Note: I'm back with Chapter 12!!!! I'm honestly more than a little proud of just how much writing I have been able to get done recently. It has been amazing to feel so focused and eager to write again. All you wonderful readers though have also been an excellent motivator!

Trigger warning this chapter contains homophobic language. It's not a major part of the chapter and is only obviously spoken about once or twice but please be warned to read with caution.

I hope you are all doing well, my love always ~ Nell xoxo

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~ July 3rd 1996 ~

~ Location: Hampstead Gardens, London. Granger Residence~

~ Hermione's POV ~

"I truly do not care for what you think you know about yourself Hermione. You are a child. This is a phase and you will break things off with the heathen as soon as you get back to Hogwarts. Do you understand me?" her fathers voice was harsh and angry as he glared at her from across the kitchen table. Their evening meal of macaroni sat half eaten, going cold on the surface between them.

It had been like this since she had come home the evening prior. Her muggle father was confrontational over just about every aspect of her life, he had been, ever since he had found out she was a witch way back when she was an eleven year old. To begin with he hadn't ever been mean or cruel, merely fearful. His strong religious beliefs contributing to his distrust of the magical world and all that it entailed. But it had only ever been that, fearful musings. Until now that is. She didn't understand how something as simple as who she loved made a man who had raised her for sixteen years turn into someone so resentful and cruel. His words were spat out like acid, as if the mere thought of her being gay and dating Fleur was an insult to him personally.

What made it worse is she hadn't even meant to let on that she was seeing a woman, it had slipped out in a rare moment of nervousness the day before. She had been far too nervous about seeing the Grangers again, entirely unsure of how she would react given what she now knew. That she had not thought to guard her responses.

She sighed, glancing down again at her barely touched food before she forced herself to calm down. It would be disastrous if she were to lose control of her magic right now. She just hoped her mama would come for her soon, or Fleur found a way to visit her. She already felt close to breaking point and she didn't want to risk such a thing happening while around the Grangers. She couldn't guarantee their safety, not knowing what exactly she felt about them herself yet, she dreaded to think what her magic may do, especially if she were pushed towards the family madness.

"I disagree with your views father, I may be a child in your eyes but I know my own mind and heart. I love her, more than I have ever loved another. Please may we just agree to disagree on this matter for now, I do not wish to fight with you" she pled, forcing herself to sound much meeker than she would ever be, trying to play at her muggle parents hearts a little. Not that she knew what was going on in her mothers head currently. The woman having opted to stay silent, observing the ongoing argument from her place at the table.

"Fine, we will drop the matter Hermione, but what I said still stands, it was not a request. You are not one of them, do you understand me girl?" He replied, his angry words were spat out through clenched teeth and if she did not already know that continuing to argue with the man would do her no good, Hermione would have lashed out in outrage. His narrow minded prejudice offensive and more than a little outdated.

It was such a clear example of just how harmful the views of uneducated muggleborns had on wizarding society. She sighed quietly. What little appetite she had managed to muster fleeing her in her silent fury. Her parents, her muggle parents that is, was a topic she struggled to address. She didn't know what to think about their involvement in her mothers abduction, her kidnap and subsequent adoption. If they were indeed involved she did not know what would come of them. Not just at her mama's hands, but at her own too.

The Black Family madness was a powerful force when provoked and nothing provoked a Black more than someone harming their family. She also felt like the curse she was born too was maybe a little too convenient of an excuse to let herself give in to her own anger and hatred that had began brewing since her fourth year.

Since she had started asking questions and looking deeper at the world she had entered.

It had grown and twisted the longer she was stuck under the manipulations of Dumbledore, strengthening the longer she was forced to play nice with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Even now she could feel it as she forced herself to smile politely at her judgemental muggle parents who had demanded she stop being with her literal soulmate because it was "disgusting, barbaric and immoral".

The only thing disgusting, barbaric and immoral she could see were their attitudes.

"May I be excused?" She asked, her tone one of forced politeness, her anger barely concealed as she pushed her plate away from her, no longer wanting it.

