The Dark-Huntress part 1:
Broken Wings.
Summery: AU Harry Potter/Dark-Hunter crossover. A rewrite of Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts, starting in his first year. When The-Boy-Who-Lived starts his first year at Hogwarts, an ancient order, almost as old as the Wizarding World, yet for the most part, unknown to it, sends one of it's youngest members to Hogwarts with him, when an evil not seen in 10 years, threatens to return.
Pairings: H/Hr, pairings between other characters will develop in later chapters.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The Harry Potter characters and places are copyright to JK Rowling. The Dark-Hunters and associated characters, places and creatures are copyright to Sherrilyn Kenyon.
A/N: Thank you to MysticGoth and Snowdove30 for their kind reviews. I hope more of you guys take an interest in this story.
Now, on with the first chapter. :D
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Chapter 1: Meetings.
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Hogwarts Express.
After unloading her trunk from the trolley in the baggage compartment of the carriage she'd just entered, Hermione started looking around. There were First Years everywhere, she saw a couple of Prefects trying to organize the mess of students.
"Ok." she said to herself, remembering her assignment. "He's got green eyes, messy black hair, and a lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Yeah, shouldn't be too hard to spot."
As she started walking down the carriage, looking for her charge, the train's whistle blew, and the carriage gave a slight jolt as it started to move. She finally found a compartment that appeared to be open. Sitting in it was a small boy, roughly about her own age.
His hair was black, not very well kept. The clothes he wore looked three sizes too big for him, and his glasses where sitting at an odd angle on his nose, they looked like they'd been broken and repaired, not to well either, several times. He looked really malnourished. As she entered, she cleared her throat.
"Er, hi, this seat free?" she asked. The boy looked up, it was then she saw the mark on his forehead.
"You've got to be kidding me." she thought, "This is the Boy-Who-Lived? Looks more like the Boy-Who-Was-Never-Fed."
Harry James Potter looked at the strange bushy-haired girl that had just entered his compartment. She seemed quite unusual.
"Erm, yeah, sure, have a seat." he said.
As Hermione sat down opposite him she finally got a good look at him, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. Even though he looked small and weak, there was still something about him that caught her eye, the sadness and loneliness she saw in his eyes reminded her of the sadness she felt after Tom's betrayal. It had taken her six months to complete her training with Acheron, then he'd plucked her down at King's Cross, with her first assignment. Only when she was down on the ground did she realize nearly 50 years had passed. She wasn't completely familiar with the Boy-Who-Lived legend, only it had something to do with Tom, and that was all she needed to know.
"I'm Hermione Granger." she said, offering her hand.
"Harry Potter." Harry replied, shaking her offered hand.
"Definitely something cute about him too." Hermione thought, then instantly admonished herself. "Remember the code, Granger." she thought.
At that point, the door to the compartment opened again, and a young boy with short ruby red hair, that kind of reminded Hermione of Artemis, walked in.
"Hey, either of you two seen a toad around here? Some kind called Neville lost it."
"Oh, you mean that one?" Hermione asked, pointing towards the small amphibian as it hoped into view.
"Uh, yeah, thanks." the kid said, before bending down and catching it, cringing as he held it, then disappeared.
Hermione looked back at Harry, who just shrugged with a helpless smile.
A few seconds later, the kid was back, minus the toad, with a thankful look on his face.
"By the way, I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." he said, offering his hand. Hermione shook it first.
"Hermione Granger."
"Harry Potter." Harry said, also shaking Ron's hand. Ron stared blankly at him, before his eyes went wide.
"Bloody hell! Really?" Ron asked. Hermione rolled her eyes, but the boys didn't notice.
Harry sighed quietly and nodded. "Yes." he said dryly.
"Wow!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"What's so important about him being the Boy-Who-Lived anyway?" Hermione asked. Harry grinned slightly, truthfully, he didn't understand it either. Hagrid had refused to tell him anything.
"He defeated You-Know-Who!" Ron blurted out.
"Voldemort?" Harry asked.
"What? What kind of name is 'Voldemort'? Can't think why someone would give their kid a name like that." Hermione interjected.
