Note: so for the first time ever, I had to block a fanfic user from commenting on my works or contacting me recently. I had asked politely several times for the user to stop going through my works criticising spelling/grammatical errors because as someone who is dyslexic and suffers from severe anxiety they were not helping me as a writer. I didn't name the person publicly or criticise them in any way. Every ask I made what ignored and the user kept commenting. I didn't think they would disregard what I had said and I'm a little sad it had to come to me blocking them but it got to the point I was seriously considering stopping writing. My decision to block then wasn't one I came to easily as I believe strongly in my readers being able to easily communicate with me if they wish to do so.

On a lighter note, I'm back with a new chapter of this story. Chapter 11 is also half written as well as a new chapter for Claimed and Zafrina's girl that are almost finished. Hopefully I can get them finished and uploaded for you all this week.

All my love, Nell xoxo

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~Location: Malfoy Manor, West Wing, study ~

~ June 16th 1996 ~

~ Bellatrix's POV ~

Dark eyes flicked up reluctantly from the open book about Transfiguration on her lap at the sound of her name, called softly by her youngest sister. Bellatrix quirked an eyebrow at the slight look of distress on Narcissa's face. A display of emotion that was something highly unusual for her stoic baby sister. Narcissa had always been better at hiding her emotions than her. Where Bellatrix was brash and loud, showing no restraint due to the family curse, Narcissa was always so very well put together, stoic and emotionless, graceful, beautiful and elegant, always. She was the embodiment of their mother's image. A result of endless lessons Druella Black had deemed essential to raising the perfect pureblood girls. Yes Bella remembered those... teachings well. Not that she ever put them to use. She much preferred doing exactly what she wanted when she wanted.

So to see the worry on her Cissy's face was rather intriguing and more than a little worrying to the dark haired witch.

"What is it Narcissa?" She enquired, placing the book down to give the blonde her full attention. Something she found she could do rather well now that the madness had seemingly eased from her mind at the confirmation that her mate was alive and she had a child. It was as if the family curse had realised just how much she needed her sanity right now. Either that or she had simply managed to fight it back with the knowledge that her family needed her, meaning she now had much more control over her own sanity once more.

"It's a letter from Draco, Bella. Hermione has been hurt again but I'll let you read it for yourself" the blonde replied, a rare display of concern washing over her elegant features as she paced quickly from the window in the Black Family study over to where she sat on the sofa. The study was in the west wing of Malfoy Manor and was warded against anyone that was not of Black blood or mated too a Black. Meaning currently only herself, Narcissa and Draco had access to this room. With Draco still at Hogwarts it meant she and her sister could spend time here completely uninterrupted by anyone.

"Here" her sister said softly, passing the letter she held in her hand before moving to sit daintily on the sofa beside her. Without gracing her sister with any sort of response Bellatrix began reading. Finding that with the possibility that her child had been harmed she had little patience for anything other than finding out what was going on.

Mother,

It is entirely infuriating to learn of Father's standing. He isn't all I had thought him to be. Perhaps godfather was right about him and I should listen to his advice. It would be rather fine with me to move out of his shadow for once. His cowardice is disgusting. I am only sorry you have had to experience his shameful actions.

School is going well in terms of classes. I could improve my Herbology scores but that is something to work on next year. I predict high grades in all other subjects when results arrive as I am fairly confident with how I performed during the examinations.

It seems that Dumbledore is being highly cautious in monitoring the golden trio since his return to the school. Potter seems increasingly annoyed. I've heard him complain about a lac of communication and raging that it was about time Dumbledore let them know what was going on. What that refers too I have no idea. If I had to hazard a guess I'd say that the headmaster isn't allowing anyone outside of his order to know any sort of details or plans and is keeping his little golden boy entirely in the dark.

Socially things are okay, nothing has changed within Slytherin. Pansy still follows me around like I am some sort of beacon. It's infuriating. I beg you not to let Father enter into any sort if marriage proposal with House Parkinson. Quite frankly if he dared I'd kill him myself, merlin knows that it would be a match of the worst sort and I'm entirely convinced if I were to suffer her presence in such a way for the rest of my life it would drive all sanity from me.

However it has come to light that a certain girl frequented the hospital ward this week. There seemed to be some sort of quarrel between her and the idiots. Something that has been increasingly common. This time was much more explosive than it has ever been the red headed rat boy and scarhead drew their wands on her , hexing her as she turned to leave before she had the chance to defend herself. The blonde harpy confirmed she will make a full recovery though she suffered a severe concussion and had to be treated for several head and back wounds. Harpy has been storming around the castle looking furious. I know that this is something Auntie needs to know. Though please reassure her that the girl will make a full recovery.

