Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling

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Prologue: In the End, We're all alone.

What happens to a stamp when travel is done?
May it be of interest to someone?
Wonder where the stamp has been?
Can its message be read?
It has subjects without number.
They cause the mind to wonder.
Trace its message of when and where.
Enjoy the travels it has to share.

-Esther Thornburg

~o~

"Hermione Jane Granger, you get your ass down here, right now!" screamed Ms. Keel, Hermione's aunt. It had always been like this, they would scream, argue, and then her aunt would burst into tears causing Hermione to feel guilty. And then at the sounds of his mother's wailing, Hermione's cousin, Nathan, seventeen years old, would come running downstairs and scream at her. Sometimes, Nathan's anger would suppress his limits and he would strike Hermione. It was an ugly cycle that repeated itself over and over.

However, Hermione wasn't some stupid girl that took her beatings silently. She would scream back and thrash violently. Hermione Granger, the brightest witch to be seen in many centuries, was a Gryffindor through and through, and she proved it every day. Her spirit never broke even after the constant bullying attempts made by her own cousin.

It had all started during her Fourth year, Christmas break, when her parents were brutally murdered by Death Eaters. Unfortunately, she hadn't known until the end of the year, but she had felt it. Hermione and her parents had had always a strong relationship, so when she stopped receiving replies, in the middle of her fourth year, she had known something was wrong. Yet, she had pushed it back and instead focused on her studies and the Triwizard Tournament, and now she regretted it.

Cedric's death had affected everyone, whether indirectly or directly. She remembered the screams and the echoes of sobs, in the air. She remembered seeing Harry's terrified and heartbroken expression. It had hurt, but it had been nothing compared to arriving at the train station, and realizing her parents weren't coming. Somehow, reality had managed to slip through all her walls and knock on her door.

She clearly remembered that day. Hermione had arrived at the train station with Harry and Ron and all other students in a melancholy mood after Cedric's death. Harry had been very emotional, even the slightest laugh had made him angry and so both Ron and Hermione had deemed to remain silent. Ron, himself had seemed depressed and both boys stuck together on the trains station, long forgotten his argument with Harry. She remembered every so often Ron would grimace, in realization that the war was really close.

There had been no wind, no sun, and no loud chatter and if there had been, it all had seemed so distant. Everything had been so dull, the grey painted walls and the old brown rails had been more prominent than ever. It had been so dry. As if after gasping for breath from the deep plunge into reality, there was no comfort left. Even the bright orange haired Weasleys had seemed somber and to Hermione's eyes, their hair had become dull too in a matter of mere moments, now a rusty ginger color.

Mrs. Weasley had arrived, lacking her loud yells, quietly collected her children, but had dearly kissed Harry and Hermione on the forehead and had left the train station in a somber mood. Next came, Sirius Black, Harry's God father, who had hugged dear Harry affectingly, threatened the Dursleys and with a small wave to Hermione, he had escorted Harry home. Hermione all that time could not help but think how both Sirius and had avoided her gaze and had instead focused on the dull grey ground. Nonetheless, she had kissed Harry and Ron on the cheek and had told them her Goodbyes.

Then she had been left alone, on a bench by the side and outside the Hogwarts Express station. The train had been long dismissed after every single and to the last student had gotten of. Moments had passed by, turning in to minutes and eventually hours. The gloomy atmosphere turned from dry to chilly as her worries had increased. Her parents had never been late, they highly believed that attendance before the moment was important.

They're had been only two other students left, one girl and one boy, most probably siblings by the way they had sat. After another hour, she had simply sat there and watched as a muggle car arrived and screeched to a halt. The front door had opened, and a woman had come bustling out hugging both children and too soon she had been the only one left. But Hermione hadn't cared and she had waited, even after everyone had left the train station, keeping firm faith that her parents would come to pick her up. She had waited and waited and waited.

Then the wind outside the train station had become chillier and she had hugged her suit case to her chest, shivering from her worries and of course, the cold. The sun had disappeared only a half an hour ago and the last train of the day had been boarding its passengers when Hermione, to her immense disappointment, began to realize what had happened.

The courageous Gryffindor princess had sat there in shock for possibly minutes or even a half an hour, frozen like a statue before, even to her surprise, a lone tear had slid down her face. The tear had felt warm and unfamiliar as it trailed down her numb cheeks from the cold and landed right on top of her upper lip. Both the saltiness of her tear or her freezing body brought her no comfort and she began to shake.

