Hey guys,
So this is the new fic, it might be a bit 'done' i guess but i like these plots. Hermione is hiding her depression mostly successfully. Shes a mostly Grey!Hermione in this fic. Bellatrix was 'forced' into service of the Dark Lord and developed a persona to go with the Lestrange name, later slightly explained. Ultimately a very Grey!Bellatrix. This is a Bella/Hermione relationship with a Draco/Hermione friendship.

These first few (two maybe three) Chapters are going to be really 'Prologue'. In the past i've received negative reviews on my fics for reiterating the Cannon plot. I have done this here but it is to build the plot for this story, through doing this i like to explain how and when a friendship begins, in this case this one starts in Book 5 During the Department of Mysteries and then i diverge while keeping with cannon as much as possible. In the hope of making this as least repetitive as possible this is mostly comprised of snippets involving some sort of interaction pertinent to the story.

That's enough from me for now. Reviews encouraged.


She was alone. Well, not alone. But the company she had at that moment was less than ideal. The only good thing, Hermione Granger reasoned, was that Bellatrix Lestrange was currently far too busy freaking out and there for not murdering her on the spot. Of course she doubted that would last and she was also presently too afraid to even move in case she draw attention to herself.

Neither witch actually knew how it happened, or exactly what had happened. They did know they were still in the Department of Mysteries, which was very much living up to its name. Hermione had been running with her friends when, surprisingly, she was body checked by Bellatrix. They had barrelled off course and instead of slamming into the nearby wall they slipped right through it much like the entrance to Platform 9 and 3/4. Now they were in a room with no doors and some sort of ward stopping Bellatrix from aparating out of there.

"Well this is just bloody fantastic!" Bellatrix screeched throwing her arms up. "Can't you fix this? You're supposed to be brilliant aren't you?"

"I am? Who told you that?" Hermione was more than a little surprised by this wording, in fact she was so surprised she forgot Bellatrix was meant to be psychotic.

"Ickle Draco of course. Sweet little boy has a crush i think." Bellatrix returns in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"I doubt that and i'm sorry, i don't even know where we are." Hermione stood from her spot on the floor and lit the end of her wand.

Not only was this a room with no doors or windows, but it was also a room with a strange lab in the middle of it. It was hard to understand, even for the two brilliant witches, but when they got closer they both stopped. There was a large crystal ball in the middle in the of the set up and fixed directly above that was a small blade. It was so very obvious that whom so ever used this device was expected to bleed onto the crystal ball.

"Go on then. It might help us get out of here." Bellatrix urges the little witch.

"Or kill me. Which i understand you wouldnt mind but really. I'm not sold on this idea." Hermione shakes her head and steps back.

"Lets do it at the same time then. I'm not staying in the bloody room, i just got out of Azkaban!" Bellatrix rants a little and Hermione wrinkled her nose.

"Fine." The little witch huffed.

Walking over they looked at the blade and frowned. Hermione lifted her hand and pressed the tip her finger against the blade. Bellatrix was hoping the little muggle-born was going to bleed herself and she wouldn't have too so she was highly disappointed when Hermione waited for Bella to press her own finger to the blade. With a soft growl of frustration Bellatrix cut her finger on the blade at the same time as Hermione. Their blood welled against the blade and ran down it, mixing at the tip before slowly dripping down onto the top of the orb. Bellatrix watched with interest as Hermione's blood mixed with her own and she couldn't tell one for the other.

It was Hermione's gasp that drew the other womans attention. Hermione was watching the orb closely as the inside became smokey, first read before fading to a more bluish white. When images appeared both witches gasped but moved closer, standing shoulder to shoulder. The images in the orb were moving quickly but they managed, it started when them cutting their fingers together and became apparent rather quickly that it was showing them their complete pasts in scenes.

Bellatrix was more interested in Hermione's past than her own, just as Hermione was interested in Bellatrix's. Bella learned quickly that things were not all as they seemed. The little witch seemed to mask her deep depression well in front of friends, her focus helping her survive long years of never feeling good enough. It might have been worth a sneer to Bellatrix if she didn't also witness the attacks and abused from students and peers as a small girl. Worse still was the pain on present Hermione's face when she realised, thanks to the past telling orb, that she was not Monica and Wendell Granger's daughter. No, Hermione Jean Granger was, confusingly, Minerva McGonagal's biological daughter.

