AN: Heya all! I'm sorry I've been away so long. To say life has thrown me a curveball in an understatement. In the past couple months I've gone from a single carefree 25 year old, to being responsible for a toddler. I love her to death, but it's taken some serious adjustment. I think we're in a good place now. Anyway, I hope ya'll like this update and be on the lookout for regular updates on all of my stories going forward! Please let me know what you think! :)
Much love to the world's best Beta, DarkNorseLady. :)
"Rebellion is when you look society in the face and say, I understand who you want me to be, but I am going to show you who I actually am."
-Anthony Anaxagorou
Hermione's head whipped around, and she narrowed her eyes at him. "I wasn't talking to you, Dolohov." Venom dripped from her voice.
"That may be, Devotchka, but it doesn't make it any less true." He snapped back.
She moved to make a step closer to him but was stopped when Sirius wrapped a hand around the wrist of her wand arm, causing her to turn and face him. "Kitten, he's telling the truth. He and Yaxley," he motioned to the man who still stood by the stove, "defected from Voldemort's ranks nearly a three years ago. They have both been invaluable to our cause."
She stared at him for a moment, before turning back toward the Russian man. "I don't care what side you're supposedly on, I still don't trust you. You've tried to kill me twice already, and you won't walk away from a third attempt."
Antonin smirked at her, "perhaps you should save some of that rage for the true enemy, hmmm? I mean neither you nor your child any harm. As far as the attempts on your life that you speak of? I was simply doing my assigned job, I assure you, Devotchka, had it been personal, you wouldn't have walked away the first time."
After several seconds of tense silence, Regulus cleared his throat, "Right then. Well, Hermione, I think you've been pretty well brought up to speed. Would you like to return with me to resistance headquarters? There is still much more about our organisation, and plans, that you need to learn."
"Will you come along?" she turned back to Sirius.
"I wish I could" he looked at her apologetically, "but we believe there is a traitor within the resistance that has been feeding information to Dumbledore. We have to be very careful about who we make aware of our Order spies, this is one case where being among the Death Eater's would actually be safer."
"Spies? So there is more than just you?"
He nodded. "Within the Order, there is myself and Snape. He is of course also a spy within Voldemort's ranks as well, along with Narcissa, Draco, and Rabastan Lestrange."
"Well, if there is someone passing information onto Dumbledore are we sure I will be safe there?" She was now addressing Regulus.
He considered his answer for several seconds before speaking. "You will be safer there than you would have been in the Muggle world. Headquarters is only a temporary stop for you though, just until we can prepare another safe house for you."
Biting her lip, she thought over his words. "Ok, take me to Headquarters."
"Where is she, Padfoot?"
The voice coming from the dark corner of his bedroom caused Sirius to jump. Turning, he let out a relieved breath. "Moony! I don't know. I've not seen my cousin, I'm just getting home. Have you tried the kitchen?"
"That's not who I mean, and you know it, Sirius." Remus all but growled. Taking a step forward he pushed Sirius into the wall. "I know you were in my house, and then she was gone. What did you do with Hermione? I swear to Merlin if she or her baby are injured Dora will tear you limb from limb, and I won't stop her."
Sirius ducked out of Remus' grasp and opened his bedroom door. After looking to make sure no one was in the hall, he closed it again and began to cast a silencing charm. "I promise you she's safe. I can't give you too much information yet, but she's with friendly people. Give me some time to get some things sorted, and I'll arrange for the two of you to see her. Please Moony, just trust me until then?"
Remus looked pensive for a moment, before nodding. "You've got a couple weeks to prove that she's somewhere safe before I tell Dora and the others that you're the one who took her." He moved to exit the bedroom, before turning to look back at Sirius. "Oh, and Padfoot?"
"Hmm?"
"If you are planning something that will end this war, I know quite a few people who will be willing to join in." He paused for a second, looking at his friend, before nodding and exiting the bedroom.
As soon as he was gone, Sirius called for Kreacher.
"Master Sirius called Kreacher?" the old house elf croaked.
"I have a message for you to deliver to Regulus. He needs it immediately."