I look forward to seeing you at the end of term.

Draco

~~

Bellatrix hissed as she read the last paragraph. It had been interesting to read the first part of the letter. She agreed with the boy that Lucius was a coward and due to his most recent act of cowardice where he abandoned two of his fellow death eaters on a raid leaving them to deal with a horde of aurors to save his own skin, their Lord had formally stripped him of the privilege of being within the inner circle. Labelling him a coward and a third class citizen. Meaning he was just barely more worthy than a mudblood or house elf. She agreed with the Dark Lords actions, she still felt a little more than annoyed that she had been forced to leave Lucius alive after he had harmed her child all those weeks ago and was glad to see her Nephew was starting to realise that he could use this as an opportunity to step out from under his father and do better. Her only regret was that until he did her baby sister would also be seen within the dark lords ranks as not much more worthy than her cowardly husband.

But to learn that yet again her daughter had been hurt by someone infuriated her. If it wasn't enough that Umbridge had harmed her girl multiple times (something Bella would exact revenge for soon enough) or that Dumbledore had stolen her and had her raised by filth her whole life, she was now being harmed right under the disgusting wizards nose to the point she ended up hospitalised? It wouldn't do.

She would speak to her Lord about exacting her revenge on the weasel and Potter. Of course she couldn't kill the Potter boy because that was her lords right but surely he would let her unleash a few curses right?

"I will get them!!" She growled, passing the letter back to her sister rather rudely. Standing to pace, aware that she couldn't take her anger out on her sister because that wouldn't be proper. Or fair. Narcissa hadn't done anything wrong and in fact the display of concern for her daughters wellbeing had made Bellatrix feel warm. Glad that her sister seemed to care about her Heir.

So no it wouldn't do to take her anger out on the blonde and she knew Narcissa would be furious if she broke something here so she needed to apparate herself somewhere else. Perhaps even find a lowly death eater to hex into oblivion.

Or Lucius.

She swivelled to face her sister, wand already poised to dissaparate her and offered her sister a forced smile.

"Thank you for showing me. I'm sorry I cannot stick around any longer but I fear for the state of these rooms and your anger if I do not vent my own" she spoke forcing her voice to sound calmer than she felt so her sister knew she was not angry with her. The blonde offering her a rare smile and nod in response before with a flick of her wrist and a silently whispered word Bellatrix vanished.

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~ Location: Hogwarts, Room of Requirement ~

~ same day ~

~ Hermione's POV ~

Hermione did not give Fleur any sort of chance to ready herself before throwing the first curse her way as the blonde entered the room of requirement. The brunette had been released from the hospital ward that afternoon after suffering from head trauma and wounds on her back. A gift from her two supposed best friends for simply disagreeing with them on whether or not it was feasible to sneak into the headmasters office to look for insight into what he knew about The Dark Lord. She had warned them that as Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard in the school it would be highly unlikely that they could without being caught.

Ron had automatically accused her of not wanting them to know so she could keep them in the dark and effectively help her 'death eater scum' family. Harry agreeing and taunting her. She had tried to keep a level head. Had every intention of ignoring their harsh words and leaving but when Ron had laughed about how much of a favour it would be to the wizarding world just to end the entire Black Family she had saw red. Unable to hide the anger in her own voice as she had loudly told them to go and fuck themselves.

She had stood to leave making the biggest mistake she had in a long time and turning her back on the pair as she left. She hadn't seen the spells from their wands coming. Had been entirely unprepared for such a thing and as a result she had been struck. Defenceless and bleeding on the great hall floor.

It had all made her rather furious, especially seeing as the only professor to react in any way was McGonagall who had levitated her to the hospital wing. The elderly Scots concerned emerald eyes the last thing she saw before darkness over took her and now, now she was just so incredibly angry. She could feel her magic jumping and coiling. Her blood seeming to boil and cool all at once. It was a terrifying experience to say the least. She felt so out of control but nothing seemed to be able to calm the white hot anger that dripped like ice through her magical core. Her mind swimming with the many ways she would quite like to rip both boys apart painfully for all she had suffered at their hands. Images of how she would draw out Albus Dumbledore's death right after making him watch his precious golden boy perish at her wand. The thought was intoxicating, alluring in a way she knew she should be at least wary of.

Though the only way she knew she would calm was unleashing some of that energy and she knew the only one in this castle that would be able to handle that task with her was her mate. Her alluring and powerful veela.

The curses fell from her wand effortlessly, coming to her with a quickness that was foreign and a dripping sort of mad that to anyone else other than Fleur would be fatal.

