It's cold. So cold. Hermione Granger sat in her taxi gazing out of its windows and into the bright warmth of the autumn afternoon. All around her people laughed, joked, smiled. Why aren't they cold?

It had been a long summer for Miss Granger. When Voldomort learned of her recent studies as an Auror from her professors he took it upon himself to pay her a visit... she shivered wondering if this is what it had been like for Harry.

Flashback:

It was a lovely summer day.

"Your school work really seems very interesting, darling," Hermione's mother said with a smile as she handed her a pancake. Hermione, with her fingers, began to tear off pieces and place them in her mouth.

"I'm sure dentistry is much more interesting than potions and alchemy," Hermione replied with a smile. Her father a kind man who loved everything sugar free tickled her side momentarily.

"Well," he said as he stopped, her giggling having satisfied him, "I wish I were a wizard." With another grin Hermione pulled out her wand.

"I could turn you into a lizard," she laughed, "that's almost the same."

"Oh no save me from the big bad witch," her mother cried in mock exasperation as she started running away. But as Hermione turned to chase her she saw that her mother had stopped dead in her tracks. The sky had darkened and a black fog was creeping up on the Granger estate. It slowed and coalesced before her mother into a tall dark shape. Hermione didn't need to see its face for it to strike terror in her heart, she knew. Furtively she cried out to her mother,

"Mum," she cried, "mum, RUN!" But her mother didn't move. Hermione ran to her mother's side and pulled on her shoulder, it wasn't until then she noticed the green glow emanating around her mother. Hermione looked into her mother's eyes and shook her but it was useless. With a cruel laugh the green vanished and her mother's dead body fell to the floor.

She wanted to cry but there was no time for tears. She turned to face what she knew to be the dark lord, raised her wand and shouted... not a curse, not a spell, but simply an exclamation of surprise. There in Voldomort's arms was her father, his eyes wild with terror.

"Miss Granger, we meet again," he rasped in a cool calm voice.

"Let him go Voldomort!" She screamed. He reeled back glaring at her.

"How dare you use my name. You are not worthy."

"Voldomort," she said again defiantly. Again he glowered. A knife appeared in his hand and was pushed to Mr. Granger's throat.

"Say it again Mudblood," he smiled a hard cold sneer. Hermione lowered her wand.

"Don't," she pleaded. He laughed.

"I'm not in the business of making deals with Mudbloods," he drawled his voice slow and calculating, "but you are the cleverest witch to come out of Hogwarts in centuries. You are approaching your final year and I could use a clever girl like you. I'll tell you what." He said almost jauntily. "If you come train with me... I will spare your father..." it was now that Mr. Granger found his voice.

"No!!!!!!!! Don't do it Hermione, don't. Run away. RUN AWAY!" But Hermione didn't run, she nodded. Voldomort Smiled and took his wand from his robes. He bound her and took her wand, and then in a moment of true vileness, smiled and drew the blade across her father's throat. As she watch the warm blood flow from the slit she didn't cry out, but silent tears fell from her eyes.

"Stupid little girl, did you really think I'd work with you? Did you think I'd let him go? You didn't even try to get away... Well what do you have to say for yourself?" Through her tears she looked up at him, angry and determined, and said,

"I had to try." For that he hit her, the first in a series of blows that lasted all that summer. Eventually, without her knowing how or why, Buckbeak had managed to take her away. Take her home... but she didn't have a home. It was empty, her mother and father supposed killed in a burglary gone wrong. Her missing, supposed dead. She went to stay with the Weaslys for the rest of the summer, they took her in, treated her well... but her mum and dad were still dead. Voldomort had still captured and beat and raped her. He had still let his cronies have their way... she was still alone. No one knew.

End Flashback:

Hermione shivered when her cab came to a stop. She had preferred to ride alone to Platform 9 and ¾. She paid the man, took her things and boarded the train... and as she did she dropped her trunk. Reaching for it, to put it on a shelf in the Head's cabin, another hand grabbed it, lifting it for her. She thanked him, until he turned around, a sneer on his face. No other than Draco Malfoy. She backed up against the wall, her eyes darting.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. His eyebrow rose as he pointed to the sign.

"Head's cabin?" he replied. She nodded. He glowered at her again and sat down.

"Th... thank you," she muttered sitting as well.

A/N

Huzzah and so ends chapter one. Read, review, and enjoy. Chapter 2 to come soon.