A/N: Special thanks to Yoshiyuki Ly and Black Fang 02 for including 'Monster' in their respective communities! Hooray acceptance!

And big ups to every one of you that has left some luv. :D You may not know it, but your comments have actually helped me fix up some later parts of my little monster (as I've come to call my fic). And of course for all of the well wishes! I have to scale back my training for this week (which is partially why I'm able to post this Chap so quickly) since my right Patella has been starting to hurt after I hit about mile 7-8 on my long runs. Sucks! So naturally I've got a hot date with the pool lap lanes at the Y this whole next week.

A/N 2: Just a warning: rough language lies ahead and I suppose some of this could be sorta NSFW? I dunno I'm not good at warning people about things. XD

Bring on the darkness baby!

"Happy Birthday Hermione dear!" Mr. Granger shouted while clapping his hands loudly, gathering his daughter into a big bear hug. Hermione and Fleur had just apparated to the Granger household mere seconds before. "Your mother is in the kitchen! Come in, come in! Take a seat!" Hermione, who held onto Fleur's hand tightly, guided the French woman into her parents modern home. Mr. Granger led the couple into the sunlit parlor with great exuberance.

They sat side by side on the parlor loveseat, both appearing slightly uncomfortable. Earlier that day, Hermione had gone to Headmistress McGonagall asking for a day off to visit her parents for her birthday. Though at first a bit nervous about the whole idea of the young Gryffindor leaving the safety of the grounds, Minerva reluctantly agreed so long as Hermione was back within a day. Naturally her first stop was to collect Fleur from Hogsmeade as Fleur expressed the desire to treat Hermione to a birthday meal in a fine London restaurant after they were done at the Grangers.

They both dressed up nicely for the occasion. Fleur was stunning. Before they had left for her parents, Hermione felt like she had been punched in the gut as she drank in the sight of the older woman. It knocked the breath right from her lungs. Fleur wore a blue pencil dress that hugged her curves like a lover, her breasts nearly bursting through the buttons, and a matching pair of flats. She had also straightened her hair, its luster even more accentuated in the soft daylight streaming through the windows. Hermione opted to wear a pair of black cigarette pants with a white t-shirt and small black vest. Her wavy hair was tucked into a low bun, underneath the herringbone hooligan cap given to her as a gift by Fleur earlier that day. Despite the decision to forgo any glamour charms, they both looked extremely attractive, and Hermione found it to be rather difficult to stop her eyes from wandering down into the valley of Fleur's breasts.

"Would you care for a drink Miss…" Her father started with a big smile, while standing in front of Fleur.

"Oh! Delacour. Fleur Delacour."

"Yes! Miss Delacour. Would you like a drink?"

"Oui. A glass of Merlot 'eef you 'ave 'eet."

He turned toward his daughter. "'And for you Mione?"

"Just a cider please."

They sat together chatting amiably for a few minutes, absently picking at some small watercress sandwiches placed on a tray. Hermione was a bit unsure of how to explain Fleur's presence in their household, so she settled on saying 'she's an old friend'. It wasn't exactly far from the truth in her mind.

"'Mione!" Mrs. Granger suddenly appeared from the far door and ran over to hug her daughter tightly, smothering her with kisses. "Happy Birthday dearest! Did father give you your present yet?" Hermione shook her head.

Mr. Granger beamed proudly and produced a business envelope from his coat pocket. Nothing was written on it and carefully Hermione tore it open. She blanched when she saw what was inside. "Dad…this is…a lot of money." With shaking hands she pulled the check from the envelope and passed it to Fleur, who gasped in surprise. Mr. Granger gifted his daughter nearly ten thousand pounds.

Her mother was clapping her hands wildly, and the brunette flinched at the sound. "Buy yourself something nice won't you dearest?" Her father smiled proudly despite the unreadable expression now on Hermione's face.

"And that's not all…there's one other surprise…" Mrs. Granger looked as if she were going to positively burst from excitement. Mr. Granger met the gaze from his wife and gave her a quick nod, as if they were quietly going through a countdown.

"We're having a baby!" The Grangers said joyfully in unison. For the briefest of moments Hermione believed she was in the midst of a nightmare, and merely gaped at her parents. She suppressed the urge to pinch herself.

"Excuse me…?"

"I'm pregnant dearest, we just found out two weeks ago! You're going to have a baby brother or sister!" Her mother squealed.

