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.
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Hermione was warm as she awoke, her body being crushed between something. Her eyes flew open as the memory of the day before surged through her mind. She was sandwiched between two women, one of whom she was familiar with. The black curls draped over her giving her a comforting smell of cinnamon. Bellatrix's arm was draped across her chest, which strangely made her feel safer, and her head was right next to hers on the shared pillow.
The woman on the other side had long blonde hair, which was slightly draped over her shoulder, filling her with a strong vanilla smell. The two-smells combining soothingly. She studied the woman's face, gasping quietly as she recognized Narcissa Malfoy, or Black in this world. The woman was undeniably beautiful, all three Black sisters were, she couldn't deny that. While Bellatrix had the hardened dark look, Narcissa's was light and free.
Not at all like the Narcissa she could remember, standing over her, watching as Bellatrix tortured her for information.
She shook her head and carefully extracted her limbs from the two women beside her. Narcissa's leg having claimed possession of hers intricately. She slid off the foot of the bed not wanting to wake the two sleeping sisters. She paused to watch them for a moment, trying to separate them from the two women from her world.
It wasn't working.
The more she looked at Bellatrix the more she saw the deranged woman that had cursed her, that had called her a filthy mudblood every chance she got. Narcissa was a little easier. She could see the woman that stood above her, fear for her family etched on her face while she watched her sister work. Hermione wasn't sure she could fault the woman for not doing anything. Narcissa was just as afraid of Bellatrix as she was, if not more because the woman also had Voldemort breathing down her neck, in her own home.
Not like Lucius had done anything for his family either, which didn't help.
She shook her head and found a pair of dragon hide boots near the bed. She slipped them on and smiled, they must have been hers. She moved through the castle, smelling breakfast permeating the air and following it to the Great Hall. She stopped just inside the door, frowning as a flash of the battle entered her mind. Standing on the table on the far-left side of the room where she had faced and fought Bellatrix. Where the blast had occurred and sent her into this…
This, what?
Nightmare?
Another dimension?
She shook her head as a voice called out, "Hermione!" Her eyes widened as Harry rushed towards her, his black hair more like Snape's than it used to be. There was relief clear on his face, "Are you alright? We've been worried."
She frowned, "We?"
Draco's body slammed into her, his arms wrapping around her tightly, "We've been scared out of our minds. When we found you in the dueling room, we thought you were dead." He released her and stepped back with a frown, "What are you wearing? Surely Mum didn't pick that out. She hates muggle clothes."
She grimaced at him, "Mum?"
Draco frowned at her, "Your wife."
"You're Narcissa's son?" she grimaced not willing to be Draco's mother.
Draco frowned at her, "Hermione are you alright?"
She shook her head and rubbed her temples, "No."
Harry gripped her arm, leading her to an empty spot at the Slytherin table, "Tell us what's going on."
She frowned at them, deciding to give them the same story, "I don't remember anything."
Draco's jaw dropped while Harry's green eyes only showed concern, "Okay. So, you're my aunt."
She grimaced at him, "This is so weird and slightly wrong."
Harry snorted, "That my aunt is my best friend and my boyfriend's Mum is married to my aunt… Yeah, that sums it up."
She snorted a laugh, unable to help it, "Okay explain."
Draco grinned, "Okay so we were in our second year when you met Mum. She didn't know you were her mate until the night you tried to kill my father, which was hilarious, and I will totally show you the memory one day."
She chuckled as Harry cleared his throat. She noticed he didn't have a scar and he looked more like Snape, no hint of James Potter anywhere, "So you and Dad are really close. Like I've never seen siblings so close before. Not even the Weasley's," he grimaced before shaking his head, "Mum and you are too which drives your wives nuts because she was a Gryffindor, and we are all Slytherin."
She smirked, "I'm a Slytherin?" Harry and Draco nodded.
Draco smirked, "How could you not be when mated to my Aunt Bella and Mum. Dad and Mum annulled their marriage like the next day and Mum began to court you, her words not mine."
