Author's Notes: I do not own the world of Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. I do own this plot though and it doesn't exactly follow the DH and a couple random characters and names. Please RR! Thank you Loves.
Chapter One
A small framed female sat cross-legged in front of a full length mirror, a mildly pained expression on her features. Her hair fell in messy ebony waves to the middle of her back, her skin held a lovely tan, her lips were full and rosy red. The only thing that remained of her former facial features were her eyes, they were the same mocha color, that blazed with her emotions, revealing the fire burning inside her, they remained the windows to her soul. She glanced at the old clock that sat in the corner of her flat, she had thirty minutes until she had to be at Kings Cross Station, and forty until the train made its way from the station, her stomach filled once again with butterflies and did flips. She didn't know if she was ready to face her school mates quite yet.
During her time on the run with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley they'd been captured. The other two got away and saved the wizarding world from Voldemort. The dark wizard finally falling to Harry's hand a little over four months ago but she'd never escaped. The Death Eaters kept her alive, torturing her, bringing her to the brink of death time and time again all in hopes that the other two legs of the Golden Trio would come back and rescue the third. Hermione had hoped they wouldn't for fear of them getting caught. Finally though, months later all of the Death Eaters had abandoned their posts at the Malfoy Manor in order to lay siege on Hogwarts, giving Hermione the chance to escape.
She had gone directly into hiding, not knowing what the outcome of that battle would be, not knowing if she would have to finish Voldemort off herself if her friends and loved ones did not manage to. She'd managed to find her wand and apparate to France, despite her weakened state and had hidden in an old abandoned barn for two months, regaining her strength and having heard the results of the battle, she moved back to England and bought her own flat above Flourish and Blotts where she'd gotten a job in order to keep up. Everyone around her thought her dead and instead of proving them wrong she changed her appearance and name and thought it would work that is, until a week ago when she'd received her Hogwarts letter and Head Girl badge. She had panicked wondering how McGonagall had discovered her alive but she knew better than to question the older witch. Instead, she owled her and asked her to keep the news silent until she was ready to rejoin her friends, to which she complied, not telling a soul that the Granger girl was alive and in Diagon Alley none the less. The fiery girl had gotten all of her supplies from the alley below her flat just as she had every year only it was the first year since she was eleven that she'd done it without her friends, and now here today was, the day she'd see them again, the day they'd either welcome her or shun her.
She was scared, not only had she permanently changed her appearance but the months upon months of torture and being hand in hand with death repeatedly had changed her personality. She wasn't the same girl she once was, her temper was worse than Ron's ever could be, she was mouthy and, she was passionate about everything. She shied away from emotional attachment to people around her, constantly outdoors and soaking up sunshine and, she'd picked up smoking. She dressed differently now too, her clothes revealing the wonderful figure no one ever realized she had, her breasts full 32Ds, her waist was slender, her bum perfectly apple shaped, leading into small, toned and tanned legs. She was happy with her appearance and was tired of hiding it, she'd grown up and wanted people to know it. She didn't know how her former friends would react to her anymore, it scared her but she was excited to see them again. Her chocolate gaze landed on the clock, fifteen minutes left, she rose to her feet and changed her clothes quickly shrinking down her trunk and sticking it in her pocket. She checked her appearance in the mirror one last time, giving her reflection a satisfied smirk. The skirt she wore was form fitting and only reached the upper middle portion of her thigh, it was a dark jean material with faded areas, her shirt was a crimson short sleeved shirt with a neckline that plunged low, revealing the upper curves of her breasts, it hugged her tightly, her feet adorned with matching crimson strappy high heeled sandals that sparkled when the sun hit them, with a final and sharp nod she apparated out of the flat and into a dark alleyway outside of the train station.
Hermione glanced around, pushing her way through the swarms of people and toward the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, she made sure no one was watching and casually leaned against the barrier, melting into it and coming out on the other side into a sea of different people, many of which were boarding the scarlet steam engine labeled Hogwarts Express, she smiled and swiveled her head around, scanning for her friends, half way through her scan someone ran into her back, causing her to stumble in her heels, almost falling.
"Watch it!" She snarled, whirling around to face the putz that hit her, only to come face to face with Fred and George Weasley, both of their mouths hanging open as they gaped at her.
"Oi! Idiots, move it!" Ron Weasley's voice came from behind the twins before he, Harry, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley stepped around them, their gazes all landing on Hermione and she smiled at them all. They in return just stared, their expressions similar to the twins', Mrs. Weasley was the first to recover.
