Hermione pressed herself tight to the rock side, the path that had led up to the cave had become impossibly narrow. She didn't want to jump down to the next ledge for fear of running into whomever she'd heard walking. No, it was broad daylight, her concealment charm would be easily spotted by a keen eye. She had to be careful and move with purpose.

A soft feminine whine ran her blood cold. At first, she thought she was about to have another flashback when the sound of dragged feet finally met her ears. With her heart in her throat, she cautiously peeked around the next bend, she was just about level with the path below and she could now make out a figure in the shadow of the cliffside.

When they stepped into the light her adrenaline kicked her in the teeth. She knew that hair, she knew those crazy eyes. Bellatrix Lestrange. Hermione pressed herself back behind the corner. Her breath stuck in her chest as the woman walked past. She was dragging her feet and mumbling something profane before she turned on the spot, looking directly at her for a split second before completing her turn.

"Well come on then. I haven't got all day."

"Yes, dear." A gruff defeated sounding man appeared next, carrying a bag around his shoulder. It appeared heavy by the slump in his shoulders but he seemed able to carry it well enough.

"Hmph." Bellatrix turned back, her eyes narrowing just a little as her nostrils picked up a soft scent that didn't seem to belong. She paused for only a moment before continuing on down the path, "Couldn't make the wards any larger could they? Ridiculous."

Hermione could no longer hold the breath in her chest and let out the air as silently as she could. With great hesitance, she took a silenced step just far enough to see where'd they'd gone. Another cautious step brought her further around the bend, she could make out their backs through the small haze that was beginning to form and a tunnel entrance. Then, just like that, they were gone. No sound, no apparation just, gone.

Her hand came up to the pendant on her chest, unknowingly covering the picture that it produced. She was supposed to be finding Harry, but why would Bellatrix be so far away from 'home'? What could have possibly brought her here? Was this where Voldemort had hidden his Horcrux? Had she been sent to move it? Guard it?

Her fingers slipped down to her hip, where she took the hilt of her cursed dagger tightly in her palm. Could she possibly stand a chance against one of the most insane yet competent witches the dark side possessed? Did she dare to think herself capable of fighting two to one? No, she'd have to be creative. There was no way to fight Bellatrix head on, she'd have to be...Slytherin, in her tactics.

With the knowledge that her concealment charm was sufficient, she crept forward. Her ears and eyes sharp as she entered the mist. It felt cold, yet alive somehow. The further she walked, the more sound came into focus. A soft murmuring of voices, distorted and unintelligible, but definitely in mass. Had she stumbled across a Death Eaters' meeting? Was the Dark Lord there?

So many questions, only one answer. She had to go into the shimmering wall. She had to see what laid beyond the veil. With a glance behind, she found herself bringing herself up tall. The pendant on her chest felt warm, the pin on her lapel would be her safety net. Untraceable, she could be gone in seconds. Possibly before anyone even got a look at her.

A stern nod to affirm her plan and she was moving, her shoulders straight and her head held high. She was a warrior, a demon. Someone to be feared. Her eyes closed for only a moment as she walked through the icy-cold invisible wall. Sound and footsteps greeted her ears and her eyes snapped open to an entirely new world.

The small entrance she'd walked through had opened up to a grand cavern. Fire burned, lighting the impossibly dark space with an orange glow. People—of obvious dubious intent—were moving about between different make-shift stalls. Some in pairs, others alone. Their voices were low, but their eyes were sharp.

Hermione cautiously pulled her hood up over her head, she'd felt her concealment charm dissolve when she'd walked through, a safeguard no doubt. Her glamour still seemed to be in tack though, and she idly wondered if these people were just as concerned about concealing their true identities as they were about keeping those would be keen to sneaking about out.

"Gotta nice looking dagger there little lady, you looking sell or buy?"

Hermione suppressed her jump from a deep voice that appeared just behind to her right, her head turning only enough to see the chest of a very tall man who'd come to stand beside her. A small internal pep-talk raised her chin just a fraction and she tried to put on her best tough-guy persona, "Depends. You got anything better?"

The man let out a low chuckle coming just a bit further around her shoulder. While she kept her hood down she did raise her blood-red eyes up to see into his face. A grizzling looking main, unshaven, heavily tanned. He smelled of fire, but otherwise didn't have anything else notable about him.

"Perhaps." The man grinned wide, licking his bottom lip as he very obviously took her in, "You'd be wanting to look over there. Though it's pointless to be here, without some coin."

"Sounds like your problem, not mine." Hermione made to move past him when his hand on her arm stilled her, a cold shiver of fear nearly locking her spine in place.

