"Draco!" She called after him. He stalled but didn't stop, "Draco please." This time he stopped and turned. She hesitated, "I'm sorry." He nodded. "Please don't go." She added quietly.

Draco hesitated but slowly walked back into the room to stand beside her again.

"Mudblood bitch?"

"Going to lecture me on my language?" He snorted.

"Who?" Hermione hesitated, "I mean…"

"Does it matter?" Draco asked quietly, "She was probably a scape goat, "If she ever had anything to do with it, we'll never know if it was by choice, given the Prewett involvement, the obsessive loyalty to the Order of the Weasel and his whole family..." Draco tapered off with a shrug, "We'll never know will we?"

"It could be why I'm not dead." Hermione offered, "If it was a spell, they hid me instead. Bellatrix got her revenge before he found out about the betrayal."

Draco frowned and thought. The Lestrange's and Malfoy's having entered quietly during his rant, had a similar expression on their faces.

"A sound theory." Lucius nodded.

"Yeah, smart, I've said it for years." Draco nodded with an eye roll, "We'll still never know for sure.

"Draco." His mother started softly.

"Yes mother, excuse the smartass remark, it's unbecoming." Draco nodded to Hermione.

"No," Narcissa spoke again, her voice wavering, "Yes, but I don't care, I, I'm sorry Draco. I'm so sorry, for everything."

"I know." Draco nodded.

"We've made poor choices son, you were always…"

Draco nodded.

"Loved." Narcissa finished for her husband, though Draco hadn't needed her too, it was nice to hear, very, rare so all the more so.

"I love you too." He offered with a weak smile for her.

"Can we… I'm sorry… I'm still having a hard time." Rabastian spoke up.

"Yeah." Rodolphus nodded still staring at his daughter… his daughter, the last he'd seen her she fit in the crook of one of his arms and smiled toothless up at him as he'd tickled her tiny nose.

"She's Cassie." Bellatrix smiled, not her usual insane smile but something softer, more natural. "She's our baby Rolph."

"Well we see that, what I'm having a hard time with is how, where, when, what… Rabastian took a breath. How are you alive? Where have you been? When did you figure it all out and what the hell are we going to do?"

"I have no idea how I survived or what happened back then but I grew up with muggle parents, they are, were lovely people who raised me very well and were not only understanding that I was a witch but quite proud when I got my letter to Hogwarts. I figured it out about this," she waved around the room, "well Bellatrix did when she tried to Cruciatius me and then we did a Familia Spell or Narcissa did because Bellatrix already knew and apparently, at least according to Lucius and Bellatrix in the rant I heard and the shouts since, you are switching sides in the war and going to help take down Lord…"A few hisses halted her before she said the name, "him for his part in stealing me and plotting to kill me to get your families on his side." Hermione thought for a second, "I believe that was all your questions."

"You Cruicio'd our daughter?" Rodolphous glared at his wife.

"I didn't know she was our daughter until the spell hit." She hissed. "The hate I felt for the girl contrasted with the love for our daughter and the magic ripped through me, screaming she was my daughter and broke the spell immediately.

"It did barely touch me." Hermione nodded, "Like a zap and then warmth instead of pain."

"That was Bella's magic." Narcissa smiled, "Her love in the bond instead of hate. It's what told her you were Cassie, had you recognized it you would have realized. It was quite painful for Bella on the other hand."

"Why?" Hermione frowned, as usual hungry for information.

"Hurting you, someone she loves more than her life, is more painful than even the cruciatious." Narcissa offered gently.

Hermione nodded with a thoughtful frown, cataloging the information away in her brain. "So now what?"

"You said we contact the Order." Draco shrugged.

"Right." Hermione nodded.

"First," Lucius nodded, "We have other contacts to make, plans we should go in with."

"Plans?" Hermione questioned.

"I'll kill him." Bellatrix seethed, "I'll kill him myself." Madness seeping back into her eyes.

"Not alone." Narcissa insisted softly but firmly. "Draco, who can you trust, from school, truly trust? Neutral children, ones against the cause, afraid for their families but not really true to the cause."

Draco lifted a brow, "I was never encouraged to make friends."

Narcissa sucked in a breath, her lip quivering but strength in her spine, she nodded, "No one?"