Over the past month or so Hermione had done well to control her temper, Fleur's presence balancing her and ensuring she never got to this point however with no new information to pass to her mama and the increasing cruelty put upon her by Potter and Weasley she had lost control. Completely.

"You can do better than that my mate, or is that all you've got hmmm? Is the little Gryffindor bookworm all smarts and no strength" the teasing lilt to Fleur's voice was equally as intoxicating as it was infuriating but Hermione knew her mate meant no harm in her words. They were merely meant to provoke her, encourage her to let loose. A tactic that never failed to work as Hermione increased the strength and speed of the curses and jinxes she threw at her soulmate.

"Don't Fleur!!" She growled her magic flaring in response to the witches taunting. "I am far more capable than anyone has ever given me credit for" hissing angrily. She sent her most powerful 'bombarda' towards the veela, giggling in manic satisfaction when she saw it collide with Fleur's shield shattering it completely, the force of the collision pushing her mate backwards.

She wouldn't lie to herself at just how much the dark glare she was shot in return by her mate aroused her. No doubt an added... affect, caused by the curse. It flared painfully, pleasantly and she could see by the darkening of her witches dark blue eyes that fleur felt it too. In a lot of ways Hermione knew she was lucky to have found her mate so quickly and that her mate as a Veela actually thrived of the challenge Hermione presented too her. It meant once all was said and done and her magic had settled she wouldn't feel too guilty about her attack on the blonde.

"Good 'ermione, let it all go" her mate beamed as she stood back up from where she had landed, sending a flurry of her own spells right back at the brunette.

Hermione let the praise wash over her, the overwhelming anger relenting a little, preening internally at the Veela's words. When her mother had told her just how quickly her mate would become her world the younger witch didn't entirely believe her. But now, feeling the effects of the bond in there entirety after so many weeks of getting to know Fleur she understood completely.

It took several more minutes for the anger to recede completely, the madness slipping back into the recess of her mind as Fleur pinned her against the wall. A familiar position for the brunette since that first night Fleur had dragged her here. A position that she would never allow anyone else other than her parents or her mate to get her in. It was far too vulnerable a position for her to ever feel comfortable with anyone else. When her mama had pinned her, it had been grounding, reassuring and made her feel safe, calming her. Fleur was no different except when the veela had her trapped between her own toned frame and the hard surface of the wall it not only made her feel all she did with her mama but it also made her feel incredibly flushed. There was something about being so entirely at her mates command that she found inviting. It became second nature for her at this point to tilt her head to the side as soon as she saw pale lips lean towards her pulse. Willingly giving the veela unrestricted access to her neck and pulse. A favourite spot of her mates.

The incredibly gorgeous older witch had explained thoroughly just how possessive and territorial veela were when it came to their mates. Often marking their partners necks extensively as a sign of their claim, their ownership of their mate and at first the explanation had infuriated Hermione. Not at all okay with anyone thinking they owned her in anyway. Though the blondes reassurance that in fact it wasn't to do with owning her in any means to control her, that it was her veela side, the creature in her that needed the reassurance and honour of being allowed to mark and claim her had calmed her somewhat.

It didn't take long for her to begin to understand what Fleur had meant by that. Hermione had come to love just how much her veela cherished her above all others. How despite being incredibly possessive and domineering at times the brunette never felt like she was being controlled or her own choices overshadowed. Fleur took her word as law, always willing to listen to every word she spoke, never denying her any thing and Hermione never felt anything less than an equal in their relationship. Fleur always respected her boundaries. Encouraged her to voice her wants and needs and was incredibly attentive. It meant that now when Fleur's veela took over needing to assert herself with Hermione, the brunette didn't hesitate to give in and relax into her mate completely because even when the veela was firmly in control of the blonde her boundaries were still respected. She was marked, dark bruises lining her neck often but fleur had never pushed for more. Knowing that the brunette wasn't ready to take things further.

"Thank you" she whispered, now calm brown orbs gazed up at the gold flecked blue of her mates own eyes. The gold an indication that Fleur's veela was incredibly close to the surface. Hermione leaned up, pressing a soft kiss to her mates lips in thanks, knowing that the veela as people loved physical affection.

"Always Mon amour, you did well to restrain yourself thus far. If I weren't trying to maintain my cover with the order I'd have done serious damage to the two fools by now on your behalf" the blonde replied, her smile gentle as she brought her head down to rest her forehead against hers.

