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A/N: Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews!

To Whatever End

Sixth Year: Part 1

Hermione wanted to smash her head through the table. She had tons of questions and little to no answers. It didn't help that she hadn't seen Bella and Amei all summer, Lily was also with the Bones family while the Blacks visited, and Lucius was off in the gardens with Cissa leaving her, his poor tortured sibling, with Sirius Black. She looked up from the table where she rested her head at the wizard in question who was ranting as he paced back and forth in front of her, no rest for the wicked or the diligent apparently.

"She just blew me off, called me a child. ME!" Siri screeched towards the heavens.

Hermione sighed, putting away her books on magical focusing for the time being. She could only deal with so many problems at a time, and right now it looked like the squeaky- obnoxious- wheel was getting the attention. "What did you say to her?" She held up a hand forestalling Siri's wounded speel, "BEFORE she called you an infant?"

"Child, the word was child!" He sighed dramatically before folding himself into a chair, "All I did was turn her hair red and gold, she needs to loosen up! It's not like she couldn't undo it with a wave of her hand."

Hermione groaned, of course Petunia was mad, she couldn't undo it. House elves couldn't undo wizard magic, the eldest Evans would have to wait until her or her parents found her and undid it.

"Why do you antagonize her? It's like a toddler picking on a girl because it's the only way to tell her he-" Hermione sat up straight, "Do you have a crush on Petunia?"

Sirius, Hogwart heartthrob extraordinaire, spluttered in outrage, "Of course not! Who would like that uptight perfectionist who rarely cracks more than a polite smile?!"

"Someone tired of girls fawning all over him and wanting a challenge?" Hermione pushed, eyebrow arching in speculation.

Sirius hid his blush with a huff, storming towards the exit, "If you won't take me serious then I'm leaving."

"But I know you're Sirius."

He continued with out pause, "I don't need to stand here dealing with such ludicrous accusations!"

"Ludicrous, is that your word of the week? Next time try superfluous, like this conversation," Hermione called after him.

He slammed the door behind him, leaving Hermione sighing in delight as once again silence permeated the study. Time to delve back into her book about focusing magic. She now knew Helga's secret, but she still had no clue how she did it. No books mentioned that type of magic except in barely remembered childhood tales. But if it was easy, then it wouldn't have been forgotten. Hermione heaved the book back open, ignoring the shrieking in the hallway. Apparently he'd found Petunia again.

She was almost fully entranced by her reading when the door to the study burst forth once more. Hermione aimed her wand, ready to fire at the scoundrel when Papa rushed past her towards the floo in a flustered yet thunderous mood.

"Papa what's wrong?"

"Nothing that I won't fix Little Rose. But I need you to guard the door from the Blacks, if anyone asks tell no one I left. Just say I'm with the elves checking the wards against an intruder."

Hermione nodded her understanding as he grabbed the floo powder, with a mutter of Bones Estates he was gone. Mione sat tense, awaiting his return with a sneak spell on the door to warn her of any passerbys. It had to be urgent if Papa risked being caught while the Blacks were here. They could sniff out light leanings like blood hounds. Minutes passed before Papa reappeared, brushing the lingering soot from his pants.

"Remember, I never left."

Hermione rushed to him throwing her arms around him in worry, "Of course Papa, I haven't seen you since breakfast."

Abraxus smiled down at her, placing a tender kiss on her forehead, "Have no fear Little Rose, everyone is safe now. No harm will come to our friends."

He strode confidently out of the room to catch up with wherever Estel and the Black Sires were, his excuse of lost muggles setting off the perimeter wards poised on the tip of his tongue. Hermione sat restless until dinner, unable to keep focus on her notes. Orion and Cygnus Black left their wives and children with the Malfoys to enjoy dinner while they took off on urgent business. Whatever kept them, they came back hours later taking their families home with curt goodbyes and quite a few twitches from dark magic residue.

Lily came back through the floo from the Bones' an hour later, telling Hermione and Petunia of the failed death eater raid on the estate while they laid in bed late into the night. Without Abraxus' warning they would have all been sitting around the dinner table when Voldemort and followers stormed the house. Lily shivered as Petunia and Hermione hugged her, calming her with soothing words until she fell asleep. Hermione shared a look with Petunia, the Malfoys would be forced to show their hands soon; it was only a matter of when now.

On the train Amelia pulled Mione into a fierce hug, whispering words of gratitude into her ear. Hermione held her tightly, murmuring reassurances. She knew they were going to be ok, because if she could keep Harry Potter- Voldemort's number one target who had a habit of making brash and ridiculous decisions by the seat of his pants- and his emotionally stunted partner in crime alive, then she could keep the much more rational Bones, Bella, and Lily in one piece. Lucius could take care of his Slytherins plus Xeno and the twins could watch themselves. Everything was going to be ok, and she knew if she kept telling herself that, then maybe one day she might believe it.