Hermione for her part had been paying a great deal of attention to Bellatrix's past. She really was brilliant, and more recently a little terrifying, but she was also wrongly accused. At least where the Longbottom's were involved. In fact Bellatrix had attempted to get Rabastan and Rodulphus to stop torturing the pair only to receive a nasty back hand across the face. She did follow Voldemort, and did so relatively willingly, she was married off to Rodulphus and his choices became hers, she learned early it was easier to just agree. As for her childhood she was as much loved as her younger sisters but it was drilled into them early that 'mudbloods' were not worth the air they breathed and should be culled. It was so easy to see why Bella was the Dark Lords follower but no one understood that she was only so crazy because it was the only way she could cope with the things she had had to do.

Bellatrix looked over at the little witch beside her when the magic of the orb seemed to dissipate, instead of tears like she had expected to see she instead saw steely resolve. She wasn't sure if Hermione was simply ignoring her birth or focusing on Bellatrix's past but it was honestly a little frightening. The only tell that the little witch really felt anything at all was when she wiped her sweaty, shaky, palms on her jeans, she then turned to Bellatrix.

"Right. We need to figure something out. A way to hide you on my person." Hermione says both confusing and annoying Bellatrix.

"Why would i want to 'hide on your person'?" Bellatrix couldn't help the sneer.

"Because, we will be found sooner or later and if you're not concealed you will be sent back to Azkaban." Hermione spoke matter of factly, as if she was explaining something to Ron.

"What makes you think we will be found? There's no way out." Bellatrix pointed out like it should have been far more obvious than it apparently was.

"Of course. But the Ministry know of this room and when my friends tell them what happened they will eventually put two and two together and be here." Hermione reasoned calmly.

"Alright, fair point. What do you suggest?" Bellatrix frowns taking the little witches word for it.

"Transfiguring you into a creature should do it." Hermione says after a short moment.

"No, that's dangerous. You can't do that kind of magic on me." Bellatrix refuses immediately.

"Of course, if i didnt think i could do it just fine." Hermione frowns at the woman.

"No. Think of something else." Bellatrix actually stomps her foot at this.

Hermione didn't have the patience for it, she wasn't about to sit here and bicker with the woman over something she deemed trivial. That was why she was promptly being squeaked at angrily by a little black mouse with a white spot on her head. Hermione huffed and went and sat down on the floor by where she and Bellatrix had entered. The mouse followed squeaking angrily all the way and then climbed onto the little witches raised knee and glared at her. Hermione huffed and closed her eyes. Today had been entirely too much for her.

First Umbridge and her crazy antics, which in retrospect was quite a bit crazier than Bellatrix, at least Bellatrix wasn't paranoid. Then there was the getting to the Ministry, which flying on a creature you couldn't see was far more terrifying than being on a broom ever would be. Once at the Ministry they had barely found the prophecy when the Death Eaters had shown up. She was also pretty sure she had a badly bruised knee from being tackled by Bellatrix but she was yet to check that. Now she was stuck in a room with an angry mouse and only the hope that someone would come and find them.

A hope that was, thankfully, confirmed only around a half hour later when a door materialized beside them. The mouse had let out a startled squeak and made its way into the pocket of Hermione's sweater. No one entered but when Hermione tried the door it was unlocked and the little witch gladly stepped out and into the presence of the waiting Auror's and Unspeakables. Nymphadora Tonks was there and heaved a sigh of relief before wrapping Hermione in a hug. None of them noticed the little mouse peering out and looking over the Metamorph-magus. Bellatrix would, perhaps against Hermione's better judgement, remain free.


"You turned me into a mouse and kept me in your pocket for HOURS!" Bellatrix screeched much much too early the following morning.

