I'm so sorry it took so long, life for me has been filled with challenges and changes. Good and bad. So I had been unable to focus on writing. However I'd like to reassure you all with this update that I have not, nor will I abandon any of my stories.

I work full time now, so I have a lot less free time and I get married this year!!! Which I'm super excited about. Wedding planning has been the best

Thank you all for the continued support and encouragement, I am grateful that despite the sporadic to non existent updates from me you have all been so patient and kind.

Much love, Nell

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~ July 13th 1996 ~

~ Location: Hampstead Gardens, London, Granger Residence ~

~ Hermione's POV ~

Her mama's cackle was loud in her ear and Hermione found herself shivering in a growing sense of anticipation. Her mind had caught on rather fast to the intent behind her mama's words.

"In fact I think maybe what you need is for your mama to give you your first lesson, how does that sound?" They rung loudly, reverberating through every inch of her brain until it was the only thing she could think about. All she could see.

"Truly?" she whispered, her heartbeat racing for an entirely different reason now. Her previous distress vanished in the face of actually learning from the woman she had admired for years. An admiration that had grown long before Bellatrix Black was Mama to her, long before the 'dark' side was her own. Back in a time when she had seen the crazed eyes of this woman shine up at her, onyx eyes glinting with nothing but malice and mischief from between the pages of history books, while she hid between the thick dusty shelves, hoping to remain undiscovered, guiltily soaking in all she could find on the dangerous woman. Merlin, if anyone had told a thirteen year old her that one day she would be here, sitting on the floor of her muggle home with Bellatrix Black holding her as if she were something precious, while offering her the chance to learn from her. Hermione would have declared them batty and offered to floo St Mungo's on that individual's behalf. Such was the ludicrous nature of the current situation.

If only Dumbledore could see her now. Her eyes alight with a growing darkness, once brown orbs shading further and further. Her mama guided her to stand while cackling louder still. Amused and impressed by her apparent eagerness.

"Oh yes, truly truly." the words were whispered, no trace of wickedness as Bellatrix gripped her chin briefly. Locking their gazes before pressing a kiss to Hermione's damp forehead. A

thumb brushing under the brunette's eyes, tenderly catching the tears that had pooled in her previous upset. "Trust me, I'll never let you fall." a gentle whispered promise, murmured against her curls as she was pulled into an embrace that felt like home and Hermione felt the last of her reservations leave her. Those simple words soothed her of all worries. She giggled, letting her mama guide her into a fighting stance, wand out and pointed at her muggle adopters.

Their frightened, pale faces peered up at her. Hands grasping hands as they held one another, as if they could simply find comfort together through what was to come.

"Well that won't do!" The taunting cackle from her mother, who seemingly was following her thought process, caused her 'parents' to glance past her fearfully. Both looking at her mother with utter revulsion and terror. A quick, lazy flick of the dark witches wand had both muggles bound and suspended in the air in front of them. A gap forced between their bodies, ensuring they couldn't hold on to each other. They would be forced to grasp at air, rendering any attempt at reaching out futile.

Hermione could tell her mother, rightfully malicious as she was, intended to make this hurt.

"Lesson one-" the brunette startled at the serious tone that had apparently replaced her mama's previous one. Forcing her back to straighten in response, cocking her head to the left slightly to show her mama that she was indeed listening.

"These are muggles, they are scum. Filth that would, given the chance, take all that we hold dear and destroy it. Bit by bit. Thieves. Rats and that is how you must associate them in your mind." She had never heard her mama sound so level before. Her words said with such flippant regard that she had no choice but to internalise them as fact. Even if it was a fact that was slightly flawed, Hermione did not let her mind dwell on it. She would think more about it later.

How could she do anything else when the muggles in question had not done anything but prove her mama right? They had stolen, hadn't they? They had stolen her, they had tried to destroy her family.

"Lesson two, magic is emotion. It is what fuels us, guides us as we cast. The stronger the emotion the stronger the spell." her mamma whispered, her tone no less serious but spoken softly, directly into her ear. "Especially the unforgivable's, you must feel them, let your emotions bolster your resolve when you cast."

Hermione gasped as her mama continued to circle her, gently pushing and prodding at her stance until she was in a steady position. Her wand raised and ready. Her shoulders back, chin held high. A perfect imitation of the pureblooded princess that she had always been destined to be.

