A/N: Hello again and welcome to Chapter 3

First of all, I want to say that there will be many descriptions in this chapter. Unfortunately, they are rather important for this story, and at one point I needed to introduce you to them.

Secondly, I must say that I was shocked by the response this story has gotten so far (in a very positive way ^^). I truly want to thank you for leaving so many reviews, as well as following and favouriting this story.

Regarding your fantastic reviews I wanted to comment on a few:

Hermionefan01: I am also looking forward, to the cunning part and in the next chapters, she will start to weave her web.

Creid12: We will meet Rodolphus and Bellatrix soon, and Hermione's reaction to them will be entirely unexpected.

kpop1392as: The relationship between Arcturus and Hermione will reach another level soon when they start to conspire.

Guest: I must admit that I was a little surprised since I was trying to portrait Arcturus as resigned to the fact that his line is dying. I can promise that as soon as he leaves his depressed state, there will be some Walburga.

Guest: Who will be saved? Who will be lost? I believe at this point anything is possible ... I am personally not a big fan of saving anyone since it allows for little drama. For now, I will take Hermione as an example and keep my card close to myself.

Guest: When reading the review about access to the Lestrange vault, I wondered whether Hermione actually needs him to do so? I don't know yet, but I'll think about it ^^

Chapter 3:

13thNovember 1980, Black Ancestral Home, Winter Living Quarters Hermione carefully descended down the balcony, she hadn't noticed the staircase hidden behind the enormous wisteria. She slowly approached the slightly back-set doubled door. According to Melania, no one had lived here since Ankaa had passed. She carefully opened the doors, surprised that they gave in rather easily.

She entered a large room, carefully lightening a candle. For a moment she was startled by the eerie reflections and the light play on her right before she noticed that the walls must be made up of glass, probably connected to the solarium. Since the glass was totally covered by greenery from the outside, she couldn't see anything. Once more, glad that Melania had secretly directed her to the stash of old family wands. She cast a 'lumus maximus'. She took in the room when she had asked Arcturus for these quarters, she had held the slight fear that it might be like Grimmauld's place, reeking of magical residue and animal excrements.

It was stuffy and broken, but as of now, she couldn't make out any sign that it was inhabited by any form of insect. This room must have been a beautiful sitting room, various sitting areas located in the room. One close to the window, a second around the beautiful rustic looking fireplace. She noted one door in the back. It was only held by a single hinge, she made sure to fix it properly before going through it.

It led her to an approximately three-metre wide hallway. No portraits hung on the wall, but beautiful paintings depicted flowers in full bloom. She smiled softly, hitting one with a cleansing charm. She laughed it featured a Hermione rose. She held her wand higher, one end of the floor turned out to be leading towards another double door. Most likely the formal entrance. Melania had mentioned one, on the other end led a staircase upstairs. She frowned for a moment, before heading towards the double doors deciding to go from the 'official' entrance. She opened the first door on her left. It led towards a study. She had been aware that she was on the ground floor, yet she was surprised to find that the wall-high windows let into an atrium. It appeared that come daytime, most of the manor must be well lit with actual daylight, why hadn't she noticed before? She halted a moment at the bookshelves noting that, none of the books seemed to have a title, thoughtfully pulling one out, she was surprised to find it filled with neat handwriting. She continued curious about what else she would find. Skipping the door to her right well aware that it would lead to the place she had come from and chose the second door on her left. Finding herself in a room that somehow reminded her of a florist's place.

One part entirely lined with granite worktables a nook allowing her entrance into a scarily well-stocked potion ingredient storage. A question started to pop up in her mind. Who was Ankaa Black? She stepped back, taking in the far wall of the room containing at least six brewing stations. She slowly turned to the same wall-high windows, suddenly she saw the atrium in a different light, awareness dawning on her. She nonchalantly opened the door stepping outside. After looking around for a while, she found her suspicion to be true. She carefully pulled away some branches and stared down at the outdoor brewing station. This place had been used to allow the moon-phases to influence the potions. She had never thought of it before, but it was actually quite genius. Many potions were expensive because they had to be brewed in the light of the full moon, by that being a risk for the potion master. In an atrium surrounded by tons of brick wall, the risk was close to zero. She chuckled, returning inside, not wanting to know for what else this place might have been used. She purposefully left the laboratory and stepped to the last room on the floor, closest to the staircase, easy to oversee. Inside she found neatly filled rows of books, skimming the titles, it turned out to contain an amazingly extensive collection of tomes featuring plants, herbology, potion ingredients, brewing and not that surprising after her earlier discovery information about the lunar cycle.

