AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story. Don't like, don't read.

I don't own Harry Potter.

All spelling mistakes are my own. There are my own Original Characters in this at times.

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Hermione stood on platform nine and three quarters, her mind nowhere near Hogwarts but on the family, she was missing by a few hours. Her mother, Alecto Carrow and her soulmate Bellatrix Black was going to be arriving at Malfoy Manor approximately three hours after she and Draco left for Hogwarts. She was angry and upset but she knew she couldn't avoid school without raising suspicion. The last few days had been a torrent of information spilling from the Daily Prophet about the escaped convicts. Aleco and Bellatrix were listed as two of the most dangerous and possibly armed fugitives in the wizarding world.

While that thought brought pride to her heart, she was also angry because Rita Skeeter twisted the truth, fabricating lies in order to turn everyone against her two lost family members. The cockroach of a woman had done the same thing the year before during the Triwizard Tournament. Trying to play her and Harry Potter as one and the same. Thankfully the wretched woman hadn't gotten word about who her soulmate was, that could have been deadly even without the tournament.

Narcissa's arm wrapped around her waist, "They already have letters waiting to be sent honey. They hate this more than you do right now."

Hermione nodded, unable to speak passed the lump in her throat. While she was still upset over not seeing her mother and mate, she had gotten some of the closeness back with Narcissa over the last few days while she's been healing. Narcissa had refused to let Hermione out of her sight and had kept Hermione right beside her at every moment. Narcissa had slept in her bed at night with her, the woman's palm flat on her chest in case she needed something. She had enjoyed it, the warmth the woman freely gave, the soft touches assuring Hermione that she was there and would always keep her promise of not leaving her.

The whistle blew and Hermione quickly buried her face in Narcissa's neck after Draco had hugged her tightly. She didn't want to let go but knew that they had to play the innocent family, to not let on they were actually Voldemort's new main domain for the time being. Malfoy Manor had been a train station of its own since the prison break. Death Eaters in and out at all hours, some of the prisoners were recuperating there up until the day before. With Bellatrix and Alecto coming home, Narcissa was adamant that the house be as normal as possible while they settled in, especially since they were still on edge at hearing about Hermione's injury.

Hermione learned from Fenrir that Alecto had threatened to fillet the Weasley family alive if she ever got her hands on them. Bellatrix, on the other hand, had been the calmer of the two, which in reality should have been a tip off according to Fenrir, at least until she had a wand in her hand. Last she heard they were still trying to put the fires out at St. Mungo's and not let the place burn to the ground.

Hermione had wondered why they had taken some of the worse off prisoner to St. Mungo's, but Lucius had only chuckled and said that an undercover Death Eater actually ran the place. For the life of her Hermione couldn't remember who ran St. Mungo's and had made a silent promise to herself that she would figure it out while at school.

She pulled back from Narcissa, resting her forehead against the older woman's, "I'm going to miss you most of all."

Narcissa snorted a laugh, the undignified sound only made for Hermione alone, "I can't believe you made me watch that muggle movie with you."

Hermione smirked at her, "I saw you humming along."

Narcissa rolled her eyes, "Only for you, my darling."

Without thinking Hermione pressed her lips against Narcissa's, needing to feel the woman one last time. She felt the tears begin to burn her eyes and she quickly spun away from the woman, rushing towards the train as Draco waited for her. The doors shut tightly, and she turned to glance back at Narcissa, seeing the woman quickly wiping her eyes before she straightened to her full Malfoy height.

Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "This year will pass before we know it."

She nodded, her heart constricting in her chest as Narcissa disappeared from view, the train moving quickly towards Hogwarts. She followed Draco towards their normal compartment, taking her seat near the window while her mind continued to brood over the fact that she wasn't getting to meet her mother and mate. She understood of course, but it still hurt.

The sliding door opened a few minutes into the trip and a red head appeared in their compartment, "Seat taken?"

Draco's eyes brightened as a smile pulled at his lips, "Come on in Gin."

Hermione smirked at her best friend, the way his whole demeanor changed when the Weasley girl walked into a room was comical. She glanced at Ginny as she sat beside her, "How was your summer?"

