A/n: So did I mention I'm sorry?

Warning: this story will deal with violence, sexual mentions and rated for over adults. TAGS: Corruption, violence, mentions of rape, murder, child abuse and illnesses. Warnings will be in place from the star of each story.

CHAPTER Warning: RACISM. VIOLENCE please read responsibly, there is a big violent scene at the end. .

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters and no money has been made from this.

Enjoy...

Part Six

Obsession

"This connection we have isn't going away, it's only getting stronger. Because the more I spend time with her, the closer I want to be."

― Simone Elkeles, Perfect Chemistry

Seven days, twenty-two hours since Curfew…

Fuck you, Andie… It's the words she wants to scream, to yell and throw a brick through the posh windows as she takes the back streets to the shops. The warmth, the comfort left behind replaced by the miserable drizzly night. When will this weather end, she wishes for sunshine to bathe on their balcony next to the roosting pigeons?

She dreams of longer nights, with a glanss of wine and an endless stream of sunshine. Something the world cannot take away from her, the great outdoors. It's the cracked pavement, the blinking lights through the curtains and the wet fringe stuck to her forehead that reminds her of the present day.

We're just friends, just fucking friends… Anger, it vibrates beneath her skin, how dare Andie question her, she was friends with Ted before she came along. Hell, Andie hated Ted, to begin with, would complain about his lack of decorum. Would cringe in disgust at their muggle food, their muggle ways. Still, the posh little rich kid who wanted to play hero wanted to make some sort of difference. Andie forgets it doesn't matter if she this all goes tits up. Because she's a Black and Blacks have more money than any in Britain. More power, Bellatrix could click a finger and any charges against Andie would vanish.

That's not fair… Sighing, she berates herself internally, digging her nails into her palm.

Just trust me… She wants to grab the dark-haired witch, shake some sense into her, that Hermione is no threat to their relationship. Ted and she, they're just friends, they kissed once during a school dance an action, they both regret and quickly rinsed their mouths afterwards. Just friends, nothing more.

No, it's not fair, Andie has given up just as much as the rest of them. Lost her friends, her family but she gained a new one. She gained Hermione, gained Lily and they survived through thick and thin.

Their little sisterhood forged in school, Lily and Hermione clicked instantly. Andie came along not long afterwards a surprise to most. After all, most suffered at the abuse from Bellatrix. Andie was the opposite, still short-tempered but her heart, her heart was made from gold. A sisterhood a family. Something they all lost along the way. Andie lost two sisters and gained two more because they might not be blood, they would die for one another.

While Andie fell for Ted for whatever reason. Lily fell for the likes of Potter, Andie and Hermione watched with bated breath. As the friendship between Lily and Snape fell apart. Not surprising, the wizard gave both Andie and Hermione the creeps. While Lily fell for Potter, Hermione grew friends with Lupin and Andie bonded with Sirius. They made a dysfunctional group, one that didn't last outside of school.

Hermione had her dreams one she realised would never happen, she chose a new path. Andie followed behind Ted. Potter joined the enemy, Sirius fell to drugs, Pettigrew rose surprisingly, and Lupin managed to scrape by. Still, Hermione watched Lily fall in love, watched Potter fall in love. It was beautiful to see and heart-breaking at the same time. Andie knew it was coming before anyone else the news that Potter would have to marry… a pureblood. The news came through the papers, the engagement. They knew before, from the way Lily collapsed crying. The letter burnt in anger, not enough ice cream to help fix the heartache.

Hermione wanted to cause pain, not sure why she hated Potter. Playing with Lily, for being a coward, she doesn't know why she keeps Lily safe. Why she treats her with padded gloves they both do, she and Andie always watching over Lily. It didn't mean it wasn't below them to pelt Potter's houses with stones. Or charm a few dozen seagulls to chase the wizard through London. It brought some amount of happiness. Nothing though could fix the broken heart only time. The news Pandora Lestrange was to marry James Potter, well it brought pain. They promised they would gate crash the wedding, even just for the sake of it.

Still, Andie fell for Ted, Hermione stayed single and Lily pined for a pureblood. Snape tried to gain favour with Lily, they became friends, but nothing more. Much to the relief of Hermione and the annoyance of Snape. The obsessive creep, one who didn't understand no. It was a surprise though when Lily announced something. She designed a new potion with Snape both such experts in the field. They created the Philter of Insight and with it brand-new protection.

Darting from the path, she dives behind a metal fence, crouching between hedges. Why Reg insists on these meeting at night she doesn't know, maybe he's trying to get her killed. Plucking a dandelion, she waits for the patrol to pass.

