The owls began arriving every hour, on the hour. At first, Hermione ignored them. She had more important things to worry about than whoever was trying to contact her.

With Nancy's help, she spent the next day gently applying ever remedy she could to Bellatrix's body. They smoothed on cooling ointments and burn reducing cream. She held Bellatrix while her mother and Nancy coaxed potions down Bellatrix's throat.

It was past dinner when her mother said, "Hermione, will you answer that?"

Hermione looked up from Bellatrix. Thirteen owls crowded around the window nearest to her, each one eyeing her with reproach.

Sighing, Hermione opened the window and found herself in a sea of feathers.

"Why, they're all from Severus." Her mother said, divesting one of it's letter and then shooing it away. It snapped it's beak at her, and then flew indignantly out the window.

"He says that the Dark Lord is looking for me," Hermione whispered. "He says he wants a meeting."

"No," Her father said from the door. He strode in, "Absolutely not. Hermione, you must stay with us now. Let the Potter boy finish his fight."

"He might not know about Hermione," her mother said softly. Her hand stroked the back of Hermione's head. "Don't look at me like that Lucius, of course I agree with you. But it may be safer if-"

"It's safer for her to stay here with us!" Lucius spat. "Draco made his choice to get involved, and now Hermione can make hers. The war hasn't reached Edinburgh, the Scottish Aurors have kept the harmony so far. We can wait it out."

Hermione ripped open the letter nearest to her, and sighed. "Papa is right, Mother. I don't want to leave Thistledown. I want to stay with Bella."

Narcissa met her gaze for a moment, and then nodded. "It's for the best," she said softly. We can get you as much entertainment as possible. I think I know of a bookstore…" She stood, and went to the door. For a moment she looked like she was about to say something, but thought better of it and left.

Lucius pulled a chair up to the bedside. "I hope you don't mind, but I asked Mardie and a few of the house elves to come help while we're all here. The rest will look after things until we..."

Hermione nodded, "That's fine. I'm sure Winky will be glad of the help." She cast a dubious glance at the pile of letters from Uncle Severus.

The week passed in an endless cycle of helping Nancy with potions and then forcing them down Bellatrix's throat. Her father stayed in the library, mostly. He made a point to seek her out once a day and force her to take a break with him.

Her mother, on the other hand, spent almost all of her time with Bellatrix. She kept Bellatrix clean and comfortable, but by the seventh day of endless routine, Hermione could tell that her mother was growing restless.

Hermione had just poured a new potion down Bellatrix's throat when Winky popped into the room.

"Mistress?" Winky wrung her hands together. "Mistress, there's two men in the Front Hall. They say they must speak to you."

Hermione's wand was out in an instant, as washer mother's.

"You let them in?" Narcissa snarled. "Stupid, stupid elf! Don't you know-"

"Guard Bellatrix," Hermione instructed Winky. "Let no one but me or Mother back into this room."

Winky nodded, and moved to stand beside Bellatrix's pillow.

Hermione cast a quick-ward on the room, and resisted taking her mother's hand. Instead, she padded as silently down the stairs as she could. Her mother was at her back, her wand aimed over Hermione's shoulder.

At the landing above the Front Hall, she paused. She could hear soft murmurs coming from below, but it was too quiet to make out who was speaking. Her mother's free hand squeezed her shoulder, and Hermione took a steadying breath before going down.

"Hermione!" A flash of white blonde hair flung himself at her, and her arms reflexively wrapped around her little brother. "I knew you weren't really with him! I knew it!"

"Draco!" Her mother laughed, and soon Hermione was sandwiched between her mother and her brother. He smelled of cold night air and woodsmoke. "I didn't expect to see you here. Not until-" she broke off, and Hermione laughed as Draco squeezed her tighter.

"I know you said it was only for emergencies," Harry said, and he moved in to hug Hermione as soon as Draco released her. "But we had to come, Narcissa. It's important. Is Bellatrix here?"

Hermione's grin faded at the mention of Bellatrix. She had been about to ask why Harry was comfortable addressing her mother so informally, but tears sprung to her eyes. She stepped away from Harry, and said, "She's here, but…"

Her mother smoothly took over. "Bellatrix was attacked the night she sent the cup, and she hasn't woken yet."

"Oh." Harry's eyes met hers, and he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Why don't you come into the library?" Her mother said. To Hermione, she added, "It's a good thing I made your friend vow to never reveal what she sees or hears in this house."

She meant Nancy. And Hermione was grateful too. At the time, both she and Nancy had thought it overkill for her to swear an unbreakable vow. Now she was grateful for her mother's foresight.

