DISCLAIMER. None of the characters used are a creation of mine. They belong solely to JK Rowling.
Tonight at 6.
The Leaky Cauldron
Hermione kept flicking the card round and round all the while questioning herself if she was really up to it.
It was soon. Too soon. But she had no choice. Rab had given up everything for her and she'd be damned if she let him be corrupted by Voldemort. She knew it wouldn't be too long before he'd be brainwashed.
He spent days on end at Malfoy Manor at times. She really did wonder what the Death Eaters were up to.
Death Eaters, she thought as her lips lifted up into a wry smile.
Her brother was one too now. Rab was a Death Eater. And so would she be.
Forty one days had passed and Hermione could do nothing as she saw Rab go about his day, working at the Corporation and then leaving at night doing God knows what for that monster.
She blamed herself. She had never expected Rab to sign away his life for her. Never even in her wildest dreams could she have seen this coming.
She wondered if it had been merely Melinda that Rab had joined the Death Eaters in the previous timeline. Had his affection for the girl run so deep?
Something must have gone terribly wrong since the Rabastan Lestrange she remembered was nothing less than a terrorising madman, no less evil than his brother or his sister in law.
She closed her eyes as if physically hurt by the picture her memories painted her brother in.
She had been deliberating. Plotting. She couldn't let doubt overcome her. Not now. It had to be done. She owed it to him. She owed everything to him.
Grabbing her cloak, she made her way to the floo, yelling 'Leaky Cauldron' as the green flames surrounded her and pushed her out in the busy pub.
Coughing and brushing off soot from her clothes, she stepped outside and was hit by the stench of alcohol and something murky in the air. Men and women were bustling around as some kids remained seated on the outer edges, waiting for their parents to finish business so they could be on their merry way to Diagon Alley.
Her brows scrunched up as she searched for the hulking figure of her older brother. Locating him in the farthest corner, her feet dragged her to him.
Rodolphus sipped his rum and smirked as his eyes fell upon her form. 'Sister. At last! I wondered if you'd come at all. I was almost certain you'd chicken out!'
Hermione smiled tightly, 'I have made up my mind.'
Rodolphus got up abruptly and threw a few coins on the table, grasping her hand gently and leading her away and outside into the night, the orange sky flooding the world with its amber glow.
'Do not take your position lightly. The Dark Lord will require your complete devotion.'
Hermione retorted, 'I said I'm ready. Must you have it in writing?'
Rodolphus chuckled, 'Tad bit excited, aren't we? I do wonder what brought about the change of heart. Could it possibly be that dear old Rab has influenced your impressionable young mind?'
'I merely saw the error in my ways. I trust Rab. Now that he has deemed it fit to serve you .. well, then so shall I.' She lied, 'The family pride demands it.'
'His motivations are slightly different than yours but I shan't concern myself with such trivialities. I am glad to be servicing my master by taking you to him.'
He placed her arm over his and Apparated them away.
Feeling the unease in her stomach, Hermione knew it wasn't merely from the Apparition. Her gut was churning with worry, her muscles tense and on alert.
Nobody fooled Voldemort. Nobody. Was she strong enough?
Shelter your mind. Professor Snape did it. So can you.
Hermione found herself standing in front of huge gates which opened of their own accord as Rodolphus strolled inside onto a path laden with cobblestone leading to an imposing manor Hermione only knew too well. Its walls as dark as ever and the turrets and the towers rising high. Malfoy Manor.
The skin on her arm prickled. Memories of Bellatrix torturing her as her screams pierced the stillness of the halls invaded her mind.
Control your emotions, she scolded herself.
'I thought our Manor was to be the new headquarters.'
Rodolphus muttered, 'We keep switching.'
The peacocks pranced proudly around the grounds, ignorant of the storm raging inside her. Her steps were calculated, her gaze focused only on her brother.
'Now be very careful. Our name has gifted us with immunity so nobody shall ever question you,' he instructed. 'You will be treated with utmost respect. Your relation to me will garner you a place in the Dark Lord's inner circle almost immediately. Consider yourself privileged. Men would kill for such an honour.'
As they reached the entrance to the castle like houss, he came to a sudden halt. He looked into her eyes and said, 'Do me proud, sister.'
Hermione nodded.
