Sorry, it has been a while, but final exams and sports have been a priority. But it's summer time and I should have more free time. But I should have something up later in the week.

Fighting Monsters

Chapter Nine: This is Me

"She's stuck between who she is, who she wants to be, and who she's expected to be."

—Me :)

Hours before the Hogwarts Invasion

"You wanted to see me?" Hermione called out, observing her uncle as he sat silently in the garden.

Riddle's smile brightened; if that were even possible for it to do so. "Ah, yes, my dear niece; come closer, there is something I need to show you."

Hermione sighed, rubbing her tired eyes as she approached him. She hadn't gotten any sleep last night, too many thoughts were moving through her head. From Harry and Ron's betrayal, Bella's dismissal to her kiss, and the threat of Riddle harming her parents.

Feeling an unfamiliar, yet welcoming, pull on her mind Riddle hummed. "…you still care about them, it's expected."

"They're my parents, they raised me," Hermione confirmed as she sat beside him; embracing the eerie, yet comforting, dark magic surrounding him.

Riddle smiled softly when he felt her own magic coming out to mingle with his, mindlessly. "…understandable. But that's not why I called you here, your magic is getting stronger and you've released some of it, but you have to let all of it go."

"I won't hold back, I'm done doing that," She whispered with conviction.

"And you don't have to, not with me and not with Bella," He pressed a comforting hand on her shoulder, smiling softly as she turned her face to hide a blush. "…she'll come around," Riddle stood quickly, revealing the elder wand with pride like no other. "Your magic has been bottled up far too long so when you do release all of it, you will feel lighter than you ever have."

He turned to face her, grinning joyfully. "I can't wait to see who you become."

"What do you mean?" Hermione raised a curious brow.

Riddle waved his hand lazily. "When you let all of your magic free you're also letting…yourself free? It's complicated but, when you let go you open the floodgates for your rawest personality to leak out."

"It's why Bella is so brusque, Severus is so blunt, why I am…well, I don't have to explain that one," He trailed off with a snicker, running a finger over Naginis' head.

Hermione frowned. "What about Dumbledore? He wasn't blunt at all, even Harry had to work his way around a few riddles to get some real answers."

Riddle snarled, disgust yet a small hint of respect shadowing his expression. "…no, but he was sneaky at best, and a master of manipulation." He shook his head. "Enough about that, I need you to release your true power right now."

"Now? Why so sudden?" Hermione questioned, but none the less stood with her wand drawn.

Riddle sighed. "My army will not follow someone who is weak or holds back. Now, I would never let them disrespect you, but you have to accomplish some things on your own; like gaining their trust."

Hermione nodded, twirling her wand in anticipation. "Okay…"

"Okay?" Riddle teased, taking a much-needed step back as he felt her magic fill the atmosphere. "Is that all? You don't need any advice on how you can conjure your true power?"

The bookworm released a sigh, aiming her wand to the sky with the rotation of her wrist. "…it's fine, I'm positive I've read about it somewhere." She waved her wand and released a gust of violet colored waves into the sky.

Riddle would have snorted at her response had he not been so entranced in the show presented before him. Instead, a joyous laugh erupted from his lungs at the display of power and control. He could almost feel the pain of her friend's betrayal, the heartbreak his niece was overwhelmed with, and the utter chaos swarming her mind.

He could see, as the purple sparks of magic collided and how they told a story. A story of a girl who had to hide herself while losing the chance to discover who she was meant to be. What she could become.

"Decide, today, Hermione!" Riddle shouted over the sound of magic piercing through the atmosphere, to ensure she could hear him. "You control your life! Find out who you want to be!"

Hermione let out a scream, causing more magic to burst from the tip of her wand.

Riddle nodded his head in approval, cloak rippling in the monstrous wind his niece caused. "You're not Potter's sidekick or Weasley's love interest, Hermione! You are much more than what they have boxed you into being!" He hissed over the noise. "You are undefinable, and you make your own choices…this is your story! And you decide how it ends,"

"Now," He managed to find a way behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder as her magic continued to flow; a lifetime of anger, sadness, and fear leaking out. "…what do you want?" Riddle whispered near her ear.