When she was first brought to the headquarters, she hadn't been sure what to expect, but what Hermione had found was a diverse group of individuals who all believed she was vital to end the war. More surprising than the individuals themselves was how they interacted with one another. She thought she was hallucinating the day she saw Marcus Flint helping Katie Bell clean up after dinner. It made a little more sense when she rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek. She hid a smile when she saw the burly Slytherin boy blush.
She also learned that while not everyone who was in the resistance lived in the large manor that was used as resistance headquarters many of them did. Hermione found herself particularly drawn to the ladies in the Greengrass family.
Mr and Mrs Greengrass opted to take refuge with the resistance when Voldemort began to demand things of the families patriarch, including the marriage of his oldest daughter to a Death Eater within his inner circle. Hermione shivered at the thought of sweet Daphne married to someone like Antonin Dolohov.
Mrs Greengrass pulled Hermione aside soon after she arrived at the manor and began their tentative friendship. "I know how scary your first pregnancy can be," her voice had a soothing quality to it. "I can't imagine the added stress you are under. If you need anything, dear, please don't hesitate to ask me." She gave the younger girl a fond smile.
Hermione also found that her daughters were just as sweet. She spent many afternoons wandering around the gardens of the manor with Astoria, Daphne, and Pansy. She found that unlike when her old Gryffindor roommates talked and giggled about boys, these girls did not annoy her. She actually felt for the first time in a long time like she was an ordinary twenty-two-year-old girl.
She also enjoyed being reunited with a few familiar faces from her own house. In particular, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. Turned out the two boys had joined the resistance a year and a half earlier when Katie approached Dean after Dumbledore denied his request for assistance getting his family into hiding. This is a feeling Hermione could understand all too well, still feeling the ache after sending her own parents away for their own safety.
The most surprising alliance she found though, was with the two present Malfoys. Mrs Malfoy having made a similar offer to that of Mrs Greengrass. Being spies, they weren't among the houses everyday tenants, but the first day they were there after Hermione arrived Draco ran directly into her while seeking out his girlfriend.
"Oh, Granger. I didn't see you there." He extended a hand to help her up from the ground. When she cautiously accepted he pulled her to her feet. "I'm sorry about that." He laughed seeing her mouth hanging open. "Anyway, I am looking for Astoria. Have you seen her around?"
"Uh, I was just in the library with her, Daphne, and Theo. I'd try there."
"That is where you four would spend your time on a beautiful afternoon like this one." He chuckled shaking his head, "I am surrounded by swots." He moved to walk around her, but stopped and gently put a hand on her shoulder. "I am really sorry, Granger."
"Don't worry about it, I fall on my own all the time."
"No," he shook his head, "I mean for what happened when you were kept, prisoner. I'm sorry I didn't do more. I just-" he sighed, "I just didn't know what more I could do." He looked away.
"Thank you for the apology, Draco, but it's not necessary. The only reason I lived through that time was you and Pansy. I owe you two my life many times over."
He forced a smile and nodded at her before making his way toward the library.
Hermione quietly tiptoed her way down the stairs, wanting to be careful not to wake any of the other occupants of the manor. Just as she was about to celebrate successfully making it to the kitchen undetected, a voice caused her to jump.
"Having trouble sleeping?"
Turning she saw Yaxley sitting at the small table that sat in the corner of the kitchen. "Yeah," she nodded, "I'm feeling a bit nauseous tonight. I thought I might like to make myself a cup of tea."
He flicked his wand and the kettle moved to the stove to begin heating. "Is it from the baby?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"I believe so."
"Then I've got the perfect thing for you. I used to make this for my wife when she was carrying our little girl. The first part of her pregnancy she was almost constantly sick. I used to joke and tell her our baby would permanently smell of ginger tea if she wasn't careful." he chuckled softly.
"I didn't know you had a wife and daughter. Are they here as well?" Hermione cocked her head to the side and took the seat across from him.
He shook his head, "no." Yaxley was quiet and focused at a point over her shoulder for a moment, before coming back to his senses and returning his gaze back to Hermione. "They were both murdered many years ago. When Antonin and I failed a mission, The Dark Lord didn't believe our time in Azkaban was enough of a punishment. He ordered the execution of the people who we both loved the most. It's ironic to think that when I joined his cause, I thought I was doing what would be best for them, what would keep them the safest." He sighed and stood up to put the ginger into the now boiling water.