She barked out a laugh, "Narcissa Malfoy courted me? Dated me?" Draco frowned at her, looking insulted slightly.
Harry frowned at her, "You really don't remember any of this do you?"
She sighed heavily and shook her head, "I have a theory, but I don't want to sound crazy."
Harry shook his head, "Hermione, I've known you my whole life. You aren't crazy."
Draco smiled at her, "Out with it."
She took a deep and began to explain what she figured happened. She could see their eyes widen before they frowned at her, studying her curiously. After a few moments of silence Harry smirked at her, "It's plausible. It would explain why you have a firm memory of this battle you were in."
Draco stared down at the table, "If it is true then there should be some sort of magical anomaly in the Dueling room. It should still be there if it was that powerful. Let's go check it out."
Hermione smiled at them, "You believe me?"
Harry snorted, "All my life I've learned to believe my Auntie Hermione until there was proof otherwise." He grabbed her arm gently, "Come on."
She followed them towards the dueling room, seeing as her Hogwarts didn't have one. They usually used the Great Hall for that, and it had only happened in her second year, with Lockhart. They entered the large room the size of the Great Hall. One long table stretched the length of the room right down the center. She stepped up onto the table, confusion marring her features, "I don't remember even being in here. Everyone says I was in here alone."
Draco held his wand up as Harry moved onto the table with her, "We'll figure this out Hermione. Until there is proof of whatever happened. The room has been closed off since we found you here."
Draco frowned as he called out, "There's three magical signatures here. Hermione's, Aunt Bella's, and another that I'm not familiar with but it's powerful."
Harry frowned, "Aunt Bellatrix wasn't even in here. We found you and called for Mum right away. She was the one to inform Aunt Bellatrix."
Hermione sighed in relief, "There's more to it but at least I know I'm not crazy."
Draco frowned, "But Aunt Bella wasn't in here."
She shook her head, "No she wasn't but the magic that brought me here came from me and the Bellatrix in my world." She hesitated for a moment. She wasn't going to tell them about the Bellatrix in her world anymore than she would tell this Bellatrix of this world. She couldn't have that image in anyone's mind but her own.
She couldn't deny that she found this Harry and Draco, better, than her own two. She felt guilty for thinking it but her own Harry had always disregarded her words, running off into trouble then expecting her to somehow miraculously get them out of it. Her Draco was pompous, arrogant and a downright vile, loathsome little cockroach. But this Draco was bright and caring and loves his family, including her.
She frowned as she caught Harry's wrist, "Harry what's the issue with the term mudblood?"
Anger flared in his eyes as Draco spun to her with disgust on his face. Harry shook his head, "It was outlawed a long time ago. It's reprehensible for anyone to say it. Why? Was it not the same in your world?"
She sat on the edge of the table, dangling her legs over the side as she shook her head, "It was a vile thing to say but it was part of the war. I was called that so much and then I…" She shook her head, "I am a Mudblood in that world. I was hunted and bullied for it. I was going to be killed because of it."
Draco's anger exploded, his magic basting apart a chair across the room, "How dare anyone step to a Black. How dare anyone think that Mudbloods are beneath them. They are just the same as us if not better because they must work twice as hard to control their magic." His words began to blur together while he paced angrily, his normally pale face turning a light shade of red.
Harry chuckled, "Don't mind him. We have plenty of friends that are muggle-born and he's a little touchy when it comes to defending family. Mum is too but she's bloody brilliant, just like you. I don't know what world you're from, but it sounds horrible. If our Hermione ended up there, I know she'll do fine. She's not a muggle-born, but a half blood."
She frowned suddenly, "Harry, is it possible that I'll adjust to this dimension's magic. Like loose my mudblood status and become what this Hermione was?"
Draco spun to face them, "Right, because you would be affected by the waves of magic in this dimension. Which means the other Hermione would be affected by that one."
Hermione frowned, "I can't leave her there to that fate."
Harry smiled widely, "We'll figure this out Hermione but to us, you're still our Aunt Hermione so get used to it."
