A/N: Thanks so much to all of you who reviewed and shared your love for this ongoing saga and your suggestions and feelings. I want to especially thank Crystal, who wants Sirius to find his happy ending, Summer Leah, who couldn't wait to see what happens next and Maria F, who read ADSM and the first chap of ATDV in ONE day!

PART 3: Hogwarts

Chapter 36

New Way To Bleed

They were running for their lives again, not that this was considered news. At least they had the locket, she reassured herself. But she was already so tired. The Polyjuice had done them little good in the long run, making her second guess her methods. Surely there was an easier way to sneak into these vaults.

How much easier it would have been if they hadn't needed to sneak at all. Now she was Apparating and Disapparating at alarming frequencies, to quickly for her moderate magical level to keep up. She hadn't Harry's power and at the moment, brains and cleverness weren't getting them anywhere.

She was fading, fast…

She screamed when she lost control, unaware of the struggle her friends had keeping up. They fell to the soft grassy earth so the breath was stolen from her lungs. She struggled to breathe, lifted her head against the pain clenching at her brain.

As the hollow shell shock still ringing in her ears began to fade Hermione realized someone was screaming in agony. Pushing her dark curls from her face she saw Harry's green eyes meet hers…and then saw the crumpled form he was holding down to the earth.

Splinched….

Tears blurred her vision, still she concentrated on the non-verbal spell she had rehearsed so many times before their quest began. She had memorized so many spells, so many words, so many books to make certain they were prepared. She had thought of everything, every logical turn of events, every scenario.

Your fault…

She was screaming while blood began to gush from Ron's lips…lips she had never caressed with her own. She had never known how desperately she longed to do just that until now.

His's eyes pleaded with her in a sudden moment of lucidity past the loss of blood and his pain. There was forgiveness in his eyes, a need and sorrow, as though he knew what was inevitable. Though not knowing how they could go on, that Hermione was the one who had to do it. She had to be the one to pull Harry through…

It was too much. Too fast! Her other hand was grasping for the metal inside her shirt, unable to wrench it free with her weak hand.

No time…

Ron's periwinkle blue eyes locked with hers for a moment, burning, suddenly coherent yet the message in them was unmistakable.

Hermione choked, "NO!"

Harry's body collided with hers, his hand wrapped round her wrist, he only turned to cast a spell that caused the world to explode in a silvery blue light.

A Patronus charm...

'POP'

Hermione Ariana Dumbledore sat up in her bed with a gasp and a scream, her hand ripping at the fabric clothing her chest. Sweat trickled down her forehead and her chest felt strained, her breathing hoarse as though she had been running. The scars in her hand hurt with a sharp, biting pain of memory.

She glanced around the shield her curtains provided. The darkness smelled so familiar and yet different from the scent of grass, blood and magic. Already the dreams were beginning to fade from her mind, but this last one she recognized. She had been afraid to think too much of it, afraid of what it could mean. Hermione didn't recognize the scarred, frightened Witch running for her life alongside two Wizards who were still boys underneath the scars of war. She didn't want to recognize that girl and her possible link to Hermione's past.

Because she wasn't that girl, couldn't be her or belong to those memories. She was a different person, a better one, she hoped.

She whispered softly, "And you will be better, Hermione." Even if her definition of better hurt those she loved most. Even if she became some propped and prodded hero to a group of frightened teenagers. They needed her to be the heroine and that's what she intended to live up to. Even if she sacrificed her life and her happiness to do it.

Her limbs felt like lead as she shifted under her bedcovers and picked up the worn piece of parchment hiding under her pillow. She ran her fingers over it and wandlessly, emanated a soft light from the palm of her hand to better read its contents.

James had charmed this paper for her back in the Fall Term, during his quest to woo and win her, as he had called it. Then it was covered in fanciful scribbles, messages penned between and often, she suspected, during classes. Most of their secret rendezvous had been coordinated upon this magical parchment, which erased its own messages until the next was written. She had avoided looking at it, even though, as she unpacked her things in the familiar dungeon girls' dorms, she had shed fresh tears and stuffed it under her pillow.

She was afraid because the last time she had looked at this, James had written about his love for her. She feared finding a message inspired by his hatred of her.

Could you really blame him?

Her heart froze and clenched when she recognized a furtive, furious new scrawl. This time, it simply read,

...

Hermione,

I don't know who you are anymore.

Can't say I know myself any better.

Things are so fucked up right now, I don't know why I'm writing this, or if you'll ever read it. Part of me wants to murder my best friend, but I love him too much to hurt a hair on his fucking head.

Part of me wants you to feel every single second of the way I feel. At least we're in this shit together, I guess. I get that much satisfaction, every time I feel you close by.

