Hermione had rushed off the second their feet hit the marshlands surrounding the Weasley home, leaving Bellatrix alone and unsure of herself until she decided to retreat into the warmth of Molly's kitchen. She didn't know how exactly to feel about her disastrous attempt to spend time with the girl. It had gone no where near how she wanted it, not that she didn't expect things to start off rocky but she had expected, or rather hoped, for things between them to lighten up when she showed her the new manor. To not even make it that far felt like an utter failure of the morning.

Her only solace was that most of her family had arrived early, namely Sirius's brood, and Molly was barking orders at everyone from the kitchen. So long as the wicked witch had others to boss about she would typically leave Bellatrix to her own devices. Plus it had the added bonus of being entertaining.

She moved to the table where Regulus was lounging about, slipping his fingers into the merengue of a pie any time Molly yelled at someone, as she was far too occupied to keep an eye on him he seemed to be getting away with it.

"Where's Zeta and Leo?" She asked him, sneaking her own finger into the pie before Molly could turn back around.

"Helping Fred and George take down the mistletoe they snuck up again this year." He smiled wryly her way, they both knew his kids had been just as guilty as the twins in last year's fiasco with the fabled Aunt Wilhelmina Prewett.

"You would have thought they would have learned," Molly muttered darkly as she stirred something that was bubbling on the antique stove. "Three days! Three days that woman was stuck to the floor waiting for someone to kiss her." She dropped the wooden spoon in the sink with a loud thwap and furiously flipped the switch to turn off the burner.

Bella chuckled earning her a dark look from her red headed friend. She held her hands up in quick surrender and took a seat next to her cousin.

"It was all in good fun." Bella laughed. And it had been fun too, but then she hadn't been forced to live in a house with Aunt Wilhelmina Prewett as a seemingly permanent fixture. She shivered at the mere thought.

"Good fun…."Molly muttered. "They could have been anything you know, so bright they are but why is it they only apply themselves to their blasted jokes. I had to scourgify their room five times just to get it suitable for Sterling. There were so many stains from them blowing things up!"

Regulus scrunched up his eyes brows in confusion. "Who?" He glanced toward Bella. "Did she have another one….I could have sworn they stopped at Ginny." Molly flicked a dishrag at his head as he laughed.

"My heir."

The dishrag hadn't sobered him but Bellatrix's words were quick to do just that.

"I'm sorry, your what now?"

Her dark eyes met his leaving him no room to protest her words, not that he would she was the head of the entire Black household….that meant his household too. In actuality she controlled all their purse strings and decided if they could adopt or disinherit. Not that she ever exercised any of her rights as the head mind but they certainly had no right to question anything she did.

"My heir. Hermione's sister."

Regulus frowned, he had been out of town for a few months sure but he wasn't sure how he had missed so much. He and Bellatrix were closer than she was with any of their other cousins. Second perhaps only to her sisters. He figured it would at least warrant a Christmas card if she had adopted kids all of a sudden.

"Hermione is Harry and Ron's friend right? What-?"

"It…it's a long story." She sighed heavily cutting him off. One she didn't want to get into with him. She loved Regulus but he was a worse gossip than Ginny and he could not, could not, keep a secret.

Regulus opened his mouth to say something, likely tell her he had plenty of time, but his brother's shaggy top of dark hair poked around the door corner and she let out a relieved sigh at the sight.

"Why is it these two never have to do anything?" He grouched glaring at the both of them. Bella rolled her eyes and Regulus smiled up at his older brother.

"Because these two cause more trouble than the twins! Go make sure they are actually taking down the blasted mistletoe."

Sirius chuckled. "Are you sure you want them to take it all down? Arthur said Viktor Krum was making an appearance. A lot of women would probably like to get a kiss from him first." He waggled his eyes at Molly, completely missing her quick worried glance towards a suddenly very tense Bellatrix Black.

"Krum?"

Molly winced. "He asked if he could stop by, check on Hermione. They are friends you know. I couldn't very well say no to a friendly visit. And it's a party."

