Chapter 8
"The New Ally"

James stared at Hermione's retreating figure while holding his cheek with eyes wide opened. His heart beating so furiously but for some reason it doesn't bother him anymore because along with the speed of his heart beat was the unexplainable calmness that it brought to him.

"Prongs!"

His eyes was still focus on the spot where Hermione vanished that he didn't noticed when his friends finally found him.

"Prongs?"

Sirius frowned when instead of answering him James just kept on looking at something with a very wide grin that could split his face if he doesn't stop soon.

"James, are you okay?"

James looked at Remus still with that stupid grin which made Remus and Peter look at each other with confusion, James is acting really weird and they don't know if they should be worried about that.

"I'm okay.. no I'm more than okay I am perfectly okay!"

The three watch James walk away almost skip due to extreme happiness still wearing that grin leaving them confuse and worried for their friends sanity.

"Should we be worried about James sanity?"

Sirius said who was seriously worried about James and for the first time that day Remus didn't know how to answer Sirius.

"Or we can follow him?"

The two looked at Peter who immediately blushed having his two best friends look at him as if they only just saw him for the first time… "S-Sorry?"

"No, Pete that's actually a very brilliant idea." Sirius said.

And with that the three raced towards James.

Hermione POV

After her encounter with Harry's father Hermione felt so much better now, she is determined to find all of the horcruxes and destroy them. If only Harry knew his father, he will be very proud of him. James might be a prankster and can be childish sometimes but his heart is in the right direction, hopefully it will never be tainted by the darkness of this world.

Sadly she cannot describe Lily the way she described James. She cannot see the Lily that was described to her by everyone no matter how much she tries. Every time she sees Lily all she can see from her eyes is hatred and she cannot determine the source of that anger. They never talk and if they are in close proximity she can always see the glare especially towards her and it hurts to think that this was the same woman that Harry admires so much.

Where is the Lily that can see everyone's goodness? Where is the woman that managed to melt even Snape's frozen heart? Hopefully this is just a phase for Lily because she doesn't want to hate the woman that will conceive a wonderful man someday.

She attended all her classes and continued to act the way she did before and as expected she received Professor Lain's wrath who deducted her house, 50 points and if possible she could almost see smoke coming from Lily who seems to hate her now more than before.

The truth is she expected the Professor to give her detention, not that she was complaining that he didn't, because it was probably the very first time that she wanted to thank her professor. But what bothered her was, the look he gave her after his almost half an hour sermon, it was quite unnerving.

It was as if he was finding something in her eyes that it took a lot of effort from her to stay as neutral as she could, because the looks that he is giving to her is the kind of look that Professor Snape gave them when the three of them are breaking rules behind his back.

Her treatment with the Marauders is still the same as before, much to James disappointment which didn't go unnoticed to his friends who by now were used to the situation, but not James who always looked at Hermione with unexplainable longing.

"Come on Prongs cheer up, just give her time."

James sighed he thought after that day things would change between Hermione and but now it's like they are back again to square one.

"Come on James let's just set pranks for the snake."

Reluctantly James followed his friend but not before casting a glance to Hermione who was silently eating her dinner beside Anica.

From the corner of her eyes Hermione saw the Marauders leaving, she waited for a minute before bidding Anica goodnight who bought her excuse that she was really tired and wanted to go to bed early.

She secretly thanked Sirius for pursuing James to do whatever pranks to whomever. Even though she appeared not to care about her surroundings she observed everything and she knew James was confused with her actions but she really couldn't understand his fascination towards her.

It will be easy to proceed to her plan but she cannot do that without risking everything under the eyes of James and the other Marauders. That's why she secretly set a trap that will ignite Sirius irritation towards the Slytherins because she knows that by doing that Sirius will do everything to retaliate and his friend will help him.

After creating a dummy that's look exactly like her, she discreetly leaves the castle without anyone noticing her using the secret passage that will lead her directly to the dark forest where she can apparate without the charm of Hogwarts stopping her.

She knows that Dumbledore would never agree to her plan but her time is running out and whether Dumbledore agreed to it or not she will carry on with the plan.

Hermione apparated immediately when she saw the perfect spot. When she felt the familiar sensation of apparition she ready herself for the upcoming danger, knowing exactly what might happen just in case the odds were not on her side.

She regarded the monstrous size of the Malfoy Manor with so much loathing. Her first encounter in this place was not really appealing and if she had a choice she would never set another step in the place again but that's the problem she doesn't have a choice.

