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

The sweltering heat burned down Hermione's back as she made her way to the edges of the cottage she shared with Rab.

'I don't want him going anywhere even close to it,' Hermione complained, muttering under her breath.

Harry nodded, falling in step beside her, 'I understand. I really do. But there is no other way. It would seem highly suspicious for you to be visiting alone when it's your first trip to Gringotts as a Lestrange.'

'I won't mind it much if you took Rodolphus instead,' Rab commented, his voice laced with sarcasm. 'I'm certain he will very gladly hand over his Master's coveted Cup to you himself.'

She glared at him.

Rab sighed and placed his hands reassuringly on his sister's shoulders. 'Don't worry about my safety. I can look after myself.'

Hermione nodded tiredly, 'A horcrux tends to affect you in the worst way possible. Do not touch it any cost. Leave everything to me. You will merely act as an escort. Understood?'

Rab chuckled and looked at Harry, 'Was she always this bossy?'

Harry too was smiling playfully, 'This is nothing compared to what I and Ron had to live with.'

Hermione scowled, 'Now if you're done with your childish games I'd like to get a move on.'

Harry ushered the duo out to the Apparition Point. 'Be safe.'

Hermione squeezed his fingers, 'Nothing will go wrong. This is going to be, by far, the easiest thing to do. You know that I've faced worse.'

Rab's eyes darkened at that. A part of him hated himself at not knowing all the horrors his little sister had been through in her previous life. He hated how she had to live through a war that shouldn't have had children fighting in the first place.

'I know, Mione,' Harry said. 'I still worry. I wish I could go with you. I still could, if you want.'

Hermione shook her head vehemently, 'It would be incredibly foolish to take you along. Two known Death Eaters with the head of the Resistance; I'm sure that'd be a right sight.'

'Well, nobody knows me by face,' he retorted weakly. 'I could get the Cloak. It worked the last time.'

Hermione made a noise at the back of her throat, pinching the bridge of her nose. 'Stop fretting. We'll be fine. None of the curses will hurt us since we're a part of the family. You'd only be putting yourself at risk.'

Harry hugged her briefly, admitting defeat and clasped hands with Rab. 'She's taken after my danger magnet. Keep her safe.'

Rab nodded and took Hermione's hand in his, pulling her away to the middle of Diagon Alley, its streets scarcely filled despite the oncoming start of term at Hogwarts.

It was disconcerting. The air smelled so much like the decay of the Second War. It never ceased to make Hermione feel unsettled as she took in the dreariness of a once bustling place.

Rab morphed his features into those of great disdain. It still terrified Hermione at times, how eerily he tended to seamlessly turn into his older version. The Death Eater who'd only been an omen of an ill fate.

The wizards and witches that had dared step out in such times when the air reeked of death and destruction scampered away from the two Lestranges dressed all in black, their gaits menacing to the innocent bystanders.

Rab guided Hermione with a firm hand on her back, both of their senses heightened for any sign of an attack. The Dark Lord might have the upper hand in the current war but the Order could never be expected to stay put. With Hermione's help the Order stayed updated with even the tiniest of Death Eater missions and so sightings of small battles weren't quite unusual.

They climbed up the steps to the imposing figure of the snowy white building towering over the other shops, its burnished bronze doors guarded by an ancient looking goblin dressed in his scarlet and gold uniform. Stepping past the small entrance, they made their way through the next pair of silver doors, their eyes raking over the vast marble hall. Countless goblins stood along the long counters, most of them devoid of any clients given the current politics.

Walking over to the closest goblin, Rab cleared his throat, willing him to raise his head. The goblin almost balked at the imposing figure Rab made.

'Identification?,' the goblin squeaked out, extending his arm. He was definitely new to the business. Goblins were haughty creatures and certainly did not squeak.

'Hardly necessary,' Rab sneered, inching closer to the goblin, shadowing over him.

The goblin swallowed. 'May I inquire about the purpose of your visit, Mr and Miss Lestrange?'

'We wish to visit our vaults and seal my sister's place in the fortune.'