Harry and Draco were ushered into the library, much to the surprise of Lucius. Her father stood up and drew his wand.

"What did we do on your eleventh birthday?" He asked, pointing his wand straight at Draco. His face was stark white.

Draco stared at him for a minute. "You were supposed to take me to the theater to see Young Merlin Live, but I ended up staying in bed all day because I asked the elves for too much cake at breakfast."

Her father's lips softened a touch, and then he pointed his wand at Harry, "And you, when was the last time I saw you and what did you say to me?"

Harry swallowed, "You spotted me in Ottery St. Catchpole and I said, 'Don't expect me to thank you." Then his shoulders relaxed, "To be fair, I really didn't know why you let me go. I thought you were with… him."

Her father put his wand away, "And I didn't know you were working with my wife," he countered. He nodded at Draco, "I'm glad to see you, son."

Draco looked around, "I didn't know we had this house."

"You don't," Hermione said before she could think. She turned pink as the boys looked at her.

With a laugh, her father threw an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the fire. "We are merely guests. The house belongs to Hermione and Bellatrix."

"Oh," Harry turned pink, but sat in the loveseat Narcissa directed him to. Draco sat beside him. "So it's true then, all of it about-" His blush deepened, "Hermione and Bellatrix?"

Lucius nodded. He looked as if he were enjoying himself. "It's all true."

"As much as I'd like to ask all about that," Draco cut in, "We are in a bit of a hurry."

"What's happened?" Narcissa sat down on Draco's other side. "Is there a battle?"

Harry sighed, "Not yet, but there likely will be. There's only two more horcruxes, and we know the Dark Lord is going to try and recover one of them soon. We have to find it first." He ruffled his hand through his hair, "We were hoping that Bellatrix would be willing to stand with the Dark Lord and… help us if something happens."

"If we're killed." Draco said bluntly. It had been most of a year since she had last seen him, and Hermione was struck with how much older he looked. Both he and Harry were much thinner, and Draco had a scar that slashed through his right eyebrow.

Her father chuckled. "Everyone knows that horcruxes are an old wives tale. They don't actually exist."

"Actually they do," Narcissa said. "I've seen the destruction of one, Lucius." A shadow crossed her face, "Trust me, they're real." To the boys she said, "There are two left. Which ones?"

"Nagini," Harry said. "We're almost positive. And then there's a diadem at Hogwarts."

Narcissa nodded. "Ok."

Draco put his hand on their mother's, "Can you get us into Hogwarts? I know you've been helping the DA, but do you know how to get us in?"

Narcissa nodded. "I do. I can." She gave both boys a stern look. "But not tonight."

"Mum!" Draco said, at the same time Harry yelled, "Narcissa!"

"No," Narcissa said. "You both need a few nights of sleep and some decent meals before you go off. I'm serious Draco," her voice dropped, and her brows knitted together. "We will make a plan tomorrow, and enact it this weekend." She held up a hand, "That's our best shot for getting most of the students out. They'll have already returned to Hogwarts, so there's really no sense in doing it tonight while they're all in their beds."

The boys complained a few more times, but the fight had gone out of them. Hermione watched the admiring affectionate look that Harry gave her mother, and saw Draco give her a sloppy kiss, and felt a strange pang of longing and satisfaction. An answering twinge met her, as if to say, "me too."

Then she gasped.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Her father stood when Hermione did, and reached out, but she shook him off. Hope blossomed in her chest, and she whispered, "Bella."

Then she ran through the house and up the stairs. She tore down the wards and burst into their room. Bellatrix lay limp, but her brow was furrowed.

The thrumming was back. Beating steadily beneath Hermione's skin, and the witch had never been so grateful for anything in her life. She let out a sob, and threw herself on the bed beside Bellatrix. She was dimly aware of her parents at the door, but she ignored them as she ran the backs of her fingers over Bellatrix's cheek.

With a shaking breath, Hermione closed her eyes and sought for the place inside her mind where she and Bellatrix met. Carefully, she pushed herself into Bellatrix.

Instead of racing fragments, Bellatrix's thoughts were whole again. Her dream slipped over Hermione, and she watched Bellatrix chase someone in a dark cloak down a tunnel.

Frustration and fear lanced through Hermione, and even though they were not her own she felt tears prick at her eyes. Carefully, she slid out of Bellatrix's mind and back into her own. "I need dreamless sleep," she told her mother.

At once, Narcissa turned and headed for the kitchen. Her father looked unsure for a moment, and then walked into the room. "Is she-"

"She's going to be ok," Hermione said in a shaking whisper. Gently, she kissed Bellatrix's cheek. "She's going to be just fine."

