AN: Okay, so this is something new... Haven't even finished the third story, and I'm writing the fourth, lol :) As you guess, it's set in the Mudblood's Daughter's Universe, with one massive difference. It's also set in the Origional books. So here's the deal, it's sort of a prologue, only set between The Scorpion's Fall, and the Hallow's Horcruxes :) Enjoy
The Mudblood's Daughter and the Vanishing Cabinet
"Hello? I'm looking for Mister Borgin?" Hermione called out, looking behind the dusty counter into the back room of the shop. There was a shuffling noise, and Hermione gasped when the oily, smooth-talking man appeared out of nowhere from behind her. Hermione held a hand to her chest, her heart beating wildly, before she gave him an uneasy smile. He leered at her, and Hermione shifted uncomfortably. "Are you Mister Borgin?"
"Yes, Miss, I am. And what, may I do for such a charming creature as yourself," he drawled, his eyes coasting over her form like a leech. Hermione scrunched up her nose in disgust, before handing him a letter that Draco had received by owl. As his eyes flit over the parchment, his gaunt, shadowed features paled, and he looked at Hermione, slightly terrified. "Madame Malfoy. I did not know... What can I d-do for you?" he stammered, slightly shaken. Hermione frowned, and nodded unsure of the man's reaction.
"Yes, I actually wish to see the Cabinet, if that is possible. For... sentimental value, as it seems," Hermione proposed, and the man nodded rapidly, gesturing for her to follow him into the back of the dank, dusty old shop. Apprehensive, Hermione followed the lank, thin man through to the back of the shop, careful to avoid any unidentifiable objects, and touching the dirty walls around her. Her blouse was peach, and her cloak pale blue, if she got dirt on them, it would never come out. He led her through a door, that they both had to crouch slightly to get through, and was nearly falling off it's hinges, before they came into a large, although it was full of clutter and mess.
At the centre of it all, ominous and dark, stood the cabinet, towering over her diminutive form, almost threatening. Hermione felt dwarfed compared to it, and ran her fingers over the door, fascinated and also fearful. Dark magic hummed from it, and Hermione felt the scars on her form begin to burn at it's power. Her nimble fingers grasping at the doors latch, she bit her lip, before opening it and peering into the darkness of the aged cabinet. Borgin watched her, his eyes narrowed as dark thoughts began to go through his mind.
It would be the perfect revenge... just push her in... no one would know... Malfoy would be devastated... it would be the ultimate pay back for what he and his family did to me... Borgin thought, his eyes growing dark. His fists clenched, and a cold scowl formed on his lips, as Hermione turned to speak to him. Her eyes widened at his expression, before he shoved her into the cabinet. Hermione screamed, her fear of enclosed spaces surfacing, and he slammed the door on her. She heard the latch lock, and called out, reaching into her robes for her wand. She began a spell, but froze when she felt a pull and tumbled backwards.
She shuddered at the sudden cold chill that overcame her, and pushed on the door, peering through the small crack she made. Broken, damaged furniture and books upon books stacked high to a seemingly endless ceiling filled her vision, and dread slowly started to fill her as she realized just where she was.
She pushed the door open further, and placed her feet on the floor of the room, her blue ankle-boot's heels clicking against the stone flooring. The hem of her cloak brushed against the ground, and she smoothed down her navy blue pencil skirt, biting her lip. She tucked her wand into the back of her skirt, and looked around, trying to find her way out the room. As if sensing her troubles, the clutter suddenly parted, allowing her a pathway to the door.
Closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath, she opened the door, and looked out. She was in Hogwarts.
"Oh Hermione, just sit still so I can apply the sleak-eazy! It won't work if you keep moving," Ginny giggled, as Hermione winced, Ginny tugging the brush through her tangled mess of hair, and applying sleak-eazy in large, healthy dollops. Hermione sighed, and forced herself to be as still as possible. Ginny looked at her in the mirror, before speaking. "Are you really going to Slughorn's party with McLaggen?"
Hermione scowled, nodding. "Well, yes, actually... I thought he would annoy Ronald the most, you see," Hermione explained, keeping her voice low, so Pavarti, who was sitting on her bed with Lavender, gossiping about her precious 'Won-Won', would not overhear. Ginny rose her eyesbrows, before shaking her head.
"Honestly, if you really wanted to make Ron mad, you should have invited Malfoy. That would have drove him absolutely crazy. Of course, it would upset Harry as well, so it would be counter-productive," Ginny sounded, and Hermione grimaced, yet didn't say anything, her hands folded in the lap of her green satin dress. She picked at the fishtail hem, gnawing on her lip until Ginny hit her across the back of her head. "Quit it, you will ruin you lipstick."
"Sorry..." Hermione mumbled, staring at her reflection. It was almost as if she wasn't looking at herself, as if it was a complete stranger looking back at her. Her hair was tamed into corkscrew, milk chocolate curls, and her make-up was perfect and unflawed. The dress fit her form perfectly, it's heart neckline revealing cleavage she didn't have, yet also still modest in a way. Ginny smirked into the mirror of the cluttered dressing table at the centre of the 6th Year Girls Dormitory.
"You're welcome," Ginny said smuggly, and Hermione flushed, nodding. "When you get back, I want all the details, understood?" Ginny joked, and Hermione rolled her eyes. She stood, smoothing down her skirt, and gave Ginny a quick hug. The long haired ginger beamed, her freckled cheek's pink. "You look amazing, do not worry about anything," Ginny assured her, and Hermione nodded, silently repeating it to herself. Ginny flipped her long, glorious orange tresses over her shoulder, and winking at Hermione. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Hermione replied, and Ginny laughed gently, before allowing Hermione to leave. Slowly, she descended the spiral staircase, looking around nervously for McLaggen, and silently hoping he would turn up, only for that to be dashed when she saw the kilted boy standing by the fireplace, boasting to whoever was listening about his 'Quidditch prowess'. In her mind, she berated herself for being such an idiot, as she pasted a smile onto her face.
"Hermione! You look brill!" Cormac stated, when he saw her, and Hermione gave him a tight smile, nodding. "Shall we go?" he asked, and Hermione had to stop herself going 'God no!' accepting his arm.
Hermione looked around, trying to spot someone she knew, and failing miserably. She was in Hogwarts? Surely it couldn't be that difficult to find someone she knew! She spun when she heard giggling, and turned to see a flash of dark brown hair as the person turned a corner, black robes swishing behind them. She frowned, running her hands through her hair in exasperation.
Footsteps suddenly echoed in the hallway, and she turned, her eyes hopefull, praying it was Jay or Theodore. Her eyes widened horifically when she saw just who it was. Walking towards her, encased in an emerald green dress, on Cormac McLaggen's arm, was her sixteen year old self.
