Note: back with another chapter. I don't know why this fic has my brain on a roll but it does and I'm not gonna question it but I promise I'm still working on those other story updates. And ohhh the moment is here that Hermione and Bella finally get some interaction but let me just tell you it's not what ya'll expect... or is it?...

Anyways thank you all so so so so much for all the love. You guys rock. I honestly love you all. I hope you're all being safe out there.

My love Nell xoxo

Trigger warning, this chapter has brief mentions of blood.

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~ Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. ~

~ March 18th 1996 ~

~ Hermione's POV ~

Dumbledore's piercing gaze had hardly wavered from her in the slightest over the months leading into the new year. Upon returning to the castle the day after the heritage tests were performed he had called all three of them - Harry, Ron and herself into his office to discuss their results. Wanting to know their thoughts and feelings surrounding them being forced to endure a heritage test and Hermione had never in her life struggled so much to conceal the deep routed hatred she felt within her for the man who had been parading around as some Saint for years while her mother, both her mothers, had been rotting in a damp cell, thousands of miles away from civilisation.

Though by some grace of Morgana herself she was able to keep the distaste and sheer disgust from herself and play the ever dutiful, confused, upset muggle born she was expected to play. Somehow she managed to convince Dumbledore and therefore Harry and Ron that she was still in shock about her Heritage results, she faked how scared and confused she was, claiming she felt sickened to know she shared any part of her with Bellatrix Black and despite the fact she could sense Harry and Ron were now even more disgusted with her, Dumbledore had found her little act sufficient enough to believe he was in the clear and could continue to keep Hermione on side. She could see the way he calculated his words. Assessed each aspect of what she said and he had continued to watch her every move.

That was until the awful man had been driven from the castle by none other than Delores Umbridge after he took the fall when the pink clad monstrosity had discovered that Harry, Ron and she had started their own defence group to train with the other students in defensive magic. Despite the awful man being blamed for their 'act if rebellion' against the ministry. Umbridge had taken up the mantel of watching their group. Especially her, having taken Hermione's silence over the heritage test as conformation of her dirty blood and therefore had taken pleasure in punishing her with detentions and a round of the blood quill usage whenever the opportunity had arisen.

To make things so much worse her relationship with Harry and Ron had gotten so much worse, both boys now having taken to taunting her heritage every time they were alone. Telling Hermione that she was lucky she was smart and on their side and laughing about how Bellatrix would probably hate her seeing as despite her blood she was raised by muggles and therefore may as well be a mudblood. The brunette hated to admit it but their words had hurt, striking an internal fear that she would rather not acknowledge.

It had been a repeated discussion with her mother during their meetings in her mind scape. Marlene had done nothing but reassure her that Bellatrix would be proud of her, that she would love her and would be happy to know Hermione was hers once they finally managed to reveal that truth too her. Which still hadn't happened because despite how desperate both Marlene and Hermione were to reach out to the Dark witch, who they both knew was no longer a resident of Azkaban. (The dark lord having broken her out at the beginning of November.)

The young brunette had found it impossible to get word out of the castle with all the eyes on her, something that frustrated both Hermione and her mother. Both desperate to get word out.

"Hey mione?" And the brunette had to grit her teeth against the urge to hex the dark haired boys use of that loathed nickname as she looked up at Harry in question.

"Can you look over my notes for tomorrow's final exam when we are done here?" He asked her and Hermione couldn't contain her eye roll if she tried because of course he would leave studying for the last O.W.L to literally the night before and expect her to help him. A quick glance at Ronald's expectant face confirmed that he too had done the same.

"I can't, I have detention with Umbridge" she stated mater of factly trying to hide the dread at the reminder. It was getting harder and harder not to show the disgusting woman just how much the blood quill hurt, especially seeing as each time she was in detention Umbridge seemed to increase the number of lines she was expected to do. She did her best to react minimally to the pain each time, including how much the darker part of her wanted to hex the woman, Hermione was just grateful that the injuries didn't show up in her dreamscape because she really didn't want her mother worrying over her safety anymore than she already did.