The doors opened and Tom Riddle swept into the room. Hermione felt her body go rigid, her eyes tracking his movements through the room. The man looked more like his diary version than his snakelike version, but it was still terrifying to be in the same room with him. His voice was deeper and there was no hissing which was refreshing.
"This room is closed for a reason… Oh, Hermione? How are you feeling?" His brown eyes softened as he studied her.
She grimaced, as she looked away, forcing the fear out of her voice, "I'm fine."
Tom frowned, "Why are you out of the hospital wing? I heard from Lilly that you were still recovering."
She stood suddenly, the fear coiling tightly around her chest. The memory of Nagini attacking Snape in the boat house at Voldemort's command entering her mind. She needed to see Snape, to talk to him herself, to know he was real. She shook her head at the man, hurrying towards the doors. She couldn't stand to be in the same room with him, the uncomfortable chill running up her spine, warning her of danger.
She stepped into the corridor with Harry and Draco, before releasing the breath she didn't realize she was holding. How was she going to survive being around these people while trying to pretend like she was this worlds Hermione?
Harry's hand rested on her shoulder gently, "You okay 'Mione?"
She shook her head, "No. I need to see Snape. Please…" Her voice trembled and she grimaced, quickly brushing the tears from her eyes.
Draco took her arm tightly, "He should be in his classroom."
She let them guide her through the halls until they arrived at the Charms classroom. She frowned as they entered the room and Harry called out, "Dad! Dad!"
Severus Snape hurried into the classroom from his office, "What? Are you alright?"
Hermione watched as Snape's eyes landed on her and pain crossed his face. She nodded to Harry, hoping that he understood she needed to speak to him privately. Harry grinned at her, "We'll wait outside for you."
When the door closed and they were alone Hermione turned back to him, seeing the blood drain from his face as Nagini bit into his neck, slicing the skin apart. She felt the tears run down her cheek quickly shaking her head against the pain, "I remember you being killed."
Snape's eyes widened in horror, "Just a dream 'Mione."
She shook her head, anger flaring inside her, "It wasn't. I'm not the Hermione from this world. In my world you were killed by Voldemort, Tom Riddle. I'm not your sister, you were my professor and that's it. Lilly never married you, she married James Potter and they had Harry." She shook her head and began to pace, "None of this makes sense. I was in a war, I've killed, and I've survived. Even against…"
She clenched her hands into fists, "I survived. Harry, Ron and I survived. We were in the Great Hall fighting to end the Death Eaters, to end Voldemort. There was a magical explosion between me and a Death Eater which is how I landed here and I'm positive that your Hermione is in my world."
She sighed as she sank into a seat near the back of the room, "How the hell are you even the Charms professor?" Despite his concern Severus laughed. She rolled her eyes, "You were the best Potion's Master in my world."
Severus moved slowly towards her before sitting a few seats in front of her, not wanting to frighten her, "I'm perfect at Charms and Flitwick retired after my apprenticeship. Minerva took me on full time."
She raised an eyebrow at him, "McGonagall? What happened to Dumbledore?"
Severus frowned, "She's the Headmistress. Aberforth and his sister are dead. Albus is in Azkaban for killing them both."
She sighed heavily while shaking her head, "Voldemort is the Potion's Professor and Dumbledore is a murderer. My head hurts."
Severus frowned at her, concern shimmering in his eyes, "Let Bella and Narcissa take you home. Lilly and I will be there as soon as we can. We can figure this all out then. Speaking of which where are your mates?"
She frowned, "I left them in the hospital wing." His jaw dropped and she grimaced, "What? We don't have mates in my world." She rubbed her chest as a strong sense of panic began to overwhelm her.
Snape narrowed his eyes at her, "Right, well when a mate is injured the other one can't be away from them without worry. They will panic and tear this school apart to find you." He pinched the bridge of his nose, "I remember going over this when you were eleven." He smiled softly, "I never thought you would stop ranting about it."
She stood as the panic in her chest grew, "I'm sorry Professor." The look of pure heartbreak he gave her made her feel guilty, but she turned away from him and made her way out the door.