"You may Hermione, though I expect the dishes done before you head to bed for the evening" her mother replied curtly, standing to gather the plates. Hermione ignored the reproachful disappointed look on both her 'parents' faces. Pushing up from the table she made her way up the stairs, shutting the door to her room behind her. Wishing she was back in the room of requirement, wrapped up in her mates arms.

She got ready for bed slowly, deciding her mothers request that she do the dishes was irrelevant compared to the bone deep tiredness she suddenly felt. She let the methodical routine of getting herself ready ground her, her anger slowly slipping back into the recesses of her mind. Quiet and calm by the time she had washed up, changed into a simple t-shirt and shorts. Plaited her hair back and climbed into bed.

She reached over, turning off her lamp. Plunging the room into darkness. The only light coming from a crack in her curtains. The moon glowing softly above. She settled herself back. Tucking the covers around her tightly as she closed her eyes.

"Please come for me soon mama" her plea the only sound in the house, whispered to the darkness as she drifted off.

~ July 6th 1996 ~

~ Location: Hampstead Gardens, London. Granger Residence~

~ Hermione's POV ~

Hermione woke up in a daze, her mind a little foggy. Unsure as to why she had woke so suddenly from her dreamless slumber. She still couldn't get used to not seeing her mother at all in her dreams anymore. It was more painful than she would like to admit and if she was honest it made her feel a little rejected. Unsure as to why her mother had stopped meeting with her.

It made her time away from Fleur and the magical world even more difficult to bare than she had anticipated. Solidifying the unspoken feelings of loneliness within her.

The past few days had shown her just how isolated she was from those that were meant to care. Her supposed friends hadn't written once and she had heard nothing from any of her family or Fleur. She knew when it came to her mama and Fleur their silence was understandable, they had to exercise caution.

Fleur couldn't reveal who she truly sided with and her mama couldn't just send an owl for worry that it would be intercepted, putting her mama at risk of recapture and Hermione at risk from those in the order who wouldn't think twice about harming her if they thought her loyalties had changed.

But the boys? Those that she knew used her could have at least pretended to be interested in her couldn't they? It wasn't like it would take much of their time. Though maybe what hurt the most was her mothers lack of contact. She couldn't understand why her mother had stopped the nightly meetings in their minds. Couldn't work out why she had been shut out. She very much knew she had been shut out, her mind taking herself to the very same open space she had gone the first night only for it to be surrounded by nothing, an invisible force keeping her from moving forward. It made her worry for more than one reason.

Had her mother been harmed? Was she too weak to connect their minds? Was her mother mad at her? Had she done something wrong? Or had her mother simply realised that Hermione wasn't the daughter she had wanted?

With no answers and the tension mounting between her and her adoptive muggle parents Hermione found herself desperately clinging to the very edge of her sanity. She had been quicker to anger, less inclined to filter herself when her muggle father said something she didn't agree with. It meant that for the past two days all they had done was argue.

He declaring that if she was to continue seeing the barbarian and shaming the family name then she would soon find herself without a family. Her mother hadn't been much help either. She looked pained when her father had said that, as if she were about to argue but with a sharp glance aimed at her by her 'father' her 'mother' had remained quiet.

That had been yesterday and it had been the worst row she had ever had with her father. It too had pained her, her feelings for them ever confusing as they were. It infuriated her to feel so much and have there be absolutely no way for her to deal with it. Her magic felt like it was coiled around a hair- trigger.

Ready to erupt at any moment.

She groaned, rolling over and attempting to bury herself deeper in to her bedding. Not ready to face the day. She had just decided to go back to sleep when a loud knocking sounded at her bedroom door. Her fathers voice following right after.

"I won't tell you again, Hermione. Get up. Your chores won't do themselves especially after your attitude the past few days" he sounded irritated, causing her to groan more loudly this time and force herself up and out of bed. Glancing at the clock as she did.

6:30... right because that was a normal time to wake your teenage daughter and all but demand she do chores on a Saturday morning during summer break.

Making her way downstairs, now showered and dressed, Hermione mumbled a polite good morning to her two parents. Her mother looking anxious, her father looking annoyed and more than a little weary of her.