Bellatrix glared. " He can be friendly enough with her through the bloody post!" She clamored to her feet and moved to push past Sirius.

"He said he couldn't stay but maybe ten minutes anyways, Bella-" Molly trailed off and stared after her in exasperation. "Where are you going?"

"To make sure those damn hellions are getting all the mistletoe down." She muttered darkly.

Sirius and Regulus shook a little at her tone and glanced back towards the Weasley matriarch. Both were wondering if she were suddenly fearful for the twins lives. She glanced toward the clock to check where Fred and George's hands were at and sighed when they remained safely at home and away from mortal peril.

"Oh….I have a feeling they will move if the girl gets caught under a sprig with lil ole Viky!" Sirius laughed heartedly as he left the two to their devices and followed after his older cousin.

Regulus glanced back up towards Molly. "The Bulgarian seeker is coming here?" Molly nodded. "Am I…missing something?"

She only shook her head and went back to cooking. But not before taking another quick peek at the clock.

~V~

Ilvermorny. America.

If the dark forces moving about in the shadows of the American wizarding school had known what it was truly after those hands might have said something different.

As it were those particular forces had their eyes set on something else, at least….for now.

Tom Riddle made his way across the rocky terrain towards a giant tree that rivaled Hogwarts' Whomping Willow. And like the Whomping Willow this tree was alive…..only….sleeping.

As precious as the tree was, however, he hated that he even had to set foot on the grounds, come to think of it he didn't particularly care for America in general.

It was a nasty history the Americans had with the muggles. They were nearly brought to the brink of destruction multiple times by them, they were so week willed…these American wizards. Even the school was co-founded by a muggle.

Riddle shook his head at the very thought. It was sickening. Muggles had their place but it certainly wasn't as their equals. To allow one to help found a school and form a house within the school….Slytherin would have been rolling in his tomb if he knew how far one of his heirs had fallen.

And to think Isolt carried on the heirs of the only known line of Morgana La Fey as well. And she had produced a squib of all things. And the one magical daughter she had never married. He assumed it was Isolt's punishment for marrying a muggle. To see such a great and powerful line ended. And Slytherin blood ran through their veins as well….they would have been powerful witches and wizards if she had only adhered to tradition.

He shook his head and moved through the shadows toward the famous tree. Snakewood. Said to have sprouted from Slytherins' wand. It had been put to sleep by Gormlaith so that Isolt could no longer use it, it had betrayed her and the witch had opted to bury it in the ground. He scoffed. She had no respect for the heritage she was born into.

He placed his cold thin fingers against the tree and whispered a series of hisses into the night air. A command.

A command for the wand to awaken.

With a loud crack the tree split down the middle. He stood patiently waiting, perfectly confident no one knew he was skulking about the school's grounds despite the noise. Suddenly a wand, elegant and dark, came floating up into his waiting hands.

He admired it in the dark, the feeling of familiarity and power that coursed through his veins as the wand recognized a true Slytherin. It was a powerful weapon in it's own right he had no doubt about that. It just couldn't rival the power of his elder wand.

He tucked it gently into his coat pockets and let the muffle charm around him fall. There were other things he would search the school for this night. Things that had nothing to do with his ancestors and everything to do with Isolt's.

There were rumors. Rumors he had come to the school to asses.

The wand was important, even though his own was far superior, it would serve as a ceremonial object for the purebloods serving under him. But his true desire with the American school lay with a prophecy. One buried deep inside the very heart of the structure. A prophecy foretelling of Morgana's heir.

A girl with unimaginable power, a direct descendent of Morgana's line. If he was to believe the rumors of past Professors she would be coming into her powers within the coming year. He had so little time to find her. Yet it was a task he knew he must accomplish above all else. He could not have her grow to oppose him.

If she was not loyal to him then she would be a formidable enemy.

If she was to, say, join his cause, however, he was convinced between the two of them they would be the most powerful wizards in existence. Two great houses merging together.

The blood of Salazar running through both their veins.