Her silent tears began to turn into tiny sniffles and then great sobs and finally loud hysterical laughter as Hermione had fallen to her knees, abandoning her suit case. She hadn't known what to do as she laughed and pounded the hard cement ground in frustration and loss. Her throat began to parch and her fists throbbed in pain but she didn't want to stop or she did not know how because she remembered continuing on.

Slowly but when she did not know, she had pulled her self against a wall in the corner, and had pulled her knees up against her chest and sobbed her heart breaking tears out. She did not know if she had even gasped for breath during her break down began after a few moments, she had stopped sobbing but instead had gasped for deep breaths. Her chest had wheezed and her head had pounded against her skull. For the first time in her life, Hermione had been at loss; She had no where to go and only a little change in her pocket, how was she to manage? – And her pa-p-p-parents?

Confused and Panicking, Hermione had begun to scream.

"Hello!"

"Anyone?!"

"Please, God, I need Help!"

"HELP ME!"

She had not known what to do but keep screaming. She began yelling, she was panicking and stressing. She was all alone in a dark train station. She did not truly know what had happened to her parents.

"Please, Anyone!"

The station guards wouldn't understand and the muggle police would be no help, so Hermione had slowly walked back through platform 9 ¾ where Hogwarts express had just dropped her off hours ago, and then continued on to call for help. The place was magical; surely someone would come to her help.

"Anyone, Please I'm a Witch!"

And then finally, as a last attempt she did not why, but she had screamed her headmaster's name. "Headmaster DUMBLEDORE? Please!"

When she waited a few moments, but no one had come or no message arrived, she had given up. Once again falling to her knees, Hermione had begun to cry. Her luggage somewhere outside in the Muggle train station, and her only change, left in the zip of her small bag, she had not known what to do. She had been so confused, panicked, and so worried for her parent's well being, that her mind had failed to operate but let her cry her worries out. She did know why she had cried because Hermione never really cried, but all she remembered was that she had been so confused and she had continued to sob.

She did not know what time it had been or how long she had cried, but some time later when tears had continued to trail down but her mouth had ceased to let out a sound, and she had finally entered a trance. However Hermione remembered, hearing a small 'POP' in the distant and a few foot steps closing upon her. She remembered someone in deep purple robes caressing his beard and his sharp blue eyes observing her. She remembered hearing a sigh too, somewhere in the distance. And then finally what she did remember was a soft hand touching her shoulder and pulling her out of her deep trance.

"There, There" The man had spoken and Hermione could not help as she had hugged the old man's legs and continued to let tears steams down. He had patted her head affectingly before slowly crouching down to her face level.

"Ms. Granger," He had spoken slowly "I am deeply sorry to say that – tha"

He had cleared his throat before continuing "– Ms. Granger,"

And then he had broken of his speech again.

He then had started once again. "At the evening of December 30th, 1993, Mr. and Mrs. Granger were reported dead…"

She remembered ignoring him, and continuing on mourning for her unaware loss. But then she had slowly but surely finally come to a stop, and looked up at him, gathering and processing that her Headmaster stood before him. And then she had realized something. She remembered thinking that surely the great Dumbledore had known when her lovely parents had passed away, then why hadn't he told her earlier?

"But," As she moved her lips, no sound came out. Her throat had been parched and her voice had been stuck from its lack of use. However, she had cleared her throat, gathering some of her voice she had spoke again.

"December 30th?" She had hesitantly questioned. When no answer came from his mouth, she had continued.

"December 30th? But sir, that had been the day I had been helping you arrange the security guidelines for the Tri-wizard tournaments? Right sir?" And the old man had continued to be silent and his eyes darted side ways, looking every where except for her.

Moments had passed, and Hermione knew the brutal truth. But she could not help but wonder why.

"But why, sir?" Her voice had been low and had dearly yearned for water, but she had had to ask him.

As if reading her thoughts, he had replied, whispering with his head down, "My dear, sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good"

For the greater good… where had she heard that before' – she had wondered. Time seemed to stop and Hermione's mind went diving down to her feet. She remember smiling a sad smile and looking at her Headmaster with pity and even disgust. Her soft broken heart – still mourning for her parents, told her it wasn't her place, but Hermione's mind had relented. And right there and then Hermione had lost somewhat respect for Dumbledore. He was a manipulator and a human whom had tried to do well, but had failed and fallen into his selfish desires. And here he expected kids to accomplish what he couldn't do?!

Yet, this was life, as Hermione had learnt very quickly, and nothing was fair. After Dumbledore's announcement, he had been quick to tell her that she would be living with her Aunt Keel and her cousin Nathan, from then on. But Hermione hadn't really cared back then and Dumbledore, feeling tense and awkward, knowing he no longer held the same respect from Hermione, had been in a hurry to get back.