They took the steps leading to a large hall. Entering the room onto their right, Hermione's breath caught. Before she'd even stepped inside she heard a bone chilling scream break the silence. She frowned. The screams came from down below.. the dungeons. Prisoners. She was suddenly invaded with feelings of dread and foreboding. Despair pooled in at the base of her gut.
Let me be brave.
Her eyes were drawn to a throne like chair in the middle of the room. Seated on it was the one man who had taken it all away from her. Everything she had cared about. Every one she had loved.
Voldemort.
Tall and deathly pale, he was emanating sheer danger. Hermione almost stumbled on her feet. His scarlet eyes, gleaming in the dark, appraised the girl before him. The corners of his mouth lifted up.
Rodolphus let go of her arm and went to bow before his Lord, looking disgustingly like a cockroach.
'My Lord, I bring to you my sister. Hermione Lestrange. She wishes to offer herself to our cause.'
She heard someone gasp and only then did she gather her wits and looked around herself.
Her eyes met her brother's.
Oh, Rab.
He looked torn, his face ashen. Hermione couldn't bear to face the heartbreak etched into his eyes as a look of complete betrayal shadowed him.
'Mi, what is the meaning of this?'
Voldemort's interest piqued. 'Family quarrel. Why, dear Rabastan, you should be proud of your sister. You seem.. repulsed by the idea of her joining my ranks.'
Hermione had to stop herself from spitting at him. The sick bastard could never beging to discern the torment Rab was bound to be feeling.
Rab bowed, 'No, my Lord.' He backtracked, 'I merely find myself astonished. I never knew of such a thing happening. My sister.. I wasn't told..'
'I'd hate for you to be punished for insubordination, Rabastan.' Voldemort said snidely, 'You are slowly becoming one of my most useful men.'
Rab looked away, his tongue tied. He could do nothing but watch his sister, the girl he had given up himself for, so carelessly curtsy before the Dark Lord giving herself up to him. He didn't know whether to feel angered by what she was doing or mournful for her fate.
Had he not been enough?
His own sister..
He had failed her already. Not a year since Papa was gone and he had failed his family already.
Hermione made a mental note of her audience, ignoring how she shivered as another scream broke through the stillness once again.
The entire Lestrange family was gathered along with the Malfoys. Rodolphus and Lucius stood proudly beside their Lord's throne as Bellatrix sat at her master's feet.
Narcissa was standing in the shadows, her eyes gleaming with fear. Hermione knew she was here against her own will just like she was.
She would save her. She would come for her.
Rabastan stood beside her, looking mutinous. Onto his left was an older man with his hair tied at the nape of his neck.
Yaxley, she remembered.
Her gaze flitted over another man. Rookwood. And Rowle behind him.
Only a lone man remained who she couldn't put a name to. He stood away from all others, his back ramrod straight as his golden hair curled over his head. His plush mouth was set in an amused curve, his hands resting behind his back. He was looking at her with a smoldering gaze, trying to dismantle her secrets.. studying her.. regarding her with great care.
She was entranced by his amber eyes boring into hers. She wondered who he was. His head tipped forward in form of a greeting breaking her out of her reverie.
Hermione sighed and stepped forward, bowing once again in front of Voldemort. 'My Lord, my brother is full of praises of your endeavours and how they will one day be successful in ending mudbloods and half breeds.. removing them from our world. They are a bane to our existence.. an insult to our purity. I wish to honour you.. I wish to serve you.'
Voldemort smirked and got up. He moved towards her, every step he took making Hermione's skin crawl. She shuddered internally as he cupped her face, his gaze raking over her being.
'Most.. delectable,' he whispered, 'I see the depths of your knowledge in your eyes.. very wise.. wise indeed. Your blood is strumming against your veins.. so pure..'
Hermione was on her guard. She knew what he'd do next. Everybody knew.
As she had expected she felt him brush against the barriers of her mind.
You have to bend your will, she told herself.
Shying away from his gaze, she lowered her eyes and let the walls around her fall, expertly hiding away every little memory and letting him feed only on the most inconsequential bits of her life.
She let him see her, Hermione Lestrange, as a child playing in the lap of her mother. She let him see her with her family feasting on dinners in celebration of the purity of their blood as the members of the Scared Twenty Eight assembled under their roof. She took him to the parts of her mind showing him her time at Hogwarts, studying.
