Author's Note: Hey, so uh,...back with another chapter! The story is progressing onward and soon it will be time for the Malfoy Ball. Possibly next chapter. We shall see. As always, thank you for all the support! It means a lot to me.

HUGE DISCLAIMER; None of these characters are my own. Just their OOC-ness. ~1stSoulVamp

IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS

Chapter 18: Into the Fray

"What the hell do those numbers mean then?!" Hermione's thoughts were screaming. For the past hour, after their silent breakfast, the brunette had excused herself from the table to try and figure out what the Dark Lord had meant about her vault. Part of her was struggling with visiting her vault at all because it would mean facing a part of her that she knows nothing about. If the vault situated in Gringotts responded to her blood, then everything the girl had ever know would be a lie. She didn't know if she could handle anymore truth. Especially now, where she felt like she couldn't trust anyone. Even though she had said she'd forgiven Bellatrix and asked forgiveness from Narcissa, the young, scared little girl inside of her was telling her gut not to trust anyone anymore, to avoid being hurt again. The other part was still trying to figure out what the Dark Lord had meant about giving her digits to her vault.

Giving up for a bit the brunette left her room in search for some peace and found her legs had carried her to the library. Upon entering, she saw the Black Family book was bookmarked and closed on the nearest coffee table. It was a bit weird, given she thought she had left it in Bellatrix's room but maybe the dark witch herself had moved it back in here for protection. She grabbed it anyways before plopping herself down on the cushioned couch. For a couple minutes there was pure silence as the girl read her page, but at the sound of a page turning she nearly jumped out of her skin. Peering over her book she saw Narcissa on the chair next to the fireplace but in the back of the room. "No wonder I didn't see her." Hermione thought.

The blonde in question seemed to pay her no mind, even though Hermione was in sight of her. Especially because the brunette hadn't been all that quiet when she first came in. In fact, it almost seemed like the blonde witch was ignoring her. Frowning, the younger Slytherin went back to her book, trying to focus on learning the Black family tree.

The next couple of minutes past in relative silence but Hermione had begun to worry. How was she ever gonna make it up to Narcissa? Bellatrix said she had an idea but didn't care to enlighten Hermione on it. She silently grumbled as she nervously chewed on the bottom of her lip. Should she say something? Did she expect a gift? Hermione wasn't exactly in the money department right now to buy her one, but she would try if that's what the blonde wanted.

"Oh pet, that's not what my dear sister wants at all." Bellatrix whispered in the brunette's left ear.

Hermione jumped, for real this time, and let out a squeak. "What the hell?! Warn a person next time!" She lightly swatted the now cackling dark witch with her closed book. "And just what do you think you're doing, reading my thoughts?" She glared at the older Slytherin.

Bellatrix gave a predatory smile. "Why, just seeing what you're up to." Well, she didn't deny reading Hermione's thoughts at least. "Any luck with the digits the Dark Lord was talking about?"

Hermione gave a sigh as she plopped back down on the couch. "No, none. Although I suppose if I just go to Gringotts the goblins could show me where the vault is." She paused herself, taking the time to quickly glance at Narcissa, but upon turning her head, saw the blonde had gone.

"But is that really what you want?" The black-haired witch asked.

Hermione gave out another sigh, "Yes? No...Yes! I mean I-I d-don't know!" She threw her hands up in the air angrily. "I can't decide if I just want to leave this nightmare behind me or embrace it. It's not something I'm prepared for, and usually I'm prepared for everything!" She voice slightly raised as she angrily combed a hand through her hair.

Bellatrix came around to sit on the couch, cupping the brunette's face gently before trailing the define jaw. "I don't think it'll hurt you to see?" She suggested. "I mean, it's doing you more harm to do nothing pet, than doing something."

Hermione pursed her lips quietly thinking before giving a small nod to the dark witch above her. "What do you think Draco would say?"

The older witch snorted. "Why would you want my nephew's opinion? He'll give you some bullshit answer."

"Well I don't exactly have your sister to ask, now do I?" Hermione glared. "You said you had something in mind to help me apologize. You already said she wouldn't like a gift so what am I supposed to do?

Bellatrix rolled her eyes playfully before leaning into the brunette giving her a small peck on the lips. "That, pet, is for you to decide. You are the one apologizing after all." She gave a wink leaving a frustrated brunette. Getting up from the couch, she announced that the Dark Lord was calling, but before she left the library, she whipped around saying, "check the envelope," before swaying out.