It felt weird going to Hogwarts without her calm brother in tow, and she knew something in her rang hollow when she couldn't catch Fabian's eyes discretely following her over meals in the Great Hall. A slightly gloomy Bella made her realize she hadn't gone off the deep end under all of the stress, it wasn't just her. She hoped things were faring better at home, with Lucius learning to take over Papa's mantel and Petunia starting at a nearby university she could commute to in the mornings. She had been giddy while picking out a wardrobe with Mama for her first semester; she was going into business finance and Papa was hoping she'd be able to assist in the muggle side of some of his companies in the future.

Gemini swooped into the hall at breakfast, carrying a letter for Lily from her sister, then oddly enough it stopped by Sirius' to drop a letter on his head before making his way to the owlry, breakfast bacon clutched in his beak. Hermione turned to stare, quite unladylike, at Sirius who was blushing like a loon and stuffing the letter into his pocket. Hermione raised an eyebrow at Remus who caught her glance and sent her back a shrug.

That night, as the girls exchanged information about their research and their theories on how Helga accomplished the ancient magics a grey owl flew into the room dropping a letter into Bella's lap, from Gideon if Hermione had to guess from the squeal. Then to everyone's surprise it circled again before landing in front of Hermione, leg extended with a second letter tied to it.

Mione leaned forward, grasping the scroll and opening it with slightly jittery hands.

My Dearest Little Badger,

I believe this is the longest I've gone without seeing your face since we met. I knew when I saw you inside Madam Malkins that you would be someone special, and when you first opened your mouth to utter nonsense about owlry etiquette I was hooked.

If you don't mind me being presumptuous, please allow me the honor of correspondence so I'll know my suit isn't in vein. You can attach your response with Bella's love sick ramblings to my ridiculous, and unfortunately less handsome, twin. It will be the best way to correspond without tipping our hands to those who would wish to do you ill.

Your Besotted Lion

"Well?" Amei urged, leaning forward, "We know Gideon is sending her the regular drivel, but what's yours about?"

Hermione blushed, looking down, "It's just a request to write."

"Uh huh," Lily nodded understandingly before lunging forward and snatching the letter out of her hand. She skimmed it briefly while holding it out of Hermione's reach before groaning aloud, "Oh dear Bones, we're going to have to deal with her forlorn romantic mopings and poorly written sonnets too!"

"Hey!" Bella interjected, "My sonnets are pure poetry written in the delicate hand of a lady to her gentleman suitor!"

Amei stood up on the bed, brandishing a pillow dramatically, "My sweetest lion cub. How your red mane shines forth- "

"-in the golden hour of the day." Lily joined in moving quickly to her feet beside Amelia, swaying slightly on the bed to keep her balance. She posed flamboyantly before pretending to swoon into Bones' arms, "Your courage like a- "

A pillow to the head ended her oddly familiar sounding stanza, and was the only forewarning of Bella's attack as she dove onto her housemates. They rolled about Hermione's mattress shrieking with laughter as Mione joined the fray trying to wrestle her letter out of Lily's hand.

Fabian's letter were highlights in Hermione's fast paced life. The first term of sixth year seemed to whirl by in never ending essays, duels in DADA, advanced magic in Helga's Army, late nights researching, and the few respites of Hogsmeade weekends.

Their ragtag study group took their usual set of tables at the back of the Three Broomsticks, Alice and Frank representing for Gryffindor in the twins' absence. They shared stories of classes and gently teased each other until Remus sat down with a grim expression.

"They're getting overly suspicious. We started making a map that shows where everyone on Hogwarts grounds is, the Marauders Map."

The others hushed and looked at Remus in consternation, that type of magic was complicated and very advanced. Hermione felt her stomach knot in dread; she'd forgotten about the map.

"They used the prototype the other night and saw Alice, Frank, and I disappear off of it, since the Room of Requirement isn't on it. We weren't in the library studying like we told them we were when they came to check to see if we were ok. I told them we'd gone up to the tower to do astronomy and it must have been a glitch, but that excuse won't hold them forever."

Lily groaned, "We'll have to let them join, won't we?"

Severus sneered in displeasure, James and Sirius' bullying of him was getting ridiculous. They'd tried to hang him by his ankle just last Spring before Remus had stopped them. Hermione had no doubt they'd try to trick Sev into going after werewolf Remus, luckily Severus already knew Remus' furry little secret and wouldn't fall for it.

Remus nodded slowly, "At the very least they'll know about it and follow us around until they can sneak in."

Hermione startled from her thoughts slammed her bottle of butterbeer down hard, "No!"

