CHAPTER ONE
Everything was so wrong. She was supposed to have a normal life – well, as normal as it could get anyway – a life that she had planned. She was supposed to have high grades, become head girl, graduate at the top of her class, get a good job after school, date, and get married by the age of twenty-two. She works hard everyday for her friends, her teachers, and most especially her parents to be proud of her. She was an only child and she is (even though she would never admit it) a bit spoiled. Saying that her parents were well-off was an understatement. Her parents could stop working, and they could still buy all the things they need and more. So she thought that the only way she could repay her parents was by doing her best in school. She knew that her parents knew little, if not, nothing of the wizarding world. All they knew was that she was a witch, a smart one at that, and that they were proud of her.
Her life was supposed to be perfect. It was not supposed to be like this.
'Merlin, I should stop thinking about it. I've cried more times today than I have the past years,' Hermione thought as she wiped the tears that kept on falling from her already swollen eyes.
It was a horrid cycle; she would think about stopping her tears, which brought her back to the reason why she was crying, and then the tears would fall down on her cheeks, as if they had a mind of their own.
Flashback:
'I'm finally going home', Hermione thought as she was nearing their destination.
"I really missed you guys," Hermione said with a smile. Her butlers and chaperones, which were asked to fetch her from King's Cross, all smiled in gratitude.
"It wasn't the same at the mansion without you, Missus," Julio, her personal butler (even though she hits him in the head when he calls himself her butler) said. He had been with her for as long as she can remember. She actually treated him as her big brother and her best friend. She can tell him things that she could not even tell her father. Like that boy who accidentally kissed her when she was in first grade – her father would throw a fit if he found out. That was back when she didn't know that wizards and witches existed.
Julio's and Hermione's ages weren't really that far apart. He told Hermione that he was only five when Hermione came to Mr. and Mrs. Granger's life. His mother had been one of the maids at the Granger mansion. Even while a little kid, he was already asked to take care of Hermione. Hermione wasn't really allowed to 'mingle' with other kids her age from the town. Her father said that girls like her shouldn't associate herself with lower people. She never really understood at that time. Her only 'friends' were other rich snobs, who don't really play with her; they like ridiculing her and her home better. Julio had been Hermione's only true friend. He was always with her to protect her.
When Julio's mother died, Hermione and Julio cried together, and mourned for Julio's loss. That event made them closer to each other. Julio devoted his life to Hermione, and Hermione wanted to make sure that Julio is always happy.
Julio also trusts Hermione his deepest secrets. Hermione had been the only one to know that he was a squib.
Julio told her, back when she was six, that he had received a letter from a place called Hogwarts, and that he was a wizard. He told her that he would be gone for ten months, and be back with her every summer. Of course, the fact that he was a wizard didn't actually register in her brain at that time – that happened when she was already eleven and had received her own letter. The only thing that registered in her brain was that Julio would be gone for a long time. She cried for days, and refused to give up. She felt alone. Julio was her only friend, and they were taking him away!
The day that Julio was to leave, Hermione refused to let go of him.
Her father knelt down to look at her face and told her that everything would be alright. He told her that He and her mother would be there for her, and then he hugged her tight. She was shocked, and she couldn't move. Julio took that as his time to leave. He left the house with a smile on his face, knowing that Hermione would be alright.
After that day, her and her parents became very close. They went out on picnics together, watched movies together, and even made Sundays their family time. Hermione soon found out that Julio talked to her father. He told her father that she was feeling lonely, and needed someone to be there for her.
Hermione took that as an eternal debt to Julio. She told herself that she would always be there for him, as he was always there for her.
Once while she was walking with her parents along the beach, she saw a small store, which sold small trinkets. She badgered her parents on buying her a beautiful pair of necklaces. Its pendants were the halved parts of a star, with intricate designs on each half. When held against each other, the two halves form the beautiful star.
Her parents, who couldn't resist her pout, gave in and bought her the pair of necklaces.
Hermione was thrilled when summer came because she knew that her best friend would be back with her.
She greeted him with a hug and a large smile, but stopped when she saw a rueful smile on her best friend's face. He then told her that he was a squib. He was a wizard, but he could never perform magic. Hermione, even though she didn't understand at that time, just hugged him, and told him that he would be alright, and that she would take care of him. He laughed at that, and she smiled. She handed him one of the necklaces she asked her parents to buy, and told him to never take it of… ever. He never did – and even though the string of the necklace was really short for him now, he kept his promise and never took it off, just like her.
