Minerva watched the younger woman with curiosity as she paced the length of the headmasters tower. "Hermione can you just sit down lass. You are making me dizzy" rubbing her tired temples.

Hermione stiffly took the only seat left eyeing the tabby animagus with distrust.

"Narcissa was taken to St Mungos early this morning after sustaining injuries at hogsmeade.."

"You're only just telling me now" interrupting the headmistress. "Where's Draco or Severus? Surely they have the right to know".

The headmistress slightly cringed at the manic tone her beloved student spoke. Her heart hammered in her chest as she revealed the reason she called Hermione to her office. "Severus took both Lucius and Draco to visit Narcissa..". Again unable to finish her sentence.

and I'm just an after thought then, how bloody dare they. Hermione shoved the chair away, cluttering loudly against the stone floor. Anger burning though her veins. "Of course headmistress the mudblood understands her place in the world". Her cinnamon eyes glinting manically as she strode closer to the desk separating her from the older witch.

Minerva shrunk back in her seat in fear, watching Hermione take on Bellatrix's famous predatory grin. "Family. They will only allow family to see her" she gasped out, her throat closed up at the sight of the wand clutched in the Slytherin's tight grip.

A loud bang alerted both witches to incoming guests.

"Come in" Minerva weakly called out.

The door swung open just as Hermione straightened her back and slipped her wand from sight. "Thank you for your time professor, I know just how busy you really are". Taking on the image of the angelic student all while her eyes carried the burning hatred.


Hermione laid waiting behind her bed curtains for her dorm mates to retire. The long wait caused her to fidget about to keep herself awake.

"Tempus". The glowing numbers showed midnight, silently sitting up and throwing her cover off her bed, all she could hear was gently breathing of the other four witches in deep slumber. Grabbing her boots and heavy cloak from her trunk, Hermione tiptoed out the dorm, sneaking in to the boys shower room and taking Dracos newest broom Turbo XXX, creeping back in to the dark cold common room, slightly doing a Tonks and tripping over the scattered furniture adorning the room, she clumsily felt her way out the entrance.

I'm doing the right thing, I have to do this she inwardly reassured herself. Wand in hand, Hermione snuck out the empty dungeons and in to the soft glowing entrance hall. I have to make them bastards pay. Stopping in her tracks coming aware of Mrs Norris prowling about by the only exit that she needed. Poxy cat. Great now I sound like professor snape. Sorry puss.

"Stupefy" the jinx hitting its target as the old cat froze mid wash.

Stepping over the frozen cat, Hermione quickly and quietly let herself out the castle and in to the now drenching rain with its bone chilling wind. Come on move before I get caught. The gates silently opened letting her out, without looking back she mounted her stolen broom, kicking off in to the night air. Hermione flew high enough to avoid colliding with the tallest buildings, even though her final destination could be her last she was enjoying using Draco's very fast racing broom. At least I can die saying I flew a better broom than the chosen one.

The scenery changed from the towns and cities to the never ending greenery of the countryside, veering to the left hard to avoid smacking in to a large tree, Hermione grinned feeling alive. For now.

The rain pelted at her eye wear, obscuring her view, making the flight extremely dangerous. Sighing with a surprised amount of relief as she saw the dark victorian gloom of the manor coming in to her line of sight, unfortunately she didn't pay attention to the wards surrounding the manor, flying straight into the wards bubble caused her to be flung back and crashing hard to the gravel below.

Landing painfully hard on her hands and knees, wincing at the unmistakable snap of Draco's new broom. He's going to bloody kill me shit on it. Her palms stung like salt on an open wound, her knees not doing much better by the way of their bruising protest.

"Accio Grangers wand".

Her dark wand sailed in to the hands of the one person she least wanted to see tonight.

"If it isn't the wittle mudblood!" Bellatrix madly cackled, rubbing her palms in glee. "Come back for more muddy?" Her mud coated metal toe capped boot pushing its self in to her chin.

Gritting her teeth, Hermione forced herself to stay calm. "Fuck you, you mad bitch". Okay so staying calm means baiting the psychopath. Nice one Granger.

"No way to speak to your betters wittle girl". Grinning insanely as she grabbed Hermione painfully by her throat, bringing her to her shaky feet. "Why so wet muddy?" Leaning in Bellatrix licked her cheek, gripping harder on the girl's throat, constricting her breathing. "Heard somewhere that oxygen deprivation is a great turn on". Her grey murky eyes sparkling with arousal, watching the young witch struggle against her.

Crunching of the gravel announced another guest. "Bellatrix, release the girl". Greyback came into view "the dark lord wants her personally "

Dropping ungraciously to the ground, Hermione choked taking in large amounts of air. "That's why I'm here" gasping out loud enough for the idiotic death eater to hear.

