A/N: Sorry that it's taken me so long to update, I've been really busy this summer. I'll try to update sooner with the next chapter, but I'll need reviews to encourage me. I hope you like this chapter. It took me a while to come up with when I was writing it before.

Chapter 4: Shomersham Place

Hermione stood at the door of Shomersham Placecontemplating whether she should knock or not. She had apparated to the gates and walked up the driveway, all the while thinking of what her brother and Snape had told her. It all made sense; her brother leaving, Snape showing her more respect than the other students after her fifth year, and Snape taking her into his home to take care of her. Finally, she lifted the knocker on the door and let it fall three times. It was quite early for anyone to call, but the butler was there, looking her over with a look of confusion and distain.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I as wondering if I could speak with Devil Cynster this morning."

"His grace is occupied this morning."

"Who is it Webster?" Honoria's voice sounded through the foyer to the front door. Honoria Cynster was the Duchess of St. Ives, her husband, Devil Cynster, being the sixth Duke of St. Ives.

"It is no one of importance, your grace."
"Devil expects someone; maybe it's them Let them in and shows them to the library." Hermione heard her receding steps into the dining hall, as she was led into the library.

"His Grace will be with you shortly, Miss." Hermione noticed his change in demeanor, despite the clothing she was wearing. The Cynster family had always been traditional, believing that women should wear gowns and that men should wear breeches; which is what Hermione was wearing. A few minutes of sitting in the chaise by the fire and Devil Cynster stepped into the room, already speaking.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. This morning has been hectic. If you could just bring the papers to the desk, we'll get started." Hermione sat where she was. Devil had his back to her, and he was pouring amber liquid into two sifters. He held one behind him for her to take and she didn't hesitate. She gulped it down in one shot and waited for Devil to turn to her. He spoke as he turned to her. "Well, you seem very happy this morning, Vane, I wonder what your wife would--" He stopped dead as he face Hermione and saw the empty sifter in her hand. He took it from her abruptly and asked, "Can I help you with something, miss? I have a meeting this morning that has been put off for some time."

Hermione smiled vaguely. "I should have guessed you wouldn't remember me. It's been years since you've seen me. Sorry I wasted your time, your grace." She turned to leave and bumped into a solid form, nearly knocking her to the floor, but they grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling. She stared up into the eyes of Vane Cynster. He let her go and stepped aside, letting her pass. When she left the room, he turned to his cousin.

"Is that who I think it is?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but if you think it is Emma, you are thinking the same thing I am. I wonder what he did to her to make her come back."

"Probably what he's been doing to her all these years after their marriage and she finally got tired of it."

The fire in the grate came to life as the head of Albus Dumbledore popped in and spoke to them. They settled by it and listened to the older man inside and realized that the person that had just left was not the Emma Riddle that they had supposed, but it was her daughter; someone they hadn't seen since she was seven.

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Out in the hall, Hermione bumped into another person on her way out. She looked up to apologize and found herself looking at Draco Malfoy. He pushed past her without actually seeing her face and she walked as fast as she could without actually jogging. When she reached the foyer, she had hoped to go unnoticed as she slipped out of the house, but she had no such luck. Honoria Cynster was leaving the dining room as she entered the foyer.

"Hermione, is that you?" Honoria walked over to her as she stopped dead in her tracks and pushed her hair out of her face. "It is you. I didn't recognize you with the hair and the eyes. Did you get contacts?" She didn't wait for her to answer, but stepped back and looked at her as she spoke. "My, how you've grown. Last time I saw you, you were just seven years old."

"Yes, I remember. But, I'm in a bit of a hurry. I just came to see his grace."

"Oh, you know Devil wishes you to call him Devil"

"He didn't really show it today."

"That is because I thought you were your mother." Hermione turned to look at Devil, Vane, and Draco, all standing in the entrance to the foyer, looking at her. Devil stepped away from the two men standing next to him and hugged Hermione. He was one of the few people in the Cynster family who knew she was in fact his niece, but he was unable to admit it. HE took a step back from Hermione and surveyed the young woman in front of him. She looked like a clone of her mother, Emma Cynster, who was one of the most ravishingly beautiful women he had ever seen.

"My word… you look even more beautiful every time I see you."

Hermione sighed and chuckled at the same time, filled with relief.

"What brings you here, dear," Devil asked her curiously.

"Well," Hermione started cautiously. "I need a place to stay for a few days."

"Why?" Everyone in the room stared at her and knew something was amiss. "Is it Richard? Did he hit you again? By the Gods, if he did, I'll--"

"You actually can't do anything. He's being held by the Ministry of Magic. But he's not the reason I need a place to stay."