"We're almost there, Hermione," Julio said, bringing her back from her thoughts. She smiled wide, and Julio knew that it was because he called her 'Hermione' without Hermione saying so.
When the limousine halted to a stop, Hermione rushed out the door, not even waiting for someone to open the door for her.
She ran towards her parents' office, and hastily hugged them tight, not even noticing the other people staring at her.
"Hermione, calm down," her mother said, and that's when she noticed that her parents were holding a meeting. More or less twenty people were staring at her, some of them smiling, while others were trying hard to conceal their laughter.
"Sorry," Hermione muttered, while fighting the blush that was creeping up her cheeks.
"We miss you too, my little peapod," Her dad said with a smile.
"Dad!" Hermione cried in total embarrassment, her cheeks red now.
That day was filled with laughter, and Hermione was exhausted when nighttime came.
"Hermione!" he faintly heard her dad whisper urgently, "wake up, Hermione."
Hermione sat up groggily, and tried to get the sleep away from her eyes through rubbing them.
"Yes, dad?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, you need to hide. The others are already hiding in the cellar. You need to get up to the attic now and hide," her dad whispered hastily.
"Why can't I just go to the cellar like the others?" Hermione asked.
"It's closer. Now GO!" Her dad whispered in the same urgent voice as before, while pushing her towards the door.
"Why? What's going on! Dad?" Hermione panicked.
"Hermione, there are people downstairs, people that do not want to do good to our family. You need to be safe, so GO NOW!" her dad whispered, and resumed pushing her towards the concealed door of the attic.
"But dad, what about you and mum? Aren't you coming?" Hermione asked, fear creeping up her spine.
"We'll be fine, now GO!" her dad cried loudly, startling her.
After about two minutes, she was enveloped by the darkness of the attic.
She switched on the small light, and sat down on a small, moth-eaten couch.
It was then that she was able to think clearly.
She was of age already! She just turned seventeen last April, which is why she is allowed to use her wand already.
'Damn! Fine time to blank out!' she thought.
She then made up her mind. She was going out to get her wand, and she was going to defend her parents.
She ran towards the door on the floor and tried turning the small knob. It wouldn't budge. She tried turning it the other way. It still wouldn't budge. She pounded her fists against the door until they hurt, but it was no use. Her dad though locking her in would keep her safe.
"Daddy locked me in," she whispered to herself, making the fact more real.
Mr. Granger ran down to the cellar, and searched for Julio.
"Julio, Hermione is in the attic. When all this pandemonium is over, I want you to open the attic and make sure Hermione is safe," Mr. Granger whispered urgently, thrusting the small set of keys in Julio's hand.
"Yes sir," Julio replied, stuffing the keys into the back pocket of his jeans.
"Promise me Julio that she will be safe," Mr. Granger whispered, "I want to make sure."
"Yes sir, I promise," Julio said, "I will guard her with my life.
"Thank you, Julio. I trust you," Mr. Granger said, and then he hastily walked out the door.
As he was walking up the stairs towards the kitchen, he took in a deep breath and let out a small sigh.
'This is for my family. I will defend my family the best that I can.'
Hermione glanced at her watch. It was already three in the morning, but she just couldn't sleep. She decided to walk around and look at things.
She smiled when she saw her old dollhouse. She remembered forcing people to play house with her – Julio, her daddy, her mum.
She then saw something very unusual – well unusual for muggles.
She saw a large bassinet. It was pink, and had cushions that seemed softer than goose-down feather. But what caught her attention the most was the designs on the side of the bassinet. It was covered with stars, but not just ordinary stars – they were moving and shooting stars. Did I mention moving? There were also witches and wizards on broomsticks moving around, sometimes moving so close to the fabric that you can see every line on their faces.
'What is going on? What is this doing in a muggle house?' Hermione thought to herself, 'Oh no! What if this thing has dark magic in it? I better be prepared'
So Hermione took a tattered bat that she saw laying around, and used it as a shield, for whatever the mysterious bassinet could do. She approached the bassinet with caution, but only found a small envelope with an unfamiliar oval seal, two snakes, one with ruby eyes and one with gold, intertwined together to form a 'Z' with thorned roses surrounding it. The seal was broken already, which means that the letter was already read. There was also a wooden box, which was just slightly smaller than a shoebox. It also had the same emblem she found in front of the letter. The emblem was embossed on the front of the box, and was made up of what she could only think of as gold and silver. She didn't want to touch the box. It might contain dark magic, and her wand was downstairs in her room.
