Lady Darkness:
A Slytherin's Legacy

Recap: Ginny receives the news that her Mother is once again pregnant, and in her fear of having 'another Ron-Weasley,' an affinity to Dark Magic is shown, and she accidentally kills the baby. Molly barely survives with her life. Meanwhile, the Lovegood Family are thrown into a depression when Seiren Lovegood is killed. Media filter in to get the full details, and Luna is thrown into a void of guilt and hatred.

Hermione moves to France, where she and her Mother become close to the Delacour Family. On their way back from tea, they are ambushed by two Muggles, and Celena freezes up, remembering a very similar scene from her past. Hermione quickly wipes both of them out, marking her first kill. Celena later pulls her daughter aside, and tells her everything about her Father, promising to be a better motherly figure.

Thus concludes the 'Prologue Arc.'

Note: Wow! Who knew it would take me so long just to finish the Prologue! Sorry for the late, late update! Truly! But I've been horribly busy with school and I haven't touched the HP-Verse in months. So, this chapter will probably start of flowing from the Prologue, and somewhere in the middle, abruptly turn in the other direction.

Oh well, now that it's over, I've only got a quick (and by 'quick,' I mean QUICK. It's the shortest chapter I've written so far! Including Prologue, Part 1!) Introductory Chapter to cover, and then we're on to the real story! From now on, this will focus mostly on Hermione. Luna and Ginny will only appear in the Interludes, at least, for the first Arc. So, enjoy!

ARC TIME FRAME: Late 1991 – Early 1992

Arc 1, Introductory Chapter
How Life Changes

Hermione lay on the white-quilted bed, savouring the last few moments she would have in the Manor that she had called home for the past eleven – almost twelve – years. It was strange how she felt, really. It was as if she was simply going through her daily routine, it was almost as if her brain wasn't registering the fact that she was, in fact, moving, despite the last of the cardboard boxes that lay beside her – no, the, it wasn't hers any more – bed.

She could still remember the night that her mother had told her everything about her past. It was an enlightening tale, and one that brought many emotions forth. At first, she was delighted, for she was finally about to unlock a secret that her mother had kept from her (not that she blamed her, because it had been 'for her own safety') but then upon the revelation of whom her father was, Hermione was floored. She was slightly fearful – after all, it wasn't every day that you find out your father was one of the most evil Dark Lords in centuries – but that feeling was quickly overcome by awe at his apparent power.

After all, if you had been told out that your father was one of the greatest wizards of his age (evilness be damned) how would you react? (1) And to find out that he despised Muggles as much as she did, to hear about everything he was made up to be, it was almost like a part of Hermione had been unveiled.

We are so very alike.

What would it have been like if her Father was alive? Would Mother have been different to her? Would her Father have doted on her? Would her childhood have been livelier? Would she be a princess, helping her father rule over the world?

I could've been happy.

Hermione clenched her fists and looked away, trying to keep her temple under control. It wouldn't do her any good if she broke something the day she was supposed to be moving. Despite her mother's constant lessons on control, ever since the day in the alley, her magic had been unnaturally volatile. Unpredictable. Wild.

Bloodthirsty.

Things had changed since Celena's confession. Hermione, who had always been attached to the wonders of books, had spent most of her year practically living, and draining all the knowledge out of the Ravenclaw Library. The library itself was enormous, so much so that the brunette thought that there was no way she'd ever get tired of it. It was so horribly so large that, if it were a boutique, even someone as refined as Madame Delacour would've fainted in awe.

The thought of Madame Delacour, brought Hermione's attention to the blonde Veela that Hermione had slowly begun to consider her best – and perhaps, only – friend. Fleur had been horribly shocked when Hermione had sadly informed her that they were moving to London. In a moment where she'd scrapped her dignified exterior, she'd looked at her with wide eyes and asked her why she was going. She'd get her invitation to Beauxbatons this year, anyway, and that Fleur didn't want her first real friend – one that didn't hang out with her for her looks only – to leave.