"Maybe we could make a trade?"

His innuendo was not lost on her and she couldn't help the sneer of disgust from curling her lips, "Not unless you want to see what exactly my dagger can do."

The man let out a low chuckle and released her arm with a grand gesture towards the rest of the room, "Maybe another time then?"

Hermione turned her head just enough to watch him disappearing back into the shadows around the edges of the room, her throat going tight as she swallowed down the bile that had risen in her throat. A deep breath steeled her nerves and she was moving again. Her eyes sweeping the crowd trying to find the woman she had followed in.

She had made it nearly to the center of the market when she felt another set of eyes on her. As surreptitiously as she could, she tried to position her body in a way that would allow her to look but wouldn't reveal too much of her face. The feeling passed after another group of people moved beside her and she found herself regaining her original course, though her mind was still reaching out.

oOo

"Wow...the map wasn't lying." Ron couldn't stop himself from tilting his head back to look at the fire hanging from the high ceiling. He and Harry had managed to disguise themselves rather well, he hadn't even recognized himself when he'd looked in the mirror. He'd turned his signature red hair into something more brunet and made it long and curly. Though it had taken the combined effort of both of their casting skills.

"Yeah...let's keep our heads down though..." Harry had given himself rather long hair, enough to hide his scar and most of his face. He'd changed the color of his eyes as well, from green to a dark blue. He doubted it would make any difference in the dim light, but he hoped it was enough to keep himself from being immediately recognizable. He'd wanted to use the cloak, but he didn't want to get caught with it. At the very least, they could make a run for it under it if they needed to.

"Can you feel it? Is it even here?" Ron walked slowly, the entire place making him completely uneasy. It looked like the sort of place Mundungus would have called home. Definitely the underbelly of the wizarding world.

"Yeah...it is..." Harry rubbed is forehead absently, trying to make himself a bit taller.

Ron frowned as they continued to walk, letting Harry take the lead. They didn't have much on them, he just hoped whoever was stupid enough to have it, didn't know its value. As he turned around another set of stalls, his eyes caught on a woman in a blood red jacket. He'd caught the side of her face and his heart skipped at the familiarity of it. Without thinking, he turned to follow her, leaving Harry to catch up.

oOo

The air smelled thick with sage, the smoke of the burners filling the cavern with a light haze. Large stone pillars topped with enchanted flame lined the many branching paths, the room filled with the hum of secret conversations and dealings. Many whom were present were just as she, keeping their heads covered, their faces obscured. Most of whom that were selling goods had small makeshift stalls, displaying their wares. It reminded her of a muggle flea-market.

Hermione walked slowly, keeping her eyes and ears open but did her best to feign interest in the things that were on offer. She had stayed in the shadows watching the pair that seemed to have lost her in the crowd for another. Another set of darkly dressed figures had caught her interest. They appeared to be following Bellatrix as well, only putting more weight to her thoughts of them being on the other side.

As she moved, she took note of the books, rare and most certainly illegal. Potions ingredients, potions that should never have been possible to make. It was a veritable black market, a look into the minds of those who sought to end the world in flames.

Like all information, it was valuable, even if she didn't understand it at present, she kept her mind to task while trying to keep her eyes on Bellatrix. It wasn't that difficult to track her through the crowd as most people gave the wicked woman a wide birth. Her heightened senses did alert her that she was being tracked again, but she couldn't get a clear view on who was to blame.

Carefully, she turned her path to try and see who might be following her. Her hand coming down to rest on the hilt of her dagger, her ears twitched when she thought she heard a familiar voice through the crowd. Her head tilted up just a bit more, the light over head casting a shadow over her burnt skin. Her eyes turned before they locked onto a man with wild brunet hair and deep blue eyes. Something about his features striking the inside of her brain like a gong.

Was he one of the ones who had captured her? One of the ones who'd been part of the original attack? She had seen some of them, but only briefly, so briefly she couldn't readily recall their faces. Yet something about this man felt dreadfully important. Her stomach churned as she forced her head away, her plan to circle behind them and try to get the jump on them. Or at the very least, see what they were here for.

Moving towards a partially empty corner of the room, she tracked the man who she was certain was watching her and the woman whom she had followed in. Bellatrix seemed to have a goal in mind and was making her way directly towards a stall that held a variety of metal made objects. The entire space was the complete definition of defilement of magic. It churned her stomach.

She was just walking past a small closed off stall when a scent took her back months. A series of flashes, darkness, pain, halted her steps before she was able to gather her barrings. With all the courage she was known for, she pushed herself inside the small stall and tried to calm her beating heart.

