A/N: Nearly 100 reviews (come on, let's get triple digits.) You guys have no idea how grateful I am for all your lovely, beautiful and wonderful comments. I would almost become arrogant because of all the messages that say how you guys love what I have done to this pairing, how its developed since my earliest Bellatrix/Hermione story and how some of you say nobody does it like me. I am honoured and flattered to receive such wonderful messages and you lot must know how grateful I am for an audience like you. I am away for the weekend and hope to write some more while I am away. Thank you, my friends, for standing with me. It means the world. ~Cissy


Chapter 11

So how come when I reach out my finger
it feels like more than distance between us
~Rihanna - California King Bed

Her apartment felt lonely. Walking through the front door after Andromeda had seen to it she got home safe felt like closing the door on the world. Between the walls of her home it was as if nothing had happened. The book she had been reading days earlier still lay on the sofa, the dirty laundry still sat in the basket by the washing machine and the envelopes in the mailbox told her that the mail delivery system had not been disturbed. Instead of turning on the lights Hermione used her wand to light all the candles across the house, followed by a protective enchantment that would prevent them from burning down and setting her house on fire.

That had been three days ago and she had not left her house since. She walked around in a pair of jogging bottoms and a tank top, struggling to make her way around the apartment because of the pain. The bruises had turned a horrible shade of purple and yellow and whenever she took a shower she found herself caressing the injuries. The pain was constant and she found it a strange comfort. She barely slept, spending most of the night awake, staring into the darkness. Every night she saw Bellatrix's face, it flooded back into her mind whenever she closed her eyes. Through the pain she still found the need, the desperation, to feel what she had felt before. Beads of sweat still glistened on her forehead, her upper lip and the valley between her breasts. Her fingers were slick with her juices and her back arched as the name desperately slipped from her lips.

On the morning of day four an owl arrived. It was a beautiful tawny bird with yellow eyes. Hermione recognised it as belonging to Harry and took the letter strapped to its paw but did not bother reading it. It was the third owl in the past two day. Instead of reading the letter she gave the bird some water and watched it fly off until all she could see was a tiny black dot on the horizon. The unread parchment lay abandoned on the table, together with the other two she had not bothered opening. The handwriting on the first one was unfair. The second one belonged to Ron and now Harry. Hermione sighed as she sat down on the sofa and flinched in pain.

She looked up when there was a knock on the front door and glanced at the clock. 9.25 am. She sighed and carefully stood up and walked into the hall to the door. She peered through the peep hole and she sighed in frustration before opening the door. Outside stood Narcissa Malfoy and the older witch's face lit up when she saw Hermione, dressed in grey jogging bottoms and a white tank top. Her thick brown curls fell down her shoulders in a messy pile.

"Oh deep joy," Hermione growled at the sight of the older woman and turned away from the door. She was tempted to slam it in Narcissa's face. "What do you want?"

"To talk," Narcissa said and put her foot in the door before Hermione had a chance to close it. Reluctantly the brunette stepped aside to allow Narcissa in. The older woman filed past her and looked at her as she did. "I hear you have not been replying to your owls. It is considered most rude to leave people waiting for a reply."

"Well if there was a reply worth giving I would have written one," Hermione answered stubbornly and closed the door. She walked back to the living room and Narcissa followed, curiously taking in Hermione's surroundings. Books and magazines littered the table and the floor, the TV was playing on mute and the letters delivered by owl lay untouched on the table. There were some empty tea cups and glasses but Narcissa did not see an empty plate or anything else related to food. A fine-shaped eyebrow shot up.

"When was the last time you ate?" Narcissa inquired and Hermione looked at her.

"What are you, my fairy godmother?" she sneered and Narcissa seemed slightly taken aback by Hermione's sharpness. The brunette was pale, with dark rings around her eyes. Now that Narcissa saw her wearing nothing more than simple bottoms and a top she realised how thin Hermione really was. Hermione noticed Narcissa was looking at her and folded her arms across her chest. "I am not in the mood for company. What can I do for you, Narcissa?"

"People are worried about you," Narcissa said and gestured at the letters on the table. Since the night of the battle at Malfoy Manor, Hermione had been on her mind. She had been worried about her and Narcissa had been unable to erase the images in her head; what she had seen in her bedroom. "Mr Potter and Mr Weasley have written to you and you have not replied."

"Somehow I doubt Ron would have sent you to check on me," Hermione said and walked around the table before sitting down. "You might as well leave. I don't want to talk to you."

