Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. However, I do own OC, non-canon, and fictional magic.

A/N: Thank you for your continued support. Reviews are welcome and my form of currency. I wanted to bring to your attention that this IS FanFiction. This IS AU. This MEANS I don't have to follow verbatim canon. I stuffed the first three years in 1.5 years and made Harry a 12-year-old on purpose. We haven't made it to Christmas yet. And yes, I do plan on doing some Triwizard Tournament. Obviously, it will be different since I killed off Barty Crouch, Jr. & Co. Otherwise, thank you for your insightful constructive criticism and encouragement. You're the reason I bother writing.

FYI/**WARNING** this is going to be a showdown between Séraphine and Hermione. I can't believe that Hermione is all that forgiving when she feels she's been wronged. I don't think she is vengeful. But a frightened, bitterly angry 12-year-old girl is something that can't be undone with a few words and…Séraphine felt threatened. I felt Séraphine was used to being the de facto Mistress of the House and she was protecting her charges and investment. Plus, that's a lot of deep-seated prejudice that needs to be addressed. It will be graphic and I imagine historically accurate based on some of the readings from Professor Binns classroom…although I will do my best to not overdo it. You can scroll passed the **WARNING** sign and still be OK reading it. You've been warned! There will be more action in the next chapter. But this is one of those 'must be written,' segments.

Ch. XXXII: Truth and prejudice

Hermione rolled her eyes at the dark red drapery above her twin canopy bed. She often closed her drapes around her to read. This night, it felt different.

I miss Harry so much. She sulked.

The past four days had been terrible on her. Ron's behavior was mean on a good day. Although, she liked it when he straight-up ignored her as opposed to antagonized her. She did not dare mention it to Harry.

He's the only reason I do have friends or at least anyone willing to speak with me.

The young witch's eyes welled with tears and she angrily swiped them away, before sitting up in her bed and carefully opening up her drapes.

She decided she needed a glass of milk. Or maybe a book. Anything to distract her from her doldrums.

Séraphine's dark eyes shifted to Gryffindor Tower. Raising her wrist she found the blood bracelet signifying Hermione Jean Granger.

Found you.

The House-Witch floated just outside the Second Year Girls' Dormitory and respectfully curtseyed low.

Lady Hogwarts opened the wards to allow Séraphine entry and she remained in her Servant's stance until she faced Hermione.

Her black-and-grey swirls surrounded the dormitory causing a potent Sleeping Draught in her fumes to affect everyone except Her Heir's favorite witch.

"Mistress Hermione," she began, her voice soft and melodious. She raised her eyes at Hermione's gasp. "My Young Master wishes to know of your whereabouts and Lord Sirius and I have come up with a few ideas regarding restitution along with your Service to the House of Black."

Hermione gulped. Now that Séraphine was actually here she had no idea what to say or do. She narrowed her eyes at her. "What's the catch? What do you mean? How is this even possible for you to actually be here?" Hermione forced herself to stop asking questions seeing the House-Witch's slightly apprehensive expression along with several torn pieces from her dress.

"Were you attacked?" She hissed, taking an involuntary step toward Séraphine. The young witch's sharp memory recalled Harry's letter and what he did not say in-between the lines.

"Nay, I had a run-in with someone who dared attack a Centaur foal…anyway, there is no catch to you." The House-Witch decided to be forthright and forgo any softsoaping. "Both My Masters regard you in the highest esteem…after discussing it with them I came to the conclusion for Lord Sirius to award you Magical Guardianship. I will soon be on my way to get the paperwork from the Goblins and you can owl your parents…I will have to pretend to be Lady..." She grimaced. "Lady Black so as to not alarm your parents and so I can assist more directly with Lord Sirius' goals." The House-Witch gave a delicate shrug of her shoulder. "I respect Lady Hogwarts as one…sentient guardian of a dwelling to another."

"And…you came up with this conclusion, on your own?" Hermione pressed, feeling begrudging toward the House-Witch.

Séraphine remained calm. I'd've been a touch more respectful but the communication is the same between an insulted 12-year-old girl regardless of the century.

"I was wrong about you, Mistress Hermione." She said simply. "And I would like to make amends. I cannot undo a Black Blood Ward without the House's consent. And frankly? I wouldn't anyway because I know exactly where you are at all times. It's helpful, convenient and safe. For I've no doubt that things are going to become more dangerous for you."

Hermione paused. On the one hand, she knew it was a sincere apology and that she was receiving the deal of a lifetime with Magical Guardianship from the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. It would open practically all doors in the magical world for her and possibly her parents. However, her feelings and pride had taken a dive and there was no question in her mind that Séraphine did not make idle threats.