"Boys, did you apologize for nearly knocking this poor dear over?" Mrs. Weasley scolded the twins and they both stuttered hasty apologies, their cheeks a shade of red that almost matched their hair, the others chuckled at them, having recovered from the girl in front of them's appearance.
"It's okay Fred and George, it's not like you haven't done it before," she teased the two, everyone's expressions quickly turning into one of confusion and suspicion.
"I think we would remember"
"If we'd ever ran over someone"
"As stunning as yourself," the twins finished together, and the others just stared, she the unknown female laughed softly, the sound familiar to each of them but they couldn't quite place it, it was different some how. She turned to the others and greeted them.
"Hello Harry, Ron, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, I've missed you all," she spoke, her voice soft and holding uncertainty, a fire burning in her mocha gaze, wordlessly begging them to recognize her. None of them seemed to, and so without another word she turned around and walked off toward the train. She would tell them later, she wanted to see their reactions away from the twins and the Weasley matriarch, but that didn't stop her from having a heavy heart as she walked away from the group, leaving them all staring after her with puzzled expressions on their faces.
"Who was that?" the twins turned to their mum and the others, all of them wearing matching expressions of confusion, as they watched the mysterious yet familiar female walk away from them. Ron and Ginny shook their heads, Harry clenched his jaw, hope burning in his eyes, he had a feeling he knew but he was almost positive that it couldn't be her, could it? She was dead after all. Mrs. Weasley shuffled them over to the train with a shrug of her shoulders.
"You guys can discuss it on the train and owl us when you find out. Fred, George say goodbye!" she said, shoving the three students onto the train, they all said their farewells before heading into the hall ad finding and empty compartment where they hung out the window waving as the train whistle blew loudly. Mrs. Weasley waved in return, tears streaming down her cheeks, saying farewell to her children as they left for school each year never got easier as she'd expected, if anything it got harder and harder, but she knew they'd be safe this year, the war finally being over. Fred and George wrapped their arms around their mum and led her back to the barrier and home as the steam engine whipped out of sight.
Ron, Harry and Ginny all turned to look at each other as soon as their were settled into their seats, Harry's arm wrapped easily around Ginny's shoulders. They stayed quiet for a few minutes before their compartment door slid open and Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom walked in and sat down with them, they exchanged quick greetings with Neville, Luna remained quiet, in her own little world, a soft and comfortable silence settled among them.
"Did you see Hermione? She was extremely upset when I saw her." Luna's dreamy voice broke the silence after a few moments, and the others turned to her enraged, they all started talking at once, but Harry shouted at them to shut up, they all fell silent.
"Luna, what are you talking about? Hermione is dead.." his voice was soft and trembling, his emerald eyes shining with unshed tears, Luna turned to look at him, her earrings poking out of her blonde waves, her big blue eyes sparkling as she shook her head. The others were quiet but their expressions were angry and upset.
"I saw her just a few minutes ago.. I didn't greet her, I thought she was on her way here to meet up with you lot," Ginny's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her Ravenclaw friend, her own blue eyes narrowed slightly, her lips turned down into a frown.
"Luna, are you feeling all right?" the red headed girl reached across and set her hand on the blonde's forehead, checking for a fever, finding nothing she pulled her hand back and set it in her lap, the boys were all just staring at the two girls, their expressions blank but their eyes burning with different emotions. Luna shook her head slightly at her friends' reactions, a soft bell like laugh leaving her lips.
"I'm feeling fine, a little hurt that you don't believe me, but fine," Luna said, her expression clouding slightly.
"Luna, Hermione is gone.." they all spoke in unison and Luna shook her head angrily, her blue eyes flashing dangerously.
"No! She's not! I'm telling you I saw her!" Luna jumped out of her seat and stormed out of the compartment, she slammed the door behind her, leaving the four of them in stunned silence.
Hermione navigated the train, smirking at the people who gaped at her. She pushed through the corridors of the train, trying to avoid stepping on someone's foot with her heels, she was getting irritated that people were moving so slowly. Her feet were killing her, she should have known better than to wear heels. Her breath escaped her rosy lips in an angry huff and she turned to the nearest compartment, gazing inside, seeing a group of Slytherins she usually avoided and two open seats, she debated with herself over whether she wanted to deal with them or with the crowds of people, she voted the Slytherins, and slid open their compartment door and stepped easily inside, shutting it behind her. Once she turned to look at the group, they were all staring at her, their mouths hanging open.