She wasn't who they thought she was, but no one was going to believe her. Even as Harry and Draco walked beside her, she felt more alone than she ever has before. She was beginning to think that pretending to be this Hermione until she could find a way back to her own world was a good idea. But how could she do that when she had no memories from this place? Of these people?
Her rabbit hole of a mind began to twist and turn of its own accord. What if she really had been attacked and memories implanted. She remembered hearing the conversation the night before, everyone was sure that it was Riddle but why would Riddle make himself the bad guy in a memory he implanted? Bellatrix she could see but not Riddle.
If she did have two different sets of memories, would it be possible to sort them out? To find the real memories hidden amongst the fakes. Could she do it alone? She refused to have anyone in this world see everything that she has. If these are fake memories, then it was better for her to suffer alone. She could barely stand to see the hurt in this Bellatrix's eyes now let alone if she ever saw the memory of being tortured at Bellatrix's hands.
She wasn't sure where they were going as her mind tried to fight back.
There was no way those memories were fake. She could remember all the pain she had suffered. Obliviating her parents, feeling the tip of Bellatrix's cursed dagger digging into her skin. The pain that came with escaping the Ministry after stealing the prophecy for Harry, Sirius's death, Dumbledore's death. Tonks. Lupin. Fred. Dobby.
She couldn't breathe as her body reacted to the face's being flashed in front of her eyes. Each of their faces, clear as day. Every little detail of their deaths etched forever into her mind. Not quite remembering their face when they would laugh. Only seeing them in death, pale, peaceful looking. It was something she knew that Harry had suffered with, but this was too much.
Hands gripped her shoulders as her mind refused to pull her away from the people she loves, the people she lost. She couldn't stop the images from rolling through her mind, over and over. Moving so fast that they all began to blur together, one big blur of motion, of colours. Not able to decern any single person, any single feature. She could hear someone trying to talk to her, but the sound of a scream split her eardrums before the high cackling laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange carried into an empty blackness.
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The first thing Hemione noticed was the warmth and softness of the bed she was currently lying in. She could instantly tell it wasn't in Hogwarts hospital infirmary because she felt safe, comforted. She jerked up and blinked against the darkness, the only light coming from the fireplace across the room. The large bed was expensive and what décor she could make out reminded her of Malfoy Manor. She took a deep breathe, forcing herself to remain calm. Though waking up in an unknown location in a foreign world should have been enough to allow herself a slight panic.
She slipped out of bed, realizing she was in different clothes than what she remembered. At least the black muggle sweatpants were comfortable and reminded her of ones she used to wear before the second war started. The long sleeve deep green t-shirt she wore made her relax slightly, knowing one of her…
Nope, she still couldn't say it.
One of them had dressed her. At least it was better than thinking Snape or Harry dressed her.
She opened the door quietly and made her way barefoot down the long hallway, seeing the light emanating up the stairs. She sat on the top step as voices met her ears, "I've never seen anything like it."
Severus's voice was firm, yet shaky, "Harry we will figure this out. Now what happened when she began to ramble?"
Draco answered, "She grabbed her head. She was in so much pain, but we couldn't get through whatever she was seeing. She said some names, but I don't know some of them."
Bellatrix's voice was harsh, "What names?"
"Bella," Narcissa's voice was soft, trying to sooth her sister.
Harry spoke quietly, "Tonks. Lupin. Fred. Sirius. Dobby. Dumbledore."
"She was asking me about Dumbledore before she left my classroom, a few minutes before this episode." Severus interjected.
"Why would she mention Lucius's house elf?" Narcissa asked quietly.
Hermione's eyes widened. Was Dobby alive here? Was he still enslaved by Lucius?
Draco's voice interrupted her thoughts, "The only Fred I know is the Weasley twin."
Bellatrix's anger came through loud and clear in her voice, "Has he been around her at all?"
Harry answered her quickly, "No Aunt Bella. She's only been spending time with Luna and Ginny. Even Ginny can't stand her own brothers."
