The next morning was almost a Déjà vu she awoke to two owls impatiently waiting at her window. Groaning she sat up slowly with her hand on her head. She still had a migraine after yesterday. Hermione let the owls in as she passed the window, already regretting waking up today. She entered the bathroom and started a bath as she quickly went about her morning routine, this time adding a pain potion into the mix. The headache that had started once she left Azkaban only seemed to grow worse as more time passed.

She hustled back into her room as she remembered the post awaiting her. By the time she had arrived the owls had already left. There sitting on her desk were the reply's from Kings and Dolohov, her father. She shuddered as the last part entered her mind unbidden.

Grabbing the mail she decided to open in the bath. Whatever the responses were she could read them then caste them aside for later thought. Kingsley's letter was first.

Dear Hermione,

I am pleased you are taking me up on my offer. Of course you can have time off, in fact I demand it. At his point Hermione could almost hear his snicker. I already wrote your boss and informed him that you have the next month off, it only seems fair as you just learned of the passing of your birth mother and the startling revelation of your birth father. I think the muggles would call it reavement? She snorted, of course Kingsley would give her Bereavement time, even if this wasn't necessarily in the traditional sense. Let me know if you need any more time, my doors are always open.

For Freedom We Fight,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

P.S.

Don't even think of coming back to work before the full month has passed.

Rolling her eyes she moved onto the next letter. That was an unfortunate move however, seeing as it seemed to worsen the effects of her migraine. The pain potion hadn't helped at all, huffing she ripped through the seal, recognized as one from Azkaban showing they had proof read the letter.

My Dearest Ailia,

Despite the pain she could not stop the snort and eye roll this time. Dearest my arse.

I would very much appreciate another visit. There is much we need to discuss and unfortunately time does not seem to be on our side. I am sure you are already feeling some of the effects from the lifting of the glamour and charm that had been placed on you to hide you. Given what I know of magic it is imperative that you come back as quickly as possible. Today even.

Dolohov

Interesting, for as much affection as he seemed to put in the beginning of the letter, the salutation seemed to be lacking. And considering the lack of owl in her home she was assuming that the invitation that was extended for today was more of a command rather than a suggestion. Rolling her shoulders she gave in. No point in putting it off any further.

Turning the water off for the bath she began to drain the tub and turned the shower on full force, the bath would have to wait. With a heavy sigh she wrote to the warden of the prison informing him that shh would be by today to see Dolohov. Once it was sent out she got ready as quickly as she could. She had a feeling these migraines were a symptom of whatever Dolohov had to tell her.

Within 20 minutes she was once again having her wand checked by the guard before allowing her entry to the visitation cell. Shivering she sat down in the chair closest to her. It felt odd being there without Kingsley as a chaperone. Despite the knowledge that she could hold her own against the nasty man she felt vulnerable in the warded off closed room. No windows, no escape. Shivering again she folder her arms in and huddled down in the chair to get some warmth in the frigid room.

After what felt like eons, but was probably closer to five minutes later, the door on the other side of the room opened up. But, unlike last time there were two guards at the door, one was escorting Dolohov and the other, she gasped and shot up like a rocket.

"What the ever loving fuck is he doing here?" She hissed the words. But, before her father could answer the abomination himself spoke.

"Hello, Princess. Miss me?" The tenor of his voice brought back all those memories of her first year. She had to swallow back the bile in her mouth.

"Rowle." The sneer that lit her face could have rivaled Snape's.

"Both of you shut up!" The command came from her father, and something deep in her memories stirred, she couldn't help but obey. Quickly sitting down she once again crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sit, Rowle." The man used his shackled hands to push him down in the seat next to both men were chained to the table the guards left the room.

"Ailia, it is wonderful to see you again. I was hoping you would be able to stop by today." He inclined his head toward her in a proper greeting. Rowle simply smirked in his seat and leered at her up and down.

Deigning to ignore the presence of the man who ruined her first year she answered Dolohov.

"I am glad you wanted to see me again. I would like to get everything out in the open as soon as possible. I do not like not knowing so many things about myself."

Rowle frowned at her, not one to be ignored he retorted swiftly.

"No, I bet you don't like not knowing just about anything do you, kitten?" Leaning forward he was almost in her face as his massive body place pressure on the table in front of her. "Always were a little Swot, weren't you. Never could keep your nose out of other peoples business." He chuckled darkly.

She refused to be cowed by him and stood her ground not leaning back I her chair but also not giving him a moment of her attention. Refusing to even ask why he was there.

"Dolohov, what else is there to know? And what do you mean, effects?"

