A/N: Trigger warning for heavy physical assault.
00000000000Hermione woke in the middle of the night, when she looked to her left she saw Malfoy sleeping in the black leather armchair beside the bed. She felt his hand holding hers. Everything felt dark besides the moonlight coming in through the large window across the room. For a moment, everything was quiet. She didn't know how long she had been asleep for, but she felt like it wasn't enough. The events from earlier were playing in her head. She never told Malfoy what she was going to do. If he had known he would have stopped her, he would have prevented her from killing Dumbledore.
That look on Malfoy's face when he saw her after, in the fire that his aunt had set when she fired into Hagrid's hut. He couldn't believe it was her, he didn't know that she would be the one to strike Dumbledore down, he knew Snape would if he couldn't do it. That look of fear and defeat that he had failed, and she had to clean up the mess he had been chosen for. But that wasn't why she killed Dumbledore.
A door creaked open, and she felt Malfoy move his hand away as he stood quickly as he moved in front of her, he withdrew his wand. She closed her eyes enough to make it look like she was still fast asleep. She saw Snape put a finger to his lips to be silent as Malfoy lowered his wand.
"She's sleeping," Malfoy spoke.
"Your aunt talked to the Dark Lord, he's going to want to see why she killed Professor Dumbledore," Snape spoke softly as he came into Malfoy's room. "If you want to save her, you need to let me Obliviate her memories of why she killed Professor Dumbledore."
Malfoy tensed a little bit. "But if you do, what's going to happen to her, they will surely look for a reason she killed him."
"I'm going to change them. She will believe she killed him because of you." Snape spoke as he withdrew his wand, taking a few steps towards the bed where Hermione laid in silence.
"Because of me? Why would she kill Professor Dumbledore for me?" Malfoy moved to block Snape.
Snape stopped. "If you don't let me do this, they will kill her, you understand that right?" He took a deep breath. "I'm going to alter her memories to show how loyal she is to you and this side of the war. That you convinced her to follow you."
"Will you give her back her original memories back?" Malfoy spoke concerned.
"I'm only altering her memories that would get her killed, I don't know if I'll be able to give her memories back, but if you want to save her you need to back down and let me do this." Snape spoke coldly.
Malfoy frowned as he moved away from her. "So, I'll be the reason she killed Professor Dumbledore."
"Yes, and you need to act like you accomplished the impossible when you are in the presence of others. You are going to look like a hero for turning the golden girl into a loyal companion." Snape stood in front of her. He lowered his wand placing it barely above her left temple. "Obliviate," Snape whispered out as a stream of light slowly left the tip of his wand and moved across her mind. She opened her eyes slowly as she watched Malfoy who stood in silence with his arms resting at his side. Her eyes slowly closed as Snape finished. "She'll be fine in the morning, but be prepared. Somone will come to check her memories, you need to play along that you convinced her to follow you."
Malfoy looked at Hermione before he nodded. He had to accept this, he had to be ok with this. "I will never know why she did what she did will I?"
Snape shook his head. "For now, you need to stop asking and accept this, just like she accepted to run with you knowing what can happen to her."
Malfoy took a seat back in the leather chair as he took Hermione's hand again. "If this is all you need to do, I want you to leave so she can rest. She's been through enough because of me."
Snape took a step back and walked out of the room the sound of his cloak echoed as the door to Malfoy's bedroom door opened. Malfoy lowered his head when the door closed. He knew she had heard everything, but didn't say anything. She had to have known this would happen to her. Everything she did she willingly accepted for some reason he would never truly know now. Everything had been altered. "Please forgive me." He whispered as he held her hand tightly as she slept through the rest of the night.
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She was adjusting to life at the manor. His mother had ensured she had her own room, nowhere near the dungeons. This room she stayed in had the most light in the morning to mid-afternoon. There were bookshelves that lined one of the walls, a writing desk, and a closet that had an assortment of old clothing, something that might have belonged to the resident who lived in this room before. The windows were large, and her bathroom wasn't dark or dingy. The white marble flooring was lighter than the off-white walls. The white clawfoot tub with gold feet rested right in front of a large window where she could look out over the courtyard.
His mother told her for now, to borrow clothing from the closet in her room until she could get her clothing more her style, but honestly, Hermione was okay with anything at the moment. She often found herself wearing dark decorative dresses that were short-sleeved. She didn't want or ask for anything. There were times she found herself alone. Malfoy would leave on missions; his mother would leave to attend to other affairs. She was trusted alone by both. She would often find herself in the study going through older books trying to gather as much information as she could.
It had been a week since she had arrived, and no one seemed to come to ask questions. The only two she interacted with had been only him and his mother. His mother seemed accepting of her for what she was labeled and if her son approved then she did too. She cared more for her son than this messy war her husband dragged her into years before she was pregnant with Draco. She almost seemed happy to have another person in the house with her. The two didn't talk much, but they would cook or Hermione would watch and almost study her as she made potions. Malfoy, out of precaution had taken her wand from her if there was ever a surprise visit. If she had been disarmed that would show her alliance to him. That's what Malfoy hoped for, he didn't want to chance any reason why others would lay a hand on her.
