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 jerked awake just as the sun began to peak into the castle windows. Her heart was racing with the nightmare that had plagued her since she was a child. Rubbing her face, she hurried to shower before slipping back into the silent common room. There was still an hour before anyone else would be up and she had put off writing to Narcissa long enough. Her hand ached, the words etched into the back of her hand staring up at her as if they were taunting her.

Sitting at a table near the windows that looked out into the black lake, Hermione pulled out a quill and parchment. She grimaced as she tried to hold the quill, her hand protesting against it. She shook her hand, ignoring the burning flare that erupted before she put Quill to parchment. Her hand froze, her mind instantly going blank. She knew ignoring Narcissa's Howler wasn't going to end well but she wasn't sure how to begin. The Howler had exploded before Hermione had even gotten to it the day before, something she was both grateful for and terrified of.

She knew she should make it formal, but that didn't feel right. She didn't want to be formal with Narcissa. Instead, she just began to write. Telling her everything about her first few days, except when she got to the detention she paused, hesitating. Should she tell Narcissa about the punishment? Was she just being weak and over dramatic about it? She sat staring at the parchment, her mind racing with possibilities before she remembered Narcissa's words before she left, 'Why didn't you come to me?'

She leaned over the parchment and wrote everything down, every little detail she could remember about her detention the night before, and the words that Umbridge had spoken. She didn't leave anything out and knew that Narcissa would be at Hogwarts before the end of the day. She only hoped Draco could forgive her for it this time. She sat the parchment aside and pulled out a fresh one, staring at the empty space before flexing her aching hand. How does one begin a letter to a mother they've never met?

Mother,

I don't know why this feels so strange to me. I know you are my mother, but I don't remember you. Narcissa has told me about you over the years, but it is not the same as remembering. How much do you know about me? About the last few years? Since I've been at Hogwarts? I'm sure you have been told a lot since you got home, I assure you most of it is all lies, well… Some of it.

Hermione smirked at the joke, not that she was entirely sure what had been told to the woman. She just hoped Narcissa wouldn't go into too much detail this soon about the last few years.

I do not know what to say to you at this point. I don't mean to sound hurtful, but you are a stranger to me. No matter how much I dreamt of this moment, though not quite like this, I can't help but remember that you weren't there. I want to learn about you. What is your favorite color? What is your favorite scent? All the little things that I should know but do not. I hope you are well, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Hermione

She sat the short letter on top of Narcissa's just as the boy's dormitory door opened and Draco smiled widely at her, "Hermione!"

She chuckled and quickly folded the letters into an envelope, "Morning Draco."

He took a chair beside her and leaned towards her, "What happened last night?"

She held her hand up for him to see as she explained what her detention with Umbridge consisted of the night before. His anger turned his pale face a deep crimson before he exploded, shouting that his father was going to hear about this. She chuckled and shook her head at him, "No need. I can do one better." She held the stuffed envelop up in her hand and smirked at him, "Care to join me at the owlery?"

Draco's furrowed brows disappeared as a wicked smirk crossed his lips, "My pleasure." As they made their way from the common room Draco asked softly, "Did you write to all of them?"

She frowned, biting her lower lip lightly as she shook her head, "What do I even say to her? Hey, I'm your soulmate wanna get to know each other before we shag?" She grimaced at him.

He laughed as they exited the castle, "Not quite in so many words, I guess. I don't remember her honestly. Mother always said she was the oldest and protected them, but she never went into details. She spoke more to you about her than me."

Hermione nodded as the cool breeze wrapped around the exposed skin on her face, "Which wasn't much either. It was awkward trying to write to my mother too."

Draco nodded as they made their way towards the owlery near the boathouse, far enough away from the castle and prying eyes and ears to speak freely, "I believe it. I can't imagine trying to write to someone I've never met but am related to. Just the thought of possibly writing to my Auntie is giving me anxiety."