The others at the table looked at her, she'd never vocally turned anyone out.

"I'm sorry, but no. Especially not Pettigrew. He's not able to keep up and I won't water down the material for him. He's not a fighter, and we need everyone to pull their weight."

Remus gave her a penetrating look, one he gave her every now and again. Like he was seeing her for the first time and re-evaluating all of his conceptions of her based on the new piece of data. The assessment ended and he reluctantly nodded, breaking the odd tension amongst the group.

"You're right, Peter can't know. He won't be able to keep up and he'll become upset at being left behind on something 'cool'. But Sirius and James need to join. They want to be aurors, and they should learn any tricks they can to help keep themselves alive before graduating."

Hermione begrudgingly agreed, giving her ascent. "Fine, tell Peter you're all working on an advanced arithmacy assignment or something."

Remus gave her a roguish grin while the Slytherins in the group bemoaned the troublesome challenges to befall them. Lupin stood up to leave when Hermione remembered Gemini's random letter drop to the Gryffindor table and the sudden heavy use of Siri's owl, "Before you go. Who has been sending Sirius so many letters?"

Remus barked out a laugh, swiping Zabini's new tankard of butterbeer despite protest. "Didn't you know? The one and only Ms Renald."

Lily choked on her drink, sputtering it everywhere, "What?!"

Remus gave her an odd look, "The witch who threw Sirius into the Malfoys' pond last winter. Apparently Sirius and her have changed their tune." As Lily visibly floundered Remus tried to figure out her role in the situation, "Is there something I'm missing? If anything I thought Mione would be upset, aren't you dating Sev?"

Hermione patted Lily's back trying to help her breathe while she shared a look with Severus over Lily's head. "Yes, she's quite happily dating Severus much to James continued despair no doubt. It's just Lily met Petunia at my Manor this past summer and is as flummoxed at the bizarre change of scenario as I am. Last we knew he was receiving only insults and she was getting magically changing hairdos. We just thought Ms Renald had better tastes. Had I been mid drink at the news, I assure you I'd be in a similar state."

Remus shook his head at them in bemusement before saluting them with his commandeered tankard and heading to find his fellow marauders.

Regulus rubbed his hands together in glee, "Mother is going to be over the moon! She might even lay off her incessant nagging about snooty Glenda Parkinson for a few months."

Lily glowered down at the table, and Hermione knew from her look a storm was brewing.

It didn't take long to spill forth, in fact the following Helga's Army session Lily's dueling match turned into a battle ground with Sirius, Severus trying to calm her down and keep James at bay simultaneously.

"What game are you playing at?" Lily sent a hex hurtling forth, "Tease her and flirt with her, then get her all tangled up before eventually breaking her heart. String the poor French girl after the great British man, revenge for making you look foolish?!"

Sirius dodged a blasting hex, then turned, diving for cover from her bat bogey, "It not like that Lily!"

"WHAT do YOU care anyway?!" James hollered, trying to get in between them. "It has nothing to do with you!"

Lily flushed, "It just matters!" She exploded the floor near Sirius' feet as he ran straight towards her, tackling her to the ground.

"I know!" Sirius wrestled her wand from her hand, "I know she's your sister!"

A pin could have dropped in the silence that fell across the room.

"You what?"

"I know she's a muggle."

Lily's face went red and she got an arm loose, letting her fist fly. She connected right into the side of his face, knocking him off of her. She rolled over with him, taking the top of the pile.

"You let that become public knowledge and I'll KILL YOU MYSELF!" She snarled, chest heaving in her fury. "This isn't a game; it's her life! It's the Malfoys lives."

"I know!" Sirius roared, "I'm not playing anything." He shoved Lily off of himself, before sitting up cradling his head in his hands, "I think I'm in love with her."

James face twisted, "Petunia Renald is a muggle? You're in love with a muggle? "

"She's more than that! She's, she's- special. She's pulling off the greatest trick in history against Riddle himself, making everyone believe she's a witch, have you ever heard a crazier scheme? That crowd would drown a squib in a moment, but she has them kowtowing to her, a mundane. She's the greatest prankster and bravest Gryffindor hiding in a prim and proper package."

Charles stepped forward, pulling Sirius to his feet, "I understand. My father was the same. He didn't expect to fall in love with my mother, but as he says, after he met her how could he not? There's no shame in loving her." He smiled widely, "Besides, the most awesome kids can come of it!"

Severus smacked Charles upside the head, "I wouldn't be toting yourself as the poster child if you're trying to sell that package."