The bonecrushing grip on her forearm by Greyback pulling her harshly to her feet.

"Then it's your lucky day love". The werewolf eyed her up as if she was a juicy steak. Children murdering, cannibalistic Werewolf, Salazar, thats all he wears in this weather. Bare chest and torn shorts no shoes, he's really living up the animal life huh. Stumbling to find her footing as the werewolf shoved her hard in her lower back.

Bellatrix cackling away ahead of them, leading the way in to the dark manor.

"Either you are stupid girlie or stupidly brave".

She could feel the skin crawling breath of Greyback down her neck, moving faster towards the mad witch was a better option than staying at the back with the demented werewolf.

Hermione recognized the room they ended up in, as the ball room. Looking around where the once elegant and beautiful balls took place now resembled as a torture arena with many gruesome muggle and magical tools lined the blood splattered walls. Swallowing down her stomach contents, she bravely looked in to the red piercing eyes of Tom Riddle, who sat upon a skull throne, his huge snake Nagini slithering around his bare pale feet.

"My lord the mudblood returns". Greyback grabbed her robes from behind, shoving her towards the once pristine white tiles in front of their masters feet.

Staring at the spot of dried unmistakable pool of blood. Don't these people know how to clean up after themselves, this is beyond disgusting but then again why would they care after all it's Malfoy Manor. Pushing down her growl, Hermione forced herself in to a kneeling position, finding herself once again staring in to his eerie red slits.

"Mudblood returnssss. Why?" Coming back to her senses as his lengthy fingers grazed her chin.

Clearing her dry throat, slightly shivering as her wet robes clung to her heated skin. "You hurt someone I care a lot for". Glaring at his twisted smirk, getting to her feet feeling heavy footed. "I want to make you a deal".

Is he trying to raise an non existent eyebrow at me? Oh this is comical.

"A deal Misssss Granger issss it?" Hissing in delight at the witch before him.

He bloody well knows my name. Straightening her robes, glancing out the corner of her eye at the silent Bellatrix leaning against the back wall. "You know who I am just like I know who you are Tom" bravely taunting the unhinged lunatic.

The anger flashed over his snake like features. "You dare ssssay that name. I am lord Voldemort" gracefully pouncing to his feet, his wand drawn.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle lived his childhood at wools pack orphanage before Albus Dumbledore came to him at the age of eleven to tell him he was a wizard. He was a cruel bully to his fellow orphans, robbed then blind, burnt their beloved possessions, used magic to hurt them all because mommy rather die in child birth than raise the devils spawn".

His eyes flashed dangerously but Hermione didn't care, it was time for his followers to know who their really following.

"Father a muggle but his mother a pureblood witch from the Gaunt line. Conceived through the use of love potions, daddy ran out the moment he found out the wicked witch tricked him. Tom came to Hogwarts full of hope, hope of becoming a very powerful dark wizard, controlling his little minions. Tom was a cruel manipulative bastard that caused the death of a witch while he attended that school, caused many innocents to die after he graduated all just to achieve his own gain. Tom worked in a bookshop for a while before murdering daddy and granddaddy in their own home. Tom carried on recruiting his Knights of Walpurgis before the media duped them death eaters, they became feared, washing the streets of anyone that wasn't pure enough for them but Tom didn't care about Pureblood propaganda, he used his followers fears of losing their beloved old traditions and pureblood ways to further his agenda". Hermione stepped towards the seething dark lord.

"You, Tom are a half blood, no better than the filth you are trying to eradicate". Silently calling for her wand from the dark witch's clutches, surprising the fools, Hermione pointed her wand straight at the snake faced abomination. "I know everything about the order. About Potter, their secrets, their weaknesses". Twisting her wand "mark me and I will give you everything you deserve Tom".

"Your price" Bellatrix spoke up, prowling towards her master and Hermione.

Hermione raised her brow. Who's the master now then. "You protect those I care for, from all and any harm from either side of this war. No retribution, no revenge and I'm yours". Speaking clearly to Bellatrix "oh and Ronald Weasley is mine" staking her claim.

The dark lord returned to his throne. "Why would I care for a filthy blood traitor?". Eyeing the mudblood warily.

Hermione stepped backwards, turning to catch the eye, of a straight back disciplined death eater, his silver mask hiding his face apart from his short dirty blonde hair, "lord Greengrass, he raped and murdered your little girl sir". Returning her gaze on the sulking lord "he raped and murdered two witches and attempted rape of two more. Though I know you enjoy that sort of thing my lord" mocking him by bowing low, like a servant to their lord.

My this is fun, if one can call near death fun.

The deadly anger from the self appointed lord was felt very clearly by all those in his presence. "You mock me mudblood". His red eyes narrowing in to slits. "Your death will mean nothing to me. Tell me why I sssshoudn't jussst kill you now?" Hissing, leaning forward, his wand laying across his lap.