He had no need of love but should he find the child a woman and should she rebel against his cause he had no qualms about taking her to produce a more pliable heir. Any child between the two could only strengthen the magic she was said to posses.

Either way, Morgana's heir would not slip through his grasp, of this he was sure.

~H~

Hermione hid out for as long as she could in her shared room with Ginny. She could hear the Weasley house growing louder and louder as more people arrived for the party but she didn't know how to face Bellatrix after their day out and was reluctant to come down.

She spent most of the afternoon gazing unseeingly out the small window, perched on the sill, as she thought about Narcissa's words. Part of her wanted to yell and scream about it all.

She knew Bellatrix didn't want to be tied to her. She knew she was nothing but a burden and a shackle to the woman.

What she didn't know was how not to be.

She knew she was more of a problem for the witch's mental wellbeing than she was for her purse strings. It was likely Bellatrix would hardly ever notice the money she would fork out on caring for her and Sterling. That didn't meant she wasn't going to try and find a solution to Bellatrix supporting them. It was, after all, the least she could do.

Well that and find a way to release Bellatrix from the bond altogether.

Those answers, she decided, probably rested in the journal Bellatrix had given her. She had barely even began to study it's pages and it wasn't something she could solve any time soon.

Her living situation was, however, a problem she could solve.

She wanted her own place. During school term she would be fine and living at the dorms. Sterling would go back to her sister days from seven to eleven and only needed somewhere for the weekends and to sleep. Meals were provided for both of them, in the dorms and by Ms. Swift. But during summer she knew she needed to find a job. Ms. Swift took the summer months off along with the holidays, which was only fair since the woman had the child from sunup to well past sundown. It did however leave Hermione in a bind as to what to do with her sister during those times. She knew she would likely have to ask Molly if she could keep her room at the Burrow. Something that set heavy on her chest.

It was really the only solution. She wouldn't be able to afford her own place, not while trying to provide for Sterling as well, and especially not only being able to work those few short months. Sterling outgrew clothing like crazy and even if Hermione kept to the bare necessities for them both she would never be able to afford everything. But she could at least pay Bellatrix back for some of her expenses.

She heard Molly's voice cut through the din from bellow and sighed. She couldn't hide out forever and she knew it was well past time for her to make an appearance at the party. It spoke to how busy the matriarch was that she hadn't come upstairs to drag her down just yet.

She climbed off the widow sill and slipped her shoes on. She had changed into a pair of old jeans and an old white turtleneck and while it wasn't very festive it was some of the better clothes she had. Peter hadn't been big on buying her necessities and her Christmas and Birthday money from her grandparents was usually used on school supplies. As it was she had very little of that left so new clothing was definitely not an option. All the more reason for her to find a summer job.

She tied her hair back in a messy ponytail and headed out down the stairs.

And not a moment too soon either. The second her foot touched the last stair Molly turned the corner, obviously having been on her way up to fetch her.

"Oh! I was just coming to get you. Here, dear." She pushed a flute of sparkling juice into her hand and patted her affectionately on the cheek. "The kids are in the den, buffet is outside if you're still hungry." Hermione didn't see how she could be, not after all the pie and stew she had sent up to her through Ginny only a few hours before. Instead of commenting she chose to nod and walked toward the aforementioned den.

She found Ginny, Harry, and Neville all sitting on the large overstuffed couch Ron was leaning back against it from the floor. Sterling was in front of the fireplace playing with Jasper and Oliver and she offered her a bright smile as Hermione kissed her cheek before heading over to the couch.

"Enjoying yourself?" Ginny asked as Hermione nudged her way into a spot between her and Neville. Ginny turned further into Harry to make room and Hermione carefully lifted her flute so the girl could rest her legs in her lap, a position they often found themselves in.

"It's a bit noisy really. And I'm ridiculously tired." She scrunched her nose up and took a large sip from her glass. "Oh. Someone spiked this. " Ginny took it from her and after a quick sip she frowned as well.

"Probably one of my uncles." Harry smiled slightly and took the glass, setting it well away from the young children playing in front of them on the rug. "Can't do anything about that but I can help with the noise." He tugged his wand out of his pocket with some effort and waved it back towards the doorway, she smiled at him gratefully as the room fell into a muffled hush.

