A/N: Back once more with your weekly update! Thank you for supporting this little story of mine. Here's hoping you enjoy this latest instalment. Disclaimer: All characters (except the ones you don't recognise) belong to J.K. Rowling

Immediately Hermione's body went tense. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she assessed her situation.

She had no idea how many Aurors had arrived, or their positions inside the house. The way Hermione saw it, she had two options: engage in a duel with who knows how many Aurors, or attempt to escape with as little need for fighting as possible.

The brunette chose the latter. She reasoned that, talented as she was, there was simply no way she would be able to fight her way through all the Aurors. Besides, Hermione was well aware that that would only result in her being sent back to Azkaban, and something told her that Bellatrix wouldn't be able to orchestrate another escape, no matter how much the dark-haired witch said she needed her.

Hermione crept into the spare bedroom, remembering just in time that there was a creaky floorboard she needed to avoid. Letting out the breath she had been holding, Hermione took a moment to think and compose herself. The Aurors would have no doubt sent up anti-apparation wards to prevent her leaving that way. In her dealings with the Aurors in the past, whilst on joint investigations, she knew that they normally set them up for a mile around the location.

A creak on the first step alerted Hermione that the Aurors were beginning to move upstairs and she couldn't afford to get into a fight. She needed a distraction and it called for something drastic.

Looking out of the window, the brunette saw two Aurors standing in the garden. The rest it seemed were either in the house, or creating a perimeter. The muggles gathered outside would be left to be dealt with by the regular magical law enforcement. Fancying her chances with just the two Aurors, Hermione now started to consider how she was going to get out of the room without the Aurors inside the house knowing, and without the two Aurors stationed outside noticing a brunette clambering out an upstairs window.

More footsteps on the stairs caused Hermione's heart rate to increase. She couldn't wait any longer. Drastic action it was.

Stepping up, Hermione clutched the stolen wands, one in each hand, and blasted a hole where the window had been. As expected, the Aurors on the stairs and below shouted to one another, startled at the sound of a sudden explosion. Taking advantage of their momentary confusion, Hermione leapt out of the window and hit both the shocked Aurors outside with powerful stunners. With a quick flick of her wrist she cast a Cushioning Charm to avoid injury and landed on the ground. There was no hesitation, just pure instinct and as soon as her feet touched the floor, Hermione was sprinting through the garden. Spells whizzed past her head and she flung her hand back to cast a Shield Charm.

A flash of green smacked the shed at the bottom of the garden and it burst into flames. The Killing Curse. The gravity of the fact that the Aurors had been authorised to use Unforgivables was not lost on the brunette. If anything, the terror at knowing this fact caused her legs to move faster. She approached the fence and rather than trying to climb over it, Hermione blasted it away, never slowing.

Her lungs were beginning to burn and a painful stitch was forming in her side. The area was alive with shouting and spells flying. She knew that the Aurors were beginning to invoke their own training, but was relying on the fact that some may not feel comfortable taking the same exit out of the house that she had.

Her mind was racing as much as her legs. The Aurors always put up the anti-apparation shield for one mile, but Cypher would know that Hermione knew that. She couldn't rely on them doing the same here. After all, they were hunting an Unspeakable and Hermione knew all too well what the reputation of her department was like in other areas of the Ministry. She needed to get away.

The breath was knocked out of her lungs and she flew sideways, hitting a parked car hard. Letting out a yelp, Hermione knew that she had broken some ribs. Lying on the floor, she realised it was worse than that. Each breath was a knife in her chest, which felt tight and compressed. She was struggling to breath and couldn't get any air in. Reaching a shaky hand up to where the pain hurt the most, she felt a rib sticking out of her side and tried in vain to suppress a coughing fit. It was pure agony.

A figure came swimming into view, but Hermione was having trouble making out a face. They merely stood and watched; their features obscured by shadow. Their head tilted to the side, just watching Hermione as she struggled to breathe. The brunette could taste blood. Her vision was beginning to fade as she continued to struggle to breathe in air. Who knew that something that seemed as simple as breathing could suddenly become the hardest thing in the world? The figure stepped closer, their face almost in the light, but before Hermione could focus properly, she sensed a new presence.

The figure looked up and vanished with a crack. The brunette tried to yell out in pain, but couldn't make any sound. A soft hand touched her face and the newcomer came into focus.

