Chapter Thirteen: Rosaline Blaise

As Hermione stared up at the canopy of her bed she sighed. Monday had come too soon. That evening the order with the backing of the Ministry were going to attack Grindelwald's headquarters. It was a pivotal attack. If successful it could very well mean overthrowing him all together. She dragged herself out of bed ignoring Scarlett's pointed look from her dressing table. Why she had to attend lessons she had no idea. She was a wasted resource sitting in classrooms. But no. She had a cover to keep. Keeping an eye on Riddle was tiresome business. He seemed to be on best behaviour since Rosier.

Breakfast was incredibly awkward. Black kept throwing her sidelong glances. Scarlett nibbled on her toast watching the interaction, or lack of on Hermione's insistence. A love life was the last thing she thought she'd be emcumbered with in her adventures as a time traveller.

"I cannot wait for the Yule ball" Scarlett clapped her hands with joy.

Hermione, Xander and Jackie stared at her.

"Don't you just love balls Hermione?" Scarlett continued.

Hermione decided to ignore her completely. Scarlett was not a force to be reckoned with.

"Alphard?" she asked Black who looked deeply uncomfortable.

"Quite fun." Black conceded sipping his coffee.

"But what I love the most about balls is the romance it encourages." Scarlett looked dreamily into the distance. "The courting and dancing and.."

Knowing exactly where this conversation was heading Hermione pleaded silently with Potter.

"Yes love which reminds me we need to Hogsmeade together this weekend to exchange your dress."

Perfect. Hermione swiftly exited at the oppurtune moment. Perhaps Potter wasn't so useless after all. As she left the hall however a hand grasped her arm. Immediately she sent her elbow barging into the face of the culprit and turned around to identify him. Riddle was gasping in pain clutching his nose which she saw gleefully was bleeding.

"Christ!" He hissed.

"That should teach you." Hermione said smugly walking off to the dungeons.

The moment her back was turned she was disarmed, her body pressed against a hidden alcove unable to move. She found she could speak but knew he'd silencio her before it alerted anyone. As Riddle walked towards her, almost catlike, she mustered her magic around her ready to attack.

"Now perhaps we can speak like civilized beings." He ran a finger through her unruly hair.

"Don't touch me." Hermione spat out, shivering at his touch.

"But we need to teach you a lesson Miss. Prince that you simply cannot go around accepting dates from other gentlemen when you are promised to me."

"Promised?!" Hermione yelled.

Riddle smiled thinly at her and nodded.

"What gave you the impression I had agreed to go with you, Riddle?" Hermione glared at the headboy.

"Of course you are going with me." He replied in a non hassle tone.

Hermione cried out in frustration.

"Are you as deluded as you are obnoxious?"

"Funny I was going to ask you the same thing."

"Listen very carefully Riddle." Hermione spoke each word slowly. "I am not going to Hogsmeade with you."

Riddle only raised an eyebrow at her and she decide she'd entertained him long enough and released the magic she'd held in to release her of her bonds and retrieve her wand. Riddle grunted in impatience and grabbed her waist when out of nowhere Black appeared, his wand on the back of Riddle's head.

"Release her Riddle." Black's calm voice noted Hermione of his presence.

Riddle was too quick for Black and before he knew it he was blasted 6 feet away, still miraculously conscious. Hermione used these few seconds to stun Riddle before she rushed to a disorientated Black.

"Alphard that was quite unnecessary" she scolded him as she waved a number of healing charms on his head and bleeding lip. "I had everything under control." Black only looked intensely back at her.

"What would you have me do?" Black asked her coldly.

"Nothing." Hermione teased him. "I am no damsel believe me."

Black slowly stood up taking Hermione up with him. His thumb circled the inside of her wrist.

"Shame, I'd like to be your knight." He murmured.

"It was certainly a chivalrous act you attempted there." Hermione mumbled, growing hot under his attentions.

"Would you not grant a poor knight a token for his efforts?"

"A token?" She gulped.

Black said no more as he pulled her in against him by her waist and kissed her gently. Hermione allowed herself to be lost in the kiss, full of quiet passion and his pleasant scent, so characteristically him. Hermione found her hands pulling at his hair, teasing the entrance of his mouth seeking eagerly for him to respond.

A shrill shriek drew them both apart immediately. Parkinson and Rosier were standing over the still stunned Riddle sobbing hysterically. Hermione ennervated him silently and Black took her hand and walked her to Potions.

"Darling did you faint?" Rosier stroked Riddle's hair, her face filled with concern and to Riddle's dismay sympathy.

"No I did not faint." Riddle spat at her as he stood up immediately and walked to the dungeouns his thoughts seething. Hermione Prince had dared defy him, the heir of Slytherin! A voice in his head reasoned she had only acted in self-defence. He had attacked her. Perhaps he was going about it the wrong way. It wouldn't do to risk his head boy image no matter how dubious the act was. He had to act with stealth and patience. Riddle cooled down as he began his familiar act of planning and plotting. He ignored another voice in his head that asked why on earth he was set on possessing Prince.

So at long last Riddle reared his ugly head. Hermione shivered. She berated herself that her anger was mingled with dissappointment. This was the future voldemort. Her presence hadn't affected him. How could it? She'd kept her distance. All her energies consumed fighting a dark lord she knew would go down eventually. She had to set her priorities straight. For the greater good and all that. She laughed to herself grimly.