Quite solemn about the possible contents of the second floor, Hermione faced the staircase, which was in her opinion a piece of art in itself, instead of finding an open space at the top. She found herself in front of yet another set of large double doors. If she actually decided to stay down here, she would probably remove those in the near future. She inhaled deeply before turning the doorknob. Yes, she would definitely get rid of them.

She turned on her own axis, it was a studio like room, ancient easels and covered frames betraying its former use. She slowly continued into the room and to the glass, staring down. She could identify the slightest trace of the sky. Once those rooms were able to be lived in again, she needed to finish sorting out the solarium.

Herbology and Gardening wasn't something she had enjoyed before, how come it did this time. She also needed to hit the library and do a thorough to-do-list, and a timeline, and she probably should focus on the task at hand, meaning that it was necessary to finish looking around. She allowed her eyes to skim the solarium once more, she was now convinced that she would probably find one or two rather dangerous things down there and somewhere was hopefully a door to the actual garden.

She returned her gaze to the inside, for some reason this place had been neglected. She returned to the opposite wall and opened the first of three doors, finally a bedroom, and it must have been beautiful. She slowly stepped further inside. Opening yet another door leading into a bathroom reminding her of the one she had received, so far unsurprising. She opened the second door, predictably walking into a walk-in-closet and was shocked to find it well stocked with robes. She carefully opened the first drawer of the first dresser. She smiled as she touched the neatly folded aprons, some obviously designed to keep dirt away, others clearly made from dragon hide. It must have been the working cloth dresser since the last drawer was filled with a variety of comfortable yet feminine looking leather boots. She turned to the vanity, paling as she picked up a letter addressed to Hermione Astra Black.

Her body started trembling on his own accord, she could actually feel her blood leaving her brain, disappearing somewhere in her feet. Goosebumps formed on her skin. Ankaa Black, hadn't been ill. In contrast, she had been very much alive, and she had known that one day Hermione would come to this place. Her thoughts raced at an uncomfortable pace, she didn't seem to have an ill will against her. As fast as the panic had come it left her, studying the room again, she suddenly felt a sense of peace.

She didn't know why she trusted the words written so long ago, but somehow the reassurance that nothing in these quarters was cursed and the house-elves and family was banned from entering for so long that no one remembered the reason why was reassuring. She slowly stepped towards another dresser, pulling out the drawer. It took away her breath there on deep black satin, was the most beautiful jewellery she had ever laid eyes on. She slowly closed the drawer, trying to collect herself. She pulled out a few of the dresses, and they seemed indeed rather timeless. She quickly left the room, to enter into the last. For the lack of a better word, it was a storage room. She promptly skimmed the shelves, identifying a medieval-looking sewing machine, and she wasn't quite sure whether it was an actual coincidence, a stack of books containing cleaning and household charms. She slowly shook herself, she needed to clear her mind before she chose to do anything.

She carefully made her way to the kitchen, thoughtfully selecting some tea, while the water started to boil. Some whispers behind her started to draw her attention. Her fingers flexed around her wand, preparing herself. She slowly turned, releasing her breath at once.

"Tippy … Merlin, you surprised me." The house-elf bowed deeply.

"Tippy is sorry Missy 'Mione." The elf quickly looked to her left, shuffling from her left to her right leg. Hermione's brows furrowed subconsciously "Tippy, and Mell and Gill and Lora wondered, if now Missy 'Mione is here, as Missy Phoenix said, we can clean rooms for Missy 'Mione."

It took a moment to register. "You want to clean my rooms?" The elf nodded vigorously as three more elves appeared behind the counter mimicking Tippy's behaviour, looking almost … exited at the prospect.

Suddenly she felt unsure "I don't think…" The tiniest elf of the quartet, Lora she thought, stepped forward, almost stumbling over her feat. "We clean only, Missy sorts through all the thingys, and we talk and laugh and bond." It was this moment she asked herself truly for the first time, who was in charge in wizard-elf relationships.

