Hello all! It's been a while since I've been on this site, a couple of years I think. Feeling nostalgic after finding my old phone and laptop, I figured 'what the heck? Lets publish those chapters you've had lying around!' So, I'll be publishing the original version of A Dark Past (which I published on Wattpad) before I had replaced it with another version of the same name on Fanfiction. net (which is now entitled 'Oblivious' if you were wondering). I hope you enjoy what I have so far!
...
An Orphanage, September 19th 1979
Shrill wailing and cries could be heard from across the barred, silver gates where two cloaked figures stood. Each of their faces were masked, concealing their true identity and the loose, black cloaks gave nothing away. The figures stood beside each other, with the taller of the two wrapping his arms around the smaller one's frame. No affection was put into it; the gesture was merely for show.
The baby in her arms was a ghostly pale bundle, shivering and shifting uncomfortably in her mother's arms every once in a while in search for much needed body warmth, for human contact.
The couple paid barely any notice to the young infant and walked through the gates to the small brick building. They walked regally up the stone stairs of the entrance, radiating power off their rigid forms. They knocked once, taking off their masks and cloaks and revealing simple muggle clothing while they waited for an answer from within. Two minutes passed and, as they were just about to make a resigned (yet relieved) exit, the door slowly creaked open to reveal a young woman in her mid-twenties carrying a lamp and clad in a fluffy, pink robe. Honestly, the woman looked ridiculous.
"Oh- hello," she said, her blue eyes startled at their arrival, but clouded over with wanton lust as she caught sight of the young man stood in front of her. She flattened down her unruly blond tresses self-consciously. Forcing a yawn back down to try and sound at least a bit professional, she asked, "What can I do for you?" Secretly wishing she could do a lot more for him, if anything.
He smiled, biting down a grimace and stepped through the half-open door uninvited, his companion following close behind. "We want to give you our child. We can no longer afford to raise her due to financial difficulties," the man said smoothly like he had already practiced it thousands of time in his head. If you knew him well enough like his companion did, you would be able to tell he didn't care. It was all in the eyes. He was a very good actor. But maybe it was just her imagination, maybe he really did care. "Winnie, say goodbye to her. We must go," he ordered softly into her ear.
The woman nodded and placed a tender kiss on her child's forehead for the last time. She stared at her sleeping form, deeply embedding the soft, relaxed features on her face into her memory and locked it in a proverbial safe. She managed to keep her emotions in check as she passed her daughter over to a stranger. "Look after her."
The care worker gaped and nodded dumbly in response. She couldn't believe she was going to leave her only daughter with a stupid muggle woman like her. She sighed and followed her 'husband's' retreating form.
She just managed to reach the door handle when the muggle filth placed her hand on her shoulder. Barely managing to hold back an animalistic growl, she span back round to glare at the woman. "What?" she spat, nearly smirking as she heard the care worker audibly gulp.
"W-what's... What's her name?" She finally got out.
"Hermione. Her surname is unimportant now she wont be living with us," she added, knowing what her next question was going to be. Muggles-They were all so predictable. "She was born on the 19th, September, 1979."
Walking out the door without speaking another word, the ebony haired woman placed the golden mask back on and let a lone tear fall across her concealed face. She'd never forgive herself for doing that. Her only daughter and she had given her up, to muggles no less! She deserved the finest, richest muggle family that would spoil her and treat her well, not some pathetic muggle orphanage!
"Let her go. It's for the best," a voice said, taking her out of reverie. Oh yes, she had forgotten she wasn't alone.
"I..." her voice cracked and she couldn't find the strength- nor bravery that those blasted Gryffindors possessed- to utter a comprehensible sentence. Unexpectedly, two strong arms wrapped themselves around her thin torso.
"I didn't want to let her go either," he murmured into her ear.
And, somehow, she knew he meant it.