Hermione

It was Saturday afternoon, three days since he left and I counted the days till his return. I learned from Snape that he was ordered to protect me, along with Draco. I wasn't sure what they were suppose to be protecting me from, but I let them follow me around everywhere I went. I knew all too well of the punishments my father could hand out and they were never pleasant. I decided I needed a break from my constant shadows so I told them I was going to spend the day in my room, alone. As my luck would have it, I wasn't entirely on my own, Nagini had been slithering around my room for the passed twenty minutes, almost like she was pacing.

"Would you please stop moving?" I finally snapped. "It is hard to concentrate with you slithering around."

Somehow she managed to glare at me, "I do not understand why my master has left me here with you." She hissed, resuming her pacing.

"You and me both." I sighed. "You don't have to stay in here all the time."

"Unlike you mistress, I can not open doors."

I rolled my eyes. "You could have asked me to open the door."

"That was not my point." She hissed at me. Her hissing seemed more pronounced when she was angry at me. "Most of the doors in this blasted house are always shut." She peered at me, her beady black eyes boring into mine. "Wouldn't you like to explore this unknown territory?"

"It's a house Nagini, not many interesting things to discover."

"You are wrong mistress." I looked at her curiously. "This is a very old house, built by wizards, if we looked I am sure we could find some hidden passageways."

"We?"

"You and I, of course." She looked towards the door and then back at me, I could have sworn I seen her smirking.

"You want to come with me?" Her head moved up and down slowly. "Why?"

"I am as bored as you are mistress, and I may only be a snake but I get curious too. I am curious as to why master thinks this is the perfect place for a safe house."

I rose a brow up skeptically. "It's because it is in the muggle world."

"I doubt that is the only reason, master is more wise than you think."

I sighed, closing my book. She had discovered my weakness... knowledge. "Fine, how do I get rid of my bodyguards?"

"Tell them we are looking for mice for dinner and that I will protect you."

"Is everybody forgetting that I am a witch?" I asked, exasperated.

"Of course not, master just does not wish to lose his daughter again."

I snorted in disbelief. "Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason." I stood up and grabbed my wand from the night stand by my bed. "Let's go then."

"Wise choice mistress."

I rolled my eyes and ignored the comment, making my way out in the hallway where Snape and Draco were sitting playing chess. "I am taking Nagini hunting for her dinner." They stood up to follow but I raised my hand. "Nagini wishes for me alone to accompany her, she promises to watch over me. You guys go find something to do." Without waiting for an answer I marched down the hallway, Nagini close beside me.

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Harry Potter

"What's wrong Harry?" I looked up from my book and watched as Ginny entered the room and sat beside me.

"Nothing, I am just looking through this ancestral book." I moved it closer to Ginny so she could see. "Was curious to see how all the pureblooded families were intertwined."

"Most of us are all related in some way Harry."

"I know, I thought it would be interesting to see all of the families the Potter line is related to."

Ginny gave me a knowing look, which I ignored and went back to the book. "Your not going to find some long lost family Harry."

"You never know Ginny. I mean Dumbledore sent me to my Aunt's because he thought I would be the safest there-"

"Which technically you were." Ginny added.

"-But, because of that, Dumbledore never really looked for any close relatives that might have taken me instead." I went on as if she didn't say anything.

"What would that accomplish now Harry?" She asked quietly.

"Maybe when this is all over I will be able to reconnect with my father's family." I answered just as quietly.

"Harry, did you ever think there was a particular reason why Dumbledore didn't send you to some wizard relative?" She asked, "Maybe he did it because you have no other-"

"I can't believe that Ginny. I have you and the other Weasley's and Hermione and I consider you all as family..." I trailed off.

"But you would like to know your family better."

I nodded, unable to answer her. Maybe she was right, that all my family were truly gone, that the last family I ever had died when I was just a baby. I shook my head and looked down at the book again. She was wrong, I knew there were some that were still alive, carrying on the Potter name. It couldn't just be me, could it?

"Harry, listen to me." Ginny grabbed my face with both hands and lifted my head so I was looking her in the eye, "no matter what you decide to do, just remember that I am here for you. So are Hermione and Ron."

"Oh, Ginny, your a genius!" I yelled excitedly, jumping up and grabbing some parchment.