Ginny sighed heavily, a dark glint coming to her normally bright amber eyes, "The worst. Ronald was getting all the praise yet again from our parents and then when we when we were all taken to an unnamed place Potter was brought in."

Hermione frowned, "Where? Why?"

Ginny grimaced, "Twelve Grimmauld Place."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "The Black's place? Ballsy even for Dumbledore."

Ginny shook her head, frustration and anger taking over her fair features, "The Order of the Phoenix is back together again, and Potter and Ronald are now among the group. I swear if I have to hear about Potter one more time I'm going to explode."

Draco opened his mouth to speak but the compartment door jerked open once again. Crabbe Junior stuck his chubby face into the room, his eyes taking in the sight of the Gryffindor sitting beside Hermione. He reminded Hermione so much of his father, his entire mannerisms nearly identical to the older man that Hermione had come to call a friend over the years. Though the younger Crabbe wasn't nearly as smart as his father, his heart was in the right place most of the time.

A small smile came to Crabbe's face, "Hey Ginny. Hermione, I wanted to warn you that Goyle and I just caught wind that Potter and Weasley looking for you."

She grimaced and turned to the window beside her, banging her forehead against the glass twice, "Thanks Crabbe."

Why they couldn't just leave her alone made no sense to her. It wasn't as if she ever gave the remote possibility that she even liked them, let alone wanted to be their friend. In fact, she was downright sarcastic and nasty to them when she got the chance. Draco being Harry Potter's self-proclaimed arch nemesis should have helped matters, considering she and Draco were called siblings by everyone at school.

Most of Slytherin house knew the truth, that she wasn't really related to the Malfoy's. However, no one knew who her parents were, nor the fact that her mate was the infamous Bellatrix Black. Amycus knew it could be deadly for anyone to find out that Hermione was Alecto Carrow's daughter, a feat that proved true when a former Death Eater learned the truth and tried to kill Hermione when she was six. Narcissa had been a force to be reckoned with at that time and had greatly contributed to their close relationship now. Even Lucius had steered clear of Hermione and his wife around that time.

Now everyone just called her Miss Black because of Narcissa's overbearing and overprotective nature. Everyone just assumed she was a Black. None of them were going to correct anyone, especially since she was going to be a Black through Bellatrix anyway.

"No problem 'Mione." The boy disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, leaving the trio alone.

Ginny grimaced, "Harry was nearly expelled from Hogwarts for using the Expecto Patronum Charm over the summer. He claims that Dementors were attacking him and his cousin."

Draco snorted, "I'm sure they were. Did Dumbledore rescue his perfect Potter?"

Ginny nodded, stretching out on the seat beside Hermione, placing her head in Hermione's lap, "Yep. Got him off but not before Harry found out that Dolores Umbridge is going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

Hermione ran her fingers absentmindedly through Ginny's long red hair as she thought. It soothed her as much as it did her friend. After a few quiet moments she glanced out the window, watching the wide-open green rolling hills race past, "He never mentioned a new professor, did he?" At Draco's frown and head shake she nodded, "He might not know about it. I think we should all be careful around her until we get word from-"

The door to their compartment opened and Harry and Ron stood with their arms crossed over their chest. Ron glared at his little sister, "Ginny what are you doing in here?"

Hermione looked down at the girl's face that was staring up at her with twinkling eyes. She smirked, raising her head just enough to look up at Ron Weasley, "We're having a girl moment. Would you care to join? I'm sure you'd love to hear all about our periods and what we have to suffer through."

Both Harry's and Ron's face's paled more than usual and Draco hid his laugh behind his hand as he turned to look out the window. Ron grimaced shaking his head, "Hermione we need a word with you in private."

Draco's head snapped around and he glared at the two boys, "Not a chance Weasley. Besides we were in the middle of something."

Harry motioned around the room with his hand, "By all means, please continue. Who are you waiting on word from?"

Draco, Ginny and Hermione shared a quick glance before Hermione grinned darkly, "Papa. We'll wait on word from Papa." Draco and Ginny chuckled at the confused looks on Harry's and Ron's faces. Finally, Hermione sighed, "What do you two want?"