Fleur decided to speak on behalf of Hermione, seeing as the brown haired witch was visibly paralyzed by the revelation. "Oh Mademoiselle Granger…'zat 'ees wonderful! Félicitations!"

"Hermione?" Her father probed, with hint of displeasure in his voice.

Hermione shook her head. "Oh! Uh, yes, congratulations Mother…I'm…very, uh, excited." The young witch nearly deadpanned, much to the astonishment of her parents.

Mrs. Granger looked crestfallen. "What's the matter dearest, aren't you excited for us?"

"Yes. Quite." She desperately wanted to avoid the topic. "Although there is something I've been meaning to ask you both…" She paused for a moment looking into both pairs of anxious eyes. She could feel Fleur's hand gently squeeze her thigh in encouragement. "Recently at school…I discovered that I have a particular talent. And this talent is apparently…hereditary. What I'm trying to say is…I think you might both be squibs…that is to say, a muggle born to a wizarding family."

Her father cut her off with a wave of his hand. "'Mione you know we don't like the use of that derogatory term in our household."

"Muggle is not derogatory father…but if you insist, I shall refrain from saying it. I am afraid that you've been keeping something from me…one of you must have had magical family members…I know it! Otherwise there's no explaining where this skill has come from…unless…" The realization stung like a razor sharp knife plunged into her heart.

An overwrought silence fell like lead upon the room. Hermione's rapidly increasing heartbeat sounded like a crashing cymbal in her head. Fleur snaked a reassuring arm behind her back as Hermione studied the now stoic expressions both her parents were wearing…and without warning Mrs. Granger began to sob deafeningly, crumpling like paper into her husband's arms. A despondent Mr. Granger could only nod.

Her face contorted into a foul grimace. "You're completely serious aren't you…you are not my real parents…"

Her father stopped her mid-sentence. "Not your birthparents…no…but we raised you from when you were an infant and have always treated you as if you were our true flesh and blood. You know that 'Mione…your mother and I love you very much."

Rage was effervescent in the young witch as she dug her nails into her palms. "Tell…me…everything."

"It's true…we took you in after many attempts to have our own child. The sisters at the local church had found you on their doorstep one night, wrapped in a blanket…no explanations for how you had gotten there. We thought our prayers had been answered when we attended service the following morning, and we took you home immediately."

"Father, did I have a birth certificate? Is Hermione even my real name! DAMNIT!" She practically bellowed.

He flinched and nodded. "Yes…and no. There was no birth certificate…but a scrap of cloth with the name Hermione embroidered on it was pinned to your blanket. We thought it was a very elegant name so we didn't change it…"

"The sisters knew nothing of my birth parents?"

Mrs. Granger now sobbed even louder. "Your birthmother is dead…whoever she was…she died in childbirth." Now it felt as if she were being stabbed in the gut.

Hermione was seething mad, she spoke her next word slowly and deliberately, annunciating every acidic syllable. "Didn't you just say there was no explanation as to how I got there?" Her teeth were now clenched and bared.

Her father spoke once more, waving his hands in the air. "Well…one of the sisters…she claimed to have spoken to a cloaked man who was seen walking away after they found you…and all he had said was 'Shame…about the mother…'"

That was the last straw; Hermione began to feel claustrophobic as if the very walls of her would collapse and swallow her whole at any minute. She wanted to run, scream, hurl her body against the walls until she could break free of this lurid discovery that was slowly coming to fruition. Fleur fretfully gulped down the rest of her wine as if she were taking a shot of liquor.

"This was a great fucking birthday." The young witch snapped, rubbing her temples furiously. "I suppose the next thing you're going tell me is that this handsome check you have given me is, let's say, an early graduation present, perhaps even money for a few months rent, and oh, that my room should be completely cleared out for the baby by the end of this month. Toss me back on the damn steam engine, whisk me back to the fucking Burrow to be raised by another fuckingfamily while you both go on being successful!"

Mr. Granger, now visibly angered, pointed a finger at his daughter. "Now Hermione…the Minister of Magic has sent a word of warning to all…non-magical families of magical individuals…saying that this war poses as huge threat to our safety. And we feel that for our wellbeing, and that of the baby's we should…distance…ourselves from you until this conflict has come to an end."

"Hermione!" Her mother screamed between sobs. "Have you no idea how frustrating it is to possess knowledge of such dangers that we are forbidden by law to speak of with our own friends?"