'Of course, Mr Lestrange.' He mumbled, before leading them to the side and into a secluded corner where there lay a single door. Swinging it open the party entered a corridor so deep Hermione couldn't quite make out where it ended.

They walked ahead a few paces, stepping inside a dimly lit room filled with the oddest instruments. It smelled very strangely of rose oil.

The goblin motioned for the duo to take their places in front of a dais. He clicked his fingers together and rolled down the parchment that materialised, spreading over to a length of two feet with names of all the Lestrange men and women that had ever lived. He lowered the rim of his glasses and presented a tiny knife to Hermione. 'Miss Lestrange, if you may?'

Hermione acquiesced, carefully slicing her palm along the lines etched onto her skin, letting the blood fall onto the enchanted parchment.

'Who shall act as the endorser and the witness?'

'I shall,' Rab answered. He took the knife and cut his own skin, letting his blood dribble over that of Hermione, confirming their relation to each other.

The parchment glowed bright as their magical signatures registered over it. Hermione felt a sharp tingle spread across her body like a new kind of magic overcoming her essence.

'The ritual is finished,' the goblin remarked.

'That was overly simplified,' Hermione remarked.

'Blood magic usually is. The elements of your blood are complex enough to make it look quite inconsequential.'

But my blood isn't even pure.

The goblin nodded tightly then, warily eyeing the siblings before he motioned for them to follow him into the stone passageways that would take them to their vault.

Hermione gracefully settled inside the tiny cart beside Rab, clutching its edges tightly. She braced herself for the lurches that would soon follow, closing her eyes shut. When none came she grew suspicious, peeking open one eyelid to see Rab craning his neck backwards.

'What's the matter?,' she asked.

Rab scowled, 'Looks like we've got company.'

Hermione frowned. She had only just been about to question him further when she felt another warm body press into her side. She gasped as she turned around to see Rodolphus smiling at her.

'Well, hello, dear sister,' he said, his voice uncannily soft. 'Looks like I missed it. It is quite grievous you chose Rabastan to accompany you while you truly ascertain yourself as an heir to the Lestrange line. Surely, the Head of family must be the better choice.'

Hermione fumbled with her words, 'I felt I needed someone more in tune with my being for such an intimate affair. It has been long since we've been close, brother. Surely that doesn't offend you.'

'Oh, fret not. As much as it saddens me I cannot deny Rabastan has been the brother you've needed while I was busy foraging into a brighter future for us all.' He waved a hand at the goblin, urging him to move. The cart rolled out onto the slanting path, twisting and turning at a pace far greater than Hermione was comfortable with. 'Please don't mind me. I was out on some business. I shan't disturb your peace or get in the way.'

She felt Rab grip her hand, his other fist curling in frustration. How would they get to the Cup now?

The cart took them to the deepest part of the builiding, hundreds of miles below the surface. She felt the hair on her arms raise as memories of her previous escapade flooded her mind, the image of an untamed, deadly beast of a dragon seeming still so fresh and life-like.

She tumbled out from the cart, once again falling in step behind the goblin who placed his hand flush against the entrance to the Lestrange vault. As the door melted to give way to a cave like opening, she stepped inside.

A sudden realisation hit her as she marvelled at the amount of wealth pooled inside. She owned it too this time round. But instead of lulling her into safety it only made her feel uncomfortable in her own skin.

The mounds of gold and silver, shields and rare skins, goblets and jewels were spread across the cave that ran deeper and deeper for miles on end.

Rodolphus' eyes gleamed, 'A striking expanse of such wealth. Isn't it glorious? All this heritage coming from the oldest and the richest of pureblood families.'

Rab said, his tone flat, 'Fills me with pride every time.'

Hermione ignored the bickering of the two, moving away from them swiftly. Her eyes were trained onto the pair, her feet cautious despite the knowledge that both the Flagrante and the Gemino curses would prove to be ineffective. And yet the memory of how she'd helped Harry and Ron rob the ancient vault kept resurfacing, bringing along with it the terror and the fear.

She circled around as Rab's voice drifted over to her, 'The vault is said to be in place since 1474 itself, right after the inception of the bank. Our ancestors were careful with the security measures. The dragon was the idea of the Malfoys, it is said. Placing the sphinx close by was ours.'

