Chapter 3:

Hermione apparated into a large entry hall and quickly disillusioned herself. She hurried up the winding marble staircase and made her way quietly to the furthest wing of the house. Hearing voices behind her, she quickly pressed herself against the wall of the family wing and waited as the pair passed the hallway.

"Lestrange, we shall have to talk this arrangement over some other time. I'm expecting my son to check in soon and I believe they are using your library this time?" drawled a semi-familiar voice that Hermione couldn't quite place due to her nervousness.

"Yes, I believe that was where the meeting was set up. I shall escort you myself," answered her father in a clipped tone, as though he knew she was there.

Once their voices had faded, she let out her breath and made her way to the fourth door on the left. She was surprised to see two women sitting in on her bed quietly talking. One was visibly older with gentle features and graying hair, the other was younger with sleek black hair and vibrant blue eyes that held a tint of red when in public. Marveling at the irony of these two women being the only stable things in her life, Hermione softly set her bag down on the floor, and watched the two women for a moment.

She had been afraid that her parents would try and bring her to the Dark Lord when the Grangers, really Lorraines, brought her to meet them. But they hadn't even discussed politics and tiptoed around that seemingly large elephant in the room. The topic of war was avoided at all costs and Hermione, or Veri as they called her, came to feel comfortable with the two people that the Wizarding world was most scared of, besides the Dark Lord.

She released the cloaking spell and scuffed her feet, alerting the two women to her presence. Giselle or Gran, as Hermione had begun to call her, smiled at her while Bellatrix raised an eyebrow at her unexpected arrival and with the knowledge that certain men were in the house that should not see her daughter. Hermione gave them both a quavering smile and the two women, noticing immediately that something was wrong, pulled her to them and engulfed her in a hug. Hermione sobbed out the story of her husband's betrayal, her hurt and her insecurity of what to do next. Giselle left quietly, allowing Bellatrix some time alone with the girl she had gone to prison to protect. The female Death Eater practically cooed and hugged the girl tightly until she felt her even breathing. As Bella quietly slipped out the door, her husband emerged out of the shadows with the doors click behind her.

"Well?"

"Damn Potter! I knew he would do something like this. Rudy he's destroyed her and that whore of his took away her self-respect!"

"At least she's well shot of him. On the plus side, she isn't at that damned headquarters anymore, maybe now …?"

"Rodolphus Malthusian Lestrange! Are you fucking kidding me?! Our baby has just gotten out of the eye of the storm and is hurting, I say we take advantage of this and send her away – away from this idiotic war and her potential to be hurt. She may not be mine by blood but I love her more than should be possible of the 'insane' Bellatrix Lestrange" ranted Bella with a short cackle to punctuate her last sarcastic sentence.

"I know dearest, but He isn't going to wait forever; perhaps merely a dinner or some such, where they can be introduced and let that be that." He raised a hand to stop her interruption, "We have to tell Him before He finds out on His own. We haven't gotten this far, just to be set back by hiding something. I love her as much as you do, Merlin help me, but this is the best way of keeping her safe. And once they've met, He'll just be glad she isn't at Potter's side anymore."

"I agree with Him on that."

"Indeed. Well what do you propose we do with her ma Belle? We can't simply stuff her in a cave, she won't abide that," he grinned at the spitting mad image of his daughter though.

Bellatrix bit her lip, reminiscent of Hermione, and looked thoughtful, "I have a glimmer of an idea, let me get some post out and I'll tell you all about it."

"Bella … your eyes are glinting, what are you thinking my love?"

A/N: A shortie I know, but I wanted to give you a little bite to nibble on over the weekend.