Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to the lovely, talented JKR... gg on the books .. I own nothing... well... besides this floppy disk... but I need it for school. --
Warning- kidnapping, torture, emotional abuse, etc... do not try this at home... and don't get offended... I'll probably post this before each chapter.... but if I don't... you've been warned... --
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Chapter 1: Dwell Not
"Welcome, students... to another year at Hogwarts!"
Hermione smiled, finding comfort in the headmaster's dramatic opening of his start of term speech, his voice raised just enough to carry through the expansive hall.
"I just have a few announcements this year. First, I believe congratulations is in order for Mr. Macmillan!" Albus Dumbledore raised both arms, motioning to Ernie who stood, his Head Boy badge catching the light from the candles suspended in the air. The Great Hall erupted in cheers, most coming from the Hufflepuff table. Hermione joined in, trying to keep her mind from wandering to the upcoming school year. There'll be plenty of time to think about that later, she chided herself. This is your last year here. That thought alone was enough to spark the prickling behind her eyes.
The applause died down as Ernie sat, all eyes returning to the Head Table.
"Yes... congratulations again, Mr. Macmillian.... and to your Head Girl," Albus continued, Hermione smoothed out her robes and closed her eyes, taking a deep calming breath, "Miss Hermione Granger!" She opened her eyes, as the booming applause erupted all around her. She stood, a glorious smile plastered on her face.
Suddenly, A hand clamped over her mouth, causing her to jump with shock. She felt herself yanked against her attacker, her hands flailed to pull the large appendage away. A slight pressure at her temple caused her to still, feeling the tip of the wand trail down to her cheek, slightly scratching her skin. The attacker chuckled, a harsh rumbling feeling that caused her stomach to turn. His warm breath rolled over her cheek. The deafening roars ebbed away as if someone had turned a volume knob. All she could hear was his ragged breathing in her ear.
"That's it, dear...," the voice was all too familiar, the raspy words said almost free of condescension, "you will do well at..." the voice trailed, replaced by several sharp pains attacking her stomach.
Bolting up, Crookshanks jumped off her lap, where he had just became comfortable. He walked moodily to the other side of the compartment and jumped up next to Neville, nuzzling against his hip. Hermione looked around the small space to see all eyes on her. She rubbed her head, the pain still fresh. The dream still fresh. 'Had the pain been real?' She glanced down at her stomach, ladden with ginger fur. Realization hit her as Harry spoke, "Are you okay, Hermione?"
Relief washed over her, 'It wasn't real...it wasn't real...'
"Hermione?" A hand on her shoulder reminded her that she was under scrutiny. She looked up, her dark brown eyes meeting Harry's green. His worry was radiating off of him in waves. "I'm fine." She said dismissively, turning her gaze back to her now hair-laden school robe.
Harry shook his head, not readily believing her. "No... no you're not. What's the matter? What is it?"
She started absently picking off the ginger hairs from her robe. "It was just a dream, don't worry about it."
"Okay... but if you ever need to tal–," she cut Ron off mid-sentence, glaring at him indignantly, "I said, 'Don't. Worry. About it.'"
Ginny sighed, trying to come up with a way to diffuse the situation, "How was everyone's summer?"
There was a mumbled response of 'fine', followed by all four of them avoiding each others eyes. Hermione stared out the window, trying to block out the details of the recurring dream. The rest of the train ride to school was unusually quiet. Minus Hermione's troubled thoughts.
As they pulled up in Hogsmeade Station, Hermione became increasingly nervous. Haunting images from her dream kept flashing before her, taking over her vision for seconds before vanishing, as if they'd not been there at all. She tried to quell the feelings compelling her to run back to the train.
'It's just a stupid dream... it's not real..' she thought, though her internal monologue sounded unconvinced, 'It's just a stupid dream... he wouldn't.' she gulped. 'Would he?'
Ron brushed past her as they approached the entranceway to the castle, obviously still angry with her. 'He'll get over it' she thought moodily. A silent part of her thanked him, glad for the distraction from her previous thoughts. She adjusted her prefect badge, smoothed down her robes, and walked with the students slowly filing into the castle.
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Fun, fun... hope you enjoyed it... review please... I know it's short... and only a prologue... but... reviewing let's me know that you're interested in reading further... it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Can you handle it?