Harry motioned to the small hallway, "A word with you Hermione."

She grimaced, "We're almost to Hogwarts. Can't this wait?"

Ron shook his head, "No. Now."

Anger welled in her chest as her smirk disappeared. Draco knew the look that was coming to Hermione's face, was well acquainted with his best friend's anger. He looked down at Ginny and patted the seat next to himself, warning her to move. Ginny didn't hesitate as she moved swiftly across the small compartment, taking the seat between Draco and the window.

Hermione glared at the boy as she stood slowly, "Do not tell me what to do Weasley."

Harry, at least, had the sense to look slightly terrified of Hermione. Ron however was clueless as usual, "Don't get your panties in a bunch Black. We just need a quick word and then we can all go our separate ways."

Magic crackled between Hermione's fingers as she struggled to contain the rage that was beginning to overwhelm her. She could hear Narcissa's voice in the back of her mind, soothing her as the woman had done thousands of times before when her emotions would get the better of her. The longing she had for Narcissa cooled her anger instantly, the pain of being separated from the woman quickly taking point front and center in her mind.

Finally, she pushed passed the two boys and stepped out into the narrow corridor just outside their compartment. Ron shut the door, as Harry spoke quietly, "Hermione we think Voldemort is up to something."

No shit Potter, her mind quickly spouted but what she actually said was, "You're point being?"

Ron glared at her, his arms crossing over his chest, "Come on Hermione. You've been there with us every time we've faced him. Even last year with Harry."

Hermione felt her body tighten, Cedric Diggory's face crossing her mind for a split second before she shoved it away. She had protected Voldemort, had cemented her family's place at his side permanently and earned the respect of her friends. She wasn't sorry that she killed the boy, not when he was threatening someone that she knew was important to her family. Voldemort had thanked her for it, something the snakelike man never did before. To her that was the gift that came from it.

She leaned against the wall opposite her compartment, "Again, what's your point?"

Harry frowned at her, "Hermione you know as well as I do that if Umbridge is his plant that we'll lose and entire year of defense lessons."

She snorted, "Yes because you two can't afford to lose any practice time."

Ron narrowed his eyes at her, "Not all of us have the luxury of being a know-it-all."

She rolled her eyes at him, "Such strong words coming from the likes of you Weasley." Harry stepped between them as Ron stepped forward, his anger shaking his body. Hermione just raised an eyebrow at him, a smirk pulling at her lips, goading him was too easy.

Harry shook his head, "Stop. We are all in danger if Voldemort is behind this."

Hermione rolled her shoulders, standing straight again, "Stop being so dramatic Potter."

Harry shook his head, "Hermione you know I'm right. We have to look out for each other. I know you are a good person Hermione, the fact that you are in Slytherin had to be some kind of mistake."

Her lip curled up at him, "I'm proud to be a Slytherin Potter. The only mistake is that Ginny is a Gryffindor and not here with us where she belongs. The only decent one in that family." She glanced at Ron, narrowing her eyes slightly, "If that's all, we're done here."

She turned to return to her compartment when hands gripped her arm tightly, so tight she knew she was going to bruise from it. She was spun around and brought against both Harry's and Ron's chests, a fear gripping her entire body at the sudden closeness. She struggled to hide it as Harry spoke quietly and quickly, "Hermione don't turn your back on this. All of us are not safe when it comes to Voldemort. Think about it. The man wants power and nothing else. He doesn't care about anyone or anything but himself."

The sound of loud bangs echoed down the corridor as doors slid open, up and down the Slytherin train car and students began to file out, wands drawn, eyes glued to the group of three. Harry and Ron glanced around as they were suddenly surrounded by the entire Slytherin house, and Ginny Weasley.

Draco dug his wand into Harry's throat painfully, his voice low, a darkness like she had never heard before slithering through his tone, "Remove your hands from my sister."

Hermione's dark wicked grin pulled at her lips as Ron and Harry let her go, "If I were you two, I would be careful around the Slytherin's for a while. None of us take kindly when one of us are threatened Potter."

