Five weeks of summer gone with Hermione refusing to socialise with any of the manors occupants including to her surprise a very stubborn Draco who wouldn't leave her alone unless she disappeared into the library. Apparently the library was like holy water to her blonde cousin which worked to her advantage.

After the truth was revealed she avoided her parents like the plague, using the excuse of homework and feeling under the weather except Narcissa would then scrutinise her for any signs of illness, completely ruining her excuses after the first week. For the most part she didn't see much of Bellatrix but the small interactions she had with Rodolphus was interesting to say the least. She got her intelligence from both her parents and her fear of flying from her father who grumbled about pointless need of travelling when apparition and floo was far better and how dull and boring quidditch was which Rabastan would fire back that his brother was to snobby to appreciate the fine art of the sport.

The mention of war was forbidden in the manor by her aunt who would whack any one who brought it up much to the bruised heads of the Lestrange brothers chagrin.

Hermione found out the brothers joined the ranks unwillingly after their father forced it upon them at a young age. Rabastan had no time for violence prefering to use the art of persuasion but when he did fight it usually meant someone had pushed him to far just like earlier in the summer when the death eater attacked her. Rodolphus was the exact opposite, enjoying the violence and revelling in the blood shed of his enemies, he would use his fists first ask questions later, only using his wand if the enemy didn't crack under muggle torture first. While both were different from each other Rabastan was no less dangerous than her father. They had strong beliefs that muggles and muggleborns were filth of the earth and needed to be purged from the wizarding world, Hermione learnt to hold her tongue when they had these arguments.

One week left of the summer and Hermione received no letters from any of her friends but she refused to give up on them without a fight.

The black book sitting in front of her, taunting her about her true identity. She was only reading it to further know about her family. Bellatrix the oldest daughter of three. Next to her name was Andromeda Druella Black the middle child disowned for marrying below her station to a muggleborn wizard, his name not deemed worthy for the book but below was the name Nymphadora Tonks half blood daughter of Andromeda. Narcissa Druella Black now Malfoy the youngest daughter, Lucius Malfoys name was attached to his wife's with Draco Lucius Malfoy below.

Hermione was a bit green at finding out that her great aunt Walburga and uncle Orion where first cousins and each generation had at least one intermarriage but nothing closer related than cousins. It would explain the insanity that ran deep in the Blackline.

"Hermione love are you still with us?" Narcissa called, waving an envelope in front of Hermione's face. Blinking back to the present she sheepishly took the letter from her aunt. The Hogwarts crest was stamped in wax on the back, her real name glaring at her from the front. She was still struggling to come to terms with her new life.

Miss Lestrange
Malfoy manor
Winchester

Miss Lestrange.
Find attached the list of required equipment needed for your sixth year at Hogwarts. You shall be sorted in the great hall at the welcome feast after the first years have been sorted.
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy headmistress of Hogwarts

Hermione scrubbed her stinging eyes at the rather terse letter from her favourite professor and her former head of house. Not bothering to read the list she discarded them both on the table and returned mutely to her breakfast.

"Bloody hell I have been made prefect" Draco squealed like a school girl earning a slap from his uncle on the back of his head. "Sorry!".

Hermione no longer hungry, shoved her plate abruptly away in the process knocking over her orange juice which splashed all over the letter and her list. The table fell silent as she left the room with her shoulders hunched in defeat.

Narcissa waved away the mess, picking up the abandoned letter, raising a brow at the contents. "Draco pass me yours please". Taking the waving parchment she read over her son's.

Draco Malfoy
Malfoy manor
Winchester

Dear Mr Draco Malfoy.
Congratulations on making prefect for sixth year you will be fine your partner on the train as you do your rounds. Please use this responsibility wisely. If you are applying for any school clubs this year please speak with your head of house professor Snape.
You will find attached the list of equipment you will be needing for the year along with your prefect badge.
Again congratulations Mr Malfoy you have earnt this responsibility.
Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy headmistress of Hogwarts.

Narcissa lightly growled alerting her sister to her sudden change in behaviour.

"Problem Cissy?" Bellatrix lazily asked, both hands cupping her cup of coffee.

"Stupid scottish hypocrite" she hissed in anger, her blue eyes narrowing at her chuckling sister. "Your daughter is clearly upset and you can't even be bothered to go to her".

Bellatrix rolled her eyes "oh dear is old McGonagall being bitchy". The two letters were dropped into her lap, as her younger sister flounced from the room.

The main doors were thrown open banging loudly against the marble walls as Hermione ran haphazardly out the manor, scaring off the pecking blonde peacocks as she collapsed in a heap by the large fountain, her head resting on the edge as her tears mingled with the flowing water. The one person that welcomed her with opening arms the moment she stepped foot into the new world at the age of eleven has betrayed her, the one person that believed in her and helped her to achieve such greatness had pushed her away all because of her blood flowing through her body. Body wracking sobs erupted just as tight comforting arms pulled her into a secure embrace, her face buried in their hard corseted chest.

