A/N: For some annoying reason my word kept using «» instead of "". I finally fixed it in this chapter. We're getting closer to the truth. Thank you all for your reviews.

Unhealthy Confrontation

Their visit to Saint Mango's had it's own surprises. Arthur was surprised to see her. Not that she was there but that she looked so different. Hermione had not seen Mr. Weasley since September so the change was more of a shock to him.

She liked this place. It was calm, clean and odourless unlike the muggle hospitals. Healers seemed to be much less stressed than your average doctor and the patients seemed to be in a better condition. Becoming a healer seemed to be a good idea.

When they came back Harry seemed extremely stressed.

"Something wrong Harry." She asked without looking at him.

"Um it's complicated." He stared at her. "But I think I'll go crazy if don't talk to someone so here it is anyway-"

Harry told her about the conversation he had overheard in the hospital. "Don't you see? I'm giving him a front row seat. No wonder Dumbledore avoids me."

"I think you should talk with someone who is more experienced Harry. I don't think that's how possession works." Hermione said

"Well neither do I." Harry said shakily. "But I'm as optimistic as you are."

"I bet I could direct you to someone who does Mr. Potter." Harry turned to the voice so fast that he fell.

"What the?" Harry looked up and saw Phineas Nigellus in his portrait.

"I know if someone can help you here is my last descendant's lover, Miss Malfoy." He said.

"Are they really lovers?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Yes, but that's irrelevant." He responded. "Dumbledore is not happy that it has to be her, but he has to compromise at times."

"Doesn't he trust her?" Harry asked.

"Oh he does. Although she is an element of light as Dumbledore puts it, she has a rather secular view towards Dark Arts." Phineas explained. "She finds them practical and I have to say that's something hard to be argued with at times."

"She could help Harry however, right?" Hermione asked.

"Oh yes, she's knowledgeable." He said. "Wouldn't hurt to ask a few questions. Oh and before I go, I have a message to deliver. 'Stay where you are.' Dumbledore says."

And with that he left.

"So I guess we need to have a talk with Lucinda." Said Harry.

"About what Harry?" asked Lucinda as she closed the door behind her.

Harry and Hermione jumped again.

"Will you people stop shocking us to death?" Harry asked. "I heard something yesterday."

Harry uncomfortably explained the situation.

"Oh they're right. You're not supposed to see anything like you saw Harry." She thought. "What intrigues me is that you saw it through the snake. Dumbledore had told me about your visions about Voldemort." She used his name like they were talking about a popstar casually. "so I always believed that you had a mental connection that was formed by a malfunctioning killing curse. The snake makes that theory plain wrong as a consequence. I think there's a spiritual connection between you that gives you these visions. That's more dangerous but at the same time he cannot be in total control because you can see things that he he clearly did not want you to see." She pouted a bit. "That makes things complicated. We need to get smarter because he will know about it now, and he might use it against you. He might plant ideas into your head." She frawned. "I don't like it but I think you should learn Occlumency."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"It's a branch of obscure magic." She explained. "More of mental trick really that helps you conceal your thoughts. Some are natural at that, like Sirius. He doesn't use it regularly but sometimes he can't help it. Severus hates him even more than your dad, because he can never use Legilimency against Sirius. That's the technic that allows people to take a glimpse into your mind. Natural Legilimensess like me hate it when people call it mind reading."

"You can read minds?" Hermione felt insecure.

Lucinda laughed lightly. "I guess there is no helping it. You guys will eventually call it mind reading." She sighed. "True. I really rather avoid using it. Makes me feel unnatural. It's the same with Siruis. It really disturbs me that Dumbledore and Severus use it so freely. They both learnt it. They have acquired competency by practicing over and over again. They ought to know that it's even more dangerous for someone who isn't natural at it."

"Okay is there anything you can do to protect yourself other than Occlumeny?" Harry asked.

"Occlumency. Yes it's rather simple. Don't look them in the eyes." She looked at Harry. "Specialy when it feels like this."

Harry squeezed his eyes slightly. "So that's what it was? Yours is stronger than Dumbledore's".

"Ah that's because I wanted you to feel it but I could do it more subtly." she admitted. "Siruis is actually really good at it but he hates using it even more than me. He regrets learning it."

"Could Siruis teach me." He asked.

"Uh that would be a great idea if we could keep you here for the next six months." She said. "You're going back to Hogwarts soon, so we need a teacher who's there. You know where I'm getting at, right?"

"It's too dangerous to do it with Dumbledore so I'll have to settle for Snape." Harry guessed.

"That's right lad." She looked at Hermione. "Would you like to see how Legilimency feels?"

Hermione nodded yes. She could feel a force trying to penetrate in.

"Ah Harry is much keener in a way but your mind, it almost reminds me of someone." She was trying to remember. "You have an affinity for Legilimency and Occlumency. I wouldn't call you a natural but it's there, I can feel it."

She stood up. "I have to go drink something."

She looked a bit ashamed. Harry knew in that moment, he could trust this woman more than Dumbledore.