Nervousness entered the two boy's faces, their grips on their own wands tightening. The loud whistle echoed throughout the train, alerting them to quickly approaching end of the line. Hogwarts wasn't far now, and they all needed to get changed. Hermione stood straight, raising her hand up, "Everyone get dressed. We'll be arriving in ten minutes."

Harry and Ron took notice of how everyone followed Hermione's orders, none questioning but all moving as if she had cursed them. Harry glared at Hermione, "I'm not wrong about this Hermione."

She watched the two boys hurry away, her mind swirling with the fear she had felt when they had grabbed her. She had been in plenty of terrifying situations over the years, mostly brought on by the two boys that were quickly retreating to the Gryffindor car. However, she had never been afraid of the two idiots, until now. She had seen the wavering sanity in Potter's eyes, the rage that Weasley was quickly losing control of. If she wasn't careful, she was going to unleash the redhead monster when she least expected it.

And then what?

Her biggest fear was that Draco or Ginny would be in his path. She refused to be the reason her friends got hurt and she would do everything in her power to protect them, but there was something about Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley that got under her skin more than anything else. They had a way of easily snapping every single one of her nerves faster than anything else. They were annoying, riddled with praise when they deserved none. Hell, if it wasn't for Potter and his holier than thou ways, Cedric Diggory might still be alive. She wouldn't have had to kill the boy if he wasn't so gung-ho to help the famous Harry Potter.

A hand on her shoulder startled her slightly, "Hermione, are you alright? What did they say to you?"

She glanced over at Ginny and nodded, "I'm fine. Let's get changed." She looked back towards the door that Harry and Ron had disappeared from one more time before following Ginny into their compartment to change, her skin crawling with the ghost of their touch.

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Dinner was its usual extravagant affair, with first years being sorted in the dramatic flashy way that Dumbledore enjoyed. Hermione always found the way that the youngest students were basically paraded in front of the headmaster was slightly disturbing. The way his eyes watched each youngster nervously take their seat on the stool while McGonagall placed the sorting hat on their heads made her stomach roll, his deep blue eyes eyeing the child like they were on silver plater just for his choosing.

Ginny Weasley sat beside her while Draco sat across from them, his back to the rest of the hall. It had become a regular occurrence for Ginny to sit with her and Draco. No one had dared sit with another house during mealtimes and especially not with the Slytherin's. Ginny was the first and only, which Hermione had dared anyone to say anything. The entire Slytherin table welcomed the outcast Weasley with open arms, she was after all, a pureblood who wished that her family wouldn't be held against her.

After the debacle in the Chamber of Secrets in Ginny's first year, Hermione's second, they had formed a close bond. Though a near death experience will do that to people, they found they had some things in common. Their hatred for Potter and the entire Weasley family for starters. Draco was hesitant at first but after getting to know Ginny outside of their family's feud he had grown fond of the youngest Weasley. It helped that she was pretty, with the freckles dotted across her nose and the bright amber eyes that always seemed happy to see him.

Hermione knew about the secret crush Draco and Ginny harbored for each other, one that she would gladly use as blackmail any chance she got, which Draco learned the hard way. She thought it was nice, seeing them grow closer over the years, the way Draco somehow magically changed when the younger girl came around. His face would light up, his smile wider than usual, his green eyes getting brighter the longer he looked at her. Hermione found it romantic and sickening at the same time, but she would never admit that out loud.

Draco rolled his eyes as Dumbledore began his speech, the same one he used every year, "I swear the old coot needs new material." Ginny chuckled, lowering her head slightly as a few heads turned in their direction. Draco smirked at the girl and Hermione rolled her eyes at the blatant attraction the two were ignoring.

"This year we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge." Dumbledore's voice rang out across the hall, not even sparing a glance. "As usual the Forbidden Forest is off limits-"

A throat being cleared interrupted the Headmaster and he slowly turned to look at the woman that stood. Her pink woolen outfit standing out against the mass of dark robes that was the usual attire for the weathered and seasoned professors. A small clutch purse was clutched in the woman's hands as she smiled a fake polite smile at Dumbledore before she practically shoved him aside.

