((A. N. Hai! Just when you think I've dropped off the face of the planet xD. I'm back! I'm so sorry it's taken so long to update but I've been dealing with family problems so... Yeah. I'm back now! Enjoy!))

ATTENTION: I'm currently looking for an OC to use in my fanfic preferably Slytherin, has an evil streak and/or is 'close' with Bella, Reg, Lucius and Narcissa(: PM me if you're interested!

No Ownership!

Chapter 36

"Did you see them?" Bellatrix sat in the Slytherin common room with Regulus, Narcissa, Lucius, Roldulphus and Snape.

"I know," Rodulphus scowled "Disgusting. Absolutely revolting."

Bella nodded, shrugging the shoulders - what there was of shoulders - of her gown off "It's taken aunt Walberga too long to get rid of him."

"Definitely," Narcissa nodded "It's Potter's fault. Leading him astray. He could have married. A respectable pure blood girl. Not some Mudblood tart."

"We should do something." Lucius said suddenly, sitting bolt upright in his armchair "To the girl," he elaborated "Get rid of her. Hurt her. Anything."

Bellatrix grinned wickedly "Hurt her... Brilliant... But how..."

"I don't know, Bella, but I have no doubts that you can think of something sufficient." Snape drawled, leaning back in his chair "We all know that you'd jump at any chance to harm your cousin."

She smirked "Too true, Snape. What was it you were saying about the Willow?"

In Hermione's real-time.

"D'you remember meeting her?" Tonks asked her husband curiously, plonking herself on the sofa.

He nodded "I do. Studious as ever. Her and Lily grew very close. And Sirius seemed rather taken with her."

Her eyes widened "No way! Really? Wow! Who would have thought? Especially the way that they acted at Grimmauld place..."

"That was my doing. I told him that he mustn't show any unusual affection. After all, to her it hadn't yet happened."

Tonks nodded "That makes sense. When did she leave?"

He frowned momentarily, thinking "A week before the end of seventh year. She just disappeared. We're still not sure how it happened without her staying there, but it somehow did. Sirius thought she had died..."

"Oh..." she said, quietly and sadly "What did she talk about? And what did you guys talk to her about?" she asked, eager to change the subject.

"Normal stuff," Remus shrugged "School, there was a dance. Some... things happened. Her and Lily talked about-" his face went blank.

"Talked about what? Remus?" Nymphadora frowned, looking at her husband's prematurely lined face.

"The veil." He breathed.

In the time of the Marauders

Darkness. Silence. Nothing. Dead? No. There's breath. Slight. Shallow. A scream. Blood. The cold metallic taste reaches her lips. Another scream. And another. And another. Something cold- No. Hot. A knife? A poker? It stings. It burn. It cuts. Up her arm. Up and up and up. Across her torso. A fiery line left behind. Blood. More and more blood. Trickling down her ribs. Her eyes are forced open. A maniacaly grinning face greets her. They raise the thing. Higher and higher and higher. Above her heart. They bring it down. Sharp and quick. Movements like a snake. One thought. 'I'm going to die.'

Hermione awakes early on the Saturday morning, breathing heavily, a light sheen of cold sweat covering every inch of her body. Wiping her face, she slid out of her bed, silently taking the duvet with her. Marlene, Mary, Lily and Dorcas were still sleeping soundly. She slowly crept down the stairs, the duvet slung over her shoulders and switched on a small lamp.

"Who is it?" A sleepy voice demanded from the sofa.

"Who are you?" Hermione frowned. A few years before the war she'd have been worried; scared even. But the war had changed her. She had her wand. She knew spells. What was the worst that could happen? The dream.

"Hermione..." the voice said, expression flooding into their voice. A shaggy head popped up.

"Sirius?" Hermione said softly, walking forward "What're you doing down here?"

A shifting sound was made as Sirius moved over to one side of the sofa, patting the place next to him "Wormtail snores."

"Oh." She smiled weakly and sat beside him.

"What about you?" he questioned, looking over at her "Why're you down here?"

"Just a dream." She shrugged, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Poor 'Mione..." he said softly, moving a hand to her hair and stroking it affectionately "Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head "Not really... I-I had a really good time last night." She said softly.

Sirius couldn't stop the disgustingly smug grin working its way across his face. "I did, too. And thank you."

She smiled "For what?"

"Teaching me to dance." He grinned.

She laughed quietly "Well,you're very welcome. Thank you for dancing with me."

He grinned down at her "You were very beautiful, y'know. You still are."

She blushed faintly "Thank you." She smiled "You were very handsome."

He barked a laugh "I'm always handsome."

She laughed "Cocky, more like. Now shhh. I'm tired."

He chuckled and nodded "Ok, sweetie."

She looked up at him and raised her eyebrows "Sweetie?"

He shrugged "Tried it out."

"Never again." She smiled, unfolding the duvet the duvet and placing it loosely over the two of them, curling her legs underneath her.

"Oh, you shut up." He smirked, wrapping his arm around her and resting his head on hers.

"Never." She grinned sleepily, closing her eyes.

He chuckled softly and Hermione's cat jumped lightly on their laps. Hermione's hand automatically came from the blanket and rested on the black fur.

"Go to Hogsmeade with me?" she murmured softly.

"Me or the cat?" he joked.

"The cat," she smiled "You, silly."

"I'd love to." He said softly.

"Night night." She grinned into his shoulder.

"Night night, 'Mione." He smiled against her bushy hair.

Reviews are love, drama and excitement! R&R for me to continue!

I'm currently looking for an OC to use in my fanfic preferably Slytherin, has an evil streak and/or is 'close' with Bella, Reg, Lucius and Narcissa(: PM me if you're interested!