Happy Easter! First, as always, thank you all so much for reading. Second, I own nothing expect for a face mask that I am so tired of wearing. And third, thank you all for the positive thoughts about work right now. All of you stay safe. Wash your hands, stay hydrated. If you feel ill, stay home. And please stop touching everything while wearing gloves. All you're doing is contaminating everything.

Now, this chapter may contain triggers for non-con. (Spoilers the act does not occur, it is just threatened physically.)

Chapter 44

Hermione lay on the cot, staring up at the ceiling. Theo rubbed up and down her arm as he sat besides her. "I planned on taking you star gazing tonight before I gave you this, but that seems like an improbability now." Theo pulled a black velvet bag from his pocket. "Hold out your hand." He shook a jeweled chain onto her hand. Each emerald cut stone twinkled at her, alternating diamonds and sapphires. "This belonged to my mother. Sapphires were her birthstone, too."

"Oh, Theo." She sat up.

"Her father gave it to her on her seventeenth birthday. I can't think of anything else, short of an engagement ring to show you how much you mean to me." Hermione blinked rapidly to keep the tears in. "And you threatened bodily harm if I gave you one before graduation." A small laugh bubbled out of her.

"Thank you, I'd be honored to wear it. I love you."

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I love you, too, sweet."

The Infirmary door flew up, interrupting Theo as he leaned forward to kiss her. Sirius stormed in. She groaned, "I'm fine, Sirius. Annoyed at Lestrange, but fine."

"We worry, kitten. The castle isn't impenetrable. Your father is at the Ministry coordinating with the aurors. You mother is plotting the demise of sister for bringing her brother-in-law to the Manor. Some birthday, huh?"

"It had been rather nice until Lestrange's letter."

Sirius sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Since no one can agree on the best course of action, the decision is yours: either stay here or be home schooled at the Manor."

Hermione flopped back on the cot. She groaned softly, what she really needed for her birthday was a body double. Someone to distract all the crazy she kept attracting. She shot back up. "I have a scathingly brilliant idea."

Two hours later, Sirius led a pouting Hermione through the Hogwarts gates and towards Hogesmeade. She protested her removal loudly. Theo glared sullenly when asked what transpired earlier, refusing to answer any questions. Harry plead ignorance. All Draco could reveal was that someone threatened Hermione's safety and the adults decided to take her home. The Slytherins thought the plan made perfect sense. The Hufflepuffs hoped Hermione stayed safe. The Ravenclaws lamented her loss of access to the Hogwarts library, while simultaneously envying her access to the Malfoy and Black ones. The Gryffindors agreed making her run and hide was complete shite. "And not just because we need her to win House points." joked Seamus. He held his hands up in surrender when Fay and Sally-Anne glared at him.

Once they entered Hogesmeade, Sirius lead her to Tomes and Scrolls. He flashed her an apologetic smile as he held open the door. "I know you hate this, kitten, but it's the safer this way."

"I cannot spend the rest of my life hiding from every little thing. I refuse." She spun away from him, moving towards the stacks. "You are buying me a bribe to cooperate."

"I prefer to call it a reward."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Hermione spent the next three hours canvasing the entire bookstore for the perfect book. Sirius stood behind her, shifting his weight every so often, attempting not to look like he would rather be anywhere else. Every time Hermione raised an eyebrow and returned to browsing. Finally, she selected four tomes to read. "These will do for now. I have to use the bathroom. Can I go alone or do you need to escort me?"

"You can use the bathroom alone." Sirius rolled his eyes. He paid for the books then waited for her outside the bathroom. She took her time, even primping for the mirror, before returning to Sirius. Silently, she took his proffered hand and they left the store, apparating back to the Manor.

If anyone had been paying attention, they would have seen a figure slip out of the bathroom and out into Hogesmeade. The figure stealthily made its way up to the castle. They might have even sounded an alarm. But no one noticed.

Once they arrived at the Manor, Hermione holed herself up in her room. She refused to come out for meals, choosing instead to maintain her silence, even in the face of Narcissa's tears. Guilt and frustration made for a long evening. Lucius, himself, came to collect her supper dishes. "I know this is less than ideal, my treasure. We're hoping this will be a short term issue. Be patient. We will be nearby." Hermione glanced at him briefly, before nodding once and returning to her book.

