Sadly I own nothing, all rights go to our Queen JKR.

2nd October 1984

"Good morning sleepy heads." Bellatrix bounced lightly on Hermione's bed as she threw a decorative pillow at Draco.

"Get up, I have made eggs on pancakes for breakfast."

"You or the elf?" Draco growled playfully throwing the pillow back.

"If you are quite finished Nephew, I made it from scratch so now let's go before it gets too cold." Bellatrix glared at him.

Both children practically dragged their bottoms out of bed. They had stayed up rather late into the night talking or rather making a theory on where Tom had gotten to.

Trudging down the stairs, yawning and rubbing their eyes both children managed to make it the rather large kitchen where Bellatrix had breakfast served and ready.

"Aunt Bella?" Hermione asked over her pancakes.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Where was my Father last night?"

"I have no idea, he did not confide in me what his plans were, however, I do know he will be back after we have gone." She poured them both fresh orange juice and saw the sad look on Hermione's face. "Although I am sure it will not be overly long before you next see him."

"Promise?"

"I promise until then you have Draco, Lucius, Narcissa and myself to help look after you."

"Ok, maybe a trip to Fortescue's may make me feel better." Hermione blinked her eyelids up at Bella.

Bella had to give the girl credit, Merlin loves a trier. Cackling she threw her head back and hugged Hermione around her shoulder.

"We will see, but not because you think you can bribe me, but because I was planning a trip to Gringotts today anyway and if you are good, you may just get an ice cream."

Bellatrix did not want to lie to Hermione but she did, last night Tom had, in fact, told her part of his plan, she did not know where he was going other than he was going to recruit a young child and it was Bellatrix's job to travel to Gringotts and make a separate account from Tom's under the name as 'Tom's Ward.'

"Bella are you ready?" Narcissa called from the floo. "Merlins Beard! Why are you two still in your nightwear?" She looked at the two young children.

"Aunt Bella just made us get up." Draco whined whilst hugging his Mother good morning.

"Well my little Dragon, if you are not ready in five minutes I will not buy you a new pair of flying gloves. Hermione same goes for you, no new book if you are not..." Narcissa did not get a chance to finish her sentence by the time she had got so far Draco and Hermione were stood in front of her, a picture of perfection.

"So that is how we are playing this today," Bellatrix smirked over Hermione's head at Draco, she slowly charmed each curl into a loose braid. "Hermione, you will Floo with me, Draco hold your Mother's hand through the floo or you won't go."

Arriving at The Leaky Cauldron, they brushed off their dirt and Bellatrix handed Hermione's hand to her sister.

"I just need to nip to Gringotts for a meeting with a goblin for your Father, I will meet back up with you real soon, be good for Aunt Cissa ok?" Bellatrix kissed Hermione of her head.

"I will Aunt Bella."

Hermione took her Aunt Cissa's hand no problem, she was extremely lucky to have family who looked after her. Especially as her Father was a very busy man.

"Now, we will visit Flourish and Blotts first because I need some new quills and you two need new reading equipment for school. Then we will visit the Quidditch store and if you are really good we will then take a visit to Fortescue's before floo'ing back to Riddle Manor."

"Will Father be back?"

"I am not sure sweety, maybe."

Hermione accepted that clearly no-one knew any amount of information worth actually knowing. Maybe when he was back she could ask him, if it did not anger him. A trip to the bookstore always cheered her up and she knew her Aunties knew this.

"Ok Hermione, only one book this time." Narcissa told her lightly before they entered the bookstore.

Letting go of her Aunties hand she made her way to the pre-teen section. Running her hands slowly against the spine, she was not looking where she was going and she bumped into Ginny by accident.

"Ginny! What are you doing here?"

"We are school supply shopping for my Brothers Bill, Charlie and it is Percy's first year this year."

"Exciting... I am allowed a new book, maybe this one." She lifted Beauty and the Beast. "I am with Aunt Cissy and Draco who are downstairs."

"Ginny, move away from this Death Eater scum." A boy not much older than Ginny tried dragging her.

"Ron..." Ginny tried to protest.

Hermione had never heard of a 'Death Eater' before although she knew it was an insult. Inhaling all her air in her lungs she screamed as loud as she could until her Aunt came to her aid.

"Hermione dear what is the matter?" Narcissa bent down to her level and shushed her.

"He...He c.. called me a..a Death Eater scum." She got out through sobs.

Before Narcissa could respond. A larger red headed boy grabbed Ron by the scruff of his collar and pulled him back to the young girl.

"Apologise."

"But Bill..."

"NOW." He deeply spoke to him.

"Sorry..." Ron Mumbled.

"Good, go find Mum and Dad whilst I apologise properly."

The larger red head boy knelt down on one knee and kissed Hermione's hand lightly.

"Lady Riddle, please accept this apology by the house of Weasley. I do hope my idiot of a brother did not upset you too much. Again, I apologise."

"Weasley?" Narcissa asked.

"Yes, Lady Malfoy. William or Bill Weasley." He bowed to her and shook Draco's hand. "Young Lord Malfoy."

"It is nice to still see you are still taught the old ways."

"My Grandfather and Grandmother Prewitt made myself and my younger brother Charlie have monthly lessons in ways of the old laws."

"I am sorry to hear of their recent passing."

"As we all are. If I may bid you a good day and again I do hope we did not upset you too much young Lady." Bill nodded to them and walked in the direction his younger brother had earlier.

Hermione shook this incident off and handed her book to Narcissa for her to pay for. The quidditch store visit had gone much smoother and much quicker, Draco had had his eyes on a pair of green gloves for a while.

"Ice cream?" Narcissa asked the pair.

Both children nodded and they both took Narcissa's hand to cross the busy street.

"What flavours would you both like?"

"Mint Choc Chip." They both spoke in unison and laughed.

Narcissa instructed they both sat down whilst she ordered. Within minutes two ice cream sundaes were sat in front of them, Narcissa poured herself a cup of tea and poured one for Bellatrix whom she had seen just leave the bank.

"Were you two spoilt?" Bellatrix spoke making them both jump.

"I was allowed to chose my green gloves." Draco boasted happily.

"Very good Nephew and Hermione?"

Hermione did not speak of her bookstore visit instead she carried on eating her sundae, quickly wiping tears she hoped her Aunties had not seen. Bellatrix frowned as she did see Hermione wipe the tears from her eyes and looked at Narcissa. Her sister looked back and shook her head to inform her they would speak later. It was not a conversation for the ice cream parlour. Bellatrix nodded quickly and finished her cup of tea, only picking Hermione up for a cuddle when she had finished. She walked to the floo point still carrying her and did not speak about the shoulder of her robes quickly becoming wet. Arriving back at Riddle Manor, Hermione jumped down and walked to her favourite place of the manor so far; The Library.