"Well, she hasn't met Sirius because in Azkaban. Did she mean Lupin as in their friend, the werewolf?" Narcissa asked, disdain in her voice.
Hermione felt lightheaded and laid back on the floor, staring at the ceiling. She could feel a memory trying to force its way into her mind, something that she felt like needed to happen. She closed her eyes and reached out her mind to grasp at it.
.
Hermione felt terrified as she exited the Hogwarts express. Her mind was reeling at the chance to finally get to go to Hogwarts. She had boasted to the other first years in her compartment that her big brother was the Charms Professor. She didn't care what others thought of him, what their older siblings had told them. She only cared that she was going to see him all year and that hadn't happened since he had gotten the job years ago.
She was excited to take the boat across the lake, her brother having told her the startling, but magnificent sight of the castle laid out above them. And he had been right. The castle at night, with lights shining from the large windows, was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. It illuminated the night sky around it as it reflected off the calm waters below. She couldn't help but marvel at the structure, the ingenuity of the wizards and witches that had built it.
She felt less nervous as she entered the Great Hall, her eyes instantly landing on her brother. His wide smile made her feel calm, their family bond pulsing with pride. She stood with her fellow first years as one by one Minerva McGonagall called out names before placing the sorting hat on their heads. Minerva being her godmother only helped to calm her further as her name was called out and she moved forward.
The hat was large on her head, trying to sink over her eyes as it began to hum in her mind, "Another Snape? Well, this is intriguing isn't it."
She scoffed at the idea that a hat was judging her family. She knew the sorting hat was brutally honest. Sev had warned her long before the summer was over. She just wasn't expecting it to sound so loud in her ears, though she knew only she could hear it.
"I'm curious what you're thinking. I can't get into your mind. This is unusual. Never has a student kept me from their thoughts."
She frowned, "I don't mean to."
The deep rumbling voice chuckled, "No, it just means you are powerful. As powerful as only one other I've had the pleasure of sorting."
She smirked, "Severus?" she only wished she could be as powerful and strong as her big brother.
The hat out right laughed again, "No, no, no. Someone that is going to be very important to you. Someone that you need to match in power and passion. The Noble House of Black would never settle for anything less."
She narrowed her eyes at the crowd of students in front of her, "Please tell me its not one of these lot."
The hat laughed again, "No. Older. Wiser. Very passionate as much as she is possessive."
Her eyes widened and a dark smile crossed her face, "I love a possessive witch."
The hat snorted once before shouting out to the Great Hall, "Slytherin!" She smiled proudly for a moment as McGonagall reached for the hat, but the hat spoke again, in her ear, "You'll be great you know. Its all here in your mind. You just have to allow it out and not keep it bottled up inside."
The hat was pulled off her head and she frowned as she stared at it, sliding off the stool. McGonagall frowned at her for a moment, seeing the confusion on the girl's face. Hermione quickly shook her head and hurried over to her new house table, the roar of Slytherins announcing how happy they were to have their Head of House's sister in their midst.
She continued to frown at the hat until she caught Sev's concerned look. She quickly looked down at her plate, unable to shake the words the hat had given her. What was she supposed to allow out? What was she supposed to not keep bottled up in her mind?"
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Hermione jerked up, scrambling to her feet as her breathing quickened. She pressed herself firmly against the wall as she slowed her breathing. That had felt so real, too real for her to just blow off. She was positive in her world that wasn't how the sorting happened for her. Hers had been quick and Gryffindor had been called out before the hat had even been placed on her head.
But the feelings?
The feelings had been real. Just as real as the loss of her friends had felt. She wasn't positive anymore. Her head hurt but now she was beginning to believe she really was going crazy. All these memories felt real. Two separate lifetimes she was living, or had lived, would live?
Confused. Utter confusion.
She moved down the stairs wanting that comfort that only Narcissa and Bellatrix had given her. Though she wasn't sure she could just run in there and asked to be held. That was going too far. Wasn't it? Could she demand it if she was their mate?
No.
She wouldn't demand anything from anyone. Mates or not.
