The Dark Lioness

Chapter 2

McGonagall manor was as silent as it has been for the past several years. Ever since Dumbledore betrayed the head of the clan's trust,the manor had been left abandoned. Not even the insects or rodents have touched the house,knowing the misery that took place 15 years ago.

Minerva flooed home after a stressful day of meetings to hear the beautiful laughter of her child and mate. Following the melody she stopped at the doorway and looked in. There on the floor laid her goddess of a wife, Catriona, cradling a year old Hermione. Minerva stayed silent as she saw Catriona pull Hermione up and sat in front of the grand piano. Hermione loved it when one of her parents would sing to her. It was rare that Catriona would sing to their daughter but when she did, it was a spellbinding melody.

Hermione watched as her Mother smiled at her before playing the first notes. Catriona's slim fingers swept across the keys hitting them all in time. As the notes continued Catriona began the melody that accompanied the instrumentals. Her voice sounded across the room filing the house. Minerva closed her eyes images of their time together and as a family swept into her mind. As the final note ended Minerva slowly opened her eyes, slowly walking towards her beloved girls. Catriona smiled at her and picked up a sleeping Hermione. The couple began to walk out of the room when a wailing sound pierced the peaceful spell.

Hermione woke up and began looking around. Catriona and Minerva began piling wards against the front door. Minerva placed a spell to protect and hide Hermione from the intruders. She placed her down and demanded for the house elf to hide her.

The houself led hermione into the invasion room. The two sat there waiting to see what would happen. 

After half an hour of silence the door burst open revealing a man neither had ever seen before. The man had a long black hair matching black eyes. He sneered the elf before a flash of green caught hermione's attention. When she looked she saw her mother collapse into her máthair's arms. The man saw the girl distracted and killed the elf before Hermione's world went black.

Minerva fell to the floor with Catriona in her arms. She turned and saw the last of the men stood in front of her dead elf and daughter. She sent a curse at the man,who she once considered a friend of sorts. She sprinted to her daughter and apperated to several different places around the country before dropping of her daughter at a muggle house with the box she had.

Minerva apperated outside of the gates that led up to her family manor. She sighed deeply before walking up to the manor. She looked around the once glorious grounds and shook her head before opening the front door. Glancing at the foyer she sighed before walking towards the room where her daughter once slept. Her eyes clouded with tears as she looked around the untouched room. As she stepped towards the cot her heart fluttered as she saw the little stuffed Opinicus and Chimera. With shaking hands she picked up the toys and vowed she would find her daughter if it was the last thing she ever did.

It was the first of September and the Weasleys,Harry and Hermione all walked up to the Hogwarts express. All students looked at Hermione as she walked through the platform. Her head was held high as she ignored all of the students and parents alike as she climbed onto the express. She found an empty compartment ignoring the Weasleys as they had just had a large argument. Placing her stuff on the seat she sent them ahead of the others using the spell she had created during third year.

After that was finished she walked into the prefect carriage and waited for the others. After fifteen minutes she began to get bored. She pulled out her ornament she always carried on her since she read the letter. A small Opinicus. She stared at it for a while before summoning a small needle and pricking her index finger. She smeared the blood onto the ornament before she cast a spell onto it. The last few times she had attempted to do this it had not worked. She waited and was surprised when the ornament grew slightly and began to breathe. The small creature blinked at her before chirping. She smiled and waited as the creature climbed onto her shoulder.