Petunia's letter brimming with apologies for her fuming sister arrived the next day at lunch, along with promises to tell her the whole story once Lily returned to the manor for Christmas. A slight smile in Sirius' direction a few hours later let the Gryffindor in question know he was out of hot water with the red head for now. The heir of the House of Black breathed a sigh of relief, laughing quietly to himself as he read his mother's note overflowing with pride over his courting of the Ms Renald- Regulus had apparently ratted them out, well partially.

Hermione puzzled away at the mystery of using a human as a magical focus. Even her letters to Mama had come back with little help, only advising her to find someone who had witnessed such an event to guide her. Hermione wanted to cry as she watched the snow fall outside the window a letter to Fabian halfway penned on the desk. It always seemed like two steps forward and three steps back.

"Mione hurry up!" Bella called up the girls stairwell, "Culture night is starting, we're watching Beauty's Sleep!"

"She means 'Sleeping Beauty'!" Bones hollered as student laughter wafted up from the Common Room. Quickly swiping at her eyes, a soft giggle escaping from her lips, Hermione stood from the window seat and made her way downstairs to join her house.

-#-

-The Magic Time Forgot-

-#-

Hermione stared at the car as it made it's way up the Manor's path and appeared to off-road towards the side garden. Mama came up beside her daughter to see what was so fascinating.

"Ah, Petunia reclaimed her parent's car this fall, Papa helped with the paperwork," Mama hummed as she peered out the window with Mione.

Papa's Daily Prophet rustled behind them, "She takes that death trap back and forth from the university every day. It's absurd!" Papa groused, his voice carrying across the room to them.

"Of course dear," Mama murmured as the two women watched Lily race out to see Petunia and the Ford Capri.

"Just because muggles can't use magic doesn't mean they should actively invent ways to kill themselves." Papa huffed before stowing his paper and leaving the room.

"Oh yes," Mama whispered with a crooked grin, "Papa fusses about how dangerous it is regularly, yet always finds an excuse for Petunia to drive him somewhere at every opportunity. Just the other day he was swearing it was making odder noises than usual and insisted he ride with Petunia to school to make sure it didn't injure her or leave her stranded on the road. He's checked up on his businesses more in the past month than he has during our whole marriage, and don't get me started on his ridiculous reasons why he suddenly can't apparate there and must be driven," She trailed off then broke into giggles, "Petunia and I picked one out for him for Christmas. Tuney's going to teach him how to drive it!"

Hermione turned to look at her mother, choking on a laugh. She could picture Papa joy riding about the country already. 'Dangerous' indeed.

"I've even bought a riding hat for myself," Estel continued ignoring Hermione's knowing look, "I obviously have to accompany him; who knows what trouble he will get up to alone. It could randomly explode, or so Papa claimed last week." Mama threw her daughter a subtle wink before wandering out to find her husband, Hermione shaking her head after her.

On Christmas Eve Lily made her way over to the Bones' Estate a day before the Malfoys and her sister. They were going to spend Christmas with the Bones' family, Papa and Lord Bones finishing off their legislation after celebrations were over. Papa had gotten the last of his plans in order and was ready to push against Voldemort's supporters in the Wizengot before the New Year, a slew of neutral families prepared to back him while the light families wouldn't question Lord Bones. The Malfoys just had their yearly Christmas Eve dinner with the Blacks to get through.

Mama was leery, but Papa wanted to say farewell to his childhood friends even if they didn't realize it. Lucius sided with Papa, wanting to see Narcissa one last time before she was withheld until she hit her majority. Lucius knew the Blacks couldn't get out of the wedding contract, but they were going to make it Hell on earth for him to contact her. Petunia wouldn't say it, but she was excited to see Sirius as well.

The first sign the evening would not be a pleasant one was when Orion and his family showed up minus Sirius. He had entered his majority the day before, and when he'd refused to swear allegiance to Voldemort, they had thrown him out. They were filing the disinheritance on the morrow. Walburga was a brewing storm while Petunia was floored, Hermione tightly gripping her hand for support.

The next surprise came with the arrival of the Rossiers, Druella Black's brother and family. They couldn't initially get through the wards, Abraxus having tightened them the day before. With Druella's complaints of wanting to spend time with her brother's family as well, Papa reluctantly let the three Rossiers on the grounds, not wanting to raise further suspicion.

Dinner was a tense affair: the Black sires more formal than normal, Regulus upset over Sirius, Titus Rossier- 7th year Slytherin- sending suggestive looks to Petunia who was oblivious as she tried to keep her sadness at bay, even Cissa and Lucius were solem as the sat together staring at their food.

Suddenly Druella broke the silence, "We were talking the other day about my two- deceased- elder daughters. I was so surprised when Titus mentioned the sorting Hermione's year was done in reverse order- my daughter, " she spit out the word like poison, "Following YOU to Hufflepuff. Fascinating, no?"