Harry laughed slightly.
Ron cringed. "UGH! Don't say the name! It's bad luck!"
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you know who he was?" Ron asked.
Hermione shook her head, "I only got accepted into Hogwarts this summer, my parents aren't magical." Then she paused, she didn't even know if they were still alive, given how Ash had decided to drop her down in the middle of King's Cross 49 years after he took her from Hogwarts, when from her perspective, only six months had passed.
"I don't know either, all I know is he killed my parents." Harry replied.
"Uh, yeah, right." Ron said awkwardly, scratching his head, finally taking a seat next to Harry.
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Artemis' Temple, Mount Olympus.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Artemis yelled, as she stood in the middle of her throne room glaring at Acheron, or 'Ash', as he preferred to be called.
Ash just looked at her calmly, with his arms folded over his chest. "Well, if you didn't hear me the first time, I'll say it again. Now, read my lips Artie, it's very simple. I. Sent. Her. To. Hogwarts."
"WHY?" Artemis screamed like a spoiled little child, with stomping feet and all. Ash just rolled his eyes and sighed.
"To protect him Artie." Ash replied.
"Who?" Artemis asked indignantly.
"Harry Potter."
"Why?"
Ash sighed again. Why did Artemis always want things spelled out for her? He rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance, counting backwards from ten, to calm his nerves, which always seemed frayed round Artemis.
"Because he's going to need help. He's going to have enemies both inside Hogwarts and out of it gunning for him." he replied.
"Like who?"
Ash took a deep breath, he knew what was coming. "He's going to come back Artie."
"What?" Artemis asked, her harsh angry tone gone, replaced by one of disbelief, and a little apprehension.
"You don't mean-"
"Yeah, Artie, I do."
"But I thought-"
"So did I." Ask sighed.
"When?" Artemis asked. Ash shrugged. "All depends on Harry. Could be later this year, could be next year, could be 5 years from now, I don't know."
"You don't know?!" Artemis asked, inwardly grinning at the fact there was finally something Ash didn't know that wasn't related to his own future, or the future of someone close to him.
"Yes, I don't know. There are many variables here, a lot can happen at that school that could either accelerate his return or delay it, but not permanently stop it from happening. He will come back, I just don't know when." Ash said, looking at her.
"But what about Hermione?" Artemis asked.
"What about her?"
"What if someone finds out what she is? What if she tells Harry?"
"Hermione isn't stupid Artie, she knows how to keep a secret. And, if her secret does get out into the student population, well, if there's anything Wizards and Witches know above all else, it's how to keep secrets." Ash replied.
"I don't like it." Artemis said.
"You never do." Ash said dryly.
"How was she able to board the train then without her soul? You did take her soul, right?" Artemis asked.
"No." Ash said offhandedly.
"No?!" Artemis yelled.
"No. I let her keep her soul, though she doesn't know that. I let her keep her soul so she'd be able to walk in daylight without being affected by it."
"But what about her mark?" Artemis asked.
"What about it?" Ash asked. Artemis glared at him.
"Are you playing dumb? Or are you actually being stupid today?" as soon as she'd said those words, she regretted it. Ash turned to her, his eyes turning from their usual bright silver, to deep red.
"Never call me stupid Artemis. Truthfully, the only really stupid thing I ever did was fall for you."
Now it was Artemis' turn to snarl, her own eyes blazed as she stood to face him.
"What's THAT supposed to mean?!" she raged.
Ash closed his eyes, and started counting back from 10. Again.
"Don't worry about the mark. IF anyone sees it, she'll just tell them it's a tattoo marking her heritage."
"Last time I checked, she wasn't part of a Native American tribe." Artemis scoffed. "Besides, what Native American tribe these days uses a Double Bow and Arrow brand?"
Ash said nothing. Artemis' eyebrows rose slightly.
"You did give her the Bow and Arrow mark, didn't you?"
Again, Ash said nothing.
"Acheron, you didn't…" Artemis trailed off, her eyes wide.
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Hogwarts Express.