Hermione could only scoff and roll her eyes. "Though it's perfectly acceptable for my safety to be jeopardized…as it so currently is."

"'Mione I…" Her father began only to be interrupted by an unexpected tempest of shredded paper as Hermione violently tore the check to shreds and threw it in his direction.

"Keep your fucking charity! I don't want it!" She jumped to her feet and started to frantically pace. Blood trickled from in between her fingers as her nails had broken the delicate flesh of her palms. Fleur reached out with both her arms in a feeble attempt to calm the now livid young witch.

Facing her father and mother, Hermione shot them a look of pure, unadulterated hatred. "You needn't worry about me anymore…I'll be out of your hair in no time, and most likely dead by the end of term thanks to Lord Voldemort. Though I'm sure you'll share my memory with your new little miracle." Hermione felt the familiar sensation of her mind abruptly becoming clear. Her heartbeat slowed to a crawl. Anger boiled like lava inside her, and the eruption was imminent. Reducto…REDUCTO!

Without warning all of the mirrors and windows of the parlor disintegrated into a snowstorm of shards and a cacophony vibrated the walls. REDUCTO!All along the walls various photo frames, decorative plates, porcelain pots and figurines all exploded one by one, shrapnel flying every which way. Her mother let out a bloodcurdling scream and her arms flew to shield her eyes.

"'Ermione please stop 'eet! Merde!" Shrieked Fleur with tears rolling down her cheeks in torrents. She pulled at the young witch's vest, another weak effort to get the fuming witch to sit back down.

"That's enough Hermione!" Bellowed Mr. Granger now rising to his full height. "I've long been tolerant of your so called magical abilities…but I'll be damnedif you're going to tear the house apart from the inside…and by the way, just who is this…French tartyou have here with you anyway?" He pointed a finger furiously at Fleur. "And where is that boy Ronald you were dating…and your friend Harry?"

Drawing dangerously close to Mr. Granger, she stared him down with narrowed eyes. "Call her that again and it won't just be the glass that breaks." She said slowly through gritted teeth.

CRACK!

Mr. Granger's open palm connected brutally across Hermione's face, whipping the girl's entire body to the ground in a heap. Fleur immediately fell to Hermione's side, easing the brunette into a sitting position. "Mon amor! Are you alright!"

Mr. Granger, visibly stunned by his actions, opened his mouth to speak once more but rapidly went colorless as he could begin to hear…laughter. Loud maniacal laughter.

Hermione looked him dead in the eyes with a wicked smirk on her face. Not a speck of white could be seen as her teeth were now stained a bright crimson. Her now shattered nose gushed blood down her chin and onto her shirt. Her mirth only grew louder as she watched the man she had long believed to be her father recoil in terror.

"And so it all comes to the fucking light…I've been the doting daughter you've wanted for so long…only to see it all wiped away in one…fell…swoop…the damage has been done." She had a strong yen to take a shot of arsenic for every "I love you" said to her by her parents throughout her life. Before she could continue Fleur, who was now standing with fists clenched tightly at her sides, cut her off.

"Monsieur Granger…I 'ave been patient 'zis entire time…but 'eef you must know…'Ermione 'ees my lover. And I cannot stand idly by and watch you beat 'er…Ilove'er…I am utterly, madly, 'opelessly 'een love wiz your beautiful daughter." Fleur defiantly confessed. Hermione couldn't believe what she had just heard…her heart swelled tenfold in her chest, and she felt a renewed vigor at the French witch's declaration. "Strike 'er again and you will 'ave to deal wiz me as well."

Mr. Granger stared daggers at the brunette. "Get out of my house, you ungrateful brat. Take your whore with you. Get out! Both of you." He growled and pointed toward the front door. "Now!"

"Not a problem…Mr. Granger." The use of his surname caused her Father to stiffen and Hermione spat a large gob of blood all onto the plush white carpet of the room. "Good luck to you and your child."

The apparated away, leaving the stunned Grangers behind.

Pop!

The two women materialized in Fleur's living room, Hermione pressing the bottom of her shirt to her bleeding nose. Fleur scampered to the kitchen and returned with some towels, and she began to deftly wipe the blood from Hermione's battered face. She guided the brunette to the washroom, and gave her room to rinse her mouth and face with water. Looking back in the mirror, Hermione could hardly recognize herself. Around her crooked nose was an angry plume of black and blue, and deep dark circles surrounded her eyes. Her skin was even paler than usual.