But she wasn't foolish. She may not be an exceptionally powerful witch but she was smart.
She knew she had to bait him with sentiments. He would understand if she projected only the logical aspects of her life to him. She had to let him in on her emotions and so she let him see her grief over Papa's death, hating how vulnerable it made her feel. She let him feast upon memories of her conversing with Snape and even the Marauders though she kept those particular few short and brief.
She let him see her speak ill of muggleborns late at night with Slytherins hurdled around her in the Common Room. She went as far as fabricating well thought out fake memories she had planted inside her mind showing him hurting weaker kids at school. She let him see her researching the darkest spells she had ever found, the hunger in her eyes as she devoured the secrets her ancestors had penned down.
Voldemort let go of her and turned to Rodolphus, 'She has been close to the blood traitor's boy. The Potter heir. Even has the Black heir around her finger.'
He glided along the ranks of his followers, 'Must I let her in? Does she deserve the pride that comes with being one of my own people?'
There was a murmuring in the room, nobody's voice really audible enough for Hermione to make out what they were saying.
Bellatrix preened, 'She's an imbecile. Not even of age, my Lord. She will only be a hindrance.'
Hermione bit back, 'Threatened, are we?'
Voldemort laughed, if it could even be called laughter. 'Ah, Bella.. don't you worry. Nobody can ever replace you.'
Bellatrix smiled at him sweetly, bowing down and placing a kiss at his feet.
Rab begged, 'She's just a child, my Lord..'
Voldemort ignored his pleas and came to a halt before Hermione, 'Tell me.. why must I allow you to be a part of my ranks?'
Hermione replied, 'We aren't very secure in our numbers anymore, my Lord. Mudbloods run amok our streets. Vermin needs to be eradicated and I find myself equipped with just the right means of squashing them under my foot.'
Repulsed. That's how she felt. Thoroughly repulsed with herself.
I am vermin too.
Voldemort hummed, 'You're correct in your beliefs.. I am glad to see you have found your way back. Mingling with traitorous bastards might have rendered you soft. I was worried. Very worried.'
'I have my brother to extend my gratitude, my Lord.'
'Oh yes. Yes, yes .. Rodolphus is extremely educated with ways of bringing wayward men and women back home.' His eyes gleamed, 'You shall make an excellent addition. But how will you prove yourself to me, girl?'
'What will you have me do, my Lord?' Hermione inquired.
Voldemort motioned for one of his followers to step forward. He removed himself from her sight, going back to his throne as Bellatrix looked over at Hermione, assessing her strengths and weaknesses.
'Let's have a chat,' she smirked, 'Girl to girl!'
Hermione's blood ran cold. The words she was hearing were so ominously similar to those she'd uttered to her all those years ago.
Hermione barely had time to deflect a horrible curse aimed at her by her sister in law. She ducked just in time to escape another one. Another one she dodged and another and another.
Bellatrix fired a spell causing a jet of blue light to skim across Hermione's skin, singing the fingers on her left hand.
Hermione squeaked, pulling away her hand and cradling it.
Bellatrix cackled, 'Weak! You're weak!'
This wasn't her. She had to take Bellatrix on to prove her worth. She had to defeat the witch to reassure herself, only if she could affirm that she was no longer scared of her.
Hermione braced herself for impact as a jet of red light came her way. She cast a powerful shield that managed to send Bellatrix flying into the wall.
Making use of Bellatrix's momentary lapse in consciousness, Hermione muttered, 'Nigro venas.'
Bellatrix howled in fury as her skin began to line up with black marks, running along her veins inside of which the blood curdled causing her to scream.
Her eyes glimmered in the darkness as she muttered a counter curse and blast Hermione into the air.
Hermione heaved in a breath, her chest constricting. She blocked a couple of curses Bellatrix sent her way and creeped out of her hiding place. Casting a disillusionment spell on herself she glided behind Bellatrix who was now prancing around, her ears strained, attempting to listen to every creak of the floor.
But Hermione was a lioness on the prowl and she was out for revenge.
Catching Bellatrix surprised, she mustered up all her energy and screamed, 'Quemcumque spiritum!'
Bellatrix choked as her lungs crumpled up. Her arms flailed around as her wand fell down on the floor, heaving in lumps of air but unable to breathe still.
