Chapter 10

We all wear masks and the time comes when we cannot remove them
without removing our own skin.
~André Berthiaume

Once darkness fell, Hermione found herself staring out of her bedroom window. Her image reflected in the dark glass. She stared at the stars that appeared against the velvet black backdrop. She glared up to the fool moon as it appeared from behind the clouds and the mist. She watched how shadows emerged from the night, making their way along the gravel path towards the front door of the Manor. She listened how downstairs the first footsteps began to echo off the walls, the sound of chairs scraping across the wooden floor as people found their seats. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she glanced down at her wand, resting in the window sill. For the past fifteen minutes she had contemplated whether to take it downstairs once she was called, or whether to leave it here.

The large clock in the hall struck seven and she turned on her heels. In the final second she grasped her wand and stored it up her sleeve. She left her room and descended down the stairs. The hall was lit by candle light and she found Bellatrix waiting at the bottom step. Her raven curls fell almost playfully down her shoulders and she seemed to glow in the weak candle light. Charcoal eyes met Hermione's and a smile spread across ruby lips.

When Hermione reached the bottom step, Bellatrix took her hand and placed her lips against her ear. "The Dark Lord wishes to see you, my love..." Soft fingers brushed against Hermione's neck down to her collarbone and came to a rest against the swell of her breasts under her corset. Hermione took a sharp breath in when Bellatrix cupped her breast. "Tonight, all your answers will be found. And I promise you are to be mine forever..."

"Lead the way..." Hermione whispered softly when Bellatrix pulled back and together, their hands linked, they walked down the candle lit corridor towards the drawing room. The wooden doors magically swung open and revealed the long table in the middle of the room, surrounded by chairs. Every chair in the room was taken, apart from the two directly beside the main chair at the head of the table. Hermione held her head high and pride rushed through her veins as she entered the room at Bellatrix's side. She instantly recognised the faces of most of those present here tonight. Her hazel eyes were slowly drawn to the throne like seat at the head of the table.

The Dark Lord sat tall and proud. His skin was pale, almost see through, and it seemed to glow in the orange gloom from the fire place. The giant snake he called his pet had found a place to rest at the back of his chair and the Dark Lord's slim, bony fingers were stroking Nagini's head calmly. Now that the doors opened, his head whipped around. His snake like features were illuminated by the dim light and his thin, red eyes instantly began to glow. The tip of his tongue crept from inside his mouth as he spoke. His voice was high pitched and unnatural.

"Miss Granger..." His red eyes fixed on Hermione. His face was emotionless and Nagini seemed annoyed the tender stroking had been stopped as she gave a loud hiss from the back of his chair. The Dark Lord ignored her. Instead, he searched Hermione's face and inspected her as if she was an interesting new specimen he had never seen before. "I have heard much about you..."

"Thank you, My Lord" Hermione answered respectfully and held still when Bellatrix stopped walking. The raven haired Death Eater sought approval to take her seat at the Dark Lord's side and he gave her a quick nod. Bellatrix made her way around the table and slipped in the seat nearest to the Dark Lord. It only left the chair to the left of that vacant. Hermione's eyes had not moved from his face. She stood rigid and tall, without a single hint of fear in her posture. "I am honoured to be accepted in your presence tonight, My Lord..."

"And so you must be. They tell me, your blood is full of mud. Is that true?" The Dark Lord questioned and Hermione felt a jolt of anger in the pit of her stomach at the mention of her heritage. She hated what she was. She hated what others believed she was. She was to prove them wrong. And she would prove them all wrong. It seemed the Dark Lord insisted on increasing her humiliation. Around the table a few of the Death Eaters laughed. "Your parents are Muggles, are they not?"

"They are, My Lord. But they are no family of mine. I do not consider them my parents and I haven't done so for several years. I do not share the opinions Muggles are equal to wizards, My Lord. I believe I was born into a Muggle family to show them there is a superior race..." Hermione spoke through clenched teeth. She shot a dark look across the table and instantly, Yaxley fell silent. He had been laughing at her embarrassment a few seconds ago but the reminder of what she had done the last time they engaged in battle still lay fresh in his mind. No doubt he suspected she had murdered Rodolphus. The silence around the table did not remain unnoticed and the Dark Lord looked around before fixing his gaze on Hermione again.

