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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Harry watched as 12 Grimmauld Place revealed itself, the bricks shifting unbeknownst to the muggles that moved down the street. From the moment he had been brought here over the summer he couldn't get enough. Magic was still a magical experience to him, even though he's been around it for five years now. His aunt and uncle hated it, hated him, but he was grateful for one thing that was all his own.

His mind was still reeling with the meeting he had just sat through with the two men on either side of him. Lupin and Moody didn't seem like they were phased by the turn of events that had just taken place. The idea of working with Voldemort didn't exactly agree with him but he trusted Hermione. He had seen the way the Dark Lord would look at Hermione, the way he actually cared for her. He was beginning to think that he wasn't exactly the evil mastermind that the Order made him out to be. He did have a heart, he did love someone, even if it was just Hermione, it was still love.

The look on Narcissa Malfoy's face was one that Harry would never forget, one he would have nightmares about for the rest of his life. The woman looked devastated as she took in Hermione's appearance, heartbroken that the girl was suffering, and she couldn't stop it. He didn't really see a problem but that was probably because of two things. One he didn't look much better, and two he had been with Hermione this whole time. He didn't have a distance between them that it would be such a shock.

He also hadn't missed the look on Hermione's face. She looked at Narcissa like the woman was her sun, something Harry wanted but feared he would never get.

He strengthened his mental walls, just like Hermione taught him, before he followed Lupin into the house, Moody's fake leg clomping on the concrete behind him. The dark interior was the same as when he had left but he didn't mind. It was soothing, homey to him, where others found it too dark and stuffy. He had begged Sirius to keep it the way it was, and the man had relented, claiming he couldn't deny his godson anything.

Harry cared about Sirius, loves him even but something didn't feel right. He felt as if Sirius was keeping something from him whenever he asked about his parents. Something about the glint to Sirius's eyes, the way his lips would twitch at the corner, it made him think that the man wasn't being completely honest with him.

Hermione had taught him, in their second year, how to spot when someone was lying or at least keeping something from him. Gilderoy Lockhart had been the perfect example. The man was lying about everything, and Hermione had pointed out these little 'ticks' as she called them. A twitch of the brow, the way the cheek would move ever so slightly, the way lips would quirk at a certain angle. All of it was confusing until he actually took the time to watch peoples faces when he would talk to them. Dumbledore was the first he noticed it on, the mans supposedly soft warm smile was nothing more than a twitch of his deception.

He made his way through the silent hallway, making sure to avoid Walburga's covered portrait. Lupin had already disappeared into the kitchen, wanting to see if anyone was awake yet. Harry turned into the living room sighing as he collapsed on the lumpy black sofa in front of the fireplace. There was a chill in the air as he let his head fall back against the soft cushion, his mind still replaying the meeting in his head.

The idea that Bellatrix Black was innocent was oddly comforting to him. To know that Hermione's mate wasn't who she was portrayed as, made him feel relaxed that someday when he would meet her, that she wouldn't hurt Hermione. Though he knew he had no right to feel that way, but he and Hermione had grown close over the years. Even if neither one of them wanted to admit it. It was something they shared, something all their own and he enjoyed it.

"Hey Potter," Ginny Weasley's voice broke his trance.

He jumped to his feet, heart in his throat at being startled but also that Ginny was standing right in front of him, "What the bloody hell are you doing here?" He whisper shouted at her.

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest, anger turning her face as red as her hair, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Her voice was low but the threat in her tone was very real.

Harry shook his head, "Hermione and I thought you were still at Hogwarts." His heart raced, his mind quickly spiraling out of control. If Ginny was here, was Pansy still at Hogwarts? Was Pansy at home suddenly? Was Hermione alone at Hogwarts with Umbridge?

Ginny frowned, her arms dropping as concern took over her features, "I was told Hermione went home. Pansy and I only agreed to head home because we thought Hermione had gone home too. Where is she?"

Harry rubbed his head, a headache quickly approaching, "She went back to Hogwarts because she thought you and Pansy were there and would be targeted by Umbridge."

"What's all this whispering about?" Lupin rounded the corner, watching the two suspiciously.

Harry shook his head, "We have to warn Hermione. Ginny and Pansy aren't at Hogwarts."

Lupin's face paled, "Stay here and tell no one. I'll see if I can catch her." He disappeared towards the door.

Harry frowned as he heard the front door shut. His heart ached to think about Hermione facing Umbridge alone, "This isn't good."