Hermione had pulled off her robe to check something, not particularly caring that she was letting Harry and Ron see the black jogging trousers and white T-Shirt she wore which bore the legend:
"I Hate Artemis!" and "Death To The Heifer Goddess!"
Harry and Ron had both chuckled when they'd seen the slogans, Ron, of course, had to pose the question.
"Who's Artemis?"
"Greek Goddess of the hunt and the moon." Hermione said casually while checking something else.
"Where'd you get it?" Ron asked.
"It was a present from my sister." Hermione said, finally putting the robe back on then turned to face them, not realizing the right sleeve of her T-Shirt had ridden up, while she had her robe off, exposing a tattoo on her right shoulder.
"Nice tattoo, I've never seen one like that before." Harry said, leaning over to get a closer look.
"What? Oh!" Hermione said, looking down at the mark on her shoulder. It was a silver sun, being pieced, by three lightning bolts. "Oops…" she said, before casting a quick disillusionment charm on it to hide it.
"What's it represent?" Harry asked.
"What's a Tattoo?" Ron asked.
"My father's an artist, it was an early birthday present." Hermione said. "Got to remember to keep that hidden." she reminded herself.
As she pulled her robe back on, Harry asked. "Aren't those clothes against school rules?"
Hermione looked sheepish. "Well, I figured that, if no-one saw them, then, well, no-one would bother me about them."
Just as she said that, the compartment door open, and three boys walked in. Two slightly short ones, who to Harry, reminded him disturbingly of his cousin, Dudley Dursley. The third was a tall boy with short, almost white blonde hair. Hermione saw the look of recognition on Harry's face. She realized they must have met. She then noticed the blue eyes, and how, even at such a young age, how physically perfect he seemed, almost too perfect, she could also sense something about him, he wasn't entirely human.
"Could he be…no, it's impossible, he couldn't survive in the sun." she thought, then she noticed the ring, on his left hand. At first, it looked just like an ordinary ring, then she noticed the minute designs carved into it, and the single jewel. She recognized the designs.
They were Atlantean.
"Well, well, well, I wondered where you'd be Potter, associating with riffraff and a muggle-born, thought as much."
"Hello, Draco." Harry said dryly.
When the boy talked, Hermione caught a glimpse of his canines, they were slightly pointed.
"He's Apollite?! But how can he…that ring…it must protect him…" she thought.
"What do you mean by riffraff!" Ron snarled, standing and glaring at Draco. "Who the bloody hell are you anyway?" Draco turn to Ron and snorted.
"I am Draco Malfoy, son of Lucious and Narcissa Malfoy." he said with pride, and a little arrogance. "And you are?"
Ron tried to puff himself up, "I am Ron Weasley. Son of Arthur and Molly Weasley."
"Ah, yes, now I recognize you. Yours is one of the poorest Wizarding families in the whole of England!" Draco scoffed, his second and third shadow both snickered. Ron was instantly on his feet, as were Harry and Hermione, all three had their wands drawn.
"What was that?" Ron snarled, his cheeks and ears turning the color of his hair. Draco smirked, then his gaze fell on Hermione and if faded. He could instantly sense something about her, something that wasn't quite human, he could also sense the glamour charm she had over her eyes, similar to the charm he had over his own. He could also slightly sense the disillusionment charm on her right shoulder.
"Is she a…no…it's not possible…there aren't any as young as her…she can't be a…" Draco tried to regain control of himself, if she really was what he suspected, then his father would need to know.
"And who might you be?" he asked, trying not to let his slight fear show. Hermione glared at him.
"I am Hermione Jane Granger." she replied, "And I don't much care for your attitude or your insults towards my friends." Draco just snorted at her.
"Well, Crabb, Goyle and I have got other things to do, so we'll be going now, see you at school." Draco said, before turning and walking out, casting a very brief glance back at Hermione before he was out the door. The other two on his heals didn't look back.
Once they were gone, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down. "I don't like him." Ron spoke up.
"Me neither." Harry said. Hermione said nothing.