"Come off it, i fed you, i gave you something to drink and i kept you out of Azkaban. I could have just as easily given you to Mad-eye the moment i saw him." Hermione was still not in the mood.

Apparently they had managed to kill one of the present Death Eaters, not anyone from DA but the Order members when they had arrived. It was all Hermione had heard about since, they barely wondered where she had been which was fine, she was not ready to confront her past. Which surprisingly was what Bella decided needed to be talked about.

"How are you doing? Like really? Your friends were a little too concerned with their thing to worry much about you." Bellatrix points out as gently as she could.

"I'm fine. It's not exactly something new." Hermione attempts to brush it off.

"And about the whole parentage thing?" Bellatrix's tone was uncharacteristically soft. Hermione regarded the woman for a long moment.

"I've spent my whole life trying to prove to people my worth and my self of self. Show people who and what I am... suddenly I don't even know that my self anymore." Hermione spoke softly and shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. Not really. Why don't you join the light side? Get your sister and go back to Andromeda?" Hermione asks mostly to change the subject but also because she was curious.

"They used the term 'free' along with 'escaped' when I was liberated from Azkaban. But free is one thing I have no experience with. I've never been free. Not from my parents values, not from Rod, not from the Dark Lord. I don't know how to be free. I know how to be a Death Eater even if I don't really like it." Bellatrix shrugged as well. There was a lot of that going on. And sighing.

"I guess we are both a little broken huh." Hermione's question was rhetorical and Bella understood that.

surprisingly Bellatrix actually felt sympathy for the girl before her, she had struggled with growing up an out cast and battled her depression silently, she finally seemed to be having things going her way a little when she learned it was all false. It was too much for Bella and it wasn't even happening to her. That was why she ended up pulling the little witch into a much needed hug.

"I'll see you around, Granger." The older woman says after a moment Hermione smiled, there was no threat just inevitablity.

"Be safe." Hermione spoke gently before the woman turned and walked off into the Forbidden Forest, she would find a way through the wards and aparate as soon as possible.


It was barely a week later, whilst still at school, that Hermione received an owl she wasn't familiar with. It was a large black creature with striking yellow eyes. He delicately held out his talons with a rolled up letter attached to his leg. Hermione gave him some bacon and stroked his feathers before taking the letter. Unrolling it she frowned slightly.

Granger,

I have little doubt you're wondering why I'm writing you and I honestly couldn't explain it out side of Draco telling Cissy you've been a lot more mopey lately. Yes Draco mentioned you, never fear though he's just been keeping tabs on you and your little boy friends for the Dark Lord.

Hermione rolled her eyes at this because of course he had.

Anyway, I've been a little worried... and if you tell anyone I was concerned for you i will kill you. Seriously though I thought maybe you could use a non-biased ear and since I already know the whole your mummy isn't your mummy thing.

I do not offer this lightly, I am supposed to hate you but I cannot quite bring myself to now knowing what I know of you. I am a Black but I'm not black hearted.

The Black Mouse.

p.s. This Is your new owl, I took the liberty and called him Mars.

Hermione read through the letter twice before frowning a little. She wondered if Draco knew his crazy aunt had sent her a letter. She had a feeling she had no idea which was fine by her. She didn't want anyone to know she was speaking with Bellatrix, or at least had received an owl and a letter from the woman. She couldn't understand why Bellatrix even cared so she certainly couldn't explain it to her friends.


The first one to really notice that Hermione was considerably less chipper than usual was Ginny and then that wasn't until they were on the train home for the summer. On one hand Hermione was happy to be going home to her family on the other hand she was going home to family that had lied to her all her life.

She refused to touch on the whole Minerva aspect of the situation, she refused to consider the woman was anything more than her Professor, a professor she was struggling to look at any more. The worst part was that with all this going on in her head she was having a hard time keeping it from her face.

"Mione? You alright?" Ginny asked when the boys were all distracted talking about quidditch.

"What? I'm fine. Just ready to be home for a while." Hermione puts on her most winning smile. She had gotten good at this over the years.

"Does that have anything to do with that stunning owl you got a couple weeks ago?" Ginny smirked, she obviously assumed something more than was going on.

