Hello!

So first off just let me explain that this is more of a prelude to what is to come, i know some of you probably hate reading what happened in the books but i need this to explain where i want characters and now i want them to come out of the end of Deathly Hallows that differs to Cannon. On that Note i'll add another A/N at the bottom so as not to spoil anything here.

Read and Review

Harry had been beside himself when Hermione had disappeared, unsure what had actually happened. He hadn't meant to be as aloof and unkind as he was he just didn't know how to be around Hermione anymore and it killed him a little inside, she had been like a sister to him. But when she was rescued after the Department of Mysteries he wasn't sure how to act, at first he wanted to be at her side but, along with the others that had been there, had been advised against it.

Dumbledore had explained in more detail than they needed what had happened to them and had also explained that perhaps Hermione had been compromised in much the same way Harry had by Voldemort. Of course Harry didn't really believe that, why would Voldemort attempt to possess someone he deemed lower than dirt? It didn't make sense but he had been told to distance himself from Hermione regardless and like a good boy he had done so, they all had. And it killed him.

Harry could see the way his friend was sinking into herself, changing. But he had been told to stay away and he had, he had been told she was broken and needed time to heal. That she didn't trust boys and men anymore after the assault. It was a cop out, but Harry realised too late why it was so easy to cut himself off from Hermione. It was because he was so guilt ridden.

For as long as he had known her Hermione had been the voice of reason. She had been the calm in the storm, making him think things through instead of charge headlong. He would readily admit that she had kept him and Ron alive more than once. Hermione Granger was the best of the best and unfortunately for her she'd chosen Harry and Ron as her friends. Harry, in his panic, instead of listening to reason and logic, had lead his best friend and some of his most loyal into a trap. A trap Hermione was likely still suffering for.

The overwhelming guilt kept Harry from approaching the young woman, his best friend. The shame of his actions, getting his godfather killed, his best friend captured, putting his girlfriend in danger. He realised too late that going off half cocked really did have bad consequences and it was Hermione who was still paying for them. So when he realised she had vanished he didn't know what to do. Had she done the unthinkable and ended it? Had she been taken by the death eaters again? Would he ever get the chance to apologise?

Ginny had much been the same, they were all aware of Hermione's smarts and though Ginny wasn't lacking her own the crush she had on Harry clouded her judgement sometimes. She had been lucky enough that the death eaters seemed to recognise Hermione as Harry's best friend and so she along Neville and Luna had been more of a second thought to them. Hermione how ever had been trying to keep the boys safe and fight her own battles at the same time, it was the Hermione way.

Much like Harry, Ginny was rather ashamed. They had split up and they shouldn't have, they had been out numbered and should have stayed together but Hermione had been separated and attacked, taken, and worse was that they didn't even realise immediately. Hermione, in their mind, has been so much the background character, that they hadn't realised until after Sirius' death and Harry's possession that Hermione had been missing. It took them too long, gave Dolohov too much of a head start.

But when Hermione vanished again, they had noticed immediately. Despite keeping their distance, rather cruelly, they had all been aware of Hermione. Acutely so. Then suddenly she was not there and the skies had opened up. Without word or warning the five of them had gathered in the Entrance Hall, trying and failing to figure out where Hermione had gone they had scoured the castle and all known hideaways to no avail until finally they had gone to Dumbledore.

"Professor? We can't find Hermione anywhere." Harry had spoken even as he walked into the office, they didn't immediately noticed Severus, Molly, Minerva and even Hagrid there until after.

"Don't you know how to knock, Potter?" Snape scowled at the boy.

"Severus, it's alright." Albus spoke calmly smiling lightly at his favourite student.

"Mum? What are you doing here?" Ginny spoke up, Ron looked just as curious.

"Oh. I was here to speak with Hermione, dears." Molly offered a little offhandedly.

"Ok, well where is she?" Ron looked around like Hermione might be sitting there.

"She's… gone." Minerva frowned none of them quite sure how to answer that. The children were not fully aware of what had happened to Hermione, at least not Snapes involvement or the Black/Malfoy hand in her rescue.

"Gone? Gone where?" Harry was getting impatient as was Neville.

"Gone Mister Potter, She has left the school grounds." Albus spoke soothingly as he usually did.

"Gone? But she was here for breakfast this morning." Neville points out confused.

"What exactly is going on here?" Ginny stomped her foot her own impatience run out.