"B…Bellatrix?" choked Hermione, gasping for air.

"I'm here," murmured Bellatrix, stroking the brunette's cheek gently. "I've got you."

The dark-haired witch started waving her wand over Hermione's body in complicated movements and slowly Hermione began to fell the pressure and tightness lessen in her chest. It became easier to breath and she felt drunk on oxygen at the feeling.

Shouts came closer, but Bellatrix didn't look up from focusing on fixing the damage done to the brunette's body. Hermione wanted to say something, but the events of the past day were catching up to her and now she was no longer in pain she felt unbelievably tired. A crash sounded, nearer now than before. The Aurors were getting closer, but still Bellatrix showed little concern. Clearly this was a woman who was accustomed to situations with Aurors running around.

Without warning, Bellatrix thrust an arm up and cast a powerful Shield Charm. The Aurors had arrived in the street and were frantically casting all manner of spells at the two witches. The dark-haired witch smirked in amusement, before clutching Hermione tightly to her in a warm embrace and apparating away.

XXXXX

The first thing Hermione became aware of were whispers, but the brunette was struggling to make out the words.

"She's lucky to be alive," said one voice in an angry whisper. "If you hadn't got there when you did…"

Hermione opened her eyes and blinked rapidly as she adjusted to her environment. She was back in the cottage she had been brought to before. Bellatrix was sat at the table, but what shocked the brunette more was who she was sat next to: Narcissa and Andy.

"What are you doing here?" The question was aimed at Andy and Hermione couldn't keep the bite out of her tone.

"Hermione, thank goodness you're awake," said Andy, rushing to her feet to come and sit by the brunette. "I've been worried sick about you."

"Excuse me, I'm very good at healing spells, I'll have you know," scowled Bellatrix, folding her arms.

Andy ignored her sister and continued staring at the brunette. "What happened?"

"I'd quite like to know that too," said Bellatrix, coming to stand behind Andy.

Hermione didn't know where to look. Her head hurt and she was struggling to process everything again. Bellatrix had saved her life. Andy had lied to her for years. Ron was dead and the Aurors had been tasked with eliminating her if those Killing Curses were any indication.

"Hermione?" Andy touched a hand to Hermione's and the brunette quickly withdrew hers. Hurt flashed in the older witch's eyes.

"Ron's dead," stated Hermione, simply after a while.

Stunned silence followed this statement. Andy looked gobsmacked and Bellatrix frowned. Narcissa had adopted a face of stoicism and was revealing nothing. She was the only sister who had remained at the table.

"Ron Weasley is dead?" repeated Andy, having gone a little pale.

The brunette nodded. "We…I went to his house to confront him about him lying about Lock. He told me everything. He's been a member of the League for years, operating out of jealousy and a desire to be the hero everyone talks about for once. He admitted he lied on his statement and he was the one who killed Lock…"

"Did he say who gave him the order?" interrupted Bellatrix.

Hermione shook her head. "Cypher, but we all know he's not the real person in charge. He said that he was to kill Lock if it looked like he was revealing too much to me and then Cypher had him lie and make a false statement. Ron was only too happy to send me to Azkaban. Rather me than him. He was so angry and just ranting at me. I was shocked by what I was hearing. Ron is many things, but I never imagined he could be capable of something like this. Then, all of a sudden, he just launched himself at me and I threw up a hand, but it was the one clutching a wand. I accidentally hit him with a spell and he fell backwards out of the window."

Bellatrix and the others exchanged a look that was hard to read.

The brunette raised a shaky hand to her mouth. "I…I killed him," she whimpered. "It's my fault he's dead."

"It's not your fault at all," scolded Andy. "Far from it."

"She's right," murmured Bellatrix. "It's Cypher who's to blame for this. Him and the League. You are blameless and besides you would never mean to kill anyone. This was an accident."

Despite how she currently felt about the three other witches in the room, Hermione couldn't help but feel reassured by their words. It had been an accident and if Ron had never been approached by Cypher then none of this would have happened.

"The real question is what do we do now," said Narcissa, speaking for the first time and finally joining her sisters stood by Hermione.

Bellatrix turned to look at the brunette, a small frown on her features. "Well, that's up to Granger. Surely you realise now that wandering around on your own is no longer an option. Every Auror and Ministry official in the country is going to be looking for you."