"What would you like me to do?" She asked, keeping her voice polite as she reached for the coffee pot by the stove. Not particularly wanting another argument so early in the morning with either of her adoptive parents. She didn't particularly trust herself to keep control of her magic if she were to be insulted again by the judgemental man she loved and loathed.

"The kitchen, the down stairs sitting room and the stairs"

She nodded, not voicing her complaint at being punished merely because her views conflicted that of her parents. Why couldn't they see that Fleur made her happy? That it shouldn't matter what her mates gender was, as long as they were good for one another? - Because they're small minded muggles who cannot see past their own prejudice her mind supplied unhelpfully in answer to her own musings. She couldn't help but sigh and roll her eyes when she saw the slight shock on her fathers face at her silent acceptance and lack of fight.

Her love for them felt like a heavy weight in that moment as she acknowledged for the first time that once her mama came for her she would probably never see the Grangers again. Even if they did in fact have nothing to do with her being removed from her mother, they were exactly what they appeared to be. Muggles with very little understanding or tolerance for the magical world. They would never fit in to wizarding Britain and would only ever end up being in danger because of their association with her.

She took a sip of her coffee, grimacing at the bitter taste but drinking it down all the same. Willing the coffee to give her the strength to make it through the day.

She didn't know what was causing it, but her skin felt as if it were on fire. Her magic was buzzing and the feeling of anticipation had only grown all evening.

It was now seven and Hermione had spent the day completing her chores while her parents went out to work for a few hours. Her mother had got back first and started on dinner, while her dad had come back several hours later just as irritated as he had been before he had left. Scowling at her when he had past her in the sitting room before shutting himself in his study.

He had come out for dinner, a lasagne her mother had spent a few hours preparing. Before disappearing back to his study right after. Leaving Hermione to help her mother with clean up.

Her mother had thanked her, then asked if she would like to watch television with her and now that Hermione had fully processed just how little time she had left with the woman who had raised her, she didn't have it in her to decline.

So here they sat watching the soaps while her mother nursed a red whine and she her cup of tea. It was oddly domestic and did absolutely nothing to distract Hermione from that feeling of anticipation. It had her on alert, ready to react at a moments notice.

Ultimately she could only be thankful for that because it meant she felt the magic in the air change as soon as it happened. She let herself react. Instinctively summoning her wand to her hand and standing. Startling her muggle mother at the quick actions. The other woman looking wearily at Hermione's wand, her unease and fear of what she was written plainly on her face.

"Oh please, like I've ever harmed you" she scoffed, annoyed at the reaction. One would think that after five years her 'parents' would have come to terms with having a witch in the family.

"Something or someone is coming, I can feel it." She explained after taking a deep breath, centring herself. "Go into fathers study, I can protect you both better if you are in one place"

Though she didn't truly believe she was in any danger, hoping that what she could feel was her mama finally coming for her. But she wasn't about to leave herself vulnerable without confirming that. After all Albus wasn't to be trusted, she would not put it past him to pull something dodgy with her here alone to ensure her loyalty or her silence.

Her mother nodded, hearing the truth in her words and deciding to heed the warning. Not willing to be separated from her husband if there truly was danger approaching.

Hermione followed her adoptive mother, shutting her fathers study door behind her and magically locking it. Casting the strongest disillusionment charm directly at the door also. Hoping to deter whoever was approaching her home. If it was her mama then it wouldn't affect her. Her mama would be able to sense out and cut through her magic with little difficulty. Such were the perks of blood magic.

Anyone else however, would find it extremely difficult.

"What? What are you doing Hermione? Put that devil's wand away! You know you're not allowed that around this house!!" Her father snapped, their unexpected entrance startling him. Causing him to jump up from his desk in alarm, looking fearfully at her and the wand she still held at the ready.

"Honestly Father..." she began only to be cut off by the sound of splintering wood and the unmistakable cackle of her mama. Sending her heart both beating wildly, her nerves sky rocketing but her body relaxing instantly. Her wand lowering much to the protest of both her muggle parents.