There was a man sitting at the far end of the tent, a table sitting center with various papers scattered over the top. He looked up lazily when she entered and pulled his feet from the table with a small glare.

"Well, didn't think I was gonna have any visitors today." The man came to his feet slowly, glancing down for a second before coming around the edge just a step.

Hermione's eyes narrowed to the man's missing arm, dirty clothes and cold eyes. She didn't have to come any closer to know that he was one of the men who had taken their pleasure from her pain. The smell alone was enough to remind of those dark nights.

With every ounce of strength she had inside her, she took another step, her eyes immediately going down to the girl who was hidden under the table. She was young, maybe 14? Her clothes were dirty and torn, and her face was pale and shallow. Her eyes were wide when she looked up at her. Fearful, hopeless and impossibly scared. A small chain was around her ankle, keeping her tethered to the table.

"Looking for something?" The man gave her a keen eye, something about her was familiar, her hair perhaps? It was hard to tell with the dark band and hood over her eyes.

"Maybe...depends on what you're selling?" Hermione dragged her eyes from the girl, to the man who had come well inside her personal space. Her body was shivering internally but she managed to keep herself standing tall. She had wanted this, a face, a body to go with her memories.

"Well, my field's in more in the...organic market, high price. You understand?" The man was certain now, her voice, her posture. His hand rose, pushing back the hood that kept her face hidden.

Hermione had tried to stop him, she really had but her body had been frozen in fear. Her eyes went wide as the world around her went black.

Cold, unbearable cold. Hermione shivered so violently that her teeth were nearly shredding her cheeks in her attempt to keep her mouth closed. More water came from above, the strong hand that held her arm pulled up, nearly taking her shoulder out of socket as a rough cloth scrubbed away her tears. Her knees were sat inside a shallow tub with equally freezing water. They were cleaning her, she didn't know why she just wished they'd stop. It hurt, her skin, raw and burnt by the sun. She could feel layers of it being torn away with each passing.

A sharp gasp brought her back to reality, her eyes wide as she looked into the man's before her. His mouth was open in shock, mid-scream as fire came up the back of his throat to turn his mouth black with cursed fire. His eyes, shock wide and dark as the flames continued forward, burning him from the inside out. Hermione could only let out a small squeak of surprise as his body collapsed, turning to ash in seconds.

Her head shakily turned down, her eyes catching on the blood stained blade in her hand. How had she? When had she? A deep whimper turned her head, and though her face was pale with what she'd done she felt nothing. Nothing at all. A small single tear, ran down the right side of her cheek before she carefully sheathed the blade at her hip.

Cautiously, she moved around the edge of the table before bending down onto her knee, "What's your name?"

"A-A-Amelia..."

"Okay, Amelia...let's get you out of here..." She offered her hand out towards her, the girl was beyond frightened but slowly she extended her hand out. It was like looking into her past, in the present. The girl's hand was so small, so frail, dirt covered and scabbed. She fought against herself to push her own memories down, deep down and turned her wand to the chain holding the girl's ankle.

There was a small pop as the chain gave way but the shackle itself resisted the spell. Hermione would have to think of something else at a later time, "Can you stand?"

"I...I don't know..." Amelia looked around for a moment, as if fearing something or someone coming out of the shadows, "Is...is it safe?"

"I won't let them hurt you anymore..." Hermione ran her thumb gently over the back of her hand and gave her a gentle pull, "I'm going to take you someplace safe..."

"You...you killed him..."

"I did..."

Amelia's chest was heaving, her eyes turning from the demon-looking woman before her to the pile of ash that had been her captor. She knew there were others, others like the man who had brought her here, it was a choice between the unknown and hell.

"Are there others?"

"N-no...not anymore..."

"Alright...We're going to have to walk out of here...after that...we can apparate, okay? We just need to get beyond the mouth of the cave." Hermione gave her another gentle pull, relaxing only slightly when the girl came out from under the table. She brought her hand under Amelia's shoulders to help her to her feet before slowly releasing her to stand on her own power.

"I'm going to look for something to cover you okay? Just stay right here."

"Okay...Okay..." Amelia was crying now, silently; whether from relief or fear she couldn't be certain. She wrapped her arms around her waist as she did as she was told, her eyes looking out beyond the tent flap that was slightly caught on a stone giving her a small view into the world beyond.

Hermione gave her a painful smile, before moving over to one of the chests along the other wall. A small charm removed the lock that held them closed and she opened it without conscience. Her stomach churned to the sight of Hogwarts crested robes, messily folded inside. So many, too many. How many kids had they taken? How many lives had they destroyed? Too many.