"Close your mouths before you catch flies," she spoke softly, smirking. They quickly complied, their expressions mildly guilty having been caught staring. Her mocha gaze fell on each of them in turn. Draco Malfoy was the one she'd seen most recently, just a couple nights before she'd escaped, he'd secretly brought her food whenever he could sneak down into the dungeons of the manor undetected, during that time he had looked unhealthy, he was looking better now though. His platinum hair was as perfectly styled as ever, his grey eyes holding something akin to warmth, he looked to be a healthier weight, and color was toning his pale skin again. Her gaze fell next on Theodore Nott, his raven hair long and tousled, his skin pale and his brown eyes warm, he smiled at her, a slight blush creeping into his cheeks under her stare, next her gaze turned to Alexander Dolohov, the boy's auburn hair was short but still visible, it laid neatly on top of his head, his eyes were a boring hazel but his smile was brilliant enough to make up for them, his cheeks were slightly fuller than the others' but he was no where near over weight. The last of them, Blaise Zabini, his eyes a brilliant indigo stuck out against his olive toned skin, his hair was a couple shades darker than Nott's but had a slight red tint when the light hit it, it was a bit shorter than Nott's too but laid on his head in an organized mess, his lips were full and pulled up into a smile, revealing perfectly straight and white teeth.
She remembered these boys from previous years, none of them had ever tormented and taunted her like Draco, they'd merely just teased her yet, they hadn't done anything to stop him either but she was a big girl now. She needed to put her petty grudges behind her and embrace any potential friendships but she didn't want to, she wanted to be able to hate this group of boys with every fiber in her being, but they weren't the ones that had used the cruciatus curse on her repeatedly, they weren't the ones who had nearly driven her insane nor were they the ones that had made her brush with death, Malfoy hadn't even done anything like that, she could forgive them if she tried.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked, indicating to one of the open seats with her long, slender fingers, the four boys nodded their consent and she sat, crossing her legs, her skirt riding up ever so slightly more, a soft, happy sigh left her lips, finally getting off her feet, her heels were causing them agony but beauty is pain, she grimaced inwardly at herself.
"I'm Draco Malfoy. These lads are Theo Nott, Alex Dolohov, and Blaise Zabini, are you new?" Malfoy's voice still had his normal arrogant drawl to it, but she chose to ignore it, and she nodded to each boy in turn, a smirk on her lips, she shook her head slightly.
"I'm not new per se.. But I am a different person than I used to be.." her voice trailed off, and the boys nodded in understanding.
"The same goes for us, we're starting anew, changing our ways, hoping to be accepted," Theo's expression was cheery but his voice held a hint of sorrow, Hermione just raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow, and they all shrugged their shoulders in response.
"So, what's your name?" Alex asked. Hermione paled slightly, not sure whether or not she should tell them who she was just yet, what if they got angry or upset? Oh well, too late now. She couldn't exactly get up and walk away and she didn't want to lie but, she would have some fun with it first.
"Oh, you don't recognize me?" she giggled softly, chewing on her bottom lip, and the boys shook their heads, their brows furrowing slightly. Of course, she'd expected this answer, "Oh, I'm disappointed!"
"Should we recognize you?" Malfoy asked incredulous, his blonde eyebrows raised as she chuckled softly.
"I only lived in your house for 7 months" she replied, smirking, the three others gaped at their Slyhtherin Prince.
"You had HER living in your house and you don't remember?" Zabini's eyes were wide with shock, Nott and Dolohov just sat staring open mouthed at him as his expression turned into one of concentration.
"No, it couldn't be…" his voice was soft as he stared at the female before him, her gray eyes piercing into hers, her smirk still on her lips. "You can't be her…"
"Be who?" Theo piped, earning nods from the other two.
"But she's dead! You can't be!"
"Who's dead Mate?" Blaise asked, his indigo gaze shifting between this strange girl and his best mate, concern etched into his features. The girl was merely staring at Draco. Blaise focused on her, her eyes and that giggle of hers were both hauntingly familiar, he sifted through memories, trying to place them.
"You are, aren't you? Merlin, how are you alive?" Hermione just shrugged, the three onlookers incredibly impatient at this point were scowling at the pair, Blaise's expression slowly changed from the scowl to a look of astonishment, his indigo eyes were boring into Hermione's mocha ones now, he hadn't heard that soft giggle or seen those eyes in well over a year, he'd never thought he'd see them again, never thought he'd be lucky enough to hear her voice or her laugh ever. Granted, her voice was different, it was more husky, and held a slightly deeper tone than it used to, but he was sure it was her now.
"WHO?" Theo and Alex shouted at the same time, Draco and Hermione opened their mouths to answer but were beat to it by the Italian Slytherin.
"Hermione Granger"