"My death would be pointless. I could just kill the bastards that attacked Narcissa if you would prefer my lord" sweetly smiling at the humanoid snake. Bathing in acid wouldn't get me clean after this.

Lord Voldemorts grin was worse than his smirk, striding up to Hermione with Nagini following faithfully behind her master. "Narcissssa issss a traitor. I do not care for the likessss of her" his lengthy boney fingers stroking her neck as he circled her like prey.

Swallowing hard, Hermione grimaced at the unpleasant sensation left after his touch. "Then I shall became a third faction to this war" her voice strong and commanding unlike her nerves that were ready to shatter.

"Go back to ssssschool little girl before I change my mind". Riddle turned his back to Hermione, taking his leave. "Ssssee you on the battlefield".

His skin crawling laughter would haunt her dreams for many years to come.

Bellatrix grabbed her by the back of her robes. "Leave now muddy or you shall be mine". Forcing her through the manor and out the wards. Throwing her wand at her feet.

Watching the dark witch eye her up one last time before leaving Hermione alone in the rain and thunder. Snatching up her wand "Lumos". Searching for Draco's broken broom that lay just a foot away from her crash landing.

Here goes nothing. Taking a last glance at the dark intruding manor, she closed her eyes thinking of Hogwarts and disapparated away.

Opening her eyes after the dizzy spell left, Hermione was relieved to see her beloved castle standing before her. The adrenaline now leaving her body made her realise just how bad she has made things. Hot salty drops of water hit her lips realising she was crying, she tried to brush the tears away What have I done? I got them all killed. Stupid stupid Granger. Collapsing against the metal gate, curling her arms around her knees, her head down hiding from reality and the heavy rain.

Heavy footsteps sounded behind Hermione but she didn't have the energy or the care to go for her wand that lay abandoned by her feet.

"Thank Merlin lass. We have been searching for you for hours" the headmistress knelt down in front of Hermione who still hadn't looked up. "Over here" Minerva called out to her search party companion.

Soft sobs escaped Hermione just before darkness took her into an exhausted slumber.


"Not sure"

"No major injuries, a few scraps but mainly exhausted"

The bright sunlight that drifted though Hermiones eye lids forced her to wake. Slowly opening her eyes, blinking rapidly from the harsh light, she looked around making out the white walls and sterile surfaces of the infirmary. Not dead then that's a good start.

Hermione winced as she sat up against her pillows taking note of the many adults standing at the end of her bed. Suddenly smiling when she saw Narcissa sitting next to her, asleep in a large armchair. Paler than usual but I can't see anything to badly injured.

"Miss Granger good of you to grace us with your presence again" drawled Severus, being the first out the lot of them to notice she was finally awake.

"Professor" sarcastically inclining her head at his sarcastic comment. Water off a ducks back sir. Shifting under the concerned gaze of the adults. don't think I haven't forgotten.

"Hermione where were you?" Draco pushed his way to the front coming to stand by his now awake mother. "We were really worried when the headmistress alerted the order that you were missing. Oh and thanks for killing my broom, father now has to buy me the latest model". Beaming at her clumsiness of his most loved possession. Strange boy indeed.

Gripping her hands tightly, Hermione breathed deeply "I.. when I was told that you were badly injured and only family could see you I thought the worst" looking into the blue eyes of the blonde beside her. "I'm sorry I broke your broom Draco it was unintended, I didn't remember about the wards and was thrown back" drifting to Draco's soft grey eyes.

"What wards?" Narcissa softly spoke up clutching Hermione's right hand.

"The manor wards. I went to Malfoy.." Hermione stopped at the sudden chaos of the assembled adults.

"Careless"

"How could you be so stupid?"

"Blimey you have a death wish kid"

"Who was there?" Draco butted in.

"How are you still alive?".

The rapid comments hit her like a tornado. "I went to protect those I love" Hermione shouted over the unpleasant noise. The room came deathly quite, so she continued "I went to Riddle to ask for protection for those I care for in exchange I would give him everything he wanted" looking up, she saw a few murderous glares at her so called betrayal. Hurts like a bitch doesn't it. "He wasn't interested but Bellatrix was. So I told him that I wouldn't work for him nor the order".

"You would sell us out" came the screech of Mrs Weasley.

Glaring at the overweight matriarch. "Yes just like your precious order did to me". Pushing back the sheets, Hermione stood from the bed.

"Get it in to your oversized dunderheaded brains I know longer care for any of you. I was done with this ridiculous pissing contest but now both sides have forced my hand" slipping on her robes "as I told Tom neither side gets me".

Proudly looking in to all the eyes staring back at her "you are now looking at the third faction of this war".

Hermione stopped at the infirmary doors. "Anyone wanting to join are welcome". Making her dramatic exit.