Hermione narrowed her now darkened eyes, one tear falling from her right eye. She growled, voice hard, as she looked towards Hogwarts.

"…I want them to suffer, to feel the pain that I've felt." She snarled, thinking back to all the bullying and taunting during school.

Riddle snarled. "They will my niece. Soon—"

"—we'll wreak havoc." Hermione happily finished his sentence, causing Riddle to smile in surprise as she used her Legilimency with ease against his Occlumency.

The dark one nodded with joy, watching another powerful burst of magic leave her wand.

She was finally ready to show the world who she truly was.

"Do you still believe in her?" Harry barked, glaring at Neville as everyone ran around as Hogwarts got attacked. "…we have to warn them, tell everyone Hermione can't be trusted so when they see her they will keep their guard up."

Neville raised a hand, conflicted. "I don't know what the hell happened in those woods, or whatever…but I know Hermione isn't the only one whose changed."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron hissed.

Neville shrugged. "I don't know, but I would expect her childhood friends to have more faith in her than this." He swallowed when the ground beneath them began to shake from another attack. "Even if I was on your side, we don't have time to warn everyone; we have to find whatever you were talking about—"

"The horcrux," Harry confirmed with a sigh.

Even he couldn't deny that finding it was the main thing they should be focused on.

Ron nodded with hesitation. "…suppose you're right."

"And besides," Neville continued. "Hermione's too smart to use the main lobby, she'll probably have a target in mind and get to it using secret passages within the school. And if what you said is true, she's only after you Harry," The tall teen took a step back as he grasped his wand tightly. "…better watch your back,"

Before Ron could ask him what that meant, Neville was gone. "…damn, Neville may be loyal, but he sure is bloody persistent. Now what? We don't know what's running through Hermione's head right now,"

"Doesn't matter, we still have a plan," Harry plucked the Hufflepuff cup from his pocket and passed it to Ron. "Go destroy that with the Basilisk fang in the Chamber of Secrets while I look for the other one,"

The redhead nodded abruptly. "I'm on it, once I'm finished I'll do my best to help the others," He shoved Harry playfully, shouting over his shoulder as he ran out of sight. "Be safe!"

"Likewise!" Harry replied, clutching his wand as he made his way up the stairs to start his search.

If only he could do that without Luna talking his ear off at every turn.

"Wait," Bellatrix hissed, managing to snatch the bookworm's wrist. "Bloody hell, I said wait!"

Hermione released to warning sigh. "Bella, please, I have duties I must attend to. If you haven't noticed by all the panicking, we are on a battle field." She taunted, a slight spark of playfulness and impatience filling her eyes.

"No shit," Bella snarled, crossing her arms as she eyed the anxious witch. "…you aren't seriously considering doing what I think you are?"

The half blood groaned. "This again? What happened to accepting me for who I am? Were you just lying?"

"Of course not!"

"—then what's the problem? Hmm?" Hermione stepped forward, magic pulsing around them as her anger rose. "Why are you trying to stop me from becoming who I've always been meant to be?"

Bella met the dark brown eyes, not finding those light orbs anywhere. "…who you're meant to be or who he's turned you into? Didn't know you'd go from being Harry's sidekick to Riddle's."

The tension between them could be cut with a knife. Bellatrix was blunt and unapologetic as usual, her personality seemed to be conflicting with Hermione's new rash one. Each witch allowed their magic to flow freely, not flinching as dark fought against a strangely pure force of energy.

Hermione felt her brow furrow into a frown.

Had Bella's magic always been this clean? She remembered a time when she would walk by the witch and shiver at the hint of darkness residing there. Now, it was suddenly gone?

In her anger, Hermione questioned when this change occurred. When did she lose Bella to the light, and why were they never on the same page?

"Bellatrix, Hermione, blimey it's been ages!" Ginny flinched when two sets of furious eyes caught her gaze. "…but I see nothing has changed."

