Author's Note: So little time skip, but only like three days because we need to get this story moving along. As always, enjoy!
HUGE DISCLAIMER; None of these characters are my own. Just their OOC-ness is mine. Also swear warning towards the end. ~1stSoulVamp

IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS

Chapter 16: Treason

Three days after Christmas, left everyone content but buzzing with excitement for the Ball. Except if you were Hermione, who was beyond mortified at the thought of spending an entire evening with people way out of her league. The Malfoy Family tried to reassure her in the coming days that she would be fine, but the brunette's anxiety was unmoved. When nervous, she would resort back to her unusual shyness she had from the beginning of the break. The Ball was set a little less than a week from now and even all the kisses and warm body belonging to the dark witch, she could cuddle up to, did not break her out of her nervous habit of staying quiet.

Bellatrix had already given her opinion of the Ball saying it was to be a complete waste of her time. She hated to mingle with all the halfblood and Pureblood counterparts that were 'dreadfully boring' as the black haired witch had put it. But unfortunately Narcissa wasn't giving her sister a choice. The blonde matriarch was the complete opposite of her sister and she loved to run circles within Pureblood society. She liked to get to know everyone because that meant more connections to get things done. Hermione didn't really understand it but she was never gonna be a Pureblood so she didn't bother looking too much into it.

That night left Hermione lying in bed awake. No matter how hard she tried to sleep, it just wouldn't come. Cursing, she tried to find the colder parts of the sheets, getting plenty of heat from the slumbering dark witch next to her. The brunette couldn't believe how fast Bella had fallen asleep. She only wished now, that sleep came to her like that. Casting a quick 'Tempus' to check the time, she realized it was almost an hour to midnight. Sighing, she snuggled back up to Bellatrix, hoping the heat and comfort would make her sleepy.

For the most part, it started to put her in that haze right before sleep hits you and an hour later she was finally asleep. But Hermione didn't ever remember falling asleep and as she opened her eyes, she realized she wasn't in Bellatrix's room, in Malfoy Manor. Instead she was looking up at the ceiling from inside a crib in a nursery. Finding it strange she tried to sit up, but found that she couldn't. Her arms and legs could not function the way she wanted them to, as she was too tiny. Upon further confusion, she realized she was the baby in the crib.

The creaking of a door opening, let baby Hermione look over to see a older brunette rush in, trembling and covered in blood. Downstairs came a loud bang that scared Hermione into crying. The older witch rushed over to pick up and cradle the younger brunette protectively against her chest. With tears streaming down her face she kissed the crown of baby Hermione and told her that she loved her. Placing the little witch back in the crib she turned away and whipped out her wand to fight whoever was coming up the staircase. Tiny Hermione was still wailing and she couldn't stop as she felt her heart race further. She could hear many more loud bangs and objects being thrown downstairs, before it fell silent except for her own wailing.

Screaming at the top of her lungs, Hermione bolted up in bed. Wildly looking around she realized she was back in Bellatrix's room in Malfoy Manor, safe. Trying to suck in breath that her lungs were deprived of, Bellatrix looked at the young witch with worry. Just then the door to the room opened to reveal Narcissa and Draco, who looked like they had recently jumped out of bed to see what the commotion was. Freaking out just a little at what she had seen, Hermione was having trouble breathing before the edges of her vision started to get fuzzy. She was going to have another panic attack.

Trying to squeeze her eyes shut to focus on breathing, she felt two warm hands cup her face before a distorted voice told her to open her eyes. Through the blurriness she could see Bella who had been holding her closely, telling her to breath.

"Breathe, little witch. You can do it. It was just a bad dream. In and out, in and out to my breaths. Match my breaths, pet, okay? Here we go mon amour." Bellatrix said hugging Hermione close. She had turned to face the brunette, crossing her legs over each other and had put Hermione's leg's over her own to try and scoot her closer. Hermione nodded along to what Bellatrix was saying and it took a couple minutes but the black haired witch was successful in calming her witch down. Hermione slowly breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth. Lungs satisfied, she plunged her head into Bellatrix's clavicle, shaking as tears leaked from her eyes. Forming shaky sentences, she tried to explain what she saw.