Hermione smiled in triumph. Revenge tasted sweet. She almost felt good.. almost.
'Enough.' Voldemort commanded.
Hermione came back to her senses and muttered the counter curse, hating herself for it. What would she not give to let the bitch die struggling for air. She deserved it. She deserved a death a thousand times worse.
Bellatrix almost fainted with the effort as Rodolphus gathered her in his arms.
Hermione saw him nod at her in appreciation.
Sick.
How could a man be so unbithered by the well being of his wife?
Regaining her composure, Bellatrix glared at Hermione, sending great loathing her way.
Hermione merely smirked. Her glee was pushed further into her mind as the man from the dungeons let out another cry of agony.
Voldemort let out a sigh of frustration and yelled, 'Bring him to me!'
Hermione suddenly felt scared.
Her breath quickened at the sight of a bloodied man being levitated inside the room. His white hair was plastered on his forehead, caked with mud. He kept muttering, cowering on his knees as he was thrown onto the floor.
Hermione's heart leapt out. Here was an innocent man who would now undoubtedly be tortured mercilessly by the racing lunatics present around her.
Voldemort struck him with spell after spell as his screams only amplified, filling the room with the harrowing sense of despair. Rookwood and Rowle joined their Lord every now and then blasting the man into the air, parading him round the hall like a rag doll.
Hermione felt Rab sidle up beside her, threading his fingers with hers. She looked up at him with shame. She must have done something right to deserve such a gem of a brother.
Rab didn't return her gaze. He merely looked ahead, staring at Narcissa's bloodshot eyes.
Hermione knew she had to save her from the clutches of darkness. She had to.
Lucius and Rodolphus added their own inventions to the mix, making the man beg for death.
Voldemort placed his foot on the man's cheek and said, 'You piece of filth. You deserve all of this and much more. You dare besmirch the magical community with your dirt.'
The man cried out, 'Please.. I didn't do anything.. I swear.. I took nothing.. let me go.. please.. mercy!'
He crawled on his knees, grabbing onto Yaxley's robes, 'Please.. I have a son .. a daughter.. please..'
Yaxley replied coldly, 'Then you have only perpetuated your filth further. You have sinned against nature. Bringing to our world more vermin.'
He kicked the man who fell onto the floor once again, the impact of it causing the bones in his hand to break. He howled in pain.
Rab had to struggle to hold Hermione in her place. He knew she was bursting to run forward to help him. He could read it in her eyes. Then why did she willingly walked up to this deranged man and gave herself away?
Hermione felt all her resolve breaking as she felt the man creep towards her, bunching up the hem of her skirt in his broken hand, 'Miss.. please.. show mercy.. let me go.. my children will starve.. their mother is gone.. please.. I love them.. Charlotte and .. and Robert.. my kids.. they need me..'
She shut her eyes knowing full well the implications of whatever she'd do next. But she couldn't hurt him. She couldn't push him away.
Worst of all she couldn't help him.
Her eyes rose up to meet those of the amber eyed stranger. His lips were set in a thin line. He looked at her with great conviction that it made her wonder just what he wanted to say to her.
Voldemort edged her on, 'Come now, dear.. show him his place.'
Hermione gripped her wand tightly. She raised it knowing not what spell would shoot out its tip. She didn't know if she had it in her to condemn an innocent man to death.
It was one life against so many. But each life mattered. It mattered to someone somewhere.
Weak. Weak. Weak.
What should she do..
Before she could have even raised her wand the man was struck with a violet light.
Hermione drew in a breath, looking up to find Rodolphus sneering at the man, laughing as his eyeballs fell out of their sockets.. a blood curdling howl splitting the silence. Rodolphus muttered, 'Avada kedavra!'
He sneered at the corpse that lay at her feet, his wand in the air.
Dead. He was dead. Charlotte and Robert woukd never see their father again. He was dead.
She would never see her father who had died at the hands of the same monster. Her grief over him was still fresh.. it had never subsided and here she stood .. still.. doing nothing to save two lost children the pain of an absent parent.
Voldemort mistook her fury with herself for something else, 'Ah.. no matter, my dear. There shall be plenty of such mutts to murder. You will have your fill soon.' He sighed. 'An end to his misery.. I'd have enjoyed his pain a little while longer but very well .. very well. He was only a hindrance to our plans for tonight.'