"Oh, dear. I was here to offer for her to come stay with us this summer, Bill and Fleur are getting married and Bill wanted them to have some time alone before coming to the house for the wedding. She didn't take it very well." Molly explains to the best of her ability.

"But she's of age, couldn't she just be put up somewhere in Diagon?" Ginny asked frowning.

"We didn't think she would be very safe alone, some of the death eaters have a particular vendetta against her since her escape." Minerva explained frowning a little.

"What about her parents? Why couldn't she stay with them? That is what she'd rather, I'm sure." Harry frowns when the adults all seemed to shift uncomfortably.

"They're dead aren't they?" Ron asked after a moment and Molly burst into tears.

"When? When did Hermione find out?" Ginny asked with wide eyes.

"Last summer. Hermione only found out today." Minerva looked at Albus before looking away ashamed.

"I feel like we aren't getting the full story here. How is Hermione if you all aren't trying to find her?" Harry scowled at the adults in the room.

"When Granger was captured the Dark Lord had had me tasked with creating a… short cut to becoming an animagus. I knew it couldn't happen, it would never work but I attempted it, tested it on myself to no effect only for the Dark Lord to make me refine it again and again. When Granger was captured I was ordered to test my final attempt on her, it would burn like acid but it wouldn't actually harm her or change her in the long run, at least not under normal circumstances. Unfortunately when she was taking the potion she was struck by lightning, it seems it has worked as a catalyst and she began to change, we were sure what into." Snape explains finally, he was so far beyond over the lying and subterfuge.

"You mean… she turned into that bird from earlier?" Neville was putting it together.

"A Thunderbird. Rare magical birds who typically live in Arizona. I believe Hermione's new wand was made from the tail feather of one. They haven't been seen since the early 1900's." Luna spoke up finally.

"Her wand was Thunderbird tail feather?" Minerva, Snape and Hagrid had not known that.

"So it seems. I did not consider the rare connection she had with such a unique wand could be because of her transformation." Albus admits after a moment.

"Professor? Why wasn't we allowed to tell other students what happened to Hermione?" Luna asked after a moments pause.

"I do not believe she needed that kind of attention after that trauma." Albus informs matter of fact.

"Or maybe you didn't need that kind of attention. Students are meant to be safe here, Hermione was held by the enemy for a week. She was a prisoner of war and you turned her into an enemy of the state." Harry says scowling now, too little too late he was realising his mistake.

"Harry…" Albus attempts.

"He's right. You ostracised her. Her biggest supporters were Fleur and Bellatrix Lestrange. It should have been her peers." Severus adds, his defence surprising Harry.

"Lestrange?" Molly asked confused.

"The Malfoys and Bellatrix along with Fleur were the whole reason we had been able to rescue Hermione. They'd have defected years ago had they had any support." Severus explains scowling for the sake of his friends.

"But Lestrange!" Minerva seemed just as shocked.

"Bella despises her husband, she always has, she is also quite the feminist and was all too happy to help Hermione. When Hermione lost it in the bank last summer she ran into Knockturn, Bellatrix found her and took her somewhere. Got her to calm down, they had been meeting weekly until very recently and Bella had been teaching her occlumency." Severus drawls as though this should have been common knowledge. In fact only himself and Fleur actually knew about it though.

The room was silent pondering this, it was only weeks until the end of school and only two of them really knew the truth of what was to happen. But in that room Albus lost a lot of the support he once had, he retained his allies but lost respect.

Fleur had been one of the last ones to find out that Hermione had gone missing. When the third letter in a week had been ignored she had finally gotten a message from Minerva McGonagal requesting they meet in Hogsmead. Fleur had been on edge ever since and so when she arrived she had been cautious and dubious. Yet when she'd been told what had happened to not only Hermione but her parents too she had been beside herself.

Practically distraught all day since she had gone home wondering if she could have done something different. She loved Bill but lately he had been so pushy and negative about Hermione and when he had suggested, after their engagement, that Hermione stay with his parents instead of them Fleur had been too caught up to really consider Hermione who she knew had been ignored by her friends.

When Bill got home that night Fleur had downed almost a whole bottle of cider and had cried for longer than she would admit. She had always respected Hermione, had come to know Hermione well and care for her a very great deal. Ultimately she was as guilty as the others of casting Hermione aside and it was not a feeling she appreciated at all. Yet when Bill had found her so upset the day had only culminated in a large argument.

