Disclaimers: J.K. Rowling owns all of the content of which pertains to the world of Harry Potter! I only use her lovely work to feed my own imagination and share the by-product with you. I do not make any profit from this story. The only benefits I have are pleasing my readers and enjoying my own imagination's work being seen. Any characters, storyline, or location not within the J.K. Rowling's Canon Wizarding World is strictly my own and, any similarities shared with the muggle-realm, are completely coincidental. Any resemblances to real life locations, such as the Savernake Forest, are intentional to maintain some authenticity to the muggle world.

-F.A.L.

Chapter One - Return to Hogwarts

The summer holiday was nearing its end. Voldemort made his return to the public eye in the the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry, two short months ago on 18 June. Life was changing around the Wizarding World. School shopping had to be done for those returning to Hogwarts, and jobs looked at for those not. It neared the beginning of Sixth Year, and most students and their families had the choice of returning to Hogwarts.

Harry and Hermione had returned to Diagon Alley when they received their lists. Harry had run off to spy on Draco in Borgin and Burke's after spotting him and Narcissa in Madam Malkin's whilst Hermione was having her robes altered to reflect the status bestowed upon her by Professor Dumbledore… Prefect. Hermione had ignored his pleas for her to follow, until she realised if she did not, he would be in far greater danger, as she watched him turn into Knockturn Alley… Hermione, rolling her eyes, chased after him and stuck to his side. As Harry watched Draco enter the shop, Hermione lost track of her thoughts. Something felt off. Tugging on Harry's arm, she managed to pull him out of Knockturn Alley, only to be met with a furious Harry when she turned around. She knew to trust her intuition. Tugging Harry towards the Leak Cauldron, Hermione successfully forced Harry to floo back to the Burrow.

The Burrow had been filled with screaming, magicking items with the intent to harm, and arguments that lasted the entire summer, regarding the Weasley children returning. Hermione and her friends were spending their last moments as a group. Molly and Arthur refused to allow Ron and Ginny to return. Ron had barely passed his Ordinary Wizarding Levels, and the dangers of returning were too high for the Weasley parents to accept their desire to return, even if Dumbledore was remaining Headmaster. Hermione and Harry had their decisions made, and both were returning. Harry knew he was safer at Hogwarts with Dumbledore and Hermione beside him. Hermione felt compelled to return. Learning was not the main reason, shockingly, to the members residing at the Burrow. She was returning because something kept calling her back. All summer she kept having this dream about an event that had not even taken place, but each time she had the dream, her need to return became stronger.

19 August, Hermione woke from her dark, vivid dream that was unforgettable. She felt explicit joy every moment of the dream and it terrified her in her waking life. This was a dream she could recall from when she was eleven and more frequently before that. Once she entered Hogwarts, the dream had stopped.

In her dream, she was in a darkened room and wearing a Victorian dark gown, appearingly made of emerald and onyx stones. She stood next to a man that wore a similar style dress robe to match hers and a mask of black that covered half his face and hair, revealing only his blonde hair, eyes, and lips. He was a few inches taller, a hand on her waist clutching her close to him. She felt safe and comforted by this man and knew she was considered a Princess of sorts from how she was greeted by many in masks and the fact she was standing beside a small throne-like chair made of cherry wood and emerald velvet. She had exited the dark dream, and began to dream about her childhood. She could not have been more than three when she was removed from her "family" and placed with the Grangers' and had her memory wiped with a temporary spell that would break "when the time was right". "Wishful thinking that I may actually be pureblood. This could all just be from the stress of Voldemort—she shudders at thinking his name, though she used it often, she still feared it—returning. That must be it." Hermione sighed to herself finalising her packing.

Meanwhile, nearly 200 kilometres away, Draco Malfoy found himself standing with his father, Lucius, as both were interrogated by Bellatrix Lestrange. Draco understood his task was to murder Dumbledore this year. In order to take his place among the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Draco and his family had to prove their loyalty. His task was to murder the Headmaster. He had spent the summer agonising over plans, it was why he was dragged into Borgin and Burke's. Draco had another task, though. One his mother, Narcissa, bestowed on him from a young age, and reinforced over the summer… He would need to bring someone back to their rightful place this year. His parents had spoken of her and her family his entire life. Nyx, his best friend as tykes creating chaos, and her parents, Kronos and Atropa. Narcissa had reminded him that morning of his duty, moments before Bellatrix arrived to interrogate Draco, ensuring his cooperation with the task. Sixteen hours of torture and interrogation, Draco had passed Bellatrix's test. Her cruel smile of excitement reminded him of a cat catching the canary. He had not broken under her torture, however, he knew she was not using her abilities to their maximum extent, or he would have been in the Janus Thickey Ward at St. Mungo's. He retired to his chambers without supper and dared to dream of the childhood friend he once had.

xXx

With two days remaining before they needed to board the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross, Hermione's dreams were constantly on her mind. She never shared it with anyone else. Their reactions would be severe, given the times they were facing. Harry would even suggest she remained at the Burrow if he knew. He was obsessed with Draco and if he believed Hermione could become a liability, he would want her to remain where he believed she was safest… with the Weasleys.