~ Bellatrix's POV ~

Bellatrix spoke calmly, choosing to remain pressed against her daughter's back after she had adjusted her girl's stance. Settling on standing behind her while she guided her through the

first few steps of using dark magic. She didn't want to overwhelm her child and felt it best to remain close. She also didn't want to stray far from her child. She had missed her horribly in their time apart. A bizarre thought for one such as her. She had only ever cared truly for her sisters and Marlene. The minute she had truly accepted she was a mother she had felt her whole perception alter. Her sisters, even Marlene, were no longer her biggest priority. Her baby girl was. In that moment Hermione became the single most precious thing in the world to Bellatrix and she did not for a second know how to react to that.

At first she had acted indifferent to the young witch. How did one suddenly become warm and affectionate when the desolate cold of Azkaban, the instability of a family curse and complete and utter shock all vied together within her? She didn't know how to tell the girl she was everything Bella had ever dreamed about. She didn't know how to say that now that she had found her she never wanted her daughter out of her sight. She didn't know how to be a mother, Merlin her own had been vile.

What if she were to do it all wrong? What if her daughter hated her? What if the girl were to blame her for the vile muggles?

But Marlene had soon put her right. As soon as her Mar had been up on her feet she had lectured Bella, told Bella she had to get a grip and Bella knew she was right. Just picturing her girls wide terrified eyes that day in the shrieking shack. The memory of the way her child had clung to her, as if Bella was the only one in the world who could make her feel safe, the memory of her child's fear at the thought of Bella rejecting her, had Bellatrix ready to wrap her daughter up and hold her tight forever if that was what it took to keep her safe, to help her feel loved and wanted.

The time she had been forced to remain away from her daughter had made her feel frantic. Marlene's longing didn't help either and now that the dark witch finally had Hermione back in her arms she wasn't keen to let her go. Even if it would make torturing muggles a little more difficult.

Though judging by the way Hermione was pressing her back against her, one of her hands grasping onto the dark witches skirt, her daughter wasn't at all displeased with the contact between them. Infact Bella could almost taste the need in her child's magic for her mamma to stay close. Something Bellatrix was all too willing to comply with.

"The one thing to keep in mind when casting is your intent, little witch. What is it you intend to happen? A cruciatus is only as effective as the will of its caster. If your heart isn't in it, it'll be nothing but a tickle compared to if you truly wish the receiver harm" The dark witch murmured, bringing her hand up to rest under her daughter's wand forearm. Supporting the slightly trembling limb in the right position.

Her words were more information than instruction. Bellatrix wasn't at all worried about whether or not Hermione could cast an unforgivable - she could feel her daughter's power in the air around them.

Pulsing and coiling with excitement.

It was intoxicating for Bella and if she wasn't in as much control of herself and the family curse as she was now, it would have been easy for her to get lost in the call of her daughter's magic. Such was the way of the family curse.

It made Bella wonder if her parents truly had any chance at all, particularly her father, of being decent people, surrounded but not supported by dark magic. He had lost his soulmate, a mudblood girl, in his early Hogwarts years. He had been so infuriated by the fact the family magic had chosen the filth as his destined he had planned her murder and sent a family elf to carry out the act.

He had bragged about it to Bellatrix when she was growing up, had expected Bella to do the same if she too found herself tied to a mudblood and Bella had no doubt if she hadn't he would have carried out the deed himself. So engrained was his loathing for them.

Thankfully she had never found out. Yes Bellatrix's destiny had been a blood traitor but blood trainers could be salvaged her father had said.

Mudbloods couldn't.

The dark witch had often pondered the truth in that. But she hadn't ever fully come to a decisive answer yet.

"The wand movement is also key, many think it not but any mage worth their salt knows that if a witch or wizard cannot cast as one with their wand then their spells may as well be cast by a child" the dark witch continued, refocusing herself on her daughter before her.

Her daughter's stance was strong, firm and the sight of it made pride swell within Bellatrix. The brunette looked every bit the pureblood she was born to be. To look at her Hermione, no one would know she hadn't been brought up in the wizarding world.

Hermione was hanging off every word Bellatrix spoke. She could tell by the way her daughter's head twitched slightly, her eyes focused on the filth that hung in the air in front of them but her focus entirely on Bellatrix's instruction.