She giggled, feeling her mama's magic surrounding her, bathing her. Calling to her own that had been coiled tightly for days. Releasing her control without any sort of thought as she allowed her magic to sweep her up in the exhilaration. The magic pulsing around her was strong, dark and felt so welcoming that her own hesitance in allowing her magic free reign fled.

She couldn't help but laugh louder, amused at the way her muggle parents had all but done an about turn on their opinion about her brandishing her wand in the house. Weren't they telling her off mere seconds ago? And now he was protesting her relaxing her wand? How very sad.

"Oh looky here, haven't I just gone and found myself a long lost daughter!!" Her mama cackled as she strode through the obliterated door. Dressed in her usual black dress, corset and cloak. Her wand held loosely as she walked, a mixture of madness and confidence. Radiating power with every step. Hermione almost whined as the need to move closer almost overwhelmed her, her mama's aura promising safety and warmth.

But she had the feeling that wasn't the plan. Bellatrix Black was far too intelligent to rush off anywhere half cocked. She would have a plan, Hermione was sure of it but that meant she had to stay in front of her muggle family. Play the part of the fearful little lost child. The way she had to at Hogwarts.

The thought was almost enough to have her pouting. Her magic still flowing wildly inside her heightening the emotions she felt. Dutifully she raised her wand, not having to fake the slight tremor of her hand as her magic surged excitedly. Adding to the impression that Hermione was in fact genuinely fearful.

"N no no, you weren't meant t t to be able to find m m me, he said... he said" she cried out. Forcing as much alarm as she could into her voice. Making her sound a lot younger than she had ever sounded. She raised her wand again, aiming it at her mama, despite the over whelming feeling that the action was so wrong.

She placed herself deliberately in front of her muggle parents, standing as a shield adding to the act.

"You know who this is Hermione?" Her mother whispered, bewildered and uneasy though she noted with slight hurt that both her adoptive parents had made no move to shield her or protect her in the face of this apparent attack. They hid behind her, letting their only child be their defence.

Her mama cackled again, the sound sinister and cruel. "Oh dearie me, how rude child, didn't think to tell the filth about me? Tell them girl, Tell them!!!" And Hermione would have been genuinely terrified at the child like tone if she didn't know her mama had come for her so wasn't a danger.

To her at least.

She shook her head. A refusal to tell the parents she had Albus fooled into believing she would always choose. Making her 'parents' shrink back further, not willing to be in direct firing line if the woman took offence at Hermione's refusal.

"Say it!! Say my name!" The dark witch commanded, sneering as she pushed forward, aiming her wand directly under Hermione's neck, pushing the tip in to the soft skin there. Merlin knew the brunette did not need to fake the shiver in response, her muggle parents would see it as fear but it was pure euphoria. Feeling her mama's magic pulse out, caressing her own playfully.

She marvelled internally at the control her mama had over her magic, to look so close to losing it but still have the ability to wield her magic with ease.

"B...Bellatrix Black" she stuttered and her heart sunk when both her mother and father inhaled sharply. Recognition startlingly obvious in their reactions. Hermione blinked, but had no chance to react herself before she was spun and pushed down onto her knees. Facing her adoptive parents. She tensed, not liking the way she was being handled.

Especially now that she couldn't see her mama, couldn't see anything. Anxiety replacing her previous anticipation. Coiling and writhing in a way she hadn't felt before, her magic twisting violently at the perceived sudden danger. She whimpered, her suddenly tear filled brown eyes swinging wildly up to meet her mother and father. Her vision was strained, her mind foggy. She felt dizzy, almost paralysed by the influx of feeling.

They looked on fearfully, their eyes not leaving Bellatrix, seemingly ignoring her.

She felt her mama shift, the Dark witches magic rushing over her own like Fleurs had done so many times. Grounding her as her mama knelt behind her, pulling her backwards, her hand tangling itself in her hair as she raised her wand back to Hermione's neck. Now just resting the tip of it on her pulse rather than digging the wand tip in to her skin like before.

Her mama's magic was calm as it blanketed her own. As warm as it was dark. Allowing the brunette to regain control of herself. Her vision clearing, that dizzy feeling receding slowly as she rested against her mama.