The rest of her holiday went without any cases of ruckus, apart from Fred and George practising their pranks and using the younger members as test subjects to their new products: one turned Ginny's ears purple; Hermione grew a temporary tail after a fudge she ate from them. It had been a quiet morning as Harry and Hermione packed themselves into Arthur's new magicked car to be on their way with its owner. Molly ensured they had a bountiful breakfast of eggs, steak, ham, bacon, toast, and muffins before they left. Ron, having been unable to procure employment, was staying home and de-gnoming the garden. Ginny would be learning from Molly and assisting the twins with their shop.

Arriving at King's Cross and entering Platform 9, Harry and Hermione thanked Arthur for the summer stay before boarding the train with Hedwig and Crookshanks in tow. Once on the train, they found an empty compartment and fell into a companionable silence, focused on their own minds and tasks. Harry read over a new Quidditch catalogue and planned Quidditch training, as he was notified he would be the Captain. Hermione, as always, had her nose in her texts falling asleep whilst reading.

She dreamt instantaneously. Her dream had been the same she repeatedly had over since the night she could recall the dream, except this time, when the dream ended, the usual one of her younger years began to take a slightly different course. "It was a memory." She could hear herself thinking about it when she woke. "I was three years old and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had given me to the Grangers. It was my birthday, I know because Mrs. Malfoy said it was, but I called her Aunt. She told me that one day I would remember everything, and that when I did it would be time for me to take my rightful place. Wishing me her love and Mr. Malfoy patting my head, I remember a small burst of blue light from his wand and then waking up a few hours later, calling the Grangers my parents. They told me that I had hit my head hard on the swing at the park and that I had been resting. I had a birthday cake and one gift, my necklace, but I rarely touched that necklace through the years. It was a silver locket with an emerald "P" on it and a picture of an adoring mother and father holding a baby inside, with a single lock of hair that had a mixture of three colours. I figured it was the Grangers at a younger time, maybe after a time of frolicking." Hermione had picked apart what she began to believe were memories. She knew that her locket had been gifted by her "real" parents, but she could never figure out who the people in it were, and she understood the Malfoys were unwilling to assist her more than they had by hiding her in the muggle world.

The locket began the thought process of all the families in the Wizarding World that began with a "P" and may have had connections with the Malfoys, Hermione found herself entangled in another set of thoughts of the Grangers back in muggle Hampstead, and how they never told her. She broke out of her reverie when the train came to a sudden halt, jarring her text from her hands and onto the empty seat in front of her, where Harry Potter should have been seated. She quickly gathered her belongings, peaking into compartments as she exited the train onto the Hogsmeade Platform. She had not found Harry, but had seen Draco and his group exit with their signature smirks from a compartment in the rear. Shrugging to herself, the walk to the carriages was quicker than she remembered and found that Neville had held one for their group to take up to Hogwarts. Knowing she had missed the first meeting of Professor Slughorn's Slug Club, along with her Prefect duties aboard the train and she should be helping the first years, she begrudgingly lowered her head as she boarded the carriage. The first years were beginning their crossing of the lake with Hagrid. She would have to meet them on the other side. She asked Neville who they were waiting for once Dean climbed aboard, and learned that Harry and Luna were the missing parties. Knowing Luna, she was most likely distracted by nargles. Harry, with his morbid curiosity regarding Draco, could be under his Invisibility Cloak in their carriage for all she knew. She had seen Draco and his entire entourage leave the train. Before she could inform Neville they should leave, the thestral commenced towards Hogwarts on its own.

The feast went as expected, very few students returned and even fewer first years entered. Gryffindor received twin boys with auburn hair that resembled that of the Weasleys. Slytherin received a dark-haired girl. Hufflepuff received a blonde girl. Ravenclaw received a blonde boy. Hermione understood why she was not pulled from her texts earlier. Five first years, in total, was a small enough group for one Prefect or Head Boy/Girl to handle. Harry arrived with Snape and Luna as the Sorting Hat completed its job, and sat down briefly beside her. She attempted to ask him where he had been. His response was a single grunt and to watch Draco in silence with a grimace on his face.

Once Dumbledore dismissed the students to their Common Rooms, Hermione led the Gryffindors to their tower with Neville, who had been named Prefect, alongside her. Once everyone was in front of the Fat Lady on the Seventh Floor, Hermione smiled and greeted the woman before giving the password, "Abstinence". Students began to memorise the password as they entered and sorted themselves into the common room and their dormitories. Hermione and Neville explained the dormitories to their two first years and offered help to both boys before Neville showed them to their chambers for the remainder of the year. Relieved of the students, Hermione made her way to the fireplace where Harry sat pondering about something seemingly intriguing, by the way his face scrunched up with interest and deep thought. Reaching over, she gently clasped Harry's shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"What happened tonight?" she asked with genuine curiosity and concern.