"Tell me what happened to you that was so bad." Hermione pressed. "Harry never said anything…but I find it hard to believe that someone who has lived in the Dark Arts would deign to speak to a Muggleborn and change her mind that quickly."

Séraphine's eyes darkened. I won't protect her from the truth if the truth is what she seeks…some knowledge isn't worth knowing or experiencing...but she will now know.

"I can show you…or I can tell you. Which do you prefer?"

"Show me." Hermione dared and ignored the voice inside her head that she went too far.

"As you wish, Mistress." The House-Witch rose and casually flicked her wrists. The swirls remained for a second and then turned the whole room into a living pensieve.

**WARNING**

"Maman!" A young, sweet Séraphine called holding onto her baby brother. "Alain and Jules said you needed my help today?"

"Oui." A beautiful woman with black eyes and hair greeted. "Will you come with me and bring Jean-Claude into town? I must take this lace to her ladyship." The seamstress wore a pale blue gown and fussed over her daughter to look nice before they trekked toward the Black Château.

"Now you must be on your best behavior and keep Jean-Claude occupied, understand?" She said staring hard at her daughter.

"Absolument, Maman." The young girl quickly assured. She stood straighter and determined to be good little girl for her mother's business.

A servant opened the door and Séraphine marveled at the fine clothes the House of Black Servants wore before quickly following her mother into the parlor room.

Following her mother's cue she curtseyed as best she was able holding onto an 11-month-old baby.

Lady Ursula Black regarded the young girl curiously with grey eyes. Her black hair tied in an elaborate braids with graying streaks.

"This is my only daughter,Séraphine." Her mother said by way of introduction.

"Such a charming and obedient little girl." Lady Ursula complimented. "She brings honor to your household, Vivienne…I'm sure she's a big help to you with your newest?"

Séraphine swelled with pride and shyly glanced at her mother who laughed and agreed, looking down at her daughter with pride before turning to business.

"Perhaps," Lady Ursula commented. "she would be willing to work here once she is a little older?"

Vivienne quickly said for her that she would happily work hard for her ladyship.

Curtseying with her mother she politely thanked Lady Ursula for condescending to her and made her way holding a calm baby Jean-Claude.

It would be the last, normal morning with her family alive.

"Hurry! Run children!" Her mother screamed as Muggleborns raided her village. One man grabbed her beautiful mother by her hair as Séraphine watched her eldest brother get stabbed to death as he launched a Body-Bind onto the man who grabbed their mother. Her younger brother died set on fire before he could defend himself. The man took her mother to the ground and she screamed before he sliced her throat.

Where's Papa? She thought frantically as she held her baby brother behind a boulder.

The baby gave away her position and was roughly torn from her grasp and shoved onto the floor as she screamed running to save him.

Too late.

The infant was pounded to death by a horse.

"Should worry about yourself, little girl." One lewd Muggleborn said, bringing her attention to his crotch with his hands. Frightened, Séraphine tried to run. But she was captured and placed inside a cage.

"I want her." The man who killed and harmed her mother said. He looked her up and down. "But her value will increase if―."

"Avada Kedavra!" Lady Ursula shouted. A flash of green light hit the evil man. She quickly shoved his useless body away as the Black Servants attacked with Fiendfyre, Confrigio, Reducto and Sectumseptra Curses* over the Muggleborns and Muggles who attacked the peaceful village.

Her fierce grey eyes softened once she unlocked the cage door and Séraphine ran to her in tears.

"What did…why did that Muggleborn hurt Maman? He was on top of her and she screamed really bad. And then he sliced her throat!" Séraphine babbled as Lady Ursula gathered her in her arms and used a Black Blood Dome to safeguard them as she walked to her Château, ignoring the chaos around them.

"You poor, sweet child." Lady Ursula whispered, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't save your family…your mother…" she took a deep breath. "I swear to you the House of Black will destroy the Muggleborns once and for all. You will remain with me…I'm sorry sweetheart. Your father died to protect all of you and warned my manservant about the impending attack."

She carried the little girl and dressed her in new clothes. Asked her personal, intimate questions about those men and it soon dawned on the little girl what actually happened to her beloved mother. And, that her father and brothers were not coming back.

Séraphine mourned her family and swore the Blackest vengeance on all Muggleborns. She trained ruthlessly in the Dark Arts to guard her new family from all enemies. She rose to the ranks of Handmaiden and was the most trusted servant to Lady Ursula Black.

All of that training repaid Lady Ursula on that fateful day when a friend of theirs was paid by a Muggleborn to attack Lord Phineas Nigellus and Lady Ursula Black.