The younger Slytherin looked to where the older woman had just been, muttering under her breath, "Envelope? Envelope, envelope, envelope...OH ENVELOPE! Thank merlin!"

The Order was meeting at the Burrow again and Minerva had just flooed in. Given it was still winter break, all the Weasleys were home which made the small how even more crowded than usually. True to the rumors the Deputy Headmistress had heard, most of the Weasley siblings had shunned the problematic red-headed Durmstrang student. When the meeting was called to order the oldest stayed while the younger ones went upstairs to bed, that chilly December night. Minerva was just glad she didn't have to go outside.

Of the Order members that were there was Hestia Jones, Nymphadora Tonks, Andromeda Tonks, The Weasleys minus Ginny, Ron, and Harry with an added Fleur Weasley nee Delacour, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Severus Snape, Augusta Longbottom, Alastor Moody and Elphias Doge. Dumbledore was not present at the moment but had rather sent Minerva to relay his news. Sitting around the large parlor room the group settled down with various teas and biscuits thanks to the Weasley matriarch, who could never not make food.

"Why have we been called here Minerva? Everyone's read the paper!" Augusta Longbottom said from her seat next to the fire, eluding to the paper that there had been more DeathEater sightings in the past couple of weeks.

Minerva fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Dumbledore asked me to relay information. He fears Voldemort is at it again." She didn't miss the shivers that went around the room at the name.

"That's nothing new! The old bat has simply-." Augusta quieted at Moody's glare.

"Thank you Alastor. As some of the older members might remember, there has been some recent developments on the prophecy. Dumbledore didn't want to mention it because he didn't want you all to rise without cause but he's afraid it's gone past the point of not mentioning it."

A chorus of outrage and bewilderment had erupted out of the older members, while the younger, newest ones remained quiet and confused. Minerva sighed with impatience. If she had to hear one more shout of 'constant viligence' from Moody she might do the world a favor and blast him to America.

"ENOUGH!" A voice rang out. The bickering Order member's quieted down as they looked to Nymphadora who had been silently contemplating while the 'adults' had bickered at each other. Once she had made sure to glare at everyone in the room for their rudeness, she looked to Minerva. "And what do you think of this news?"

"Thank you Nymphadora." The metamorph said nothing but her hair tinged red briefly at the name. "I think it's about time we mentioned it. Although there is nothing I think we can do about it. At least for right now. Not over the break." Pausing to look at Severus, the greasy-haired man gave a small nod. Best to get it over with. "We think we found the muggleborn the prophecy was about."

Dead silence. The older Order members looked shocked. They didn't expect Dumbledore would share this news, preferring to be the quiet puppeteer in the background, but if Minerva was there sharing then it can't be good. The younger Order members looked confused. It was Fleur who finally broke the silence.

"Iz it zomeone zat we know and what iz zis prophecy we keep 'earing about?" The ex-Beaubatons student asked.

"Possibly. The prophecy is old-" Minerva was about to launch into the story of all the old Order raids on the last remaining DeathEaters from the last following of Voldemort. It wasn't exactly legal given the Ministry did not approve but the Order had carried them out, nonetheless. But she was interrupted from the Weasley matriarch.

"And none of your concern." She glared at the Frenchwoman who had just married her son. "This isn't news you should mess with us about, Minerva."

The Transfiguration teacher shook her head. "I'm not messing with you Mrs. Weasley. In fact, Severus, Albus and I had a fair inkling for years, but it wasn't really confirmed until before winter break, when your son tried to rape her might I add." She spat with venom at the red-head. She had known Molly for too many years to know that the mother was an instigator of trouble like her twin sons.

The red-headed matriarchs eyes widened. "You mean to say that mudblood, the one that tried to hurt my boy? She's the traitor?!"

"For the love of merlin," Snape drawled before anyone could butt in, "You son was the one to try and rape Miss Granger. Not the other way around." He gave her a hard glare as he sneered.

"Ze little brunette zat waz friendz wiz 'Arry and Ginny?" Fleur made sure not to mention Ron at the moment.

Minerva nodded before Molly butted in and got in the blonde woman's face. "Oh for merlin's sake you can say his name! My son is better than that mudblood!"

"Mudblood?!" Nymphadora shot out of her seat. Minerva and Andromeda's eyes both rolled at Molly's antics, as the curly-haired brunette tried to get her daughter to sit back down and not join the fray.