Lucius POV

When his father summoned him at their Manor, Lucius had a gut feeling that it would be about his arranged marriage to Narcissa and whether he likes her or not it would never change his father's decision.

Blood purity, of course he believes in everything that his father told him since he was young but sometimes he can't help but question if he really believed everything and not just following his father.

He is the only heir of the Malfoy's, the next Lord Malfoy and he needs to be the best who is worthy to carry on the name of the Malfoy's even if it means sacrificing his own self and happiness.

When he arrived at the beautiful Manor he couldn't help but sigh. The manor, a true epitome of wealth but that all it has, whenever he enters the house he can only feel the coldness because the warm feeling that it used to have was long gone the same time his mother died from magical disease, since his mother's death his father had changed. He became colder and now he even became a recipient of that coldness, he never saw his father smile again. His father might still be alive but his heart died along with his mother.

He found his father sitting in their Library while reading some documents."I'm home father." And just like he expected, his father just looked at him with a very formal expression.

Hermione POV

She was never more thankful to her blood till now; she managed to enter the Malfoy's wards without much effort, who would have thought that someday her true blood will be her greatest asset.

The house might be a picture of wealth but for Hermione she could see beyond it, all she saw was the loneliness covering the house, yup house, it's like a magnificent building but will never become home because it lacks the warmth feeling that a home can bring you.

Using her memory Hermione silently started to walk through the manor taking a very calculated steps with wand in hand ready to defend herself. She remembers that according to the Order of the Phoenix, the horcruxes was hidden in the Malfoy's vault at their manor which is inside Abraxas bedroom.

Using her photographic memory Hermione thinks of everything she remembers in the map that Dobby gave them before he died. It was so easy to enter the Malfoy's sr.'s bedroom and for unknown reason it makes her more nervous. The room was dark and cold and she couldn't help but wonder how Lucius' father managed to sleep and stay here without feeling uncomfortable, which the atmosphere was giving to her.

Hermione closed her eyes while silently concentrating to use the spell; they invented back in the future to track any horcruxes. Before she knew it, her feet already moved towards something and when she opened her eyes she can't help but gasp when she saw a large portrait of a beautiful woman, it was unmoving unlike the other portraits in the magical world but the woman's soft eyes captivated her in a way she could not explain.

The portrait seemed alive and looking into the deepest part of her soul but instead of feeling uncomfortable all she can feel is calmness that was coming from the portrait…no its not coming from the portrait it is coming from the woman in the portrait, and before she could stop herself her hand already moved on its own to touch the portrait.

She cannot explain why, but the woman mesmerized her. There was something about this woman that captivates her she just couldn't pin point what it was. When her fingers touched the glass screen of the portrait her eyes widen when she felt the familiar magical ward.

She readied herself to escape only to find nothing.

Whatever protective spell put on the portrait, it activated a protection in the whole Manor rendering her incapable of apparition or any escaping spell. She heard two Pop sounds and saw two familiar heads of blond hair, she knew that she didn't have a choice but face them.

"Granger?"

Even in his usual poker face Lucius can't stop the shock that registered on his face seeing the familiar face of Hermione Granger. When they felt the wards in the master bedroom stir they immediately apparated to there, knowing that whoever the culprit was, he would never escape because the ward that his father set was strong and the only way to break it was through his father.

Imagined his shock to find the girl that keeps on popping in his mind no matter how much he tries to forget her, casually standing there as if waiting for them to appear.

Hermione regarded Lucius with calm and expressionless face though in reality she feels completely opposite of what she is showing. She wanted to curse loudly for being careless and acting without thinking, if this was war she would be dead by now and she can literally hear Harry's sermon in her mind shouting at her for being stupid.

"Do you know her Lucius?"

"She is my school mate, father."

Hermione look at Abraxas and observe him none too discreetly, she is already corned. The only thing she can do is face them with the courage she has and not be intimidated by their obvious hostility towards her.

"Classmate…" Abraxas look at Hermione sharply that made so many wizards back down only to find her looking at him and to Abraxas his astonishment she was looking at him that can matched his own heated gaze.

"What's your name girl?"

Hermione's brow furrowed, it seems that the lack of manners runs in the family. "It is only polite to introduce yourself before you ask for someone's name."