She snorted as they entered the owlery, finding a large barn owl waiting for them, "For the record you are more eloquent than I am. I'm sure you won't have an issue."

Draco leaned against the doorframe as she attached the envelop to the bird's leg, "Is that your way of saying that I can bullshit my way through anything?"

Hermione laughed, an honest laugh, "Yes Draco. That is exactly what I am saying."

They watched the owl take flight in silence, and only when it couldn't be seen did Draco speak softly, just above a whisper, "Hermione I love you. Yesterday I didn't mean it like I was embarrassed by you. All those times that Mother was here I was terrified. I never want you hurt. You are my sister, my family." He smiled shyly at her, "My best friend. I know how it sounded but I swear that isn't how I meant it."

She grinned at him, linking her arm with his as she led him out of the Owlery, "I know Draco. I love you too. I just couldn't get it out of my head." At his confused frown she sighed, "That I'm a burden to you and the family. The Malfoy's are already in the public eye for many things, my unfortunate situations are just making it worse."

Draco shook his head, "Hermione we would all be lost without you. Mother would probably die." They both shared a soft smile at that, like anything could kill Narcissa Malfoy, before Draco continued, "I wouldn't know what to do with myself. You keep me on the right path 'Mione. Father has already started ordering special books for Christmas, sorry to ruin the surprise."

She chuckled, leaning her head on his shoulder as they entered the warmth of the castle, "Thank you Draco. Sometimes it's just hard to ignore the voices, the ones that tell you that you're everything bad you've ever thought."

Draco led her into the Great Hall, "What do you always tell me when I say the same thing?"

She smirked at him as they stood beside the table, "Fighting back is half the fun." They laughed as Ginny joined them for breakfast, taking their usual seats at the Slytherin table.

Ginny glanced back and forth between them during most of breakfast, until Hermione couldn't take it anymore, "What's up Gin?" She felt slightly uncomfortable, feeling like she was being studied by Ginny.

The redhead arched an eyebrow, "You two were fighting yesterday and now you're…." She motioned between them with her hand.

Draco snorted, "Ah, you know how we are."

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny, "Little brothers and all."

Draco smirked at her with narrowed eyes before throwing a piece of toast at her, "One year 'Mione."

Ginny chuckled, taking a bite of her French toast, "So have you written to anyone yet? I heard about the exploding howler and the fact you owe Pansy Parkinson a new dress."

Hermione sighed heavily, rolling her eyes as the girl in question glared at Hermione from a few seats away. She shrugged, "I wrote to Narcissa and…." She met Ginny's eyes for a moment before continuing, "This morning."

Ginny frowned, fork halfway to her mouth, "Wait, you didn't write to your mate?"

Hermione grimaced, "What am I supposed to say?"

Ginny put her bite of food down gently, shifting slightly on the bench to face Hermione, "Anything, would be a good start. Hermione, she has a reputation for being insane, you remember that right?"

She frowned at her friend, not really wanting to believe the rumors surrounding her mate, "She may not be."

Draco scoffed, "Fifteen years in Azkaban will do that to a person."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "I'll make sure to tell her you said that." Draco's smirk disappeared, his eyes widening slightly in fear. Hermione shook her head, deep sighing, "It's not that I don't want to write to her. I just don't know how to start."

Ginny smirked at her, one eyebrow rising slowly, "Hello my names Hermione and I'm a bashful little girl that needs to be punished."

Draco snorted, choking on his pumpkin juice. Goyle frowned at him from his seat beside the blonde and quickly began to pound on his back. After a moment Draco waved Goyle off and drank some water before narrowing his eyes at Ginny, "Right because Hermione needs to just jump right into my Auntie's fetishes."

Ginny shrugged, a dark grin spreading across her face, "It's not like 'Mione doesn't have some darkness rolling around in there somewhere. Why else would she be destined to be with your Auntie?"

Draco cocked his head to the side, "Point taken. Ooh, we could always get the chains from the dungeon. Hermione's a bit of fighter."