"You hold a lot of power for a Mudblood, Miss Granger. You have managed to silence even my most loyal followers with a mere look. And I dare mention you have displayed a fair amount of... hatred" There was an approving sound coming from across the table. Bellatrix was leaning in, her charcoal eyes also resting on Hermione. The Dark Lord glanced at the raven haired Death Eater for a moment. Instantly, Bellatrix sat up. "Bellatrix, please repeat the request you made to me earlier..."

"I wish to marry Miss Granger, My Lord..." Bellatrix spoke loudly, her eyes piercing into Hermione's. A deafening silence followed her words. A bit further down the table, Narcissa's blue eyes also rested on Hermione. Bellatrix straightened her back. "Since my husband's unfortunate demise, I am off the opinion a strength like hers ought not to be wasted, My Lord. She holds potential. We all know what she can become. What she is..."

Hermione frowned. Bellatrix's words were intense. Bellatrix's desire to marry her was genuine, Hermione could see it lingering in her charcoal eyes. But it was not that part of her words that had captivated her. It was the second part, describing what she could become or what she already was, that had intrigued her and she took a deep breath in. Instantly the other occupants in the room seemed to remember she was still there and all sets of eyes fixed on hers once again. Bellatrix's included, though they were the only ones expression a twisted sense of devotion.

"Ah yes, of course" the Dark Lord spoke and around the table people suddenly regained some of their interest. Hermione saw Lucius Malfoy glance at Voldemort before dropping his gaze to the table. His whole body posture screamed 'coward'. The Dark Lord chose to ignore him. "Miss Granger is mostly unaware of the true nature of her presence here tonight...If she wishes to marry Bellatrix, she must know the truth..."

"My Lord..." Hermione cleared her throat and swallowed down the uncomfortable lump that had nestled there. Her heart had slowed down in her chest and she cocked her head. "Forgive me, My Lord, but may I have the liberty to speak?" When she received a curt nod she took a deep breath. Her hazel eyes fixed on Bellatrix. "I will gratefully accept the hand of Bellatrix Black in marriage, My Lord, if it pleases you. But I must, unfortunately, confess as to some confusion over my situation..."

"Your confusion is not misplaced, Miss Granger" the Dark Lord answered and he made a brief hand gesture towards the table. Her invitation to join them had been given and Hermione began to make her way towards Bellatrix and eventually slipped down into the vacant seat. "And I shall oblige to your request to marry Bellatrix and serve as your Bonder, of course. For now however, I must ask of you to listen and to listen carefully..."

Silence filled the drawing room and around her, Hermione watched how the other Death Eaters suddenly sat up. Lucius had taken his eyes off the table and fixed them on their Master. Anticipation could be felt, it pulsated in their midst. Hermione's eyes eventually glanced at Bellatrix and the raven haired woman who had become her lover met her gaze. A smile spread across Bellatrix's face and Hermione allowed her hand to slip into hers under the table. A touch so simple, so kind, knew far more depth than anyone could ever imagine. She had never dared to think she would be here tonight. To sit at the same table as the Dark Lord himself, to face him and to be at his side. Only this moment truly could erase the disgusting past she had once known. Life had started over. She would be reborn after tonight.

"My friends" the Dark Lord spoke and looked around the table. "It is with great pleasure I welcome back into our circle the final heir to the Drakos estate..." There was a sharp intake of breath and soft whisper began to rise from those seated around the table. "The daughter of Kharon and Malinda has returned..."

Hermione looked up to the Dark Lord. Confusion riddled her face and one question after the other began to reach the surface. Suddenly her mouth became dry and she pulled her hand free from Bellatrix's and placed both hands on the smooth surface of the wooden table. Nagini began swirling down the arm rest of the Dark Lord's chair and made her way onto the table, coming to a rest beside Hermione's hand. There, she curled up and the immense snake seemed to suddenly guard her.

"My Lord?"