Ginny stepped closer, lowering her voice to barley be heard, "How did it go?" Harry opened his mouth to respond but another voice cut him off.

"You two look awfully cozy." Ron's voice sounded from the doorway, his eyes narrowed in suspicion and arms over his chest.

Ginny rolled her eyes at him, "Piss off Ronald."

Ron scoffed, "Don't be snogging when mum comes down. We'll never hear the end of it. Stay away from my sister Potter."

Harry glared at Ron, his eyebrow quirking up slightly, "You really think you can tell me what to do Weasley?"

Ron glared at him, his own eyebrow rising, "I am."

"What has gotten into you boys?" Molly Weasley's voice echoed throughout the house suddenly, the woman standing in the doorway watching them. "Honestly, you two are friends. Don't let something small come between you. Ginny dear, I'm happy for you."

Ginny's eyes widened, "What for?" This was a first from anyone in her family.

Molly smiled brightly, her bushy red hair not quite tamed for the early morning hour, "For finally coming to your senses and getting with Harry."

Harry's eyes widened in horror and Ron snorted, coughing to cover his laugh, "Mrs. Weasley, we aren't… We're not…" he scrambled as his heart raced in his chest, a nervous energy causing him to break out in a sweat.

Ginny quickly jumped in, "We aren't going together mum."

Mrs. Weasley shook her head, "Nonsense. There's no reason to hide it now. Come, let's get some breakfast." The woman spun on her heel and hurried down the hallway towards the kitchen before anyone could respond.

Harry turned a wide-eyed horrified look to Ginny, "Please tell me that didn't just happen." Ginny's mouth was gaping, moving but no words came out. Ron rolled his eyes before he followed his mother down the hall.

Harry shook his head, "This is not good."

Ginny finally turned to look at him, "You know how much I like Draco."

Harry nodded, "Gods yes. Please keep doing that."

Ginny snorted, "Actually, maybe this could work for us."

Harry frowned at her, "What do you mean?" His curiosity was sufficiently peaked. His heart stopped for a moment at that thought, he was definitely spending too much time with Hermione. He shook his head and focused on Ginny again.

"You know I don't get along with them, which means they don't include me." She crossed her arms over her chest.

Harry frowned, "Hermione will hate any plan you come up with that puts you closer to them."

Ginny sighed, "I know, but," she turned to smirk at him, "why should she have all the fun. Let's give them something to fight over."

Harry frowned at her, "We're supposed to be getting everyone together not tearing them apart."

Ginny nodded, "What better way to see who is truly to be trusted?"

Harry sighed as the girl headed towards the kitchen. He was utterly confused, more confused than he was at the meeting, but also slightly worried this was going to backfire on them. He pushed the thought aside and headed for the kitchen. It was only for another two weeks before they would be back at Hogwarts. He just hoped that Hermione would be caught before she returned to Hogwarts.

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Narcissa entered the house after apparating to the front of the manor. She was extremely worried about Hermione. The girl didn't look at all healthy, or strong enough to return to school but she could understand Hermione's worry about her friends. She hated that she let her go, something pulling at her heart to go after the girl. The Manor was a rush of activity when she entered, Voldemort frowning beside her.

"What's going on here? Lucius?" Voldemort snapped angrily; his mood having soured the moment Hermione had disappeared with McGonagall.

Lucius appeared quickly, "My Lord. I didn't want to interrupt but we had a problem. Raids began happening all over. The Lestrange's are being treated out back where Andromeda has set up a small hospital of sorts. Bellatrix and Alecto haven't returned from trying to get to the Goyle's. We lost Walden Macnair to Kingsley Shacklebolt, they cornered him outside of London."

Amycus stumbled through the door, "Lucius, have you seen my sister?"

Lucius shook his head, "Not yet, but help Nott he's not looking so good." Amycus spun around and caught Theodore Nott as he fell forward, blood seeping from his shoulder wound, "Take him to Andromeda, out back." Amycus used a featherlight charm on the older man and guided him carefully through the Manor.

Narcissa frowned, "What the hell happened?"

Lucius frowned, "I don't know. We just started getting reports of attacks. I've been trying to summon Bellatrix and Alecto, but they aren't responding. How's Hermione?"

Narcissa shook her head, "Not good but she's back at Hogwarts."