"Fleur? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Bills immediate concern touched Fleur and she smiled gently and shook her head.

"Non, it is Hermione. She is gone." Fleur explained sipping her final glass of cider.

"Gone? Dead?" Bill might have had his opinion of Hermione as of late but that didn't mean he wished her dead.

"Non, zank Circe, She has disappeared." Fleur sighed sadly.

"Why would she run away after all the effort we all put into keeping her safe." Bill frowned not understanding.

"It seems she likely did not zink she 'ad a choice." Fleur mumbled.

"Or maybe the Death Eaters did get to her and she's a turn coat hoping she can buy her freedom with Voldemort." Bill suggested scowling at the idea.

"She would never go back to zem." Fleur denied immediately.

"Why wouldn't she? Apparently she was friends with that bitch, Lestrange." Bill pointed out a little aggressively.

"Yes, William! Zey were friends! 'Ermione did not 'ave many of zem anymore but Bellatrix was 'elping! She would not go back to zem ozer monsters!" Fleur spoke seriously, inflamed.

"How would you know! They held her for a week! Who knows what they promised her for information!" Bill was getting aggravated, Fleur was always at Hermione's defence.

"Ze only zing zey offered 'er was rape and torture! Zey used 'er body! Beat 'er and tested a potion on 'er before we were able to free 'er! We, ze Malfoy's, Snape and Bellatrix were able to get 'er to me and I was able to get away wiz 'er." Fleur practically screamed at Bill.

"What? They did all that and you just let her go with Lestrange? I'm beginning to think you're as mental as Hermione is!" Bill was a little taken back but his frustration was tantamount.

"You know what? You're right! I must be mental if I could have agreed to marry a 'eartless lout like you, William. Pack your zings and get out of my 'ome." Fleur bites out furiously a little of her Veela form shining through with the yellowing of her eyes.

"You're breaking up with me because I'm being realistic?" Bill barked out ignorantly.

"Non! I am breaking up wiz you because zat young woman 'as gone zrough 'ell but you will use any excuse to 'ate zem a little more instead of showing any kind of empazy for anyone. I cannot marry a man who 'as no compassion and I certainly cannot be expected to raise a family wiz 'im. Now get out." Fleur demanded furiously. Bill stared for a long moment only to see nothing but resolve in yellow/blue eyes and sigh. With the gift of magic he collected his things and left without a word. Leaving Fleur in tears all over again.

Albus had known his time was near since the moment Severus had told him what the Dark Lord had asked of Draco. It was, and always had been, Albus' main goal to keep his students alive while also allowing them the freedom to learn by their own choices. Not everything could be learned from a classroom unfortunately and even more unfortunate was the fact that this was one of those times where students needed to learn fast.

Perhaps the fastest learner, in and out of the classroom had been Hermione but Albus had been so short sighted and preoccupied that he hadn't really realised what was going on with the girl until it was too late. He did not feel guilt though he did understand that his intervention much earlier in the fifth year might well have changed the course of several events yet he was not one for dwelling in the past, at least not the recent past.

It hadn't been expected at all that Severus would have any kind of success with his potion and it was perhaps more telling that the only reason it worked was because of a natural phenomenon playing its part inadvertently. Yet it was incredibly fascinating that the girl had become such a rare and magical creature when it was known since the beginning of any records kept that an animagus was a simple non magical animal, it had always been this way. It made the old man wish for a little more time just so he could find Hermione and do a little research.

It was clear the young woman had the animals abilities, the storm on its tails as it flew and from the glance he got the exceptionally interesting feathers that seemed to shimmer and display a storm held within their surface. It was stunning and so interesting yet his time neared its end until finally the school was breached and a battle in the Astronomy tower turned out to be his last. It had played out exactly as he had hoped it would and despite his best efforts the once great Albus Dumbledore died with many regrets, the most recent of which being Hermione Granger.

It was because of these events that Fleur ended up travelling with the boys on their hair brained mission. She knew that they would stop at nothing and so, out of respect for Hermione, who even as hurt by them as she was, Fleur knew would not be able to abandon them. Thus Fleur escaped with the boys, something of a family reunion for the Weasley's only with all 'extended family' involved which meant pretty much everyone in the Order and their families. Right up until the attack came it had been quite enjoyable even with Bill sulking in the corner.