He whipped around to face Hermione once again. Noting her hand in her brother's he smiled, not unkindly, 'The bonds of love. How sickeningly sweet. However, I am pleased.. very pleased to have you, my dear.'
He resumed his seat motioning for her to come forward. She did. With bated breath, she whispered, 'My Lord?'
'You have done well. You balanced out Bellatrix exceptionally well. You are skilled at the Dark Arts. It would be a terrible loss to let you go. You shall have a place in my inner circle. I am delighted to see you serve our cause.'
Hermione bowed, 'Yes, My Lord. I shan't let you down.'
'I would have arranged for an initiation more fitting to your abilities had I known what a remarkable witch you are. I will admit I underestimated you, thinking you to be a guileless girl. Nevertheless. You shall be my eyes and ears at Hogwarts. I want you to bring to me any information you may find on Dumbledore and his comings and goings. Anybody you suspect at being a part of his Order. I want you to gather me recruits. Able bodied young men and women who can further our gambles.
'Come here..,' he commanded, 'Present to me your arm.'
Hermione almost buckled but thanked the stars when she managed to kneel before him without a hint of reluctance.
She bit her lip as his wand touched the skin on her forearm, branding onto it the Dark Mark. The vilest magic spread through her veins as a scream threatened to erupt from within her. She could feel the binding magic creep right into her heart.
The bitter taste in her mouth compelled her to hurl but she managed to hold onto her sanity.
She had to save the world.
For Harry.
The pain stopped as soon as it had started. Hermione felt bile rise up her throat as she bent down to place a kiss at Voldemort's feet.
'Everybody leave.' Voldemort commanded. 'Except for you, Lucius.'
The party dispersed, none more pleased than Hermione who was already formulating plans in her mind as to how to rid her body of the evil that had set its foot inside.
She turned around when she felt a cold body press itself against her. She looked up to into the face of the amber eyed man who looked so much like an Admiral, taken out from the ranks of some Muggle Army.
'Welcome to the great game,' he smiled sadly, his southern drawl accentuated by his velvety voice.
An American, then.
She nodded and walked up to Rab who grabbed her hand and began dragging her away, never sparing her a glance.
'You did well.' She heard Rodolphus say to her. 'But cowardice in the face of death will bring you only punishment the next time. You faltered in killing that man. You can't fool me. I saved you this once. It's time you accept your position wholeheartedly, sister.'
Rodolphus slipped away as the duo turned around the corner and once again onto the grounds. She dared not utter a single sound, feeling Rab's grip tighten around her, not to instil fear but as a sign of his own growing worry. She had let him down, she knew. He probably didn't even realise how he was almost holding her in a death grip.
They were now outside the Manor. He placed her arm gently around his and Apparated them away back home.
Hermione stepped away from him, running towards the bushes and retching onto the ground. She heard the clouds overhead rumble as Rab rushed to her side, holding her hair away from her face.
He rubbed her back letting her empty the contents of her stomach.
She had stood aside.
She had done nothing to help the man as Voldemort tortured him.. broke him. His kids would mourn for the man Hermione let die. They would mourn for the man Hermione deemed unworthy.
What had become of her?
Who was she now?
Had she made the wrong choice? Did she have the stomach for the treacherous path that lay ahead of her?
Rab cleaned away the mess and held her as she heaved in breath after breath. He whispered sweet nothings in her ears as a panic attack set in, threatening to light her on fire for the sin she had commited. She scratched at her arm, wishing to burn the Dark Mark away, gnawing at her raw skin. Like a cluster of electric sparks, the emotions inside her pushed her to explode.
Oh dear god, what had she done? What had she done?
The rain drenched them in its chilled wetness, the inky skies spreading over the vast expanse of the lands. The depths of despair within her devouring her whole.. bidding on her life. She found it difficult to breathe in her own skin. She let out a tiny scream of frustration, begging for the rains to wash away the evil that clutched at her soul.
She crawled away from rab and stormed away.
Rab yelled after her, 'Where are you going? Mi!'
She could hear him running after her. She sped up, sparing him a parting look.
Apparition licence be damned. She spun away into the darkness, coming face to face with the familiar castle looming into the distancd, seeking her .. calling her.
Home.
She made her way into the streets of Hogsmeade, itching towards Honeydukes. It was easy to sneak into its cellar and creep along the hidden passageway and into Hogwarts.
