A/N: I just want to say thank you to the people who have read this, and especially to those who have reviewed it. Your kind words really encourage me to move along quickly, but I'm also excited to see how this story unfolds. I initially began writing it with Luna instead of Hermione, but found that Hermione's character would provide not only the reader but me, the writer, with more resistance, stubbornness and struggle against Bellatrix. She would also make the plot line more exciting which is what I'm looking for. I'm going to go off in unconventional ways and warp their sixth year to a way that better fits this situation and the story, so just a heads up incase you're reading further along and things don't add up right according to the books. Enjoy!

All was quiet in the Granger household. Hermione had now started a new ritual of locking herself in her room at night with a book to keep her company and her mind busy, and to also learn new and more powerful defensive spells. It had been weeks since the incident in the alleyway had occurred and since then Hermione had been quiet and retracted from her family and even herself. She stopped going out at night in fear that the woman who she could now identify as none other than Bellatrix Lestrange would find her and harm her even worse this time. On Hermione's right forearm you could see minute scars, forever left there to give Hermione a reminder of that night. She had taken to wearing long sleeves for a while in fear that her parents would see the wound and open a can of worms. They had healed quickly and now Hermione found herself staring at the scars for hours at a time.

Summer had gone by quickly. It was now the night before she was to head off to the Weasley Burrow to spend the rest of her time with her two best friends and one of the greatest family's she had ever been welcomed into. She wasn't sure if she was going to tell Harry or Ron. If anything she would tell Harry first, he was definitely the saner of the two. But would he even believe her? What could they even make of that incident? While she was there, Bellatrix made her motive unknown but spoke freely that she wanted something, and that she would be back for it. She also stated that it would be easier to retrieve than she thought. This shook Hermione to the bone. She had always prided herself in being a smart witch, the top of her class. She was prepared for anything and everything and was one of the most knowledgeable people anyone could come in contact with. So what had happened that night? Why had she frozen in fear? That woman had KILLED Sirius, and Hermione couldn't even think of a jinx to spout out for self defense!? She was deemed helpless in that alleyway and luckily Bellatrix allowed her to escape. What would happen next time, though?

The entire occurrence haunted Hermione even in her dreams. She was now able to identify with Harry on some smaller level. Sure, she wasn't going up against the most evil creatures of all time, but Bellatrix was damn well near it. Not only did Bellatrix kill the one last family member Harry had left, but a long time ago she had harmed Neville's parents in a way that was so horrible it made Hermione's skin crawl every time it was brought up. This woman was possible of anything, she could be after anything. Hermione didn't know much except she had something that Bellatrix was currently after. She could come at any moment in time for it. Hermione was left clueless, and that was something that she crowned unacceptable.

A frustrated grunt followed by a book slamming shut echoed throughout Hermione's room. It was early morning again and she found herself hoping and praying light would come soon so she could be with her dear friends again, and finally be able to think of something else for a change. The young witch leaned back against the wall that her bed was pressed up against and closed her eyes for a moment as fresh air flowed through the open window, rushing over her skin and filling her nostrils with such a sweet scent of night during summertime. She opened her eyes which immediately saw something flash by the window. She could've sworn she had just seen a stream of green light fly by. She got up out of her bed and looked out the window, searching left and right, high and low, but found nothing.

"Stop worrying yourself. You're letting things get the best of you. Stay sane, just for this night and then everything will go back to normal and you will be safe," she calmly lectured herself. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before turning her back to the window and heading for her bedroom door. A quick trip to the bathroom to brush her teeth and then she'd be off to bed – just so the hours would go by more quickly. Shutting the door behind her she made her way down the hallway and did her nightly routine and felt much more relaxed exiting the bathroom than she did entering. It was like that nighttime routine had verified that things would be okay soon, and she finally accepted and believed it.

Walking down the hallway towards her room, she felt the sleepiness finally hit her. Hermione was relieved that she would be able to get to sleep without a fight. Hermione lazily and thoughtlessly walked through her now open bedroom door. She paused once entering the doorway, frozen in her spot for a moment before slowly beginning to turn around when the door was slammed shut. She now seemed to be in the same predicament that she had been in when she was in the alley way, but with much more knowledge now.

Muffled noises came from the room as Hermione struggled to speak but her speech was blockaded by Bellatrix's hand pressing against her mouth. An ecstatic squeal came from behind her as she struggled in the Death Eater's arms.

"Oh, quiet down. I'm not going to hurt you…" Bellatrix began soothingly to Hermione. She paused for a moment, craning her neck around Hermione's head to look her in the eye before squeezing out "Much!" followed by a cackling laugh. Enraged, Hermione began to rustle in Bellatrix's arms twofold, but the pure-blooded witch was able to keep a steady hold on the young Mudblood.

A tidal wave of more muffled sounds came from behind her long, red tipped fingers. She pulled Hermione close to her to stop the struggling and quieted down before finally piecing together the strained noises coming from Hermione into a coherent sentence. Her blackened eyes seemed to light up and a smile grew on her face.

"What did I come here for?" Bellatrix said aloud for Hermione. As she spoke her words seemed to coil around each word, slowly constricting the life out of each one as she said them. "That's an easy one," she continued through gritted teeth. Her head retracted back behind Hermione, but the witch could feel the hot breath coming from behind her left ear along with the strained sounds of her heavy panting.

And then, a voice as cold as ice whispered something in her ear that made her heart stop.

"You."