The months were long, the boys, though she came to care for them a great deal, were incredibly frustrating which made her time with the Horcrux all the more volatile as she could be short tempered to begin with. One such time an argument broke out and Ronald had left the group which had broken Harry a little, Ron was typically most loyal but the Horcrux was a wedge driven between them. When finally Ron did come back it was with warning of the Taboo, such warning ended up for nought anyway as they had been captured, thankfully they were taken to the Malfoy's who played their part until they were alone in the house.

"I can't believe Hermione thought you were good!" Ronald snarked at Bellatrix.

"Ronald, shut up! Merde!" Fleur snapped as Bellatrix rounded on the ginger boy.

"Never claimed to be good, just loyal! Well mostly." Bellatrix cackled. Ron scoffed.

"Will you 'elp us?" Fleur looked to the family before them.

"You maybe, they drove Granger away and I happened to like the girl." Bellatrix snuffed disdain at the boys.

"Yes well, you know zey are still counted as friends to 'er even if zey didn't treat 'er in kind." Fleur points out with a shrug.

"She's fickle… but I suppose you have a point." Bellatrix sighed and shrugged and put her wand away.

"I'm going to guess you're after the Dark Lords little treasures? Well you don't need the cup anymore, he had me put it in his vault but I managed to destroy it myself. I can't help you with the others though." Bellatrix grinned brightly.

"Yes we got rid of a locket and we believe the snake is one. There is one we think at Hogwarts but we don't know what." Harry frowned not overly surprised Bellatrix was aware what they were doing. He had heard she had been the brightest witch of her age after all, it was perhaps why she and Hermione got along.

"I'll bring lovey up then you can ask her, she's been here with Ollivander and…" Bellatrix looked at Draco frowning.

"Dean, Aunty." Draco sounded like that wasn't the first time he'd had to supply the name.

"Who is 'lovely'?" Ron mouthed to Harry who just shrugged.

Dobby the house elf, loyal to Harry and apparently Bellatrix who, unbeknown to most, had a soft spot for house elves, walked up from the basement with Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas and Garrick Ollivander in tow. Harry looked momentarily furious until Bellatrix flicked her wand and the superficial wounds on all three healed up in an instant. Luna smiled at her friends and Dean greeted the boys happily. Not at all acting the prisoners of war they should have been.

"Luna, they're looking for something the Dark Lord might hold dear, something that's been missing for a while at Hogwarts." Bellatrix explained to the airy blonde, yet another soft spot there which surprised Bellatrix because she despised Xenophilius.

"Oh… the Ravenclaw's lost Diadem." Luna didn't miss a beat.

"But it's lost." Ron points out in a tone that made Fleur glad she'd dodged the Weasley bullet.

"Well yes, but it can be found. If it's what you're looking for." Luna points out with a shrug, like that should have been obvious.

Fleur laughed, she'd only been at the school for the one year but she'd read up on it and had many tales from Hermione herself. The Room off Requirement. The Come and Go room, it seemed perfect. They would only be able to find it if they specifically looked for it.

The quest then turned to escape and liberation of the captives before then almost immediately they made for the castle. The Malfoy's offered to take the Dark Lords punishment for just a little longer but they fully intended to defect openly once the final showdown occurs, Severus Snape unfortunately was another story all together.

Severus knew from the moment he had told Dumbledore about Draco's task that he was done for. It was without a doubt the easiest thing he had ever had to do, living could be so hard when you had very little to live for and after the life he had lead he was willing to welcome the peace of death. He knew he wasn't a good person, he'd made mistakes early in life and had been paying for them since. Even as his final hour drew closer he held his regrets.

When Voldemort, foolishly, assumed Severus was the true owner of the Elder wand, he had killed his 'loyal' pet without a second glance, all in the quest for power. It was not a man Severus had ever wanted to follow, he had just wanted his own power and at the time of joining the Death Eaters had not known of any other worth he was cheating himself of. All because of a single woman he never ceased to love.

His final act was to give the boy with those hauntingly familiar eyes one final thing. A reason for why he was so awful. A reason for why he was a cold angry bastard but proof that Severus would do anything for Lily, even after her death, he had vowed to protect Harry despite his dislike of the boy. Harry had found a new respect for the 'Greasy Git' in those memories and a new understanding of what needed to happen. Harry had to die and no one was able to talk him out of it.

