A/N

Again my dears, thank you all for the lovely comments. I am touched and very appreciative.

This particular chapter is dedicated to Liidg, who is one of my absolute favorite authors. If you have not already read Dark Effects, Healing Touch, or literally anything else Liidg has written that should be your next stop. Brilliant stuff all of it. I will be borrowing some passages from Dark Effects (with permission, of course), because some of the characterization was too amazing to try to recreate. I will clearly notate. Thank you again, Liidg. I am 100% fangirling over this.

Dusting herself off and removing her outer cloak, Narcissa stared at the still pacing form of her sister. To an outsider, the intensity of Bellatrix's movements would be intimidating at the very least and most likely to be seen as a sign of madness. But standing in her library watching her sister's long black dress flow around her as she walked and her mane of black hair sweep out as she turned was like coming home. True, Narcissa would have to spend the evening discovering what had put her sister in such a state, but she was relieved at the recovery evident in the behavior. She hadn't fully processed yet the amount of fear that filled her seeing a defeated Bellatrix. No matter how bad things had ever gotten in the past, her older sister was always her defender and protected Narcissa from even the knowledge that danger was imminent.

"Bella, I rather like my floor the way it is. If you wouldn't mind abandoning your campaign to wear through the floorboards temporarily, I wondered if you would like to join me for some wine by the fire."

Bellatrix took two long intimidating steps towards her sister, paused, and said in a falsely sweet tone "Yes, of course Cissy," before proceeding quickly to the chair by the fire and throwing herself in it. Narcissa snapped her fingers and requested that the attending elf bring them wine as she settled into the chair opposite her sister. Wine in hand, Narcissa chose to tell all about her day instead of asking the question she most wanted answered. Bellatrix had never responded well to direct questioning and as a child Narcissa learned to talk around whatever topic she really wanted to address. Eventually Bellatrix would become tired of the dance and tell Narcissa whatever ever it was that she wanted to hear.

Narcissa proceeded to share all about her trip to Hogsmeade and about running into Draco. She left out her experience in the Quill shop as she was unsure of Bellatrix's reaction. She was half way through recounting a story the boys had told her about the Slytherin vs Gryffindor quidditch match when Bellatrix caught her eye and raised her hand signaling for Narcissa to pause. She faked a pout at being interrupted as she had done since they were children, but internally she was filled with joy. It usually took at least an hour to get Bellatrix to talk. But things were different now. They were no longer children and she shouldn't so easily forget how much the last 15 years had changed them both.

Bellatrix steeled her nerves with a deep breath and one more sip of wine. Sharing anything, particularly something of a personal nature was akin to torture to the dark witch, but time and time again Narcissa had proven herself to be a trustworthy confidant.

"I also traveled today," she began slowly, gauging the reaction on her sister's face. Good she thought at least I still have the ability to shock my baby sister. "Don't worry, Cissy. Its not as though I went strolling through Diagon Alley, announcing my presence. I was actually rather close to where you were. I went to the Shrieking Shack as I found myself rather missing the… ruggedness of Azkaban." She smirked darkly as Narcissa rolled her eyes at her sister's playfulness.

"I wanted to see the countryside and maybe just a touch of the castle. I wasn't going to disturb the wards, just to look and remember that I am free. But, Cissy, I wasn't alone. There was a girl. I could literally feel her from the back of the house, but gods when I looked at her my magic jumped through my body. Not my wand." Bella took a deep breath as she'd rushed through the last bit without a pause. She turned to look her sister in the eye, brushing an unruly curl out of her face. Shocked at the straightforward mode of communication of her often mysterious older sister, Narcissa openly gawked at the revelation. It was just too much to be a coincidence.

Misreading her sister's reaction, Bellatrix stood quickly, aiming to move quickly to an exit where she would be allowed to experience feelings of embarrassment and vulnerability in private. At the last moment, Narcissa pulled herself from her thoughts to place a soothing hand on her sister's wrist as she attempted to pass.

"Wait, Bella. I believe you. I…. you're…. Bella. It's time. Things are changing. Please sit. I need to tell you the things I learned today, I think we've started to unlock the clues surrounding your prophecy." Bellatrix visibly relaxed at her words and slowly made her way back to the chair opposite Narcissa.

After 2 hours of intense discussion, the Black sisters had come to the conclusion that they had at least one very good lead and that it was time for them to begin taking action. Bellatrix would need to go to her Lord and inform him of the developments. He'd long been supportive of her in ways the light would never recognize. He welcomed her into his ranks as a young female and eventually promoted her to his most trusted lieutenant in the face of considerable opposition from the male Death Eaters. As soon as he had regained his corporeal form, he plotted the mass escape from Azkaban. In the days leading up to Bellatrix's freedom, Lucius had shared the existence and contents of the prophecy. The Dark Lord was aware of the one about the Potter boy, but was greatly pleased to hear that there was one to Bellatrix's name. The involvement of ancient magic and prophecy only increased the likelihood he would be successful in over throwing the current régime. This development would guarantee that his reliance on the Black and Malfoy families would only increase, which thrilled Bellatrix.