"No not at all. I just miss mum and dad is all." Hermione smiled and shook her head.

"But who did get you the owl?" Ron asked suddenly tuning into the girls conversation.

"A friend." Hermione retorted simply.

"You don't have any friends." Ron laughs. The small smile on Harry's face made it clear they didn't mean the words to sting nearly so bad as they did.

"Contrary to your belief, Ronald, I do actually have friends and it's none of your business who sent me the owl." Hermione hadn't meant to lose her temper but it happened anyway. Scowling she stalked out of the compartment.


Hermione's resolve about not writing to Bellatrix had stretched so far that it was no real surprise that Ron's comments had only pushed it to breaking point. The thing that snapped it was being picked up by her parents, getting to spend a happy couple of hours together and then being told she would be eating alone for dinner because they had been invited to a work friends house. It was the loneliness and it was a simple letter.

Little Mouse,

I am not OK.

Lost girl.

"Take this to Bellatrix." Hermione spoke softly to the owl, her last bit of company.

With a soft hoof and a nibble of gentle fingers the owl left through the window and took to the sky on his errand. Hermione watched him until he was gone before turning on her heels and sitting on her bed. She sat leaned against the wall with her knees drawn to her chest and her chin resting on her knees. She didnt realise she had fallen asleep, not until she felt something tugging at her hair. Waking to find Mars with a small note setting on the bed.

Keep your window open.

Was the simple response that had a curious reaction with Hermione. It so strongly implied Bellatrix would be coming to her home which both scared and exhilarated her. Scared for obvious reasons but she was pleased that someone at least seemed to care, genuinely care. Of course her logical mind screamed at her that this was all just some ruse, she could die tonight, but she didn't care.


It was well into the night, in fact it was early morning when Hermione was again gently woken from restless sleep. This time it was Bellatrix herself rousing the little witch who at first looked startled and then relieved. It was acurious thing Bellatrix as they were enemies mere months ago and now the little witch was relieved to see her.

"You're here." Hermione says a little surprised.

"Of course I am. What did you expect?" Bellatrix was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You to hate me despite my recently elevated blood status." Hermione reasons softly.

"It all runs red last time I checked. Besides I'm crazy not stupid. You need a friend." Bellatrix points out.

"I don't know why you're being so nice to me." Hermione says looking at the bed having sat up.

"Because, I see a lot of myself in you and I'm not sure I would have been able to handle feeling the way you do constantly. You're strong but you need someone to lean on a little. You can lean on me from time to time." Bellatrix shrugged and scooted back on the bed so both witches were leaning against the wall.

"So... tell me what's bothering you most at the moment." Bellatrix urged gently.

It was both surprising and pleasing and a little intimidating just how well Bellatrix seemed to understand her. After all they had barely spent more than a few hours in one another's company before. Yet she could understand the other witch too, Bellatrix had always been the big sister, despite her being the Dark Lords right hand.

"I want to talk to my parents about the adoption but I don't know how. I don't want them to be upset, they've done nothing but love me." Hermione starts with a soft sigh.

"Well from what I know of them they seem like really understanding people. Just tell them you found through magical intervention and find out what they know?" Bellatrix suggests.

"Do you think they know about Professor McGonagal?" Hermione queries though how Bellatrix would know she has no idea.

"Honestly, after seeing the memory of you meeting Minerva, I don't think even Minerva knows." Bellatrix says gently.

"Can't you obliviate me?" Hermione's tone was weak and she really wished she didn't know what she knows now.

"No. I'm sorry but I won't do that." Bellatrix says simply.

Hermione heaved a sigh and the silence that stretched out between them was long. Bellatrix shifted and looped her arm around Hermione, she wasn't usually the one to initiate contact with people but she knew Hermione needed the comfort and she was inexplicably drawn to Hermione.

"Thank you... you really didn't have to come here, you don't have to be my friend. So thank you." Hermione says softly dropping her head onto the death eaters shoulder.

"Well, I'm not ALL bad." Bellatrix says grinning suddenly and Hermione chuckles.