"Here's how this is going to work" the witch behind her spat, directly addressing the muggles. " I ask a question you answer, I ask a question and you don't answer..." she hesitated, making sure she held the moment, letting the fear on Hermione's adoptive parents faces rise. "Well if you don't answer, your little mudblood here suffers" Hermione flinched at the slur word.

The word had been used to taunt and humiliate her throughout her time at Hogwarts but it felt even more humiliating being directed at her by her own mother. Her parents nodded hesitantly.

"What do you know of me, and don't dare deny it or think of lying, I'll know?"

Hermione watched her parents gulp, glancing at each other wearily before her mother spoke up, causing so many questions to rise in her mind. "You are one of Hermione's biological parents, a blood supremacist, Voldemort's right hand woman"

How did her parents know who the dark lord was? How had they known who her mama was? Had they known all her life? If so how did they know? Her mind spun.

"How did you learn of me?" Her mama hissed.

"Professor Albus Dumbledore" her father whispered. "He came to us the night Hermione was born, said he knew who we were and that the magical world had wronged us, that we could have a chance at payback and get the child we both wanted"

"Wronged you how?" Spat her mama, suspicion lacing her tone.

"We were both born to magical families. Our parents were vile blood purists and when they realised we possessed little magic, they gave us a cache of money and abandoned us in the muggle world. They promised to end us if we were ever seen again"

Hermione gasped, her eyes shut tight. Betrayal. It was the only word she could describe for how she felt. Betrayed.

Betrayed by those she had loved all her life, the very people that should never have harmed her.

Betrayed. Her parents had betrayed her. Using her as a way to get revenge. To get lay back on their own parents. They hadn't picked her, they had seen her as a tool and suddenly everything made sense.

Every heated conversation she hadn't been able to quiet here through closed doors. The weary way in which they treated her, their refusal to accept magic. Their narrow minded thinking, it all came from him.

From Dumbledore.

Her fears had been true, she was a pawn, they had been in on Albus's schemes with her from the very beginning. Central in making sure she was raised in a world that would never understand or except her. A world that had ostracized her at the tender age of five, the very first time she had been bullied for being 'too smart', 'too different', a 'know-it-all'.

She felt devastated, her heart breaking. They had deliberately and knowingly lied to her, her entire life.

"Which families?" Her mama spat, her fingers subtly scratching at the back of Hermione's head in an attempt to soothe the upset Hermione was sure her mama could feel from her.

"Jean was a Fawley, I was a Dagworth-Granger" her 'father' spat the names like the were poison. Contempt twisting his features.

"How does raising my child a filthy mudblood help you get revenge?" Her mama whispered, more venom in her voice, her tone the most serious Hermione had ever heard it. Gone were the playful giggles and insane cackles.

"Simple, what better way to get revenge than raise a member of the most elite to be everything they despise and end your rotten family line once and for all, the Black's were always the worst. Filthy, inbred, insane" John Granger sneered. Hatred dripping from each and every word.

"And Albus, what are his plans for her?"

"We don't know, he didn't say, just said we got to be parents until such a time came where she would be useful elsewhere" her 'mother' answered, her voice more apologetic than her husbands.

Her mama's wand hand dropped away from her throat, the hand in her hair moving down also to wrap around her waist just as the first silent sob escaped her body.

How could they have done this to her? They were meant to love her? Support her and encourage her! No matter what. But her whole life had been a lie.

Their love was a lie, she had been ridiculed and belittled over parents who had no regard for her other than a plan of revenge. Her body shook with her heart broke.

Her magic surged and she could feel her mama's magic tighten around her own, trying to temper it, but she feared the family curse in that moment, her grief so strong she didn't know if her mama could in fact stop her from losing control.

"You have to get me out of here" she whispered through a sob, her body curling in on itself in a vain attempt to ground herself.

"Oh no my darling, I don't think I do" her mama replied, both arms wrapped around her now, her mama's chin resting on her shoulder.

"In fact I think maybe what you need is for your mama to give you your first lesson, how does that sound?"