-waves- Why, hello there! You seem to have wandered into one of my older stories. Not a good choice, I assure you…but don't leave just yet! I have decided to rewrite this story. Maybe this will be an ongoing process, so in 10 years, it will be a masterpiece!! (doubtful)

On to the plot summary!

Take yourself outside the boundaries of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter for one moment…

This is an alternate dimension. Ron and Hermione have never met...there is no Hogwarts or Platform 9 ¾. It is a new town with new people. Some familiar names may pop up here and there, and some of the relationships will be changed, but don't get your panties in a wad--all will be fine.

Enjoy!

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Precarious Silence

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Chapter 1

"I hate you. You are the only reason I'm not happy!"

"Me? Oh, blame everything on me!"

The slam of a door echoed through the house and shook the pictures in the hallway. Hermione sat in the corner of her room, knees clutched tightly to her chest. She hummed softly to herself. She hated the noise, the constant shouting…she'd been enduring her family's fights silently for the past month, but her sanity was beginning to crack beneath the tension.

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't let dad die...if you hadn't…" Ginny was sobbing violently inside her room.

"Don't ever mention that again do you hear me?" Hermione's mother gripped Ginny's doorknob and twisted it back and forth. "I said do you hear me? Open this door instantly, young lady!"

Hermione clenched her fists, digging her nails into the sleeves of her shirt. She took a deep breath, stood, and grabbed her coat. Her mother looked up as she stepped into the hall.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Out where? It's nearly dark."

Hermione didn't respond. She stuffed her feet into a pair of Ginny's tight sneakers and bolted out the door.

"Hermione! Get back in here. I will not allow this family to fall apart!" Her mother's sobs followed her down the porch steps.

Away…away…her mind screamed as she ran full speed into the immense wheat field.

She could barely see through the tears that clouded her vision, but it didn't matter. She knew the way so well.

A familiar worn out path led to a small clearing in the pine trees. The setting sun peeked through low-lying bushes and glinted on the polished surface of a tombstone. It had only been a month since his death, and the grave already looked abandoned and forgotten. She sunk down to the ground angrily pulling up the weeds that had started to grow on the mound of red dirt.

"You have no idea how much trouble you've caused us by leaving…" Hermione rubbed her nose on the back of her sleeve. She looked up and read the engraved writing for the millionth time.

Granger

1953-2004

Her mother had spared no expense on words.

"A word, a phrase, anything would have sufficed. It's unfair to keep you a secret from passersby." She sighed, letting her anger pass as she took in her surroundings. "But I love it here…"

She felt truly at peace here among the pines. The pine needles rested in a pile next to her father's headstone, and she fell back, stretching her arms towards the sunset-colored clouds.

Hermione closed her stinging eyes and listened to the soft breeze as it filled her nose with a sweet scent.

Something cold splashed against her face. She opened her eyes and gasped; dark luminous clouds had covered the sunset in a matter of moments. Or had she slept…?

All around she heard the sound of rain droplets hitting leaves and the ground beside her. A great roll of thunder shook the ground. The sky was lit up by a streak of lightning. It was all a beautiful symphony! She stood as the wind began to blow fiercely, and she gasped as the clouds suddenly opened to release torrents of freezing rain.

Two flashes lit up the sky simultaneously…

CRACK.

Orange sparks lit up the dark clearing. She froze. A giant oak creaked as flames began to lick the splintered wood. Time seemed to slow; the bark blackened in the sudden blaze that consumed it, and the tall flames hissed in the driving sheets of rain

Hermione suddenly gasped for air as gray smoke filled her nose and mouth. Another SNAP and loud creaking reverberated through the air. Panicked, she took a step backwards and suddenly tripped over one of the oak's roots. The breath was knocked from her lungs as she collided with the hard ground. Wind cleared the smoke, but her stomach clenched tightly when her vision was restored.

The tree began to topple, its heart weakened greatly by the flames. The gravestone lay in its path…

"Father…NO!" Her words were whisked away with the wind.

The immense trunk shuddered and groaned as it began its descent. The vision of a crumbled gravestone entered her thoughts, but soon all she knew was darkness and pain as two arms lifted her from the mud.

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-sigh- I feel so much better, don't you?

Well, you should, too because I love refurbishing my old stories. It leads to new possibilities and a better enjoyment overall. I hope you won't mind re-reading this story…and I'm not expecting huge feedback. This is mostly just fun for me.

So…deal with it!