The dampness from the grass seeps in through her jeans, she ignores the discomfort. Leaning her head against the moss-covered tree, she waits for the Aurors to stop fucking around. Just fuck off already.

Her anger slowly fades, alcohol buzzing running through her body. The drink slowly catching up with her despite the cool night's air. Her denim jacket tightening on her biceps, she hopes she doesn't bump into Black tonight. Could do without the witch, it's the one she dreads meeting. Except, she volunteered to stalk the witch, for months she followed Black.

From dusk to dawn, Hermione would trail the witch, using the invisibility cloak Lily managed to borrow from Potter. Between, the cloak and multitude of potions she tricked the witch. Working her timetable. Studying her routine, it wasn't easy. She lost her the first day and the second. So, she and Ted devised a new plan, planting muggle friends, muggleborns in areas Black visited. Eyes everywhere. They managed to work something out. Black was sporadic, Ted suggested giving up pick someone else. It wouldn't have mattered, only Black controlled the Lestrange brothers, they needed her.

Until Hermione figured out a small routine, Black had a routine. At least it was something of a routine, important meeting she wouldn't miss like seeing her sister and mother on a Thursday morning for a cup of tea. To meeting Riddle at the Ministry every Monday morning.

Drinks with the Longbottom's and the Lestrange's, it came together with some sort of normality. The events of the day would then decide Black's routine for the night. A particularly rough day would mean buying a bottle of wine and reading. Its surprised Hermione, watching Black in her Mansion reclined, reading until the early hours of the morning. As Hermione hid in her crippling shed in the garden watching Black through binoculars.

At first, she felt dirty, stalking the witch, watching her at night. An obsession grew, from Black training in her garden to watching her beat a mugger or rapist up in the middle of the night. In some ways, it was an insight. Andie helped in some ways, telling them where Bellatrix's mansion was, how to find it. They sent hounds on to the grounds first to watch the reaction of the charms. She stalked the grounds for a month, trying to find a weak spot. To find a way through.

Worst yet, she realised Black was human. Bellatrix felt pain, didn't show it, but she hurt. Through the anger, she released her emotions, through hate. Watching the witch continuously, Hermione grew some sort of respect for the witch it overrode her hate. Morphed into something else. Something she couldn't put her finger on, but she needed it to end. There was nothing she could do now, Black never left the Lestrange brothers alone, despite their attempts to put the witch out of action. Even poisoning her coffee, not to kill they weren't stupid.

Nothing worked, none of them could best Bellatrix in a duel, and ambushing her and the Brothers well it would leave evidence. Until she caught it one day, Bellatrix's sister letting slip that Black was leaving town. It was last few days of her stakeout hiding on the grounds of the Black mansion, on a Thursday morning. Tired Black heading home to retire in her coffin… bed. She smirks to herself. Black was staying at the soon to be Malfoy vineyard in France. Two weeks. They had a few weeks' notices to get a plan into action.

She knew Black could sense being watched, would shrink when the Auror would stop randomly. Would watch the empty streets, would study faces in a crowd. Would change her routine even more than usual, would stalk the grounds of her house at night.

Hermione learnt to become an Animagus with Lupin's help, it's how she got through the wards.

It was the cry of Lily that gave her a hint of what she had become. Next was the bushy tail, being cuddled by Lily dampened her mood and she squirmed in her friends grasp. To find her Animagus was a red squirrel was both embarrassing and useful. It meant she could blend into the forest behind Black's house, could slip through the charms. Anything bigger they would fail they learn this through Andie when she recounted a story of Sirius slipping into his cousins' grounds. His fur coat on fire.

Of course, Black anticipated Pettigrew's Animagus, but no one in years had managed to transform into a bird. So, she didn't anticipate an Animagus coming from above, especially a squirrel storing nuts. She got caught once leaping from one tree through the charm scurrying down, only to halt. Finding Black watching her from the decking, drink in hand. Nose twitching, Hermione could smell the other guests in the house, that Black wasn't alone.

"No," Black snaps at Rabastian stopping the wizard from striking Hermione in her form. "Don't."

"It's a freaking rodent."

"Red squirrels are rare," Black replies reaching for Rod's peanuts. "Grey ones are vermin."

"Ohh look at the new Professor," Rod jibes.

"Fuck off," Black hissed, throwing the peanuts to Hermione.

Tail jerking, nose twitching, she took the first few hops towards the peanuts. It's only irony that stops her from crying, she hates the taste of nuts. She's sure she's allergic, but what choice does she have. With three sets of eyes watching she plucks the first peanut from the ground. Her tiny paws turning the snack over. The animal instinct takes over, chewing through the shell and storing the nuts in the pouch of her mouth.