Ginny laughed, "More like the biter where your Auntie is the fighter."

Hermione stared at her friends, mouth agape, heart pounding in her chest, "You do realize I'm right here, right?" Draco and Ginny burst into laughter at the look of horror on Hermione's face, their morning only just beginning as they tormented their best friend.

They made their way towards the Potions class in the dungeon just after lunch, their incessant teasing having stopped during their lunch hour. Umbridge had smirked at Hermione the entire time which had her on edge. The woman was giving her a weird vibe, one that she was positive would end badly before the year was over. Not to mention Potter and Weasley were eyeing her curiously throughout lunch.

She and Draco took their seats near Snape's desk as Potter and Weasley entered the room, their eyes instantly on Hermione again. She frowned at them for a moment, catching the way Potter was trying to communicate something with her. Ron folded a piece of parchment, watching Snape until he turned his back, and then floated it across the room to her before the Professor turned around.

Hermione frowned at the item before carefully unfolding it while Snape continued his lesson on Veritaserum. Potter's scratchy scrawl was flitted across the paper quickly, Meet us by the empty Herbology classroom near the flying pitch before dinner. We must talk.

She glanced back across the room at Potter, seeing his pleading look. Something was definitely up and once again her curiosity was getting the better of her. Curiosity killed the cat was right, and Hermione was the cat. She folded up the paper before Draco could read it and slipped it into her robe pocket before focusing on the lesson.

The rest of the day she couldn't get the look on Potter's face out of her mind. She knew it was a dumb idea to meet with Potter and Weasley alone, but she had never been one to ignore the curiosity that burned through her veins. So as dinner came, she bid goodbye to an anxious Draco and quickly made her way in the opposite direction.

Draco frowned as he watched Hermione disappear out the door as Ginny appeared beside him, "Where's Hermione?"

He frowned at her, "She's meeting up with Potter and your brother."

Ginny's eyes widened, "Alone? She's officially lost her mind." Draco nodded, his eyes flitting back to the castle entrance before following Ginny into the Great Hall for dinner, hoping Hermione wouldn't take too long or be hurt.

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Narcissa Malfoy sat at the long table in the dining room in her Manor. Only half paying attention to the briefing that Voldemort and the Death Eaters were going through, she was stewing in her anger. She had been worried when she hadn't heard from Hermione for the first few days, they had been at Hogwarts but by the fourth day she was becoming angry. She had sent the howler hoping that it would prove to Hermione that she cared but finding out the howler exploded only made her anger and worry increase.

Voldemort motioned to Fenrir, "What have you gathered Greyback?"

Fenrir frowned, "Not much. Everyone is staying tight lipped. The biggest information coming in right now is the mass breakout." He glanced over at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow at him, cocking her head to the side while raising her chin, "Glorious day it was."

Narcissa glanced at her eldest sister. Bellatrix was the one to always protect her, to comfort her when she was upset. In a lot of ways, she learned from Bellatrix and used that to help Hermione. Now however she was beginning to wonder if she pushed the younger witch too much. Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest at the thought. She didn't want to push the girl away from her.

The entire time Hermione was growing up Narcissa fell in love with the girl a little more every day. She loved being the one that Hermione would run to when she was upset or excited. The first time Hermione got hurt, Narcissa had lost control of her magic for the first time in ten years. Her need to protect the girl grew stronger. She had missed the closeness that she had once had with Hermione.

The screech of an owl ripped through the Manor a split second before a large barn owl swooped into the room and landed on the table in front of Narcissa. She frowned as she leaned forward, the silence in the room as everyone stared at the large creature was suffocating. Narcissa untied the envelope, a small smile coming to her lips as she recognized Hermione's elegant handwriting, something Narcissa had taught her when she was first learning to write.

Voldemort eyed her carefully for a moment before asking softly, "Is it from Hermione?"