Lucius frowned, "You're kidding right?" Both Voldemort and Narcissa turned a dark look on Lucius and he quickly held his hands up, "No I meant didn't you hear. Umbridge is taking control of Hogwarts. As soon as the paperwork is signed by Fudge, she's ousting him. Rumor is it's happening by the end of the holidays." Lucius glanced over their shoulders and glared at the man running towards them, "What is he doing here?"

Voldemort and Narcissa turned to see Remus Lupin sprinting towards them, "Where's Hermione?"

Narcissa's heart lodged in his throat, "With McGonagall at Hogwarts."

"Shit!" Lupin cursed, "I tried to get back in time, but everyone was gone. Ginny and Pansy aren't at Hogwarts anymore. They were told Hermione and Harry were sent home to rest. Harry is concerned that Hermione is now on her own with Umbridge."

Voldemort snarled angrily, "Lucius fill Lupin in. Narcissa help Andromeda. I'll see if I can find your sister and Alecto." A loud crack ripped through the air as he disapparated on the spot.

Narcissa sprinted through the Manor, finding even more of a chaos in her back garden. It looked as if Andromeda had set up a field hospital in the gravel, moans and screams from those injured echoed throughout the early morning sky. She caught Andy's concentrated eyes and was instantly in motion, helping the ones who needed it the most. It was going to be a long day, but her mind and heart were locked firmly on Hermione.

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Hermione and McGonagall appeared in Hogsmeade, right behind the Three Broomsticks. A wand appeared in the darkened ally, "Whose there?"

McGonagall brought her arm out, stopping Hermione's movement, "Minerva McGonagall and student."

Madame Rosmerta appeared around the corner, face pale and worried, "Thank Merlin Minerva. It's a good thing you aren't at the castle right now. Have you seen the raids going on?"

McGonagall and Hermione shared a look before the older woman answered, "No. What's happening?" Rosmerta glanced at Hermione and McGonagall shook her head, "She's in the know."

Rosmerta nodded, "Umbridge is claiming control of the school. The Ministry has enacted raids all around the country. They've already killed Macnair. The grapevine is saying that Vincent Crabbe senior and Archie Carter were caught in Knockturn Alley."

Hermione's heart clenched, her chest tightening, "Are they alive at least? Archie and Crabbe?"

Rosmerta shrugged, "I don't know. We were attacked at the Leaky Cauldron. The Ministry is out for blood against everyone who opposes them."

Hermione shook her head, anger flaring powerfully, "Umbridge must have gone higher. Something had to have set this off. If she found out that Harry and I were no longer at the castle it would have set her off."

Rosmerta looked slightly in shock at how much Hermione knew but she didn't comment as McGonagall took a deep breath, "She's gone too far already. If that's the case, we need to move our plan up."

Rosmerta smiled widely, "What can I do?"

Hermione shared a smirk with McGonagall before they both turned to the woman. Their minds were made up and they had a new plan they would just have to enact without anyone else in the know.

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Dolores Umbridge stood in the headmaster's office, her eyes wild, reflecting the dancing firelight in the fireplace, "How did the raids go?" She would wait in the office as long as it took for Dumbledore to return.

She would never deny the high she got from power. The idea that she now held all the power at Hogwarts was consuming. It made her heart beat faster, her blood pump quickly, and her mind swirl with pleasure. So much more than she ever thought she could have. She would go as far as saying she was intoxicated by it. Needing another fix the moment it felt as if it were wearing off.

She hadn't felt this much pleasure since she had tortured Hermione Black in the hospital wing. The way the girl's body writhed under her curse still sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. She had nearly lost herself in the power she had felt as her magic flowed through her. The fact that the girl didn't scream was a little off putting, but she was positive if she could have gone longer, she could have made the girl not just scream. She was positive the girl was closer to Narcissa than anyone thought.

She wanted to get her fingers on the girl, to ruin her mind body and soul for the Black Sisters. The idea that Dumbledore hadn't figured out who this girl was, was pathetic. He was the one that sent the Auror's after Alecto, he was the reason that Alecto's partner had to go on the run. The reason Alecto's partner had to hide from everyone. He was losing his touch she was positive and that was what she had convinced her boss of. That it was time to make a move, to start releasing unknown information before anyone figured anything out.

She was slightly aware that backing the two more powerful wizards into a corner wasn't exactly a good move but what other choice did she have? They weren't making moves, except the escape from Azkaban but even that didn't bring about anything else. The prisoners had just gone into hiding somewhere and Dumbledore wasn't making a move to find them. It was curious indeed.