"Is this what my sister has done to you?" Narcissa said harshly and Hermione's head whipped up, eyes blazing in anger. "Has she left you feeling miserable because she promised you something? Is this what happens, Hermione? Are you allowing yourself to drown in this poisonous pool? Because that's all Bella is doing to you; she is killing you!"

"You have no idea what it is like," Hermione hissed through clenched teeth and she clenched her fists. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands, drawing blood. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. "You don't know what it feels like to feel something under your skin, another heart that beats almost simultaneous to yours; to have a dream and wake up, not knowing whether it was real. You have no idea what it feels like to feel someone so close to you, inside of you."

"Hermione..."

"Don't," Hermione whispered and shook her head. "Because I know what you're going to say and I don't want to hear it!"

"Bellatrix is a monster, Hermione!"

"Most of us would say you are too!"

There was a silence and Narcissa just stared at the broken looking brunette on the sofa. Behind Hermione's eyes she recognised the anger, the lust, the sadness and the frustration. She raised her hands in helplessness and began pacing around the room. Hermione watched her, struck by how Narcissa's stride was identical to Bellatrix's. As she looked at the dark robes falling around the older woman's body, ignoring the blonde hair with black streaks, it was as if she watched Bellatrix. Instantly her heart roared in her chest.

"My sister wants Potter," Narcissa said and glanced at Hermione. "Are you really going to sell him out?"

"Even if I was, nobody would believe you if you told them," Hermione snapped and stood up, She walked up to Narcissa and cocked her head. "Because, like it or not, nobody trusts you. They never have and they never will. To them you will always be a traitor, the one who took the easy way out and no matter what you do, that image will never change. Not to anyone!"

Narcissa was lost for words and stared at Hermione in a mixture of shock and amusement. Hermione's anger was something she had not expected but it changed the way she thought about the situation.

"If it will never change then why did you bring me with you?"

Hermione's mouth became dry and she was lost for an answer. She shook her head and looked at Narcissa. She didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. All she wanted was Narcissa to leave. She had hoped, every day, that Bellatrix would come once darkness fell. Several nights had passed but nobody had emerged from the shadows. Hermione had spent too much time staring out of the window only to find the darkness staring back at her. She sighed.

"I'm sorry but I meant it when I said I am not in the mood for company" she said, averting her gaze and shook her head. "Maybe it is better if you..." She paused and narrowed her eyes. Something suddenly fell into place. "Hang on, how exactly did you leave Kingsley's place if you're supposed to be watched by an Auror at all times?"

Narcissa shrugged, a teasing smile lingered on her lips. "Spend many years being married to a Death Eater and you pick up some tricks of the trait, I 'm afraid."

"I suppose," Hermione said absentmindedly and looked up to meet the older woman's eyes. "Listen, Narcissa, I really do want to be alone. I am tired and I need to take some more painkillers. Apparently bruised ribs take longer to heal than broken ones and I have come to the stage where I wish I had broken every single one of them. I am sorry I couldn't be of more help and I appreciate your concern but I am really quite all right."

"The only reason I haven't spoken to anyone is that I know nobody will believe me if I do, Hermione."

Hermione smirked. She could picture Ron's face if Narcissa told him she had seen her with Bellatrix. Ron had her on such a pedestal; he had no idea how she had fallen since. "Perhaps it's better that way." She went ahead in walking Narcissa to the front door and when she opened it to reveal the corridor outside she took a deep breath. "I will see you at the Burrow for the next meeting. Feel free to tell the others I am fine."

Narcissa turned to look at Hermione before stepping outside. There was a severity to her voice Hermione had not heard before. It only angered her more. "Just know that I will be watching."

Hermione slowly closed the front door and rested her forehead against the wood. "I know."

Her heart hammered in her chest and inside it felt as if she was being torn apart. Narcissa had admitted she knew about her and Bellatrix, whatever there was to know. Tears burnt behind her eyes but she knew better than to cry. Even now that she was alone tears were a sign of weakness. As she straightened her back her ribs protested in pain and slowly she made her way back to the living room. She picked up the three letters she had received, put them together in a bowl and aimed her wand.

"Incendio."

She watched the paper go up in flames.

~()~

It was late that same night when there was another knock on her door. Hermione had already gone to bed but the knocking continued, becoming louder with every passing second. She slipped out of bed and made her way through the darkness to the front door. When she opened it she found Andromeda standing outside, dressed in a black travelling cloak. The dark haired witch stepped inside without an invitation and looked at Hermione, who stared at her in surprise and shock.