"Of course I am... Why am I a genius?"

"If there was anybody who could find my living relatives it would be Hermione." I answered. "Or at the very least, know where to look to find a book about it."

"Why would she know?"

"Hermione knows everything." I grinned at her and started writing the letter to Hermione.

"Almost everything." I heard Ginny mutter. I looked at her curiously, but I was too excited to asked her about it.

I scribbled out a quick letter and stood up, I opened the window and whistled, waiting for my chocolate brown barn owl to come. Once he perched on the sill I handed him the letter. "To Hermione please." The owl hooted and took off, soaring into the night sky.

"I hope you know what you're doing Harry." Ginny said wearily. I looked at her again, trying to figure out what has gotten into her, but decided to drop it. She would tell me when she was ready.

"Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley called loudly from the kitchen.

I grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her up from the couch. "Lets go eat."

"Sure." She muttered, letting me drag her to the kitchen.

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Hermione

After two hours of exploring the house the only thing I had to show for it was a grumpy snake and sore feet. "There is nothing here Nagini, like I said. It's just a house."

She hissed at me, her tongue sticking out. "We must have missed something."

"We have searched every where, where else is there to look?"

"The basement, perhaps?"

I sighed, this snake was stubborn. "We have been down there countless times, there is only the kitchen and the elves' living quarters."

Her eyes widened, which I never thought was possible seeing as how she had no eye lids. "We should ask the elves."

"For?"

She stared at me like I was an idiot. "The elves would know of any secrets this house may hold." She started slithering back towards the basement. "They have to know everything about the house they work in."

"Why?"

"To ensure that there is always an escape."

"Of course." I sighed. "Lead on Nagini." Hopefully the elves would know nothing and I could go back to my room and finish reading.

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"Winky does not understand Mistress." The house elf looked from Nagini to me nervously, probably thought the snake was going to eat her.

"Stupid creature." Nagini hissed, causing Winky to jump.

"She's not stupid Nagini." I snapped at the snake. "Winky, is there any hidden rooms in this house?"

Winky scrunched her face up, was that her 'thinking face'? "Winky knows of one room that no one else in the house knows about."

"Where is it?"

"In your room Mistress."

"Say what?" I asked, confused.

"There is a hidden door in your room, it leads to a secret place that hasn't been used in centuries."

"Where is the hidden door?" I asked. "I looked in my room for hours and I found no such thing."

"It can only be visible if the holder has the key."

"Winky, where is the key?" I asked, exasperated. Why did house elves have to always talk in small sentences?

"Winky has it Mistress. Winky found it while making your room."

"Can I have it please?" Winky dug in her little apron pocket and pulled at an old fashioned brass key. "Thank you." I smiled at her as she handed it over. "Shall we?" I asked Nagini. She didn't reply, just left the kitchen and made her way back to my room.

"What are the odds that a secret door would be in my room?" I asked.

"Maybe Master knows about the room and wanted you to find it." Nagini suggested.

"This is the Malfoy's house, why would he know about it?"

"Master is wise." Was the only answer I got.

"Hey, how was mouse hunting?" Draco asked, coming out of the dining hall.

I shrugged. "It was fine. Not a lot of mice in the house though."

"Delicious." Nagini answered and I could have sworn she licked her lips.

"How about you ditch the snake and we go have some fun?" Draco asked, winking at me.

"Tempting, but I promised Nagini I'd help her make her bed."

Draco stared at me blankly. "Since when do you get along with that snake?"

I shrugged, I was itching to get to my room and Draco was slowing me down. "Doesn't matter. I'll find you when I'm done."

"Well... OK." He answered, walking back the way he came.

"Finally." Nagini hissed. "If he didn't leave soon I was going to bite him."

"Aren't you poisonous?"

"Of course." I shuddered at the thought.

I opened my door and moved aside so Nagini could pass by me. Once she was inside I followed and closed the door behind me. The key instantly turned warm in my hand, I looked down to notice it had a light red glow around it. I moved my hand around slowly, stopping when it got warmed. I looked up to see it was pointing towards my closet. I walked over to my closet and opened the doors, stepping inside the overly large room. I could have put another bed in here. I walked all the way towards the back, Nagini right behind me.