Narcissa nodded as she carefully opened the envelope, smiling as a second smaller envelope held Alecto's name. She glanced across the table at the woman before sliding the envelope to the woman. Alecto's eyes widened slightly, a spark coming to the usually dull hazel eyes.

Narcissa quickly unfolded the four pieces of parchment and set to reading. Her heart ached as she read about Hermione's worries, fears, and the struggle Hermione was finding herself in. She ached to be with her, to hold the younger girl as she had before the girl had left. The words seemed to flow in Hermione's elegant scrawl and the questions the girl wrote to her, Narcissa couldn't help but smile at. Hermione wanted her advice, wanted to keep the closeness that they were slowly getting back.

The conversation around them continued, even as Alecto and Narcissa buried their noses in their letters.

Voldemort looked at Lucius, "Any headway on the prophecy?"

Lucius shook his head, "The Department of Mysteries assures me that only the one that the prophecy is about can retrieve it. After that however, it's fair game."

Voldemort nodded, his thoughts turning quickly. How was he supposed to get Potter to the Ministry and get him to learn about the prophecy at the same time? He glanced at Yaxley, "We're positive Potter can get it, correct?"

Corban Yaxley grimaced, "Actually something has come up about that."

Voldemort raised an eyebrow, waiting for the man to continue. Yaxley took a deep breath, his eyes darting quickly to Narcissa, making sure the woman was distracted before he turned back to Voldemort. The Dark Lord didn't miss Yaxley's sudden shift in concern and it caused him to unconsciously shift in his seat.

Yaxley cleared his throat, "There's been speculation that Potter may not be the one in the prophecy. It may be referencing someone else, but no one knows who yet."

Voldemort frowned, "This is troubling information but important to know. Keep on them. I want to know who that prophecy is about if it's not Potter. We need that prophecy and the only way for us to get it, is to have that person retrieve it." He glanced at Bellatrix, whom so far had been quiet which was troubling because she always had an opinion about everything.

Bellatrix eyed her baby sister, before glancing over at Alecto. She couldn't deny a piece of her was disappointed and upset that she hadn't received a letter from her young mate. But at the same time, she understood. Alecto was the girl's mother, she needed to build a relationship with her. Bellatrix knew how much Alecto had been hurting over the years, losing her daughter in such a way.

Bellatrix herself had held Hermione close for the first time a few months after the girl had been born and it was the moment that kept her going in Azkaban. It was the knowledge that she had a mate waiting for her. It was the image that she saw every time she closed her eyes, the smiling face that looked up at her with so much love shining in the bright hazel eyes and the wide smile that was just for her. It kept her from screaming in agony when the Dementors would pass her cell. She would close her eyes and lose herself in those eyes, that smile that was made just for her.

Alecto stared at the words on the parchment in her hands, not quite seeing the words as her eyes blurred with unshed tears. To see her daughters beautiful handwriting, written to her, was something she never once thought would happen while she had been in Azkaban. She had always wondered who her daughter would grow up to be. Would she be strong? Would she be independent? Would Hermione forgive her for not being there all these years?

For Alecto this letter meant it was a step in the right direction. Hermione wanted to get to know her, wanted to make up for lost time and that… That was everything to Alecto. She summoned a quill and fresh parchment without another thought, needing to answer her daughter, needing to take that first step. She wouldn't deny that it hurt that Hermione was close to Narcissa, that her own daughter was turning to her friend more than her. But she would never speak about it. She was more than grateful to Narcissa for being there for Hermione, for being a safe place for her young daughter. She began to answer Hermione, asking questions of her own that she had been extremely curious about over the years.