"You, my child, are not the seed of Muggles. You are the only true heir to two of the most powerful wizarding families that has ever been alive..." The Dark Lord said slowly and around the table several sets of eyes snapped in Hermione's direction. Someone whispered that they could see the resemblance now. Hermione remained silent and stared up at the wizard who would soon conquer the world. "The blood in your veins is not tainted with mud, my child. It is perhaps purer than that of most of those present here tonight..."

"There must be a mistake, My Lord..." Hermione whispered. Beside her, Bellatrix shook her head but Hermione ignored her. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. Her blood felt as if was going to boil and a sharp, instant headache caused her to rub her eyes. There was a sharp, horrid pain in her chest – as if something had been broken into. A cold feeling began to spread from her heart into her body, leaving her to shiver as her fingers briefly went numb.

"Kharon Drakos and Malinda Macaula were the last heirs to two powerful wizarding families. Their union brought together two intense souls, darker than the darkest night. The remainder of their families had been destroyed by feuds over power and land, or simply by insanity. Knowing that their destiny pended on the birth of an heir, they had one child. A child, or so the prophecy claims, would be destined to carry on and bring forth the darkness they once brought upon any who opposed them..." the Dark Lord spoke slowly, emphasising every word. With every sentence that fell from his lips, the intense pain in Hermione's chest grew, as if something was strangling her heart. "Their deaths were caused by the Ministry a mere seven nights after the child was born. A child named Eris. Legend has it that Eris was the goddess of discord and destruction..."

"This can't be..." Hermione whispered, now desperatly clutching at her chest as the pain spread down into her stomach and into her legs. Her voice sounded constricted. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Impossible..."

"The Ministry had heard of the child, and of the Prophecy of what she was to become. They tried to find her but when they reached the Drakos estate, they found an empty crib. The child was missing and they have never been able to locate her since. Eris was placed with Muggle parents, safe from the claws of the Ministry; until the day broke she would return to Hogwarts. Her arrival would not remain unnoticed. A Muggleborn sorted into Slytherin would certainly draw attention. A wait began and five years ago, the day arrived when she walked through the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A studious Muggleborn, or so it was believed, heard the Sorting Hat cry Slytherin..."

"My parents..." Hermione whispered as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. The people she had loathed for the past five years, whom she had resented, were not her parents. The revelation instantly numbed her heart, slowly erasing the pain that had begun to spread. The thumping headache began to subside and a sudden outburst of strength came to live in the pit of her stomach, rushing through her veins and straight into her heart. One final sharp jolt of pain, followed by the pure sensation of something being torn apart, followed and she fell back into her chair, colliding harshly with the wooden back rest. She convulsed for a few seconds as if she had been hit by the Cruciatus curse before her limbs went numb and her eyes fluttered shut. A soft groan escaped from her throat and her body eventually slipped out of the seat and slumped down onto the floor.

~()~

The room was cold when she opened her eyes. The bed was hers and yet it felt unfamiliar. She was not lying under the sheets but on top of them, fully dressed. The fire was no longer burning and it was still dark outside. Heavy rain hammered against the dark glass and thunder rumbled dangerously in the sky. A loud crash was followed by blinding lightning, briefly allowing the room to bathe in yellow light. It was in that instant that she saw her, standing by the wall, with her hands covering her face. The raven curls fell down her shoulders, hiding the features she had grown to love so much.

"Bella?" she asked and she could hear her footsteps come nearer through the darkness until she appeared at the side of the bed. She could make out the features of her face and even in the darkness her charcoal eyes still glistened. Her head felt strangely light and she pushed herself up into a seated position. An unexpected rush of energy and power overwhelmed her. "What happened?"

"The seal broke" Bellatrix answered, sounding rather hoarse. Hermione briefly wondered if she had been crying but in the shadows she could not see the tracks of tears. Bellatrix did not touch her. Hermione wished she would but the raven haired woman did not reach out her hand. "It released the true identity within you. You are Eris, Hermione..."

Hermione shook her head. "My parents are John and Karen Granger..." she repeated the words she had been taught since she was a child. But as they fell from her lips she detected her own doubt and her hazel eyes snapped up to meet Bellatrix. "They are..."