"It f-felt so r-real. I was, I was i-in a nurs-nursery and there was a w-women covered in bl-blood. She was pro-protecting me." Hermione sobbed into the dark witch's night gown.

Bellatrix held the sobbing witch but as the brunette began to recount her dream, the dark witch's eyes snapped up to meet Narcissa's. The blonde's eyes widened at the brunette's words and she quickly ushered for Draco out of the doorway and to follow her to the parlor room. They had to send a message to their Dark Lord. For Hermione didn't know it yet, but she had just described the fate of her parents and what had happened the night the Order had come to attack. Soon the Dark Lord would have to tell the sobbing witch her true origins but for now Bellatrix tried to comfort the girl. Letting the two lie down in the sheets again, Hermione still hid her face into Bella's shoulder though the older witch didn't mind. She was intrigued to know more. Maybe whatever magic was protecting the girl's mind from knowing her past was starting to break. If that was happening then the Dark Lord would have to inform her soon and they would have to catch the brunette up on all the heinous crimes the Order had been doing without the world knowing.

Trying to know more, but not pushing it, Bella asked, "Did you recognize the woman? Had this dream ever come to you before?"

Hermione, who had calmed down some, nodded. "Yes I've had this dream before but no I-I didn't recognize the woman. But it's been some time since I've had it." There was a long pause before she continued, "It was different this time. It's like, like this had happened before in my past. For the first time it felt real. Almost too real and that's why it scared me. I felt all those emotions again. Scared as to what was happening. Loved, when the woman said she loved me. Frightened at all the noises, I mean it just felt real!"

Bellatrix squeezed the witch tighter. She knew there could be no mistaking that that was a memory, not a dream. And whatever magic the Order had put in her mind to try and suppress it, was breaking. Probably due to the fact that it was a deteriorating spell and Bellatrix knew it wouldn't save Hermione from the truth, come soon when her Dark Lord was going to reveal her past to her. "Still, it's over and what matters most it that you are safe. I'm sorry if it scared you mon amour."

Hermione nodded shakily. The whole ordeal had left her tired and Bellatrix gave a small smile in understanding and the two tried to rest as best they could for the rest of the night. In the morning however, it was noticeable to the rest of the crew who all had bags under their eyes from last night's fiasco. Slowly eating her cereal, she couldn't help but feel guilty that she had woken up almost everyone in the house, save for Lucius who always slept like the dead. She tried to apologize, but as her friends they would hear none of it.

It was halfway through breakfast when Lucius came in a bit pale and rushed. Turning to address Hermione, he gave her a fatherly smile before informing her of a guest waiting for her. "He's just in the parlor room. He wishes to speak with you alone though." As he said this, he gave a quick glance to Bellatrix who frowned.

She knew that it was the Dark Lord in the parlor. But she didn't know why he wished to speak with the brunette alone. She wasn't happy and chose to sit sulking in her seat trying to reassure herself that her Dark Lord knew what he was doing. Hermione on the other hand was surprised. She didn't expect anyone to be here this early in the morning, much less to be here for her.

Not bothering to finish her cereal, having not been hungry in the first place, she wiped her mouth with a napkin before getting up and squeezing Bella's hand. "I'll be fine."

"Its not you I worry about." Bellatrix grumbled back, as she sat silently unhappy. Narcissa glared at her sister before watching Hermione disappear through the door.

"Is it the Dark Lord?" Draco whispered leaning forward.

"Of course it's the bloody Dark Lord, nephew. You're the one that sent the letter last night, did you not?" Bellatrix barked.

Draco sat back looking uneasy. Narcissa coughed getting Bellatrix's attention before sending the dark witch her best evil eye for yelling her son.

Bellatrix could only roll her eyes as they waited for the brunette to return, eating breakfast silently.

Meanwhile, in the hallway, Hermione quietly made her way to the parlor room by memory. Coming into the warm room, where the fire was lit, was a chair faced away from her. Giving a slight cough so as not to alarm the person waiting for her, she announced her presence in the room.