Everything was beginning to blur together again. If she didn't know any better, she would make a joke about her mind breaking but, in a way, that is exactly what it felt like to her. It felt as if her mind was being broken. Splintered into multiple fragments. Twisted into nothingness. Forced to believe the fake memories while the real ones were being siphoned away from her. Or hidden within the fake ones?
She leaned against the doorframe to what appeared to be a study. The stone floor covered with a large area rug, sofa's surrounding the fireplace, bookshelves lining every wall and filled to the brink. Some books overflowed onto the tables on the far-right side of the room, while others were on top of the shelves. A lit fireplace cast a bright light that illuminated the room beautifully.
Severus held his head in his hands, his elbows on his knees, "She doesn't even know those people. She can't know those people."
Lilly was gently rubbing soothing circles on his back, "Draco what did you find in the Dueling room before Tom interrupted?"
"Aunt Bella's magical signature, Hermione's, and one that was extremely powerful, but I don't recognize it." Draco answered angrily, "Some one did something to her in there, but I can't figure out why Aunt Bella's was there when we know she wasn't there, and she hadn't been in there since Hermione has been in the hospital wing."
"Was it Tom's?" Narcissa asked darkly.
Hermione took a deep breath and finally spoke, "Tom didn't do this." Every head in the room snapped in her direction, Severus, Bellatrix and Narcissa instantly launching to their feet. Silence filled the room uncomfortably and she shook her head, "If it was Tom why would he make himself into Voldemort? The most powerful dark wizard that ever existed."
Narcissa's eyes widened slightly, "He wouldn't. He would want you to run to him."
She nodded, not moving from her spot, "Something is wrong. I was in the war, I've killed people, I've fought and watched friends and family die." She looked down at the floor, clenching her teeth for a moment, "The pain is real, the heartbreak worse. But I'm also…" She frowned not sure how to word it, "I just had a memory, or something… I'm not sure… It was the sorting ceremony. When I was a first year."
She looked up at Severus, "You were so proud of me, and I could feel it through the family bond. Those don't exist in my world, not even Mate bonds." She frowned as she moved towards the window on her left, "It felt just as real as the war does." She shook her head, confusion swirling in her mind, "The sorting hat spoke to me, but it was right before McGonagall pulled it off. It said that I would be great, that it was all here in my mind. I just have to let it out and not keep it bottled up." She turned back to the quiet room, "What does that even mean?"
Severus frowned, "You never told me that. I knew something was bothering you after the sorting, but you said it was nothing."
She felt the shock rush through her body, making her body go cold, "This can't be real. I mean…" She sighed heavily, "I feel like I'm living two lifetimes, or have lived one already and am being forced to live another. Dumbledore was-"
Bellatrix's anger flared, "Dumbledore is a murderer. His family wasn't the only one he killed."
Severus's hand gripped Bellatrix's shoulder tightly, "Not now."
Hermione frowned, "What do you mean?" Dread filled her chest.
Narcissa glared at Severus, "She has a right to know. Just because she lost her memories doesn't mean we should keep anything from her."
Hermione looked at Severus, feeling like her heart was trying to explode, "Tell me."
Severus sighed as he collapsed back into his seat, "Dumbledore killed our parents and nearly killed you too."
Hermione frowned as she searched her memory, remembering reading about the Boy-Who-Lived. A smile split her face, "That's it!" An image of a huge library flashed through her mind, and she spun on her heel, bolting from the room.
If she had fake memories, which ever ones they were, she could decipher them by finding the similarities and following the path back to the original fake one. She burst through the large Black library doors and paused for a split second to take in the marvelous sight. Three stories of wall-to-wall books, a spiral staircase leading to the second floor to her right beckoned her and she took the steps two at a time before disappearing down the long stack of the fourth row.
She could hear everyone rushing into the room, but she focused on what she was looking for before she fell back into her mind again. She could hear Bellatrix's cackling laughter filling her mind, sounding as if it were right next to her.
The woman's face appeared beside her, the madness thick in her dark eyes, "You really think you can best me?"
She shook her head, "Who's real? You or them?" She pulled the book into her hands, knowing she was heading down the rabbit hole again.