"Thank you." Hermione told him softly as Ginny kissed his cheek in response to his thoughtfulness.

"I didn't think you were ever going to come down," Neville nudged her gently. "Luna is here somewhere too but I think she went out to the garden with her dad. They were really interested in the gnomes."

Hermione shook her head in fond exasperation. They were probably out there trying to figure out if their bites had healing properties or something.

Harry's brother chose that moment to crawl over to them and reached up toward Hermione. He pulled himself up by her pants legs and stared up at her through bright green eyes, a yawn making them water as he smiled happily up at her. Ginny moved her legs to make room as the witch couldn't resist lifting him up into her arms.

"He always liked you best." Harry complained.

Hermione chuckled at his faux jealousy as his little brother made himself comfortable in her lap, his little finger in his mouth and his head resting on her shoulder as his other finger idly played with any loose hair he could find.

"I've only seen him once before," She reminded her friend. "And he was far too little to remember me."

Harry grinned at her. "Babies in general love you." She couldn't argue, they did seem to have an unnatural affection for her. Something she was grateful for as it had made taking care of Sterling at such a young age so much easier.

Ginny laughed softly. "They love the cushion." Her eyes were filled with mirth as they dipped down to her chest. Hermione pushed at her legs playfully.

"Hey did anyone see that blonde witch? The one who came in with Black earlier?" Ron asked suddenly, not paying attention to the conversation going on around him as he craned his neck to see into the kitchen.

"Weiss Khotalo." Harry told him quietly. "She's some kind of muggle liaison with the ministry. Dad likes her, says she gets things done, cuts through all the bull-stuff." He caught himself with a quick glance toward the babies. His mum would have his hide if his brother picked up vulgarity from him. He was sure his father was relieved Ollie's first word had been Bella.

"Fancy her?" Neville wiggles his eyebrows at Ron and laughed when his face flushed. Ron's eyes flashed toward Hermione and his lips turned up a bit at her scowl.

"No. Just haven't seen her before that's all. Never seen Bellatrix bring a date to one of our parties either."

"Uh…I'm sure it's not a date…." Said Ginny, trying her best to ease her friend's discomfort. She knew it had to be hard for Hermione to see the two together. "They didn't arrive together."

"Probably not," Harry agreed. "Mom said she couldn't believe they were even getting along. Apparently Aunt Bella hated her at one point."

"They looked kinda snug earlier though." Neville pointed out. "They were all huddled together in the garden and being secretive. I thought Bella was going to take Lyson's head off when he tried to go flirt with them."

Hermione felt a stab of jealousy run through her and tried to force it back down. She ran her hands over Oliver's back to soothe herself and rested her cheek against his soft black hair.

"He's already out like a light." Neville chuckled and ran a finger over the baby's soft cheek.

"Hey! You lot!" Hermione held Oliver tight as she and Neville jumped in surprise as Sirius burst in through the door behind them. He had a broom and a quaffle and was covered in mud already.

She really didn't see the appeal of Quidditch. Especially not when the Blacks and the Potters got so competitive they knocked each other off brooms. It was nearly as bad as Slytherin versus Gryffindor…well it sort of was Slytherin versus Gryffindor. "We're gonna play some traitors on purebloods you lot in?"

She groaned at the name. It had started out as a joke but for whatever reason they seemed to like calling their famous yearly Christmas game the Traitors and The Purebloods. To make matters worse they were all technically pureblood traitors and rather proud of it so they always argued over who got to be who. It usually ended up in a fight, which was probably why Sirius was covered in mud.

"We're in." Of course the boys all spoke at once, clamoring up to their feet to get the best of the loaned brooms the Weasley's had collected over the years. No one wanted the old comet.

Ginny glared after her boyfriend, having been unceremoniously dumped on the couch as he rushed off and then back to Hermione. " Want me to take him to Lily before I rush off? I know you're probably going to sneak back off to our room after a while. And I know you won't be playing Quidditch." She stuck her tongue out at the brunette.