She pulled out the topmost cloak and pressed her wand into the fabric, stripping away the Hogwarts crest, a Ravenclaw. She grabbed a pair of worn down trainers as well, they would have to do in light of anything else. She cast a warming charm over the fabric before coming to her feet, it was plenty long enough and so she turned back to Amelia, "Here, this should keep you warm."

Hermione offered out the cloak first before kneeling down to place the shoes at her feet, they were a little big, but a simple charm would fix that. She waited patiently for Amelia to step into them before tapping her wand against the tops. They shrunk to fit before tying themselves and with a heavy sigh pushed herself back to her feet.

"Just...stay close to me and act like we belong here, okay?"

"Yeah...I think I can do that."

"Alright...here we go..." Hermione looked back at the table, and with a lazy wave of her wand collected all the papers over the table top before pushing the shrunken lot into her coat pocket. Information was power.

oOo

Severus was doing everything in his power not to destroy his office. His anger at Albus was nothing compared to the anger he held against himself. Why on earth had she followed Bellatrix of all people? Why hadn't she just turned and ran?

As soon as she'd stepped through the wards the pendant he'd given to her had gone black. He'd argued out loud with himself over whether he should join her, disguise himself and just risk it all. The feeling of protecting her was so strong that he could barely think of anything else.

Albus had barely managed to talk him down before the man had taken to pacing. Back and forth, a well-worn path. Now he found himself sitting back at his desk, his head in his hands trying to convince himself not to care. That she was nothing to him, a student destined to be somewhere else. With others, of her kind.

The mirror on his desk flickered and a soft voice filled the silence that had begun to settle. Severus lifted his head slowly, his eyes turning towards the mirror. It flickered again before he could see the cliff side once more. Suddenly attentive, he sat up straight and narrowed his eyes trying to figure out what was coming into view on the right side.

oOo

Harry and Ron kept their distance but they could easily hear from where they were. Feigning interest in one of the many cursed items on a nearby table, they kept their ears trained on the crazy Black haired witch. They knew they had no chance of taking her on in a room filled with those who would most certainly come to her aid.

Ron had noticed the woman who'd caught his attention previous had already made her way out, slipping out with another past the both of them but he hadn't gotten a clear look at either one of them. It still niggled at the back of his mind how familiar the woman felt but without any true evidence, he was doing his best to push it aside for their present task.

"Let's go..."

"What? Why?"

Harry tried not to roll his eyes and pulled him along with him, keeping their backs to Bellatrix. When they'd made it closer to the exit he believed they were safe. He'd overheard Bellatrix talking to Rudolfus about putting the cup into her vault. He knew there was no way of fighting her now for it. Especially where they were presently. They had to regroup. Go back to Bill and Fleur's and get more help.

oOo

Hermione walked Amelia back up the cliff face where she'd come, it was the quickest and possibly safest spot. She wondered if she could take her to Severus but knew that if she did, she'd expose them both. Something that would help neither of them. So, as they walked, she thought about where she could take her and ensure her safety.

"You...you seem familiar..." Amelia was breathing heavily. Even the small walk had made her exceptionally tired. Lack of food and other basic needs had made the small journey exceptionally exhausting.

"I get that a lot." Hermione lied so smoothly she was surprised at herself at how easy it felt. She offered her a small smile as she pulled her up the path as gently as she could. They needed to keep moving.

"Did...did you go Hogwarts...?"

"Did you?"

"Yeah...but my mum...she was worried this year...kept me home..."

"What house were you in?"

"Hufflepuff..."

Hermione smiled softly leading her into the cave she'd come from, "That's a good house." She brought them to a stop, helping Amelia sit down in the shadows.

"Thanks..."

"Do you...want me to take you home?" Hermione ran her hands down the tail of her coat nervously.

"No...they...they know where I live...Mum and Dad...got out but...they burned our house..."

"Alright..." Hermione let out the breath she'd been holding and turned her head towards the darkening sky, "I think I know where we can go..."

Amelia tilted her head a little, she'd thought the woman had known exactly where they were going to go, now she could see that she was as unprepared as she was. That made her empty stomach roil with fear but there was nothing she could do about it.

"I'm going to do a side-along, okay? It might not feel the best but it'll get us out of here. Are you ready?"

"Yeah...and thank you...for all of this."

"Of course." Hermione grinned just a little and offered her hand for her to take. Once she did, she pulled her back to her feet and into her side, "Might help if you close your eyes."

"Okay..." Amelia rested her head against the woman's shoulder, the smell of her clothes somewhat familiar though she couldn't place it.