Voldemort smirked as he watched Alecto, quill scratching across the parchment so fast he wasn't sure Hermione would even be able to decipher the words. His eyes drifted to Bellatrix, his best friend, a frown coming to his face. Bellatrix was staring at the table in front of her, eyes dark and distant. He knew the woman had suffered greatly in Azkaban, more than most of the others. The woman had driven the Longbottom's insane, broken them beyond anything that could be repaired even in the wizarding world. And so, she had paid. He watched the darkness enter his friend's eyes, seeing the moment she decided to act rash instead of thinking it through. Parchment and a quill appeared in front of Bellatrix and the woman's anger flew to the parchment as Bellatrix wrote. He sighed heavily, hoping Hermione wouldn't take it personally and would give Bellatrix a chance to calm down.

Narcissa smiled, smothering the laughter that wanted to escape at Hermione's words. Until she neared the end of the letter. Hermione's elegant script suddenly became hurried, a slight shake entering the girl's hand as the words were put to paper. Narcissa's anger grew, her body beginning to shake. Glass exploded nearby as Narcissa's anger exploded outward, the lights flickering around the entire Manor.

Bellatrix and Alecto stopped what they were doing, their eyes trained on Narcissa. Voldemort frowned at the Malfoy Matriarch, seeing the anger quickly building, "Narcissa? Everything okay?"

Narcissa took a moment, knowing ten hours wouldn't be enough to calm her. She sat seething, struggling to contain her magic as it swirled with her emotions, "Hermione…." She glanced at her sister and Alecto, "This Umbridge woman used a Blood Quill on Hermione."

Fenrir's roar echoed through the room as he stood, his chair flying backwards and crashing against the wall behind him to break into pieces. Voice's boomed around the room as anger shook the walls of Malfoy Manor. Crabbe and Goyle launched to their feet, gripping Fenrir's arms tightly as the man's wolf howled in anger. The sound of bones breaking, reshaping echoed throughout the room. Crabbe and Goyle were sent flying backwards as Fenrir's snarl ripped through the chaos. Fenrir was struggling to contain his beast, his wolf calling for vengeance against anyone that dared to touch Hermione.

Lucius frowned at his wife, sharing a look with dark blue eyes. He hated the thought that Hermione was hurt. He had never liked seeing the girl hurt when she was growing. She was such a breath of fresh air for him as she grew, her mind as enchanting as it was intelligent. She was his first proper friend in the way that they communicated. While she knew he would protect her, she also knew he could never be the father figure that she needed. He was always closer to Draco and Hermione had never once argued for more. They had an understanding, something that no one else knew about, and never would. It was their secret, and it would remain that way. He longed to have Hermione safe, back under their roof where he knew she wasn't in danger. While Narcissa had been the force at Hogwarts he had been at the Ministry, pushing for Dumbledore to be taken out of the equation. He knew the old wizard was the reason that Hermione was being put in the position she was in, that if he wasn't Headmaster then Hermione wouldn't had been thrown into the fray with Potter. However, now he was trying to wrack his brain and figure out who this Umbridge woman was, and why she was at Hogwarts.

Voldemort's lip curled in disgust. His anger flared in his chest, a strange occurrence for him since his horcrux days. He paused to really take in the feelings of anger and emotional upset that was so new to him, after years of not feeling anything. Hermione was the one to insist that he would be stronger if his soul was rebound and so far, he agreed with her, though he would never sacrifice Nagini. Hermione was such and innocent soul that didn't deserve most of what she had been through and had he known the first time he had come up against her, he never would have tried to kill her as he had. All that had been forgiven so easily, shocking him for the first time since the first war. He refused to let this go unpunished, but they all needed to keep a level head.

Corban Yaxley growled angrily, "For that brat to touch our Hermione, she needs to be punished."

Bellatrix's eyes slowly turned to Corban, her jealousy awakening. She stood quickly; black twisted wand aimed at the man that dared to claim her mate. The Cruciatus curse was on the tip of her tongue as a table exploded in the foyer just outside the dining room. She had always been quick to temper and even more so when it came to what she knew belonged to her.