Hermione turned her back to the dark-haired witch for the moment to give the redhead a charming smile. "Ginny, I'm glad to see you're alright," She continued even as she heard Bella snort behind her. "Do you happen to know where Harry went? I've lost him in all this noise,"

"Oh," Ginny perked up, hinting a strange aurora around Hermione but not being able to put her finger on it. "…yeah, I think he's looking for something in the Ravenclaw tower? He sent everyone on a search for this—what am I retelling this story for, you know what's going on." She waved her hand lazily.

Hermione grinned. "Of course, thanks for the help, I'll see you when this is all over," She said, turning around to still Bella with a threatening stare.

"I won't stop you." Bella shrugged, feigning indifference with a blank expression. "But when you're done exploring this little phase of yours, don't be shocked when you find yourself all alone," She spoke softly so Ginny couldn't hear.

Hermione blinked away the sadness and regret from hearing Bella, of all people, tell her that. "…seems like I'm already all alone," She huffed, shoving past the Slytherin to walk into the shadows.

"…idiot," Bella muttered, looking at Hermione's retreating back.

She promised Harry and Ron she would keep the witch grounded, but it appeared to be harder than it looked.

"Well?" Bella snapped out of it when Ginny raised an eyebrow at her, bored. "What are you waiting for? You don't want to leave it like that, we're literally at war and this could be the last moment you two share." She rolled her eyes when the elder witch continued to give her a confused look. "Do I have to spell it out for you—go after her!"

Bellatrix nodded quickly before running in the direction Hermione had left.

No matter how annoyed she was by Hermione's new arrogant attitude, she promised she would be with her at every step of the way. She had to be the one light keeping Hermione from turning into the darkness.

Hogwarts 1996

School Hallway

Hermione leaned her back against the empty corridor within the school as she closed one of the oldest books her uncle gifted her with. A book to help her learn about the art of Legilimency and Occlumency. She didn't want her uncles help, but she did need to be prepared to protect her thoughts from not only him but others once the true war began.

She needed to be able to keep secrets for Harry when the time came.

"…" Hermione slide the book into her bag when she heard the familiar sound of heels clacking against the wood floors.

The sight of Bellatrix waltzing through the halls caused her stomach to flutter in a strange way she couldn't comprehend. She toyed with taking out her wand to prepare for a fight but deflated when Bella walked past her without even glancing in her direction. The Slytherin seemed to be deep in thought.

She wondered if it had anything to do with the witch being called to Dumbledore's office this morning. The witch didn't return until class was almost over, and for the remainder of it she had a faraway look in her eyes are she gazed down at her school book.

Light brown eyes sparked mischievously as a sudden thought came to mind. At the time she didn't realize how childish it was, but her emotions were peeked by the dismissal Bellatrix gave her seconds ago.

She'd make the witch notice her.

Using what little knowledge, she gained from reading the book her uncle had given her, she directed all her attention to the retreating witch. She focused on her desire to finally grasp what the other witch was thinking.

What did Bellatrix really think of her?

Hermione gasped as a very brief image of herself punching an alarmed Lestrange in the face filled her mind. She knew it was their third year by the fact that she punched the annoying boy for making jokes during such a dreadful time. What she didn't expect was to hear Bellatrix think is Hermione's hair less frizzy than usual?

Before she could travel further into her thoughts, a fierce wall blocked her passage. Hermione barely had time to open her eyes to see what went wrong when she was met with a hex to the side, causing her to collapse in pain.

She let out a groan, curling up as she felt tears spring to her eyes. Hermione felt shame shiver down her spine for breaching the witches privacy; even if it was the dreadful Slytherin.

Who was having thoughts about her hair? And what did the thought even mean? Did she like the frizzy hair or did she prefer it in its' tamed version that she had mastered overtime?

"Filth!" Bellatrix hissed, causing her to flinch as if she used the 'm' word. "Don't you know it's wrong to invade someone's privacy? And it's especially bad to try using Legilimency when I'm lost in thought and still getting caught,"

Through her blurry vision, Hermione could see the flush surrounding Bellatrix's face.

"Are you blushing?" Hermione couldn't help but ask in her painful daze.

Bella's face only darkened as her eyes. "Idiot!" She sent another vicious hex her way, causing Hermione to roll onto her back in agony. "Your Legilimency sucks!" The Slytherin hissed over her shoulder as she stormed away.