"I can see that, Luna said you had been storming around the castle looking furious" Hermione chuckled, amused at the image the younger girl had painted to her earlier of Fleur. Luna Lovegood was a fourth year Ravenclaw girl who had been surprisingly nice to her in recent months. Luna was and had been labelled 'weird' or 'loony' by the rest of the school her first year. Always appearing to be lost in her own world of mythical beasts. Hermione admitted to finding her odd but disliked the way their peers treated her just because Luna was different. She was kind, gentle and loving and she believed that was the most important thing. She liked Luna and refused to call her any of those merlin awful nicknames.

"Yes, I was rather aggravated" fleur sniffed, causing Hermione to giggle again. Giggling more when the blonde used her brief distraction to skate her fingers down the brunettes ribs. Tickling her playfully.

"Fleur, Fleur stop" Hermione laughed, allowing her mates actions to chase away any lingering anger and darkness from her mind, wrapping her arms around the taller witches neck and hugging her tightly.

"How are you feeling about the upcoming holiday?" Fleur asked, holding her tighter before pulling her towards the sofa that had appeared alongside a lit fire in the room.

"I'm scared if I'm honest. I don't know when my mamma plans to come for me and I'm not sure I can keep pretending I don't know I was adopted. I'm scared I'll slip up before mamma planned to let the Grangers know" she replied carefully, in a way that was rather obviously not the full truth.

"Don't hide from me Hermione" Fleur warned, her tone as just caring as it was a demand. One Hermione had learned would be useless to fight against. She never won when Fleur took that tone, always seeming to give in and give the blonde whatever it was she had wanted.

"I'm scared of what we will find, of how much the grangers know and how much of my life has been a lie orchestrated by him. Do they really love me or is it an act or spell? Is there no part of my life that hasn't been solely constructed by him?" She whispered, deciding to voice her biggest fears. Because they were that. Her biggest fears, as much as she disliked the grangers, as much as they had grown apart and she resented them for their views, they had still been all she knew for 16 years and a part of her would always love them. If they knew what had happened to her, if they were in on Dumbledore's scheme it would be the worst betrayal of them all she knew.

"Love, I cannot answer that. I do not have the answers that you crave but I can promise you that I'll be there through it all, Albus is tasking me with monitoring you over the summer. You won't be alone I promise, we will deal with whatever comes our way together Hermione. Until then we get by"

And although her mates words weren't enough to dispel her fear, they were enough to reassure her that Fleur was right here. The summer and her parents would be dealt with as the past few months had been.

Together.

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~ June 19th 1996 ~

~ Location: Depths of Azkaban, Solitary confinement wing ~

~ Marlene's POV ~

The shuddering and groaning of brick startled Marlene awake from a fitful state of rest because she couldn't honestly call it sleep at this point. Forcing herself to push up into a sitting position on the bed, the rust creak if the bed frame lost in the sound of debris falling all around her. The damp walls shuddering and crumbling upon the impact of spell fire.

The flash of curses hitting stone lighting up the dark cell she had called home for the past sixteen years. The intoxicating scent of dark magic almost choking her in its potency as the attack on the prisons infrastructure continued.

The harsh howl of wind and hail clashing violently on the rock surface. Adding to the noise all around her.

Her heart soared, not that she could outwardly show such an emotion in her current withered state, sitting upright using up any and all energy she had within her too thin frame as it was. She could feel Bellatrix's magic around her, calling for her, seeking her out within the darkness.

Her rescuers pushing through the rubble before the dust had any chance to settle as her witch and two others she didn't care to look at strode into her cell. The sight of wild black curls and dark brown eyes alight with relief, anger and so much tenderness it would have stole the breath from her lungs if she could muster such a reaction.

Sixteen years she had been bound in iron chains and in less than five minutes her cell had been destroyed, her witch striding in to her rescue after all these years. Freedom on the tip of her tongue and her baby to find and hold. She couldn't think of much else.

Leaving here.

Her witch.

Her baby.

The only three logical and tangible thoughts in her tired mind. The only three that had kept her clinging to her sanity.

"Oh Mar!" Her nickname said in a prayered whisper as she was scooped up gently in strong arms that had never once failed to hold her steady. Her eyes streaming just as her Bella's was despite the fact she hadn't thought her body capable of such a thing as crying with so little energy left.

Her head held against a shoulder, the smell of pine, firewood and safety filling her nose, chasing the scent of damp decay from her lungs.

"It's alright, I've got you now. Rest." Words of safety, a promise filtering through her hazy mind as her body finally, finally relaxed after so many years of trial. Her vision blurring and fading as she finally let herself succumb to true rest as she was carried out and away.

Her witch had come for her, Hermione was out there. Somewhere. Waiting for her mothers. Needing them.

And She was going home!