"Excuse me, sir. You wanted to see me?" The brunette asked timidly.

"Come, sit." The Dark Lord rasped motioning to a chair opposite of her.

A little frightened, Hermione slowly came around the chair and tried not to gasp as she took a seat opposite of the dark wizard. She had heard the stories about him from her previous friends and from prophets but she had never seen a picture of him, much less in person until now. He wasn't what she had pictured at all. The brunette was thinking more tall and bulkier with dark hair and a permanent scowl but the man in front of her was more snake-like in appearance. He had grey, translucent skin, with two slits for a nose and pointed teeth. Covering the form was a long dark black robe the coiled around him. He twirled his bone wand in his hand as he waited for the brunette to finish her visual sweep of his appearance.

"Y-you're the Dark Lord." Hermione said trying not to look him directly in the eyes for now that she knew who he was, she was too petrified. She had heard about what he had done to muggles and mudbloods alike. She was mortified that he had requested a specific audience with her, a mudblood, most likely to kill her.

"Yes." He hissed. "I requested to speak with you, because I have information you may find interesting."

Hermione scrunched her brow up in confusion but nodded, keen to hear what a man, who she's never met, would have to say about her. A little relieved that he was not here to murder her.

The Dark Lord resumed, "As you may have guessed I am Lord Voldemort. You see for many years I have been building a loyal following that would help me better this pathetic world. My main enemies are the scum from the Order, who you might be more acquainted with." Leaning closer to Hermione he hissed, "Do not let them deceive you. They're the reason you were orphaned, girl. While they will spout their beliefs to you and try to get you on their side, and believe me they will, do not listen to them."

Hermione's eyes were the size of saucers. "What do you mean they-,"

"Tell me," he interrupted, "have you been having dreams as a younger version of yourself?" The Dark Lord already knew the answer to this, thanks to Narcissa and Draco last night, but the younger witch needed to confirm it before he continued.

"H-how'd you know?" the brunette asked shakily as she shrank back into the armchair.

"That is a memory, dear girl." He spat, completely avoiding her question. "What really happened that night was an Auror raid subjected against you and your parents, administered by the Order. You see the Order might get you to believe that it was someone such as myself who conducted this tragedy on you but alas I had no need. Your parents were very loyal followers of mine."

"My parents?" Hermione squeaked out.

"Yes, of course. Young witch you are a Rosier. Part of a very Pureblooded and loyal family. You are essentially," he paused for dramatic effect, "a Pureblood too." Voldemort stated quietly, the flames from the fire flicking wildly on his face making him dangerously dark looking.

The brunette sat back in her seat quietly contemplating what she had just heard. While it wasn't impossible it still felt unbelievable to Hermione. There was no way she was a Pureblood. No way she was a Rosier. The Rosiers were part of the sacred twenty-eight pureblood families in old Britain and most followed the Dark Lord. This explained a lot, but it couldn't be her. Swallowing nervously and with false bravado she spoke, "I think y-you've got the wrong person. I'm n-not a Pureblood. I'm a mudblood." She finished wincing.

Expecting the worst, the Dark Lord merely hissed with laughter. "My dear girl, a mudblood sorted into Slytherin is unheard of. No, no, the hat makes no mistakes. You were placed in Slytherin because that is where you belong. Your mother and father were both Slytherins and it may be hard to believe but it is the truth. I have no reason to lie to you." The man leaned back in his chair and Hermione almost jumped out of her skin as she realized the giant snake that was slowly wrapping itself around the arm of the chair.

"I'm not a Rosier. Th-that's insane! I'm Hermione Granger, I'm a mudblood, I'm from Heathgate for Merlin's sake!" She cried out, fear and panic slowly rising in her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. No, she wouldn't believe. She found it utterly ridiculous that a powerful man just told her that her real parents had died for his cause and she was their sole heir and once more a Pureblood rather than a mudblood.

"I can prove it." Hissed Voldemort. "You have the digits to your vault. Only a Rosier can open it through blood magic. Go, visit Gringotts and it will confirm my suspicions." With that, the dark man got up from his seat and slowly sauntered out of the room, leaving with the giant snake on his shoulder. Unsurprisingly the room got warmer after he left.