Wont or couldn't it didn't matter. Brooms had a tendency of flying off if she so much as looked at them with intent so there had never been any use in trying to learn. She was already permanently banned from Quidditch classes, although Hooch liked to say she was just exempt they all knew the truth.

"Is he still asleep?" Ginny moved around and nodded. "No. I'll lay him down myself when I get tired of holding him. I miss having a baby to hold." Ginny waggled her eyes suggestively.

"You and Bella could-" Hermione's frown gave her pause and the ginger grimaced as she remember Ron bringing up Khotalo. "I don't think there is anything between them."

Hermione shook her head. "There isn't anything between us either, Gin. Except this bond. I don't have the right to decide who she dates or what she does." And with the way things were she knew she wasn't likely to find any other partner herself. She couldn't think of anyone selfless enough to understand Bellatrix's need of her, Hermione barely understood it herself. But whatever their future held she was certain it didn't involve any more babies.

Ginny wanted to protest, she didn't like the heartbroken look that crossed Hermione's face, but Ron stuck his head back inside and yelled at her to hurry up. All the best brooms were gone and she was going to be one slow chaser on the old comet.

She cursed and shot Hermione one more glance before the older girl waved her off.

"Go! Have fun. I'll be here when you get back I'm sure." Ginny nodded reluctantly and took off after her brother, leaving Hermione alone with the kids and a few adults milling around paying her little mind.

~B~

"This is utter bullshit."

Khotalo winced but could not say she didn't agree. She had hated having to deliver the news on the night of the Christmas party but it wasn't something she could sit on for long.

Since the muggle minister had been coerced into agreeing to the custody agreement for Sterling she had felt like he was trying his best to backtrack. This was just another one of his attempts and unfortunately this one had enough merit to actually cause them some problems.

"As it is he can't break the agreement now. It will be after the trial." Weiss told her, leaning over the table closer to her so she could be heard over the din of the crowd around them. "If Salt wins if won't matter anyways, Hermione and Sterling will technically be back in his custody."

"Over his dead body." Weiss held her hand up to calm the woman and nodded. She did not doubt for a moment Bellatrix wasn't serious about killing the man first. From what she had heard from Lily it had been a close call to begin with. She surely didn't blame her, not after seeing the report the hospital filed on Hermione's injuries, both new….and old.

"I don't think he will win, Bella. Dumbledore convinced them to make it a muggle and magical trial. It'll be the first of it's kind and there is a few kinks to work out but we'll be able to use veritaserum and a penseive."

Bellatrix nodded, only slightly placated by the news. "And the Salt's. I have no intention of letting them see Sterling for Christmas, much less Hermione." Weiss had known the witch would react that way but it wasn't as if she could ignore the owl that had been routed to her desk. She had been rerouting Hermione's mail since the mess started. She hadn't been sure how to feel herself, when the formal letter had arrived dictating Hermione and Sterling present themselves at the Salt's home for the holidays. And she hadn't liked the demand that Sterling remain with them afterwards while the spectacle, as they worded it, was sorted out.

"You don't have to. Although I think you should talk it over with Hermione. She may have a different opinion, neither of us know what they were like. They could be amazing grandparents for all we know."

Bellatrix snorted in disbelief. "So what is going to happen?"

Weiss sighed and leaned back against her chair. "After the trail if-when-" She stressed when Bellatrix shot her a glare. "When he is found guilty you will still have custody of Sterling but the Salt's will be filing an appeal. It'll be held in muggle court unless I can get some traction against the Prime Minister." She ran a hand through her dirty blonde hair and grimaced. "Honestly my position is easier if the ministry of magic is involved. Making her your heir helps with that but the Prime min Minister is making a rather large fuss. It'll depend on who Fudge fears pissing off more. You or him."

"Should be me." Bellatrix growled making her companion chuckle darkly. "Is there anything we can do besides wait?" Merlin knew she hated waiting. Not that she was in any way uncertain of how things were going to go, as far as she was concerned Sterling and Hermione were hers. She would not be giving them up for any legal system, minister or grandparent.