A soft voice spoke loud and firm, "Just as we planned. They were completely caught off guard. However, neither Black nor Potter were with any of them."

Umbridge curled her lip up, "Dumbledore? Voldemort?"

"No. They have disappeared as well." The girl's voice was closer now, but still strong willed, "What's next?"

Umbridge turned to face the girl, "You've made me so proud Luna. I hope you know how much your mother would have loved to see you now."

Luna nodded once, "Thank you grandmother. I hope she is watching this as we take revenge, but are you sure all of this will scare Pandora out of hiding at all?"

Umbridge sighed, "I'm sorry you've had to grow up with the stigma of having that woman as a mother. We will right all of the information soon dear. The world will know that you are not her blood, that you are so much more."

The corner of Luna's lips curved up, "Pandora killed my mother, and I will get my revenge."

"That's all well and fine but what about me?" A voice called from the shadows, "I was promised revenge of my own if I helped."

Umbridge smirked, "And you shall have it. As soon as we find them. All in good time children. We are still under orders for the time being."

Luna rolled her eyes, her tense shoulders dropping slightly, and she threw herself into a chair in front of the large desk, "Black is fading quickly. It's not as much fun to torture her now. The past week alone has lowered her resistance."

Umbridge glared out the window at the dark Hogwarts ground, "She will cave eventually. She left school grounds without my permission. She will tell us where Potter is soon and if not then she'll suffer."

The low voice from the shadows spoke quietly, "The train arrives tomorrow and Black is still in the hospital wing. If Potter is back he'll be looking for her. As much as he says they aren't friends, he talks about her an awful lot lately."

Umbridge nodded, "Have you figured out how to get into the Room of Requirements without them?"

"No," the voice in shadow moved closer, "It seems to only appear when they are already in there. We'll have to catch them when they are already in it. However, they don't tell anyone about the time of the meeting until the day of and it's usually within thirty minutes."

Umbridge cleared her throat, a high-pitched noise coming from her throat, "Are they comfortable that no one knows about it?"

"Yes Ma'am."

She grinned darkly as she turned around, her eyes landing on her granddaughter softly, "Then we will catch them in the act as soon as their next meeting takes place. Always better to attack when people least expect it. Luna, be a dear and round up some of your fellow Ravenclaws and tell them to be ready at a moment's notice."

Luna nodded, letting her head fall back to stare at the ceiling, "I'll be glad to stop acting like Xenophilius. I love dad but I'm tired of this."

Umbridge smiled, "We'll take care of him soon enough as well. Now anything else?" her voice held a lilt of excitement to it.

"I want Bellatrix Black to myself," the voice from the shadows grew steadily closer until his face was illuminated by the firelight. "She will pay for what she did to my parents." Neville Longbottom smirked evilly at Umbridge.

Umbridge's smile spread widely across her face, "And you shall have it boy. They won't know what hit them when we take Hermione and use her as bait." She turned back to the window as a loud crack sounded on the balcony of the headmaster's office.

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Silence was heavy in Grimmauld Place as light snores echoed from the rooms. Harry sat up; his eyes tired but wide open. The last two weeks running through his mind had seeped into his dreams. He hadn't heard a word from Hermione since Lupin had returned and told him about the attacks that were taking place. Hermione had returned to school, and he was terrified at what he would find when he returned to school. He had been afraid to reach out to Narcissa or Fenrir, afraid the Ministry would intercept it.

Slipping from his bed he hurried from his room quietly, not wanting to wake anyone. He dodged the creaky steps and made his way towards the kitchen in the darkness, hoping that the portraits stayed asleep. The swinging door to the kitchen made a slight screech as he pushed it open, but he didn't have time to wince as two hands shoved him further into the room from behind.

He spun around and had two hands gripping his shirt as he stared up into Ron's angry face. Ron shoved him backwards, his lower back hitting the thick wooden table in the middle of the room, "Is Hermione alright?"

Harry's eyes narrowed at the boys freckled face, this was the first time they had interacted since he arrived at Grimmauld two weeks ago, "I don't know. No thanks to you." He shoved Ron backwards, straightening his shirt as he pushed off the table.

Ron glared at him, "Is the plan still in motion?"

Harry rolled his eyes as he shook his head, "Yes, but some things have changed."

Ron scoffs, "Fine. We'll talk about it more when we get back to Hogwarts." He spun on his heel and strode from the room, an angry scowl on his face. Harry was left glaring at the swinging door as silence once again descended on 12 Grimmauld Place.