Hermione glanced up in horror dropping her spoon, Lucius' knuckles turned white around his cutlery while Cissa stared down at the table.

Mama smiled serenely, continuing on with her meal, "Oh, we thought you knew the the change to the order that year. It was quite queer, a prank even the Head Master couldn't undo. I suspect a Ravenclaw."

Lady Rossier tittered, but didn't speak, her pursed lips a jarring contrast to her son's openly nasty expression.

"Of course," Cygnus sighed, "Childhood whimsy could be overlooked, IF the parents are able to instill needed behavior into their children."

"Yes," hummed Walburga sipping from her wine, "However, while we've thrown out an heir who refused to acknowledge the true path, isn't it odd that yours sits amongst us while he has not sworn allegiance?"

"For that matter old friend," Orion spoke into the tense silence of the room, "You have been very slippery over the years; you haven't allied yourself with us. A fact we've left alone for years out of respect for your wishes to remain neutral as most families did when Grindewald was rising. But, imagine our surprise when an adversary who has been crusading against Riddle's cause at the ministry was able to evade us this past summer, when you were the only outsider who knew our plans. That seems like picking sides."

Abraxus looked affronted, "You can hardly blame me for the Bones not being on their estates. Why if Riddle swung by your home tonight it would be empty too. Are you in hidden cahoots?"

Lord Rossier cackled, "No, but you are our sly friend. Unless, you leave fresh tea and partially eaten cookies in the parlor when you step out on holiday?"

"Yes," Druella interjected, "I believe you had to excuse yourself on our end after the conversation because muggles were too close to the wards, when my own brother couldn't get through them just an hour ago."

"That's because we tightened the security after the incident," Mama hissed, "Wouldn't want to break the statute of secrecy by a manor appearing out of rubble in front of a bunch of muggles."

"No one can find the Bones family estates now, not even the owls. It's quite similar to your family wards, you know the ones all of us have been begging you for to protect our homes from auror searches," Walburga sneered, Titus jittering to himself with excitement.

"We'll overlook this if you pledge your allegiance to Lord Voldemort, now." Orion stated solemnly.

"And we'll want your family books on ward magic," added Cygnus.

Abraxus stared them down calmly across the table, "Then I guess we've come to an impasse."

"You're smarter than this Abraxus."

Abraxus and Mama rose as the Blacks and Rossiers did the same on the other side of the table.

"You've overstayed your welcome. Leave now if you wish to go unharmed, for the sake of the friendship we once had," Papa stated coldly.

"Old friendships don't matter anymore, we'll walk over your dead bodies to get what we need," snarled Orion.

Papa laughed sourly, "It's not like the books will do you any good, it's not in your blood."

"Riddle's powerful enough to figure some of it out. Besides, we dont' need their full potential, anything to boost our wards and those around our Lord's stronghold will do."

"I guess I shouldn't be too surprise, according to YOUR logic, he'd have to steal his magic from somewhere. After all he is a half-blood!" Papa snarled.

Titus could no longer contain himself, with a roar of outrage he sent a slashing hex hurtling down the table. Cissa shoved Lucius out of the way, knocking him over and taking the curse to her shoulder and side of her face. She collapsed on top of him crying in pain. Regulus yanked his wand out, firing a dark curse before anyone could blink as he rounded the table. Titus slammed into the wall, dead, blood pouring onto the carpet.

"PROTEGO!" Abraxus yelled, throwing a shield charm between the death eaters and his family. Hermoine rushed to Cissa's side, Petunia huddling beside them terrified. Lucius cradled Cissa close, chanting every healing spell he knew over her. Regulus stood guard in front of the women, all of who were unarmed- ladies don't bring wands to the dinner table.

Druella screamed, "See what you've done! You've poisoned our children; turned them against us! It's been you all along, hiding amongs us, cohersing them. Tricking them!"

Estel glared defiantly, "I merely loved them! They needed someone to."

Walburga shrieked, unleashing every curse she could against the shield charm, the others joining in. Papa began buckling under the weight of the attacks.

"Children get out of here!" Papa called, "To the Bones, hurry!"

"We can't Papa," Lucius bit out as he stood with Cissa in his arms, apparition having failed, "They placed anti-dissaparation wards up."

Hermione took in the scene from beside her brother dread filling her, they couldn't defend themselves against this number. Regulus wouldn't be able to bring himself to fully duel his aunt and uncle, let alone his parents, Lucius had Cissa who was in a dead faint and none of the girls could carry her, leaving just Papa with a wand able to fight. As the shield began flickering, starting to give out, Mama moved in front of the children. She stood firmly- unarmed- beside Papa, bracing her shoulders for the battle ahead.