"Ur Hermione?" whispered Abraxas, a smirk on his lips.

"Yes Abraxas?" She smiled sweetly.

"Why were you laughing to yourself?"

"Finally losing it my dear friend." Hermione muttered to herself. Abraxas only laughed and returned his attentions to Slughorn's lecture on the properties of moonstone. She looked sideways at Malfoy and frowned as she took in the dark circles under his eyes, his ruffled hair and general unkept appearence. She prayed tonight went without a hitch and was taken with a renewed sense of hope as she began to cough violently.

Slughorn had Abraxas assist her to the Hospital Wing and convinced him to leave her by the doors. He left reluctantly and she headed the opposite direction to Rosaline's chambers. She wasn't in but as she anticipated on her dining table lay maps of Gringelwald's lair and lists she suspected were of prisoners. Casting a sensor alert on the door she poured over the information absorbing as much of possible. Soon enough Hermione detected an inconsistency in the maps. The more detailed plans showed another floor to the building which the general map did not. At that moment an owl tapped at Rosaline's bedroom window. Hermione opened the window as the grey owl placed a small envelope on her drawing table and left without even a twoot.

Hermione edged towards the letter apprehensively. She found she even shook a little. She hoped for once that she was wrong but there potentially was the evidence she needed to confirm or discard her suspicions. She clumsily opened the envelope and out slipped a scrap of parchment stating 'Confirmation noting all defences in place, all prisoners removed to the secrethouse.' It was signed G. Hermione gasped as her sensors detected intrusion. She turned in time to see a confused Rosaline standing at the doorway.

"How could you?!" screamed Hermione tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hermione?" Rosaline asked tentatively.

"You are a traitor!" Hermione spat out. "And Dumbledore said he trusted you."

Rosaline merely looked fatigued and took a small step towards Hermione. Hermione responded with fervor. Rosaline was disarmed and bound at once.

"Hermione will you listen to me for once?" Rosaline's voice shrilled.

"No, I won't listen to your lies you traitor" Hermione hissed waving the parchment in her face. Rosaline had the nerve to roll her eyes. Hermione slapped her with all her strength.

"How dare you?" Rosaline spoke softly, dangerousy her cheek smarting. "For all your training you are still every inch a mere little girl who had to grow up too fast."

Hermione sobbed at the cruelty of the words, the shame…

"Oh Hermione I'm sorry I didn't mean that." Rosaline's voice returned to normal. "But if you could let me speak…"

Hermione looked warily at the witch seeing her act for the first time.

"You see I'm a double agent… for Dumbledore. He knows everything, about the false plans, the secrethouse, everything!"

Hermione sat on a chair crossed her legs and looked at her carefully, searching for signs of deception. There was none but she wasn't taking any chances.

"Tell me everything." Hermione demanded quietly.

Rosaline sighed wearily.

"I was loyal to Grindelwald at first, at the very beginning, before lives were threatenend, I was convinced that his Magic is Might slogo was the future of the wizarding world. Don't be so quick to judge." Smiled Rosaline at the look of disgust on Hermione's face. "I was young, impressionable and angry. You see, I'm an orphan too Hermione. My parents were big muggle supporters you see. Active against Grindelwald when noone knew who he was. They hosted these incredible parties where the guests were both wizard and muggle. They called the initiation 'Humanity' believing in a world where both magical and non-magical could co-exist in harmony. One New Year's Eve party however our manor was attacked by the muggle authorities. My parents were found to be a threat to state security. In both wizarding and muggle news it was labelled a terrorist attack. I was sixteen and hunted the people responsible for my parents deaths. In my pursuit I found Grindelwald who was sympathetic to my woes, he listened and offered me a chance for complete revenge. By joining his forces I would make sure muggles were forever in their rightful place."

Rosaline's voice grew hoarse. Hermione hesitated before summoning a glass of water and allowed her a few sips.

"Thanks love."

"As Grindelwald's forces expanded I ranked higher and higher. He considered me invaluable because my loyalty was unfaltering and my auror training rendered me critical in his plans to take Britain. Soon however I discovered how he had planted false information with the muggle Prime Minister, forcing their hand to order the attack. I was no longer reckless and instead of duelling him I turned to Dumbledore."

Rosaline shrugged. "The rest is history."

Hermione hadn't moved, her face an impasse. She had no idea what to believe. Her story was not unbelievable. Hadn't Severus been in the exact same position and risen as the most loyal member of the Order?

Hermione nodded her head stiffly and unbound Rosaline and threw her back her wand. Rosaline ran to Hermione and embraced her so tightly Hermione choked for air.

"I am so sorry darling" Rosaline sobbed into her hair. Hermione wept in relief too. She needed her friends now more than ever.

"No, I'm sorry for what you've had to go through and not being there to listen." Hermione pleaded her to understand. "I get so wrapped in my own problems I forget others have tragedies of their own."

"If you knew I'd not be doing my job dear." Rosaline smiled.

The tears subsided and the two witches did what they did best; discuss battle strategy.

A.N. You guys will be happy to know I'm wrapping up the Grindelwald plot!