Chapter One
Hermione Granger rushed down the corridor hugging a large book to her chest as she made her way to Gryffindor tower. It was the middle of the second week of her seventh year at Hogwarts. The book wrapped in the Head Girl's arms was the new edition of Hogwarts: A History which had a semi-detailed description of the Last Battle in which Harry brought down Lord Voldemort in Hogwarts grounds. Hermione couldn't wait to show Harry and Ron the list of Order members who fought in the Last Battle that had been included. Hermione had magically marked the page so she could flip straight to it when she found the boys.
Up ahead, Hermione heard the unmistakable laugh of Ginny Weasley. No doubt laughing at something Harry or Ron had said. "Ginny! Harry! Ronald!" Hermione shouted as she began to run, not wanting to loose the rapidly fading voices.
As she passed them, Hermione caught patches of what the portraits were saying: "What a disgrace - "
" – being Head Girl and all!"
" – running in the corridors, why, back when - "
Ignoring them Hermione sped up, taking the stairs in two's. She caught a glimpse of long red hair and the back of a black haired student moving around the corner as she neared the top of the stairs.
"Ginny!" Hermione panted, worn out from all the running. "Ha- "
The name died on her lips as Hermione mistakenly went to place her foot on none other than the vanishing step. Hermione fell. She threw her weight back as she felt herself falling forwards, trying to regain her balance, but she was too rough and ended up overbalancing. A strangled cry parted with Hermione as she realised there was nothing she could do to stop herself falling all the way back down the stairs.
The black-haired seventh year and his two redhead companions spun around as they heard a strange noise behind them. Harry was the first to see one of his two best friends falling down the steps, a heavy book encased in her arms.
"HERMIONE!!" he bellowed as she fell, already too far away for him, Ron or Ginny to reach and getting faster as the weight of her body and the book took up momentum.
Hermione felt herself tumble downwards, flopping about like a rag-doll. To her everything happened in slow motion until just before she hit the bottom of the stairwell. As she fell those last few steps one thought crossed her mind; "at least my wand is protected by my book". All of a sudden everything sped up. Hermione's vision went blurry as everything rushed past her and then it went black.
As soon as Hermione disappeared from view, Harry Ron and Ginny raced down the stairs after her. Two thirds of the way down they heard the sickening thud of Hermione's head hitting the stone floor below. Rushing to Hermione's side Harry grabbed her shoulders and shook them.
"Come on 'Mione, wake up. Please wake up. Wake up 'Mione. Come on girl, don't do this to us"
"Harry," Ginny's tear choked voice said softly "Harry, we need to get her to the hospital wing."
Not moments after Ginny had stopped speaking, the fine gold chain around Hermione's neck began to glow. It got brighter and Ron noticed it. "Look!" was all he managed to say before the light was so bright it was blinding. In a flash, the light vanished, along with Hermione. All that was left of the accident was a few spots of blood on the floor where Hermione's head had been.
"Professor, I told you already. I found her lying in the entrance hall at the bottom of the stairs. She was wearing Gryffindor house badges on her robes and a Head Girl badge just like mine. She was clutching onto that big book with a wand pressed between her and the book."
Lily Evans shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, sat behind his desk looking thoughtfully at the Head Girl. Professor McGonagall stood stiffly by the Headmasters desk, a look of great concern on her face.
"Albus," Professor McGonagall began "I believe you have gathered all the information from Miss Evans that you can. She clearly knows nothing more. Why are you holding her here?"
Professor Dumbledore opened his mouth in reply but was cut off when the Head Boy burst into his office.
"Professor Dumbledore," he panted "Madam Pomfrey said to get you. The girl is waking up"
Hermione lay still. Around her she could feel crisp bed linen. Somewhere near there was a soft humming. The voice sounded gentle and warm, like a mother's. Hermione tried to open her eyes to see where she was but they felt like they had been glued shut. She tried to lift her hand to rub her eyes but again, movement seemed impossible. The humming stopped.