"Poor little Estel," Walburga taunted throwing another curse at the collapsing shield, "Trapped and no wand to help protect your family. Ever the lady, always the fool."

"I'm a Lovegood," Mama snarled. She threw her hand forward and with a gesture the last remnants of the shield hardened then shattered, "I don't need one!" The jagged pieces hurtled through the air, ramming into the deatheaters, Walburga's taunts cutting out with a gurgle.

Hermione stared at Mama as her magic bristled in the air about her, all of these years she never knew. A quick look around the room proved she wasn't the only one stunned, only Papa was unsuprised and Lucius looked like he'd just solved a complex puzzle he'd been agonizing over. Without warning Mama swung her arm back behind her sending the kids tumbling out of the dining room in a burst of magic.

The children stumbled to their feet in the hallway, trying to compose themselves and figure out a plan while shouts, curses, and crashing echoed from the now closed dining room.

Petunia suddenly turned, lifted her skirts, and bustled towards the foyer, "I've got an idea!" Lucius nodded towards the other two before taking off after her, Cissa in his arms, Regulus and Hermione bringing up the rear. They spilled out the main doors, following Petunia to the large pathway where Papa's Christmas gift was parked proudly waiting to surprise him in the morning.

Tuney jumped into the drivers seat, fumbling for the keys on the dash and quickly adjusting the mirrors while the others clamored in, forcing a skeptical and nervous Regulus into the car. Petunia twisted around to look out the back window and put the vehicle in reverse. She floored it- gravel flying, her passengers grabbing onto anything they could find as they were flung forward.

"We're gonna die," Regulus horsely whispered, face white.

"Nonsense!" Petunia muttered determinedly as they sped backwards down the drive towards the edge of the wards, "Sometimes you just have to do things the muggle way!"

They burst past the Malfoy wards, cloaked death eaters suddenly appearing along with the muggle country road. Petunia shrieked in alarm, but didn't hesitate to continue their backward motion. She slammed into the first startled death eater at full speed, then swung the wheel sharply aligning the vehicle with the quiet country lane, dark wizards scattering out of the way. She stomped on the brakes then switched gears ignoring the spell fire shattering the windows.

Lucius reached over the seat to place a hand on Petunia's shoulder, "Mione, Reg, grab a hold of me, we're almost past their wards." The car roared as it leapt forward, catching a few masked wizards unaware. Fiendfyre erupted behind them and Petunia let out a shout as she gave the car all it had, racing for the edge.

The car occupants screamed as a tree was magically felled in front of them. They continued on their trajectory, hurtling towards the new barrier at alarming speed Petunia frantically braking to no avail. She spun the wheel hard, the car spinning out- CRACK!

They fell in a heap on Lady Bones' parlor floor, Flopsy and Lolly ringing their ears anxiously beside them.

The Malfoy heir was the first to collect himself. "We're under attack," Lucius gasped out distangling himself from the pile before moving to lay Cissa on a couch, Lady Bones and Bella rushing to his side. "Papa and Mama are defending the family ward books. If Riddle and his followers get those, even if they can't use most of them, they can hole up somewhere and we'd never be able to touch them."

Gabriel's face was thunderous, "Thimble! Grab my portkey." A house elf appeared with a watch in hand, "I can take yous also Master if it dont work. Bones' elves keyed to the Malfoys wards last year."

"Papa!" Amelia shouted trying to reach out and snag his robe.

Lord Bones serious expression twisted to smile warmly at his daughter and his wife now standing anxiously beside her, "To whatever end." He disappeared with a crack.

"We could have used an ELF!" Regulus howled from the floor, "I lost years off my life for nothing!"

Petunia blushed as she sat up next to him, looking down at her lap mumbling, "When Lucius said magic couldn't work, I assumed that meant Flopsy too. No one told me there was a distinction."

Flopsy stood beside a trembling Petunia, continuing to ring her ears. "Sorry I was bads elf! Elfs not to magic masters witouts asked. Its forbiddeds, but we hads to save childrens. Don't throws us out, we hads to!" The elf broke into a sob.

At Petunia's baffled expression Hermione shakily cut in while rolling a small stone between her fingers, "When house elves tie themselves to magical families, their magic becomes bound to ours, so the elves can't move wizards or alter our magic without our magic allowing it. It's why Flopsy couldn't fix your Gryffindor hairdo over the summer." She turned her attention to Lolly, Flopsy sobbing too loudly, "I don't even know how you were able to do it."

"We grabs Mistress Tunesy, no magics to fights ours. Everyones touch through her, so pop likes portskey!" Lolly explained her expression turning sad,"Stills, we move wizards on purpose withouts asks. We're PERVERTS!"

Petunia looked at her elf incredulously before pulling Flopsy into a tight hug, "You're the best elves in the world! Absolutely brilliant!"