XX

The eagle owl came after her parents had gone to bed.

Recognizing Snape's pet, Hermione reached for the letter attached to his leg and froze when she flicked it open.

The writing was not her uncle's.

Dearest Hermione,

I know about your mother and Bellatrix's efforts to help Harry Potter. Their mistakes are not your own. I am not angry with you, nor do I hold you responsible for their actions. Instead, I urge you to think about what you want most and go after that, regardless of what your family tries to convince you. Your choices are your own to make.

Know that I hold you in the highest regard. You are dearer to me than anyone. I'm sure that your parents and Bellatrix have spun a web of pretty lies about my intentions towards you. I want to assure you that I want nothing but the best for you.

Come to me, Hermione. Stand by me as I finish this unnecessary war. I will give you the world, and I will turn a blind eye if your family decides to escape to the continent or to the Americas. Choosing me does not mean you will lose them. I would never wish to deprive you of your family.

You can find me at Riddle Manor.

Affectionately yours,

L.V.

Hermione's breath caught in her throat, and her chest felt heavy as she read the words twice. A sick feeling pooled in her stomach, and her mouth filled with bile. It was a lie. All of it was a lie, but it disgusted her to feel a thrill at how much he wanted her to join him.

Her mind flicked to Harry and Draco. They had wanted a failsafe. Someone to stand in the Dark Lord's ranks and finish the deed if they failed.

Hermione swallowed, and put down the letter. Snape's owl regarded her from the arm of her chair, and she raised a hand to stroke his feathers. She took a few steadying breaths. It would be better to leave now and get it over with.

"Don't go," a raspy voice broke the silence of the room. The owl fluffed up his feathers, and Hermione leaned forward at once.

"Bella," she soothed, "Bella, how are you feeling?"

Shiny eyes stared at her, and Hermione inhaled sharply as Bellatrix's fear engulfed her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt from the other witch, and her hands trembled as she met Bellatrix's gaze.

"Her-" Bellatrix gasped, and licked her lips, "Hermione, you can't-you can't!"

Hermione stood, and the letter fell to the floor. She went to the bedside table and poured a glass of water, but Bellatrix knocked it out of her hands and seized the front of hermione's nightgown.

"Don't go! He'll-" Bellatrix broke off in a sob.

Hermione carefully climbed onto the bed, and pulled Bellatrix to her. "Shh," she hushed. "Bella, I'll be fine. He likes me, it will be good for him to think that I'm on his side." She projected her earlier conversation with Harry and Draco into Bellatrix's mind, but the older witch just held her closer.

"Please don't leave me!" Bellatrix gasped into Hermione's shoulder. "I'm- I'm scared." She shook violently in Hermione's arms. "You'll die! He'll kill you as soon as you get there."

Somehow, Hermione knew he wouldn't. "Nothing will happen to me as long as you're safe," she told Bellatrix. "It's the only way to ensure this ends. Harry needs to go to Hogwarts-"

"I don't care anymore!" Bellatrix cried. Her face was slick with sweat, and her pupils were blown as she pulled away to stare into Hermione's eyes. "You can't leave me! Let Potter end it, we've done our parts." She let out another sob, and pulled Hermione so tightly to her chest that it hurt. "We're done, we're done!"

With all her strength, Hermione forced herself to feel calm and sleepy. Bellatrix's emotions were strong, but the older witch was still weakened by her injuries.

Hermione tucked Bellatrix's head beneath her chin, and rocked her gently. "We're both safe, Bellatrix. Both of us. Nothing bad will happen to us."

Slowly, Bellatrix's sobs lessened. They turned to hiccups, and then soft sniffles, until at last Hermione could slip her back onto the pillows. Bellatrix watched with half-shut eyes as Hermione forced her to drink some water.

"Promise me," Bellatrix said weakly as Hermione tucked the covers back around her. Sleep was pulling Bellatrix back under. "Promise me… you… won't go…"

The light from the candle flickered across Bellatrix's face, and Hermione gently pressed her lips to Bellatrix's slick forehead. "I love you Bella," she said firmly. "Never, ever forget that."

A frown marred Bellatrix's forehead, but sleep was stronger than she was. She fluttered her lashes, then her brow smoothed.

An ache filled Hermione's chest at the sight of her lying there. She smoothed Bellatrix's hair, and pressed another kiss to her forehead.

"I promise I'll come back to you," she vowed. Then, she left the letter in a conspicuous place for her mother to find, and went to pack.