Malfoy had been gone for a few days. She didn't ask him to stay, she knew he had to go when called. She just had to wait for him to come back. She was up and ready by the time the sun started to rise. She could smell the sweet aroma of baked sourdough bread and other baked goods. She had gotten used to the house elves around, they weren't mistreated like she assumed, but maybe Malfoy and his mother were much kinder to the few that served compared to his father. She had heard from Harry how Dobby was treated in front of him, she saw his behavior whenever Lucious was around.
The house elves though, they seemed happy as they cooked and cleaned, once in awhile one would get curious and sit near Hermione when she read.
She walked down the staircase passing portraits that sneered and whispered. She once caught one of the portraits, a portly man with an old hand calling her a mudblood house pet. When she turned to look at him he vanished behind the scenes probably into another painting. She probably assumed she couldn't hear him, but when he noticed she could he took off.
Hermione knew she wasn't accepted, but she followed Malfoy. The steps creaked as she finally made it to the bottom of the steps and headed towards the large dining room. She entered quietly only to stop before she could look up. "Pretty, pretty, baby." A familiar woman spoke.
She looked up to see Bellatrix sitting at the table near Narcissa. "We have a guest, Miss Granger," Narcissa spoke. Hermione looked at the two who had been eating a light breakfast at the dark oak table. Light silver decorated the table candles still flickered from the black candelabras.
Hermione nodded as she stood in silence for a brief moment. "I-I can go, I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation."
"No, dear darling, we were discussing you actually," Bellatrix spoke as she sat her wand on the table. "Sit, I'm sure you're allowed at the table. Unless they have you dine with the house elves." She curled one of her black strands as she chuckled.
Narcissa ushered Hermione to take a seat across from them at the table. "Come dear."
Hermione was cautious as she took a seat across the table from the two sisters. She didn't know why Bellatrix would even have her sit with them, but she knew it wasn't good. She needed to be careful with her words. She needed to make sure she calculated every move. A house elf brought out a plate for Hermione with toast and scrambled eggs. "Thank you, Noddy." She couldn't bring herself to eat just yet.
Bellatrix smirked. "You think you are sitting pretty right now, don't you?"
Hermione looked up from her meal. "No, I don't think so, Malfoy welcomed me into the house as a guest nothing more."
She tapped on the table slightly irritated. "Really? You killed Professor Dumbledore and Draco takes you in for a job well done?"
"I joined Malfoy because I knew what side would win, he needed my help and I helped him," Hermione spoke quietly.
"What do you get out of helping him?" She quipped.
"Bellatrix, this is enough you can see she isn't swaying with her words, we have her wand and she hasn't asked or retrieved it since that night she killed Dumbledore," Narcissa spoke.
Bellatrix turned and glared at her sister as she smirked. "I think Draco just wanted a pretty little plaything, he manipulated her." She turned and faced Hermione. "Maybe she manipulated him into falling for such a pretty little thing." Bellatrix stood from the table and moved around to where Hermione sat still. Hermione didn't move or show fear towards the other woman. "I think we need to have a little girl's time in the dungeon and discuss some things." She took hold of Hermione by her arm roughly as she dragged her from the wooden chair that tumbled back. Hermione was hauled from the dining room and down a hallway she had never been down before. Bellatrix forced her down a flight of stairs and into a large room beneath the manor. Bellatrix closed and locked the door as Narcissa tried to get the door open, but Bellatrix had hexed the door.
Hermione's breathing had picked up in the cold room that had archways with metal frames. The doors were solid, and some were bars that held individual cells. Rusty shackles laid scattered along with chains. The stench of musty and damp wood filled the dungeon. She was out of reach of safety Narcissa was on the other side of the door and couldn't make her way inside. But even if Narcissa made it through she knew that she wouldn't be able to stop her sister.
"I don't think you are being honest with me girl," Bellatrix spoke as she slammed Hermione against the cobblestone wall. Her arm pressed against her throat. "You might have been the one to strike Dumbledore down, and you might have everyone fooled, but I would have locked you away regardless never to see the light of day."
Hermione let out a cry when she hit the wall of the dungeon. She bit down on her lip. "I did what I was told to do." Hermione felt Bellatrix grabbed her and pushed her to the floor. Hermione tried to scramble to her feet as quickly as she could only to have Bellatrix pin her to the ground.
Bellatrix grabbed and twisted her auburn curls. "Listen you filthy little mudblood, you are working for the other side I just know it, there is no reason why you would follow Draco like a love-sick puppy unless you were told to. Now tell me. Who told you to kill Dumbledore." She whispered into her ear before she sat up her legs on either side of her. Bellatrix waved her wand over Hermione. "Crucio!"