Everything had seemed normal for a month, with her aunt always going out for work, never having time to spend with her, and with Nathan having to take summer school. However, as each day passed, Hermione began to notice how tense her aunt was and how Nathan would shoot dirty looks, whenever she was near. It had been a week before Hogwarts began, when she had finally discovered why her Aunt disliked – no hated her.

After coming back from work, her Aunt had felt troubled and furious. Thinking she could help, Hermione had made her way to her Aunt and slung her arm around the older woman's shoulders, trying to comfort the middle aged woman. Immediately, the woman's shoulders had become tenser and frigid.

Flashback

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"Don't touch me –"

"Uh- excuse me?"

"I said, don't come any closer!" Her aunt's furious tone was whispered out harshly

"I'm sorry - I don't understand- should I get you some tea? Do you want me to call Nathan?-"

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUTUP! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR ANNOYING VOICE ANYMORE!"

"I don't know what you're talking about-" Hermione had managed to stammer out before she was interrupted by her impatient aunt.

"THAT'S RIGHT! YOU NEVER KNOW! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! POOR LITTLE HERMIONE ALL LOST AND ALONE! HA!"

"That's enough! I didn't ask for this either!-" Hermione was getting agitated. She had come here to comfort her aunt not to be insulted! The nerve of some people!

"SHUT UP! DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE, AFTER ALL WE DID FOR YOU! MY BROTHER WAS A KIND PERSON WITH A KIND SOFT HEART! HE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS!" she stopped for a mere second, heaving a huge breath in before continuing. "I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO FALL ONE DAY WITH THE HEART OF HIS, I HAD WARNED HIM! BUT NO! HE HAD TO GO OUT AND ADOPT A STUPID PATHETIC LITTLE GIRL!"

No. No. No. This was not happening. No- , she heaved in a huge breath. Hermione was smart, and brilliant enough to know this wasn't going to end well. She wasn't ready, no not yet. Her parents had just passed away! Her strong heart already had a hole in it, and she didn't want it to break. She wanted to scream, yell, kick, do anything to make her aunt stop but she continued.

"THEY LOVED THAT STUPID GIRL, OH THEY LOVED HER SO MUCH!" Aunt keel once again stopped but this time to make sense of her thoughts. Little pricks of droplets seemed to be escaping the corners of her eyes. Her beautiful aunt had somehow aged ten years in the last ten minutes. Her aunt Keel sighed, and sagged her shoulders down slightly.

"Everytime they looked at her, their eyes would fill with warmth and compassion. And I would wonder, how could someone love someone so much? It pained me to see how every little move of that pathetic girl would cause my brother to smile. They obliged every wish the girl said, never questioning her motives. Never did they complain even when they were separated and left out of the girl's happiness. NEVER did they complain even when THEIR FUCKING LIVES WERE IN DANGER. And I asked! I bloody asked my brother why he still strived so hard every bleeding day to fulfill the girl's wishes, when she in return never repaid anything!" She paused to let out a bitter laugh " And he said because I love that girl, more than life, more than the whisp of oxygen I take each day, and I would die over and over before I ever let that beautiful girl of mine down- even if she is adopted"

"-AND CAN YOU GUESS WHO THAT LITTLLE GIRL WAS, HERMIONE? -NO? WELL IT WAS YOU! YES, THAT'S RIGHT! YOU, HERMIONE JANE GRANGER ARE ADOPTED!"

"No! No! No! NOO!" Hermione shook her head crazily and stopped only to look in her aunt's eyes and say "YOU'RE LYING! YOU HAVE TO BE! YOU'RE JEALOUS THAT YOUR BROTHER FOUND LOVE AND HAD A PERFECT FAMILY! YOU'RE A CRAZY OLD BITCH! – yeah that's right, I'm sure it is" She yelled out loud, trying to convince herself more than her own aunt. But as much as Hermione tried to deny it, she knew her aunt was telling the truth, and it killed her to admit it.

Hermione's world slowly tumbled apart, piece by piece, and she slumped to her knees. It hurt. It pained her to know that she had no one now. She had no real blood family left in this world. With a loud heartbreaking cry, she began to sob against the wall. She sobbed because she was a failure. She sobbed because she was to blame for her parents' death. And she sobbed because, she truly realized that she had no where really to go, she was lost in her own sick world.

Hermione wanted to die for she had never been so ashamed of herself. But for once in her life, she wished she wasn't who she was. Hermione Jane Granger was adopted.

~o~

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End Flashback