"Thank you, Headmaster, for the introduction." The short woman cleared her throat again as soft murmurs sounded around the tables, "We at the Ministry are aware that there is a rampant miscarriage of discipline here at Hogwarts. Rumors that have echoed from these very halls are being unleashed on the wizarding world and causing undo panic. I will be assessing the state of the curriculum and assuring that discipline is handled accordingly." Silence filled the halls as the woman returned to her seat, fake smile still firmly in place.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Draco, silently asking if he was buying her speech. At the shake of his head, she snorted as Dumbledore retook his podium, "Thank you Professor."

Hermione tuned the Headmaster out as he continued his yearly welcome back speech. She already disliked Umbridge, the way the woman acted superior to those around her because she worked for Fudge. Hermione had met Fudge, a man that was nothing more than a coward playing tough. Narcissa had told her stories of Cornelius Fudge from their school days, and while Hermione was more focused on Narcissa and Bellatrix, she knew the man had been a coward back then too and not much had changed since.

Once dinner was over Hermione and Draco bid Ginny good night and headed for their common room. Being alone meant that Hermione's mind was once again back on Alecto and Bellatrix. They were at Malfoy Manor while she was stuck at Hogwarts, something she wanted to scream wasn't fair. She wanted to throw a tantrum, to beg to return home, to give up on school so she could be with the family she had lost so long ago.

Instead, she laid in bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering what they were like. Would they like her? Would they think she had turned out alright? Or would they think she needed to change? Would they not like how she dressed or that she was smart? What would be expected of her now that her mother and Bellatrix were back? Her overthinking sent her into a suffocating panic attack with one small thought.

Would they take her away from Narcissa?

She refused to leave the woman. She had finally come clean, poured her heart out to the older woman. She promised she would never leave Narcissa. Would they make her break her promise? Would they keep her from Narcissa? She couldn't go without seeing Narcissa. The woman was the only comfort she ever had growing up and she didn't want to give it up. She didn't want to be taken away from the only place she had ever felt safe.

Before she realized what was happening, tears lead her way into a restless sleep, her heart being squeezed painfully.

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Hermione spent the first few days panicking, her self-doubt getting the best of her. She knew she had nothing to worry about, that she could easily talk to Narcissa, and the woman would tell her she was being silly and that they would love her just as much as Narcissa does.

But that was all in her mind.

In hindsight she really should have paid attention to how much time had been passing, and that Draco had noticed the dark circles under eyes. Which meant of course he reported back to his mother. It was the fourth day as Hermione entered the common room from the girl's dormitory that Draco smiled at her guiltily.

She paused in the doorway, eyeing him for a moment before glaring at him, "What did you do?"

He shook his head, "I swear I didn't think she would send a howler."

Hermione's eyes widened at the red envelop in his hand. Soft giggles echoed around the common room as their fellow Slytherin's watched on, wondering exactly what Hermione had done to earn a Howler from Narcissa Black Malfoy. Hermione shook her head, "I'm not doing this right now."

Draco grimaced, "Hermione you know as well as I do, she put a tracer on this. If you ignore, she'll show up here which will be so much worse for the both of us. Think of me before you make a rash decision."

She grimaced at him, "You! You got me into this. If you had just left well enough alone Draco, we wouldn't be standing here terrified of your mother's Howler."

He grimaced, his pale face tinting pink, "I know. I'm sorry. Please, just don't make my mother show up here in the first week of school."

She frowned at him, hurt entering her chest, dropping her voice to a soft whisper, "Draco I never meant for Narcissa to show up here at all."

His eyes widened as he realized how that sounded, "No. Hermione I didn't mean-"

She shook her head, "Forget it. I'll handle it at lunch when I have more privacy." She hurried passed him, ignoring his calls for her to stop.

She knew it wasn't easy on Draco, having her around. She had never meant to embarrass him, nor have his mother constantly at the school to cause a scene. While she knew Draco didn't mean it how it sounded, she couldn't stop her mind from going there. She knew her emotions were out of control right now, mainly because everything she and Narcissa had talked about before she had left. She had felt better after telling the older witch how she was feeling, and how she was worried that she was going to push her away. It wasn't like she was great at staying out of trouble.