Hermione screamed out in pain. She felt like every part of her body no longer belonged to her. She felt as if she was laying back on a thousand rusty needles. Bellatrix smiled as she continued to torture her. This was all a game for her, win or lose getting information she was enjoying the twisted pain on the mudblood's face. "Tell me who told you to kill Dumbledore!"
"…. I told you. Malfoy told me to do it…. He told me if I was loyal to him… I needed to prove it." She screamed again. She felt like she was going to pass out, her mind felt like it was twisting and bending as if someone were searching deep within. "I'm telling you the truth!" She could feel her blood start to boil as if all her muscles seemed to convulse within her body. Everything felt like it was on fire. Her honey eyes closed tightly.
"LIAR!" Bellatrix screamed at her as she lifted her right hand and scratched Hermione across the face hard with her onyx-colored nails. Blood started to rise from the surface from above her left eye to her right chin.
Hermione screamed as she tried to pull free after she was scratched. "I'm telling the truth!" Hot tears rolled down her pale cheeks, the tears mixed with the blood that was coming from the open wounds. "Let me go!" She begged through intense breaths.
"Pretty little baby," Bellatrix whispered as she smirked as she moved in close this time as she started to carve into her arm. Hermione kicked her legs and tried to push her off with her free arm. Her body flailed beneath Bellatrix. "You might have followed Draco, but I'm going to make sure you remember your place in this house you filthy little mudblood. They won't be able to look at you without remembering what your status is in this world. If you're lucky and the Dark Lord wins, Draco will be able to keep you as his little pet." Bellatrix got off of Hermione. Bellatrix seemed to admire the work she had done to Hermione.
Hermione laid on the dirty floor her hand clutching onto a piece of loose cobblestone. Her body was still tense as she looked to the witch who finally let her go. Her body was still burning from the curse. She couldn't bring herself to stand quite yet.
A click could be heard. "I got what I needed, it's adorable how Draco was able to turn the precious little golden girl to the dark side. The Dark Lord might have a purpose for you yet." Bellatrix smirked as she vanished into a puff of black smoke.
Narcissa hurried into the dungeon once the door was unlocked. She knelt beside Hermione. Hermione looked at her sadly with her honey eyes. "Shhhh." Narcissa spoke softly as she looked Hermione over and started to repair the deep cuts on her face. "You did such a good job." She was trying to be comforting as she tried to heal her wounds. When she moved to the word written on her arm she froze when she couldn't get it to heal. This part she couldn't fix for her.
"I-It's bad isn't it…" Hermione finally whispered through choked-back tears.
Narcissa nodded. "I can't heal this. I can do everything else, but I can't.-" She stopped short.
"Malfoy is going to be upset," Hermione said.
She nodded sadly. "Do you feel well enough to get up?" Her voice was filled with concern.
Hermione nodded. "I can move, but I'm just in a lot of pain." She pushed herself up, and Narcissa helped her to her feet and up the steps. "…. Don't tell Malfoy what she did. He's got a lot on his plate right now." Hermione spoke as they made it back to the dining room.
Narcissa frowned as she tried to fix Hermione's hair which was a mess from the dungeon. "You are a very brave girl." She stepped away as Hermione looked down at her plate of food that was made for her. She didn't know if she could eat, her whole body hurt. The scar felt fresh and didn't seem to want to even close. She could see little pieces of blood trailing down her arm. Narcissa couldn't heal the wound or hide the word. It felt like the wound would never fully heal.
She took a couple of bites of her cold eggs as Narcissa reentered the room. "Here drink this potion, it'll help with the pain." She sat the vile down on the table. The thick green liquid bubbled when she moved the vile around in her hand. "I don't want to take from your supply. What if someone else needs it?"
"It's ok, I have plenty, please at least take this one. Draco will be home today, if you want to look like everything is ok, I suggest you take the potion." She spoke softly.
Hermione pulled the cork and took a few sips from the vile, it tasted bitter like blackberries that weren't fully ripe. It took a few tries, but she was able to drink everything from the vile. "Thank you." She spoke sadly as she looked down at her meal. "I'm not doing anything wrong by being here am I?"
Narcissa shook her head as she took a seat beside her. "I was surprised when Draco brought you home, but I know he wouldn't have if you would be in true danger or he would put me in any danger. That's what I admire about my son, something I'm glad he didn't get from his father or even me. He wasn't afraid to love someone that wouldn't be considered perfect. He fell in love with a smart, brave girl who fought just as hard as he has." She paused for a minute. "You two are going to be faced with many challenges as this war continues."
Hermione nodded as she sat the vile on the dark oak table. "I do care about him deeply and I would follow everything he told me to do, I showed him how loyal I was by killing Professor Dumbledore in front of him and the other Death Eaters. He was the one to tell me, if I was loyal to him, that I could prove it by killing him and I did." Hermione looked up to Narcissa's eyes as she smiled sadly.