"Let me see 'zee damage. Come now." Fleur's hands went to cup the brunettes face and positioned her head forward. The injury was substantial as Hermione's nose had swollen considerably and was even slightly askew. The French witch placed a tender kiss on Hermione's forehead before aiming her wand at the tip of the shattered nose. "Let me begin by offering you a pre-emptive apology for what I am about to do mon amor…Episkey!"

SNAP. The sound was sickening, as was the sensation that followed. Hermione wailed loudly in pain as her nose agonizingly corrected itself. She crumpled to the floor, clawing at her nose and began a vociferous sob, and finally a scream.

"Hush! Hush 'Ermione! Someone might 'zink I am murdering you!"

Hermione wailed and tore angrily at her hair. "AHHHH! MY MOTHER IS DEAD! SHE'S DEAD FLEUR! AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHO SHE IS! SHE'S DEAD BECAUSE OF ME!"

Fleur gathered the quaking woman in her arms, allowing her blood and tears to soil her dress. "'Eet's not your fault!"

"Where do I even begin to search for her! Gods Fleur, there's a war going on, people are dying…and all I want now is to know who my real family is! Damnit, I want to know who Iam!" A pair of lips pressed hard to her own silenced her.

"You are 'zee woman I love…'zats who you are." Kiss. "A wonderful," Kiss. "…captivating…" Kiss. "…woman who 'as single'andedly managed to capture my 'eart. A gorgeous woman who will not let 'zee selfish actions of uzzers to bring 'er down." Fleur now began to cry.

Hermione's rapid breathing was slowly beginning to subside at the sight of her lovers tears. They sat on the floor in silence for a few minutes, studying each other's faces slowly. The angry adrenaline rush fueled by the day's prior event was coming to an end as Hermione looked longingly into Fleur's blue eyes. "Did you mean what you said…" Hermione swallowed. "Back at my parents house…that you…love me?"

Fleur nodded. "Oui, every single word. I…love you 'Ermione…no matter who you are…" She pressed her lips to the brunette's ear and breathed seductively into it, "Je t'aime…mon amor" Hermione's hips bucked at the sensation, earning her yet another erotic "Je t'aime…" in her ears.

"Oh Fleur…I love you…" With that Hermione melted into the blonde witch, kissing her deeply. Her tongue plunged into the French woman's waiting mouth, and she took hold of the blonde's silvery hair. Kisses blazed a white-hot trail down Hermione's neck as Fleur's lips and teeth made contact with the supple skin. Hermione couldn't take it any more; she had to lay claim to this goddess…the hunger that roared inside of her demanded to be sated…now.

They stumbled blindly across the room; mouths latched together and restless hands clawing at the other's outfit. One by one, pieces of clothes were hastily ripped from wanton bodies until they were clad only in their underwear. Fleur triumphantly straddled the brown haired witch upon the couch. Hermione's breath caught in her lungs as she could feel how wet the French witch was through the meager barrier of her silk panties. Manicured nails raked the taut skin of Hermione's stomach and nimble hands slipped under the fabric of her bra and came to rest upon the swell of her breasts. Everywhere the French witch touched her burned, and the sensation made the sensitive organs down below pulsate and dampen with desire. Fleur smiled at the brunette's whimpers, and traced the ridge down the middle of Hermione's torso. "You 'ave an incredible body mon ange…I cannot wait to taste 'eet…"

"And I, you my love…but Merlin that bra that you are wearing…it's quite a distraction…to be honest I doubt I'll be able to focus on the task at hand while you've got that on…" The brunette smiled wickedly.

"Oh 'zat will not do!" Slowly Fleur reached behind her back and undid the clasp of the offending garment, allowing it to roll little by little off her arms, finally revealing the treasures underneath. Hermione's heart ceased in her chest.

"Merlin…" The stubborn witch was rendered dumbstruck at the sight. "Those…are…" The moonlight that shone through the windows danced playfully upon the porcelain skin of Fleur's fuller breasts. Hermione felt like a mere disciple in the presence of a deity.

Fleur leaned forward nearly pressing the soft flesh into the brunettes face, and Hermione was suddenly terrified of having a seizure from all the pent up lust inside. Opening her mouth, she welcomed one of the pillow soft nipples into her mouth, swirling her tongue gently around it and nipping at it with her teeth. Fleur moaned loudly and pressed herself harder against Hermione.