She slipped out of the castle and paused on the bridge, finding a private gap to step into that looked out over the lake. The cold stone tingled her fingers as she leaned against it. She slowed her breathing, needing a moment to relax, to get her racing thoughts under control. Being a burden is how she had felt for the last few years, especially after all the trouble she kept getting into with Harry and Ron. Not like she meant to, but she just didn't know how to walk away.

Fenrir used to joke that she was a mix between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Her cunning mind led her to acts of bravery that, at times, put her more at risk than she should be. It was a curse and a gift to her. Finding herself face to face with Voldemort in that graveyard the year before had been the most terrifying and yet thrilling time in her life. Amycus always said she got her mother's lust for adrenaline. She was proud of it but as the years have gone by and the near-death experiences, she's lived through have mounted, she's beginning to wonder if she is nothing but a burden on the Malfoy family.

Her adventures were what was putting the Malfoy family front and center in the Ministry's eyes, hell in Dumbledore's eyes. If she wasn't associated with the Malfoy family, they wouldn't be such a public figure. In money yes, in power yes, but not in the way that Hermione was putting them out there. Narcissa had assured her she wasn't a burden, that she wanted Hermione to go to her with her problems, but she began to wonder if Narcissa had felt like she needed to say that because Hermione had nowhere else to turn.

"Skipping lessons can lead to loss of house points Miss Black." A deep gravelly voice sounded behind her.

She startled slightly, spinning to stare at the man, "I'm sorry Professor. I lost track of time."

Snape nodded and entered the narrow space beside her, "Draco was worried about you. He said you left an hour before the lesson. Now what was I supposed to think when you never showed up to your lesson after you left an hour early?"

She frowned as she turned back to the view away from the castle, "My apologies Professor."

Snape frowned as he took in Hermione's darkened expression, the dark circles under the girl's eyes evidence of her lack of sleep. He turned to look out over the lake, seeing some first years walking along the edge of the lake, "Is there anything I can help with Miss Black?"

She frowned as she stared out at the water, "Have you ever felt like a burden to someone before Professor?"

Snape's eyebrow jerked up as he gave the girl a sidelong glance, "Not since I was a child." He studied the girl's hard expression for a moment before crossing his arms over his chest, "I may not understand your situation Miss Black, but I know something about loss."

She frowned up at the head of her house. Severus Snape had always looked out for her, though she never understood why. He seemed to hate Harry Potter and proved it every chance he got. With her he was softer than he was with anyone else. She knew he had known her mother, though she wasn't sure if he knew Alecto was her mother, but no one had much information on how much he knew her mother. His dark eyes reminded her so much of hers when she was angry at times that even Draco had commented on how eerily similar her hazel eyes would shift black in her anger.

Hermione turned back to the lake, "I don't really have room to talk. My mother was taken from me when I was too young to even remember her."

Snape shook his head, turning to face her, "Do not discount your loss, Miss Black. Losing someone, especially that young means more than others at times. However just because you suffered such a loss doesn't mean you are a burden to anyone else. Least of all Narcissa Malfoy. That woman nearly ripped Dumbledore's head off for you."

She chuckled, her heart feeling lighter. The smile faded a moment later, "Draco deserves better. He didn't ask for this, for me to be thrown into his family. For me to end up with Potter and Weasley at the most inopportune times."

Snape nodded, "Draco is the most spoiled brat I have ever seen." She turned wide eyes up at him, but he shrugged, smirking at her, "My godson is a spoiled brat. I am under no illusion." She snorted and shook her head at her normally stoic professor. He sighed, "Hermione, I think you should talk to Narcissa."

She frowned up at him, "Why does everyone instantly tell me to talk to Narcissa? If I'm not supposed to feel like a burden, then why does everyone make me feel that way?"

Snape cocked his head at her, his eyes softening even more, "I apologize. I didn't make it seem like I didn't want to listen to you. I only meant that the last time I spoke to Narcissa she was worried that you were pulling away from her. That you two had lost the closeness you had when you were younger." He leaned back against the stone wall behind him, "That being said, you ending up with Potter and Weasley I don't think is your fault."