Hermione supposed she should have began reading the book her uncle gave her two years ago when she received it. And she certainly shouldn't have used the eldest Black as a test dummy having only skimmed the book three weeks prior.

Never the less, Hermione managed to pull herself off the ground.

Later in the week, she had to kick herself for teasing her hair each time Bellatrix was nearby.

Ron kneeled in front of the bones of the defeated Basilisk within the Chamber of Secrets. He pulled a single fang out of the dozens to choose from before rising to his feet with a sigh. The sound of his heavy footsteps echoed as he gently placed the horcrux on the wet ground beneath his feet.

The redhead kneeled once again, gripping the fang tightly. He swallowed nervously before taking a deep breath to calm himself. When he opened his eyes, a look of determination revealed itself. Without any more hesitation he drew his right hand back before piercing the cup with a sharp strike.

He jumped as a sharp ding filled the room as the cup jerked forward. Too focused on the cup, he didn't notice the water surrounding him nor the drops falling from above.

A loud scream filled the air as he snapped out of his daze to crawl into a jog as a phantom approached him. He shut his eyes, shivering as the powerful gust of winds ran through him before a large amount of water dropped on his head.

"Pft!" Ron sputtered, running a hand through his wet hair to pull it out of his face. "…bloody hell, why do I always end up wet whenever I destroy these things?" He muttered to himself.

Once he dried his clothes he would search for Harry.

Hermione cursed to herself when she saw Harry stumble and knock into a stack of books as pain washed over him. This must mean someone, most likely Ron, had managed to destroy another horcrux in her absence. She growled, gripping her wand as she waited for her ex-bestfriend to find what he was searching for.

It wasn't hard to track him down once she caught him leaving Ravenclaw with a determined look in his eye. Being friends with Harry for years let her know that the look in his eye meant he was onto something big. She knew it was true when he led her into the Room of Requirement.

"Ah," She snapped out of her daze when her friend gasped. "…there you are," Harry reached out to grab what she suspected to be the Ravenclaw diadem they planned on destroying.

Hermione stepped out of the shadows, grinning. "Yes," She snorted when Harry jumped in shock. "There you are," She referred to him and not the horcrux; she could care less about it now.

"Mione," He couldn't help himself from using her nickname, he was too thrilled to see her alive. "…what are you—" Harry trailed off, hope shining in his eyes as he tried to gauge the situation.

The bookworm shrugged, twirling her wand around as if she were bored. "What am I doing? Well, I'm looking for you," She pointed her wand at him to prove her point, chuckling as he flinched. "Relax, I can't hurt you, yet. I have to see what my uncle plans to do with you first,"

"So, it's true. You've changed sides," Harry nodded sadly, before also pointing his wand at her for his own protection; he could almost taste the dark magic around her.

He'd failed her.

Hermione growled, anger rising, causing her to abuse a stack of books with the point of her wand. "You betrayed me! I thought I could trust you, but I was wrong. You turned your back on me just like my uncle said you would—"

"I had to." Harry declared.

He couldn't let her in on the plan, on her own plan. They had to see this through. Had to trust her.

"Great," Hermione smiled but it didn't put him at ease. "…then you'll understand why I have to do this—" She sent a powerful blast of dark magic to him, basking in her freedom.

Harry wasn't prepared for her strength as his shield barely kept him from falling on his back. He knew she was holding back before but this was more than he could handle.

The chosen one sent her a blast from his wand, using the time she deflected it as a chance to run towards the exit. He couldn't destroy the horcrux without a Basilisk fang or the sword and he couldn't let Hermione get her hands on it.

"Running away as usual, you're such a coward!" Hermione shouted behind him, hot on his trail.

Harry cursed himself for taunting Hermione when she begged him or Ron to accompany her on a run. It seemed pointless then but now he could really use the assistance he could have gained from building an endurance.

"Try running from this!" Hermione hissed, sending a powerful fiendfyre spell into the air.

Now that her magic was free, she could finally test out some spells she's been dying to try.

"Blimey, where's this girl been when we were fighting against those death eaters?" Harry groaned, dodging a stack of burning books as he ran past a convenient supply of brooms. "…weird, but I'm sure as hell not going to question it." He muttered before snatching a broom and taking to the skies.