Lucius can't help but be frustrated not only to Hermione's calm demeanour but especially to her lack of self preservation. His father is not the type of person, who spares anyone of his wrath; he just wishes his father will not lose his temper because he doesn't know if his magic is enough to protect this girl. That bothered Lucius more, having this urge to protect this girl even from his own father. He cannot understand this feeling , he is a Malfoy and Malfoy's never feels anything like this.

"Do you want to die girl!" Abraxas loud voice echoes around the room that could make anyone shake out of fear but to Lucius shock and Abraxas irritation Hermione just leaned on the wall comfortably while looking at her nails in boredom.

"Geez, you don't need to shout, my ears can hear just fine."

Abraxas gritted his teeth out of anger, No one will disrespect him especially in his own house and before he can think better he already drew his wand and pointed it to the impertinent girl and casted a hexing spell that will teach the girl a lesson about respect.

"Watch out!" Lucius wanted to shout but his fear for Hermione rendered him immobile and speechless especially knowing that the girl's lack of talent when it came to magic, according to the gossip in Hogwarts the girl can't even cast a simple spell.

Hermione already expected the attack so with ease she raised her hand, wandlessly and non verbally casted a shield around her making the spell bounce and if the two Malfoy's didn't move fast it might hit them.

"What the!" The two Malfoy's exclaimed with different reason while looking at Hermione who maintained her calm posture while still leaning on the wall and now looking at them with a smirk that can rival theirs.

To Abraxas, he was shocked at how easy for this girl to cast a shield to protect herself and turn his own spell against him. This girl was not ordinary she managed to cast a spell wandlessly and non verbally.

To Lucius he can only look at Hermione with wide eyes, this was not the gossip that has been circulating around Hogwarts. This is different from the weak witch that his fellow Slytherins make fun off when they are in their Common Room.

"You seemed to forget the most important rule to stay alive." Hermione made sure that they heard the seriousness in her voice while looking at them with a very calm expression. "First, observe your opponent for weakness. Second, Never attack first without any clear assessment on your opponent."

Hermione almost laughed when she saw the wide eyes of the two Malfoy's, their eyes so big that they might pop out of their sockets. If she only knew that revealing herself to the two Malfoy's would be this fun she might have done this much sooner."Third, if you are not sure you will win, retreat and fourth… never let your enemy gain an upper hand and finally use any means to win and leave."

Lucius head almost swelled in disbelief. Those rules, both his father and him knew the rules by heart and soul. Those are rules that were taught by their ancestor until it reached the new generation. It was the rule of surviving and only a true Malfoy will know that. It was part of any Malfoy inheritance and every Malfoy treated these rules sacred, too sacred that no Malfoy divulged the rules to a non member of the Malfoy family.

He looks at his father questioningly, but seeing the bewilderment in his father's face gave him an answer that his father was as much surprised as him.

"Where do you learn that girl?"

Abraxas question reminded her a part of her past that she wanted so much to forget but she can't because every fibre of her being is a reminder of her deepest and darkest secret. Her face hardened she really wanted to hate these people, who love to belittle those that they think is below them. She wants to hate them for their unjust treatment to those that deserve equal respect that they are giving to the purebloods. She wants to hate them by simply making her the way she is.

Hatred defeated Hermione's reasoning, she raised her wand and without warning she casted a spell that harshly threw the two Malfoy towards the wall .She tried to cast a spell that will hurt them more...she really tried but when she was almost finished saying the spell something was stopping her. Then she heard another "Pop" sound.

"That is enough Ms. Granger!"

Hermione looked at Dumbledore who was looking at her with so much disappointment. Now she understood how Harry felt every time Dumbledore looked at him like this. She put down her hand and bowed her head down in shame.

"What's happening here, Dumbledore?"

Hermione didn't need to raise her head to see the dark aura that probably surrounded Malfoy Sr. because of her but she couldn't bring herself to care. She is busy at the moment trying to control her anger.

"Who is she Dumbledore?"

In some point of her life she also asked the same question but when she got the answer she wished that everything was just a big joke or a part of her nightmare.

"Look at her Abraxas, who do you see when you look at her."

Hermione clinched her fist tightly and looked at Dumbledore sharply. "What are you doing?"

Dumbledore remained calm not even slightly affected by Hermione's harsh tone."It's time for them to know the truth."

"You promised me that you would not say anything without my permission!"

"You also promised me that you would not come here and do anything that will compromise your safety."