The kitchen was silent while he worked to prepare the drink, it wasn't until he put the cup in front of her and sat back down himself that he spoke again. "That was the day Antonin, and I decided we needed to get out. We didn't know how we were going to manage it yet, but we were patiently waiting for an opportunity that we could both fake our deaths and disappear. About three months before we were going to put our plans into action Severus approached me with an offer to join in this cause. It was exactly what we were looking for, and we've been here for a few years now."
"I'm so sorry, Mr Yaxley," Hermione whispered.
"Please call me Reuben," he gave her a small smile. "Mr Yaxley reminds me too much of when I was working in the ministry."
She took a sip of her tea and let out a small sigh as the liquid worked almost instantly to settle her stomach. "Reuben, can I ask you a question?" When he nodded, she continued, "Who did Dolohov lose? It's hard to think of him loving anyone. From what I hear he is nothing more than a monster who delights in the torture of muggleborns."
"Just because you become good at something does not mean you enjoy it, Miss Granger." Reuben looked into her eyes. "The mission we failed, it was because Antonin refused to kill a young muggleborn girl, she couldn't have been older than four. He tried to take her to safety, I think he dropped her off in the ministry and let them find her a nice wizarding family to live with. We were caught when we returned to cast the Dark Mark above the house. To answer your question, his sister and niece were murdered on Voldemort's orders. They were the only living relatives he had left, and yes, he loved them both very very much."
For several minutes the only sound in the dimly lit kitchen was the low hum that was caused by the cooling charm cast on the kitchen's pantry. "Thank you for the tea, Reuben, I feel much better now. I think I should probably try to get some sleep. I will see you tomorrow."
"Sleep well, Miss Granger, and remember, people are not always what they seem."
A month and a half after his conversation with Sirius, Remus was ready to confront his friend again and demand to be taken to Hermione. He was surprised when instead late one evening Severus showed up at his home and said one sentence before disappearing back into the night. "If you and your wife wish to see Miss Granger, be ready by 8 tomorrow morning."
The next morning Severus arrived at the Lupin home at precisely 8. "We need to use your Floo. You will follow me to Parkinson Place, and from there Black will show you the rest of the way. Come now, we have to be quick."
When Remus and Tonks came through the Floo, they were in a small living room. Following Severus into the kitchen, Remus almost dropped his wand.
"Regulus? Is it really you?"
"Hey there Remus," he gave him a small wave. "My brother said you were worried about Hermione. If I am going to show you where she is I need you and my cousin to both make an unbreakable vow that you'll not reveal where we are or what we're doing. I'll explain everything when we get there." They both instantly agreed and let Severus perform the charm to seal the vow.
He hadn't been sure what he expected to find when Regulus gave him the paper that read:
Headquarters for the resistance is at the Black Country House.
Remus hadn't been expecting to see the stately manor in the English countryside. Walking into the marble entryway, the trio was greeted by a man with short auburn hair. "Ah, David! Have you seen Hermione this afternoon? Mr and Mrs Lupin are wanting to check and make sure she is in good health."
"She and Astoria were in the library last I saw, but with those girls, you can never be too sure." The man chuckled, before offering a hand to Remus. "The name is David Greengrass. I must say my daughters and wife have taken quite a liking to Hermione. I'm sure you'll be pleased with her health when you see her."
"Thank you for looking after her. Her other friends and I have been quite worried about her."
Sure enough, the two girls were in the library at a table stacked high with massive tomes. They were sitting side by side pouring over one in particular, while others lay open around them.
"What do you think of the name Finley?"
"No," Hermione's curls whipped around as she shook her head. "Finley Granger doesn't sound right."
"I think Remus would be a terrific name," Tonks called from the doorway. "Don't you dear, Remus Granger?"
She laughed when Hermione looked up wide-eyed and caught the witch a moment later when she sprinted across the room.
"How? I can't believe you two are here! How is everyone else?" Hermione then moved to hug Remus as well. "I have missed you guys so much."
Regulus cleared his throat, "perhaps we should take this reunion to the study where we can talk privately?"
