Book 1

A Lost Soul

Prelude

Parting of ways

Hermione

After so long, I had finally made the decision that the magical world had grown to be too much of a burden. After 6 years of school, I was left wanting a new life. My teachers had argued against it of course, what few friends I had objected and told me they would miss me, but the only thing I would really miss, was my mother.

"Are you sure about this, dear?" She had asked me, "You'll be living a lie, there is absolutely no magic in Forks, your aunt says she's never seen so much as a garden gnome there,"

"I am sure," I told her firmly. I had been saying that repeatedly like a broken record, determined to make her see that I was able to handle this. Stepping into the muggle world after living away from it for so long, I was more than ready for a little normality.

"Alright, but remember, your uncle…"

"knows nothing about magic," I said patiently.

Yes, my aunt Renee had been very aware of the magical world, not being born with any magical ability herself, she was more than comfortable with it, though she chose to live separately from our world. She would be my only link to the magical world where I was going, though she did request over the phone that I not turn people into frogs. She also liked her jokes.

"Exactly, just be safe, if you ever want to come back home, I'm only an owl away," She told me, as if hoping that I would suddenly change my mind.

"Who knew the day would come that Monica Granger would be terrified of what was going to happen to me." I said with a giggle.

"I just want to know you'll be safe,"

"I will, what's the worst that could happen in a boring old-fashioned American muggle town?"

We both laughed and embraced, airports were not my favourite thing and I would have liked to have travelled in my own way. It would have been much faster and far less inconvenient; muggles tended to be nosey.

This of course was going to be a huge problem when I arrived, from what my Aunt had told me, the entire town was excited by the prospect of having someone new there. It was even more exciting that I was from England, it was easy to think that would give me some edge in making friends. But popularity was never my strong suit, without magic I was just a clumsy clever girl. I was counting on not being noticed what so ever, perhaps there would just be some excitement and then I'd be forgotten about.

The plane ride was a good time to gather my thoughts, I had some letters to read and a few books to help pass the time. I liked reading, and any book I had usually meant I was going to learn something new and useful. I'd decided that I would use my solitude in Forks to practice my skills more. I hadn't decided what career path I wanted to go down, but the best part of this move, was that I would be able to live in the muggle world if I chose to.

I had a whole year to get in touch with my muggle side, my father being a pureblood knew very little about the muggle world. It didn't help that I was never given the chance to meet him, he had died when I was just a few weeks old.

The goal in the long run, was to achieve a level of "normality" and perhaps work towards helping the muggles in some way. I could get a normal job and work my "Magic" behind the scenes in some helpful way.

That all being said, I would first have to get to grips with Forks Washington, a place that was to be my prison and my rebirth all in one.

I say prison because the small town was guarded by a forest 3 times the size of the one that had surrounded my old school. I had done piles of research on the area and was amazed that my Aunt had managed to find the one place in the whole world that yielded no magical connection what so ever. Even in the forest that surrounded the town and the local Native American Reservation, had no magical history. Despite my goal, I had been looking forward to learning a new kind of magic or discovering a new creature that I'd never seen before. That was the hope, but I was left feeling a little disappointed at the completely over the top sense of "normal" that Forks exuded.

I concluded that between my Aunt and Forks, I would have to bring my own style of magical touch to the place. I was determined not to lose myself entirely, being a witch was all I knew and as much as I craved a muggle life, I would not lose my other life.

During the rest of the flight, I had poured through the goodbye letters from friends and old teachers. There had been a sweet letter from my Charms professor and one other, a stern letter from my Transfiguration professor, both wishing me well. It was the final one that I had not expected, a letter from someone who until a few months ago, I suspected to be a traitor.

Dear Miss Granger.

Professor Flitwick informs me that you will be leaving our shores in just a few short days. While this news his highly regrettable to me, I do understand more than most your reasons for wishing to start a new life. Losing Harry is one of my greatest failings as a protector and teacher, It is my deep regret that I should live while he gave his life to protect all of us. Know that his sacrifice will not be in vein and I will, to the best of my ability, continue to run the school you so cherished in his memory and that of the former Head Master. Should you ever need anything, you need only ask, and I will be there to help.

Yours, always.

Severus Snape

I admit that his letter had brought a tear to my eye, for so long he was someone to whom I had hated. He had always been so vile and cruel and yet, now more than anything I could understand why he was angry at the world. I never thought I would come to trust Severus so much and I would do so for the rest of my life. I only wish that I could bring him some relief from his guilt, it was his hand that ended the war and placed him as the new Head Master of my old school.

In the end, even my former best friend couldn't blame him.

There were other letters, some from people I wished I never even met, some that were unexpected and some that just wished to say goodbye. In all my years I never realised I had touched so many people, or perhaps they just felt sorry for me after what had happened. Either way, their wishes were something I would cherish, even if I wanted to forget most of them.

When the plane took off, I internally said goodbye to all that I had loved, all that I learned from and all that still on occasion kept me awake at night. I placed those letters and well-wishers into a special pocket in my backpack and swore that I would never look at them again until I was ready. Reminders were not something I needed right now, mostly because they made me want to turn around and go back home.

Had I known where my life was going to lead now, I perhaps would have turned back, not out of fear or regret, the thought of dying had become common place in my heart, I had almost died for the love of my family, the love of my friends and the freedom of my people.

But never had I considered what it would be like to die in the place of someone I loved so much that it defies reason, surely there was no greater reason to die than that?