Lucius, who had been partially listening while tending to his fiance nodded his agreeance, "Papa and Mama will understand. They won't end your contracts on a technicality, especially since it saved our lives." Flopsy and Lolly grinned brightly before popping away to help the Bones elves.

Regulus slumped his head on the floor, "We still could have used an elf from the beginning."

Lucius laughed, "You're looking at it all wrong Regs. Think of the story we can now tell - Harrowing escape in Papa's muggle death trap! Much better than house was attacked so we asked the elves to pop us to safety- while obviously a brilliant choice, not nearly as exciting."

Bella looked up, "Wait, you did what?!"

"Yes," Petunia tittered ignoring Bella's gasp of horror, "But when we retell it we need to leave out the parts where we screamed hysterically and Regulus started crying as we faced our imminent death by tree."

Regulus eyed her like she'd grown an extra head before he broke into hysterical laughter, Petunia soon joining in. All choosing to not think of the battle currently going on at the manor and the casualties that will result. Lily watched them, hovering over her sister frantically while Hermione continued to sit where they'd landed on the floor numbly fiddling with the stone she had made years ago when she was teaching herself from the family's advanced ward books. It glowed, flickering red on and off- the intruders were still trying to breech the infamous Malfoy wards. They'd have no luck, not even Tom could get through them without permission.

Hermione whispered to the stone and watched as names appeared on it, showing those who were keyed to the manor wards outside of the Malfoy family. The only death eater names to appear were those of the Blacks and Rossiers. It looked to go blank, Hermione breathing a sigh of relief, when suddenly one more name etched faintly onto the stone before vanishing. Hermione wanted to retch- he must have placed some sort of magical fail safe to keep himself keyed in without Papa knowing.

She had to warn her parents that Riddle still had access to the manor- Papa had to reset the wards. Her parents and Lord Bones against the Blacks and Rossiers was deadly, however they had no chance if Riddle makes an appearance. 'And why wouldn't he to destroy a family of traitors.' Hermione thought bitterly. She stood up slowly to not garner attention and moved to the hallway where she couldn't be overheard while the others were distracted.

"Lolly," Hermione whispered summoning her elf to her side, "Take me home." The house elf hesitated, but at the determined look in her mistress' eye she nodded reluctantly. Hermione appeared in her bedroom, immediately darting for her night stand to grab her wand.

She sprinted for the stairs, moving the fastest she ever had in this life. She leapt over the bannister, cushioning her fall with a spell before bolting for the dining room. She swung open the door she had been dumped out of previously to see the room in carnage. Walburga and the Rossiers were dead, Mama was on the ground- arm gone- presumably still alive because Papa was standing above her fighting while bleeding heavily from his side. Gabriel was in a duel with Cygnus and Druella, while Orion focused on the Malfoys.

Hermione sent a curse at Druella, Lady Black's dodge of Gabriel's expelliarmus the only thing saving her from being disembowled by Hermoine's surprise attack. Druella spun to face the direction the dark spell had come from to see the youngest Malfoy staring her down.

"You!" Druella spat, hurling a blood boiling hex, "You destroyed my daughter!"

Hermione deflected the spell with a transfigured chair back. "It's all a matter of perspective." She stepped deftly out of the way of a cruciatus, flinging a bone crusher in retaliation, "From where I'm standing I saved her."

Druella brought up a shield to block the spell. Hermione sent a burst of raw magic directly at the shield, destroying it and blistering Druella's arms. Lady Black reared back with a screech; Hermione pursued her advantage unleashing a fire spell. Druella writhed, sending spells wildly to no avail. She contorted sideways with pain as she burned only to witness Gabriel fell Cygnus. With a cry of rage she sent one last curse aimed at Lord Bones. Hermione shouted a warning, but it was too late. He looked up just in time to see the green light ram into him. He smashed against the wall, Druella cackling madly as the flames finally took her.

Hermione's shout alerted Papa to her presence. He spun frantically towards his daughter's voice opening up his guard. Orion surged forward sending a curse straight from the darkest depths of his family's library at Papa. It hit Abraxus straight in the chest and he doubled over choking, blood bubbling from his mouth.

Hermione screamed rushing to her father's side. She knelt down beside him in blind panic, running mentally through her lists of counter-spells trying to determine what could fix this. Orion laughed as he kicked her away, sending her sprawling into the corner. He began to stalk towards her, wand raised.

"Foolish woman! This is why you leave dueling to the men-" he was cut off by Mama who had grabbed his ankle with her hand. He pointed his wand down to curse her when Papa lunged forward with the last of his strength knocking Orion's wand away.