With a soft look of longing on his face he finally spoke.

"You know, you used to call me Daddy. It was your first word." She calmed slightly, feeling some of the fight leave her body as she looked at the man in a new light. Despite his pas actions, right now all she could see was a man that had his family stolen away.

"You were only three when I was arrested. That's when you were put into hiding. Your mother and I knew it was too dangerous to give you to family if we were arrested or killed. But, after I was thrown in Azkaban and learned of your mother's death when our home was burned, I assumed you had gone with her." His eyes were filled with unshed tears. Hermione was stunned, she knew the man loved his wife but had not know of how she had passed, nor of the depth of emotion he felt towards her. Even Rowle had gone quiet, looking at the man like he'd lost his damn mind.

"Fuck, Tony! Didn't know you had emotions." The larger man gave a sharp elbow to the convict.

Glaring at the younger man he gathered himself and continued.

"I know this I already a shock to you, Ailia, but there is more to discuss." He took in a shaky breath. Hermione's breath seemed to have stopped in anticipation for what was to come.

"When you were a babe we wanted to secure your future, you have a trust set aside in Gringotts and of course full access to the Dolohov vaults. Both here in England as well as the funds in Russia. We are the last of line." Hermione's brows raised, that, that is what she was so worried about. While her shoulders relaxed a little tidbit in the back of her mind reminded her of the Viking dolts presence. There was something more.

Nodding she realized her father had wanted a response from her.

"Ok, while I appreciate the forethought I do have a job, a well paying one at that." Politeness seemed to be the best way to go with Slytherins. They always seemed to have something up their sleeves. And, from the smirk on both of their faces, they most definitely had something to hide.

"A job you hate, kotyonok." Ceding that point she inclined her head slightly.

"And?"

"We took all precautions, lyubov moya." Slowly understanding was starting to dawn on her. It was that thought at the back of her head. That little idea for why Rowle was there with them. Something she was so far in denial about that she had refused to acknowledge it.

"No." Nodding his head he knew she understood.

"No!" This time the word exploded from her mouth. "Absolutely not! I will not go anywhere near that- that— Neanderthal!"

"Oi!" Rowle sat there with his arms crossed and a look of indignation on his face, but before he could say anything Dolohov interrupted him.

"You don't have a choice, Ailia. It was determined before you were even born, you were betrothed with a blood oath. If you do not follow through then you will die." Hermione was fuming inside.

"A little dramatic there, ey Father…" The sarcasm dripped heavily from her mouth, letting the sting reside itself in the deep crevices of his mind.

Rolling his eyes he couldn't help but wish, for what seemed like the millionth time since he had been incarcerated the first time, that things could have turned out differently. That he hadn't been drawn into the maniacs circle by his father and forced to take that forsaken mark.

"I know you've felt the headaches already, and possibly the body aches. Hermione," The use of her muggle name, the name she'd known her entire life, threw her for a loop. "I know this is hard to come to terms with, but if you do not marry by the time you turn 21, then you will die. You will be the end of this bloodline. I know it is extreme but we needed to assure that our line would continue. And, despite your personally beliefs, we needed it to be pure." Hermione was brought back with the last line. Already upset about her betrothal, and now even more so to know that, despite his current circumstances, he was still the bigoted arsehole she fought in the ministry.

Deciding it was a battle for another day she finally turned and addressed the smug man sitting across the room from her.

"Look as smug as you want, while we might have to be married, if I don't find a way to break this vow, you will spend the rest of your life locked up in a dank prison cell. The marriage might be in name only." The spite spewed from her mouth as her anger for her current situation grew.

"Princess, I must say you are looking more delicious than the last time I saw you." He finally brought his eyes up to rest on her face after ogling her for the entire duration of the visit. "I must say when my parents first told me that you had passed in the fire I was a little relieved. Glad that I had at least that choice back. Though, my parents did try to set up another for me," He looked contemplative "must have not stuck because you weren't truly dead."

Leering at her now the smirk was back full force.

"I can't say I am disappointed. Looks like you finally grew into your true looks. As for a lifetime in prison…" He chuckled. "Well, I would recommend asking your precious Potter about that."

Standing from her seat she had heard enough.

"Is there any other life wrecking information that you need to share with me?" Directing her gaze to Dolohov.

"No. That was it."

"Fan-bloody-tastic. I'll be leaving now."

With a quick knock on the door to the outside she was through the room and out of the prison in mere minutes. Needing to know what Rowle could have possibly meant about the life sentence.

With an exaggerated pop she was once again whisked from the grounds of the prison through the portkey.