"Can't you sleep or something?" she asked and Andromeda's eyes pierced into Hermione's.

"You need to come with me," Andromeda urged and observed Hermione from head to toe. Dressed in shorts and a simple t-shirt Hermione looked so much younger. The brunette's eyebrows shot up and Andromeda sighed at Hermione's reluctance. "Hermione, something's happened and it really is important that you come with me."

"What happened?" Hermione asked and her eyes suddenly widened.

"Get dressed," Andromeda said softly and briefly put a hand on Hermione's arm. The young brunette went into the bedroom, grabbed a dirty pair of jeans that lay on the floor and slipped them on before grabbing the nearest shirt she could find. She found a pair of socks and grabbed her boots. She was still putting them on by the time she walked back into the hall only to find Andromeda had wandered off into the living room.

When Hermione walked into the room she found Andromeda looking at the some of the pictures on the shelf and the older witch turned around. Hermione was sure she could see sadness in her eyes but she didn't ask. Andromeda merely smiled weakly and took Hermione's hand, leading her to the front door. Hermione double checked to see whether she had her wand and then stepped out into the night. The wind was bitter cold but at least it was not raining. It was misty and thick grey clouds obscured the moon.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked when she realised Andromeda did not show any inclination to Dissaparate straight away. They walked side by side along the road, past parked cars. Andromeda seemed strangely familiar with their location and easily found her way through the streets of London. Every so often the odd window was still illuminated but most houses were dark. It was nearly midnight and most of the hardworking yobs in this neighbourhood had to get up early the next morning.

Hermione looked over her shoulder. The strange feeling that someone was following her crept up on her the longer they walked and she hesitated for just a moment too long. Andromeda held still and she too looked over her shoulder before taking Hermione's arm and walking on. Hermione followed but every so often she looked back and just before Andromeda held still, ready to Dissaparate, she saw a shadow move between two cars. A smile lingered on her lips as the jerky motion of Apparition washed over her. Just before London disappeared into a blur, she saw a flash of black hair.

~()~

Hermione had expected to see the Burrow when she opened her eyes but to her surprise she and Andromeda were standing outside Harry and Ginny's country home. A sense of horror washed over her as the older witch pushed her towards the front door and Hermione reluctantly walked. With every step the anxiety grew. She half and half expected someone to meet her at the door to tell her her friends were dead. But when she reached the front door there was nobody there to greet her. Andromeda just quietly guided her inside and judging by the familiarity with which she made her way to the kitchen, she knew her way around. Walking into the kitchen left Hermione stunned.

Harry and Ron were seated at the table and Ginny was busy making tea. When Hermione walked in their heads whipped up and it was only then that Hermione realised there was a fourth person sitting at the table. A young man who looked very little like the description Harry had given her back in the day. The visitor had dark hair, around the same length as Harry and had a stocky build. He looked nothing like the boy Harry had once described as looking like a beached killer whale who had managed to grow bigger around his waist than he was tall. In fact, Dudley Dursley looked very little like that particular boy.

"Dudley, this is Hermione. She's the girl I told you about," Harry said, making the introductions. Dudley stood up and shook Hermione's hand. If he was wary about being surrounded by two wizards and three witches he wasn't showing it.

"Nice to meet you, Dudley," Hermione smiled politely and looked over her shoulder at Andromeda. Was this really the reason she had been dragged out of bed? To meet Harry's cousin she had heard so many terrible things about but who suddenly sat at Harry' kitchen table as if it happened every week? Surely this could have waited till the morning?

"Now tell Hermione what you told me and Ron," Harry said slowly and Hermione's head whipped back in Dudley's direction. It was only now that she noticed his hands were shaking and there were dark rings around his eyes, much like her own. She slipped into one of the empty chairs and watched as Andromeda did the same. Ginny put the mugs on the table the Muggle way, perhaps not to scare Dudley, and sat down next to Harry. She sighed as she caressed her baby bump.

"I went round to Mum and Dad's house," Dudley began and eagerly picked up the steaming mug of tea, bringing it to his lips before putting it back down without drinking anything. "They were supposed to look after Caitlin and Noah for the weekend but when I got there, nobody answered the door. I used the key but the door wasn't even locked. When I went inside the place had been trashed and they were missing."

