Gray morning light wandered into Hermione's room like a wakeup call. She blinked several times before getting up to shut the curtains. Light did not seem relevant to her when they were being plunged into such dark times.

If there wasn't a missing envelope on her table, she would've sworn the memory of her writing a letter was a dream. Ron hadn't communicated much with her ever since they parted for summer holidays. It made her upset but she couldn't pretend that she didn't understand his intentions. Letters were dangerous. You'd never know who might end up reading them.

So she knew not to send anything to Ron until he sent a letter first. He knew the wizarding government much better than she did and it helped that Mr. Weasley worked in the ministry. If he actually sent a letter that would mean it was okay to communicate again.

Knowing that made Hermione a lot happier. She rushed into the shower with the need to tame her messy hair. After about half an hour, she had her hair folded back into a braid with every strand neatly tucked away. She smiled at her appearance with an air of satisfaction. Sure, she had always been known for her trademark bushy hair but it mellowed out a little over the years and (in her opinion) made her more unique.

She never used to think that way. Hermione recalled a very painful memory when she was a child. She tried to talk to the other kids at their neighborhood park.

Her bushy hair bobbed as she walked to the swings. A blonde haired girl and a few of her friends were using the swing sets. She had been waiting to go on the swings for ages now and she wasn't going to wait any longer.

"Hey," she said grabbing the blonde's attention "you have been on the swings for a long time now and other kids want to get on. Can't you at least share?"

There were some 8 year old girls like her that wanted to get on the swing set but none of them felt the need to actually go and say anything. The blonde girl smirked at her "Why should we get off. We were here first."

Her hands folded across her chest "Just because you get on the thing first doesn't mean you own it. The swing is as much mine as it is yours and that goes for everyone else."

One of her friends piped up "Why would we give the swings to someone ugly like you?"

"Yeah," another one of them added "You look like you belong with the caterpillars."

The blonde looked back up "Wait…aren't you that Hermione girl at school. Stranger Granger?"

They all started murmuring

"Oh yeah she is!"

"Gosh she's the ugliest little witch in class."

"I heard Robby Fink was dared to talk to her and passed out after smelling her breath."

"I heard she spends recess reading in the library."

"Her hair is so awful."

Hermione's eyes started watering but she stood her ground "It's not nice to say mean things."

They all laughed in response. "Get lost Stranger Granger," snapped the feisty little blonde " Go play with the caterpillars or something. Maybe they'll bear your ugliness. I mean, after all they do look like you."

She sniffed and stormed away angrily. Tears pooled out like a flowing river. She didn't like her hair anymore. Maybe they were right, it wasn't smooth or straight or easy to run her fingers through. It got all matted up and bushy. Maybe she was just another freak.

Suddenly she heard a few snaps and several shrieks. Hermione turned around and found 5 girls sprawled on the floor and 5 swings dangling with one chain broken. They all looked around in surprise and realized that their oh so precious swing set had broken. Mulch was up in their hair and their knees were covered with dirt.

She did not bother to stick around. Hermione ran home crying the whole way. She later found out the blonde girl's name was Angel. It put a frown on her lips. Why was that girl named Angel if she behaved so rudely?

However, little Hermione was so upset that day that she didn't realize she performed magic for the first time. How else were brand new swings able to snap so easily?

Hermione snapped out of the past. The words stranger granger brought her back to her horrible childhood. It was always covered with ridicule and relentless teasing. But for some reason, whenever she was around Angel she lost control of her magic. There was a time when the girl pushed her into the lunch trays. She got so angry she turned her hair purple. It was suddenly a lot funnier when everyone's attention was directed to Angel's ridiculous hair instead of hers.

The better part about it was when the color wouldn't come off. The more snarky and evil she got, the darker the shade of purple became. Hermione remembered her final hair color resembled the shade of Barney the dinosaur. It took a lot of self-restrain to hold back the laughter threatening to burst out of her mouth.

Eventually Angel was able to make out the pattern of her little accidents and branded her a bigger freak than before. No one came 5 feet near Hermione Granger like she was some disease. Eventually her parents got sick of this and made plans for her to switch school. She didn't like the thought of moving to another place where more kids could pick on her. Who's to say the bullying wouldn't happen again?

And then she was hit by a stroke of luck. A dark brown, feathery owl left her Hogwarts acceptance letter in the mail. Professor McGonagall came to her house that night and explained everything to her parents. She felt completely elated. All those little misfits in the past finally made sense. She was different; she had magical powers. Her eleven year old mind was full with glee.

"Will I be able to turn a mouse into a cup?"