"It comes often," Black informs the brothers. "Couple of months now."

Did she notice? Of course, she did, Black notices everything, was that why there were nuts left on the shed roof? Was Black feeding her?

"Sleeps in the shed I think," Black comments moving back to her seat.

"Want pest control?"

"Pest control? It's endangered you, idiot,"

"Could be Animagus, Bella." Rod comments.

"It'd be burnt to a crisp, you both saw Pettigrew and Sirius that one time."

"Oh yeah! Pettigrew set fire to the bushes squealing as he ran." Rod laughs startling Hermione.

Dropping the peanut, she scurries away back up the tree and through the charm before she realises what she's done. Pausing she pants spitting the nuts out on to the branch.

"You scared it!" Black pouts.

"Aw, Bella going soft in your old age."

Rubbing her fluffy cheeks, Hermione wonders how she let her cover get blown. No, not blown just discovered.

"It's cute fuck off," Black shouts a yell of pain from one of the Lestrange brothers.

Okay, Black thinks her Animagus is cute that's a good thing. The branch trembles as a squirrel land in front of her, staring at the nuts. Blinking, Hermione steps back allowing the squirrel to help itself.

A scuffle snaps her from the memories, Auror's dragging a man from his house. A few hexes later they carry him away. Watching silently, she feels sorry for the wife holding to their daughter. She knows that group of Auror's working on Riddle's behalf. Knows if they come knocking someone has crossed Riddle. Wiping a tear from her eye, Hermione moves from her hiding place. Slinking through the shadows of the street. Her mood dampened by the sight of Auror's.

Corruption runs this town, this country, Riddle has them all in a headlock. The rich don't notice, because they have money lining their pockets. They have family eating at home, they have warm homes. They don't notice the brutality because they keep their deals with Riddle.

One thing that amazed her when she trailed Black was how well Riddle coordinated the secret group. He kept it away from Black, she went sometimes for his more dangerous missions. She always thought Auror's worked to their own rules she never expected Riddle to control the unit. Why keep it a secret from Black? Did he not want her reputation damaged, or did he fear something else? She knew it was Riddle because she wasn't the only who had a target. They all monitored individual targets only she and Ted knew who had who. They were strict, no one could speak of their targets, she made sure of that. Changed meeting places, always rotating the meets scoping the places out first. It's how they stayed safe.

The pub was neutral ground, no business there, no talk of business. A muggle pub away from the wizarding world. It bypassed the curfew. The curfew made things difficult, but they were already skulking in the shadows, they knew how to avoid streets. Which houses would lead to where, charms in place, they knew the town? They knew how to avoid the Auror's long before the curfew if anything the Auror's are behind.

The bookshop comes into view, she checks the area for anybody, but it's quiet. The only light from the bookshop itself. Technically a house as well as a shop it's how Reg gets away from the curfew. How he still manages to work after the streets empty because of his flat above. Not that he sleeps there, well sometimes he does when his knee hurts and he struggles to walk.

Her key slips into the lock, she checks around her once more. Anticipation overwhelming nerves they trickle beneath her skin. Mouth dry, she nudges the door open, stepping quickly into the foyer of the shop. Locking the door behind her, she pockets the key. Spotting the flicker of candlelight in the backroom, the muttering of a voice. Reg talking to himself again, muttering names and numbers.

"Hey Reg," Hermione calls stepping further into the bookshop she collects a book fallen on the floor. "Sorry, I'm late, got caught up."

Dusting the book down, she hears a murmur of acknowledgement, guilt plaguing her, she should have come early. How long has Reg been working here? Did he have any dinner? Placing the book aside she hears the squeak of the chair the soft shuffling of feet.

"What you need me to do?" She calls squinting at the list on the till.

"To learn when to quit," The voice startles her, turning to find a hooded figure standing in the doorway. "Too much to ask filth?"

"Wh… What are you doing here? Where's Reg?" Hermione demands drawing her wand.

"Sleeping," Dread fills her as the wizard trains his wand on her. It's when she notices the baton on the belt. "You've been running your mouth too long."

Does she recognise the voice, Lestrange? Swallowing, she clutches her wand, eyes darting over the shoulder of the Auror. Was he stupid enough to visit her with his works uniform?

"What do you want Lestrange?" The name makes him flinch.

"She's got you figured," A voice behind her startles, a voice she doesn't recognise. A mask covering the stranger's face. "You don't think we wouldn't work it out?"