"I'm not siding with you," spat Hermione, glaring at Bellatrix. "This changes nothing."

The dark-haired witch let out a scream of frustration. "Why must you be so damn difficult. There is no way in hell you can take down the League by yourself. What's your solution? Travel around trying to eliminate as many as possible? That will just lead to an early death."

"And your way is better, is it?" shouted the brunette, throwing the blanket that had been laid delicately over her.

"Well, it's a damn sight better than your idiocy," yelled Bellatrix.

Andy and Narcissa merely stood watching this fiery exchange. Finally, the blonde stepped forward.

"Are you two about done, or are you going to start yelling and accomplishing nothing?" Narcissa had a way of scolding with very little effort.

"Look, Hermione…" began Andy, but before she could finish her sentence there was a knock at the door.

Bellatrix, still scowling, went over to answer it. Hermione was still too on edge and couldn't believe how calm the other three were at the sudden knock. The brunette breathed a sigh when she saw it was merely one of Bellatrix's foot soldiers. He handed the dark-haired witch a message, slammed a fist to his chest and then left. Bellatrix closed the door and calmly opened the parchment, her eyes racing across the page. Once she reached the end, her eyes flicked up to Hermione and the brunette knew it was about her.

"Go on, what does it say?" sighed Hermione, preparing herself for terrible news.

The dark-haired witch shared a look with Andy. "Well, quite simply you are now Undesirable Number One, wanted for the murder of Ronald Weasley."

The brunette nodded and sat down again, her head in her hands. What would the Weasleys think? And Harry? Neville? Luna? She would never escape this one, never be able to try and explain her innocence and that it was an accident.

Andy sat down next to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Despite the anger and resentment that the brunette was still feeling towards her friend, she welcomed the comfort that Andy brought.

Narcissa also rested a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "As much as you may hate what I'm about to say, there is no going back now." The blonde witch looked up at her eldest sister and sighed. "Perhaps, Bellatrix, you could give us a moment with Madam Granger."

Bellatrix looked as if she was going to protest, but one look from Narcissa and the dark-haired witch threw her arms up in exasperation and left the room, stomping upstairs.

"Our sister is many things, Madam Granger," murmured Narcissa. "But she has been protecting people for a very long time. Her methods are somewhat different and at times illegal, but she will try and save and protect as many people as possible, no matter what. This, I'll admit, has led to some pretty awful behaviour and her taking over the Ministries, like the League, may not seem like the best course of action, but these are desperate times. There is no Dumbledore or Order to help us anymore, and the League knows that. Bellatrix's actions and plan are drastic, but they might be the only thing that can save us all."

"Hermione, you've known me for years now, ever since I lost Ted and Tonks. Do you honestly think that I would have rekindled my relationship with my sister if I thought she was a threat? Especially as I have Teddy to think about." Andy squeezed Hermione's shoulder reassuringly.

"Where is Teddy?" asked the brunette, suddenly worrying for his safety.

"He's fine," replied Andy, smiling. "He's upstairs playing with his toys. That's probably where Bellatrix has gone. She's very good with him, you know."

"Bellatrix Lestrange plays with your grandson?" said Hermione, trying not to sound as shocked as she was. "But…Teddy's never mentioned anything."

Andy shook her head. "He wouldn't. He understood pretty early on that he wasn't to talk about her. I'm sorry that I've kept this from you, but I know how you feel about Bellatrix, how everyone does. The truth is, no one really knows her."

"And also don't call her Lestrange," interjected Narcissa. "Nothing annoys her more. She hated that man and couldn't wait to get rid of his name."

"This is crazy," said Hermione, more to herself than the two Black sisters.

"We know," murmured Andy, nodding.

"Listen," said Narcissa, "I know that Bellatrix's plan seems horrendous, but it's not as bad as it seems. She doesn't take over Ministries in the same way as the League. She publishes all the information so the people can read it for themselves. Just the cold, hard facts though. Then she reveals herself to the Ministry and the people, gives a speech about the threat of the League and leaves it to the people to decide for themselves. Everywhere she's taken over she has because the people have asked her to and the Ministries realise that she is their only hope of avoiding the same fate as Hungary and others."

"I'm sensing there's a proposal of some sort coming my way," said Hermione, raising an eyebrow.