"Well after then. Don't let us down" the red headed Pratt all but demanded as he and Harry stalked off. Not sparing her a second look and Hermione sighed deeply, looking up at the roof in defeat. She was so tired of this. So tired of pretending she was someone she was not. Of faking friendship with two boys she had grown to hate for their lack of regard towards her. Tired of aching for parents beyond her reach, and most of all she was so tired of always having to be the best at everything and still being treated like she was nothing.

She was a dang good witch, the brightest of her age. She was powerful. She was the child of Bellatrix Black.

The Heir of two prominent wizarding families.

She deserved better than this charade. She was worth more than some bigoted half blood boys personal guard and she really didn't know how much longer she could keep playing pretend.

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~ Location: Ministry of Magic - Department of Mysteries ~

~March 19th 1996 ~

~ Hermione's POV ~

She could feel the dark magic swirling in the air around her. It felt heavenly as it brushed against her skin, caressing her as if she were a long lost cousin. She knew her 'friends' could feel it too from the identical looks of disgust on their faces as the approached the correct row of prophecy orbs. The dark power in the air not feeling nearly as welcome to them as it clearly did her and she made a mental note to ask her mother about that tonight, if she ever got out of this place alive.

After all Hermione wouldn't be considered the brightest witch of her age for no reason. She knew this was a trap they were walking into. The dark lord had proven time and time again he wasn't immune to such trickery and the brunette knew that if he wanted Harry to see something through their shared link then the boy would. It wasn't difficult to conclude he'd use the connection between himself and Harry Potter to his advantage and Hermione really was rather surprised it had taken him so long to do so.

Ever since Harry had told them of the link he shared with the Dark Lord the brunette had expected this, granted she hadn't quite expected Harry to start screaming in the middle of one of the biggest pranks the Weasley twins had pulled to date, that his godfather - Sirius Black - had been taken and if they didn't get to the ministry as soon as possible he'd die.

Honestly it was all rather dramatic and he drew entirely too much attention to them that it wasn't a surprise that Umbridge had caught them all trying to use her office floo network. Though luckily the bigoted witch had need to run down to Professor Snape's office to fetch some veritiserum, allowing them all to escape her office after knocking the Slytherin students out that had held them captive. Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley had apparently seen their predicament, joining them and they had then had the bright idea to use nearby thestrals to get to the ministry despite them knowing she hated flying. Her muscles still hadn't recovered from how tightly she had gripped the poor creatures back in her fright.

So here they were, tiptoeing around in the dark, trying to find a prophecy on their own without adult back up in what was clearly a trap. All because Harry God damn Potter never slowed down to think about anyone or anything other than himself for two bloody seconds. It would be a wonder if they all didn't die tonight. Their were obviously death eaters around, the only explanation to the dark magic Hermione could feel that she could come up with.

As they tiptoed closer the brunette felt a little torn, on one hand she should really warn her 'friends' of the danger in front of them as she felt the dark magic in the air grow thicker but on the other hand, why should she? She had already warned them it was a trap and they had chosen to ignore her, already tried to convince them to inform the adults rather than run into danger themselves and they hadn't cared for her warnings so on their own heads be it, whatever they were about to face.

"Its down here, I can feel it. Hermione be at the ready" Harry whispered but again the demand was present in his tone. She was expected to heed it, regardless of what she wanted or didn't want to be doing. As she always did, Hermione complied, raising her wand in the ready position so she would be ready to defend if need be. Not that she particularly wanted to fight the death eaters, not when her mama was probably going to be there and she would really prefer not to set her temper off.

But that thought made her smile slightly. If her mama was here this could be the moment she was waiting for in regards to informing her of what was going on and where her other mother was so they could get her out. She just needed to figure out how to talk to her mama without anyone else overhearing.