"Fine …" she heard herself saying, before being hugged by tiny arms, accompanied by high pitched squeals that appeared out of nowhere. She slowly let out a sigh of relieve as Gill clapped her hands. "We start right now." Hermione raised an eyebrow, as with a pop she stood right in the middle of the bedroom.

"We shall start here. Lora and Tippy will start cleaning, and yous tell me what to keep and what to do away, and Gill will get rid of it." It sounded almost like an order, and so it happened that Hermione once again started to go through the closet.

oOo

Ted Tonks observed his new niece as she slowly approached the piano, allowing her fingers to trace the keys. She slowly glided onto the bench, pressing single keys before adding a second hand. Not a single hum escaped her lips, but he knew the song, and his heart clenched as he recognised the familiar tunes of Whitney Houston's "Didn´t we almost have it all… when love was all, we had worth giving" He was sure that even if he wanted he couldn´t have left his position. He noticed tears glittering on her cheeks and just like that he pulled her into an embrace, as she cried and cried.

"Come on." Ted said quietly. "It is time for a walk." She looked at him curiously as he handed her a thick coat accompanied by a mismatched pair of gloves and an even scarier purple and yellow scarf.

He grinned mischievously as they walked out and into the cold winter scenery. The sun was bright, frosty air tickling her skin. A smile crept over her face as she saw the white shimmering of frost on the trees and the small clouds her breath was leaving in the air. After a few minutes of content walking, Mione spoke whole-heartedly. "Thank you, Ted."

He smiled. She felt as if the wind was carrying her sorrows away, taking a walk she thought, such a mundane thing, such a normal thing, something muggles did all the time to clear their heads. It reminded her of long Sunday walks with her parents and holidays when after the traditional churchgoing her grandparents would join them. Her nose and cheeks were turning red, and her eyes glittered as peace spread through her limbs.

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people, for an extraordinary destiny."A flicker of recognition flitted over her face, she responded immediately. "C. ." He nodded.

"I learned that sharing things forces us to take a different perspective to them …" She shook her head sharply.

"Trust me, Ted, you don´t want to know." She watched him tilting his head and buried her hands deeper in her pockets.

"I was a normal girl, well as normal as a thirsty-for-knowledge-bookworm can get. Knowledge was my life force, it was one of the reasons I didn´t really fit in at the muggle school. … I received my letter and Professor … on the train I met those boys Harry ... you are not surprised because many things haven´t happened yet… I again didn´t fit in, no friends … I hid in the washroom … troll … Sorcerer´s stone … Harry had nasty relatives, I was so worried for him … those idiots used a flying car to get to school … Harry spoke parsel … a Basilisk … I was petrified … Sirius Black was known as a mass murderer I probably shouldn´t tell you this … he spent twelve years in Azkaban … Dementors were ever present … Hogsmeade … Time Turner … Malfoy was attacked by a hippogriff, Buckbeak … we found out that Black was innocent … Pettigrew disappeared again … saved Buckbeak and Sirius … death eater incident at the world cup … dark mark … Triwizard tournament … Harry fourth champion … unforgivables on spiders ! … Dragons and mermaids and the labyrinth … portkey … Voldemord´s resurrection … no one believed it, they said that Harry was fame-hungry and made it all up … the Order of the Phoenix was reinstated … Walburga´s old house … nightmare … High inquisition of Hogwarts Umbridge … pink toad … rules … no practical training only theory … detention … blood quills … awful time … Inquisitional Squad … defence group … you see, it was punishable by expulsion to be with more than three people at the time … we were over twenty … and we got caught … Harry dreamt of attacks … mind link to Voldemort … Arthur Weasley … department of mysteries … looking back it was a bad idea … thestrals to London … prophecy … death eaters … fight … he came everyone saw him, the ministry could no longer deny it, he was back … Sirius died that night … the elf had lied … Horace Slughorn returned … with him the parties … the whole atmosphere was different, everyone knew, mistrust, fear … Dumbledore gave Harry lessons officially in alchemy, I was so angry since I was the only one who actually wanted to learn it … the worked out Voldemort's past … Dumbledore had delivered the letter himself … the boy knew no home but Hogwarts … his name was Tom Marvolo Riddle, a half-blood … he had created Horcruxes … They retrieved one out of a cave … returned to Hogwarts … Battle of the Astronomy Tower … to cut it short, Malfoy junior had fixed the vanishing cabinet in the room of requirements, allowing the death eaters entrance, the order came there was a battle, Dumbledore fell … all the way down the astronomy tower … we didn´t return to Hogwarts … Snape became headmaster … death eaters were teaching … no good time … we Harry, Ron and I went Horcrux hunting … we already had the diary and the ring … the locket was a fake … Voldemort took over ministry … I was regarded as the undesirable No 2 … broke into ministry … retrieved locket … broke into Gringotts … escaped on a dragon, yes they really do have dragon´s down there … we lived in the woods … you see no one was safe every muggle-born and some half-bloods were chased they all lived in the wild … they had the Snatchers who were hunting those … they snatched us, took us to Malfoy Manor … Bellatrix was cruel … you can´t see the scars anymore, but I will never forget what she did to me … we escaped … Dobby, the house elf … went to Hogwarts … battle of Hogwarts … let´s just stick to many died, it was gruesome and a massacre and we lost … I … my godson´s parents died in battle … I went to his grandmother´s … I was there for less than an hour when Bellatrix decided to rip the shame from her family tree. She killed Teddy so fast. Greyback held me while she tortured Andromeda to death." Ted inhaled sharply, his body had started to shake. Hermione gripped his hand. "They kept me as a prisoner of war … a slave and I was treated as such … I somehow got away and ran as fast as I could … I was so ready to die, I am so done with pain and loss and suffering … I was sure I was dead and then I open my eyes, and I am just in a different nightmare, destined to go through it again …"