Hermione didn't know what to say, she could not really continue to argue with Dumbledore knowing she was the first to break their promise. "They don't deserve the truth." She said quietly but enough to be heard by the three wizards inside the room.

"Hermione, they can help you."

Hermione remained silent knowing she already lost the battle.

Abraxas ignored the argument of the two instead he did what Dumbledore said to him. He looked at the girl and he must admit the girl is gorgeous but he is sure that this was not what Dumbledore wanted him to see. He looked at her, and this time much more detailed and his eyes widened when he finally knew what Dumbledore wanted him to see.

"Adrianna?" Abraxas gasped gaining attention of the three especially Lucius who is standing beside him watching the scene with a very confuse expression.

"Father?" Lucius looked at his father questioningly having heard his mother's name. He looked at Hermione too see what made his father compare Hermione to his mother. His mother died when he was still young so he doesn't remember much about her. He always remembered his mother's warmth when she was alive.

Abraxas ignored Lucius instead he looks at Dumbledore questioningly.

"Abraxas, Lucius…meet Hermione Granger. Lucius daughter."

If not for the tension Hermione might have laughed at the comical faces of the two who seemed so shock that they lost their famous Malfoy composure. Their mouth is wide open while looking at her with so much disbelief.

"Daughter? That's impossible."

"Oh, please Malfoy don't worry I am not really thrilled having your blood in my veins."
Lucius didn't know why but hearing that come from Hermione hurts him more than anything.

"Explain everything to us Dumbledore."

Hermione almost admire Abraxas for gaining his composure easily, while looking at them calmly as if he didn't hear a very shocking revelation.

Dumbledore looks at Hermione as if asking her permission, but Hermione knows that whether she likes it or not Dumbledore already decided to include the two Malfoy's in their secret.
"If you're going to do this then I will not be the one to reveal anything. I'm going back to Hogwarts." She didn't wait for their reply before she ran out of the room, because she still believed they didn't deserve anything from her.

Lucius just looked at Hermione's retreating form. He cannot understand the hatred she feels towards them and he can't help but be afraid to find out the answer to that hatred.

"Well gentlemen why don't you sit down so I can begin my story."

And just like that Dumbledore begun to tell them the story that bound to change the fate of the magical world.

Hermione POV
She wanted to scream and hex anyone. They never deserve the truth but of course Dumbledore thought otherwise. With a clinch fist Hermione strode towards the Gryffindor tower not really caring if anyone caught her. It's already past curfew but she doesn't care. "Darn it!" she really hates Dumbledore right now.

She never felt the need to curse anyone, but now! She tried to take several deep breaths to calm herself but she can still feel her anger.

"Well, Well, Well what do we have here."

Hermione sighed exasperatedly upon hearing Sirius familiar teasing voice, of course he would make his appearance to her when her mood is continued walking and chose to ignore him but of course Sirius really doesn't know when to stop. Its either he is insensitive or he just really wants to annoy someone, and he chooses her to be that someone.

She is already tired from her confrontation with the Malfoy's and Dumbledore and she didn't need any of the Marauders annoying presence right now. Hermione forced to stop walking when Sirius blocked her way and when she tried to side step him he blocked her again.

"Hey Granger don't you know it is already past curfew."

With a concealed irritation Hermione looked at Sirius with a raised eyebrow. "I can say the same thing to you Black."

Sirius grinned, Merlin he really likes this girl's wit no wonder James is so fascinated by her."Well if that's the case why don't you allow me to escort you back to our humble lair."

Before Hermione can say anything Sirius already took her hand and dragged her towards the Gryffindor tower. "You know, I can walk just fine without you dragging me like a petulant child!"

Sirius just laughs not really caring at Hermione's obvious irritation. James, Remus and Peter are waiting for her in their common room and he really would love to see James reaction when he saw who was with him.

Hermione sighed irritatedly, she never remembered Sirius to be this irritating in the future. But she is wise enough to know that arguing with him right now is futile.

After Sirius said the password to the fat lady they entered the common room and she almost bumped into Sirius when he suddenly stopped while still holding her hand.

Hermione readied herself to say something nasty at Sirius but was immediately stopped when she heard a booming sound.

"What are you doing with her?"

And when she looked at the source of that voice she saw James with a very serious expression looking at them…accusingly? Merlin can this day be any more stressful?

Well that's my new chapter hopefully you will continue to read this…please keep on reviewing this, I am really like reading different reviews coming from different person…thank you for the support.