"Don't worry dear, you'll soon have movement again. Everything is just stiff from you being in bed for so long." The voice said, definitely female. Then softer, like the owner had turned around and lowered their voice, Hermione heard "Mr Potter, go get the Headmaster immediately. Tell him that she is waking up."
"On my way," said a much younger, but clearly male voice. The next thing Hermione heard was the sound of a door banging shut, and fading footsteps.
"Students!" the motherly voice exclaimed, "When will they learn that this is a place of healing and that being quiet is a necessity? Oh, just a moment dear. I'll go get a potion that'll help loosen your muscles so you can at least have some movement when the Headmaster arrives."
Soon Hermione could feel the rim of a cup being pressed against her lips. "Here you go dear, drink this." Doing as she was told, Hermione let the warm liquid slide down her throat. Moments later, there was a strange tingle running down her arms and legs and warmth filled her body. In hearing the door open once again, Hermione tried to open her eyes, this time succeeding. Although everything was fuzzy, Hermione saw a black haired boy walk up to what looked like a nurse.
"He's on his way, Madam Pomfrey," the boy said. Hermione noticed it was the same boy's voice that she had heard earlier. Hermione looked straight at the blurry image of the boy.
"Harry?" she asked, her voice raspy and weak as though it hadn't been used for awhile. The sound surprised both the boy and the nurse.
"Who is Harry?" A deep but gentle voice enquired from the doorway. No one had noticed the Headmaster arriving along with Professor McGonagall and Lily Evans in tow.
"Who is Harry?" He said again, walking to the side of the bed and drawing himself a chair.
"I…he…" Hermione tried to think, remember, but nothing was there. Her mind was blank. "I…don't know." She kept trying to remember something, anything. Her body was being very slow and she was confused. Nothing seemed to make sense. Where was she? What was she doing here? Who was she? So many questions but Hermione could find no answers. The man in the chair next to her was watching Hermione's face as all these thoughts ran through her mind.
"Look at me please," he said. Hermione obeyed. The nurse and the boy had both called this man "the Headmaster" so she knew that he must run some kind of school, which would explain the two teenagers standing at the end of her bed. Looking, Hermione saw that he was an elderly man. He had a long beard which was beginning to go white and his eyes were sapphire blue. As he looked at her over his half moon spectacles, Hermione saw a comforting twinkle in his eyes. She felt her rapidly spinning mind slow down and the panic which had risen in her chest disappeared.
"My name is Professor Dumbledore." The headmaster said gently. "I am the Headmaster of this school. If you ever need help with anything, please come to me. I need to ask you some things. If you don't feel up to answering questions, I do understand, but there are a few things which I need to know. Do you understand?"
Hermione nodded. "Can I ask some of my own questions too?"
Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "If you wish my dear. May I begin by asking your name?"
"M…my, name?" she stuttered. Hermione realised that she couldn't recall much about herself at all. The girl at the end of the bed stepped forward and took something out of her pocket.
"When I found you, you were wearing this. Does it help you?" she said, placing a fine gold chain in Hermione's hand. Hermione looked at the girl. She had long red hair and vibrantly green eyes that were full of concern.
"Um…" Hermione averted her gaze to the necklace. It was a fine gold chain with a gold heart pendant. On one side of the heart there was the letter "H", on the other side was a coat of arms. "H" she muttered more to herself than the others around her. "H…Her…Hermione!" she suddenly said triumphantly, smiling. "That's my name, Hermione. But," the smile faded "I don't know of a last name. This coat of arms, could it be my family's?"
Professor Dumbledore lent over. "May I see?"
Hermione placed the necklace in his hand. Dumbledore then held it up to the light to inspect it. "I do believe," he said smiling, handing the necklace back to Hermione "that this is the Gryffindor Crest. No, no, my dear Hermione, this is not your family's coat of arms."
"Oh. Um, what's Gryffindor?"
The tall, somewhat stiff, lady behind Professor Dumbledore stepped forward. "If I may, Professor?" she asked.