"I overheard Draco and his posse on the train. He's got the Dark Mark, 'Mione. I swear he does. He's a Death Eater. Voldemort gave him a mission. He boasted to the other Slytherins about how he plans to accomplish it. Whatever it is. I need to stop him," his voice a harsh whisper. Harry no longer knew who to trust outside of his circle, which became him and Hermione on their return.

"Harry, Draco might be a foul, loathsome, evil, little cockroach, but he is not a Death Eater. Not yet, at least," she attempted to reason with him. Whilst she believed Draco had the potential to become one, she was certain that he would never take the mark. She had a suspicion that the Draco she learned to know was not the same Draco inside of the person.

"Not even YOU believe me?!" Harry's voice rose in anger as he stormed off.

"Har-" Hermione began before he turned and shot her a threatening glare, his hand on his wand at his hip. There was no reasoning with Harry. With her sigh, she realised she just lost her only remaining friend at Hogwarts.

xXx

The semester had officially started and as Harry, Neville, Dean, Lavender, Parvati, and Hermione were the only Sixth Year Gryffindors to return. In Ravenclaw, Padma Patil, Michael Corner, and Lisa Turpin returned. Hufflepuff saw Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Hannah Abbott return. Slytherin was a different story, Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, and Daphne Greengrass had returned. Due to the shortage of students returning, the Sixth Year's schedule was changed that morning, and all nineteen Sixth Years had most classes together versus those of previous years.

Rolling her eyes, having come from Defence Against the Dark Arts, where Harry received detention with Snape. Harry had cast a strong Protego in response to Snape's nonverbal jinx, and had decided a snarky response to Snape's admonishment of Harry breaking the rules would be wise. "There's no need to call me 'sir', Professor." Hermione cringed when she heard it the first time, and every time thereafter in her memory. She had noted a piece of parchment in Harry's bag that seemed out of place. However, having lost his friendship the night before when she failed to validate Harry's allegations, she ignored it. "He can get himself out of his own messes," she thought as she met the rest of the students outside of their next class.

Hermione walked into their first group class, Potions with Professor Slughorn. "The semester has officially begun. Now, I will need time to figure out exactly what these dreams mean. I can use the Restricted Section of the library," Hermione thought as Professor Slughorn began the class. The last thought put a small smile on her face as she answered each of Professor Slughorn's questions correctly and their first potion assignment was given, Draught of Living Death. No sooner had the assignment been administered than Harry walked in and informed the professor he was to join to remain on track for an Auror. He had been directed to the cupboard of old texts to retrieve a book and the assignment was gone over, again. Harry successfully recreated the potion and received a small vial of Felix Felicis. Hermione and Draco stared at him befuddled, as neither of them successfully recreated the potion, and they were the best potions students in their year.

xXx

The first week had gone by swiftly as Hermione began to ensure her studies for the next month were completed. With the weekend beginning, she vowed to devote her time to exploring the dreams she was having and ways to cure them. After supper, she found herself in the library's Restricted Section, as she began looking into darker magic texts about dreams. Her search brought her naught but another night wasted, though she did learn some interesting spells and potions about creating dreams and influencing people in illusive states. Returning the last of her pile of texts, Hermione made her way to meet up with Draco Malfoy, as they were assigned rounds together by Professor Dumbledore. The last thing she wanted was for him to find another reason to humiliate her. She met him in front of the Great Hall and with a curt nod; both began to do their rounds in silence.

Draco and Hermione had finished their rounds in the dungeons and were now almost at the library, in the long corridor on the first floor, when Hermione noticed Draco looking around frantically. "Malfoy, what has gotten into you? Scared?" her voice, confident and teasing.

Draco grasped his wand and swept his hand in front of her face, pointing the wand directly at her nose. Her own hand grasped her wand and she held it pointing at him, but by her waist. She knew nonverbal spells, even if she was unwilling to demonstrate them effectively for Professor Snape, she wasn't afraid of him anymore.

"No. Just need to make sure the coast is clear before I give you a message," his voice laced with venom, and something she could not identify. "But for me to deliver this message, you need to wipe my memory directly after it, and in its place, leave something else."

Hermione just nodded, instinctively she knew it was related to her dreams.

"You are looking in the wrong place," Draco spoke with heedfulness and clarity, "You need to trust your instincts now. Your life will change drastically on your seventeenth birthday. Everything will become clear then, but you will need a spell and potion ready before that. Mother told me that both things are in an old copy of the Malfoy Grimoire which Dumbledore has in his own personal library. You need to get that. If not, you may suffer side effects of the spell you have wearing off and those will be painful, if they do not kill you first. Dumbledore is to never find out who you are. Now, wipe my bloody memory and let's forget this ever happened."

Hermione did as she promised with a targeted Obliviate, before dismissing herself. "Draco can finish the last hall on his way back to the dungeons," she thought on her way back to her tower. "Now, all I need to do is convince Dumbledore to allow me into his personal library so I can make a copy of that text, presuming I can truly trust Draco." With that, she found herself in her dormitory and readying for bed as she contemplated her new task. Tomorrow, she will begin plans for creating a copy of the Malfoy Grimoire.

Author's Note:

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