A/N: Thanks to my single reviewer (you know who you are ). Hope you liked the first chapter. Here's the next, guaranteed to get a little darker.

Chapter 2: Back story

Twelve Grimmauld Place was different now. It would always be different since Sirius had…left. His loss had signaled the downward spiral the Order of the Phoenix would face. They had lost members almost as quickly as the War had started. The Ministry of Magic was gone. Rufus Scrimegeour had fallen under the Imperius Curse. Before Ginny Weasley had killed him, he tortured Neville Longbottom into insanity; ironically that was how Neville's parents had gone. Ginny had left the Order bitter and angry at the remaining members to take care of Neville, her husband. Hermione had gotten word that he had died a few months ago.

St. Mungo's had been destroyed by the Dark and most of the healers had joined the Underground Resistance but were willing to help the Order. Ginny was now a nurse in the Underground. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, was missing in action. He had been sent to retrieve another of the mysterious packages along with Luna Lovegood. Only Luna had returned weeks later, barely alive, her memory erased and with several burn marks. Fred and George Weasley had been dragged from their shop and then tortured by one of the Deatheaters until their bodies could no longer take the pain. Their deaths had come as a major shock to the wizarding world who still hoped for a quick resolution to the War. "Why," many wizards asked themselves, "had two joke shop owners been killed? Hadn't they been beneath the Dark Lord's notice?" A rumor quickly surfaced that they had been supplying both the Order and the Underground Resistance. Hermione remembered how the twins deaths had shook the remainder of the Weasley family. The witch forced her thoughts away from a certain Weasley and splashed water on her face. Her thoughts drifted to the woman downstairs and to Lupin. Forced to remain Underground to recruit other werewolves to the cause, Remus Lupin had spent more and more time as a werewolf. His eyes had gone permanently dark and there was nothing a dentist (here Hermione winced as she thought of her parents) could do about his elongated canine teeth. Tonks said she didn't care. Hermione smiled to herself slightly. If there was hope for this world, it was in people like Lupin and Tonks. Hermione roused herself from her reverie. She was standing in the bathroom. She glanced at her reflection in the cracked mirror as the water dripped from her face.

"Hermione…?" a familiar voice called uncertainly. Hermione whirled around, certain that it was someone, but it wasn't him. It was Luna, her once white-blonde hair turned dark pulled into a ponytail, revealing her scarred face. "They-they want you downstairs. It's a meeting for…you know…" Luna's voice drifted off. Her eyes widened and she spoke in a whisper. "H-he's down there…"

Hermione's eyes flashed and she turned quickly from the other girl lest she think Hermione's anger was directed at her. As her anger burned inside of her, she remembered the feeling of the white-hot brand a group of Death Eaters had used on her. The visitor…how Hermione longed to hurt him as he and his friends had hurt her…

Hermione closed her eyes and fought for calm as she clutched the sink. She breathed deeply and counted to 10.

Luna was still very fragile and Hermione didn't want to frighten the girl. Despite recovering most of her memories, Luna still refused to talk about what had been done to her and Harry. When Hermione turned to face Luna, she had regained her composure. "Thank you, Luna." Hermione watched the other witch for a moment. Luna had made no move to leave the room; Hermione knew she was worried about leaving Hermione with the visitor. The witch crossed the room and placed a reassuring hand on Luna's shoulder. "It'll be alright. Not like last time-I promise." Last time, Hermione had lost her temper and nearly killed the Death Eater mole who was working for them. How could she help it when he had been partially responsible for many terrible things, including the death of her parents and the word "Mudblood" branded into her arm?

Not looking at all reassured, Luna nevertheless stepped out of the other witch's way. Hermione walked down the steps slowly, steeling herself. She had a sudden brainwave and flicked her wand at herself, knowing Tonks would do the same.

Tonks was leaning on the door jamb, trying to look casual, watching the other witch. Hermione, however, knew her friend well and saw the way the skin around her eyes had tightened.

I knew you'd think of this spell. I am calm, well, no I'm not but I promise it won't be like last time… Hermione thought.

Tonks winked, but still seemed tense. Only a small amount hostility and absolutely only one explosion. Let's do try to keep it to a minimum, shall we?

Hermione nodded once and the Auror slid out of the way allowing her to pass. Hermione felt a small flame of anger as the visitor stood up from his place at the table. His face twisted in surprise and his mouth opened slightly. Hermione allowed herself a bitter smile.

"Surprised to see me, Draco?"

A/N: Hope you liked it and were at least slightly surprised by Mr. Malfoy's appearance. R&R please and thank you! And I'm going to see the new HP movie tonight! Hooray!