Chapter 1: You Look at Me and See the Girl

A ten-year old Hermione Granger sat uneasily in a sun-filled room, pondering her next action. As she looked to her right, she saw her mother sitting in a silent trance, staring into nothing. People tried to comfort her, but Hermione could see right through their act. All they wanted was to know how he died, how he mysteriously got shot in the head. But none of them would ever know, none of them would ever know, because she would never tell. She would never tell anyone how he had done it, or that her father had done it right in front of her without even realizing it. The memories swiftly crossed her mind but she pushed them away. The bang, the thud of him hitting the floor, the blood...Hermione gagged before running to the bathroom. She twisted her face over the toilet before she vomited, completely emptying out her stomach's contents, but it did not end there. She kept heaving even after there was nothing left to throw up. Her stomach kept contracting violently until she felt like all the energy was completely drained from her body, and she felt like she was going to pass out. Her mind was swimming with gruesome memories, memories that she wanted more than anything to forget. The puddle of blood spreading farther every second...how his eyes were still open, glazed over and bloodshot...his hand clasping the gun, taking his life...selfish...so selfish. He had left his daughter behind, leaving her to the worst fate imaginable...

Hermione woke with a start, sitting up quickly in her bed, a cold sweat running down her face. She looked around her and saw familiar pictures surrounding her, covering up her walls. Most were of Harry, Ron and her other friends from school. The thought of school coming in three days comforted her, and she felt a warm sensation rush through her body. Hogwarts was the only thing that kept her going, her friends were the only positive outlook that she had in her life. She tried to get back to sleep, but sleep would not come, so, with a sigh she pushed off her comforter and walked lazily to the bathroom, being as quiet as she could. She felt a sudden odd sensation come over, as if she were being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she turned around alertly. Emerging from the shadows was a very tall, well-built man, holding something in his hands. Hermione wanted more than anything wanted her wand, to be able to use it. But to be expelled from Hogwarts because she was afraid was not worth it. The man smiled twistedly at her and walked towards her, gripping her arm painfully in his stronger one. She let out a cry but he slapped her across the face, hard. She stopped crying.

"I heard you yelling in your sleep. You woke me up, you little bitch," he seethed. He dragged her through the hall and threw her roughly onto the floor. When she looked up from the floor, the man's eyes flashed dangerously as he placed the objects on the table. There were three objects there, a belt, a wrench, and a long stick. His eyes glittered with malice, and Hermione looked up at him helplessly. When she didn't move he picked her up by her arm and grabbed her face in his hand powerfully, directing her gaze towards the table. She stared in complete bewilderment, until one dreaded word escaped from his mouth. "Choose." Hermione looked at him fearfully, not able to comprehend that this was actually happening. She couldn't help but break down, tears were coming to her eyes, falling quickly down her cheeks. She was so desperately afraid, she couldn't breathe. She was crying when he punched her full in the face. She staggered backwards and lost her balance falling to the floor. Her nose began to bleed profusely, but she didn't notice. She felt her cheeks become hot as he said again, "Choose." Hermione lifted her head towards the three objects and nodded towards the thin belt, its' left end a metal clasp with a sharp protruding clip. Her lip trembling, he picked up the belt and made hs way towards her. She wanted to escape, but she knew she couldn't. She pulled her body backwards, the bitter taste of blood entering her mouth from her nosebleed. The man, now standing right above her, kicked her as hard as she could in the stomach. Hermione yelped and coughed, cradling her stomach on all fours. The wind was knocked out of her but she would stay strong. The man placed his foot on her back and pushed down, and she collapsed under the weight. She couldn't escape from the hold. He got down onto his knees and ran his fingers over the smooth leather belt, and then lifted up her shirt. Her back, which was already covered in bruises, was thin and graceful, and he hated her beauty, so he destroyed it, taking pleasure in every scream of pain the escaped her mouth, every strangled cry of agony, and the blood that seeped through the freshly opened wounds on her seemingly perfect body.

Hermione kept screaming, even after the beating was over.

A/N: Hi! I hope you are liking my new story. I know there are a lot of others like this, but I need to release my words. LoL. Anyways, PLEASE R&R so that I have inspiration to continue this story. It will be a DMHG fic soon, when Hermione goes back to school. BTW, Hermione is going to her seventh year at Hogwarts, so she is 16. This isn't a songfic, but the title is named after a Mariah Carey song, Looking In. I don't own it.
Also: I used the "choose" thing from the movie Good Will Hunting. I don't own the idea, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck do. Don't sue me please! I don't own Harry Potter..blah blah blah...
R/R!