Alecto's hands shook as rage began to slowly build, her mind swirling with the thoughts that had plagued her while in Azkaban. The idea that someone wanted to, and actually did, hurt her daughter caused bile to rise in her throat. Her fingers twitched at the need to reach for her wand, to apparate to Hogwarts and storm the castle in search of Hermione. Something she knew Bellatrix would very easily lead the charge for.

Voldemort held his hands up, calling for silence as everyone voiced their need for retaliation. His eyes glued to Bellatrix he hissed, "Enough!" Bellatrix's eyes met his, the anger radiating from her entire being. He took a deep breath, "Let's all calm down." He glanced at Narcissa, "Who's Umbridge?"

Narcissa clutched Hermione's letter against her chest, needing to feel closer to the girl, "Hermione said that she's some woman from the Ministry. Potter and Weasley grabbed her on the train and think you sent her to Hogwarts. She also said she had some bruises from that encounter, but she didn't go into detail."

"I want you to go to Hogwarts. See for yourself if she's downplaying the bruises and the wounds the quill inflicted." Narcissa nodded and he turned back to the others, "This is the inner circle. I trust everyone in this room. Dolohov?"

Antonin Dolohov wasn't sure why everyone was so protective of this girl, but then he had been in Azkaban for the last fourteen years, so he needed to catch up, "Yes my Lord?"

"I want you to use your connections on the Black Market. See if you can get information on this Umbridge woman. Lucius, I want to know everything that the Ministry has on this woman. Which department is she from? Why is she at Hogwarts? I want to know everything." Voldemort pinned each of them with his crimson eyes as he spoke.

"Yes, my Lord," both men replied instantly.

Bellatrix felt her anger trying to explode, her need to cause pain at the idea that her mate was hurting, and she couldn't do anything about it. She finished her letter, sealing it the only way she would ever seal a letter to her mate before sliding it to Narcissa.

Alecto finished hers and slid it to Narcissa, anger blazing in her eyes, "Make sure our girl is okay."

Narcissa nodded as she took the letters in her hand and stood. She hurried from the room as anger exploded behind her. Fenrir's snarls echoing around the room as the others erupted into plans of revenge and torture. She rushed up to Hermione's room, needing to be surrounded by the girl's things, to take a moment to herself to calm the rage that was pumping through her veins.

Sitting on the side of the bed Narcissa took a deep breath, focusing on the scent of Hermione that lingered around her. Her chest felt tight, her heart aching at the thought that the girl was hurting more than just mentally. She quickly wiped her eyes, stopping the tears from falling and ruining her makeup. She stood, smoothed down the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress, and held her head high as she strode from the room. She made her way back downstairs, pulling her traveling cloak on and headed straight for the fireplace in the living room.

She took a handful of floo powder as Bellatrix and Alecto appeared across the room in the archway, their eyes hard and anger radiating outwards. Narcissa stepped into the fireplace, holding their eyes as she dropped the powder and said firmly, "The Three Broomsticks."

Narcissa stepped out of the fireplace in the back of The Three Broomsticks, her heart racing, and the need to see Hermione hitting harder than it had before. She didn't say a word to Madam Rosmerta as she rushed from the small building in Hogsmeade towards Hogwarts. Entering the familiar grounds, she couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief. Hermione was closer and she was about to finally lay eyes on her. She figured dinner was halfway over so Hermione should either just be leaving the Great Hall or already in the Slytherin common room. Her heels clicked loudly against the stone floor as the door's opened wide and she stepped into the familiar castle, memories of her youth rushing back to her in an instant.

"Mother?" Draco's voice said hesitantly near the Great Hall's doors, a look of shock and worry on his face, alerting Narcissa that something was amiss.

She moved towards him, "Hello Draco." She pressed a kiss to his forehead before glancing around, "Where's Hermione?"

Draco's eyes widened slightly, a slight quiver in his lower lip, a nervous tick he developed as a child, "Um, she's around."

