Disclaimer: If I owned the Harry Potter books...I strongly believe that Draco Malfoy would have a much bigger role in them. So...I own nothing but the story.

A/N: I hope you enjoy reading, as much as I enjoy writhing. Thank you all for your reviews. I hope you like this chapter as well. Please R&R. I'm rewrithing the chapters...with improoved grammar...I hope. :P

Love always conquers.

Chapter 1

Hermione looked at her headmaster with true curiosity.

She had been summoned in the headmaster's office at the crack of dawn, and she had been brought there by none other than the potions master, Severus Snape, who was now leaning on the farther wall, arms crossed over his chest and a grim look on his face.

Dumbledore gestured her to the chair across him, and she took it.

Hermione tightened her robe around her body, she hadn't had time to change, so she had thrown her school robe over her night gown, and followed her teacher trough the cold hallways.

''Miss Granger...''

Hermione knew there would be a good reason for the headmaster to summon her at this hour, but hearing Dumbledore's grave tone, she understood that the news wouldn't be a pleasant one.

She wished she could just get up and leave.

She didn't need bad news, she had had a good start this year. Hermione had been made Head Girl, having the best results in her year, she was praised by all teachers, well, except 'Mr. Snape', and she had been given numerous apprenticeship offers.

A flash of fear crossed her features, seeing the old man in front of her. Hermione had always had a soft spot for Dumbledore. As a very powerful wizard, and as the only wizard that Voldemort ever feared, he was a kind, loving man. He was a mentor to Harry and a good example for the students. He was indeed a great wizard.

''...it has come to my attention that the Dark Lord's followers have had a meeting tonight. Following that meeting, Voldemort had ordered raids...''

Hermione frowned. Why was he telling her this? What had this have to do with her? Thoughts started running trough her head...but none were even close to the news that Dumbledore was about to give her.

''Miss Granger...it is my duty...to inform you that those raids resulted with the death of your parents...''

Hermione's breath caught. The knot that earlier was forming in her stomach, had slowly ascended, and was now at full strength in her throat.

She was looking at the old man in front of her in disbelief.

Her parents had owled her just yesterday, assuring her they were ok, happy for her grades, and informing her about the upcoming Christmas reunion with all her family.

She had already pictured the Christmas holyday, only a month away.

''Are you sure it's them?'' she was fighting to hold back her tears from spilling, but when Dumbledore nodded his head, she just let them flow.

Suddenly she felt blank, empty. Now she had nothing left...nothing. She had loved her parents dearly. Hot tears were steaming on her cheeks, but she was incapable of moving, or even blinking. Her heart was pounding hard against her chest. It hurt...more than anything she had ever felt until now.

After a few moments of solid silence, she looked at Snape. She knew he was a Death Eater, she knew he was a spy, she knew he was helping the Order, but she also knew that for him to be able to sustain his status within Voldemort's Inner Circle, he had to follow the bastard's orders, so she couldn't help it but blame him a little for this.

''Were you there?'' Hermione asked, trough clouded eyes, she could see him stiffen.

Snape had not once looked at her, he simply nodded and continued to look on a spot on the floor.

He couldn't look at her. He knew that if he did, he would see her mother's shaking body in hers, he knew he would hear her mother's pleading sobs in hers, her father's fierce eyes in hers. He felt guilty. Guilty for not being able to save them.

The Dark Lord had precisely ordered them to go after her parents, in the hope that the girl would see the dangers of being Potter's friend, in the hope that she would get scared and so causing her to reject his friendship, weakening him.

They couldn't touch the Weaslyes, for one they were Order members, and second they were pure-bloods, although blood-traitors, Voldemort didn't want to waist a pure-blood family.

Severus had never told the girl, nor any of the faculty members of Hogwarts, for that matter, but Hermione Granger was one of the two students that he was looking forward to seeing in his class. The other being his godson, Draco Malfoy. She somehow reminded him of himself, same hunger for knowledge, same urge to let everybody know what he knew, but she did differ in one thing. Being friends with Potter and Weasley, had given her very low self-esteem.

Because of his position as Head of Slytherin House, he could never praise her, nor give her House points, he couldn't risk being punished, or even killed by Voldemort for praising a 'mudblood'.

''Miss Granger, you should understand that professor Snape couldn't...''

''Thank you headmaster.'' Hermione said, cutting Dumbledore off, and heading towards the door, leaving Dumbledore to stare after her.

Hermione walked stiffly trough the damp, cold corridors. She had managed to stop her tears from falling down her face, but she couldn't stop her heart from aching.

She had once vowed to herself to help Harry defeat that bastard, but now it had become more personal. She didn't need to hear what had happened, or the reason for witch they had picked her parents, she would hold her head high.

Hermione was more determined than ever to help end this war. To help Harry end it.

If she didn't know that Harry had to kill Voldemort, she would gladly take that position, but because she couldn't, there was one thing that she could do...take down as many Death Eaters as she could find.

Hermione would have to improve her dueling skills, perfect her spells, and channel her anger trough them.

She wasn't one to make haste, reckless decisions, or how they say 'jump before you think', but she entered the Gryffindor common room with one burning thought.

Revenge.

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