Warning- kidnapping, torture, emotional abuse, etc... do not try this at home... and don't get offended... I'll probably post this before each chapter.... but if I don't... you've been warned... --
-------------------------------------------
Chapter 1: Dwell Not
"Welcome, students... to another year at Hogwarts!"
Hermione smiled, finding comfort in the headmaster's dramatic opening of his start of term speech, his voice raised just enough to carry through the expansive hall.
"I just have a few announcements this year. First, I believe congratulations is in order for Mr. Macmillan!" Albus Dumbledore raised both arms, motioning to Ernie who stood, his Head Boy badge catching the light from the candles suspended in the air. The Great Hall erupted in cheers, most coming from the Hufflepuff table. Hermione joined in, trying to keep her mind from wandering to the upcoming school year. There'll be plenty of time to think about that later, she chided herself. This is your last year here. That thought alone was enough to spark the prickling behind her eyes.
The applause died down as Ernie sat, all eyes returning to the Head Table.
"Yes... congratulations again, Mr. Macmillian.... and to your Head Girl," Albus continued, Hermione smoothed out her robes and closed her eyes, taking a deep calming breath, "Miss Hermione Granger!" She opened her eyes, as the booming applause erupted all around her. She stood, a glorious smile plastered on her face.
Suddenly, A hand clamped over her mouth, causing her to jump with shock. She felt herself yanked against her attacker, her hands flailed to pull the large appendage away. A slight pressure at her temple caused her to still, feeling the tip of the wand trail down to her cheek, slightly scratching her skin. The attacker chuckled, a harsh rumbling feeling that caused her stomach to turn. His warm breath rolled over her cheek. The deafening roars ebbed away as if someone had turned a volume knob. All she could hear was his ragged breathing in her ear.
"That's it, dear...," the voice was all too familiar, the raspy words said almost free of condescension, "you will do well at..." the voice trailed, replaced by several sharp pains attacking her stomach.
Bolting up, Crookshanks jumped off her lap, where he had just became comfortable. He walked moodily to the other side of the compartment and jumped up next to Neville, nuzzling against his hip. Hermione looked around the small space to see all eyes on her. She rubbed her head, the pain still fresh. The dream still fresh. 'Had the pain been real?' She glanced down at her stomach, ladden with ginger fur. Realization hit her as Harry spoke, "Are you okay, Hermione?"
Relief washed over her, 'It wasn't real...it wasn't real...'
"Hermione?" A hand on her shoulder reminded her that she was under scrutiny. She looked up, her dark brown eyes meeting Harry's green. His worry was radiating off of him in waves. "I'm fine." She said dismissively, turning her gaze back to her now hair-laden school robe.
Harry shook his head, not readily believing her. "No... no you're not. What's the matter? What is it?"
She started absently picking off the ginger hairs from her robe. "It was just a dream, don't worry about it."
"Okay... but if you ever need to tal–," she cut Ron off mid-sentence, glaring at him indignantly, "I said, 'Don't. Worry. About it.'"
Ginny sighed, trying to come up with a way to diffuse the situation, "How was everyone's summer?"
There was a mumbled response of 'fine', followed by all four of them avoiding each others eyes. Hermione stared out the window, trying to block out the details of the recurring dream. The rest of the train ride to school was unusually quiet. Minus Hermione's troubled thoughts.
As they pulled up in Hogsmeade Station, Hermione became increasingly nervous. Haunting images from her dream kept flashing before her, taking over her vision for seconds before vanishing, as if they'd not been there at all. She tried to quell the feelings compelling her to run back to the train.
'It's just a stupid dream... it's not real..' she thought, though her internal monologue sounded unconvinced, 'It's just a stupid dream... he wouldn't.' she gulped. 'Would he?'
Ron brushed past her as they approached the entranceway to the castle, obviously still angry with her. 'He'll get over it' she thought moodily. A silent part of her thanked him, glad for the distraction from her previous thoughts. She adjusted her prefect badge, smoothed down her robes, and walked with the students slowly filing into the castle.
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Fun, fun... hope you enjoyed it... review please... I know it's short... and only a prologue... but... reviewing let's me know that you're interested in reading further... it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Can you handle it?