"Pronunciation matters to young one. We will start with my favourite unforgivable". She whispered, not even attempting to hide the spike of excitement in her magic. She knew her daughter could feel it and she hoped it would help make this easier. After all Bellatrix remembered her first time casting at an actual living target. She remembered the turmoil, the anguish at the thought of truly harming another.

Contrary to popular belief Bellatrix herself had been older than Hermione when she first used an unforgivable on a living soul. She had struggled with the thought for months beforehand and all throughout her training under the dark lord and she hadn't even known her first victim personally. Yet when all was said and done she had cast without fear or trepidation. Thrilled at the exhilaration she had felt at watching him suffer. He had been some low life blood traitor that had gotten in her way on a mission.

Not someone who had raised her. Not someone she had seen as her parents up until mere months ago. She hated to imagine how difficult this had all been on her child. It pained her to know that her girl's entire life had been a lie and she wished desperately that she could change the pain she knew her daughter felt.

It was a foreign feeling to the dark witch, this selfless sort of love. She wasn't one to care very much about others, except from her wife and her sisters, her nephew too. Those were all known to her. She would do anything for them. But Hermione? Hermione had her devotion. Bellatrix would give her last breath to see her child safe and happy and it made her feel far more powerless than she would admit to, to know she couldn't erase her child's pain at the manipulations she had endured.

But Merlin was her witness that she would get her daughter the revenge she deserved. Starting with this.

With punishing the filth that had seen her girl as a tool to utilise for their own grievances.

~ Hermione's POV ~

"Stop. p..p…please Hermione! Th.. the…thisss isn't you!" Her 'mothers' plea was pitiful. Her tear stained face flushed with fear and pain as she lay curled up on the floor in front of her. The woman who had raised her was not the woman she saw before her and Hermione felt a strange sense of satisfaction knowing that it was entirely thanks to her.

Her 'father' lay unconscious on the desk behind where her mother lay. His face was stained with blood. His fingernails cracked and bloody. His skin was paler than it had ever been and his breath, even unconscious, was strained and feeble.

She had started on him. Thinking it would be much easier to let her magic go on the man who had become a stranger over the past several weeks. She had been right. Thinking of his vitriol about her life decisions had fueled the rage she had been fighting since returning here at the start of summer. When her mamma had told her to cast, she had.

She had forced any doubt from her mind. Channelling her anger. Her anger at Dumbledore.

Her anger at the muggles.

Even her anger at the boy who lived and his grim choice of a best friend.

Her father, had screamed and raged. He had even begged through tears but once Hermione felt her magic take hold the feeling had become intoxicating.

It made her feel powerful. Intoxicating her as she let the full strength of her magic unfurl. Tasting the darkness in every fibre of her skin.

It was heady, the family curse nipped and lapped at her heels but like her mother had promised her mothers magic grounded her. Kept her on this side of sane as she cast.

Allowing her to revel in the way John Granger's body had all but twisted and folded in his feeble attempt to escape the invisible grip of her unforgivable.

She had held the curse too long, her mamma had said. Pushed his inferior body too far too quickly. It had disappointed her when he had slumped over unconscious. His screams and cries for mercy falling into silence.

It had been over in minutes for him.

Jean Granger however didn't receive the same luxury. Unfortunately for her Hermione had always been a fast learner.

She had been more cautious with the woman who had remained silent while her husband had spouted his barbaric beliefs. She had even worked out much to her mamma's delight how to vary the intensity of the curse as she cast it. Ensuring that Jean only felt the full effect of Hermione's power for brief moments before she dimmed the effects. It meant that the woman pleading at her feet had suffered far longer and was still delightfully aware of every moment.

Even if her breathing was much more laboured and her body much too tired to do more than twitch.

The brunette could also feel her magic growing tired. She knew the dark arts took a lot of energy but it disappointed her to feel the effects take so quickly. She could feel the sweat dripping down her forehead and she knew she would have to stop soon, even if she did wish to continue tormenting the pitiful woman beneath her.

"I can't quite make out what you're trying to say mother" she whispered sweetly, kneeling at the woman's side. The brunette reached over, brushing a sweat soaked strand of hair from Jean Granger's face. She wanted to remember this moment. Savouring the pain in the woman's face.