Narcissa smirked slightly and shared a look with Andy. "Smartest witch of her age indeed. Yes, I was going to say, why don't you come with Bellatrix to the next country she plans on visiting. You can observe her and see for yourself. If you still think that she is a terrible human being and intent on world domination, then I will not protest at whatever it is you plan to do. If, however, you see that this is the only way to stop the League, then you can help Bellatrix and us."

"Just like that, I get to see what Bellatrix is doing and decide whether to stay or leave?" asked Hermione, feeling somewhat dubious that the dark-haired witch would let her go so easily.

"We'll make sure of it," said Andy, clearly reading Hermione's mind.

Narcissa nodded. "Yes, exactly. Bellatrix does actually listen to us. Part of us being the younger sisters that she thinks need protecting."

"And what's going to stop me from just watching what she does and running to tell the people I know and trust at the Ministry?" asked the brunette.

"Do you know who you can trust?" Bellatrix appeared at the bottom of the stairs again. "There's been some news come over the wireless from our contacts in London. The warden of Azkaban has been found dead."

"What?" said the other three together.

Bellatrix nodded. "It's been ruled a suicide."

"But you don't think it is," said Andy, frowning.

"No, I don't. Everyone is saying that he couldn't live with the shame of the breakout from Azkaban, but there was just no way someone that arrogant would actually do this. No, in all likelihood the League punished him for his failures."

"How did he die?" asked Narcissa.

"They found him face down in a river. The authorities are saying that he jumped off a bridge," explained the dark-haired witch.

They fell into silence as each witch contemplated the news of the warden's death.

"They really are ruthless, aren't they," murmured Hermione, after a while.

The other three all nodded their agreement.

"That's why it's going to take something drastic to stop them," said Bellatrix.

Hermione couldn't remember anyone looking at her the way the dark-haired witch did now. The brunette couldn't quite explain or understand how it made her feel. All she knew was that Bellatrix didn't fill her with that sense of fear she once had, nor was she unnerved by her. It was a strange sensation and it frustrated Hermione that she couldn't quite understand what effect the dark-haired witch was having on her. As they once more fell into silence, the brunette couldn't help but focus on Bellatrix's question: who did Hermione know she could trust?

In truth, the brunette wasn't at all sure. No one in the Auror department, they had been too corrupted by Cypher. Even Harry she didn't fully trust, especially now there was the news about Ron. No, now Hermione thought about it there was only one person she trusted above all others and that was Euphemia. Not once had she ever let Hermione down and she had been there for her. Despite this, there was something niggling at the back of the brunette's mind, something that gave her pause, she just didn't know what.

"So," said Andy, facing the brunette again, "are you going to do what Narcissa suggested?"

Hermione looked determinedly at the three sisters before speaking. "No," she replied, defiantly. "At least not yet," she quickly added, after Bellatrix looked like she might explode. "I have something I need to do first."

"Really? And what's that?" asked Bellatrix, through gritted teeth, clearly in an effort to refrain from losing her cool.

"There's no reason why both our ideas can't work," explained the brunette. "Your way stops the League from gaining even more control, but it doesn't stop them growing in numbers. We need to start removing members of the League."

Bellatrix threw her arms up in frustration again. "How are you going to even manage that? It's not like there's a directory of names you can just look up!"

Hermione pulled a face, ignoring the fact that this was quite a childish reaction. "I'm not a complete idiot. Listen, we know that Cypher is a member of the League and he certainly has history of recruiting members, I say we start there."

"And what does there mean?" asked Andy, looking apprehensive.

"Cypher must have documents somewhere which could point us in the direction of a few members, or something the League is planning," began Hermione, but Bellatrix interrupted her.

"I hardly think he's going to have a list of names or maps in his living room," snorted Bellatrix.

The brunette closed her eyes and took a deep breath. How did this woman know exactly how to push her buttons?

"I'm not saying he's got them stored in his house," Hermione snapped. "He may be the Head of the Auror Office, but he also knows that's what got me in this situation. I kept stuff at home and it would be easy for us to break in. No, he will have moved everything."

"Where?" asked Andy.

"Where is currently the most secure building the League has in this country?" smirked Hermione.

"Oh no," said Bellatrix, shaking her head. "Please tell me you are not about to suggest we break into the Ministry?!"