Hermione had felt a twinge of guilt, and had reluctantly told her that her mother and she had business to do. Very private stuff, to do with her father. Fleur had gotten the hint. She'd backed off – from past experience, parents were a very touché subject for the brown-eyed girl – but as they'd said their last goodbyes, even she could see the unhappy look in the part-Veela's eyes. The cold glare she'd given all the passerby's that dared look at her. (2)

The façade.

She shook her head. She couldn't think of things like that. She wasn't even remotely sure if she'd ever return to France again. She couldn't burden Fleur with the thoughts of whether she was safe or not.

Nobody could interfere.

The brunette slowly rolled over her bed, quietly picking up her bags and casting one last look towards her room.

Goodbye, France.

"Are you sure you want to do it?"

She caught her mother's eye, and peered at her inquisitively, her honey brown curls framing her porcelain skin. Hermione watched her, carefully, analysing her mother's worried and hesitant expression. She looked away, her fingers curling around knees. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Why the doubt, Mother?

"Hermione," Celena sighed, biting her lip. "I'm being serious. This…this 'plan' of yours…are you positive you want to go through with it? It's not too late to change your mind. I mean, we could always stay here, in France. You could go to Beauxbatons with Fleur, and you'd be perfectly happy-"

You act like you care. You're just scared.

From where she was idly gazing at the car window, Hermione jerked her head upwards, and fixed her mother with a sharp look. "No. I've made my decision already."

Scared of your own past.

"I just don't understand why, you're so adamant on-"

I'm not like you.

"I swore I'd understand my father better." Hermione cut her off, her voice distant, but leaving no room for protest. It was firm, almost angry, and it made her mother recoil in shock. "That I'd finish his legacy. That I'd make him proud of me. I'm not backing out of my vow."

Not now.

Somewhere else, a boy woke up, clutching his forehead. Gritting his teeth in pain, he fumbled to find his glasses. A soft, fluorescent light filtered through the cracks of the door, and he lay back, forcing himself to think of other, more pressing matters.

But, for some reason, Harry James Potter couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom that crawled across his skin.

Something was coming.

(1) Remember, Hermione has an issue with Muggles, so she doesn't care whether Voldemort is a psychopath hell-bent on vengeance, or whatever.

(2) I could make a whole other scene to describe why Fleur becomes so cold to everyone outside of those she knows, but I won't. Hopefully, you'll know by subtle style well enough to recognise that everything I put in here almost always means something. (Intentionally, or not.)

End of Arc 1, Introductory Chapter

Here we go: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I have neglected this story an awful lot, and I apologise a thousand times! I don't have any more excuse that can amend the disappointment that was caused because of my lack-of-update, and even worse, this chapter is hardly what you call 'long.' I had written a paragraph or two a few months earlier, as well as the chapter notes, but I never actually had enough drive to continue typing until now!

Once again: Sorry! Anyway, I know some of you will be surprised that there's even an Introductory Chapter, but I felt it was necessary (so I don't overload Chapter 1.) Anyway, the next chapter is called 'The Beginning of an Act' and that may take some time for me to put up, because I'm still working out the details of it.

The whole "Hogwarts Letter" frustrates me to pieces. Some stories say that the Letters write themselves, and show a person's real name, no matter what. But then, what if they've changed it, legally? So, I'm really annoyed with the whole system (since, as far as I can recall, it mentions nothing about the Letter in the actual books) and I haven't a clue what to do. And the outcome affects "The Plan" a lot (which is why it isn't explained here.)

So, if anybody knows anything about the Hogwarts Letter System (that is FACT, not made up. Fact-based theories, I don't mind either) I would really appreciate it! Otherwise, I'll just have to scrap up something, and I don't want to have to go back and change it if I find out that someone knows the real workings of it.

This Arc will basically follow Canon, with a lot of behind-the-scenes actions. I've always liked the sort of stories that focus on the actual events, and weave their plotlines into it, to make it seem like it was always there, and it was the reason that people acted this way, and so forth. That's vaguely what I'm aiming for. BUT, I will make Hermione different. I mean, it'd be boring if everything was the same, wouldn't it? :)

Anyway, no more babbling! Please review! It was reviews that got me back on track to writing this story, and its reviews that'll help it continue!

Cheers,
Dark Lady