A/N: I don't own Harry Potter.

I did some research for this chapter. I obviously had to change Voldemort's past to make this work, along with the Gaunt's. I hope you like it. Happy reading!


I bathed quickly, against my better judgment; because I didn't know exactly how long I had until they came to get me. I walked over to the shelf in the bathroom where the clothes they had given me sat. I had no clue what I was expecting, but it wasn't a dress. It wasn't too fancy, just casual, but it was a dress nonetheless. I gave in and put it on. It fit, but I was a little depressed with the way I looked. I grimaced. I was so thin…like I hadn't eaten in weeks. At least the purple makes my hair look shiner than it actually is…almost healthy, I admired. Sighing in defeat, I brushed my hair and sat down on the edge of the bed. I eventually leaned back, but my legs were still not on the bed. I must have fallen asleep that way, because I woke to a knocking on the door. Startled awake, I stared at the door, the memories from the past few hours rushing back.

"Are you decent?" a voice called.

"Y…Yes," I stuttered, and the door opened to reveal a handsome Italian man. Blaise Zabini, I recalled.

"Let's go," he said almost kindly and started down the hallway. I was confused again; he wasn't even going to drag me along…I was actually allowed to walk myself? With some hesitation, I followed him. We made our way down the corridor I had come up some time before, down a set of stairs, around a couple of corners, and we finally stopped at an ornate set of double doors. I met his eyes curiously, and he grinned at the question in mine.

"You will be having dinner with Voldie, Narcissa Malfoy, and Lucius Malfoy. I expect Draco will be along soon, but maybe not," my curiosity wasn't sated at all by his explanation and I grinned at his nickname for Voldemort, "He's been gone for about two weeks on a mission," he added and I nodded. I wasn't really interested in what Malfoy was doing, but rather why I was having dinner with Voldemort and a high ranking deatheater. I was unbelievably nervous. He opened the doors and motioned for me to enter. I nodded my goodbye and walked in.

They were already seated. Lucius and Voldemort looked at me with almost imperceptible interest, and Narcissa gave me a small smile. Her smile did wonders for my frazzled nerves. Voldemort motioned for me to sit across from the Malfoys on his left, as he was seated at the head of the table. It was strange, but I obliged, Narcissa's eyes comforting me as I settled in.

Voldemort spoke: "Miss Granger, I see you are looking better," he said and I nodded. "A mediwitch will examine you later. You may have injuries left over from the unfortunate condition we found you in. I know that those broken ribs you've been ignoring mustn't be comfortable," he said in a bored tone. "Tell me: what do you know of my family line?" he asked. I was a little taken aback by the question. Besides being odd, he already knew what I knew. Sensing my thoughts, he gave me a nod that prompted me to speak.

"I know that you're father was a Muggle…Tom Riddle senior. You're mother, Merope Gaunt, was a pureblood and a descendant of Salazar Slytherine. You were an only child and grew up in an orphanage after your father left your mother, who had been giving him a love potion. She died shortly after giving birth to you." All three of them nodded, but Voldemort looked a little worn.

"What none of you know," he began and then stopped, as if he was hesitating. He started again. "What very few people still living know, is that a large portion of that story is a lie," he said with a grim expression. Lucius looked shocked, and Narcissa looked worried. I just stared. "My mother had a child before she met my father. Her name was Victoria…my sister. My mother did not die so soon after my birth, but my father did leave. My sister was a pureblood, but my mother never told us who her father was. I only know he was someone in France, who had been killed by his father for reasons I can only speculate about. Victoria was nearly ten when I was born, and I looked up to her. She was my friend," he forced out. "When I was five, my mother was robbed and killed by a group of Muggles on one of her trips numerous looking for my father," he hissed. "She loved him, but I don't know why. He treated her awfully, and he left her. I was separated from my sister and put into an orphanage. I didn't see or hear from her in years. After Hogwarts, I found her again. She was married to French pureblood from a quiet family, and she had a daughter…Scarlet Gaunt. She had kept the Gaunt name when she married, presumably because it was more prestigious. Then the war came. She was visiting her husband's family, whom I never got to know, in France, and when the Order found out about it, they surrounded the house and killed everyone inside; or so I had thought," he looked at me. "The bodies were burnt nearly beyond recognition, but they were all accounted for, including the body of a child. It was assumed that the child had been Scarlet because it was roughly the same size as she would have been. They were given a proper burial, and I set out for revenge," he paused, and met my eyes again.

"I mean no offense, but I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Because of your blood. Scarlet wasn't killed that night. She was likely put into a Muggle orphanage and adopted by Muggles…in this case, the Grangers," he answered. I stopped breathing. What was he saying? My mind was in chaos, and his words wouldn't process. "Hermione…your real name is Scarlet…Scarlet Gaunt." Silence. I fainted.

-Draco-

I had finished my last mission a couple of hours ago, but I was just arriving home because I had to make sure the prisoner reached the correct destination. As I walked into the house I felt an odd jolt run through my body. A little startled and confused, I made my way to the dining room even though I was already late to dinner. I stopped outside the door when I heard Voldemort talking. Curious, I pressed my ear against the door to listen, rather than interrupting. I listened quietly as I heard Voldemort explain what had actually happened concerning his family.

As he neared the end of his speech I heard him say "Hermione". I thought I must have been hearing things because there was no way she could be here, but then I'd heard her voice. What was going on? When I heard nothing but silence, I quickly separated myself from the door and rushed up to my room. Upon entering, I locked the door and threw myself onto my bed, my mind racing. She was really a Gaunt, Voldemort's niece, I thought to myself. Scarlet Gaunt. He was exhausted, having just come home from a long mission, so he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.


A/N: I'd like to thank my betas Ms. Jane Doe and SaTiNk06 for being awesome and helping me to make this the best it can be. I'd also like to thank BatmanPrincess43, SaTiNk06, and the guest user for the reviews.

Leave me a review and tell me what you think? Predictions? Suggestions?