Narcissa was the only one that knew better, the half giant was commanded to carry the supposedly dead boy to the castle as the Dark Lord laughed. With demands of surrender and the proud standing defiant no one expected the storm that blew in unnaturally sudden. The clouds opened up and the rain fell hard and fast painting a mournful scene all the more melancholy. Neville stood strong against Dark Forces and his friends stood behind him. It was then, that brazen moment when the Dark Lords attention was on Draco that Narcissa, Lucius and Bellatrix openly defected.

"Bella! What is the meaning of this?!" The Dark Lords attention shifted from the platinum blonde wizard to his strange aunt.

"I believe it's called 'defecting', My Lord." Bellatrix offered casually only to cackle madly at the end there.

"I expected this from your pathetic sister and that worm of a husband of hers, but you?" He snarls, lips pulling back in distaste as Bella had moved over to Luna behind Neville and loop an arm across the blonde witches shoulders. Luna smiled her serene smile.

"Always expect the unexpected." Bellatrix smirked with a shrug. More than a few of the Order were surprised at the defection.

"It matters not, it simply means you will die with those standing against me. The boy who lives is no more!" Voldemort laughed only to be interrupted by a clap of thunder overhead. It seemed to spark action then as Neville attacked first before Voldemort was to retaliate.

It happened quickly from there, Harry stood tall ready to defend his friends, his second chance at life not to be for nought as it became a battle for the times, Harry and Voldemort were head to head but the snake, try as they might, had yet to be destroyed. The last of the known Horcrux' was still slithering around under the protection of the death eaters. The rain began to get heavier, the death toll higher until sudden, out of rain laden clouds, swooped a regal Thunderbird with storm shimmering feathers and thunder it's entry music.

The snake had no chance, the bird was on it in a moment, the protective spells no much for ripping talons as the Thunderbird tore the snake to pieces destroying the Horcrux and it's living vessel. It seemed to spark Voldemort into a rage and he redoubled his attack on Harry who held his own spectacularly. The Thunderbird aided in the war efforts then tearing at the Dark Forces as best it could as a second slightly larger bird flew down to join them seemingly more wild and volatile than the smaller but just as intelligent as it picked off the Dark Forces leaving the Light unharmed.

It went on like this for a small eternity it seemed, until finally it was a stand off, Harry with his trusty Expelliarmus and Voldemort with Avada. Light and Dark came to a stand still to see this final battle only for Voldemort to fall, bested once again by the Boy Who Lived. Some of the Death Eaters attempted to flee, most surrendered. The Thunderbirds landed amidst the destruction only one rapid changed from bird to young woman with wild yet silky brown hair and eyes so gold and bird like they put Madame Hooches to shame.

"Sorry we were late. Frank got hungry." Hermione offered seriously.

Those nearest, conveniently most of her friends and family, stood staring and a little shocked to see Hermione. Harry was the first to move, without caution for the massive magical bird watching the scene with sharp eyes, he surged forward and hugged Hermione tight. It seemed to break a spell then as others milled over. Minerva, Molly, Ginny, Ron, Neville, Fleur and Bellatrix and even Luna came over all taking their turns in hugging the brunette witch.

"I'm so glad you're back. We missed you so much." Harry said finally.

"Yeah? I missed you all too. I'm so glad you're all alright." Hermione spoke as Bellatrix squeezes her.

"We are so sorry." Ginny blurted but Hermione smiled.

"We will talk about it later, for now let's get this mess cleaned up? Lay our dead to peace." Hermione sighed softly, she had hoped to be here sooner. The sombre situation seemed to sink in again and they began to work at gathering their dead and processing the Death Eaters that had been captured or surrendered.

Firstly, I couldn't kill Dobby, he's a weird looking little dude sure but he was pivotal really for Cannon so he gets to live here. I thought about saving Snape but meh, as good as he could have been for Hermione he was just a bad guy in general, he just went about things wrong. Never did like Albus so away with him.

The Malfoy's and Bellatrix wont be getting off scott free, they still did some bad shit and made their bed in the first place.

I don't intend to make Harry/Hermione/Ron/Ginny as tight as they used to be. Hermione will likely be forgiving but she's been away for almost a year and learned and grown without them.

Yes that is Newts Frank with Hermione. Let me know if there is anywhere with some more detailed info on Thunderbirds otherwise i completely intend to make some stuff up for them to suit my story and Franks involvement.

Hermione and Fleur will be End Game how ever I don't plan for them to get together immediately. They're on the right track but they need to build up to it more i think and Fleur needs to learn who this new Hermione is.

Last for this chapters AN... Future Bellatrix/Luna; Yes or No?