"I'd love to be able to prove they knew about the abuse." Weiss muttered. "Barring that all you can do is wait. I will be pushing for another joint trial. The Salt's are already cleared for learning of our world since we can't really expect them not to have an interest in their son's hearing."

Bellatrix took a swig from her bottle and frowned thoughtfully. She couldn't let things go as they were. She couldn't hide the fact that the Salt's wanted custody of Sterling from her but she knew it was going to upset her. Merlin knew they had enough strife in their life already without adding more, but she was only asking for trouble if she tried to hide it. She was between a rock and a hard place and she had no definitive answers.

It was time to call in an old….old favor.

"There is something I can do….perhaps put a little pressure on the Prime Minister myself."

Weiss raised her eyebrow in question but Bellatrix only shook her head and took another sip.

~N~

Narcissa was pacing furiously. It had been hours since her sister had left her home so angry with her and she had spent that time locked alone in her bedroom trying desperately to find a way to help her. Her hands shook as she studied pages she had ripped out of an old family journal. Pages that held a theory on how to remove unwanted bonds.

But only a theory. She couldn't find any correlation on where it had been put into practice.

She had studied the old pages for years hoping against hope for some kind of breakthrough. Ever since the night her sister had come to her, drunk and depressed, lamenting about a bond she couldn't suffer with any longer.

At the time she had offered to help, had offered to find a way to sever the ties binding the two, but when Bellatrix had sobered up that night she had been wild with rage and fear. Adamant her sister not interfere.

Bellatrix had made more than one mistake that night but her most overlooked was not forcing her younger sister into an unbreakable vow. Narcissa could see the damage the bond had done to her, could see the instability of the Black Curse eating away at her older sister, amplified by the shared magic between the two witches.

The bond would destroy Bellatrix. And Narcissa was damn well not going to sit idly by and watch.

But the only way she could see to make her happy again was to destroy the bond altogether….not an easy task in itself and she had never known it to be done without the death of the lesser blood. Something she wanted to avoid if she could. Not only because she didn't fancy truly murdering a child but the girl's death could result in the loss of Bellatrix's magic. That itself would likely be the death of her sister.

The thought of those outcomes turned her stomach. If she thought too long on them she found herself plagued with nightmares and she slipped into grand tantrums that sent her family hiding from her and left destroyed furniture scattered about the house for the elves to repair or dispose of.

It was the Black Curse working in her just as it did Bella. Just as it did any that carried Black blood in their veins.

And every day the bond dragged out she grew more afraid she would get a owl informing her of her sister's demise. The fear was slowly beginning to control her life, it was enough to leave her edgy and temperamental on good days and down right cold on others. She couldn't remember the last time she truly smiled.

She had been forced to bottle all of her emotions away for fear of them drowning her. The Black madness stronger in her when it fed off her fear and despair. She doubted she could truly handle her own power should she fall to the madness in her blood and she would be no help to anyone as a slave to her fears.

Unfortunately she had never expected to come face to face with the one person she hated above all others. With the one person responsible for tearing her sister's life apart. She had barely been able to control herself with the madness pushing at her to end it all then and there. It had been so insistent the girl die it was all she could do to turn herself away from killing curses. She knew she shouldn't have touched her. She knew curbing her magic so not to truly hurt the girl wouldn't be enough, not if Bellatrix found out.

And of course Bellatrix had found out, how she didn't know, but she had reminded Narcissa forcefully of those empty promises…

The ones she had made after patching her sister up so many years ago.

Don't touch the girl.

It was the one thing Bella had been consistent about since Narcissa had found out who the girl was.

Hermione was not to be touched.

She was not to be swayed. Not to be pressured in any way.

She was not to be told the extent of what could happen should she choose to leave Bellatrix and forge her own life.

But this was unacceptable. Narcissa wasn't going to leave Bella's life in the hands of a mudblood. No matter how smart she was, or how kind she seemed. There was far too much at risk.