After a while, she got bored. So she decided to read the letter. She took the letter from the bassinet, careful not to touch the mysterious box. She walked over to the small light in the attic, and sat directly underneath it. She then began reading.
I am sorry for leaving my daughter here without your permission. My daughter is in danger. We are running away from a madman. He wants to harm my daughter, and I fear that letting others take care of her is the only way I can save her.
I have been going around this town, hoping to find a couple suitable to take care of my little angel. I have heard from the townspeople of a couple that lives on a mansion located on top of a hill. I also know that you have wanted to have a child for years now, and since I am in need of a couple to take care of my daughter and love her unconditionally, I am entrusting her to you. I hope that you will treat her the way you would treat your own child.
My daughter is a witch, but please do not be alarmed. She is a normal human child, so please treat her as one. The only thing that differs her from other children is that she has magical abilities.
My daughter is not a freak of nature, so please respect her as I know she will respect you.
I have placed a small box in my baby's bassinet. If you feel that it is time for her to get to know us, please give her the box. Only she can open it.
My daughter's name is Hermione. You can give her your last name if you want but please tell her about us when you feel like it is the right time. She was born last April 27, and she is only six months old. I hope I have done the right thing by entrusting you my daughter.
Mrs. Marissa Zabini
'That can't be me, can it?' Hermione wondered, unconsciously slightly crumpling the old paper of the letter.
She fell asleep on the moth-eaten couch with that thought on her head.
"Hermione," a voice called, "Hermione you have to wake up."
As she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Julio's dark brown eyes staring at her. It was then that all the things that happened that night came back to her.
"Julio!" Hermione cried while hastily clutching his arm, "What happened last night? My dad locked me in here and I couldn't get out! I could've gotten my wand and helped him, but the door was locked. Are my parents okay?"
Julio remained silent. His eyes would refuse to meet hers and she suddenly felt dread force its way into her heart.
"Julio, what happened," Hermione asked in a small voice, as if fearing the answer that she was going to get.
"Hermione, your parents fought hard to drive off the evil men. Those men wanted to rob your family and would do everything to succeed. Your parents wanted to keep you safe," Julio said, still not meeting her eyes.
One of Hermione's hands clutched Julio's and she used her other hand to force him to look at her. She was shocked to see pain and sadness in those usually warm and happy eyes.
"Julio, what are you not telling me?" Hermione asked. She felt tears threatening to fall from her eyes, though she didn't know why.
"Hermione, your parents are dead."
End Flashback
And so here she was with Julio. It was the day after the burial, and Hermione was still in hysterics. They were sitting on the sofa in the Granger's large living room. Julio tried to stop her tears, but they just kept on falling.
The life that she so carefully laid out was torn before her eyes. Her parents, the people who she was doing this all for, were dead. She knew she had to move on. She told herself that many times, but saying and doing were two different things. It was easy to tell herself to move on, but it was hard to actually do it.
"Hermione, it's going to be alright. You will always have me," Julio said while soothing her by rubbing her back, "I'm going to be your big brother. I will protect you, and always make you happy."
"Thanks Julio, I know that I could always count on you," Hermione replied while forcing a small smile on her lips.
"That's better. Now, if I remember right, you want to open that box you told me about?" Julio said.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot about that," Hermione said.
She stood up to walk towards her room.
Her parents willed everything to her. She was filthy rich now, but somehow it seemed like everything that she has means nothing anymore.
She glanced up and realized that even with all those thoughts in her head, she managed to get to her room. She sat down and stared at the blanket covering the box, which she laid on her bed. She wrapped it in the blanket of the bassinet when she took it out, afraid that something might happen to her if she touches it directly.
"So open it," Julio urged. He had been filled with curiosity ever since Hermione told him about the mysterious box.
"Okay," Hermione agreed as she reached out to take off the blanket and open the box.
'Why do I get the feeling that the content of this box is going to shape my future?' Hermione thought to herself.
It was then that she reached her hand out to touch the emblem on the box.