She prayed nobody would fall upon her in such a state. She wished to stay out of sight. That was the only thing that mattered.
It was important she talked to him today. She couldn't wait for the sun to rise. She had to protect Rab.
She broke into a run, rushing towards Dumbledore's office. Coming to a halt at the gargoyles she offered a multitude of names of different sweets hoping one would let her in.
'Liquorice wand. Sherbet lemon. Chocolate frog. Cauldron cakes..'
She climbed up the stairs as soon as the gargoyles sprung apart, taking three steps at a time. She had to marvel at her ability of not having fallen down even once during her trek despite the weight of her wet clothes and the burdens inside her weighing her down.
She leant against the door and rapped onto it, heaving a deep breath and willing herself to calm down.
'Enter,' she heard Dumbledore say and so she did. Shutting the door behind her, she fell into one of the chairs before his desk, her head falling down on it.
She heard Dumbledore get up and place a hand gingerly on her shoulder.
'Ms Lestrange. What is the matter? Term starts tomorrow night.'
Hermione said nothing. She was still hyperventilating, her chest hurting like never before. She'd have mistaken it for a heart attack had she not had a panic attack before. Her throat still very dry, she choked on her words, 'Professor.. sir.. I..'
Dumbledore sprung into action, realisation dawning on him. He summoned a tiny vial and slipped its contents into a goblet carrying some butterbeer. He offered it to the girl who gulped it down, immediately feeling releieved. Her breathing evened out as her face regained some colour. Her shaking stopped and her arms fell limply around her as she raised her head to look him in the eye levelly.
She crumpled her sleeve in her hand and bared in front of him the Dark Mark resting on her skin, red with tiny scrapes bleeding out.
She saw pity float in his eyes as he sighed and muttered a spell under his breath. She saw her cuts healing themselves as Dumbledore took off his pointed hat. Placing his half moon spectacles on the desk, he propped himself into the other chair beside her.
He simply asked, 'How may I help you?'
Hermione chuckled wryly, 'You may not.'
Dumbledore frowned so Hermione went on, 'I am going to be your spy.'
Dumbledore's brows shot up. 'Spy?'
'Yes. I am going to feed information to the Order.'
'How do you know about the Order?'
'Even Voldemort knows.' She spat his name with as much venom as she could muster. 'And I know a lot more than you'd think, Professor.'
Dumbledore regarded her carefully. 'If you do not agree with his ideas then may I ask why you joined his forces?'
'Necessities. I have mine as do you.'
Dumbledore asked her, 'How can I trust you, dear? This could be a ruse from Voldemort.'
Hermione nodded, 'I will never ask you to let me attend a single meeting. I do not care about what you plan to do. I don't wish for you to give me a single detail. All I want to do is tell you of what he's planning.'
'What if you lead us into an ambush?'
'Interrogate me with Veritaserum. I will not obejct.'
'You're a child, Hermione. It's illegal.'
'We're at war!' She yelled, 'Do you honestly care about legalities?'
Dumbledore sighed, too good an opportunity that he could not miss. If the girl was truly sincere in her wishes then this could mean immense help for the Order's efforts. He had been attempting for so long to plant a spy among Voldemort's ranks but had always failed.
He walked up to his safe, extracting from it another vial. He added a couple of drops to Hermione's drink.
She took a sip and said, 'You may ask your questions now.'
'What is your intent?'
'I wish to save every single life that I can.' The horcruxes will limit me. Every life matters. 'I wish to save every family that I can.' McKinnons. Prewetts. Boneses. Meadowes. 'I wish to aid you with any surprise attacks he may plan so the Order is ready. The Ministry is very likely to fall. It's in disarray. Every missing person. Every torture. I can help with information nobody can bring you.'
'Why did you join him?'
'I have my own mission, I told you,' she insisted. The truth serum only forced her not to lie. She wasn't compelled to reveal all her secrets.
'What do you want in return?' Dumbledore queried.
'I would have asked for nothing if things had gone as per my plans.' She said, 'But present circumstances require me to ask you of one thing and one thing only.'
He prodded, 'Which is?'
'My brother's immunity. Rabastan.'
'He joined Voldemort of his own will.' Dumbledore said, 'He's not innocent.'