Once they reached the end of Isle 97, Harry brought their small group to a halt in front of a gently glowing white orb. Reaching out for it without hesitation and as he did so Hermione felt the dark magic around her pulse with anticipation, fuelling her own excitement. It made her feel slightly giddy, something that made her heart race, her palms sweat a little and her breathing to become slightly laboured. It was intoxicating and she really could see the draw to the Dark Arts. There wasn't a feeling like this one. It was dark, heady and unlike anything she was used too. Startlingly so. She couldn't describe accurately how she felt about just how much she wanted to immerse herself in the power that the dark magic around her promised her and that thought scared her a little.

Her mother had said that this is how her mama had felt as a child, growing up in a family that utilised the dark arts. That it was an indicator that the family curse was beginning to take affect. As the eldest and only Heir Hermione knew she would inherit the curse. Knew it as certainly as she knew her hatred for Albus Dumbledore and as much as that knowledge scared her she had been promised by her mother that she wouldn't be left to deal with it on her own. That she had a soulmate out there that would be her anchor and her mother and mama would do so in her stead. Until she was found, because Hermione was certain her soulmate had to be female. Their was no other option. After seeing that perfection such as Fleur Delacour existed even the thought of being mated to a man made her feel nauseous.

She grimaced, shaking her head subtly to dispel her one hundred and one different lines of thinking in order for her to focus on the scene in front of her as Lucius Malfoy stepped forward. "Hand over the prophecy Potter, and you and you're little friends can leave unharmed" the dark wizard sneered, looking down his nose and Hermione felt herself bristle. Entirely not liking his tone while it was aimed at her. If he knew who she was he would think twice before he took such a tone with her. She had to bite her tongue to stop herself from reporting such musings.

Luckily for her it was at that moment that slight movement behind Lucius Malfoy caught the young brunettes attention. A glimmer of a necklace catching the light emanating from the orbs that surrounded them, a slight rustle of fabric that she was sure she wasn't meant to hear but she couldn't stop her bodies automatic reaction as her eyes snapped to the space behind Malfoys left shoulder, her arm adjusting position slightly to point at where she knew her mama was standing, hidden by the shadows.

The brunette subtly drew herself up taller, knowing that Bellatrix would have noticed that Hermione had figured out she was there. She didn't know what it was about her mama that made Hermione want to be the best, to make the woman proud of her. Being around her mother never brought the same sort of nervous pressure. She felt like her mother wouldn't care if Hermione was barely passing classes as long as she was happy and healthy. Bellatrix however, her mama, someone she shared so much in common with was a different story. She feared letting her mama down, of not being worthy enough to be her mama's Heir and the feeling made her entirely uncomfortable.

As Lucius Malfoy argued with Harry, Hermione tried to pay attention but the slight pressure she could feel pressing against her occlumency shields was rather distracting and it was taking a great deal of her concentration to keep whoever it was out of her mind.

"Take a step closer and I'll smash it" Harry hissed through gritted teeth and Hermione could tell that this situation was getting out of hand. If they didn't do something soon there was a high chance they'd all get seriously injured and she would have no chance to speak to her mama.

"He knows how to play!!!" A childish voice giggled, and the brunette had to stifle the urge to run into the dark witches arms as her mama finally stepped into the light, grinning wickedly at the group of students.

"Itty.. bitty... baby.. Potter" the cruel sneer pulled up the corner of her mama's lips as she raised her wand, her eyes flitting wildly from Hermione to Harry to Neville, Ginny, Luna and Ron as if she couldn't decide which of them to focus her attack on and Hermione knew in that moment that it needed to be her if she had any chance of talking to her.

"He isn't as stupid as your little sidekick clearly" she spoke up, her own sneer on her face, stepping in front of the group slightly. Making sure she was directly in Bellatrix's eye line and she fought the need to retreat backwards when the dark witch focused her dark eyes on her. The feeling of someone trying to break through her occlumency barriers returning tenfold. "The mudblood has a death wish" her mothers voice taunted even as the mental attack continued.