Ted held her hand tightly. After a while, he found his voice. "You know, you were never supposed, to live through all that. I know it is hard to see this as a second chance, but try not to lose yourself." He closed his eyes briefly. "You thirsted for knowledge, try to remember the feeling, slowly find a subject that you like, that you want to learn because it catches your interest not because not-knowing will kill you. You said you used to be a plain girl, a Muggle-born. There is nothing wrong with neat and tidy clothing and a little make-up and nail polish, but try to be yourself, save some for the special occasions. If it helps you to feel better buy some jeans."

She tilted her head "I always had a weakness for the classics." Ted got up, still holding her hand. "I know just the place."

oOo

She eyed the building curiously 'The reader´s refuge' stood there in faded gold letters. From outside it appeared to be more of a …, well it didn´t look like a normal book shop. They entered, and Ted grinned down at her. Everywhere in the room were bookshelves arranged most crazily and randomly, creating small reading corners, filled with the most comfortable looking armchairs. This was nothing like the Hogwarts library, and the low ceiling made it even cosier.

Ted pulled her to the back of the … was it a shop? They found themselves in front of a counter, which was occupied by a slim girl with a high, blond ponytail. "Hello, Ted, same as always." He nodded, placing his hands on Hermione´s shoulders "and a hot chocolate. Thanks, Mary" She smiled as he handed her a note, before guiding his charge to a blind corner, with many plush chairs.

She leaned back in her chair, taking in every detail of the place as three cups were placed on the table and a tall person joined them in the armchair triangle. She tilted her head, he had pitch black hair tied at the nape of his neck and silver-grey eyes, his figure, if dressed slightly different, would be aristocratic. It came to her in an instant, this man was a Black. It was the moment that she noted that his eyes reflected the same curiosity as hers.

"Marius please meet my niece Hermione, Hermione please meet your great-granduncle Marius." Marius' eyebrows rose high in surprise. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir" Hermione stated, holding out her hand. Marius nodded shaking it, he noted his mistake as soon as he let go of her hand, but she didn´t seem to be offended by his lack of etiquette.

"You are … Bellatrix daughter?" Her gaze moved quickly to Ted, who nodded "The story is Alphard´s daughter." He nodded "I see."

"She´s got a little too much of the Black insanity, and it will only get worse." Hermione stated so bluntly that both men were for a moment speechless.