When they entered the study, Hermione was less than happy to see Antonin sitting at the table in the corner, but smiled sweetly at Reuben. While she'd been mostly successful at avoiding being in the same room as the former, she had tea with Reuben nearly every night.
"As you all know, we believe there is a mole in our organisation," Regulus began when everyone was seated, and the proper silencing charms were put up. "That is why Sirius couldn't bring you here himself, and Severus had to take you both to Pansy's home before I could bring you here. While we have been able to keep Hermione safe up until now, Sirius and I have some real concerns about Dumbledore finding out where we are. As it is now, we are under the Fidelius Charm, and Roger Davies has been designated as our secret keeper."
"Why not make everyone take the same unbreakable vow you asked of us?" Remus asked.
"Most of the resistance is made up of Slytherin students who are used to being pushed aside and mistrusted. It's a fear of Severus and myself that if we were to ask that of them, it would destroy the trust we've managed to build. At this point, those in the room, Sirius, and Severus are the only people who know about the mole."
"So, what are you thinking about doing regarding Dumbledore finding us?" Hermione asked.
"Well, we are still discussing where the rest of us should go, but Sirius and I have come to an agreement regarding you."
"Me?" she asked wide-eyed, "You want to keep me separate from the rest of the resistance?"
"We think that due to your condition, and the importance of both you and your child, you should be given a special safe house that only myself, Sirius, and two people who are assigned to protect you will have access too."
Hermione's eyes lit up, and she turned to look at where Reuben and Antonin sat on the other side of the table. "You can't be serious? You can't isolate me and leave him as my only company. He'll murder me, I'll murder him."
"I don't want to be a babysitter myself, but if this is what's best for the cause, then it's what must be done." Antonin rolled his eyes at her. "If you care about the future of your child, or the outcome of this war doesn't it make sense for the most qualified wizards be the ones who guard you?"
"How dare you question how much I love my baby," Hermione screeched, flying to her feet and pulling her wand. "And clearly you're not the most qualified wizard seeing as how you weren't able to protect your own family. If you couldn't protect people you love, how can I trust you'll be able to protect me?"
Antonin slammed his hand down on the table. "You shouldn't speak of things you know nothing about," he replied through clenched teeth. Without another word, Hermione quickly left the room slamming the door behind her.
It was during Remus and Tonk's third visit to Hermione that it finally happened. The couple was sitting with her in the downstairs sitting room when a loud commotion could be heard from outside. The next thing they knew, The Order was busting into the front door of the manor, already sending hexes flying.
When Kingsley hit Marcus with a cutting hex, it was clear the Order's intention was far more sinister than Hermione would have previously believed. She had made it to her room on the second floor, where she had left her wand, when she ran into Harry.
"Hermione! You're alive!" He rushed forward and pulled her into a hug. "I have been so worried about you. Why are you here? Are you working with Voldemort?" His face went pale.
"No, Harry that's ridiculous," She began to protest but was cut off by Ron bursting into the room.
"I thought I saw you run up here," he began to stalk toward her. "Dumbledore is going to be so happy when I bring you to him." Reaching out he grabbed her by the hair.
"Ron, no!" Harry's pleas fell on deaf ears as Ron began to drag her out of the room. When suddenly he fell limp to the ground.
Antonin Dolohov kicked Ron in the ribs for good measure, before picking up Hermione and apparating away.
Harry entered Dumbledore's study when he returned to Grimmauld place and sat across from the old man. "I saw her today."
"Yes, I thought she might have been there."
Harry shook his head. "Are you sure this was a Death Eater safe house that we attacked? I saw Dean Thomas, and he's a muggleborn, and I can't imagine Hermione joining Voldemort either."
"Yes Harry, you saw it with your own eyes. There were plenty of Slytherin's there, and I heard from Ron that when he was trying to return Miss Granger to safety with the Order, he was attacked by Antonin Dolohov. What more proof do you need? Voldemort is gaining followers." Dumbledore sighed, "It appears even Remus and Nymphadora have joined his cause. I am the only one you can really trust Harry. I've always had your best interest in mind. You do realise that, don't you?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded, "you're right, professor."