He took delight in seeing Hermione hesitate for a moment before also taking a broom. It was good to know that the real Hermione who dreaded flying was still somewhere in there.

"Harry!" The brown-haired teen turned to where his voice was being called. "Over here mate!" He caught sighted of Ron waving his arms wildly near the door right next to…Bellatrix?

Too focused on the duo by the exit, he didn't have time to avoid the painful hex to his side he received from Hermione. He let out a groan as the strength of the spell caused him to fall to the ground, broom smashing on impact. Harry rolled onto his back, moaning as he fixed his gaze on the foggy room.

"Get up." Hermione's hard voice caused him to stumble to his knees and grip the horcrux with his life.

Harry thought about his options before sliding the horcrux over to Ron. Hermione moved to intercept but was pulled aside by a livid Bellatrix as she aimed a wand at her neck.

"Don't even try it," Bella warned, eyes dark as she watched Hermione aim her wand at an exhausted Harry.

Hermione turned her darkened eyes to Bella's, testing. "…this is the side you chose then?" It was her last attempt at saving Bella from her uncle's rage.

Bellatrix frowned. "I'm on no one's side but yours, and you know this." She licked her lips as she tried to come up with a plan to calm this situation down. "…but your uncle would be furious if you killed Potter before he could get to him, I'm watching out for you." She left her eyes honest, she was telling half of the truth but knew Hermione was desperate to have someone from her past believe in her.

That desire would dull her senses.

"…I suppose you're right," Hermione's eyes lightened up a bit as she lowered her wand.

Harry shouted, grateful for the distraction. "Ron, do it now!"

Hermione barely had time to look before Ron pierced the horcrux with a Basilisk fang he had with him. She hissed, preparing to attack when the room began to shake. The flames behind them formed into the shape of her uncle's face before they came their way.

"Move!" Bella shouted, pulling Hermione with her to the exit.

Ron made sure to grab Harry as he stumbled due to the destruction of another piece of him. They barely made it past the doors before they shut closed, keeping the fames away.

"That was too close," Ron groaned, checking on his weak friend.

Hermione stepped forward with a weary Bella at her side, wand aimed. "Come with me to see my uncle or you'll have to worry about more than me setting fires to this place."

"…" Harry glanced over at a worried Bella and a conflicted Ron. "…fine," He whispered.

Ron shook his head as Bella looked away. "Harry—" He whispered.

But the chosen one ignored them both, keeping his eyes locked with dark brown orbs before him. Hermione planned all of this in the forest, and despite how crazy her plans got; they always worked in the end. He trusted her plan just like he trusted her to finally see reason.

"I'll go with you."

Hogwarts 1996

Hours after the Legilimency incident

"Why would you do that?" Ginny made a startled face.

Hermione fell on her stomach, groaning into her hands as she shrugged. "I don't know, I just wanted to see what her issue is," She confessed.

"What issue? She's a Black, they've got tones of them," Ginny snorted.

Hermione ignored her remark. "She is always taunting me but lately she's been, I don't know? Distant for some reason?"

The redhead huffed. "Just two weeks ago you two were arguing over whether there could be a potion to cure someone who has undergone the obliviate spell."

"That was two weeks ago," Hermione confirmed. "But this whole week, ever since Dumbledore called her to his office, she's been lost in thought. It's annoying,"

Ginny snickered. "Jealous she's not paying any attention to you?" She continued as Hermione made an obvious move to deny it. "…don't even try, it's true. Why else would you go to such childish lengths to get her to pay attention to you?"

"How else would I have figured it out?" Hermione demanded.

Ginny gasped. "Bloody ask her!" She was sick of these two tiptoeing around their strange relationship. "Ask her why she's being so distant, she might surprise you by giving you an answer." She got up from her bed to walk to her closet. "Honestly Mione, when it comes to her you can be so daft,"

"…it's not my fault she's difficult," Hermione muttered, teasing her hair with a blush on her face. "If I asked her what was wrong, on a good day, she'd tell me to piss off or avoid the subject entirely."

Ginny raised a brow. "And on a bad day?"

