Chasing Sunsets

by iamincendiary

Four years after the Dark Lord won the war, muggle-born witches and wizards are hunted and sold to the highest bidder. Voldemort's trackers are determined to capture the most sought after mudblood in all of the wizarding world – Hermione Granger. (Rated T for now. It may be changed to M in later chapters; DMHG)

1. Prologue

Prologue

Hermione Granger loved winter. She found it beautiful how the world would gradually fall into a deep and icy slumber only to awake with a different kind of beauty come spring. She loved how snow sparkled as it fell from the sky. She also found it relaxing to listen to the solid crunch of her winter boots against the snow. She had also looked forward to the strangely comforting serenity winter brought with its unvarnished beauty.

But now, times have changed. The wizarding world she knew had died with her best friend.

Ever since Voldemort defeated Harry Potter, winter - like everything she has grown to love in the wizarding world - no longer holds any of its magical splendor. Now, she can only feel the icy sting of every snowflake on her blotched skin. She fails to appreciate the sound of her withered boots against the snow-covered ground. She no longer sees a peaceful landscape, but only a frigid and bitter mistress.

Now that Voldemort is at the seat of power, all muggle-born witches and wizards have been hunted down to meet dark fates. A few are shown mercy and killed outright, while some are kept alive only to be brutalized and tortured. Most are auctioned off to the highest bidder to do their pureblood master's bidding. With the fear of this fate, muggle-borns were forced into hiding from the Dark Lord's evil clutches.

During the four winters that passed since Harry Potter's death, Hermione lost everything… her life, her friends, and her freedom. Now, she exists in a sinister world where her kind is treated worse than beasts. She had no other choice but to run and hide until she reunites with the surviving members of the Order of the Phoenix to continue what they started and avenge Harry's death. For what seemed like the millionth time, Hermione willed herself not to think about Harry. She knew that if Harry were still alive, he wouldn't want her worrying about something that can no longer be undone. He would want her to survive and continue fighting for their cause. And she will. For him.

For the meantime, she will wait in the shadows and hope against all hope that Voldemort's trackers wouldn't find her.