Chapter One
The sky crackled with a dark, tumultuous storm taking place outside of the walls of the wizard prison, Azkaban. Dementors had gathered in clusters around a single cell, and a woman with wild black hair was moaning endlessly inside, mopping her hair back repeatedly. She clutched her swollen stomach, feeling the contractions close in time apart, and she knew it wouldn't be long. She sensed rather than actually heard the whoosh of a bright white light, which sent the dementors scattering away from her cell, and she felt relief, only to be replaced a moment later with boiling rage as she heard the voice of the man who'd cast the Patronus charm which drove off the soul suckers.
"Bellatrix Lestrange. You were quite the intelligent student at school back in your day. Oh, how the mighty fall." the wizened man simpered.
"Best to remember that, Dumbledore. Best to -" she paused, biting back a screech as another wave of contractions hit her. Albus Dumbledore leaned down, peering with his lit wand tip into her cell.
"I will ask this only once of you, Bella. But be sure of your answer. I do not wish to harm you, or the innocent child you are about to bring into this world. Would you allow -"
"Save it!" Bellatrix hissed, spitting a bit of blood in his direction. "You won't be coming anywhere near me, nor my child. I know what you're thinking, that you might save her from her mother's evil, by stealing her away from me, hiding her with some muggles. I swear it on my magic, Albus Dumbledore, I will burn the entire world down to find her if you take my child from me, and you will know vengeance and wrath like you have never felt. So mote it be!" Her final words came out, stronger than anything she had said before in her imprisonment, and a golden light drifted around the two of them, through the bars of the cell. Albus tried to pull back, but found he was bound by the ropes of her magic, and before it dissipated, in a crack of lightning, he saw a silhouette outline of a woman with very long, straight, dark hair, with gems of onyx and ruby glinting in the strands, a vicious and mischievous smirk on her face. He blinked once more, and the woman was gone, leaving him to assume it had been a trick of the light.
"In you go then, there is no choice for it. We must rid the world of the dark opportunities this child might create," Albus gestured to a mediwitch, who cast a stupefy on the helpless woman, and the guard begrudgingly allowed them entrance to the cell.
"Ought to cut out that monster and toss it over into the sea, Dumbledore. That child won't never grow up right, what with who it's parents being and all." The guard muttered gently, but with venom. The older wizard cast his gaze at the younger one, who had the humility to flush, but who also brazenly stilled his quivering chin and held his gaze on Dumbledore's.
"You might be right, Mr. Clearwater, but then, you also might be wrong. And the Light does not murder infants, so I will take the chance that there is some potential for good in this babe. Might Lady Magick help us all if I am wrong." Another burst of lightning flashed outside the hall, as if to emphasize, or dispute, the old man's grave words.
The next evening, Albus and Minerva McGonagall stood outside of a humble sized dwelling, with the occupants inside busying themselves with their bedtime preparations. They had to be careful, because the home had several wall to wall, ceiling to floor windows and had a very open and airy atmosphere, making it difficult to sneak about, but Albus quickly rapped them each once on their heads, ensuring a disillusionment charm was in place, and muttered a silencing barrier and muggle repelling charm to ease his colleague's mind.
"Albus, are you certain this is the right thing to do? I worry... I have heard of the strict living standards here in Japan... and their economy is on the verge of collapse, it doesn't take a Seer to realise that." Minerva fretted and fussed, looking down at the infant bundled in her arm's. The girl had a small shock of wild, brunette fuzz, adorable pink lips, and intelligent hazel eyes, flitting about with curiosity when they were open, but for now, they were shut tight, in a peaceful slumber. The two gazed back at the house, and even Albus seemed a little embarrassed, watching as the inhabitants of the home wrapped each other in a sweet, private embrace.
"It is... for the greater good, Minerva. I assure you. Little Belladonna Riddle, rest soundly, and when you awake, you will be in the loving arms of your new family, and rechristened... Hermione Granger." He took the bundle and set the child gently down on the front porch, tucking a note written in the local Japanese characters inside, and turned away, trying to block out his final thoughts before Minerva rang the doorbell and they vanished: 'You will either be our saving grace, or our downfall. There is no middle ground for Hermione Granger.'
AN: Hello all, and welcome to my story! I will try to have new updates for you all weekly, give or take. I'm currently about a chapter ahead (I write this after just posting the third chapter). My story might be a bit weird, my OC stranger still, but this comes from a place that is special to me, as it's rooted in my Pagan religion. You don't have to agree with my views, I'm not pushing them on anyone, feel free to enjoy it as purely fiction if you like. Anyways, I'm currently reconstructing just a tad, so stick around for updates, and I'd love to hear feedback on how you think I'm doing! :) I own none of JKR's original work, the psycho plot bunnies are authentically mine though. Thanks in advance, hope y'all enjoy!