Hermione sat glued to her seat, dumbfounded. But before she could ask, "Hey what do you mean digits," the dark wizard had already left. Giving out a shaky sigh she tried to process the information given to her by the Dark Lord. She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that the Dark Lord had literally just visited her when he probably had much more important things to do than visit a sixteen year old girl. Staring into the fire she went over and recalculated everything in her head.

On one hand, it made total sense. The reason she could remember those dreams so vividly was because they were actually memories. The woman in the dream must've been her mother, trying to protect her from the coming Aurors. It also made sense as to why the sorting hat had placed her Slytherin, telling her she would understand soon enough. On the other hand she couldn't believe the Order would do anything like that. She remembered what it was like, being friends with Harry and back then, Ron. A sweet boy such as the boy who lived, made it hard for Hermione to think the Order side of things would do such a horrendous action against her family. They were supposed to be the good side and they murdered her parents!

It also explained why the Malfoy Family and Bellatrix didn't have a problem with a mudblood staying with them, because she was really a Pureblood. Hermione's eyes narrowed at this new thought. That meant that the Malfoys and her lover had known this entire time! It enraged Hermione to know that they had known all along and didn't even bother to tell her. Feeling a multitude of emotions at once, she pushed herself off her seat with hot tears threatening to spill over her cheeks.

Pushing the door out into the hallway she bumped into the Malfoy Family and Bellatrix who had been waiting for her outside, once the Dark Lord had left. "You knew!" She yelled as she hit the dark witch, "You knew all this fucking time!" She screamed as she pushed Bella away from her angrily. "You didn't even bother to tell me that you knew! How could you?!" At this point Hermione didn't care that she was a sobbing mess. She pushed past Bellatrix and raced past Draco who tried to stop her and explain but she didn't want to hear it.

Thundering up the stairs and trying to dry her eyes on her sleeves, she ran into Bellatrix's room, bolting the door with magic to keep anyone from coming in. Flopping down on the large mattress she cried and cried until for hours until she felt she didn't have anything left. No one had come knocking on the door and silently Hermione was thankful no one had come to bother her. She didn't think she could deal with anymore lies or deceit from those she had begun to trust.

Back down in the hallway, Bellatrix looked dejected as Narcissa gave her sister and sad look and comforting pat on the shoulder. They had guessed the brunette wasn't going to take the news well but not like this. As the brunette had hit Bellatrix, the dark witch had stood there and taken it because she felt she deserved it. "She's right. I should have told her." The black haired witch said sadly as she slid down the wall to sit on the hallway floor.

"Non, ma sœur. Le Dark Lord ne le voulait pas." Narcissa reasoned. The two blonde wizards, still in the room, decided to back off and leave the two sisters in peace. Draco was hurting a little on the inside because he felt he had just betrayed his friend and according to Hermione, he had.

"Je sais. Mais j'aurais dû dire quelque chose." Bellatrix said as she buried her face in her hands and dark hair.

Narcissa sighed, "Ce qui est fait est fait. Il n'y a rien que nous puissions faire maintenant, sauf attendre et voir ce que la fille veut."

Looking back up and clearing her throat, Bellatrix nodded. "Oui, je suppose que nous devrons attendre et voir."

Author's End Note: And now the betrayal has happened and more is to come! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Remember all mistakes and inconsistencies are my own because I have no beta, so let me know if you see any. French translations are somewhere around here. ~1stSoulVamp

Notes:

mon amour my love

Non, ma sœur. Le Dark Lord ne le voulait pas. No, my sister. The Dark Lord did not want you to.

Je sais. Mais j'aurais dû dire quelque chose. I know. But I should have said something.

Ce qui est fait est fait. Il n'y a rien que nous puissions faire maintenant, sauf attendre et voir ce que la fille veut. What's done is done. There is nothing we can do about it now except wait and see what the girl wants.

Oui, je suppose que nous devrons attendre et voir. Yes, I suppose we'll have to wait and see.