"So proud of you, our Little Rose." Estel gave her daughter one final look before closing her eyes, her magic humming to life around her. Orion tried to shake her off, but Mama held tight. The room shook and a great gust picked up, causing Hermione to turn away covering her head. With a ear splitting crack it ended, and when she looked back up Mama, Papa, and Orion were crumpled in a heap, splintered pieces of the dining table that had been near them completely cleared and thrown against the walls.

Hermione felt her world collapse as she let out a wail. She crawled across the destroyed dining room floor to them, where she checked for a pulse. There was none, but Mama and Papa were smiling, Estel's hand no longer grasping Orion's ankle but clasped in both of Papa's.

Mione sat there, staring down at them crying, until slow clapping drew her eyes to the door.

"I apparently arrived too late, I've missed the fun! I didn't expect such a resistance though, who knew Estel had that in her," his voice turned thoughtful, "Well Abraxus obviously, no wonder he was so insistent upon marrying her. Had I known I might have tried for her hand myself." He smiled smugly, Hermione recoiling disgusted.

His smile turned to a frown, "While the Rossier's were expendable the Blacks were not, who will pay for their spilt bood? You?" He eyed Hermione, his irises beginning to bleed red.

"And Lord Gabriel Bones allowed through the Malfoy wards unhindered and ready to come to the Malfoys aid, this type of alliance was truly unexpected. Abraxus surely outdid himself." He bent down to be level with Hermione, "I would normally offer you the chance to erase the sins of the parents, but a badger allies with badgers. This almost threat wreaks of the 'loyal' house- you played a key part." He circled about her, "A rather fetching part mind you, but none-the-less palpitable."

He stopped directly in front of her, "I regret to inform you your life is already forfeit. However, if you help me find what I'm looking for I promise to give your brother a chance to redeem himself and leave him to his pretty betrothed." He ran a hand across her jaw and under her chin, lifting her gaze to his. "Well?"

Hermione bobbed her head in understanding. Riddle grinned turning away towards the door. She contemplated shooting him in the back, but knew it would do no good with his horcruxes in place, besides he was too guarded at the moment, despite however it may appear otherwise. "You know what I'm here for, library or study?"

"Library."

He began making his way down the hall towards the far end of the manor. She started the walk with him, a few steps behind, before silently casting a false echo to trail him so it would seem she was still following. She muffled her feet and took off at a dead sprint the opposite way down the hall, praying he wasn't hiding a talent for collegiate running- she just needed at least a 30 second head start. Hermione knew it was now or never.

She had turned down a different hallway and was almost to the kitchen when she heard the cursing and sound of armor being smashed. She opened the kitchen window and dropped onto the garden pathway. Using the glow of the once festive orbs floating along the grounds for Christmas, she began weaving through the rose bushes and fountains looking for the manor's ward stone. She'd stumbled upon it a few times playing as a child, not til later knowing what it actually was.

She ran past the pond, tripping over a rock to land hard into a rose bush beside a willow. She pulled herself out of it, cursing, and while turning to stand caught sight of runes a few feet away. 'There' she breathed.

She scrambled to the stone, slicing her hand with the edge of the rock before placing it on the runes. As her blood seeped into the stone she connected with the wards, generations of magic filling her as she felt the different weaves and layers of her ancestral magic from all the different Lord Malfoys. It was overwhelming even though she knew what to expect from the books. However, through the rushing current of different magical signatures making up the history of her family she felt one that gave a calm gentle tug, slow and soft. 'Papa.'

She centered herself around that thread in the great family wards, the one her father had placed. Taking a deep breath she called on her magic, letting it flow through her and pour into the runes.

"I, Scion of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy, Daughter of the Fallen Lord, call on the aid of my ancestors." The stone pulsed.

The gravel nearby began to crunch at a frantic pace, Riddle was drawing near.

"Our line is in danger, invaders threaten our House. No more shall our wards be breached." Light began spilling from the runes, "Reset the guards, recall permissions. Only those with the blood of our house shall step foot on our lands until the next Lord Malfoy decrees."

"AVADA KED-"

"So mote it be!" The stone blazed like the sun, magic surging forth from the runes in all directions covering every blade of grass, stone, and structure. Hermione felt the drain on her body and magical core as the power of centuries flowed through her and out, reweaving the wards and adding a new layer of her signature to them. She vaguely heard a garbled roar before the world suddenly went silent and dark.

Hermione was alone on the grounds.

A/N: I know I didn't want to kill them off either, but I planned the plot out from start to finish before I started writing, and I've got to stick to it. I did warn it was going to get darker; they are in a war. On the plus side, I'm planning on writing a short story (2 chapters max) about how Abraxus came to be with with Estel from Abraxus' point of view set during their last year at Hogwarts. Let me know what you think (of that idea and/or this chapter of course).