"Nope. Only 98% bad." Hermione's attitude was rather mild.

"Indeed. My sisters and you are the reason for that 2%." Bellatrix says softly and was surprised when Hermione kissed her cheek suddenly.

"I'm going to talk to my parents in the morning. I wish you could be there for that." Hermione says changing the subject after a moment.

"Maybe I can be." Bellatrix grins suddenly.


The rest of the evening was spent with idle chatter, nothing war related but talk of the past and the things they used to want before either the first war or the current one took those choices from them. Hermione still had hope but Bellatrix only hoped to keep her sisters relatively unscathed.

Bellatrix had admitted to once wanting to breed Abraxans, had even spoken to Madame Maxime a time or two about her own herd. Of course then Lord Voldemort happened and Bella had been married off to Rod by her loving and some what misguided parents.

Hermione had spoken of wanting to either work for the ministry or go and visit with the other magical schools across the world. Bellatrix thought that was a great idea and encouraged her to do it. When questioned about the future Bella explained that evil rarely win. They were too 'oppressive and controlling' and people didn't like that.

Shortly after Monica called up to Hermione for breakfast the young witch went and showered, Bellatrix sitting in the bathroom talking about one time Andy had pulled a prank on her and Bella had had to cut her hair short because of it. It actually made Hermione laugh so it was worth telling the embarrassing tale. The older woman respected Hermione privacy by closing her eyes while the little witch dressed or undressed, not that either of them were particularly shy women.

"Ok. Mouse me." Bellatrix grinned when Hermione giggled at the wording.

With the little black mouse tucked a little oddly into the back of Hermione's braid on her head, Hermione was wearing a tank top and jeans so there wasn't really anywhere for the mouse to hide in clothing. The two went down stairs where they ate, well Hermione ate, Bella had promised the witch she would eat when she returned to Malfoy Manor.

"Mum, Dad, can I ask talk to you about something?" Hermione asked the third time the little mouse nipped the back of her neck.

"Of course, sweetheart. What's wrong?" Monica asked as she and Wendell put their papers down and looked to their daughter.

"It um... its just that... I was in a situation where I was able to see my whole past..." Hermione trailed off when she saw understanding and shame cross her parents features.

"So... you know that you're..." Wendell trailed off not wanting to say the word.

"Adopted." Hermione confirmed.

"How did you find out?" Monica asked softly.

"I got stuck in a sealed room in the Ministry. The thing in their showed a persons past. I saw my birth and it... it wasn't you mum." Hermione says gently.

"Hold on... so you know who your biological mother is?" Wendell asks frowning.

"Indeed. It's Minerva McGonagal." Hermione drops the bomb casually and earned another bite to the back of the neck.

"As in one of your teachers?" Wendell frowned deeply at this.

"Yes daddy." Hermione confirms softly.

"Sweetheart... we are so sorry we didn't tell you. You're ours, we love you so dearly. We didn't think it mattered that you're adopted." Monica spoke softly.

"It doesn't, not really. But knowing from you would have meant it wouldn't have hurt learning some other way." Hermione says softly looking at the table.

"You're right. We're sorry sweetie." Wendell adds apologetically.

"It's ok." Hermione gives them a little smile.

"Has she spoken to you about it at all?" Monica asks in a gentle tone.

"No. I do not believe she is aware that I am her daughter." Hermione confesses with a shake of her head.

"So you don't know who the father is either?" Wendell asks curiously.

"No Dad, I suspect that information lies solely with Professor McGonagal."


When Bellatrix returned to the Manor later that day she was almost accosted by her sister. She was dragged off to some quiet wing of the building and pulled into a room that was promptly silenced. Narcissa was almost angry at her sister, the only she wasn't was because Bellatrix seemed to genuinely be doing something kind.

"She kissed me." Bella stares and with that the wind was out of Narcissa's sails.

"I beg pardon?" The youngest sister frowned.

"Only on the cheek, twice... but... no ones ever done that, that didn't want something else." Bellatrix further explained.

"How do you know she doesn't?" Narcissa counters rolling her eyes a little. For someone so crazy her sister sure didn't get the way things worked with people.