"She'd hex me into next holiday," Hermione sighed wistfully, imagining the perfectly fierce expression Bellatrix would have while doing so.

Ginny couldn't believe Hermione was swooning at the thought of being hexed by the eldest Black. "…what did you see? While you were in her mind? I'll imagine it was something barbaric,"

Hermione looked away, she wanted to keep what she saw to herself. Not only as a privacy debt to Bellatrix but also as a selfish desire of her own.

"Oh," Hermione shrugged, feigning defeat as she tugged her locks again. "…her Occlumency was too strong so I couldn't catch a glimpse of anything."

"Figures," Ginny paused, a frown reaching her lips. "Mione, why is your hair so fizzy today? I haven't seen it like that since third year!"

Neville groaned, rubbing his pounding head as he sat up. The last thing he could remember was getting hit with a shot to the head from behind while he was fighting off some snatchers. Next thing he knew, he collapsed to the floor only to be trampled by scurrying students and death eaters.

When he came to his vision was blurry, so when he caught a glimpse of the sword of Gryffindor he thought he was seeing things. But when he heard a chilling voice echo off the walls, he became blinded by his hate and anger; causing his to struggle to his feet.

"What is going on!" He heard Riddle growl in his haze. "Nagini," The elder wizard began, thinking about his options before deciding. "…help me find Potter and—"

"I'm right here," Harry called out, causing Riddle to tense. "I'm done hiding from you."

Neville snatched the sword from the ground, slamming into a stone pillar. He groaned, taking a moment to pause as his leg throbbed. His dark eyes, blurry from the blood dripping in them, took in the sight of the golden trio approach Riddle.

He closed his eyes to take a moment to gain his strength.

Riddle smiled, taking in the sight of Hermione aiming her wand at Potter. He took notice of Bellatrix also standing by her side as they held the teen captive.

"Well done indeed," He stalked forward, pressing an approving hand on his niece's shoulder. "You've done well, just as I knew you would," Riddle placed a hand on Hermione's to tell her to lower her wand. "…now I have him right where I want him."

Hermione crossed her arms, glaring at Harry as she felt Nagini slide over to rest behind her for protection. Bella shivered as the snake moved behind her without her being able to see what the beast was doing; she didn't like having her back turned on a threat. But she knew if she was with Hermione, she'd be fine.

Riddle chuckled with joy as he sent a spine shattering hex at Harry. "Ah!" He grinned as Harry gasped in pain as he fell to his knees, eyes wide in terror.

Hermione looked away when Harry let out another roar of pain. They were hidden somewhere away from the battle, but she could still hear the faint sound of spells being cast if she listened close. When another groan escaped Harry, she clenched her fists. She tried to push away the worry she felt for him.

He betrayed her, and he should, no, would pay. She owed him nothing.

But why couldn't she watch her uncle torture him?

Riddle went to aim again but paused. "…no," He shook his head. "I want everyone to see their so called chosen one like this, broken." He hissed with anticipation.

Hermione sighed, looking away bored as her uncle began to rant to a shaking Harry on the ground. She caught a glimpse of something silver behind her. Brown eyes widened when she caught sight of Neville, of all people, slowly approaching a distracted Nagini with the sword of Gryffindor.

She swallowed as their eyes made contact briefly. For some reason she was frozen, she couldn't seem to open her mouth to let out a spell or even warn her uncle. For that splint second, she and Neville had an unspoken agreement and a new understanding.

"Ahh!" Neville shouted as he sliced Nagini with the sword.

Bellatrix jumped, placing a protective arm in front of Hermione as a powerful gust propelled them back. The two mind shattering screams from both Harry and Riddle rippled through the room. Harry arched his back on the ground as Riddle fell to his knees; finally, at his weakest point.

Neville dropped the sword, swaying to the ground as the force caused him to fall back. Hermione shivered, watching the sword disappear once more as her uncle's anger surrounded them.

"What is the meaning of this!" Riddle growled, pointing his anger to Hermione for once. "…did you see him approach?" He dared her to lie to him as he gestured to a determined Neville.

Hermione met his gaze. "No, by the time I saw him it was already too late."

