An orphanage? Why couldn't they let the Weasley's adopt her? Or at least take her in until a different family was found? The girl formerly known as Hermione Granger stood looking out the window of the horrid smelling place. It had been two weeks since her 'parents' were killed by Death Eater attacks. Not just any attack though. Voldemort had killed my parents right in front of me. Okay…it wasn't Voldemort himself, seeing as he couldn't be 'bothered' by 'petty' muggles. Hermione rolled her eyes and thought about the letter that she had received shortly after her parent's death. Automatically, her hand reached up and touched the necklace that was permanently fixed around her neck. Even though it never came off, Hermione was quite fond of it. Her mother had placed it on her when she was only a babe. Hermione smiled as her finger traced the delicate pendant that seemed ever changing, always changing colors to match what Hermione had on or to match her mood, and the shape itself switching between a lioness and a simple broach shape. A knock sounded at the door to the small dormitory which she shared with four other girls slightly younger then herself.
"Miss. You have a visitor." Hermione nodded and followed the worker out to the visiting rooms. As much as that sounded like prison it really wasn't, these rooms were cozy. As she neared the room she heard the owner of the establishment talking in frantic whispers.
"She has been here for nearly two weeks and the child has yet to utter a single word! You must do something before she forgets how to speak at all." Hermione's eyes were downcast as she entered the room, not bothering to look at who her visitor was. What surprised her was the pair of warm arms that embraced her, causing her to finally look at who her visitor was. Professor McGonagall.
"You're leaving with me, dear. Go get your things, quickly." The professor whispered so that only Hermione could hear. Then taking her chance, Hermione ran like she had never run before. Straight past the other girls as they asked where she was going so fast, her bags were already packed. She had never unpacked them from when she got there, for she felt that she would be leaving soon. No, she wasn't running to her room. Hardly. She was running for the younger years rooms, the ones that held the girls only four or five years of age. Poking her head in, she saw that the room was empty except for the girl Hermione was looking for. Hearing Hermione the girl looked up and grinned, running into Hermione's open arms.
"We're leaving, aren't we Riley?" Hermione nodded and helped the girl get her things ready. The girl, Ariana or better known as Ari, didn't need Hermione to talk to know what she was thinking. Ari was the only one that knew Hermione's true name was Riley Imogen Turnwald. Having finished packing the bags, Ari held her arms up signaling that she wanted to be picked up. Hermione nodded and picked the girl up after swinging the bag over her shoulder, knowing full well that she was taking too long to get back to Professor McGonagall. "Riley, she's going to be hesitant to let me come along. And you should really start thinking yourself as Riley now instead of Hermione. Hermione gave the girl a shrug and trudged on to the room that she had been staying in to grab her bags. From that day on she would not think of herself as Hermione Jean Granger, but Riley Imogen Turnwald. She sighed as she made her way in and saw a shadow pass over the other girls' faces.
"Why does she get to leave?" "Who does she think she is to think she can take Ari with her?" "What does she have that I haven't got?" "I'm a much better daughter than she would be." Riley rolled her eyes and still said nothing, earning a little help from the five year old attached to her hip. After they escaped the scrutinizing stare of her former dorm mates, Riley looked as if she were about to say something but shook her head and continued on to the visiting room where Professor McGonagall was waiting. Once she entered, however, the Head of the establishment stood in outrage.
"You're not allowed to take Ari with you, Hermione!" Riley glared and held onto Ari a little tighter as Ari's arms secured themselves around the older girl's neck. Sensing that Riley had something to say, Ari said it for her.
"Riley said that she's not leaving without me. And that you would have to pry her cold dead fingers from me if you wanted to separate us. She goes I go. Plain and simple." Ari squared her jaw and looked at the head defiantly, knowing that they had won the argument. Professor McGonagall looked slightly amused before putting her façade back up.
"Yes. Well. Seeing how these two are inseparable, I shall be escorting them both to a safe house. Good day." She left no room for argument as she grabbed Hermione's arm and led her out of the horrid place that was called an orphanage. Once out of view of prying eyes, McGonagall turned on the spot, Apparating the two girls and herself to the spot outside of the Shrieking Shack.
"Now Miss. Granger…"
AN:: Ugh. I love this story. I want to write nonstop right now. And I think that's what I'm going to do. Okay. For those that are slightly confused. Hermione's 'parents' were killed in a Death Eater attack, she received a letter telling her who she really was shortly after, the reason she won't speak will soon show, Ari can hear Hermione(Riley)'s thoughts and vice versa, McGonagall doesn't know that she is no longer Granger, and if there is anything else just pester me. I won't be bother by it at all.