But I can't forgive, Hermione.

Can't forgive you for trying to save me without letting me save you.

Can't forgive Sirius for being the better Wizard and seeing what everyone else obviously already knew.

Can't forgive myself most. Because I'm such a fucking asshole and I know I'm just gonna keep hurting you.

Potter

...

"Ow! Floor's freezing," Pervincia whinged. "Why would the house elves nick my slippers...and, where is my robe!"

"Shut it!" Desdemona hissed from her bed beside Hermione's.

Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing when Pervincia continued to bemoan. She supposed Macbeth had grown too used to the privileges of the family castle in Scotland. As she had put it before winter break, they owned fifty house elves. Halfblood though she may be, no one in Slytherin denied Macbeth's family was loaded and with good reason.

And the one sure way to drive Lefay spare was to bitch and moan anytime before noon.

Shoving the letter back under her pillow and whispering a hex over the paper for prying eyes, Hermione paused and took in a deep, calming breath. After ending the spell lighting her palm, she threw open her emerald curtains and welcomed her roommates. Her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Desdemona was sneering and glaring from her bed at Pervincia, the latter who was searching in vain for her misplaced robe and slippers.

"I simply can't start classes like this! Mione!" her large blue eyes landed on the unfortunate Witch.

Hermione narrowed her eyes on Desdemona when she heard her snort. The pale Lefay only arched an eyebrow of amusement as Pervincia flooded her hearing and vision.

"Hermione, you have to help me. Those house elves have bodged everything!"

"Calm down, Pervincia, I'm sure its nothing," Hermione offered. But when they inspected the rest of their belongings, they realized it wasn't just Macbeth who was having trouble. Many objects had been traded in for utensils, clothes obviously belonging to other houses.

Their other two roommates, Parkinson and Crabbe, were almost totally without personalities besides the usual girlish traits and provided only mild reactions to the conundrum. As Hermione cared little for gossip and the merit of boys depending on their family wealth or the scale of their dowries, she had little in common with those two. They seemed eager to leave the dorm as usual, no doubt to find equally socially challenged boyfriends, Goyle and Travers. The remaining three Witches barely noticed their absence.

"Found my new pumps!" Macbeth exclaimed from the toilet stalls.

Hermione couldn't help her pinched expression once the puzzle pieces came together, grateful as she was for this distraction. Because all signs pointed to the one group capable of a catastrophe of such proportions...

"What a stonking mess..." Lefay commented. Hermione was surprised when she looked up to find their aloof friend already dressed in her school robes and tie and ready for classes. How she managed such a feat was impressive indeed, with Macbeth on the loose.

"You owe me one," Hermione huffed as she darted to her trunk.

Macbeth was in the showers and they heard her voice as she screeched and shouted, "There are beetles in my hair tonic!"

Lefay shook her head and slipped one perfectly coiffed ringlet behind her ear before surveying Hermione's bird's nest. "Want some help with that, Dumbeldore?"

Hermione snorted, "Why bother when it'll just go back to this during Potions?"

"True...But you do have a reputation to uphold."

Hermione glanced at her acquaintance-quasi-friend from beneath her lowered brow. Grimly she held up her right hand and pointed to the ring sitting on her finger. It wasn't a rock, but the Black family crest on her hand said loudly enough what anyone else needed to hear. "Now that I have this, why should I dress to impress anyone?"

Desdemona narrowed her gray orbs and lifted her pointy chin. "You should try to impress him, Hermione."

She froze a moment before tugging her stockings up the rest of the way with a light grunt. The dress she wore underneath her outer robes was light and summery, purple as something Uncle Albus might wear. She was particularly fond of this one because she had nicked it from Ariana's trunk over Hols.

"You're right..." she murmured, unwilling to admit it. She did need to impress him, but it was a waste of time. The clocks were all off, or turned backwards and to different settings. She had spent too much time moping in her bed this morning.

"I'd like that in writing, I fancy," Mona softly replied with her usual dry wit.

Hermione met her eyes and smirked before reaching to accept a bottle of Sleekeazy's from Mona's hand. The potion helped tame the nest into something more acceptable, though she didn't bother styling it today, preferring to let it down loose. She could always use a pencil to twist it up later, she thought.

Macbeth had returned from her unsuccessful shower in an even bigger tiff. Her blonde ringlets were dried quickly with a clumsy spell. Somehow, she still managed to fix herself into something resembling an article out of Witches Weekly. "Wilkes is gonna think I'm such a chav!" she sighed and shook her head before applying her usual regime of makeup and potions.