"One, two, three." Hermione frowned when they didn't go anywhere. She actually felt the ward snap them back into place before they'd even moved an inch. A small snarl curled her lips. Not wanting to drag Amelia an obscure length away from the wards, she changed her course and pressed her wand into the broach on her jacket. It wasn't the best solution but it was the safest, and wasn't Severus always concerned with her safety?

Unfortunately, Snape had put in a safeguard that Hermione hadn't been told about. A protection designed to keep her from bringing anyone ill-willed back with her in time of escape, should they grab onto her at the last second.

Hermione let out a deep groan as they landed—none too nicely—in the grass just outside the Shrieking Shack. Having landed on her back, Amelia came down on top of her kicking the air out of her lungs. She coughed deeply as she gained her barrings, blinking the world that had gone dark into focus. A small series of deep coughs pushed her up onto her hands and she turned her head towards Amelia who had managed to push herself off.

"Alright there?"

"Yeah..." Amelia let out her own cough, the woman hadn't lied about it being unpleasant. She just wondered why someone powerful enough to burn a man inside out, would have such a barbaric means of transport.

"Right...let's get up..." Hermione pushed herself back to her feet with the aid of her hands, her head turning towards the castle whose lights were burning in the distance. Her head turning up towards the tower where they were supposed to have landed. She was going to have a long talk with the Professor when she returned.

Amelia kept her opinions to herself as she carefully came to her feet, her eyes darting around the darkened woods with blood-chilling fear. She didn't want to go back there. Anywhere but there.

If there was anything Hermione was good at, it was thinking on her feet. The lights of the small town were much less than what should have been, but one stood out above the rest. Yes, she could take her there. They would know what to do. They had connections, they could get Amelia to a safe place.

oOo

Severus had taken to pacing again, she'd brought someone with her. He'd felt the castle wards expel the both of them from entering his office. He wondered idly who she'd brought with her, when the girl's young voice had come through the mirror. He hadn't caught a good glimpse at her but he was more curious as to how Granger's mission had gone from recon, to rescue.

Another quick path brought him back to the desk, the murmurs overhead at his actions making him send a silencing glare to the portraits hanging by the heavens. A flash over the mirror brought his attention back down and he realized the pendant had fallen back into the proper position for him to see.

"Where has she been sent?" Severus leaned in closer as the darkened alley started to come into view. He was sure she hadn't been rebounded far, and the only place he could think of where that sort of structure would be was Hogsmeade. Problem was, it was set with hundreds of traps.

"It would appear she's making her way to the Weasley's shop." Albus kept his calm though he was hard-pressed to keep the smile from coming to the corner of his lips. He couldn't have been more proud of Miss Granger for her resourcefulness. It was easy to be tempted by the darkness, to just let everything that ever held you back go.

Severus snarled at the man on high but didn't comment. Instead, he forced himself down into his chair, turning the mirror ever just so. He'd have to wait to see what she was planning to do. Time was running out, however, he was expected to give his results in person that night. He wouldn't be around for much longer.

oOo

"Do you know this place?"

"Yeah, I once bought a box of chocolate frogs here. They had a really big jump, I almost didn't catch them..." Amelia smiled dimly at the small memory. She wasn't so far gone but it was clear that the action brought pain to her face.

"Good...They will help you, okay?" Hermione was becoming more nervous with each passing moment. She was too far out in the open. All the wards, the traps, the small whispers of hidden spells. She could hear them, feel them, sense them. It was like she'd stepped into an entirely new world.

"Okay...but what if-" Amelia turned to ask her question only to find the dark night air behind her. Her eyes went wide for a long moment before the back door she'd come to stand in front of opened.

Hermione had heard their footsteps, no doubt brought towards the door by their voices. She couldn't risk being seen now, she had something else she needed to take care of. So instead, she'd jumped up onto the nearby roof. Silently, using a spell that Snape had taught her. Silent flight was going to be invaluable in her arsenal and this was only the beginning.

With only a lingering look as Amelia was taken in, she pulled out the portkey that had taken her to the market and activated it again. Leaving nothing behind but a whispering shadow, wafting in the breeze.

She landed much better this time, on solid footing and a hard raised chin. Without even thinking about what she was about to do, she moved with all the confidence of someone who had become one with the darkness towards the entrance to the market.

When the veil washed over her, she raised her head towards the fire in the center of the room. Her wand slipped into her hand while the other pulled the hood back from her head. Some of those who were closest to the entrance turned to give her a suspicious eye but no one knew just exactly what hell was about to rain down upon them.

"Furure Ignis."