Eager fingers tugged at the seam of Hermione's panties and she lightly pushed Fleur off of her. "Mmm, not enough is it?" Hermione wriggled out from under the French woman, and seductively removed the final threshold between Fleur and her rapacious desire. Fully exposed to her lover for the first time Hermione had never felt more comfortable in her life. Fleur's hungry eyes raked over Hermione's long taut abdomen that stretched like the wall of a canyon into the abyss of her groin. Pulling Fleur's naked form back against her she breathed into Fleur's mouth. "You are a goddess…A GODDESS." Fleur moaned in response. She savored the feeling of Fleur's body pressed against her own, their breasts now pressed together.

"I love you 'Ermione…" The words, though barely a whisper uttered in Fleur's pleasing cadence, resonated loudly in Hermione's head, as if someone had screamed them from a mountaintop.

And they began to make love.

Fleur penetrated Hermione deeply, both physically and emotionally. Her movements were deliberate yet gentle and Hermione suppressed the urge to cry from sheer euphoria all throughout. Whenever Fleur moved within her, it was if the very earth lurched beneath them. When Fleur finally gave her the first climax of their relationship, Hermione couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears streamed from her eyes as she cried out loud in ecstasy, her lissome body writhing as the aftershock of her orgasm traveled through her nerves igniting her every sense.

Fleur, Hermione discovered, was a very, very vocal lover.

Hermione returned the feelings to Fleur, starting with teasing kisses in the valley of Fleur's breasts, and following with a journey of feather-light kisses causing the blonde to shiver with delight. At the end of her voyage down the expanse of Fleur's body, Hermione's face hovered dangerously above Fleur's throbbing sex, her hot breath teasing the engorged skin of the organ below. Her mouth lowered finally tasting her lover at her most precious opening. Fleur bucked and flailed under Hermione's agonizingly light touch. Using her tongue Hermione would build Fleur up to her breaking point only to pause for a few seconds; sometimes giving a teasing nip or lick at Fleur's sex, or lightly blowing air on the throbbing organ. Fleur would give a carnal snarl and Hermione would cherish the blonde once more. When she finally came Fleur screamed the brunette's name, each of the four syllables positively saturated with lust. The brunette finished her ministrations with a light tug at one of Fleur's lips with her teeth. Both women clung tightly to another, their bodies shiny with sweat, breaths completely ragged. Hermione placed a hand lightly upon Fleur's stomach, feeling the sinewy muscles beneath still gently quaking in the aftershock of their passion.

"Oh 'Ermione…I love you…so much mon amor… Joyeux anniversaire."

"I love you too…" Hermione hugged the French woman tighter and sighed contentedly. "Happy Birthday to me indeed…"

Hermione apparated into the one tiny spot in the courtyard Professor McGonagall told her was free of the anti-apparition jinx. Her appearance could only be described as disheveled as she had left her blood stained t-shirt behind at Fleur's apartment, and now only wore her black vest over her half naked torso. Bruises and bite marks mottled her stomach and arms, but she cared nothing to hide them. In fact, she wore them like a medal, skipping happily across the grounds, whistling a cheerful tune. Clutched in her right hand was an old photograph of Fleur from the Yule Ball. She saw the photo tucked away in the drawer of Fleur's nightstand and she practically begged on hand and knee to take the picture with her back to Hogwarts. Fleur relented and begrudgingly handed the photograph to the brunette. Hermione replied with a simple kiss on the cheek. The Fleur Delacour in the photo smiled warmly at Hermione, occasionally blowing a kiss or giving a coy wink. Stealing a glance, Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat; in her crystal blue gown Fleur looked like a queen.

Her joyful whistling grew louder as she approached the great doors only to have her good feeling shattered at the sight of a exceedingly concerned looking group of Order Members. Something was very, very wrong.

Stopping dead in her tracks, and scanned the group with her eyes. Hermione's stomach twisted into a painful knot at the sight of most of the Order, as well as Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lavender. A few pockets of terrified students dotted the courtyard as well. "Hermione!" Cried Harry, sprinting over to her. He gathered her into a hug. "Thank Merlin you're alright!"

"Harry…what…what's happened? Why is the Order here?"

Harry held her at arms length, speaking in a sobered voice. "'Mione…a group of death eaters attacked tonight…"

Hermione's eyes went wide, her mouth agape. "Is anyone hurt!"