"Blaise… and Theo. I wish I could say Greg and Vincent but… probably Greg, he's soft always was and not very bright, he'd follow me anywhere I went but never had the stomach for picking on younger years or using the dark spells, he prefers his critters and the quiet. Not Vincent though he's a follower for sure and not very smart but he liked dark spells and making others hurt. Pansy… no clue, she was always after the Malfoy name. Greengrass, a mystery, she stayed out of trouble, out of… well everything I'd say she was neutral but can I trust that? I was taught not to trust anything. Blaise and Theo I know for sure, if I were to guess I'd bet on Greg and Daph. Almost forgot Adelaide Murton, Slytherin but not my circle, the quiet sort, neutral if not outright quietly against." Draco shrugged, "that's all I can think of, I don't exactly have a class roster and I only remembered her because Theo dated her for a minute back in fourth."

"The Zabini's have been neutral since the start." Lucius nodded, "We thought of them as well. Nott became a zealot and joined after we did, I'm not certain I can pull him out but if you think his son." Lucius nodded again and then shook his head, "Parkinson," Hmmm, "I've no idea on him. Out to save his neck, always out for status, might follow the families, might betray us. Better to be cautious. Greengrass was threatened in but that was the senior I'll tread careful with the family while you talk with the daughters, I believe there are two? Approach with caution and see if they know others. We'll gather who we can. Infiltrate with caution. I also believe we can get your godfather on the right side of things."

"I tell you I had suspicions he worked against the Dark Lord for years!" Bellatrix raged.

"He saved Draco and killed Dumbledore." Narcissa protested.

"Exactly!" Bellatrix spun on her. "His godson! He's loyal to this family Narcissa!" Bellatrix spun her finger pointed angrily at her sister, "A fact you never shared with me! His godson! He's loyal to this family! Above all! Above that THAT AHHAHHHH" Bellatrix screeched loudly insanity taking over. Rodolphus moved closer but Bellatrix shoved him away brandishing her wand and blasting things to bits around her. "I KNEW HE WAS A TRAITOR! I KNEW HE WAS AGAINST THE CAUSE! AND YOU TRICKED ME! OF COURSE HE WOULD PROTECT DRACO! HIS GODSON!"

"His loyalty was to us sister. Always to us. It would be to us or he would die. That was the point. Severus was not a traitor. He was, he is loyal." Breathing heavy Bellatrix slowly calmed, "He saved Draco and believer or not he will protect Draco and Cassie again." Narcissa continued. "He will fight with us." Breathing heavy Bellatrix nodded but swept from the room, the sound of things breaking marking her path down the hall.

"As I was saying," Lucius continued after a short pause, as though there had been no interruption, "I believe we can get your godfather on the right side of things Draco, which means we'll have an in at the school. We can take back Hogwarts, take apart some of his inner circle from the inside and join with the Order while he's weakened to take him down."

"Not exactly." Hermione interrupted. Lucius looked at her with a lifted brow. "Well, I mean, it's a lovely plan, there's just a small problem."

"What's that?" Rabastian asked with a frown.

"Horcrux's."

"Where did you learn about a nasty thing like that?" Rodolphus demanded.

"I gave her one." Lucius frowned, "Well not her, her friend." He defended quickly at the mans dark look, "Unknowingly, I didn't exactly know the book was one, just that it was severely dark magic the Dark Lord left with me. It was after the events I found out what it was but the damn thing was destroyed by Dumbledore, years ago."

"He made more." Hermione offered with a nervous shrug.

"How many more?" Lucius demanded nervously, rubbing his temples frustrated.

"Dumbledore believed… well 7 is a magical number."

"He split his soul 7 times?" Narcissa gasped.

"No wonder he looks like that." Rabastian shivered. He wasn't the only one in the room to do so.

"Harry, Ron and I, well we've destroyed the locket, Slytherins Locket, and Dumbledore he destroyed the Riddle's diary and the ring, Marvolo's family ring. So we are looking for more. We just aren't really sure what exactly they are. The school was important to him so I think something from the houses maybe, like the locket. I did some research, each founder had something, the Sword of Gryffindor but that wasn't one, we used it to destroy the locket actually. Then there was Ravenclaws Diadem but no one has seen it in at least a century and the Hufflepuff Cup but I can't think of another from Gryffindor and it would still leave a seventh."

"The snake." Lucius shuddered. "If he made the seventh since his return… it's the snake."

Hermione nodded, "That's quite possible."

"He might not have made one from Gryffindor either, given the house rivalry." Narcissa offered, "We will certainly try though."

"If I'm contacting Slytherins they can start looking for the Diadem." Narcissa glanced worriedly at her son, "I'll be alright mother, how much more dangerous can school be than the Manor?"

"Be careful." Lucius nodded at his son. "I'll be in contact with Severus immediately."