"They're not, my love..." Bellatrix whispered and the sharpness returned in her voice. "They merely believed they were..."

"The Dark Lord left me to be raised by Muggles?" Hermione condemned his actions unexpectedly harsh and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She felt energetic. She landed comfortably on the floor and started across the room, towards the window. Another bright flash of lightning lit up her face. Behind her, Bellatrix gasped and Hermione turned to look at her. "What is it?"

"You must see for yourself..." Bellatrix answered and pointed at the dark glass. Hermione stepped nearer to the window and watched suspiciously as the reflection appeared. A reflection she had never seen before. One with thick, brown curls that fell down the sides of her face and the base of her neck. Intense eyes stared back at her and it was as if the features of her face had changed. Her cheek bones seemed higher, her lips darker and the shape of her body was different. She reached out to touch the image of the girl that had appeared. Drops of rain spoiled her reflection and she touched the face that was her own and yet so unfamiliar. She turned to look at Bellatrix, who still stood beside the bed.

"Why can you not face me?" Hermione asked softly and made her way back towards the woman who had become so much more than a lover or a nemesis. "Don't you remember who I am, Bella?"

Bellatrix's hand shot out and slapped Hermione harshly across the cheek. The pain was instant and Hermione's head jolted backwards. She instantly recovered and turned towards the raven haired woman. Anger flickered deeply beyond hazel eyes and she hesitated before reaching her own hand. Bellatrix was quicker and caught it in midair, bringing it close to her lips before biting down on the inside of Hermione's wrist. The younger brunette squirmed when Bellatrix's teeth sank down into her flesh and moaned when she could feel the drops of warm blood begin to flow down her arm.

"You still need the pain to feel..." Bellatrix whispered when she pulled away and grasped Hermione's hair, yanking her towards her before closing her lips around Hermione's and kissing her ferociously. Hermione's eager arms enveloped around Bellatrix's tall frame and pulled her closer. She needed to feel every inch of her. "You still need to feel me..."

"I will always need you. I feel nothing without you" Hermione breathed when Bellatrix released her lips. She took the older woman's hand into her own and allowed their eyes to meet. The immense loyalty she felt was more powerful than anything she had felt before. "Let me be your wife..."

"You must learn the full truth, my love" Bellatrix said slowly. "The Dark Lord modified the Muggles' memories and they believed you were their own. They have never known anything different. However, now that you have learned your true identity, he will have to erase you from their minds. You can no longer exist in both worlds. You were born to be with us, with me, my love. The prophecy told us how one soul would be born, destined to carry on what had been destroyed...Hermione, Eris... "

"And no one knew..." Hermione whispered and her eyes were drawn to the rainy glass. "No one recognised me..."

"That old fool Dumbledore was too busy fussing over that other prophecy child" Bellatrix said contemptuously and ran her fingers down Hermione's jaw. The brunette shivered under her touch and turned her body longingly towards Bellatrix. The raven haired woman smiled. "Harry Potter. Oh how great his Golden Boy has turned out to be. How he is supposedly born to defeat the Dark Lord. But dear old Albus forgot about the one who can change the world..."

Hermione leant in and her lips crashed down upon Bellatrix's lips. The tip of her tongue traced the outline of Bellatrix's lips and cupped the side of her cheek. Her nails dug into the flesh of her cheek. The dark haired woman flinched under the sharp pain. Hermione's teeth nibbled on Bellatrix's lips and Bellatrix's arms enveloped around her, pulling her closer until their bodies crashed together. Eager, desperate fingers began unlacing the leather corset.

"The truth is mine now, my love. Now please let me be yours..."


A/N: If anyone sees the resemblance between Hermione and some boy with a lightning scar... yes, that was exactly what I attempted to create. Almost like a second Chosen One. Harry was born to fight for the good. With this twist of tale I have decided Hermione was born for the opposite. A child born into such a dark wizarding family she would be destined to join the Dark Lord. Her marriage to Bellatrix puts her in the perfect position to fulfil the prophecy made about her