She wanted to watch as the woman below her slowly gave in to her fate.

Hermione held eye contact, smiling a sickeningly gentle smile at the wretch as she whispered the curse for what she knew to be the last time. Her smile grew as she not only saw but felt Jean size with pain. The woman's eyes rolled to the back of her skull as Hermione targeted every nerve in the filths body.

She saw the moment her adoptive mother gave out. Her body relaxing and her strained pleas dying down. She felt the way the woman twitched minutely even as the curse died down.

Hermione slumped over her. Exhaustion taking hold even as satisfaction saturated her mind. These people had used her for their own means and in return she had used them as target practice. It seemed fitting to her that their relationship end this way.

With her taking back her control, breaking free from the lie they had concocted around her.

Though as much as she had enjoyed this, revealed even in the pain she had caused them she knew she couldn't do much more. She was tired. Far more tired than she had ever been and despite wishing she could be the one to end them completely she knew she wasn't quite there yet.

If she killed them now, there was no going back. She knew she could and would kill eventually but using her magic so freely had given her the clarity she had sought for weeks. These people had harmed her but they had also indirectly harmed her true parents. By raising her, they had hoped to create what her parents despised and that was something she knew her mamma especially wouldn't let lie.

How fitting it would be to allow her rightful parents to end those that had tried and failed to destroy them.

"I won't kill them" she stated as she unsteadily pushed herself up, taking her mamma's hand when the dark witch offered it. She smiled at the curious look that flashed across her mamma's face.

"That honour is for you and mum" she explained quietly as she allowed herself to be guided into her mamma's arms. She could feel her mothers magic, calmly embracing her own. A stark contrast to the mania she had felt barely an hour ago when the woman had first burst apart the study door.

"An honour I'm sure your mother and I will happily accept" the dark witch replied, slowly scraping her fingers through Hermione's hair. The brunette stifled a yawn as she relaxed against her mother. Letting the smell of pine and firewood engulf her nose as she was held.

"I'm so proud of you Mon coeur, you learn fast." Her mamma whispered, a warm feeling settling between them. The brunette presented internally, too tired to do much more than hum in appreciation as she felt her mother cast a spell silently. She didn't move to look despite her curiosity, far too content where she was for the moment to care what spell had just been cast towards the two muggles.

Her mamma chuckled, the sound comforting as it vibrated through the older woman's chest. She could feel her eyes growing heavy, her magic lazily swaying in time with the heartbeat below her ear.

"Let's go home" the dark witch murmured, sensing the exhaustion radiating from her daughter.

Hermione hummed again, bringing her arms up around her mamma's neck like a small child, unwilling to move in the slightest. She would deny it if asked in a more awake state but there was something about the strength and security her mamma offered that made Hermione feel like a child. Desperate for her mothers affection and entirely content to let the older witch cuddle her in close.

Bellatrix glanced down, sensing her daughter's reluctance to move and couldn't help the warmth that burst through her at the sight of her daughter's sleepy eyes and button nose. It was a sight that would melt even the coldest of hearts and one she had never dared to dream of being privy to.

Bellatrix adjusted her grip on her dozing child, gripping her more securely she twisted slightly apparating them both from the filthy muggle home.

~ 13th July 1996 ~

~ Grimmauld Place, Borough of Islington, London ~

~ Albus Dumbledore's POV ~

"Enough!!!" His voice carried out across the room, silencing every distraught or disgruntled voice present.

Albus Dumbledore was furious. More so even, than when Tom Riddle had managed to find his way back to life the previous year. Everyone in the room around him could feel his anger. He could tell by the way they all sat stiffly, the entire room deathly silent as they took in the latest news.

They had gathered for a scheduled meeting. All his Order members were in attendance. Even Ted and Andromeda Tonks sat before him with their daughters Nymphadora and Calista. Nymphadora had just joined the Aurors office, while Calista had been an unexpected arrival. Albus had been surprised to see the infant out with the protective barriers of the Tonks' home.

Though they were not the reason for his anger.

Fluer Delacour stood before him, a look of utter defeat written plainly across her face. He could tell she was upset, could feel her self-loathing as she stood there and for once he wished he had the freedom to tell her she should feel guilty. That she should be ashamed of herself. That her failure could have just cost them all the war.

