Summary: Hermione's parents have died during her sixth year at Hogwarts. When she returns to school, she won't tell her friends what happened or even talk to them at all. But will she confide in her worst enemy at school? And will there be a change of house for Hermione in her seventh year?
A/N: Well...right, my first HP fanfic. I've read plenty, but I hadn't any ideas till now, and I really like this oneD Hope you like it too--and, review or I kill!
Disclaimer: HP is owned by J. K. Rowling, and the song is "I Am A Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel--isn't it perfect for this fic?
Alone
Chapter 1: Silence
A winter's day
I am a rock
I've built walls
I am a rock
Don't talk of love
I am a rock
I have my books
I am a rock
In a deep and dark December
I am alone
Gazing from my window
To the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow
I am an island
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need for friendship
Friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am an island
Well, I've heard the word before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber
Of feelings that have died
If I'd never loved,
I never would have cried
I am an island
And my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room
Safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am an island
And the rock feels no pain
And an island never cries
Hermione sat dazedly on the Hogwarts Express, alone in an empty cabin with her despair. She huddled into the corner, biting her lip and forcing herself not to cry. It was the end of the Christmas holidays of her sixth year, and she dreaded going back to Hogwarts, meeting Harry and Ron, who'd stayed there as usual, and the general cheerfulness of it all.
Of course, she'd never normally feel that way, but since her parents had died, her heart had been numbed with sorrow. It'd been a car crash—a heavy cargo truck had skidded and slammed sideways into their small car. Hermione had been at home while it happened, working on her Potions essay, and didn't know till an hour afterwards. She'd arrived at the hospital only to hold her father's hand while he told her he loved her, then was gone.
She stayed at the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the vacation. She spoke no more than two words to anyone, but no one seemed to notice. Now, when it was time to return to Hogwarts, no one noticed either.
The train jolted to a halt, and after several minutes, Hermione arose from her forlorn musings with a start, gathering together her things and making her way towards the Thestral-drawn carriages. Now, she could see them just as Harry could, and felt as if it were a misplaced honor.
Hermione made her way to the first empty carriage she spotted and climbed into it, albeit lacklusterly. She once again made her way to the corner, the shadows of her face blending into ones of the carriage. Just as she though it was about to start, another person climbed in: Draco Malfoy.
He appeared not to perceive her presence, all but collapsing into the bench across from her. But, just as the Thestrals made way, he did, his face contorting slightly as he immediately pushed himself into the opposite corner.
"Granger," he spat out, as if saying "Mudblood."
"Malfoy," she returned, expressionlessly quiet. He seemed to be surprised at the absence of her regular hostility, and his eyes flicked to her several times during the journey, which seemed to take much longer than usual.
The carriage shakily drew to a stop. Both Hermione and Malfoy got up at once, their knees colliding. Malfoy pushed past her, shoving her back into the seat with an elbow. She winced and got up again, hurrying into the school and the Gryffindor common room.
Harry and Ron saw her at once, but she didn't want to talk to them, of all people, and especially not now. So she strode, past their astonished faces, up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.
"Hermione!" she heard Harry call anxiously, and saw Ron, without thinking, put his foot on the stairs just as she got off on the sixth years' floor. Of course, the stairs turned into their 'danger—boys' slide, and Ron landed on his bottom, not for the first time. This even made Hermione smile slightly, which she hadn't done for weeks, but she quickly went into her dorm, where she didn't have friends to remind her of things best left unsaid.
But she hadn't considered the girls in lower years than she. Ginny and Luna came in as she was looking through her trunk, and when she saw who it was, she kept her face down, not trusting herself to look at their worried eyes.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny asked concernedly. "It's not like you to brush off Harry and Ron like that—and you haven't even seen them for weeks!"
Hermione sighed. "Look, Ginny, I don't want to talk about it, okay?" she said softly. "Just tell Harry and Ron not to talk to me until I talk to them, please?"
Ginny conceded, however unwillingly. She knew, however, that when Hermione made up her mind, she wouldn't budge. Rather like her brother in that aspect, she thought.
Hermione walked into the Great Hall on Sunday, her second day back. She had just found her favorite picture of her parents at the bottom of her trunk and her eyes were red and puffy. She was glad she had made it to the Great Hall before Ron and Harry—she still didn't think she could face them. So she gobbled down the food, which was somehow tasteless, and headed towards the library, her only hiding place.
She was entering the library when someone bumped against her and her bag, with the homework she'd never finished, spilled onto the floor. That someone bent down with her and helped gather her things. Hermione glanced up and was immeasurably shocked.
Why would he ever help her?
End of Chapter 1
A/N: Well, it's done. The first chappie, I mean. Not much of a cliffie, but I tried! Heh...yeah, I know it's short, but it's like an intro. I'll make the next one longer, I promise!
I'm not sure if I displayed Hermione's emotions right; I mean, I've never experienced something like that. Will probably be updated soon(depends on YOU), this chapter may change(like be edited and stuff) a lot, and I'll reply to any reviews in the next chapter. Oh, and did I mention: REVIEW OR DIE(prepare to be attacked by my rubber mallet...)!! 5 reviews till I post the next chapter, even if I've written it already.