"Oh just go on and zay it! Your problem iz not wiz ze muggleborn but wiz me! Ever zince I married Bill you can't zeem to 'ide your 'atred towardz me!" the Frenchwoman yelled, "Vous poulet envahi!"

"Well now that you mention it, I do seem to have a problem with you!" She jabbed her pointer finger into the blonde's chest.

"Mother! How dare you-" Bill chimed in.

The rest of the Order members had calmed down enough to see the family drama unfold. They were no longer discussing the prophecy as the newlywed couple and the unaccepting mother-in-law dished out insults to each other as Arthur tried to keep his wife from saying anything she'll regret. In the end, it was Augusta who had gotten up from her seat by the fire and had taken Molly's hand and pulled her out into the hallway to calm down as Bill and Fleur sat down, heated.

"As I was saying," Minerva cleared her throat, "the prophecy was given around the time of the last couple of raids on the DeathEaters when the Rosiers fell to the hands of the Order. Soon after that a prophecy had popped up in the Department of Mysteries stating a bond between the eldest Black and the surviving child of the Rosiers that would claim power and help win the war. Unfortunately Lucius Malfoy got to it first but thanks to Severus we were able to receive the prophecy as well. So eleven years later when a muggleborn was placed in Slytherin, we knew we had to keep an eye on her. It's only troubling now because Hermione Granger seems to be staying over at the Malfoys for winter break which could have her favor the dark side. Especially if the eldest Black is over there too."

"Bellatrix..." Andromeda muttered.

Minerva nodded, "Aye. The two have already spent Christmas together and I'm afraid the Malfoy Ball will solidify her to the dark side. If the prophecy proves correct, the dark side will win."

The Order, now with sound-minded people, seemed to ponder the news. Kingsley spoke, breaking the silence. "What does Dumbledore want to do about this predicament?"

"Dumbledore has asked our dear Deputy to get close to the Granger girl, once she is back from break." Severus answered. With the questioning looks that were given to him, he explained, "Minerva was the girl's saving grace. She got the girl out of the orphanage and showed her a true home."

"Oh Minnie." Andromeda went to pat McGonagall on the hand. "But that seems to be a bit exploitative. If there's anything we can do to help?"

"Oh, aye, trust me. I said the same thing! I was nae happy with using my close relationship for Dumbeldore's benefits but if I don't then I've doomed us all." Minerva murmured.

"What do you plan on doing? Hasn't she been through enough?" Nymphadora asked.

"I dinnae see much I can do. Just stay mad at the ol' bat, until he thinks of something better." Minerva muttered into her tea as she took a sip.

"I could try." Andromeda said suddenly. The rest of the room turned to her and she shrugged her shoulders. "My sisters always throw a Masquerade as their New Year's Eve Ball theme. I could always entice the witch to our side at the Ball and my sisters would have no idea I was even there."

"Mother, that's dangerous. The minute Aunt Bella and Aunt Cissy know you're there, they would have your hide! And anyways how would you even get in?! There could be DeathEaters crawling all over the place!" Nymphadora exclaimed.

"The Malfoy gates require blood entry. I am a Black by blood; it would not recognize the difference between me or my sisters. Besides I'll be behind a mask, no one would see that it's me." the curly brunette said.

"No, it's too risky. You're too good a member to waste if you get caught." Moody gruffed out.

Andromeda smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment. But I think I can do it. Nothing a few glamours can't hide too."

"I think it's the only start we have to this mess." Snape muttered from behind his black robes. "At least she's doing something. She will be with family and I, myself, will be there so if there is any real danger, I can escort Tonks."

"Thank you Severus. Any objections?" There was a chorus of 'no's' but one 'yes' from her daughter but it was promptly ignored. The Order meeting ended with a plan of action and thankfully Mrs. Weasley never came back into the room with Augusta to cause anymore disturbances so Minerva flooed home to Hogwarts after a long day. At least she wasn't the only one no longer involved in the manipulation from the Order's side. She knew a lot of it rode on the fact that the good side needed to win but she was starting to question if the good side had any good motives. Dumbledore was becoming questionable but Minerva had known the man for so long she didn't want to doubt.

Author's End Note: Yet again, 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. There was one french translation but not by the Black sisters this time ;) but its in the end notes if you really wanna know what she called Mrs. Weasley. I decided to let McGonagall be a little bit more Scottish when she's angry. Also I tried my best at the broken English on Fleur's part. Its just how I imagined her saying that. Thanks for reading! ~1stSoulVamp

Notes:

Vous poulet envahi! You overgrown chicken!