He couldn't though, they were all looking at him for guidance, a mixture of grief and anger colouring their features. The Weasleys were all red faced and seething, Remus looked horrified. The Tonks' looked withdrawn and Minerva simply looked utterly devastated at the news of her cubs disappearance.

The news had come not but five minutes ago, upon Fluers arrival. Veela had looked distraught when she came running into the room. Her usual blonde hair was matted and stained red with blood. It had taken her a minute. Her speech stuttered and stumbled as she told them Hermione Granger had been abducted and that her parents were gone without a trace.

She had told them with tears streaming down her face how she had been hit with something, something that had knocked her unconscious and when she had come to the Grangers had vanished. Nothing but dark magic had lingered in the air. The Dark Lords mark was hung plainly in the sky above the home in which Hermione and her parents had resided in and the doors to her muggle fathers study had been blown apart.

It was his worst fear come to fruition, right under their noses. He had been so careful. He had made sure to keep close tabs on the girl as she grew. He had not seen a single thing of concern. Hermione had been raised muggle, she spoke like a muggle, thought like a muggle and better yet she had been clueless.

That wasn't to say Albus didn't know she was clever or powerful. He knew this. It was why he had taken Marlene McKinnon the minute he had found out she was pregnant with the girl. He couldn't risk her being raised by the purebloods, for if she had he dreaded to think of just how severely the light would suffer. Black's were renowned for their power and skill, particularly in the dark arts and the McKinnons had always presented far more intelligence than the majority of their peers. To combine their family lines was practically suicide for any who opposed them.

Albus had hoped the girl, being raised muggle, would join them in their goal to end Tom Riddle and his followers. He had hoped that Harry Potter's fame would tether her to the light and secure them the war.

That hope had been dashed by the sobbing Veela, but he couldn't very well say any of that could he? Not when he knew it would force him to come clean about his actions and his role in the initial abduction of the girl.

He couldn't.

Too many of his carefully laid plans would fall if he did and he couldn't risk it, especially now. Albus forced himself to breathe deeply, stifling the rage he felt at the Veela in front of him.

"Why would they target Hermione and what is this nonsense Mr Weasley was muttering about her being a Black?" Andromeda Tonks spoke up, the first to dare speak after his unlikely outburst.

He focused his gaze on her, seeing the fear and curiosity written across her aristocratic features. It was true what they said, you could take the girl out of pureblood society but you couldn't take the pureblood out of the girl. He saw that with Hermione as she grew, her features so similar to the woman that sat before him. The only difference was at least the pureblood before him had willingly renounced her family to marry a muggleborn.

"We were made to take a heritage test last year. Hermione's results came back with Bellatrix and Marlene as her parents. We are unsure how it happened or how she ended up in the muggle world but she did not wish for the knowledge to be widespread. She hates the idea of being related to Bellatrix as much as you do Andromeda." He explained briefly, hoping the woman wouldn't question him further. He wasn't sure he had the control he needed right now to remain diplomatic if he were to be forced to answer questions.

"You are sure they were taken and not killed?" He asked, forcing his voice to sound calm and collected, changing the subject from the girl's unfortunate parentage as quickly as possible. Ever the picture of the kind grandfather figure he had painted himself as.

"I'm as sure as I can be Professor. There is no sign of death. The house is completely empty. There were several muggle things abandoned as if they had been in use before the intruders arrived." Fluer replied evenly, she had used the moment of silence to collect herself, Albus observed quietly. He was glad to see she was not still hysterical. He had no use for a hysterical creature. He proffered his soldiers calm and collected. Able to adapt and react appropriately.

"We may have a chance of finding them then, given time. I must go now, however, I need to gather as much information as I can if we hope to find young Hermione before it is too late." He stated, his tone severe. He made sure to give each member present his most stern look as he rose to leave. The look all but ensuring no one said a word as he left.

He had reached his tolerance of acting the part of the concerned professor. He needed to speak with his spy. If anyone would have any information on what Tom and his death eaters were planning it would be Severus. The man would give him the information he sought.

From there he could adjust his plan of action.

If he had stopped for even a moment to survey the room, he would have seen the look of utter disbelief that crossed the Purebloods face, the woman sensing something amiss with the elder wizard's explanation.