"We recently discovered that Hermione has a weakness for the classics." Ted announced. "Anything specific." Marius smiled his whole posture brightening. She smiled "The Little Prince." If it was possible, his smile only got wider "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this way, young Lady." Hermione jumped up following his fast strides.

Hermione loved Marius in an instant, he was amazing to talk to …

"Elisabeth was willing to settle for a man she didn´t love, namely Fitzwilliam." Hermione shook her head

"She hoped that they could find love, knowing that they had a basis of respect and possibly friendship." Marius sighted.

"He wouldn´t marry her …" She jumped up "Because he couldn´t! He needed a woman who brought money into the relationship." He grinned

"She was extremely stubborn though she was intelligent and refused two men because she deemed herself better."

"Wrong, wrong, wrong. She refused the first because he was her cousin! Which is a reasonable decision, you know Walburga, besides he was a git and the other basically told her that he hated himself for loving her! I wouldn´t agree to such an arrangement either!"

"It was stubbornness Mi, she regretted sending Darcy away, it was pure luck he asked her again, not many men would do that." Ted injected.

"That isn´t stubbornness, it´s insecurity." She responded, throwing up her hands.

"No, she was arrogant, look how she treated her mother and far to blunt and direct, look at the way how she refused the proposals. She believed herself better than the rest of her sisters and was fuelled in that believe by her father." Hermione fell silent as Marius continued.

"She was too emotional, I am not saying emotional is bad, but life would have been far easier if she had simply tried to give everyone a chance. It wasn´t like she was incapable of that, especially if you look at the Wickham incident."

Hermione spoke up. "I was like that, my last time around. I wanted so desperately to fit in. I knew every course book by hard. I was blunt and direct and with that insulting. I sat in class, and my finger was pointing at the ceiling all the time. I knew every answer, and when I tried to help others, I couldn´t find a way I didn´t sound arrogant." Marius didn´t interrupt her. "I was horrible, I believe it got better after some time."

He furrowed his eyebrows, which ten-year-old was as reflected, now that he thought about it, which ten-year-old could hold a philosophical discussion over the behaviour of Jane Austen characters. He tilted his head inspecting her closer. She definitely had Bellatrix hair though more in an Andromeda-brown than Bellatrix-black and definitely Rodolphus eyes, that bright shining amber. Hermione covered her face with her hands, as she noticed her slip-up. She slowly lowered them. "I guess it doesn't matter anyway, with you knowing about my parents." She inhaled slowly. "I don´t know the real story, but there was an ancient blood ritual, Rodolphus used to keep me safe from Bellatrix, and I grew up in … well … I went to Hogwarts in '91. The war started again after being dormant for a decade and we fought, we simply didn´t realise it. I died in '99 and then I was here. The rest is pure speculation." Marius nodded. "I will keep your secret."

She smiled "I always wanted a huge family, maybe we can make that happen." He smiled sadly. "That would be truly wonderful … Hermione, will you one day tell me the whole story." She slowly shook her head. " Ted is convinced that I need to return from war-mode and find joy in small things. I want to do that."

His eyes glittered "I have the book for you." He handed her an old yellowish copy, and Hermione started to laugh from the bottom of her heart, it was a joyful sound and tears started glistering her eyes. She laughed and laughed, and Ted and Marius stared at her in shock. She couldn´t stop, she couldn´t remember when had been the last time she had laughed that hard. After a while, she quieted " Would you read it to me?" She asked, seeming so young at that moment. Marius nodded, taking the book from her. "Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank …" – Alice´s Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)

Hermione was asleep before Marius had reached the second chapter. He smiled at her and covered her with a woollen blanket, before turning to Ted. "She had a hard day." Ted shook his head.

"She had a hard life." The two men stared at her " Tell me everything." Marius stated. "You will have to swear an oath" Ted replied. Marius looked at his family's youngest for a very long time, he felt drawn to her, but then he had had a rather hard time entering the mundane world, he could imagine that the other way around must have been equally hard. He looked at Ted he had known the boy, well man for a very long time, he had turned out quite alright. He had a feeling that she would do great things.

oOo

Andromeda grinned at her niece, she approached her from behind trying to balance Nymphadora on her hips, while making a noise. "What are you doing?" to her utter frustration, Hermione had again not even flinched, a mischievous glimmer sparkling in the young girl's eyes. "You know I can feel, your magical core" Andromeda let out an annoyed huff.