"A closet." She hissed. "How predictable."

I moved the key closer towards the wall and the light grew brighter, on the wall a key size hole slowly appeared. "Here goes nothing." I muttered. I inserted the key and turned it. The wall suddenly shifted and a door opened. I looked at Nagini nervously. She slithered passed me and into the darkness ahead of us. After a moments hesitation I followed after her, pulling my wand from my sleeve.

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Voldemort

"Did you find it yet?" I asked.

The man in front of me flinched, "No, my Lord. It still eludes us."

"Why have you not found it yet? It is crucial to my plan." I yelled, agitated.

"Forgive me, My Lord." The man squeaked. "We are still searching. Roman says it shouldn't be long now."

I nodded, "For your sake, you better hope so." I flipped my hand, dismissing him. "You have twenty four hours."

"Yes, My Lord." The man disappeared through the door.

"What is it that you seek my Lord?" Bellatrix asked.

I glared at her, my eyes turning to tiny slits. "That is none of your concern."

"Sorry my Lord. Is there anything I could do?"

I stifled the urge to roll my eyes, "you may leave me Bellatrix. Go scout our enemies or something."

"Right away my Lord." She, too, scampered through the door.

"I am surrounded by idiots." I sighed. "The assignment I gave them was simple, but no matter, all will be right again once I find it."

"You shouldn't be in such a rush to die." I jumped at the voice beside, my eyes going impossibly wide at the woman before me."

"Lillith?" I asked. "How is this possible... you're..."

"Dead?" She asked, grinning.

I nodded. "Why are you here?"

She sighed, and floated around so she was in front of me. "I do not have much time Tom. Hermione has been travelling between the veil for awhile. She is in danger."

"Of what?"

"Many souls want the chance to live again. If one of them discover that Hermione can travel between worlds they will force her to.. resurrect them."

"Are you telling me, you are in Purgatory?" Lillith nodded. "Then we can get Hermione to-"

"No!" She yelped. "You must never let Hermione try Tom. It is too dangerous for her. In order to bring back a soul she has to give her life essence to that soul in order for it to be reborn. The longer the soul has been stuck in Purgatory, the more essence she will have to use. She could die."

"If she knew, she would want to try." I argued.

"She does know about this... spell. I have warned her against it."

"You have seen her?" She nodded. "When?"

"Every time she travels to Purgatory, I often talk to her, tell her about the dangers of veil travelling and I have been teaching her how to control it."

"Why are you here Lillith?" I asked mournfully.

She smiled at me, her ethereal glow growing brighter. "Why have you come to torment my heart?"

"You always were a drama queen. Listen to me Tom, what you have planned will fail. You are going to have to choose between your mission and our daughter."

"Why can I not have both?"

She gave me a knowing look. "Our daughter is on the side of good. I do not wish her to choose between her friends and you. Her heart would not be able to bear it Tom. Please, listen to me. I have watched all these years as your heart has turned cold and bitter, but you need to let me go. You have Hermione now, she needs her father. The man I fell in love with all those years ago."

"What if I choose wrong?" I asked,.

"Everybody makes mistakes Tom." She looked behind her as if someone was talking to her. "I must go, I am sorry if seeing me has burdened your heart my love, but I had to see you one last time."

I reached my hand out to touch her, but my hand went right through and then I watched her slowly fading. "Good bye love." I choked.

"My Lord!" Roman came bursting through the doors, flailing his arms like a manic.

"What is it?" I asked gruffly.

"We have found it!" He beamed.

"Good, good." I cleared my throat. "Proceed with the plan, notify Snape it is time."

"Yes sir!" The stout man ran back out the way he came.

To get my mind off of recent events I tuned my mind into Nagini. I watched as she and Hermione explored the house, looking for hidden passageways. I watched at they talked to Winky and she handed Hermione a key. Then I watched Nagini and Hermione discovering the door.

"Good job Nagini." I praised, as I watched her and Hermione walk through the hidden door. "It has begun.

A/N: Here is Chapter 10. Wow.. can not believe we are on chapter 10 already! Seems like I just started this fiction. Haha. Sorry about the cliffhanger about what is behind the secret door. Any guess as to what it is? Well read and review. I will do the same... until next time.

Xoxstorii-gurrlxox