Hermione felt her heart sink in her chest and glanced at Harry. Judging from the glint in his green eyes she suspected he too knew exactly what this meant. Harry had not forgiven the Dursley's for the way they had treated him as he was growing up but as he had gotten older he had learnt to understand that, his aunt found it hard to look at him and love him because he reminded her of her sister so much. She had resented Lily for dying and that resentment had passed on to Harry. The perfect picture that she had once held of life had shattered the day she discovered Lily was a witch, laced with the jealousy of not receiving this gift herself.

"And I found this," Dudley said and pointed at something that lay on the table.

Hermione's breath chocked in the back of her throat and she very nearly knocked over her cup of tea. The small knife on the table was almost identical to the one that had cut through her skin, leaving the silver scars on her flesh. A cold chill crept up her spine. She glanced at Andromeda and the older witch slowly nodded. The knife was a message; a very particular message.

"Death Eaters," Hermione breathed.

Harry's eyes met hers. "Voldemort."

"I thought he was dead?" Dudley asked in confusion

"You and me both, mate," Ron answered and his blue eyes fixed on Hermione. "Unfortunately there has been some idiot who felt the need to bring him back from the dead."

Dudley's eyes widened in disbelief and he shot Harry a puzzled look. "You can actually do that? Bring people back from the dead, I mean?" He paused and his eye fell on Hermione's wand sticking out of the back pocket of her jeans. There was a glint of hope in his eye and Hermione realised that Dudley feared his parents had been murdered. "You know, with your..."

"Wand?" Harry finished his sentence and Dudley nodded. "Well, no. Relatively speaking no one can bring back the dead but there are always legends that say one can. And there was this Greek myth about a Ruby Hyacinth that holds the power to open a portal to the underworld and claim back the souls of the dead. Someone figured it out and did it."

"Why would Voldemort take your aunt and uncle?" Hermione asked, suddenly becoming aware of the strange family reunion that was taking place here. "Correct me if I am wrong but you never had the best relationship. Voldemort knows this too."

"They are the only blood relatives I have left," Harry sighed and Hermione experienced a brief flashback to the moment Harry had once said Sirius was the only family he had left. It had not ended well. "He is counting on the fact that that knowledge will draw me out and find them." He paused and glanced at Ginny. It was clear they had talked about this before Hermione arrived and she wondered exactly how much she had missed. "And I will."

"Harry," Andromeda began but Harry shook his head.

"You know what it's like to feel as if you're the only one left," Harry said and Andromeda slowly nodded. "Did you not welcome your sister back when she appeared the other night?" Andromeda smiled, realising the wise words Harry spoke. Forgiveness lay inside all of them. "Besides, what sort of a father would I be to my own child if I don't go and find the only family I've got left?"

"Always the hero," Ron said and Harry pulled a face. Ron's eyes then found Hermione's. "Hey, did you get my owl?"

"Yeah, sorry. I didn't really feel like replying. I spent most of my time in bed," Hermione lied without making eye contact. She could sense Ron's frustration but this was nor the place nor the time to have an argument. She wondered what he was thinking, having already accused her of being too preoccupied with Bellatrix.

"Maybe we can..." Ron began but Hermione's eyes snapped up and shook her head.

"No," she said sharply, cutting of his sentence. Ron's cheeks reddened and it was his turn to look away. Hermione could hear Ginny snort and she wondered if the redhead still expected her to end up with her brother. A teasing smile broke through on her face and she leant across the table. "Actually, Ron, I am seeing someone."

Beside her Andromeda's head snapped up and dark eyes narrowed as she curiously searched Hermione's face. The brunette shot her a look. The blush on Ron's cheeks only spread further the longer Hermione looked at him and she could see the disappointment in his eyes. He swallowed and managed a meek "Who is it?" before taking a large gulp from his tea.

"Doesn't matter," Hermione answered with a smirk. "You don't like them anyway." She glanced back at Harry. "How do you want to go and rescue your aunt and uncle? Does the Order know?"

"I spoke to Kingsley just before you arrived," Harry answered slowly. "He is informing the Order in the morning. We will have to find out where they are being kept and somehow I don't think it is going to be Malfoy Manor, since that was half destroyed when we attacked the last time. But they must have another hide out and I bet that's where they keep them."

Hermione looked at the knife. "Is this a message?"

Harry's green eyes darkened. "Or a threat."

Andromeda sat up and looked around the table. "A threat for what?"

Hermione swallowed, staring at the knife. She knew what blades like that felt like. "That they're coming for us."