A Dark Secret

By: xIntoxicationx

Chapter One

Nightmares

Tossing and turning in her sleep, Hermione's long wavy chestnut hair spilled out across her golden velvet pillow slip as sweat gleamed on her brow and soft moans escaped from her slightly parted cherry coloured lips.

She was having a nightmare again, the exact same nightmare she had been having for the past two weeks.

In her dream she would always find herself in the same potion's classroom sitting next to the same, tall and lanky teenage boy with longish black and greasy hair. Somehow he would look so familiar yet she could never quite pin point out who he was or why she felt this strange attraction to him, before the dream would suddenly change. Once the room had stopped spinning she would realise that she was in fact, somehow in a yet another familiar setting (not that she could ever recall physically being present in this particular setting in her life) it just sort of felt vaguely familiar and comforting.

After looking around she would spot a little baby boy with dark brown messy hair and big beautiful green eyes. "Mamma", it would call out to her.

Just as she would reach the baby to pick it up, she would become surrounded by a large mass of death eaters and none other than Dark Lord himself. Screaming while trying to protect the baby the dream would come to an end in a cloud of green smoke and loud curse of, Avada Kedabra whirring in her ears.

The next morning Hermione woke up to the sound of her cat crookshanks purring loudly by her ear; playfully she wrapped her arms around her beloved cat and stroked his fur gently.

"I'm up, I'm up", she laughed as Crookshanks wriggled free from his captives arms and let out a soft "meow".

She slowly rubbed her eyes and stretched her legs sensually, staring at her soft budding curves hiding behind her tight night dress. She gave a loud sigh, and quickly rose from her bed, she had a long day today, and not even Harry or Ron were going to

spoil it.

That morning the great hall was bustling with anxious students, scurrying around, repeating various incantations underneath their breaths or potion lists in obvious hope that it would stick in their mind by the time the first exam began.

Steering herself round the Slitherin table over to where her friends were seated along the middle of the Griffindor table, she couldn't help but take a peek over to where the staff where seated. Just at that moment professor Snape caught her eye, glared at her and then continued eating his breakfast as if she were not there at all.

"Morning M'ione", Ron managed say, in-between scribbling messy notes onto a stained parchment, as she squeezed herself in between her two best friends.

Morning Ron, Harry", she replied, quiet aware that Harry was far too busy re-reading his potion book for the potions N.E.W.T exam he had in less than thirty minutes to answer her.

As Hermione started piling bacon and eggs onto her plate Ginny appeared behind Harry and planted a soft, but passionate kiss on his neck.

As if electrified, Harry turned to the culprit and keenly pressed Ginny's lips to his own. "Gee Hermione grinned, I guess if I want Harry's attention I'll have to the same", she giggled. Harry turned and looked at Hermione and blushed.

"Sorry M'ione, I was so busy studying I didn't realise you were there", he looked down guiltily." That's alright", Hermione teased, "but next time, how about you study the night before instead of cramming?" At that she jumped out of her seat and with her arms laden with books and a piece of toast wedged between her teeth, scampered off, muttering "Oh I must be off my next exam in an hour and I need to research just one ancient ruin's question I couldn't quite understand",

As she hurried through the silent corridors, quietly going over every possible answer to the question she couldn't understand she didn't notice a black billowing cloak fluttering closer and closer towards her, and neither the owner of the billowing cloak notice her small figure rushing through the corridor, until… "Smack!"

Scrambling to the floor Hermione grabbed all of the potions master's papers she had pushed out of his arms.

"Miss Granger", Professor Snape hissed. "If you remembered for once in your miserable excuse of a life that you are a witch rather than a common muggle you would realise we use wands to s.a.v.e. time instead of crawling on the ground looking like a floundering imbecile" he sneered.

Blushing uncontrollably, Hermione staggered to her professor's side clutching half of his partially crunched papers. "Sorry sir", she mumbled softly looking down at the floor. Just at that moment she realised her skirt was ripped up the side exposing her left thigh and a tiny inch of pale blue silk. "Oh Gods", she half mumbled, half swore as she tried to cover up her nakedness with her professors notes. Professor Snape didn't know whether to be mortified or interested. He noticed that Miss Grangers skin was smooth and soft looking, peach in colour and suited the pale blue of her undergarments quite nicely. Shaking his head slightly he pulled all emotion from his face.

"Miss Granger, once again in a space of five minuets you have forgotten the use of your wand, however seeing that this is an embarrassing situation I will over look this error as long as you n.e.v.e.r speak of this to anyone, including your two idiot friends. With that he flicked his wand casually and Hermione's skirt instantly repaired itself…

Still looking stone shocked, Hermione stood absolutely stock still as her potions master gently pulled his notes from his trembling, young students hands, turned on his heel and disappeared from view.

Sitting cross legged on her bed that evening, Hermione tried in vain not to let her sobs be heard. She had managed to hold in the embarrassment she had felt for being so clumsy in front of her professor that morning, but now that she was alone in her head girl room she couldn't shake away the stream of falling tears that slid down her cheeks…

Why did I have to be so damn clumsy? She thought.

And if I had to be clumsy, why on earth did it have to be in front of that greasy git professor Snape of all people!

….

After a long cry and a quick shower, Hermione had decided not to tell a soul about what happened earlier on that morning. Instead she found herself a quiet room and did what she did best; she immersed herself once again into her study, forgetting the time entirely until she noticed the coolness of the temperature. "Mmm", she wondered out loud, "the fire must have gone out". Rubbing her cool arms she looked around and realised where she was, she was not in the Griffindor spare room as she had thought, but in one of the many spare rooms dotted around the enormous castle.

As she anxiously gazed at her muggle watch she smacked her head. "Aghh, it's after curfew and I have no idea as to which part of the castle I am in, how on earth could I be so careless? If I get caught I'll most likely receive detention with Mr Filch, and my record will be ruined!" With that she packed her books, parchment and quills soundlessly and jogged out of the room.

"Halfway there, halfway there", she panted.

"Damnable Gods", she cursed as she accidentally kicked her foot into a statue.

"Quite right Miss Granger, quite right", replied a soft whisper from behind.

"Prey tell me Miss Granger as to what, our beloved Griffindors Head girl is doing out way after curfew?"

"Um, patrolling... Err, Sir? She replied meekly, trying to stop herself from shaking so much.

"Mmm, that would make sense you see, however patrolling stopped, let me see, mm three hours ago!"

I'm so sorry Sir you see, I was stud…She trailed off as she saw Professor Snape push a skeletal finger to his lips.

"Detention Miss Granger", he spoke quietly. "8pm, potions room". With that he frowned and turned to leave.

"Just one more thing Miss Granger", he spoke over his shoulder, "It would do you good to cease lying to your professors. And what's more next time you decide to hide away from your friends in a classroom stay away from the Slitherin side, I'm quite sure I have this side covered, however if you do continue hiding in these rooms, you will be caught, because I patrol this area and I never sleep!" with that he was gone.

That night, when she had finally reached her room and fallen asleep she found herself in the same dream yet again, her body twisting and turning, sweat plastered her locks of hair to her face and neck while rasps and moans escaped her lips. However the ending was not quite the same as the previous nights, instead of ending with the final death curse being thrown at her and her baby she swirled back into yet another dream frame where her mother was giving birth to her, and saying what a beautiful Lilly she would be. Lilly?

Thank the Gods that just at that moment her father walked in and reminded Jane (her mother) that they had already decided to call their daughter Hermione.