Frowning slightly Hermione didn't back down, thinking quickly she threw up her strongest shields around all of her mind, locking her thoughts and memories at the back of her mind. She dropped the walls at the front and let one sentence repeat, watching the dark witch intensely for the moment she read the sentence in her head.

'Marlene McKinnon-Black is alive, I am her daughter'

Merlin knew nothing would have hurt her heart more in that moment than seeing the flash of pain and grief followed by hope that played out in her mama's eyes even as they narrowed in distrust.

"Now now Bella, let's not fight. I'm sure Ms Granger did not mean to be so insulting, an unfortunate result to her parentage I presume" Lucius Malfoy soothed, placing a restraining hand on her mama's arm.

"Bellatrix Black!!" Neville shouted beside her.

"Neville Longbottom is it? How's mum and dad?" Her mama taunted back but regardless Hermione cared little for what words were being tossed. She had successfully gained her mama's full focus judging by the fact her onyx eyes hadn't left hers for a second even as she continued to verbally spar with Hermione's classmates.

The next few minutes were a blur before Harry gave the order to flee and Hermione found herself working on instinct as she dashed away with them, allowing herself to be seen trying to flee despite the fact she knew her mama would catch her. She cast numerous stunners over her shoulder as she ran, laughing internally when one narrowly missed Ron as he ran behind her and struck Lucius Malfoy in the chest.

Good, she though because he was an awful arrogant coward and she didn't particularly like the man.

Somehow they made it into the time room managing to lock the doors to give them a brief moment or reprieve where she managed to convince Harry to play the prophecy to the group, arguing that if it was smashed now it didn't matter because they had already heard it and it kept it out of the death eaters reach. Logic he decided to heed for once in his life.

Just as Sybil Trelawney utter the last line of the prophecy Hermione saw the door begin to give way to the death eaters relentless spell casting and she didn't hesitate to send her 'friends' through the only other door in the room as the death eaters finally broke in and Hermione didn't get the chance to follow the others as a stunner caught her in the back, knocking her face first onto the floor. Her mama's menacing voice ringing out clearly.

"Leave me to deal with the little muddy girl, go ahead and get the prophecy" she singsong and Hermione heard the doors slam shut not even seconds after. She held her breath not daring to do anything to further aggravate her mama. She knew her reputation and mother or not she knew Bellatrix could hurt her severely if provoked. Something she wouldn't risk.

Hands grabbed her arms, flipping her onto her back and the dark witch straddled her before releasing the stunner that had held her captive.

"What do you know of Marlene mudblood?" Bellatrix growled, and the brunette felt a sharp prick as her mama's wand was pressed against her throat in threat.

"Albus Dumbledore kidnapped her in February of 1979, he told the world she was dead but she isn't. He's had her captive in the basement of Azkaban for the past sixteen years. She gave birth to me in September 1979, she didn't get the chance to tell you about me. My real name is Hermione Delphini McKinnon-Black" the brunette answered immediately, holding her mama's gaze. She also released all shields from her mind just in case her mama wanted to check she was telling the truth.

"Go on" the gruff tone demanded and Hermione could see that her mama was warring with herself on whether or not to believe her.

"When she was captured she cast a spell to connect you and her mind but because she didn't have her wand it didn't work. You were to far away from one another and as a result the spell attached to the closest living thing that shared a bond with her. Her child. The night the dark lord returned, she felt the surge of magic and it gave her enough strength to complete the mental bond with me on her side. The night you escaped Azkaban I managed to strengthen it. We've met every evening in my mindscape since trying to figure out how to get a message to you but with Dumbledore breathing down my neck and professor Umbridges' vendetta against me I've not been able to do anything to get your attention" she finished calmly, she made sure she relaxed completely under her mama to show that she had no intention of fighting the witch or harming her in any way.