During the witching hour the fire flared green. A shadow moved through the house as silently as a grave, up the stairs and down the corridor towards Hermione's room. An unseen hand grasped the doorknob and twisted it slowly, creating no sound. The door opened and the shadow moved across the room to the bed. The moonlight stole the vibrant colors of the room. Dark curls lay in contrast to crisp linen color of the pillows. Rabastan dropped his spell and touched the sleeping girl's shoulder. "Wake up, little bird, you don't want to sleep through this." As she began to stir. "Immobulus." Her panic filled eyes found his face. He smirked down at her. "I know, little bird, but I don't want to have to hurt you more than I have to. And from what witches say, the first time hurts. He silenced her when she opened her mouth to scream. He flicked his wand at the door to lock it. He removed his robes and crawled onto the bed.

Rabastan licked along her jawline, stopping end her ear. The prone girl struggled against the spell, unable to move or make a sound. He ran the tip of his wand down the length of her nightshirt, splitting it open. He slowly slid his hand underneath the silky cloth. "So pretty, little bird."

The door splintered under the force of the spell used on it. A woman appeared in the door way stepping over the wreckage. Red light shot from her wand striking Hermione. Who promptly slapped Rabastan, shoving him off the bed. "How dare you, Rabastan? How dare you touch my goddaughter? How dare you presume to take away her right to refuse you?" Bellatrix flicked her wand, sending Rabastan flying across the room. "Cruico."

Screams filled the room, as Lucius and Narcissa arrived.

"Bella!"

"Hello. Cissy. I would say it is wonderful to see you, but now isn't the time for reunions."

"No, it really isn't." Tonks climbed off the bed, still wearing the damaged pajamas. She flicked her wand up, cutting off the torture curse. "It is a really great time for some arrests, though." She shot ropes at Rabastan, before turning to duel Bellatrix. "Would it be too much to hope you will just come quietly?"

The curly hair witch laughed manically and shot a spell at the pink haired auror. "Polyjuice, brilliant." The spells flew back and forth as the each witch sought to overpower the other. Fractured furniture flew into splinters as they weaved around the room. Bellatrix crackled the entire fight, before shooting several rapid fire spells at Tonks, knocking her unconscious. "I regret that at bit, all things considered."

She turned to her sister. "As much as I would love to leave this arse behind, he isn't worth the trouble. Though I swear on my magic this is the last time he will trouble my darling niece." A gold light surrounded Bellatrix. "A good godmother protects her goddaughter." She levitated the unconscious wizard. "Cold water to the face will wake the auror right up. I'd offer her a pain potion, she'll have a monster of a headache." She bounced Rabastan's head against the door frame. "Oops." She said in a flat voice. On her way down the hall another thud could be heard. "Oops, again."

Narcissa waited until Lucius nodded that he felt Bellatrix depart before she hurried over to her niece to revive her. "I am so sorry we couldn't help you, Dora."

"No, no, Aunt Cissa, I completely understand. Madame Bones agreed that you shouldn't break your cover. And who expected Bellatrix to pop up?I'm amazed how long I lasted. Reports suggest she may have been one of Riddle's fiercest fighters in the first war."

"She was." agreed Lucius.

"She swore on her magic Rabastan will never bother Hermione again." Narcissa said in an awed voice. "I can't help but wonder if he's going to survive the night."

Tonks looked surprised, "You think she'd kill him?"

"Probably not, but she takes being a godmother very serious. Perhaps even more so than Sirius." Narcissa replied. Tonks and Lucius both struggled not to laugh. "Go ahead, I just heard myself." She grinned with them. "My point is, any other witch, pureblood or not, and she would have just let him have his fun. As soon as she realized who his pretty bird was, she came to the rescue."

"Well, I guess I should be on my way to file my report."

"Oh, no, darling. You were injured. I insist you sleep them off. Your report can wait a few hours until morning."

The next morning Tonks sent two owls before breakfast. One to headed west towards London, the other headed north towards the castle in Scotland. By lunch Hermione Malfoy was able to leave Professor McGonagall's private quarters, where she had been hiding since the previous day.

She smiled when Draco and Theo rushed over. "That didn't take long." Theo said, embracing her.

"Nope. Come on, I only want to have to tell this story once." She lead the way over to the Gryffindor table. Luna jumped up and joined them. She smiled as she sat down. "I suggested to Sirius that they use a body double. So, I left with Sirius, making a big enough show that gossip spreads that I went home. At Tomes and Scrolls I entered with Sirius, but Tonks left. With the loan of an invisibility cloak from the Ministry, I was able to slip unseen back up the castle. I've been in Professor McGonagall's rooms since." She smiled. "No one expected him to move so fast. I figured I'd be stuck in hiding for a few weeks at least." She proceed to eat lunch and tell her friends the contents of Tonks' report.