DISCLAIMER. None of the characters used are a creation of mine. They belong solely to JK Rowling.

Rab was once again home from Hogwarts for his summer holidays, now preparing to return mentally equipped for his OWLs. Hermione really did wish to help relieve his worries but it would be incredibly suspicious for a ten year old to have such in depth knowledge of OWL subjects.

After Rolf and Bella had married under the English landscape adorned with beautiful white snow, they had chosen to live in a villa on a private island owned by the family. This did not mean, however, that Rolf ignored his duty towards his old grandfather and his two younger siblings. No, never. He visited home twice every week to spend some time with Hermione. When Rab was home from school he would visit more often. He would also meet with Papa every evening to discuss the family estate for Papa had finally decided that he would soon be relinquishing his hold as the Head of the House to Rolf.

Bella made a point to meet Hermione twice every month. She went as far as to try and get close with the younger girl. She really did but it was only understandable that Hermione could never quite trust the woman. It wasn't that she didn't try. She just reacted extremely violently when in her presence.

Hermione had begun to peruse the library for everything she could find on Horcruxes.

She hadnt any idea how she would get basilisk venom without Harry's help. Even with Harry it would prove to be quite a difficult task to get into the Chamber of Scerets now that he no longer had a piece of Voldemort inside him that drove his ability of speaking Parseltongue.

She would have to figure out another way of destroying the Horcruxes. Fiendfyre would be an efficient way of destroying them but the question was how could she ever come to learn how to cast it much less control it.

Despite truly being a twenty one year old woman, her body was only just ten. It could not be expected to undertake the task of learning the ways of Fiendfyre. It would be too much of a taxing job on her body.

She did have an idea though. Perhaps once things would get rough and Voldemort would be on his rise, Bella was bound to be his most loyal servant once again. Her blooming friendship with her could prove to be useful at a time like that for she could and probably would gladly teach young Hermione such Dark Arts in hopes of providing another pureblooded soldier to her master.

She laughed at her internal monologue. Pureblood. What an irony.

Hermione also tried in vain to search for the potion Voldemort used in the cave to protect the locket. She could take no chances for when Harry and her would finally visit the Inferi riddles cave.

She would retreive the diadem as soon as she could and keep it for safekeeping except she was scared what effects of would have on her mind. So she had also been looking to create a safe trunk to house the horcrux for when she finally found it.

-o-o-o-

Hermione hadn't had a nightmare this terrifying in a long time. She had dozed off while reading a book in the library after having had an ample dinner with Rab.

She dreamt about her parents that night. She dreamt of the way they had been murdered.

She had found out a year after she had obliviated their memories that they hadn't even made it as far as to the airport before the Death Eaters had struck. She could imagine their fright. She could imagine their pain.

But the worst part was that they died thinking nobody would remember them. They died thinking they had nobody.. no daughter who would cry for them.

She awoke to Rab patting her back and holding her close to his chest. In times like that Rab had an uncanny ability to forego the twinkle in his eyes and partake the seriousness of an old man.

Hermione cried silently as he cooed sweet nothings in her ear.

'I know you want to know what's wrong with me, Rab.' She whimpered.

Rab nodded against her head, 'You have been different since this last year.. I don't know what happened. You were always such a lively child and all of a sudden you turned into a shell of the person you used to be.' He sighed. 'I worry about you, Mi. As do Papa and Rolf. You have to let us help you.'

Hermione didn't know what to say. She had heard Papa discussing with Rolf about reaching out to a mind healer. But Hermione couldn't possibly afford to be analysed like that. She had been putting it off for a while now. So she decided to give him a half truth. After all, he deserved that much. He truly did love his little sister.

'I have been having dreams, Rab. As if they're .. out of someone else's life. And they are oh so horrifying.'

Rab pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. 'What happens in these dreams? I've heard you mumble all these names. Who is.. Harry? And Ron?'

Another dam broke and she struggled to gather herself. 'I don't know.' She chose to say, 'I keep seeing them die and being separated. I don't know what to tell you, Rab.'

'Mi, promise me when you do, you will come to me. Please. I cannot lose you. Not so soon after Mother and Father.'

Rab dropped a kiss on her head and carried her to her bedchamber. He lay her down on her bed and settled in beside her. He picked up a book from her bedside table.

It was a Muggle book called Pride and Prejudice. He laughed, 'And where did you get this, sister?'

Hermione backpedaled. She was caught. 'I have my secrets', she mumbled.

'No doubt you do,' Rab chuckled. 'This will piss him off to no end. Don't let Rolf catch you reading such Muggle filth, as he would put it.'

He read the summary on the backside of the book and exclaimed, 'Ah a tale of love between a man and a woman from different classes. How romantic. My sister's likes herself a love story.'

He laughed as she scoffed. 'And here I thought you were on your way to be an intellectual.'

Hermione hit him on his arm, 'Academicians happen to harbour an admiration for great literary pieces.'

'Yes, of course. So when did you meet Sirius and Regulus last? Haven't seen those boys in ages. You should write to them. It'll cheer you up.'

Hermione sighed, 'I only just met Regulus last week. And you're doing enough at cheering me up.' She whispered so softly that he was hardly able to make out what she said. 'I don't need anybody else.'

Rab grunted. 'Papa shall be late tonight. You want me to read you to sleep, Mi?'

Hermione was touched. Her father had spent countless nights reading her the very same book. It wasn't a bedtime story but it was their thing.

Hermione hugged him tight and cuddled into his side as he began to narrate the life of a Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Who would have thought? Hermione Granger, a muggleborn branded as filth by Bellatrix Lestrange would be put to sleep as a child by none other than Bella's very own dear brother in law.