"Convenient." Riddle snarled, sick of babying the teen. "Why do I find it hard to believe you?" He aimed the elder wand at her causing Harry to tense and Bella to growl. "Has it really come to this?"

Hermione bit her lip, conflicted. She loved her uncle, he allowed her to let her true power free and she would forever be grateful.

"…I've proven I'm loyal to you," Hermione began, talking over him before he could retort. "But if I need to, I'll do it once more. Let me show you—"

He glared at her. "How?"

Bella shifted as she fell silent, thinking.

"By killing him." Hermione said confidently, gazing into the eyes of a defeated Harry; his head fell in acceptance.

Riddle nodded, lowering the elder wand slowly. "…do it then." He accepted her attempt to gain his trust once more. "Kill him."

Hogwarts 1991

Gryffindor Tower

Harry smiled softly as the know it all sat beside him on the couch. "Hey, are you feeling okay? I heard some Slytherin sent a hex your way,"

"Bellatrix Black is a dreadful person, she is," Hermione hissed, plopping down beside the ten-year-old. "Sent a hex while my back was turned, I've barely spoken a word to her after her mother treated me with such disrespect." She snickered. "…at least her hex backfired,"

The boy nodded softly, adjusting his glasses nervously. "Yeah, good thing…"

Hermione frowned, eyeing her new friend strangely. "What's with that look?"

"I don't have a look." He denied.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, not convinced. "I noticed whenever you try hiding something you get this nervous look in your eye, and you play with your glasses. It's a bad habit, Harry," She narrowed her eyes, fierce. "Tell me."

Harry sighed under her gaze. "I might have sent a spell that caused Bella's to backfire," He muttered softly when Hermione gaped. "I saw her aim at you and I couldn't let her get away with teasing you, I'm—"

"You did that for me?" Hermione frowned.

Harry nodded sheepishly. "Of course,"

"B-but, why?" She questioned.

Harry looked at her as if it were obvious. "…because we're friends, Hermione. And you covered for Ron and I when that troll attacked, just returning the favor." He smiled at her, determined. "We're friends and our jobs are to look out for each other, I've got you back,"

"And I've got yours," Hermione smiled back in return.

Harry groaned as he was pushed to the floor, on his knees, in front of his entire class along with his foes. He hung his head low, ready to accept whatever Hermione had in store for him.

"…this is your chosen one, weak, and defeated." Riddle hissed, twirling his wand in his hand. "You put your trust in a child who couldn't even stop himself from getting captured…this, his life, ends now. With it, comes the beginning of a new world run by me."

Bellatrix swallowed, itching to catch Hermione's attention. It was useless though when she saw the bookworm step forward with her wand drawn to Harry. She closed her eyes at the gasps from the crowd, whispers of Hermione's betrayal filtered the air.

"…" Hermione clenched her wand, looking at the hair atop Harry's head as he refused to look at her.

"Wait," Riddle took her wand, only to place the elder wand in her open palm. "…now, do it. Show me whose side you're on."

Harry chose the moment to look up, blue meeting brown. His final attempt to gain a reaction from her and it seemed futile when he was met with a blank stare. He didn't know where the real Hermione was, but he knew she wasn't there.

She was gone.

"Show them who you are!" Riddle demanded.

Bellatrix was tongue tied. She wanted to reach out and say something, anything, to snap Hermione out of it. But she promised to support her even if she chose to walk alongside the monsters she tried so hard to destroy. She promised Hermione she would be the light tethering her to sanity. But if Hermione chose wrong, who was she to object?

Who was she to decide for her? Hermione would have to make it herself and decide what path she wished to take.

"I chose you for a reason…Do you know why I chose you, Miss Granger?"

Hermione shut her eyes, flinching as the dream from weeks ago hit her like a train.

"I don't really care," Was her taunting response.

"You're smart—brilliant even," The voice replied swiftly, amused. "I chose you, because I know you'll do the right thing,"

"Hermione!" Riddle hissed, breaking her out of her daze.

"…by any means necessary,"

Hermione shut her eyes and aimed her wand, whispering. "…I'm so sorry."

Harry slammed his eyes shut, flinching.

"Avada Kedavra!"