Bellatrix's smirk and cackling laughter hurt her ears, "Filthy Mudblood! You think you can survive a war and your own mind." Bellatrix shrieked, "NO! You only get to choose one."
Voldemort appeared beside her in a swirling black smokey mist, "War or mind? Which is more important Mudblood?"
She shook her head, closing her eyes tightly, "Both. It will always be both. You can't keep here." She felt hands on her arms, and she snapped her eyes open.
Bellatrix was staring at her horrified, "Honey you're home. You're safe. I promise."
Voldemort stood beside Bellatrix, his snakelike face in a sneer, "Yesss. You're home safe with us Mudblood. We won't hurt you much."
She dropped the book that was in her hands, shaking her head as she backed away, "No. You can't be here. You can't be real."
Voldemort surged forward, knocking her against the wall behind her, "Of course I'm real. I'm as real as your mind is real." He gripped her wrist, pressing his finger into the cursed wound on her arm.
She shook her head as tears spilled from her eyes the pain radiating up her arm, feeling as if was on fire. She tried to withhold the scream, the pain only growing worse the more she clenched her teeth together. She didn't want to show her weakness, her vulnerability. She was stronger than him and she would prove it. She sank down the wall pulling her knees to her chest, even as Voldemort followed her pressing harder against the bleeding wound.
"You filthy Mudblood, you will never beat me." Voldemort hissed into her ear before digging his nails into her arm, sending blood pouring from the word on her arm.
She finally let the scream rip from her throat as Bellatrix crouched in front of her, eyes blazing with darkness and a cackling laugh flowing from her mouth, "Don't worry pet. You'll tell me everything I want to know." She pressed the dagger to her forearm and the tip of the blade sliced through her skin.
Hermione couldn't stop the next scream as she felt the blade carve the letters one by one, just as Bellatrix had before. Her body shook as she tried to pull away, tears uncontrollable against the torrent of pain. She knew her mind was fractured as she took a shallow breathe, but she wasn't sure what was real anymore. She brought her hands up over her ears and clenched her eyes shut tightly.
"Please stop… please… I'll tell whatever you want. Please no more… I'm sorry…" She shook her head, not wanting to see Bellatrix's triumphant smirk at getting the mudblood to break. Silence filled the air for a moment before a rush of noise surged her back into the Black Castle library.
Arms were wrapped tightly around her, two bodies pressed tightly against her. The feeling of safety and comfort filled her heart. She wasn't in danger; she was safe, and she was in the arms of her mates. Soft voices were whispering hurriedly to her.
"You're safe Darling. You're okay. We've got you."
"You're home. I promise we'll figure this out. Come back to us my little witch."
She slowed her breathing, focusing on the two women's breathing. Trying to match theirs. She felt her muscles begin to relax as she focused on the bonds inside. The soothing pulse that was forcing the bonds tighter together.
She hated this feeling. The feeling of losing all control. The feeling of not knowing which reality she belonged in. She wanted to believe in this world. This dimension. She wanted to believe in mates, in bonds. She wanted to believe that her life was more than just the war that had consumed her entire childhood. She wanted to believe that things weren't as bad as a war-torn wizarding country.
But how was that possible when she felt herself slipping further and further into Wonderland. That was all it was. This was Wonderland, or maybe the war was Wonderland. Wasn't Wonderland supposed to be colourful and bright? All happiness and tea parties? Was she the Mad Hatter? Doomed to live in a confused yet understanding state for the rest of her life?
Was her only job supposed to help Alice navigate the rabbit hole?
Was the rabbit hole her mind?
Did she have to navigate her own mind to find the way out on the other side?
Was there an out?
She finally felt her body fully relax, feeling Narcissa's body pressing into her chest, while Bellatrix wrapped around her from behind. She didn't want to open her eyes. She didn't want to see his face again. She didn't want to find Bellatrix watching her with the darkness that had led to her torture to begin with.
But she knew she needed to.
She needed to open her eyes and face whatever reality she was in now. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.