Rodolphus carried on, 'The jewels in here are among the most intricate works of the goblins. Many ancient artefacts can be found inside these walls, dating back to the time of Merlin and Morgana. It is quite a heritage, if you ask me. Ours is a very old lineage. Our French ancestors were quite adamant upon ensuring its purity. I'm certain you shall bring to us only glory.'

She nodded absently as her gaze swept over the vast expanse. She vaguely remembered where the Cup was placed. Her senses on high alert, she inched closer to it, her eyes finally latched onto the gleaming gold of the horcrux, the badger engraved on its crystal clear surface.

From the corner of her eyes she saw Rab pulling Rodolphus to the other side, deeper into the cave, engaging him in idle talk so Hermione could get to the Cup.

Her hand deftly reached for the fake Cup in the insides of her robes but before she could so much as even brush her hand against it she felt Rodolphus sidle up next to her, expertly taking her wrist in his hand. She startled, looking up to see the frown on his face.

He tilted his head to the side, noticing where her gaze rested. He looked catefully at the Cup, trying pick apart its secrets, his brows crinkling. 'I wonder why it is so important to the Dark Lord.'

Hermione released a sigh of relief.

Rab looked at Rodolphus pointedly. 'You're bound to be hurting her, brother.'

Rodolphus shook himself out of his reverie, releasing his grip on Hermione's wrist. His eyes softened as he slipped on a silver band across her wrist, mumbling, 'This belonged to Mother. She wished for you to have it when you came of age but times have been rough.'

Hermione glanced covertly at Rab and saw something akin to sadness flicker in his eyes for he knew she wouldn't feel so strongly towards the sentiment showed by their.. no, his mother.

She cleared her throat, memories of an auburn haired woman brimming and yet tainted by an absence of feelings. 'Thank you,' she said, the corners of her lips twitching. She might not ever care for the deceased Lady Lestrange as she did for her own mother but she did remember how the dark haired woman had poured all her love for a girl she never knew wasn't truly her daughter.

Rodolphus placed a chaste kiss against Hermione's forehead, once again surprising her with the depths of his feelings. To be loved by a man filled with hate was a strange thing indeed.

He stepped aside, venturing outside the cave, his hands holding two leather pouches filled with gold.

Hermione spared another glance at the silver band across her wrist. She turned around and quickly grabbed hold of the fake Cup, replacing it hurdiedly with the original. The very brush of her fingers against the smooth lapels of the Cup filled her with cold morbidity and dampened her spirits. Her eyes dropped and Rab had to almost carry her outside.

She regained her footing, stumbling just once before falling back into the cart.

Rodolphus smirked, 'Your destiny awaits you, love. The Dark Lord shall be calling upon you soon.'

They parted ways as Rab once again cupped her elbow and Apparated them away.

'That was an unnecessary hindrance,' he mumbled.

'But averted.' She fingered the Cup, feeling its darkness begin to envelope and muddy her mind.

They began a brisk walk up to the cottage.

'How does it work? The horcrux, I mean. You have it on your person right now but you seem fine other than having felt a little dizzy back then.'

Hermione shrugged. 'It's different for every one. I have had it on me for only moments. It can even go as far as possessing you.'

'Truly?'

She sighed, 'A friend of mine, Ginny, managed to keep her wits about her even while possessed by Voldemort's soul for a year. She was one of the fiercest women I ever knew.'

'Ginny,' he rolled out the name gently. 'You have never spoken of her before.'

She looked away, apologetic but the fondness she held for the girl won over her guilt. 'Harry was always the saviour, you know? Always defending others. Now Ginny, though? Ginny defended Harry. She was so, so strong.

'Hogwarts wasn't the safest place when the war broke out for real. She was tortured alongside so many others at the one place that was meant to be a safe haven. She took all that pain but she kept fighting. Her and Harry were to be married. But the war knew no reprieve and struck again.'

He seemed thoughtful. 'Do you reckon he still loves her?'

'I'm certain he does,' she smiled ruefully. 'I don't know if it's a good thing or not. Her memory is a blessing but the love that remains is no less than a curse. It is the greatest tragedy to be left behind when your most beloved is gone.'