A single leaflet drifts to the ground at her feet, her handiwork the one that exposed Yaxley. How did they figure it out?

"I don't know what you want," Hermione states coldly. "But you need to leave."

"Plead ignorance filth," The man chuckles. "Did you know certain printing machines leave marks? Especially something as old as your bosses, no, didn't think of it did you?"

"You need a warrant to be on these premises." Hermione threatens.

"He does, I don't."

"Your part of Riddle's little group, aren't you?" Hermione reveals notices the tightening of the glove hand on the wand. "Did he send you? Nothing solid so what you came to scaremonger me? Jog on mate, you too Lestrange get the fuck out."

"We're not here to scare you," Lestrange retorts. "We're here to silence you."

A spell flashes, blinding in the small shop, she dodges the attack throwing a stupefy at the wizard behind her. Darting over the sofa, she flinches as a barrage of spells curse overhead. The old dusty books exploding on the shelves. Crawling on all fours she scampers behind the safety of the shelves. Listening as the attacker's advance. I need to get out! What about Reg? His safe, a pureblood…

She doesn't think, merely throws herself at the bookshelf causing it to topple backwards landing on top of the masked wizard. Making him cry out in pain crumbling under the weight of the tombs.

"Forget me, stop the fucking bitch!" The wizard shouts.

Turning she deflects the stunner, countering with her own. They engage in a duel, the intensity of making the sofa fly backwards. He's going to kill me. They weave, between books, the till explodes from one of Lestrange's spell. Her feet stumble of the tombs, the dust flies into the air filling the room with a strange mist.

The colours flash, red, white, blue they dazzle and blind. Heat it presses against her skin as sweat trickles down her back. Her forehead damp, she tries to keep in time with the attacks.

"When we're done with you," The fallen wizard calls stretching for his wand out of reach still trapped beneath the shelf. "We're gonna finish the old bastard off!"

Over my dead body. Hate it fuels her, anger pumping, she pushes through the strain on her body. Fuck them all! She lashes out with velocity, spells clipping the walls, they make their mark as they duel. Lestrange stumbling over the books, slipping on magazines. She strikes him on his chest stealing the air from his lungs as he falls to the side.

She darts backwards running for the door.

Pain erupts as she collides with a wall, her head smacking of the wood. She collapses in a heap, key still in her hand, she clutches it like a lifeline. A dull buzzing in her mind, a ringing in her ear. Her fingers dig into the old carpet that smells like cigarettes and dust. The breath knocked out of her; she can barely focus aware of the trickle of blood on her face.

A foot connects with her stomach stealing a cry from her lips as it strikes again. The pain explodes, with a sickening snap, she feels something break, blood spurts from her lips. The boot keeps coming down, spots appearing in her eyes.

"Alright,"

Panting, she's barely conscious as Lestrange drags the wizard away. She coughs on her blood, iron filling her mouth, she clutches her chest curling in on herself.

"What are you doing?"

She can barely hear over the ringing, the thundering in her ears, barely breath. Over the horrible taste of blood, she smells it. Smoke, the wizard setting fire to the bookshop. No, no, no this is Reg's shop.

"Please…" She gasps earning Lestrange's attention. "S… save him."

"This isn't part of the plan…" Rabastian shouts over the roaring fire.

"Part of my plan."

"The old guy…"

"He's already dead, come on Rab. Let's go."

"She's not meant to die!"

"Shut up, let's go. Rab! Move it!"

The bell rings above the door, jingling happily. Rabastian hovering staring at the destruction, the flames licking at the walls, crawling along the floor. He stares at the beaten witch at his feet, for once his baton remains clean. The witch clinging to life, the smoke filling the back rooms. The old bastard will be dead.

"Please…"

Turning, he ignores the mudblood's plea, breaking through the door of the shop. Into the cool air, too stunned onlookers exiting their houses. He covers his face with his hood, darting from the streets away from the cries of alarm. Heart hammering, he rushes back to his patrol, back to normality.

"Call help! Call someone!"

He vanishes into the mist of the night, leaving two to die behind. This was not part of the plan…

A/n: I would say this is it for Hermione I'll be nice to her from now on. But that be a lie, you should know by now what to expect from my writing. Again i apologise at the time of this story with the name curfew etc, it was poorly timed.

Also you'll notice I put Pandora Lovegood as a Lestrange, I don't know what her maiden name was. If anyone does know then please let me know, however I quite like the thought of her belonging to the Lestrange family so it'll stick for now. Have a good weekend all.

Till next time...