"Of course!" He chuckled, standing and letting the woman take his seat.
"My name is Professor McGonagall." She began. "In this school there are four houses; Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin. The students are sorted into each house when they first arrive. Each house has a head. I am the Head of Gryffindor. To be sorted into a house, you must have the right qualities. The qualities of Gryffindors are bravery, loyalty and courage. Many people keep little mementos of the house that they had been sorted into even after they have left school. This necklace of yours says to me that you are a Gryffindor who had this made or given to you as your memento."
Hermione looked down at the necklace, processing all that she had so far been told. "That means I must be a student here." She said to no one in particular. "What do you teach here?"
"This school is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Professor McGonagall said proudly.
"Does that make me a witch?"
"Yes, Hermione, it does. Do you know how old you are?"
"Um…I don't know. I can't remember when my birthday is."
"Professor Dumbledore," the nurse said, "I know a spell that can tell the age of an underage witch or wizard. Would that help?"
Professor Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Yes Poppy, that may just work."
The nurse took out her wand and stationed herself on the other side of Hermione's bed. "This'll just take a moment dear, try not to move." A soft purple glow emitted from the end of her wand. The nurse muttered to herself. "Well," she said after a minute "She's still sixteen but not by much. I'd say her birthday is sometime in the next two weeks."
"What's the date?" Hermione asked.
"It's the tenth of September. School term started on the first." The redhead girl answered.
"What year does that put me in?"
"Seventh, I'd guess by your age. Is she going to stay in Gryffindor, Professor?"
Professor Dumbledore looked at Professor McGonagall, eyebrow raised.
"Yes Miss Evans. I believe Hermione will be in Gryffindor. However, she cannot go to classes just yet," said Professor McGonagall. "Miss Evans, Mr Potter, please return to your dormitory. Professor Dumbledore and I have some things to discuss and Hermione needs rest. I will talk with you later. Do not, by all means, tell anyone about Hermione. Understood?" She looked sternly at the two Heads.
"Yes, Professor," they said in unison.
Professor McGonagall then turned to the nurse. "Poppy, you can retire to your office for now. We'll call you when we leave." The nurse nodded and went through a door into a little room. The two Heads also took their leave. As they reached the door, Hermione called out.
"Goodbye! It was nice meeting you!"
When the door had closed, Professor Dumbledore turned once more to Hermione. "Hermione, as the school year has just begun, it won't be hard for you to fit in, in classes and such. Tell me, can you remember anything of who you are? What you were doing before you fell down the stairs?"
Hermione looked up at the Professors, panic evident on her face. "Sir, I have been thinking about this the whole time, trying to remember anything at all, but it's as though my memory doesn't exist. There's simply nothing there!"
"Calm down Hermione" Professor Dumbledore said softly. "Look at me. Now, I am going to do a thing call Legilimency, where I enter your thoughts to see what's there. Please do not block me."
Hermione nodded. In a moment she felt another presence in her head. Everything in her told her to push it away, but she resisted and let Professor Dumbledore "look" around. Suddenly, Hermione felt extremely tired.
"Thank you Hermione." The Headmaster said, sounding calm but looking almost alarmed. "Get some rest now." He then stood up and called Professor McGonagall into a corner. Hermione rolled over and closed her eyes, thinking of sleep, but what she heard caused all thoughts of sleep to leave her mind.
"Minerva," Professor Dumbledore's voice softly said, "she doesn't have amnesia as Poppy had thought. The poor girl only has one long term memory, and it's very blurry, almost non-existent. All her other memories are only what she has experienced since she woke up. It's almost as if Hermione didn't exist until Lily Evans found her."
A/N: This is my first fanfic, so I'd love it if people would review and tell me what they think. I'm also open to ideas if you have any (doesn't mean I'll use them but if I like them alot/they're cool or they fit in with my plan then I just may add them!). I'd like to thank my bestfriend Laz for editing this. Thank you for reading, and plz review!