Hello readers! So, I haven't written any fan fiction in a while - and never for HP -, but I'm jumping back into it and this is the first chapter of a little something I've been working on. I hope you guys like it.

Disclaimer: Obviously, the Harry Potter series and its characters belong to the wonderful JK Rowling. I only borrow them on occasion.

Chapter 1

Summer in London was boring.

Up until last year, her parents made an effort to spend time as a family during the summer; going on trips and taking time off and just being with her. And Hermione knew it was never genuine – or at least, it wasn't as genuine as she knew some other families' holidays were – but her mum and dad's valiant attempts, for her, always made up for the fact that they didn't truly enjoy doing those things.

Of course, she'd known two weeks into this past school year that even the small hint of family bonding they all experienced together over her breaks would end this summer. Since September 19th, her birthday, when instead of spotting the well cared-for school owl bringing her a large package from her parents; two tawny creatures swooped and landed in front of her beans and toast, each carrying their own medium-sized package.

She'd been childishly elated for about half a second, wondering why her parents had sent her two gifts this year, before remembering that their gifts were usually packages of sugar-free snacks, gift cards to Muggle bookstores, and perhaps some new jumpers picked out by her mother – really nothing to get excited about.

"Whoa, Hermione," Ron had laughed, leaning over to examine the packages. "Do you always get so many presents from your parents?"

And Hermione had laughed, wondering the same thing herself. "I'm not really sure," She'd smiled, confused, reaching to open the first package. "They usually just send me one."

Ron and Harry had peeked into the box, raising their eyebrows at the usual loot of healthy snacks and clothes. "Well that seems about right," Ron joked. "What's in the other one?"

She'd opened that one as well, frowning at finding virtually the same things in this one – the one difference being that the jumpers included in this one were a bit more hideous.

"Did they send a double by mistake?" Ron frowned.

Hermione shook her head, a cold feeling settling in her stomach – this wasn't right. "I don't understand," She whispered, reaching for what she now realized was a letter with only her mother's name written next to the sender information.

"Well, good for you, isn't it?" Harry said kindly, realizing something was wrong with her reaction.

"Yeah, Hermione, you love these foul snacks," Ron added, examining a package of sugar-free gummies. "Your parents must have thought you'd want extras to make it through your OWL year."

But Hermione wasn't listening anymore, her eyes focused on her mother's elegant handwriting, explaining that she and her father had been unofficially separated for the better part of the year, and had agreed on a divorce just last week.

She stared at the letter blankly, wondering how to feel. A divorce? Surely that was an overreaction?

Of course it wouldn't change her life that much, she barely saw her parents as it was, but still…A divorce. How had things gotten so bad right under her nose?

Hermione had sat silently, mechanically eating her beans, and passed the letter to Harry then listened dumbly as he explained to Ron what a divorce was. She nodded at their quiet apologies as they helped her take the packages back to Gryffindor tower, then sat still in her room, still undecided on what reaction she would show the world.

Eventually, Hermione had gone back down to meet the boys in the common room, a smile on her face and an "I'm fine" on her lips. She'd shrugged it off, explaining that it wasn't unexpected, and proceeded to ignore the strange guilt in her chest for the rest of the term. Or, year really, considering she'd avoided going home for Christmas.

So here she was, in her father's new flat in London, one month into the summer, staring at herself in the mirror and wondering what boring thing she could do on this boring day in boring old London after her father went to work.

"Good morning, daddy," She greeted him with a kiss to the cheek in the kitchen.

"'Morning poppet," Richard Granger smiled at her. "Plans for today?" He asked, eyeing her jeans and sneakers with confusion. She always came out for breakfast still in her pajamas.

"I think I might go out for a bit," Hermione shrugged. "Explore."

"Really?" He set the paper down and grinned. "London or your magic town?"

She rolled her eyes. "Magic town? If you mean Diagon Alley, no, I don't think I'll go there."

"Oh? And why not?"

A pause. Why not?

"I don't want to run into anyone," She explained, deciding on honesty. "It's nice to just be by yourself sometimes."

He nodded, accepting her words. "Well, be careful then love. London's a big city. If you get lost or want to be picked up, just find a payphone and call the office. Or your mother," He added as an afterthought.

"Mum's in Paris," Hermione corrected him, flashing back to her mother's apologetic explanations of needing some time off work and off England and off her daughter, apparently.

She headed out soon after her father left for work, pulling on a green jumper and throwing a backpack over her shoulder – she might decide to go to the library, after all.

Twenty minutes into her walk, Hermione was starting to think this was a bad idea. She'd seen nothing that interested her, and was beginning to feel like maybe she should've gone to Diagon Alley after all if only to have the company of one of her year-mates.

She stopped to buy a coffee and newspaper, figuring she'd sit in the park catching up on the Muggle world for a bit, then decide whether to go back home or to Diagon Alley.

Hermione sat down on a park bench, opposite a boy in a hoodie bopping his head to his Walkman and sliding a skateboard with his feet.

Why shouldn't she go to Diagon Alley? Hermione sipped her coffee and considered it. There was nothing wrong with wanting some company. She'd been alone since the start of summer, and it was perfectly normal to want socialization. But…The magical world was so…fucked up, she thought ruefully, saying the words over and over in her mind because there was simply no other way to put it. The magical world was completely and utterly fucked up right now, and was it wrong to just want to be a normal teenager for once? Not one worried about Voldemort and Death Eaters and prophecies, not one running around with Harry battling evil wizards and getting injured and seeing people die. No. For once, Hermione Granger wished she could leave the magical world behind, if only for a month, and worry about normal teenage girl things like clothes and boys.

As if hearing her thoughts, the boy next to her suddenly inched a bit closer.

"Looking for a place to live?" He asked, grinning.

She looked up sharply, wondering if she knew this boy. What? A place to live?

"Um, your paper," He added, abashed. "You're looking at flats."

Hermione looked back down at the newspaper in her hands to see that indeed, it was open to the housing ads. "Oh! No, I-I was lost in thought, I guess."

"I figured," The boy nodded. "You look far too young to be looking for a place of your own."

She stared at him, wondering what to make of that statement.

"Sorry, that sounded strange," He amended quickly, chuckling. "I'm Liam. I'm not a creep, I promise."

Hermione laughed, figuring he probably wasn't and it was safe to talk to him. What would an evil wizard be doing in Muggle London looking like an eighteen year old boy?

"Hermione," She stuck out her hand, and he shook it happily.

"So what were you thinking about?"

"Oh, I…I was just thinking about what to do today. My summer has been quite boring so far and I wanted to do something different."

He grinned. "Hey, I can help with that! You can come and skateboard with me. I could teach you."

"Oh, no," She giggled, shaking her head. "That doesn't sound like me at all. Skateboarding."

"Hey, you never know," Liam shrugged, still smiling. "Do you have any friends around?"

"No," Hermione shook her head sadly. "I-I go to a boarding school in Scotland, and none of my friends live in London."

"Well, if you like-"

She stopped listening to him, eyes wide as she saw a familiar figure walking a few feet away from them. What was he doing here?

Hermione jumped to her feet, thoughts of Liam forgotten.

"Professor!"

So, it's off to a bit of a slow start. I know a lot of people like Hermione to have really nice and kind and lovely parents waiting for her back home, and I don't want to make them terrible or anything like that, but I think it's not unreasonable to assume they had some issues, or were at least a bit distant. Hermione barely ever talks about them in the books, after all.

I'll try my hand at some Snape POV next chapter, though I think this story will mostly be Hermione POV. Snape is just so hard to write!

I'd love it if you told me your thoughts, my lovelies. Thanks for reading!