She also never wanted to see Bellatrix like she had been the year the idiot girl disappeared….

That moment of anguish etched on her beautiful face. The desperate need for something she knew she wasn't going to get and the defeat that had slumped her shoulders and had her hunched over a bottle until there was nothing left but her pain and madness…

Narcissa would never forget the night she found out her sister was bonded.

How could she forget the sight of so much blood…..

~H~

Hermione had no idea how hauntingly beautiful she was.

She was laying on the couch, the Quidditch game had fallen into what could technically be considered as overtime, and she had fallen asleep with little Oliver resting happily on her chest. Her right hand was on his back and the other had been tossed above her head over the arm of the couch.

She looked… for lack of a better word, lovely.

And Viktor Krum was staring at her from the doorway cursing his luck for having met her too late to gain her love.

He wasn't heartbroken that he knew she was in love with someone else. But he had always had a sad suspicion that had Bellatrix Black not existed he might have stood a chance with the younger woman.

He wouldn't lie to either of them and say he was madly in love with her, he wasn't, just as she wasn't in love with him. But they could have been happy together…..

It could have been their child nestled on Hermione's chest.

He grimaced. Perhaps he was a little in love with his friend. Hard not to be when you found someone who clicked so perfectly with you, and who understood your hardships. Heaven knew she had enough of her own to be sympathetic if nothing else.

Someone clapped him on the shoulder harshly, drunkenly, and the noise around him hit him again, jarring him back to reality.

"Z'anyone er tel ya, yahs a dead ringer fer the….the Crumy fella!?" Viktor grimaced as the smell of ripe alcohol hit his nose as the man stood far too close to him for his comfort. He gently took the hand off his shoulder and turned the man away from the room that housed his sleeping friend and the two children. He didn't want her to wake up to a drunk man, he knew all about her mother's drinking problem.

"Ah! Wallace get in there and drink some coffee or I'm sending you home to your wife. I told you not to drink any alcohol." Molly collected the man from Viktor and smiled at him in chagrin. "You can wake up Hermione if you want Viktor, she wasn't told you were coming I was too busy, I'm sorry, dear." He waved off her apology. "I'll get Lily to come fetch Ollie." She left without giving him time to protest.

He shook his head and smiled to himself before moving further into the room. He watched as Sterling and the little boy played with some kind of colorful muggle tiles, they were clicking them together and building randomly shaped things out of them, too wrapped up in their task to pay him any mind. He didn't really understand the function but didn't have time to properly study them as Lily came bustling by.

"Oh, Hello Mr. Krum, let me just get this little bugger out of the way."

"Viktor is fine, ma'am." She flashed him a smile and scooped up Oliver, shaking Hermione gently awake as she did so.

"I'll take him off your hands, dear." Her voice was softer as she bent to speak to the girl, "You have a visitor, Hermione." She held her sleepy little son in one arm against her shoulder and pointed up towards where he was awkwardly waiting to be noticed. Viktor smiled as the boy protested being taken from his napping partner and tried to wiggle his way back down to Hermione. He could definitely see the appeal.

"Viktor?" Hermione blinked in surprise and he risked a smile toward her. She had told him not to come when it had been about Cormac, he only hoped she wouldn't be angry that he had decided to visit after her accident. Honestly he had been in town anyways.

"Hermyowny."

She laughed in delight as he butchered her name. His English had gotten far better since the first time they met but he never could manage to say her name correctly.

Lily smiled at them and moved away wrangling and angry Oliver. "Have fun kids."

Hermione stared after her in confusion, a little weary of the amusement she heard infected in her tone. She shook her head to shake off the sense of unease And turned her attention back to her friend.

"What are you doing here?" She patted the sofa and shifted so he could sit beside her, she leaned against the arm with her legs pulled up to her chest and stared at him as she waited an answer.

"Vot? You thought I vould not come see you after you haff been injured and in a hospital?" He stared at her in exaggerated shock and placed a hand to his chest. She reached out and swatted at him and he laughed, a deep chuckle making Jasper grin up at them and getting Sterling's attention.