She died at 19. When she awoke, her body melded and changed, suffusing Black Magic and coating her innards in the deadliest spells. Her best dress was her death dress covered on her chest in blood was the magical axe which utterly disintegrated her organs.

But not without throwing the darkest Black Blood Curses and finding out each and every Muggleborn who attacked her families.

She melded her very soul and Black Magic to sustain and safeguard the House of Black and all Its Children via Blood, Marriage or Adoption.

They are Hers.
And She is Theirs.
Always.

**WARNING END**

Hermione burst into tears.

"I―I'm so, sorry." She whispered, ashamed. She vaguely noted the swirls encasing her ignorant roommates in peaceful slumber.

Séraphine remained silent and calm.

"What I said to you remains true, Mistress." Séraphine said softly. "Your kind is cruel, outnumbers ours, and is by no means is innocent. If anything, you're just as biased as we are." Shrugging, she casually fixed her dress, and handed her a handkerchief.

"I will be certain to give you what you need for a Magical Guardianship." She continued.

"I'm deeply sorry, My Lady S―." Hermione choked.

Séraphine winced. "Please, you cannot call me by my name outside of the House…it's part of the contract. I suggest you call me…Serena. It's close enough to my real name which I have no doubt you're aware of."

Séraphine looked at the blotchy-eyed nearly 13-year-old girl before her, taking inspiration.

She closed her eyes and changed her appearance.

Serena's face aged to a 30-year-old witch with beautiful dark wavy hair, a splash of freckles and hazel green eyes. Her voice and body type remained the same but she modernized her robes to something elegant Narcissa Malfoy would envy.

Nodding to herself, "I will have to be the new Lady Black for political purposes for Lord Sirius. It's best I don't use my real name or face since…I can't per my contract with the House of Black." Sighing. "I suspect the Young Master will make his way here as soon as possible. He misses your company greatly. And if I had time and not seen to that foal then I would've visited this Ron Weasley." Her eyes flashed platinum for an instant. "But I don't."

She curtseyed out of habit swirled away.

Hermione gulped and made her way quickly back to bed and vowed to be less…of a nuisance to Lady Serena.

I'm so sorry, Séraphine.

The House-Witch knocked on Lacie's door and smiled at the suspicious Gobliness' black gaze.

"Peace, Mistress Lacie." She said smiling the Black Smile, relaxing Lacie as she recognized Séraphine's voice, and welcomed her inside her humble abode. "I'm Lady Serena Black, I've come to inquire about my godson's health and if you would be so kind as to direct me to Magical Guardianship papers for Lord Sirius and I to handle Hermione Jean Granger? Further, His Lordship and I have plans regarding the Home of the Family Dursley that I would like to update you on our progress. I suspect Our House-Elf has plenty to tell and I would rather not impugn His Lordship nor Our Heir tonight as I reached a 'meeting of the minds,' with young Hermione."

Lacie chuckled. "Would you care for tea or something stronger?"

"Something stronger," Séraphine said, reveling in her only 'friend.'

References:

Spells listed in The Unofficial Harry Potter Spellbook: The Wand Chooses the Wizard by Duncan Levy.

I took the situation from Vikings invading Europe and since Séraphine is French it isn't a far stretch. I did my best to summarize what happened. I only wrote this so as to be 'historically accurate,' for Séraphine's upbringing in Medieval France along with her as a Servant. Furthermore, I was always bothered by how nonchalant the history classes were at Hogwarts. The Goblin Wars were bloody and vicious on both Goblins and Wizards. Muggleborns are often put in the pitied and slighted group. However, for someone like Séraphine she only had her magic to defend herself. Ultimately, its still a war going on between the Purebloods and the Muggles/borns. I felt this is necessary for the story flow. I didn't have a realistic way for Hermione and Séraphine to be besties. Besides, I feel like Hermione (as much as I really like her) pushes, presses and pries too much and needed to be read the right act. In addition, Séraphine is actually trying to protect Hermione from bad people and the Dark Witch. Hermione believes in adults and authority but my House-Witch knows better and frankly so does Harry. Ron is just shrewd and had the benefit of siblings while Hermione is just ignorant, naïve and innocent in many ways (not saying that's entirely a bad thing) but I wanted her to grow up a little bit faster and to realize her place in the grand scheme of my AU. In so doing, this will help her relationship with Harry all the better IMHO.

I absolutely don't condone any violent crimes such as sexual assault. I merely tried to convey historical accuracy based on what I read in HP from the snippets from Binns' class and the trite remarks of everyone not taking history seriously. It was actually fierce, graphic and damaging on all fronts. I felt this was poetic justice for all the serfs who did not have patronage like 'Lady Ursula.'