "Beautiful baby Mia… the perfect Black protégé."

Narcissa Malfoy smiled slightly at her sister's softness… that she occasionally showed at home, but never showed outside. It was a wonder how all these purebloods around her only showed their soft sides when they were around a new addition to the family.

Or not.

"You wish, Bella." Lucius Malfoy countered, sneering in mock defence. "She is a Malfoy."

"Mia is half Black, Lucius. Besides, you have Draco to be the perfect Malfoy protégé."

Everyone present in the room laughed slightly at the rivalry that was still going on between brother-in-law and sister-in-law, even after the marriage between Lucius and Narcissa.

It was in the afternoon when Lucius was summoned to the Dark Lord, who was still at large at this time. Many people ran away in fear, even if it was just hearing his name.

"Lucius. I hear that Narcissa has given birth to a son and a daughter. Congratulations are in order."

"Thank you, my Lord."

"Today, the Lestranges captured this Seer," the Dark Lord said in a business-like tone, as he indicated to the old man whimpering next to him, "who is said to have the power to tell the future in mere seconds. He is the great-grandson of the celebrated Seer, Cassandra Trelawney."

Lucius masked his face for an expression of indifference, though he didn't really care. All he wanted to do was to go home and just stare at the twins all day. "Really?"

"Yes. Now, Mr. Trelawney. Do me a favour and I'll give you one in exchange. You tell of my future and I'll spare you of your life."

The man whimpered, clearly frightened. "I'm sorry sir, but I cannot. Telling the future does not come upon a whim, sir."

"You dare defy me? Crucio!"

The old man screamed in agony, as Lucius concealed his barely-visible flinch, inwardly sympathising with the man being tortured.

A few hours later…

"Lucius. I don't understand." Narcissa said, with wide eyes. "It can't happen!"

"To keep her safe. If anyone knows of her birth… they'll take her away from us, Cissy. The Light will take her away if they knew that the prophecy was about her. And also, because they suspect that I am a Death Eater."

"The Dark Lord demands that we kill Mia, Cissy. The prophecy… states that the twins, along with a boy, who will survive the wrath of the Dark Lord. Together, they are going to kill the Dark Lord." Lucius added.

Narcissa's eyes widened at the things and the implications that her husband was telling her, but she remained silent. She glanced up at Lucius with pleading eyes, but she knew that it was vital to keep their daughter safe. The Dark Lord favoured only the sons of his most prized Death Eaters.

"However… there is a way. If you will agree, that is," Lucius said slowly.

A few days later, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy prepared themselves for the separation from their baby daughter. Before leaving their Manor, they put a strong glamour charm on Hermione, which only they could undo, so that their plan would seem realistic to all. Cloaking themselves to stay warm and taking the small bundle from the crib, they Apparated to the family that was to take in their daughter for as long as they could protect her - their good friends in the Muggle world.

"Little Mia... I love you, so much, darling. We will come back for you." Narcissa murmured softly, as she kissed their baby daughter.

Lucius also murmured something incoherently and kissed their daughter goodbye, for the next eleven years until Hogwarts.

As if the Grangers knew that the Malfoys had arrived with their daughter, the door opened, to reveal a short, plump woman with brown curly hair. She nodded in greeting to the Malfoys, and her heart clenched with sadness at what Narcissa was going through. To not have her daughter growing up under her care – however "sadness" was a complete understatement of her current emotions.

Despite the fact that it was difficult to empathise with her friend, Emily Granger said the one thing that was obvious to all eyes to see. "She's beautiful."

Indeed, she was.

Narcissa remained stoic, preparing a mask of an ice queen that was to last for many years to come until her daughter returned home, for she refused to allow the tears that were to escape from her eyes. After glancing at his wife, Lucius murmured, "Please look after her to the best of your ability. Protect her from any kind of evil. Please."

The woman nodded with her husband, who had just appeared at the door.

"Thank you so much. We are most grateful for your help." Lucius added, not knowing how to approach the situation any further. The woman's husband smiled and both families bid goodbye to each other.

Lucius and Narcissa walked towards the Apparition point and Apparated home, knowing that they were depriving their son, Draco, a sister to grow up with. But they knew it was for the best.

It would be eleven years until Mia would receive her Hogwarts letter. They knew that they would see her then, but for now, they were content to know that she was well-protected with her new 'family'. Nobody would think that the Malfoys had placed their daughter under the care of a Muggle, who were their friends. It wouldn't have seemed right in their eyes.

That's why it was such a fool-proof plan. Nobody would think to search for Mia in a Muggle home, under the care of Muggles.

And so the baby grew up, under the name of Hermione Granger.