'But he is! He joined just so I didn't have to!'
Dumbledore shied away from her heated gaze, his heart breaking for another poor soul lost to Voldemort's clutches.
'He stepped in just so he could keep me safe. He doesn't want this. He has never looked down at muggleborns or half-bloods. His heart is free of any prejudice.'
Dumbledore nodded, 'I will vouch for him when the war is over. I will try my best to keep him away from Azkaban. Is that all you want? What about immunity for yourself?'
She shook her head, 'I know fighting for one Death Eater will be hard enough with all the evidence pointing away from his innocence. I want you to save him.'
'This is too dangerous, my dear. You would be risking your life every day.'
Hermione smiled, 'My brother is worth every risk.'
He still looked reluctant and so Hermione did the one thing she could think of.
She lowered the walls around her head once again that day and let him plunge into some of her dakrest memories. She let him see Hogwarts as it burned down into ashes. She projected to him the memories of a dying McGonagall, showing him how Voldemort rained down hell upon his subjects as the shops lining Diagon Alley were blasted into shreds. She sent to him images of dead men and women lying on the floor of the Great Hall.
Dumbledore scrambled away from her, suddenly terrified. He clutched his head, the ramifications of what he saw glaring at him like an unbridled reality. Hehispered, 'Are you a Seer?'
Hermione remained quiet, grateful for the serum to have worn away, letting him believe whatever he wanted to. She'd let him think this was the near future if he so wished. She only cared for his support.
'Very well then. How about a Wizarding Oath?'
Hermione obliged and added, 'Nobody can know. It would only hamper the dealings of things.'
Dumbledore nodded and moved towards the window, 'You're right. But I must warn you.. great men have fallen at his feet. He's not a man easily fooled, Hermione.'
'I am only well too aware, Professor.'
With that she turned away, exiting the Hogwarts grounds and Apparating back home.
As solitude enveloped her, she felt the full weight of the day hit her. She had battled Bellatrix. She had fallen down at Voldemort's feet proclaiming him her master. She had stood aside as the light left the eyes of an innocent man. She broke any amount of faith her brother had in her. She had joined Dumbledore to be his spy. She had revealed to him a glimpse into the future that hung over their heads.
She had turned into a stranger in her own eyes. Whatever good she was about to do would always be shadowed by the evil beginnings of her new life. She only hoped she could one day seek redemption. She hopes for the gods to be merciful when the Day of Judgment fell upon her.
As the floor creaked under the weight of her feet, she saw a lone figure rouse up. Rab sat on the windowsill, his cloak discarded and his robes still dripping water onto the carpet. He held a bottle of Firewhisky to his lips as he looked at her in the darkness.
'You got me worried, Mi.'
She said in a broken whisper, 'Why do you still care?'
'Because no matter how many times you let me down,' he chuckled dryly, 'you will still be my sister.'
Hermione nodded to herself. 'You know.. I hate myself too. More so than ever.. I hate myself today.'
He snorted, 'I could never hate you, kid. Never. But what you did today is unforgivable. This is not you. You love your friend Lily. You love Sirius and the Potter boy. I can only wonder why you did it.'
Hermione shrugged.
'I thought I could keep you away from all this madness. I was so wrong.' A maniacal laugh slipped past his lips as he threw away the bottle, the glass breaking into a million pieces. 'We are cursed! This family is cursed!'
Hermione dropped to her knees, collecting the shards of the glass with her bare hands as Rab watcher her discard her wand. She collected each piece without crying out even once as her hands bled, the blood seeping into the floorboards. Instead, she welcomed the pain. It helped her mind drift her attention away from the ice cold hands of misery grabbing at her heart.
She got up to her feet, staring at her bloodied hands.
The clouds roared once again as the pit-patter of the rain against the window intensified.
'I visited Dumbledore.'
Rab frowned, 'Why?'
'I gave myself up to him to be his spy.'
Rab watcherd her leave, keeping his quiet and cursing himself for the promise he had made her to never question her because all he could do in that moment was wonder just who his sister was and what burden she carryied on her frail shoulders.
He could see her curmble under the weight of it. He could see her struggle.
He looked out the window, staring up at the velvet sky. The heavens still tearing down.
He sent out a silent prayer to whatever gods lay beyond. He whispered, 'Oh Lord, allay me..'