The little girl glanced their way curiously and asked in silent sign language who the new boy was. Viktor was patient as Hermione introduced him as her friend and little girl waved slightly at him before she immediately went back to playing with her Legos. Hermione shot him a small comforting smile.

He knew who Sterling was and he had often shown interest in her life and schooling but the little girl knew little about the boy. Hermione mused she might have been more interested if she knew he was a Quidditch star, Sterling did seem to love the sport now. But as it was his name had been rather taboo in their house because of her stepfather's jealousy.

Peter couldn't stop her from sending messages to the seeker, as the one time he had Viktor had shown up to find out what was wrong but he had been adamant the boy never come back. Viktor had, only once after that, to express his condolences on her mother's death. Her stepfather had not been pleasant afterwards, although he had been as charming as he could toward the boy the short time he had been in their home.

"You are frowning." Viktor noted gently. "Haff I angered you in coming?"

She grimaced and tore her eyes away from her sister. "No. Just bad memories. I am glad to see you." He nodded and placed his large hand on hers and squeezed. He would understand she didn't want to talk about those memories, they both knew the other suffered some type of abuse. His had come to light during their first and only date and Hermione had to tell him bits of her own after Peter banned him from their house.

Viktor never told her he suspected it anyways, the man's eyes had been far too familiar with her had followed Hermione's every move. He had brought up his concerns with Karkaroff but that of course had gone no where.

"I am not here long. I am to be going to Romania in a few hours but I had to see if you ver okay." He didn't want to lingered on the past, not when it out such an empty look in her eyes.

"I…am getting there." She admitted, voting for honesty over trying to appear strong for once. There was no one else around to hear them and he would be gone just as soon as he had arrived, something which had made him surprisingly easy to confide in.

"An how is the situation with the boy, the Cormicle…Cornwall?" His eyes scrunched up as he tried to remember the name.

"Annoying. But I haven't received any owls from him as of yet so perhaps he got the message." She grimaced when she remembered the fiasco in the forbidden section. "I'll hex him if he gets me any more detentions." She told him about the evil she and Bellatrix had encountered in the forest, leaving out the part of her dream kiss, he didn't need to know that. It was bad enough he knew she had feelings for the woman, thanks to an untimely comment from Ginny during one of their floo talks.

"Your year has been exiting." He grimaced at the thought of her being in such danger. "If you are sure you don't need me to speak with him? Zat at least I can do."

She couldn't help the small smile that worked it's way to her lips. He always worried about her, he looked so big and formidable but he was a teddy bear underneath it all.

"No, he's just some silly boy who was never told no. He'll get bored eventually." Viktor didn't seem convinced but he didn't press the issue.

"Zey are playing Quidditch out back, I zink ze redhead boy noticed me, he doesn't like me very much." He grimaced. "I vill haff to be leaving soon but I do not want to go back out that way." He checked his expensive watch and frowned. "I should be leaving now I am afraid, if I do not I vill miss my portkey."

Hermione sighed heavily and nodded, she climbed to her feet and signed for Sterling to shout if she needed an adult and to stay in the den with Jasper. There were still a few adults, mostly older women, sitting about eating scones in the corner so she wasn't too worried about the two getting into trouble.

"I'll help you get out without being swarmed by the Weasley clan."

Viktor grinned and took her outstretched hand as he stood. "Or the Blacks or the Prewetts or the Potters." She grinned back at him not surprised at all he had recognized some of the guests. Most of them were, or should have been, part of the sacred twenty eight.

"Right." She led him out of the den and away from the kitchen to the laundry room door. It wouldn't have been well used considering it let out into the Wesley's overgrown garden and there was no food this way.

It should have been a quick and clean getaway, out of sight of everyone. Unfortunately out of sight sometimes really did mean out of mind. Which meant Fred and George had…. accidentally or purposefully forgotten the sprig of Mistletoe they had fastened to the doorframe and as Hermione opened the door and walked through she found herself unable to move.

She also found herself face to face with Bellatrix Black.