Harry shook his head, and he ran a hand through his unruly mop of hair. "No oddly enough…they only attacked the grounds, which were practically vacant seeing as it's past curfew. Couple of small explosions here and there, but nothing else beyond that. Mad Eye is convinced it was all part of some sort of diversion."

She blanched. "And the Aurors?"

"They're scouring the halls, making sure none of the Death Eaters made it inside…so far things appear clear. It looks like they never made it past the front gates."

Hermione heaved a sigh of relief. "Ahh that's good…" They stood in silence for a moment, awkwardly shuffling their feet. "You all right?" Hermione muttered quietly.

Harry nodded. "Yeah. Bit rattled, but I'm OK. You?"

"Can't complain. Things are certainly different from what they used to be…but I'm getting by." Another discomfited pause passed as Hermione was at a loss for what to say next. "Has the Order any leads?"

Harry shook his head in a frustrating manner. "No. Nothing. This is the first we've seen of the death eaters near Hogwarts since Dumbledore…well you know. Lupin suspects that the Death Eaters are building up their ranks, whereas Mad Eye's theory concerns them falling into complete disarray. That they're simply grasping at straws."

"Disarray? Over what?"

"Not sure. He figures if they were truly at full force, they would've sacked the ministry and Hogwarts by now. Our defenses have never been weaker now that Dumbledore is gone…"

"Well, who do you believe?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Neither to be honest. Voldemort carries himself with no conscience, and no thought. Tonight he merely saw an opportunity to throw us off guard. If you ask me, it is the Order that needs to build up strength." Hermione nodded. "Shame we didn't really get a chance to duel. Been a little afraid of getting rusty you know?" The two friends laughed softly, and stood silent once more, both content just to be in the other's presence despite the dangers that surrounded them.

Harry ultimately broke the silence. "Happy Birthday by the way…wanted to say it earlier…but McGonagall said you had gone to visit your parents for the evening."

Hermione nodded, trying desperately not to think back to the argument at her parent's house. "Yes…"

"Where they happy to see you?"

"Yes." She lied. She swallowed a nagging lump in her throat as this was the first reminder of her parents in the past few hours. "Thanks for the well wishes…if you don't mind I'd like to get ready for bed. It's been a long day and it seems as though you've all got the situation under control..."

As she made her way back toward the entrance of the castle, she heard Harry call out her name once more. Turning to face him, Harry gave her a lopsided smirk and gestured at Hermione's lack of an undershirt. "…how is Fleur?" He asked with a knowing wink.

She blushed furiously. "She…she is brilliant…"

Hermione was relieved to find the girl's dorm was vacant amid all of the excitement of the death eater attack. Placing Fleur's photograph on her nightstand her mind immediately returned to the hours prior, her breath catching in her lungs. She flopped down onto the bed clutching at the photograph only to feel a sharp pain in her back.

"Ouch!" She winced audibly as she had landed painfully upon something tucked underneath her comforter. Feeling around the blanket she found the large object had felt like…a book. Ripping off the blanket she was greeted by a bulky ragged tome, nearly falling apart at its spine. Bringing it closer to her eyes, she scrutinized it closely. The book's cryptic title intrigued her right away.

Out of Darkness:

The Most Ancient House of Gaunt

Something else about the book seemed odd to Hermione as she produced a neatly folded letter that had been hastily tucked within its pages. Unfolding it she saw that the note was written with an elegant flowing script.

Dearest Hermione,

So sorry about the attack tonight. It was a necessary distraction in order to give you this.

Within these pages lies the answer you may have been seeking for so long.

In exactly one month's time we will strike once more to draw the Aurors away from the grounds.

To find what you seek, go to the 'shrieking shack' on that same night, alone.

Tell no one. Or they will die.

Bring no one. Or they will die.

Your safety and yours alone is guaranteed.

Anyone that tries to stop you on that night will die.

Honor your true blood.

For He is watching you.

There was nothing else. No signatures. Nothing.

"Honor my…true blood?" She gazed down at the rotting book that had clearly once seen better days.

From behind the door the ever-increasing sounds of female voices drew nearer. Panicking, Hermione shoved the tome hastily under her bed and stuffed the parchment into her pants pocket. She took off her cap and began to fix her hair as her roommates returned for the evening. They barely regarded her, and she liked it that way. Delving into the Gaunt History would have to wait another night.

til next time...ttfn...tata for now!