"I've dropped my shields. Check if you wish, I won't hide anything from you" she murmured quietly and grit her teeth when she felt the dark witch enter her mind immediately. Painfully pulling out and viewing every memory she has of her time spent with her mother before abruptly withdrawing from her mind. Making her gasping slightly at the ruthlessness of it all.

"I believe you, you will go back to Hogwarts with your little friends, they believe you're still one of them but no child of mine will ever be allowed to be a disgusting blood traitor. I need to talk to the Dark Lord but you can be useful at Hogwarts. Await further instruction girl do you understand? Don't move, don't even sneeze in the wrong direction before receiving word from me" her mothers tone was detached, emotionless and demanding and it made Hermione ache. She hated that it felt as if her mama couldn't care all that much for her but she forced herself to nod, not daring to speak lest the emotion in her voice give way how badly her mothers lack of care made her feel.

At her nod, Bellatrix stood, pulling Hermione up with her, turning the brunette around so she was pressed against her mama's front with her back to her. Her still injured hand from her last stint with Umbridge was pulled up to the Dark witches face and inspected closely before her hand was dropped again without comment.

"We have been gone to long, we will re-join the fight" her mothers words were short and too the point as she forced Hermione forward. None too gently.

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Back with the group of death eaters and her peers Hermione took in the scene as every one of her classmates were held in a similar position to her by a death eater. They lined the outside of the room as Lucius and Harry stood in the centre near a strange looking arch that pulsed with magic.

"Harry is just about to hand over the prophecy Bella, aren't you dear boy" Lucius sneered as he addressed Bellatrix.

"Good, this one gave me a little trouble, had to teach her to respect her betters" Bellatrix replied instantly, tightening the arm she had around Hermione and the brunette didn't care that the arm was no embrace, she pushed herself back closer to her mama, trying to stop her body shaking from the effort it took her not to sob loudly. Wishing desperately for her mama to show in some way that Hermione mattered to her in some way.

Before anything else could be said several loud pops were heard and Hermione felt her mama stiffen as the order appeared, beginning to cast spells at the death eaters straight away. The fighting beginning in a flurry of spells as the brunette was pushed forward towards an auror with pink bubble-gum coloured hair. Her mama releasing her without any sort of care. Hermione vaguely recognised the witch that caught her as Nymphadora Tonks, her cousin she believed, if her recollection of her mama's family was correct.

"Wowtcher 'mione, you alright?" The woman, her cousin murmured, checking her over quickly but thoroughly and at her silent nod the brunette was pushed behind the older witch as Nymphadora refocused on the fighting and Hermione couldn't do much but cast shields to deflect any stray curses as she surveyed the room.

Harry, was fighting against Lucius with his godfather Sirius Black. Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna had been pushed into a corner away from the fighting as the other aurors engaged the death eaters. She vaguely recognised the majority if the order, Professor Lupin, Kingsley Shaklebolt, Moody, Mr and Mrs Weasley and surprisingly Fleur Delacour all fought in front of her and Hermione knew if they weren't fighting right now her heart would have probably beat itself right out of her chest at the sight of the blonde veela. Their year and a bit apart had done nothing to diminish the effect that woman had on her clearly.

"Hermione!" Nymphadora screamed suddenly and Hermione whipped round just in time to see the bright purple light come shooting towards her from one-off the death eaters and she knew she wouldn't have time to react to save herself. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact of the spell and wasn't disappointed when it hit. Sharp pain filling her torso. Driving the air from her lungs as she dropped to one knee, glancing up as she wildly sought her mama out in the crowd. Panicking more when she couldn't see her.

Her vision had begun going spotty as she gasped for air, her torso spasming in pain as her school shirt stained a dark red as she bled.

The last thing she hear was a quiet murmur of 'guérir dans le sommeil' whispered in her ear as she was pushed onto her back gently. Not managing to see who it was through her pain filled haze as her body sized in pain and her vision turned black.

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guérir dans le sommeil - French meaning, Heal in sleep