Hermione scoffed, "Noticed that too?"

Snape frowned at her, "What do you mean?"

She sighed heavily as she finally turned away from him again, "I've noticed that Dumbledore seems to be lurking around when Harry and Ron just happen to find me. I swear I see him disappearing around a corner or portraits move oddly. We all know about the hidden passages around here Professor."

He chuckled, "I have no doubt. I believe you Hermione. Last year wasn't a coincidence and I'm concerned this year isn't going to be any better."

She glanced around, making sure they were alone, "I heard the Order is taking up residence in an old family house."

Snape's eyebrow rose but his face remained blank, "Careful what you do with that information Hermione."

She eyed him carefully, "You know as well as I do, that I have a good position. Information is what is needed right now."

Snape sighed moving into her personal space, "Keep your head down and I'll pass it along."

She nodded, "Twelve Grimmauld Place is the new Headquarters." She threw her bag over her shoulder, seeing the dark look suddenly entering his eyes. She nodded, "Figured you didn't know that. He lie to you about it?"

Snape stood straight and nodded once, "He did. Thank you, Miss Black. Now off to class, I don't want to hear you skipped another one this early in the school year."

She nodded as some first year Ravenclaw's passed by them, "Yes Professor."

She hurried off to History of Magic, finding the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's already there. Ginny nodded at her, motioning to the empty seat beside her. They were silent throughout the lesson but as soon as it ended Ginny gripped her arm and pulled her from the room. She chuckled as she was pulled into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, "What's the rush Gin?"

Ginny double checked that they were alone before turning to her with a glare, arms crossed over her chest, "Draco had been out of his mind with worry. When you didn't show up for Potions he went to Snape."

She nodded, leaning on the sink in the middle of the entry area, the same ones that they had opened to slip into the Chamber of Secrets, "I know. I just talked with Snape."

Ginny frowned at her through the mirror, "Draco feels awful. He didn't mean it to sound like he was embarrassed by you or that he was angry at you. It wasn't your fault, and he knows that."

She turned to face Ginny, "I know. Ginny why do you constantly do this? Why do you always run to Draco's defense?"

Ginny's frown turned dark, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, a smirk pulling at her lips, "Yes you do." If Ginny was calling Hermione out, then she was going to call Ginny's.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at her but before she could respond the door burst open and Harry and Ron entered the room, "There you are Ginny." Ron eyed Hermione for a moment, snapping, "This is private," before turning back to his sister.

She glared at the back of Ron's head, trying to dampen the anger that was welling before shooting a look to Ginny. The girl nodded once, saying she could handle it. Hermione nodded and headed out of the girl's lavatory. She and Ginny had missed lunch, so she hurried to their next class.

Umbridge was sitting at her desk at the top of the room as everyone filed into the room, the bright pink books that she had assigned at the beginning of the year sitting at every seat. Hermione hated the woman more now; the woman having singled her out on the first day. The woman had tried to get Hermione to speak of family, but Hermione had only spoken of the Malfoy's, something that annoyed The Toad, which is what Hermione had begun to call her after their very first class. Hermione's refusal to answer any personal questions had quickly earned her a place on the woman's shit list, being treated the same if not worse than some of the Mudbloods in the class.

Draco had mentioned that Lucius and Umbridge didn't get along at the Ministry, seeming like Umbridge was jealous of Lucius's position among their colleges. Hermione figured that the toad of a woman wouldn't get anywhere picking on Draco so she would do the next best thing. Target Hermione. Hermione took her seat, waiting for Ginny to arrive as the rest of the class settled in. Ginny slipped into the room right before she would be late and sat beside Hermione, same as they had been doing for the last two years.

Umbridge cleared her throat, the fake sound grating on Hermione's already frayed nerves, "Miss Weasley, kindly sit with your own house."

Ginny frowned, "I always sit with Hermione."

The woman's beady eyes narrowed instantly, "I gave you an order."

Hermione's anger flared, "We do not take orders."

Umbridge's head snapped to the side, cocking at an uncomfortable looking angle, "Detention Miss Black, for a week. Would you like to make it longer? Now I said move Miss Weasley."