Rab looked at her with concern. He tried distracting her. 'I can't imagine how you managed to acquire the Cup the first time.'

Hermione shrugged, 'We robbed your vault.'

Rab let out a soft laughter, 'Yes. Certainly.'

Hermione raised a brow.

Rab shook his head. 'No! It can't be! How could you possibly have escaped?'

'We rode the dragon away,' she said simply.

Rab opened his mouth but found no words to say.

'It wasn't easy,' her nose crinkled. 'I had to take Polyjuice Potion and pretend to be Bellatrix.'

Rab recovered from the shock. 'I can't imagine. It must have been horrendous. Even being in her vicinity makes my blood curdle.'

Hermione's eyes dropped his gaze as she smiled sadly, 'At least you realised it this time round.'

He chuckled darkly and whispered, 'It keeps me up at night a lot. Ever since you told me, it's been haunting me.' He sighed as the sun dipped down below the clouds. He pulled open the door for Hermione. 'What was the worst that I did?'

She helped him remove his cloak before removing her own. She saw Harry come up to them and lean against the door.

Hermione muttered, 'The prophecy spoke of a boy. It could either have been Harry or another named Neville. You know how Harry's parents died and Voldemort was finished albeit not forever. It angered his most loyal servants.' She stole a furtive glance at him and seeing the empty look in his eyes, squeezed his fingers again. 'Bellatrix led you and Rodolphus to Neville's house and targeted his parents. You.. you tortured them to insanity.'

Rab gasped as if struck. 'Tell me more.'

Hermione felt herself tear up, 'Do not ask me to cripple you with pain, Rab.'

'I need to know,' he bit out, every word a struggle.

She breathed out heavily, looking sadly at Harry, 'One of them grew up without those who'd have loved him the best. The other had them just in reach but so cruel were the fates that it was for too short a time before they forgot all about their only son.'

Rab fell to the floor, his head hung in shame.

Harry squeezed his shoulders, 'That man isn't you.'

Rab shook his head, aghast. 'I could still be that man.'

'But you won't be,' Hermione said furiously. 'That is all that matters.'

Harry chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood, 'Hermione mellowed you out. You're a good man.'

'It doesn't matter. That life.. it's .. it's vanished,' she whispered, an icy chill surrounding the walls of her heart. 'It will never again come to be.'

Rab threaded his fingers with hers. 'The new world will have one monster less. It will never balance out that which you have lost but it is something to be thankful for, yes?'

'Perhaps so,' she smiled tearfully, stealing a forlorn look with Harry, his eyes echoing the hollowness she felt within.

Rab looked away then. He poured himself a drink, gulping it down at once. He took the Cup from Hermione's hands and handed it over to Harry. 'Three down. Two mroe to go. We're closer to victory than before.'

Harry muttered, 'It's strange.' He wrapped his fingers around it. 'I can't feel them anymore.'

Rab raised a brow, confused.

Hermione patted Rab on his back, 'That is a story for another day.' She Stepped closer to Harry and kissed his cheek, hugging him close to herself, 'Happy birthday, Harry!'

'Thanks, Mione,' he whispered into her ear. He mumbled, 'You're still here.'

She smiled, tenderly wiping away the unshed tears in his green eyes before she turned around and left.

She burrowed herself in her bed, searching for sleep to lull her into nothingness. Visions of a distant life haunted her that night. But as the night wore on and the moon hung low, she woke up gasping for air, her arm prickling with a searing pain, chasing away any bliss she may have found in the land of dreams.

AN: So, I'm back. The trip was pretty good. It not only helped me come up with lots of angsty ideas, lol, but I also managed to break a three year reading rut at last. I cannot believe I actually had such a long block. I got through the Six of Crows duology (AMAZING) as well as the Song of Achilles, an incredibly beautiful tale. I'm really excited to finally get to my pile of unread books :-P

Do drop some suggestions to add to the list, lol.

As for the story, it's gonna pick up on the main action soon. We're getting close to some real tearjerkers. I can imagine the wrath. You guys are going to be so pissed.. We'll also be seeing Sirius soon.