Prologue

At the end of their fifth year, Hermione and her friends boarded the train.

She sat with her friends in one of the compartments, talking and playing

games. She had no idea that this summer would be one of change. She didn't

know that her Mum and Dad couldn't care less if she came home or not.

When the train finally stopped, she hugged her friends and told them to

write. When she came through the

barrier and found her parents waiting for her, she noticed they didn't look

happy to see her. "Hi mum and dad, I missed you guys" she greeted them. Her

parents said nothing at first. Finally her mum spoke

"Its too bad you couldn't stay at school for the summer or with one of your

friends."

Shocked, Hermione quickly tried to cover up her hurt with a forced smile.

On the way home in the car, her mum turned around to talk to her. "Oh yeah,

we have some news that we felt it would be better to tell you when you came

home so we didn't write to you.

What news? Hermione thought. "What is it, mum?" asked Hermione. "Well, my

sister, your aunt Lavenia passes away two weeks ago." her mother replied

bluntly. Hermione was shocked. How could they keep that from her, she may

have not been close to her aunt but it wasn't right for her parents to keep

that a secret. "Mum! how could you keep this from me for two weeks?!" she

practically yelled.

"Well, there's more. Your cousin Hanna is living with us now." It became

quiet. Great thought Hermione. Hanna was three years younger than her and

they had never been the best of friends. She thought Hermione was weird when

she had found out what kind of school Hermione attended. She also had made

up lies to Hermione's old friends from her muggle saying, saying that

Hermione was crazy and had been sent away to get help.

"Well isn't that nice." Hermione said sarcastically.

"Yes it is. Hanna's a darling, she cleans her room and gets perfect

grades,," replied her mother. She kept on about what a joy it was to have

Hanna live with them.

"Ok, mum. I get it she's great and you wish I hadn't come home right?"

"Oh Hermione you're just jealous." her father admonished her. It was the

first thing he said since she had been picked up.

So this is how the first week of summer went. Hermione came home to find

that Hanna had been given her room. Her smiling parents said "We fixed up

the study for you, Sweetie" Hermione was so angry when she had walked in to

Hanna's room without knocking and found her sitting at her desk working on

some summer school homework.

"Hey, you cant just come in with out knocking!" Hanna yelled.

"Well this used to be my room until you moved in and took over." Hermione

bit back angrily. She was so mad and hurt by her parents had done.

She felt like screaming and crying but she didn't.

For the whole first week Hanna did everything to get her in trouble. She

accused Hermione of taking her homework and hiding it, and of taking her

clothes and anything else she thought might get Hermione in trouble. Finally

Hermione had had enough. She'd packed her stuff and moved in with her friend

of hers, Hale who was a muggle but understood what Hermione was going

through. Hermione soon started hanging out with Hale and her friends. Hale

was two years older than her and they had met at a party over the summer a

few years ago. Hale and her friends were kind of wild as they went to night

clubs and showed fake id's. After hanging out with them and all the hurt

from what her parents had done, Hermione started to change but not for the

better.