On Christmas Harry and Hermione got some presents. Mostly books for Hermione and some other things for Harry. Percey Weasley had proved himself to be prick and had sent his jumper back. They had been advised to stay upstairs a little bit longer for Mrs. Weasley was crying.

"Lucinda and Lupin are taking care of that. Sirius seems so sour about something." Fred said suspiciously. "You guys happen to know anything about that?"

"Not really." Harry said as he was confused by the news.

Hermione had bought a Christmas present for Kreacher and that was just odd. Harry warned her that clothes were off limits.

"It's not clothes I promise, I'm over that. It's a patchwork quilt. It'll brighten his room a bit." She said. "Although now that I think about it he might not be into that sort of thing."

"Ah that's true. Kreacher is a truly morbid thing my dear." Said Sirius as sat at The table. "He prefer a dead muggle's skull."

Lucinda was disappointed. "You should show him some kindness."

"When it comes to Kreacher, that's pointless, love." He said as he buttered his bread.

When Harry went into Kreacher's den he found a lot of junk that they had been trying to get rid of. He also found a picture of a woman who she recognised to be Bellatrix Lestrange. What truly disturbed him was that her face seemed so familiar. "I guess she looks like Siruis a bit." He tought.

"I'll put his present here. He'll find it." Hermione said. Harry had a lot on his mind so he went to sit somewhere.

"Where is he anyway?" asked Sirius. "Has anyone seen him recently?"

"Only you could lose a house elf without freeing them." Lucinda said as she looked at him disapprovingly.

"Ah come on. I take it back, whatever I said about Snape." Sirius said.

"Well I cannot unhear what I heard, right?" She snapped.

Sirius looked very ashamed. "I know, I shouldn't have said that. I know it's time I grew up." He said with resignation.

"That's more like it." She smiled and kissed Sirius on the cheek.

"I didn't know you could flush like that Siruis." Harry said giggling.

"Shut it Harry." He said as he gulped a large sip of his ice tea.

When they visited Mr. Weasley for the second time, they had to leave the quickly as Molly Weasley realised that his husband had been testing muggle treatments on himself. In other to get away from the squabble they opted to go get some tea.

"I wonder if they have tried enhancing the stitches with magic. That could actually work." wondered Lucinda loudly.

On the fourth floor they met someone familiar. "Oh my goodness that's professor Lockheart." Hermione exclaimed.

Disgust was evident in Lucinda's face.

He came to them asking if they wanted his signature.

"Fell from a broom you jinxed, Gilderoy?" She pressed her lips together looking like Lucius Malfoy.

"Broom?" He was confused.

A healer came to their rescue soon. She said that he was showing progress. Harry could swear Lucinda muttered: "I hope not."

The healer had assumed them to be visitors. Therefore she invitated them into the ward with an expecting smile that even Lucinda Couldn't say no to.

Inside they met the other patients in the Permanent Spell Damage ward and they saw them.

Frank and Alice Longbottom were sitting upright on their beds. Then something really unexpected happened. A woman with pointy a hat decorated with a stuffed volture looked at them. Her eyes went wide.

"You!" She drew her wand. At first Harry tought she was aiming at lucinda but she aimed her wand at Hermione.

It seemed surreal. "I won't allow you to finish the job." She yelled and sent an Expelliarmus to her.

Hermione was so shocked that she didn't move and the spell hit her. Her want left her pocket and fell on the ground.

"Madam Longbottom please. She's not Bellatrix Lestrange." Lucinda said urgently as she tried to calm the witch down. Neville was standing next to the woman frozen. His gaze fixed on Hermione.

"Who is she? Have you been hiding her spawn from the world Lucinda?" Madam Longbottom screamed.

"No… No … This is Hermione Granger. Please calm down." She looked at the woman pleadingly.

A light bulb flashed blindingly in Harry's head. She now knew why Bellatrix Lestrange seemed so familiar. Because Hermione's face was her splitting image except her blonde hair. She was trying to hide her shock and that was amplifying the similarities. Her dark clouthes made it even worse. No wonder Madam Longbottom had made this mistake. He wondered why it hasn't occurred to him earlier. "I've probably been avoiding this unconsciously." He thought.

"Hermione Granger? Isn't that your friend from school? You had discribed him differently, Neville." She said accusingly.

"She had a transfiguration mishap a couple of months ago." Neville said.

"Transfiguration mishap?" She pittied his naiveness. "Is that the excuse?" She looked at them incredulously.

"I think we should talk somewhere else." Said Lucinda cautiously. "I can explain this."

Before they could go anywhere something amazing happened. Alice Longbottom stood up and went toward Hermione. Hermione's whole body went rigid. Alice looked at her curiously for a few seconds and then she put a candy in Hermione's hand. "Here." Said Alice simply and then she went back to her bed.

Everyone was in shock. Lucinda's eyes were so wide that they could pop out any moment. Harry didn't know what to make of it and Hermione was crying silently as she was frozen at her spot.

"We can talk in the Tearoom." She said as she left the room. "Neville!."

He smiled at them apologetically as he followed his grandmother.