"So I'll know upon my reception if I'm to be handed over as a traitor or my godfather is on our side." Draco nodded. "Less time to stress about it." Narcissa looked stricken for a moment but quickly steeled herself, Draco sent her a small smile that bordered on a sad smirk, "I'll be fine mother, I promise." She nodded and sent him a small sad smile in return.

Hermione reached out and took his hand, surprising herself as she gave it a gentle squeeze. He returned the gesture, neither said anything but let go and Draco walked from the room. Hermione shivered as she stood, alone with Narcissa, Lucius and the Lestrange brothers.

Lucius nodded at her and moved to the floo, taking something from his pocket he opened the small container and tossed a fine powder into the fire and stepped in calling out his destination. The Headmasters office at Hogwarts.

"Tea?" Narcissa offered gently.

Hermione nodded absently still watching though the green flames had gone back to low flicking yellow and orange. Rabastian moved to the hearth and levitated another log onto the flame stirring it up so the room lit brighter and warmth spread chasing away the evening chill.

"Cas?" He motioned to a chair and Hermione consented to sit. "I know today has been overwhelming for you."

"Overwheming?" Hermione chuckled breathlessly.

"Take the tea." Rabastian urged her towards the tea Narcissa had floating towards her.

Hermione frowned at the cup, was it ready already? "Thank you." Hermione glanced at a worried looking Narcissa.

"There's a room made up for you but you should eat something and then you can rest." Narcissa offered gently.

Rabastian nodded, "Drink up." He urged again, "Your likely in shock."

Hermione shot him an annoyed look and he glared back at her. She sipped the tea. "It's not laced with calming draught?"

"You don't seem to need it. You aren't hysterical." Rabastian chuckled, "I can find some if you like." Hermione glared again and he chuckled more, "It's just tea, and the food isn't laced either. Just food, so drink some more and then come eat. After you can sleep and tomorrow. Well tomorrow we bring the fight to the Dark Lord and he'll face the wrath of Dark and Light." Hermione frowned at him and his large hand reached out. She flinched back and for a second he hesitated before his hand continued forward and smoothed the frown line from between her eyes, "Relax little one. No one hurts our family." He gave a half smile. "I remember holding you when you were born, so tiny, so perfect. Lungs so strong the nurse swore you part banshee, then she put you in my arms and you gave a sigh, a little sneeze and fell asleep. My little god daughter. I've been many things my life light and good, dark and evil but always, always I've protect my family, the people I loved. At least I tried to. I failed. I failed because of him. I lost you. My family, we're all wraiths because we lost you but now you're back and whatever I am, what all I have been." He ran a finger down her face, "I will not fail to protect our family again, your father and I will protect you. He just… your mother needs him, he'd be here with you himself but she needs him."

"She's really insane isn't she?"

Rabastian slowly nodded, "She's lived your loss, every second of Azkaban. Lived his lies. You can't know what she went through. How… good she used to be." The broken look in his eyes tore at her heart.

"Tell me about her. Please?"

Rabastian sat back and waved his wand, "You eat, I'll talk, deal?" Hermione nodded and he lifted a brow. Narcissa nodded and waved her wand, food appeared on the coffee table, another wave of her wand and a small side table rose and slid over next to Hermione's chair. Narcissa rose and made Hermione a plate, bringing it to her then filled her tea cup.

"I'll leave you. I've had the blue room made up for her, it has the nicest view. Not to late, it has been a long day." She instructed Rabastian before turning to Hermione, "Rest well Cassie, we'll talk in the morning. If you need anything at all just call out for me, please." Reaching out she squeezed her hand and made her way from the room, sweeping gracefully out.

"Eat." Rabastian motioned to the plate. Hermione nodded and took a small bite. "Bella." Rabastian sighed. "We met on the train, on the way to Hogwarts." He smirked. "Rolph was too cool for his little brother." He chuckled. "After he got me through the barrier, onto the train and into a compartment and my trunk loaded, cuffed my head and mussing my hair, warned me not to let anyone pick on me, I was a Lestrange after all. He went on his way to find his friends." Rabastian rolled his eyes in fond memory. "Then in comes this little wild thing with crazy black curls and fire in her laughing black eyes pulling her trunk. I offered to help and she stubbornly tells me she can do it herself after attempting to lift it she looks at me haughtily and demands if I'm going to help her." He laughed. "Of course like a gentleman I do and we sit, she informs me she is Bellatrix Black and I introduce myself. It's the start of a beautiful friendship. She's beautiful and brilliant and becomes my best friend. Rolph knew the moment he notices her that he's going to marry her… not the moment he meets her mind you, the moment he notices her. She's sixteen then…