Hermione and Mona exchanged a look. Though they had little chance to speak during the Welcome Feast, especially with Sirius distracting her and the other ladies at Slytherin, both Witches noticed the change in Pervincia. Maybe she noticed more now because of what Regulus had mentioned of his...initiation.

But it was obvious that behind her false bubbly and spritely demeanor, Macbeth was not the same Witch they parted ways with before break. She was making a bully effort to put on a good show, though. They heard plenty of how she and Wilkes went all the way at Christmas. She didn't mention Death Eaters, however, or that her boyfriend was now the stamped property of a psychotic Dark Wizard.

"And I told Wilkes, not in a million years! That's your grandmother's diamonds! But he insisted," she perked, stretching out an arm to reveal the flashy bracelet.

Desdemona held her satchel to her chest and lazily disregarded everything else Macbeth had said. "Perv, I need you to run a little errand for me." She pulled a note from the burgundy pouch and grimaced. It was nearly as close to smiling as she came.

Macbeth looked crestfallen in the mirror for a split second, where Hermione could secretly sneak a peak at her. But the moment was fleeting and replaced by her usual flippant flair. "Naturally, I'm the only one capable. Who owes you this time, pet?"

Mona sneered and passed on the branded note, "Snape. And that is really all I can tell you."

Pervincia laughed, "That greasy pauper! How is he going to pay you back? With potions?"

"I suggest you shut it before something just as foolish comes out of your mouth, Macbeth."

Pervincia giggled on her way out the dorm. The moment the door clicked shut, Lefay strode up to Hermione, purposefully. Seeing Lefay with that certain look in her eye was never a good thing, and usually preceded some news Hermione wasn't going to fancy. But she lifted her chin, kept her eyes open and expressive and tried desperately not to listen to the voice inside her head panicking.

"You're hiding something important, Dumbledore, and I intend on learning the truth, whether you tell me yourself, or I find it through other means."

Hermione sucked in a sharp breath. Of all things she hadn't been expecting this. "What do you mean?"

Mona's pale orbs narrowed. "I see. The hard way. Very well, for now I won't pry too deeply. But let's just say, I'm not the only one to notice how quickly you've gone from Potter to Sirius Black. Not that he isn't easy on the eyes, or that he has his own charm. But I'm no fool. Anyone can see Potter's madly in love with you and though Black tries to hide it, he's not far behind. That this coincides with his reconciliation with his family may not be as widely known. But as I said before, I have my sources. And Hermione, always remember we aren't like the rest of our sycophantic House Mates. We're self-made and this makes us even more of a threat to people like Voldemort."

Hermione shivered at her words and the mention of the mad man who haunted her waking hours. She could never forget that high pitched cackle or those long, spidery fingers, or those red eyes on a face that should have been devastatingly handsome...

Outwardly, she maintained her cool disposition and forced a smile. "As long as you aren't going to disown me for not choosing Potter, I guess I'll have to admit you're right about everything."

"Of course I am," Mona said with a smirk. "But you know how we Slytherins are so interchangeable. I know why you chose Black and in many ways, he really is the better choice. Just, please tell me Black is not intending on spending every meal with us."

"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, genuinely curious and relieved to have tread back into familiar waters with her strange friend.

Desdemona's white-blonde eyebrow arched over her pale face. "I'd rather eat my meals in peace, not surrounded by the simpering, simple-minded Witches who fawn over him. And I thought it was just a Gryffindor phenomenon..."

"I can't make any promises," Hermione said, laughing as they left the dorm and entered the common room. She turned from Lefay and then gasped to find the very Wizard in question sitting beside his little brother on the couches, surrounded by a score of Snakes and acting as though he'd known them all his life.

He probably has, she reminded herself.

And he was already breaking one of Lily's new rules by sitting right next to Regulus. His brother looked less than amused. Were she anyone else, she might have missed the tell-tale signs that the younger Black was actually pleased with this.

Shaking her head, she crossed her arms over her chest and watched them a moment from the corridor.

Sirius grinned up at Travers and several first and second years hoping to be seen by the reinstated Black heir. "Don't believe me, Travers?"

"Of course not! The idea is absurd, the Headmaster dueling with you for kicks, Black."

Regulus shook his head and piped up, "You don't know Sirius."

"I'll take that as a vote of confidence, little brother," Sirius exclaimed with a quick bark of a laugh as he clasped the younger by the shoulders. "But it's all true, I swear on Salazar's tatty knickers."

One of the Carrows piped up, "Everyone knows you're full of rubbish, Black."