"Honestly, what is the point of sending you to Hogwarts next year. You are already as skilled as one could be, most likely capable of sitting your NEWTs anytime. You are an occlumens and almost as good as Aurors come these days!"

Hermione smiled while petting her aunt's arm "I love you to Dromeda, though I do think that I will need to find something to occupy my time … What do you think about animagi?" Andromeda rolled her eyes, changing the subject. "What were you doing anyway?"

"That my lovely aunt is an excellent question. I came to borrow your kitchen for a while." Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "Last time I checked the manor had a fully-functioning, well-equipped kitchen." Hermione grinned, tilting her head. "And do tell, what were you doing in the cooking paradise?"

"I guess you'll never know." Hermione laughed. "Well to answer your question, there is one thing that your kitchen has that the manor doesn't." Disbelief was on Andromeda's face. "Peace and Quiet."

"She must have trouble with her head if she believes you to be a quiet, Nymphadora." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Peace and quiet from interfering house-elves, whose wishes I simply cannot decline."

"Blasphemy, Hermione. I shall write to Arcturus and have you removed from the family tree."

"I wasn't aware that they added me." Hermione mused. "You bet they did."

"Dora you want to help me." The six-year-old nodded vigorously. "Ok, let's do this."

oOo

3rdDecember 1980 Potter Manor, Devon (A/N I am aware that Sirius actual birthday is a month earlier, but for the sake of this story it will be the name date) Sirius leaned back in the armchair, just for a minute observing his cheerful and happy surrounding. His eyes fell on Dorea and Charlus sitting relaxed in one corner drinking tea. He had to remember to thank them later, for hosting this. His gaze moved to James laughing about something Marlene must have said, he watched how Remus turned bright red as James clapped him on the back. He saw Lily slowly shaking her head and was about to join his friends once more as a house-elf popped in.

" , package arrived for yous." Everyone quieted. Who the hell would send him a package, everyone that mattered to him was right in this room, he furrowed his eyebrows. He stepped closer and watched as Lily probed the package with her wand, she slowly shook her head. "I cannot detect an ounce of magic on it." She shrugged her shoulders. "Not even the wrapping, whatever it is, it is nothing magical and whoever send this even wrapped it manually."

For a moment everyone seemed caught up in thought as Sirius opened the package, to everyone´s astonishment, it held nothing dangerous but a cake. A grin spread over his face as he levelled his eyes with it. It was amazing. It was covered in something that looked like a dark blue wrinkled tablecloth and on it was very distinctly marked what looked like star constellations, two he recognised as canis major and minor. Yet that was not the best part, and Sirius smile grew even wider as he inspected the three-dimensional black dog on the cake. It looked like it had circled the whole cake as it contained evenly spread pawprints. He heard one of his friends mutter how someone could create something like that without magic and was fairly certain to hear Lily say something like "art, time, fondant and sugar paste" but he didn´t listen.

He was flashed at the best birthday cake ever, as Dorea´s voice pulled him from his thoughts "Well, is there a card or anything…" He noted Alice going through the wrapping picking up a simple cream coloured slip of stiff parchment. He nodded indicating that she should read it out:

Dear Sirius,

I genuinely hope that you enjoy your day, with the people you love. Happy Birthday.

-H.

His eyebrows rose as Peter voiced the obvious question. "Who´s H?" Everyone stared at Sirius as he shrugged his shoulders "No idea." He stated. The room fell quiet ones more. His thoughts racing, who did he know, whose name started with an H. "Who do you know whose name started with an H?" James asked curiously. "Who do I know, whose name starts with an H and is capable of creating something like that the muggle way?" James cleared his throat "If there is no magic detectable, we should be safe to eat it." Lily looked at him. "It could be poisoned, the muggle way." Sirius turned the card in his hands. Somehow, he knew it wasn´t poisoned and with those thoughts he cut the cake, taking, to everyone´s surprise, the first bite. He smiled "This is perfect."

ooOoo

AN: Thank you so much for reading. I love to get reviews, so please feel free to leave one, or PM me.

Thank you, again.

- Amiliana