"Then why," Honoria asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to tell them.

"My brother left when I was nine."

"Yes, we were informed," Vane said. He and Draco had been standing back from the conversation, simply listening. Now, he had stepped forward, leaving Draco feeling left out.

"Well…..Richard blocked out all the memories that I had of his friend and myself. Then, when my brother came back, they both told me of it and it all came flooding back like a tidal wave. I didn't know what else to do. They've been searching for me ever since. It's been almost two days. This is the only place that I knew of that I could get away from it all and they wouldn't find me."

"Who is this friend," Devil asked as he silenced Honoria with a look when she was about to speak up.

"His name is Severus Snape. He's my Potions Professor at school."

"OK. Honoria, why don't you settle Hermione into the guest room upstairs and then come to the library for a talk."

Hermione jumped into Devil's arms and hugged him with all her strength, whispering her thanks. Vane and Draco looked at Honoria cautiously, but she didn't look peeved. In fact, she smiled. She knew by the way she spoke of Severus Snape that she was infatuated by him. She also knew that Devil had always been like a father-figure to her.

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After settling Hermione into the guest room, Honoria headed for the library. She opened the door, crossed to the desk and immediately started speaking to her husband who was sitting in the oak chair behind it. "You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"No, I'm not. I shall inform both her brother and his friend that she has arrived and let them come collect her."

"She came to you for help and this is how you help her? By putting her back in the hands of the people she was running from?"

"Honoria, despite what you think, we are obligated to do this," Vane said from the chair by the fire. Draco sat in the chair opposite from Vane, looking extremely uncomfortable.

"And how are you obligated Vane?"

"That is not your concern, Honoria." Devil spoke firmly this time, trying to sound intimidating. But everyone knew that Honoria could get Devil to do anything, just like any other Cynster wife.

"Well, since you refuse to tell me, I shall be going." Honoria moved toward the door.

"Just where are you going?" Devil knew something was wrong the second she gave up so easily.

"Well, since you are going to send her back, I am going to send her somewhere safe." She was at the door when Devil spoke.

Alright, alright." Honoria turned back and looked at him waiting patiently for him to explain his obligation.

"Very few people know that there are three people missing from the Cynster family tree. You won't even find the spots that are missing. Scandal has a twin sister and her name is Emma. She was disowned when she married Tom Marvolo Riddle. They had a child together, of which Tom is unaware. Emma put her daughter up for adoption after naming her Emma Hermione Jane Violet Riddle. She was adopted by a muggle family as requested and named Hermione Jane Granger. Her brother came to me with Severus just this morning after she left this library and asked me to keep an eye out for her. Richard had James accused of abusing her when it was in fact himself. James was ordered by the Ministry to stay away from her. When they discovered it was Richard who was abusing her, they told James he could see her. By this time, she was a Severus Snape's residence, under his care. Then they discovered that the Dark Lord, Tom, wanted a daughter to spoil. Emma told him of his daughter and they've been searching for her for three months. Severus and James came to me and told me this. This is why I am under obligation to send her back. Severus has protection on his house. Even though we have protection, Tom can still get into the house because he is technically part of this family, even if he is never mentioned or if he is not on the family tree. Any member of the family can enter the house without consent of anyone; they just have to go through the front door; which would not be hard for Tom. The same goes for Hermione's stepfather. Once they're inside, they can apparate out. They just can't apparate inside."

Honoria stood still, staring at her husband. Just as Devil suspected, James, Severus, Dumbledore, and Harry came through the fireplace, one after the other. Harry took a look around the room, spotted Draco Malfoy and pointed, shouting, "What the hell is he doing here?"

"He is here because he is our spy against Voldemort," Dumbledore stated.

Severus stepped forward and spoke. "Where is she, Devil?"

"She's upstairs sleeping in the guest room next to the Master suite."

"Alone," James asked.

"Of course," Honoria stated.

James, Severus, and Harry ran from the room, up the main stairs and down the hall to the guest room that Hermione was stayed in. Severus kicked in the door, not bothering with magic even though he had pulled out his wand.

A man stood over Hermione's crumbled form as she cowered on the floor. Richard looked up as he heard the door broken down. He blocked the spells cast at him and apparated out of the mansion.

Severus went to Hermione and picked her up to put her in his lap. He rocked her as she trembled, refusing to let them see her cry.

"Richard escaped Ministry custody about an hour ago," James explained. He didn't seem to care that his best friend held his younger sister in his arms, comforting her with sweet words and promises that no one was going to hurt her.

A/N: I hope you liked it. Again, I will update soon if I get lots of reviews. Let me know what you thought by Reviewing. It's the little purple button below.