Sirius narrowed his eyes on Alectus. "Just like everyone knows what a bleeding saint you and your twin are, yeah? Don't think I forgot what you did at the Malfoy's ball two years back." And like flipping a switch, he banished the underlying threat in his tone to spread his hands to the rest of them. "I tell you gents, I've dueled with the best of them, but having a working wand is only half the trick to attracting bints. You gotta know how and when to swing it," he finished with a wink. The First Years whispered to themselves and Regulus rolled his eyes.

Hermione couldn't help her muffled giggle to escape. It was too rich, watching the House that hated him so much, now hanging off his every word. This was who Sirius was, though, and why, as Mona hinted, he was the smarter choice. For the first time since he had told her he switched places with Regulus, Hermione felt assured and forgot about James Potter.

Because her giggle was enough for Sirius to turn his attention instnatly from the others. His gray eyes flashed as they met her golden orbs.

"What about the match against Ravenclaw? Think they have a shot at beating those Gryffindorks?" a Fourth Year demanded.

Sirius kept his gaze on her and winked briefly as he replied, "Oi! Think I'd steal you the honor of placing your bets? A gentleman never betrays his secrets, mate. But I can tell you this much, Potter is gonna give one hell of a fight."

She smiled faintly and stepped from the corridor. Desdemona had gathered Pervincia once more and looked back to cast her a knowing look before leaving the common room. Hermione sighed and lifted her chin, prepared to play the role Dorea fashioned for her.

Sirius leaped up with ease and vigor. Still keeping his smiling eyes fixed on her, he announced, "And that's my cue, gents! Wish I could stay and chat longer, but duty and a perfect ass await me." He snatched her arm in his, practically jumping to stand at her side as he wagged his eyebrows. Several of the younger Slytherins snickered and the older ones smirked knowingly. Regulus palmed his face wit his hand and Hermione smacked Sirius on the cheek.

His smile faded and his gray eyes flashed with something new as he leaned in closer, almost territorial in front of the rest of her Housemates. For a moment she wondered what he was playing at and even if he were playing. Her brow drew together uncertainly, until his lips twitched up in a smirk as he said, "Careful, Witch." He reached his arm around her to pinch her arse.

Hermione squeaked but her words faded when he leaned in closer, so his breath was against her cheek.

"Don't forget who you belong to, now," he said and cupped her backside firmly with his hand to walk her out of the room. "Watch and learn, Snakes!" he called back to the others.

Hermione clenched her jaw as a flurry of conflicting emotions filled her. A nervous tension itched beneath her skin that made her want to slap and do other things she couldn't allow her mind to ponder as they entered the candlelit hall. She waited until they were at a distance from the other students in the hall before casting a silencing charm wandlessly.

She hissed, "I'm not your little bitch, Sirius Orion Black! Stop treating me as though I were your property."

Sirius simply squeezed her bum in reply and grinned nastily, "But you are, Mione, love, at least to them. They would suspect something amiss if I didn't stake a claim. Trust me, it's less about degrading you as a Witch and more about sending them a fucking message."

"And what might that be?" she asked, faintly wondering why she was still allowing him to touch her, down there.

"Hands off, fuck off, you can pick any number of ways to say it. Simply put, if they touch you that's like fucking with me. And now that I have some influence in their eyes, now they know I'll practically own half the departments they'll work for, they'll obey."

Hermione reached down to move his hand from her arse to her waist and held his eye. "Are you sure you aren't enjoying this new role a little too much?"

He shrugged and this time his smile was genuine and a bit sheepish. "Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, yeah? Feel free to take advantage of me if you fancy, love. And keep in mind, I like it rough."

Hermione felt the blood rush to her face and other unmentionable places and clung to her ire in return. She would never admit to him she was embarrassed and...turned on. It was impossible, ridiculous and Sirius Black was childish, she reminded herself. But he had distracted her. This she was thankful for. She wasn't ready to face him yet. And he had a point.

They had a part to play and already she could envision the ways she was going to repay him for his little stunt in the common room. Secretly though, she was relieved to have someone like Sirius on her side. He was slightly unstable at the best of times due to his upbringing. She could sense the darkness in his magic, much as he tried to mask or hide it. Unlike James, Remus or even Peter, Sirius lived with a different kind of self loathing and personal mistrust. Though they hadn't spoken of it, both of them knew their pasts were intertwined. He'd as much hinted that his family's dark signature had been reeking off her when they took her into the manor. But it wasn't until the past few weeks, when she lost the person she had come to love and trust the most, that she remembered this fact.

For the first time since she woke up in Potter Manor, Hermione felt as if, should she ever remember her past, Sirius was the one she could share it with.

Review: Though this chapter is shorter than my usual run-of-the-mill, it's setting up for the big one coming next! Be prepared for more Marauders, confrontations and confessions and magic lessons.