"She doesn't, she's going through things. Besides she's young and beautiful and I'm old and blah. I mean look at my teeth." Bella bared her teeth at her sister. Azkaban hadn't been kind to them.

"Just think if they were cleaned and repaired she might have kissed you on the lips." Narcissa snarks at her sister, she really had no idea.

"Don't be a prat." Bellatrix huffs at her sister.

"What ever. You need to be careful. There were reports that you were seen." Narcissa was suddenly concerned.

"Of course I was seen. How do you think I would have gotten where I was going without being followed if no one had seen me somewhere completely not where I was going?" Bellatrix asked in a tone that made Narcissa feel oddly stupid. The look on the youngest sisters face had Bellatrix cackling as she walked out of the room.


Hermione had spent the summer with her family, she would spend the last few days with the Weasley's because it was just easier that way. Her mother and father were a lot more inclined to include her in everything and she knew that was because they didn't want her to doubt their love for her. She couldn't, she had too many good years and happy memories of them.

During the time with the Weasley's, this time at the Burrow instead of Grimmauld as Sirius had come down sick, Hermione had received approximately one letter from Bellatrix and it was a warning that the Burrow was being targeted. She hated that she couldn't warn her friends, not without them finding out she had actually struck up a friendship of sorts with Bellatrix.

During the night of the attack, which Hermione didn't know when would happened but wasn't surprised it was a few days before school returns, while Harry was there. She was in Ginny's room reading alone, the house was set on fire and with fire below her she didn't have much hope of getting out unscathed. Right up until Bellatrix appeared behind her, slipped her arms around the small body and disappeared again.

"You could have been killed." Bellatrix grumbles when they rematerialised in the field a way from the burning building.

"It would have been your fault." Hermione pointed out when she was done coughing from smoke.

"Of course, and I'd have felt terrible. But I did warn you. Don't you listen to that Moody? Constant vigilance and what not." Bella returns flippantly.

"Did you just say what not?" Hermione quirked an eyebrow.

Bellatrix regarded the little witch with a pout and found that when Hermione opened her arms for a hug Bella was powerless to say no. The embrace was warm and firm and much needed by both parties. Hermione sighed with relief as she didn't feel nearly so stressed suddenly and Bellatrix felt oddly safe, a sensation she was not used too and refused to acknowledge beyond realising what it was. Neither would be able to hold onto this for more than a few short minutes.

When they did break apart they were both secretly wishing to pull the other back in. Hermione knew that despite the war and the opposing factions that she considered Bellatrix a friend, a dear friend. It was complicated to say the least. Yet lately Hermione felt like her whole life was complicated, her whole existence. Bellatrix made it easier just by showing concern, friendship, even the simplest of letters just to know the witch its ok, a suspected sighting, was enough to lift Hermione's spirits if only for a little while.

"You need to get going." Hermione says after a moment as she looked the witch over. She looked healthy but nervous.

"I do." Bellatrix nods but she was hesitant.

"Bella... what's wrong?" Hermione frowned a little.

"Nothing. I just don't want to go." Bellatrix huffed and pouted rather like a child yet it endeared her to Hermione.

"Trust me, I wish you didn't have too either. But this... what ever, friendship we have, has to be between us. Your side wants to kill me and mine wants to kill you." Hermione reminds gently, sometimes she hated the facts.

"I know. Just be safe ok." Bellatrix all but demands and Hermione smiles.

"You too Bella, please." Hermione smiled sweetly and stepped forward kissing the Death Eaters cheek. Bellatrix wasn't sure if she imagined how close to her lips that kiss had been.


I realise that adopted Hermione is done to death as is Hermione being Minerva's daughter, but again i enjoy this plot point. How ever, i have yet to decide on who i want the father to be. I was contemplating doing an accidental time travel type thing as part of the Minerva plot in later chapters were she was either raped or willingly slept with young Marvolo Gaunt, making her Voldemorts aunt yet i would be willing to consider some other peoples opinions on the matter if anyone has any.

Again, Reviews encouraged.