Narcissa's eyes snapped back to her son, catching the lie easily. The blood rushed through her ears, a sense of panic rising in her chest quickly, tightening her already frantic heart. She opened her mouth to speak as a girl with red hair appeared beside Draco, "Oh give it a rest Draco." The girl turned to Narcissa with a small smile, "Ginny Weasley and Hermione skipped dinner to meet with Potter and Ronald. Please don't hold my family against me."

Narcissa's blonde brow rose slowly. She liked the girl already, straight and to the point, and obviously ashamed of the blood traitor family that was the Weasley's. Her heart however was quickly lodging in her throat at the realization that Hermione was missing, again. She resolved herself to getting a tracker for the girl if it was the last thing she did. She eyed the redheaded girl curiously, "We'll discuss that later. For now, where was she meeting them?"

Draco and Ginny shared a look before they both shrugged, Ginny answering for the both of them, "We don't know. Draco didn't see the note that was passed to her in Potions."

"Ginny!" Snapped George, "Get over here."

Ginny grimaced at her older brother, "No thanks." She waved them off as Draco chuckled.

Draco smiled at the red head, "You know they'll be writing your parents before the night is through."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "As if I care. So, I receive a howler in the morning. What else is new, honestly."

Narcissa shook her head, interested in the fact that her son was obviously smitten with the young girl, but too worried about Hermione to pursue questioning the two teens, "Focus. Hermione?" Draco and Ginny snapped back to attention, and yes Narcissa was absolutely thrilled with the girl her son was interested in.

Draco frowned, "I don't know Mother. She was supposed to be back by now."

Narcissa frowned as she turned and spotted Snape moving towards them, "Get to the common room. Both of you. I'll find Hermione." Draco nodded as Ginny took his wrist and pulled him towards the dungeon. Narcissa smirked as she watched them go, rolling her eyes at her oblivious son.

"Madame Malfoy, I wasn't expecting you." Snape's stoic monotone voice reached her before the man himself did.

She shook her head, "I'm looking for Hermione. I received a disturbing letter and if it's true I won't be the only one unleashing hell on this school." She looked at him pointedly.

He knew exactly what she meant, who exactly she meant. His eyes widened slightly, the only sign he was shocked, "She hasn't said anything to me."

Narcissa grimaced as she turned back to the entrance and moved towards the doors, "Of course not. Since when are Blood Quill's allowed at Hogwarts?"

Snape frowned, "Not that I'm aware of. Believe me if they were, there's two boys that would be using them."

Narcissa glanced back at him for a moment, pausing near the doors, "One was used on Hermione by this Umbridge woman."

Snape's eyes narrowed, his lip curling in disgust, "If that's true then I'll inform Dumbledore."

Narcissa spun to him, her rage rearing its head once again, lowering her voice to barely above a whisper, "You know as well as I do, that he won't stop this when it comes to Hermione."

"Then what would you have me do?" Snape snapped, his anger getting the better of him.

Narcissa glared at him, her tone dangerous and low, "I suggest you protect her to the best of your abilities, which isn't much I know."

Snape's eyes narrowed at the woman, "And what's that supposed to mean Malfoy?"

Narcissa anger got the better of her, the worry and panic she felt at Hermione's disappearance fueling her hateful words, "You have yet to be able to protect her. Some are beginning to wonder where your loyalties lie." She glared at the man; her head held high as she stared him down.

She turned from him and stepped out of the castle, her mind focusing back on locating Hermione. She hated this, the waiting, the worrying, the fear that this time… This time would be the time that Hermione couldn't be found. This time would be the time that she found Hermione lifeless. That the last time she saw the girl was the last time. Her chest tightened, her heart thudding painfully in her chest as her eyes looked to the sky.

Come on, Hermione. Give me a sign, her mind pleaded desperately.

A bright green spark shot into the sky, lighting up the area around the Herbology classrooms before bursting into a shower of silver sparks. Narcissa grinned, "That's my girl."