She entered what served as his thone room with more confidence in her movement than he had hoped to see. Freeing his most dedicated servant was a logical first step in an attempt to build his forces again. Voldemort was a master of psychology as it came hand-in-hand with being a despot.(1) He had anticipated that she might be downtrodden. After all it had only been one short week of freedom to counter act years of improper nutrition and less than ideal personal care. As she approached, she bowed lowly showing him the deference he had earned both as her lord and a father figure. His instincts had told him the moment Bellatrix was introduced that she was a special witch. It seemed as though his investment might be about to pay off.

Bellatrix dove into the new information she and Narcissa had gleaned ensuring him that there was a proper plan in place. They would inform Draco via owl that he needed to find a way to get close to the young Ravenclaw to get a blood sample. A preliminary test would be done by Severus at the school, while an additional sample would be sent to the Dark Lord for his personal testing. The plan over all was well conceived and there was little risk aside from a barely injured schoolgirl.

Being a Dark Lord had its draw backs, and making sure his people were happy was one of them. As a proper villain you have two choices, one be charismatic and make your minions loyal and happy or two, hire a lower class of minion. Skilled evil henchmen did not put up with irrational despots or regular abuse. Villainy was an expanding field of work and there were quite a few hopeful despots looking for good right hand men and women. He had a reputation for being cruel and unreasonable, and although he was cruel when it was deserved he was very reasonable and took care of his followers. He was a half-blood with no nose or lips and in charge of the elite pureblood society and some of the most evil wizards to ever live, damn skippy he had people skills.(2) And if this little test or the girl herself would complete Bellatrix, it was worth more than that paltry risk.

As soon as Bellatrix departed to find the dark lord, Narcissa began composing letters to be delivered to Hogwarts. As it was after meal times and she didn't want to wait an extra day, they would have to be delivered by elf. For Draco's sake, she usually abided by the basic rules of the school, but in this case, she thought that he would understand the under lying urgency. She composed the first letter to her son outlining the need for a small amount of blood to be procured from Hermione in a most delicate manner so that no one suspected his actions. The plan was simple. Snape would pair him with Hermione the next day to make an Invigoration Draught. During the course of the lesson, Draco would attempt to thaw the icy exterior of the girl if at all possible without being intrusive. With a spell he was to weaken the glass stirring stick before handing it to her. As she used it, it would break but only enough to nick her. In line with his up bringing, Draco would offer the girl assistance in cleaning up. He would intentionally leave his handkerchief behind after the lesson for Snape to collect. The letter to Severus outlined the orders from the Dark Lord to perform a cursory test and to hand deliver the other sample to him the next night. Completing the instructions, Narcissa summons an elf to deliver the letters that night.

Hermione was having a remarkably odd week, after her experience in Hogsmeade the day before now Professor Snape instructed her to work together with Draco in Potions. With very little communication, the two quickly assembled the potion. The work went so smoothly that Hermione nearly found herself enjoying the quiet and unobtrusive company of her companion. This was certainly not a side of Draco she had ever seen before. He seemed far more human in those moments than his reputation had suggested. The final stages of brewing their first batch of Invigoration Draught required stirring 3 times counter clockwise. Apparently seeing the glint of near victory in Hermione's eyes, Draco handed over the stirring rod. As soon as it touched the potion, the glass fractures driving a small piece into her skin and slicing open her right hand. Draco was quick to offer his assistance. Were she a more trusting person, she might have even found his actions gallant between his insistence on using his monogrammed handkerchief and his quiet murmuring of a simple healing spell when the cloth was not enough to slow the bleeding. They managed to keep any blood from dripping into the potion, preserving their hard work. Snape held up their potion as the example to which all other students should strive.

That night as Hermione was preparing for sleep, she thought that the brief moment of victory was sweet and that sharing it with someone as high profile as Draco had prevented an overabundance of attention being focused her way. He'd been uncharacteristically kind to her. She wasn't sure what to make of it, but decided that for the night she would indulge in the feeling of success. As was common in her nightly routine, she climbed into bed and picked up her most recent book purchase. Opening the ancient magic book to where she'd left off the day before she began the chapter on soul bonds, their properties, and signs. She paused over the section describing the intense visceral reaction one or both parties can experience before the bond had been completed. As she drifted off to sleep that night she wondered what it would be like to feel so connected to another person.

The dreamless sleep of the last week evaded Hermione. Its different than the dreams she grew up with. There are no waves crashing nor does she feel as though she is freezing from the inside out. She knows that on a fundamental level she is safe, but feels like she might drown anxiety, impatience or anticipation. The steady click of heels on a stone floor marks the time as the tension flows through Hermione's subconscious. Just as the girl stirs to pull herself from the dream she hears a gentle voice say softly "Don't worry, my darling. I will find you."

(1)Dark Effects- Liidg, Chapter 2. Available from s/7312360/2/Dark-Effects. Used with permission

(2)Ibid. This is perhaps my favorite paragraph of fanfiction ever. I am thrilled I was allowed to use it.