"Are there other children like me?"

"Do I say bibbity bobbity boo like the fairy godmother?"

McGonagall was the least amused by these questions and only answered the last one with a sour expression. "No I do not know what bibbity bobbity boo is. Quite frankly it sounds like a disease."

But aside from that minor embarrassment, she was bubbling with enthusiasm and happiness from what she was told. There was a special school that taught people like her. She knew how to do brilliant things that kids her age could only imagine in their wildest dreams.

The next time she saw Angel she was able to confront her with confidence.

"So I heard you're leaving Stranger." Angel had said as a group of girls surrounded the lunch table she was sitting in. Hermione put down her fork and gave them all a blank expression "Yes I am and before I go I'd like to tell you something I'd been dying to say since the first time I met you."

Angel smirked "And what's that."

Hermione cleared her throat "You're a nasty she devil with makeup products clawing at your barely endurable face. If I look like the caterpillars you'd probably be lucky enough to look like a donkey on your best day. And I'm quite sure your IQ is the size of a peanut. No, I'm sorry, that's completely incorrect. That is a major offense to peanuts everywhere."

Her face turned red. Angel didn't think Hermione actually had any back bone to her.

"And another thing," Hermione continued "I would say it was nice knowing you but it clearly wasn't. In fact, if I never see you again it wouldn't be enough." She left with the smuggest smile she could possibly muster, feeling like the richest person in the world.

Hermione remembered how much she planned that week. Racks and racks of clothing were thrown onto her bed inviting so much contemplation to her mind.

Did she need her summer clothing?

What books (besides her textbooks) did she want to take with her?

What things weren't worth taking?

Finally when Hermione had packed and repacked to the point where she was satisfied, she boarded the train to school. No one knew how nervous she truly was. Hermione tried her best to come across confident but it showed off as arrogant. Even to this day, Harry and Ron never knew how scared and nervous her eleven year old mind was during their sorting ceremony.

But she realized later, to her delight, that there was no reason to be worried at all.

Hogwarts gave her the best years of her life. Hogwarts gave her friends, family, a chance to be herself, and another home. But the most important thing it gave was her best friends. Harry and Ron.

Thinking about those two got her mind moving away from memories again. Hermione cursed herself for getting distracted. She had work to do and no time to waste reliving memories. She got up and started to store more of her objects in the attic. Pictures of her that were on top of the mantel and on counters disappeared into cardboard boxes as her hands worked feverishly to hide them. She used the entire day while her parents were working to conceal every inch of her in the attic. In two days, Hermione Granger would not exist in this household until Voldemort was no longer a threat. The risk of her parents regaining their memories from her things was far too big of a chance for her. After she conducts the spell, they shouldn't be able to remember a thing and she needed to keep it that way.

All evidence of her existence needed to be hidden as well as she could possibly hide it.

By 5 pm, everything was gone into discreet places in her attic. As she closed the attic door she performed powerful locking charms to keep her parents and any unwanted people out of the very closed and confined space. Hermione made sure that only necessary and very very personal belongings were stored in her beaded bag whilst others would remain here until she comes back for them.

If you come back for them a voice said in her head. Her face turned grim. How could she forget that she may not leave this quest alive? Optimism didn't seem like an asset at the moment.

The bell rang dragging her attention to the door. Hermione looked out of her window to see her father's car parked in front of the house. She ran down the steps calling "Coming!" while tucking away her beaded bag. Her wand flew out from her pocket and with a swift flick, the lock was undone and the door swung open.

Her father walked in with a heavy sigh and removed his coat. "Hi dad," she tried to say cheerily while closing the door. Her father shook his head and walked away barely acknowledging her. Hermione exhaled deeply through her nose. This cold and uncharacteristic behavior from her parents had been adopted right after she released the truth of what happened during those years in Hogwarts. She was to blame greatly for all the secrets however there was no way she could really tell them what had happened each year without them pulling her out of the only school that treated her right.

"Dad," she said chasing after her father "I told you a thousand times that I'm sorry. How long will I have to apologize for you to talk to me again?"

A glare shaped his face "Hermione you unloaded a lot on us that night. You can't expect me to easily forgive you for it. Just be happy that you at least get to keep your wand." That was all he said to her before turning around and walking towards the study.

Hermione did not chase after him. Oh dad she thought there won't be a point to your anger anymore. You won't remember me soon anyways.

Alright now you have your update. Good grief how long has it been since I updated? Like, a million years right :P.

Sooo

Since I took the time writing you should take the time to comment.

Alright I'm out. PEACE :D!