A/N: I finished a couple of stories so thought I could finally have a go with something that I've recently got into- Hermione behaving all dark! Anyway, suggestions welcome, I'm open to where this one goes x

Introduction

Harry led the group as they kicked down doors in Malfoy Manor, searching frantically for Hermione. His wand was raised and he was ready to hex anyone in his way into next week. He could feel the anger radiating off Ron at his side similarly.

The Order had prevented them from returning to save Hermione from Malfoy Manor, even after Harry and Ron had explained the horrible screams they had heard as Hermione had been tortured upstairs. Not that Harry wasn't grateful that Dobby had apparated the prisoners out of the basement, he just wished that Hermione had been rescued as well.

Hermione was the closest thing he had to a sister, and as the days and nights had passed waiting for an opening to return to the Manor, his heart had broken at the thought of her torture continuing while he laid up in a comfy bed in Shell Cottage with the others.

"Only one room left," Lupin barked, cutting Harry abruptly from his thoughts. Lupin always looked exhausted, but since Bill had been killed in a Death Eater raid he looked positively dead on his feet. He had been trying to carry the load of both his and Bill's work for the Order and it showed on his face and his progressively greying hair.

"Ready?" Ron said, gripping his wand so tightly his knuckles were white.

Harry kicked down the door.

The group stormed the room, checking blind spots before lowering their wands. Harry was confused.

"Hermione?"

The room was a very large and exquisite bedroom, complete with a lavish four poster bed. Sitting up in the middle of the four poster bed, rubbing her eyes sleepily with tousled hair, was Hermione.

"Oh, hi guys," Hermione said sleepily, yawning and stretching. Ron immediately ran up and hugged Hermione tightly, relieved that she appeared unharmed.

"Hermione? What happened?" Harry said, exchanging an uneasy look with Lupin.

"I suppose they got tired of torturing me," Hermione said as dismissively as if she was discussing the week's weather, "Are we going to be getting out of here?"

"Erm, yeah…" Harry said, confused, "We'll just leave you to get changed." Harry shot Lupin a meaningful look and the men left the room to wait in the hallway.

"Merlin's balls, I can't tell you guys how relieved I am that she's okay!" Ron gasped as soon as the door shut.

"Don't you think it's a bit… off?" Harry asked, "When we left she was being tortured within an inch of her life and now she's… lounging around in bed?"

"I have to say it is a little disturbing," Lupin replied, "Especially how cavalier she was about the torture… But her scent tells me that it is definitely our Hermione."

"Maybe they did a memory charm on her?" Ron suggested.

"That's one possibility," Lupin replied, "We will have to interview her when we get back to the safe-house."

The curiousness continued as they arrived at Grimmauld Place. Hermione rolled her eyes at the portrait screeching about her Mudblood status, before picking up a knife, plunging it into the portrait and slashing diagonally until it was ruined.

"Bit intense, mate," Ron commented, raising his eyebrows. Hermione just shrugged.

Lupin spent the whole evening interrogating Hermione, trying to get to the bottom of her behaviour. But as he ruled out memory charms, imperiuses and a whole host of other options, he slowly came to the conclusion that it was not magic. It appeared as if Hermione had just adopted an uncaring and dark temperament after sustaining such prolonged torture. Although, that still didn't explain why she was lounging in one of the elaborate bedrooms. Lupin bit his lip.

Unfortunately, he didn't have enough time to ponder it further, being late for checking in at Shell Cottage. He bid the trio good luck on their hunt for horcruxes and hugged each of them tightly, making sure to tell Hermione to look after herself.

Ron was hardly the most observant man, but even he had noticed that something was off about Hermione. In his mind, he had assumed that once they had resumed their hunt for the horcruxes, she would snap out of it, and resume her usual goodie two shoes demeanour. But she hadn't. She remained… distant. Ron didn't know what to make of it.

But he didn't have time to dwell on it. Before he knew it, they were at Hogwarts and a furious fight was breaking out around them.

"We need to find the horcruxes!" Harry shouted, and took off at a run. Ron went to give chase but froze when he noticed that Hermione was standing completely still, an odd smile playing at her lips.

"Hermione, you okay?" Ron asked, confused. Hermione's smile grew.

"Forgive me, Ronald," Hermione grinned, lifting her wand.

Everything went black for Ron.