Hermione's look darkened further, her anger swirling through her veins as her magic grew unsteady. Ginny gripped her forearm tightly, shaking her head once before standing and crossing the room to the other Gryffindor's. Hermione took a deep breath in, feeling Draco's concerned gaze on her back as she clenched her hands into fists. She needed to get control of her emotions before she lost control. She exhaled softly, slowly letting the anger slither out with the escaping air.

She desperately needed to speak to Narcissa if she had any hope of not turning The Toad woman into an actual toad at some point this term.

Class passed extremely slow, something Hermione for once hated. Umbridge wore a fake smile throughout the entire class as they wrote an essay on Ministry policy and procedures. Her hand ached by the end of the class but at least she finished the work, grinning smugly when Umbridge's eyes widened at the fact that she was done.

As everyone gathered their items Umbridge called out, in her fake pleasant voice, "Miss Black you'll start detention now."

Draco frowned, speaking before he thinking, "She'll miss dinner Professor."

Umbridge's eyes seemed to glint dangerously in the light and Hermione quickly stepped between her and Draco, "Forgive him Professor, he's tired and hungry. A good meal will help him think before speaking." She turned to Draco and gave him a warning look before returning to her seat.

Once the room was empty Hermione began to pull her quill out, but Umbridge stopped her by thrusting one in front of her. The long thin quill was blacker than Snape's eyes, the tip sharper than any Hermione had ever seen before, "You'll use this and write lines."

Hermione sat the parchment on the desk in front of her and frowned, "Shall I use my own inkwell?"

Umbridge smirked darkly at her, "You won't need ink." Hermione frowned as the woman spun on her heel, making her way back to her desk. The child like chuckle coming from the woman made a chill run down Hermione's spine before the woman turned back to her, "You shall write 'I must remember my place.'."

Hermione glared at the woman, refusing to lower her eyes, "How many times?"

Umbridge smirked at her, taking her seat behind her desk, "As many as it takes to sink in."

Hermione shook her head at the cryptic tone, looking down at the parchment she placed the tip of the quill to it. She began to write the words, frowning as a burning pain flared in the back of her hand with every letter of red ink. She stopped writing and frowned at the bare skin on the back of her hand for a moment, wondering if she was imagining the feeling. Shaking her head against the strange thought she continued to write the phrase, grimacing as the pain intensified. She stared at the back of her hand in horror as her skin split and the words formed as she wrote.

The burning pain increased as she began the next line, her skin healing over as she lifted the quill from the parchment. She glanced up at Umbridge, finding the woman watching her with a wicked toad like grin stretched across her face. Hermione grit her teeth and forced herself to continue, her teeth clenching tighter with the increase pain. The red ink soaked into the parchment as if it was fueling it and Hermione's eyes widened slightly as she finally realized just what type of 'ink' she was using.

The words began to fade less and less as the hours ticked by, the blood from her hand soaking into the parchment as if it was a bandage. She could feel Umbridge's eyes on her, watching for the first sign of weakness. She refused to give in, to allow the woman the pleasure of seeing Hermione vulnerable. Instead, she focused on her thoughts, imagining what Fenrir would do when he found out what was happening. The hundreds of ways that Fenrir would rip The Toad apart and feast on her blood kept her mind occupied and the pain soon became an ache that she could easily ignore.

Umbridge cleared her throat in that annoying fake way she had before she spoke, "That should do it for tonight, Miss Black."

Hermione's hand was numb, the words a dark red wound in her pale flesh. She gathered her items, feeling her eyes burn with tiredness. Hurrying from the room she hadn't realized how late it was until she entered the safety of the Slytherin common room. She felt her body shaking in anger and pain, her hand throbbing now that her mind wasn't on all the ways Umbridge would die at Fenrir's hairy wolf hands.

"Hermione! Where have you been?" Draco's voice called across the room, relief palpable.

Hermione shook her head as she dragged her feet towards her dormitory, "Goodnight, Draco. I'll tell you everything in the morning." She stumbled down the stairs, dropping her bag beside her bed before falling face first into her pillows. Exhaustion was an understatement as she closed her eyes and drifted into an empty sleep.