Hermione froze realising the only person who wore corsets that hard was her mother. Pulling away she came face to face with the placid face of Bellatrix Lestrange. "Don't let the old crow upset you little girl. She is all bark and no bite or in her case all meow".

Hermione wasn't sure what came over her but she giggled, moving back into her mother's embrace. Bellatrix gripped her daughter hard, not understanding the strange feelings that was washing over her since the moment her girl came back into her life.

Narcissa watched contently from the doorway as mother and daughter sat on the stone gravel clinging to each other. Draco came blundering past her eyes wide at the sight before him, his aunt was never one to show any type of affection and this really blew his mind.

"When you go to Hogwarts son promise me you will protect Hermione". Narcissa pulled her son closer to her, studying him intently "it's going to be tough for her especially with the headmaster and the order".

Draco nodded solemnly "of course mother she is my cousin after all and I told Blaise and Theo they are to be her bodyguards at all times they quickly agreed". Mother and son shared a fond smile. "Though I do worry that if she gets hurt that the school won't help".

"Don't worry son Dumbledore may be a fool but he won't dare allow the daughter of Bellatrix to come to harm if he does he will have us to deal with along with those who harms Hermione". Straightening her robes "best get ready Draco we need to get both yours and Hermione's school supplies shortly". Draco shot off back into the manor.

Narcissa grabbed her traveling cloak, slipping into the warm material she carefully approached her sister. "Time we were off Bella". Mother and daughter jumped a mile apart. "Well shall we be off?" Bellatrix raised a brow at her sister.

"Surely you jest Bella. You will be thrown back into Azkaban faster than you can say Crucio. I can't lose you again nor can Hermione". Narcissa gasped clutching on to Hermione's shoulders tightly.

The dark witch smirked "I am not a fool Cissy I will go disguised. I am rather bored of staring at the same four walls".

"Ready mother can we go now?" Draco came brawling over, red in the face.

Narcissa relented, allowing Bellatrix to use glamours to change her hair to blonde and her eyes to green. Waving her wand she placed a complex notice me not charm on her face in case, sheathing her wand away she grabbed both children. "See you there sister".

She disapparated away with Hermione and Draco grasping her arms, seconds later appearing in the side street of knockturn alley just as her sister came stalking towards them.
"What took you so long?" Bellatrix teasingly mocked. "Some of us had passengers my dear cousin" Narcissa emphasised on the word cousin.

The two adults with Hermione and Draco dragging behind made it in to diagon alley filled to the brim of exhausted parents and excited children pulling them in each different way.
They wondered in and out of different shops collecting their supplies. Draco got his way and they all ended up at the quidditch store as he excitedly paid for his new broom and leather seeker gloves. "Father would have liked these" he muttered sadly.

Their group received cold and suspicious stares from the other shoppers leaving Hermione feeling down right miserable. They were only shopping and these idiots were giving them filthy looks just for existing. Now she knew what it felt like to be on both sides of the war.

"I am famished but first flourish and blotts" Narcissa emotionlessly ordered her group, her face the perfect image of her nickname the ice queen.

Hermione grinned as she entered her beloved bookstore with Draco sulking behind but nothing could bring her down when she was surrounded by beautiful books waiting to be brought. "Defence special edition volume 5 and potions most potent. Hermione you get the potions and Draco get defence two of each".

In her own world Hermione didn't realise her mother was following her silently in the shadows as she ran her fingers along the spines of the books nor did she notice the person she collided with either till both of them landed on the floor.

"Watch it yeah" a familiar voice complained.

Hermione grimaced, clutching her arm against her chest. Her grey eyes meeting the blue of Ron she went to smile but the sneer he gave stopped her. Her chest constricted, tears threatening to fall.

"Bloody hell I thought mom was joking". He spat in disgust. "You really look like her that bloody bitch had to reproduce didn't she".

Hermione gritted her teeth, anger coursing through her veins. How dare he speak about my mom like that. The judgemental prick. Struggling to her feet about to speak but Draco who just appeared intervened "don't you dare judge my aunt you filthy blood traitor and stay the hell away from my cousin". A Malfoy smirk appearing as he approached gently taking her wounded arm.

Hermione tightly smiled in gratitude, she watched with fear in her heart as her redheaded friend left without giving her a chance to explain.

Once the books were paid for Narcissa led the group to a small upscale restaurant. Hermione sat next to Draco and their mothers sitting opposite them. The atmosphere was stifling and her emotions were starting to choke her, looking dejectedly out the large glass wall onto the street watching happy families going about their business.

"What happened?" Narcissa gently tried coaxing Hermione to speak.

Draco sighed "idiot Weasley was harassing her and started calling aunt Bella names".

Tears slipped out, trickling down her pale cheeks. She wanted her old life back but nothing was going to change her fate.