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A few hours later, the Express pulled into the station at Hogsmeade, and the students disembarked. As the Prefects arranged the students into groups based on year, Harry, Ron and Hermione carried their trunks off the train, it was then that Hermione noticed the beautiful snowy owl in the cage on top of Harry's trunk, on top of Ron's was a smaller cage, that looked like it held a rat, and not a very healthy looking one.
"That's a beautiful owl Harry." Hermione said, as she noted the brown spots on the bird that identified it as a female.
"Thanks, her name's Hedwig." Harry said, walking beside Hermione as they approached several large carriages that appeared to have nothing to pull them.
"Thanks. Though I don't much care for the name, but I suppose I'll have to live with it." said a distinctly human voice inside Hermione's head. Hermione actually chocked on her breath then stared at Hedwig, who was now looking back at her through the bars of the cage.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Hermione mentally shrieked. Hedwig puffed out her feathers.
"What? Don't tell me you've never seen a Were-Owl before, Dark-Hunter."
"Erm, Hermione, why are you staring at Hedwig?" Harry asked as they approached the carriage and unloaded the trunks from the trolleys.
"Uhm…" Hermione said, finally snapping out of her stupor. "Ash!" she mentally called out.
"Yes Hermione?" came the smooth reply.
"Why didn't you tell me there was a Were-Hunter with Harry?"
"Ah, I see you met Hedwig."
"You KNOW her?!" Hermione blurted.
"Met her once, when I told Savitar about your assignment, I asked him if he could send anyone to the school."
"Why?"
"Just in case you need backup in the event myself or Simi are unavailable."
Hermione mentally sighed. "So, how many other Were-Hunters are there at the school?"
"One, a Phoenix by the name of Fawkes." Ash replied.
"I see…" Hermione replied, she briefly considered telling him about Draco, but figured he already knew.
As she got into the carriage, she finally noticed creatures in front of the carriages. She knew what they were, and why no-one else had reacted to them hey seemed frightening enough, if the other students had seen them, they would have probably freaked.
She knew what they were of course, and she could see them clearly, afterall, she had died once. The Thestrals snorted noisily, but Hermione was the only person in her carriage to see them, then they started to move.
"Quite odd, isn't it?" Ron asked.
"Huh?" Harry asked.
"These carriages, they're horseless." Ron replied. Hermione mentally snorted. "Not as horseless as you'd think Ron."
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As the carriages reached the castle, Hermione felt a sense of longing come over her, gods, she'd missed this place. She wondered if she'd end up in Gryffindor again. She hoped she would. Then a thought occurred to her, wouldn't the Sorting Hat remember her? Would Professor Dumbledore, if he was still there?
As the main doors opened, and the students walked in, Hermione saw a group of people waiting for them. Three she recognized instantly. When her eyes settled on the tall woman with glasses, Hermione's heart nearly stopped.
"Minerva…" she whispered.
"Good evening and welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress." She said with a smile.
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Minerva had to do a double take when the new students cautiously entered the main entrance. Especially when she saw the brown-eyed bushy haired girl standing at the front with a redheaded boy who was most likely the youngest Weasley son, and a boy she knew all too well, Harry Potter.
"Hermione? Is that really you?" she asked herself, then she remembered that she had some more introductions to make.
"To my left, is Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, and Rubeus Hagrid, our Grounds Keeper and Care of Magical Creatures Teacher, to my right, Argus Filtch, the school Caretaker, it's his job to patrol the halls at night to make sure none of you are out of bed, and during the day, to make sure you are all where you should be, and to his right, Professor Severus Snape, our Potions Professor." She finished, indicating the rather lanky looking, pale faced, and rather unpleasant looking man next to Argus, then she took another breath and continued.
"The sorting ceremony will take place shortly in the Great Hall through those doors behind me." Minerva indicated with her thumb, at the large ornate doors that were open to reveal a large room with several tables lined up.
As soon as Hermione's eyes settled on Snape, she instantly knew he was Slytherin, everything about him screamed it. She smiled though when her eyes moved to Hagrid, and then to Dumbledore.
About 15 minutes later, everyone was in the Great Hall, and all the new students were sat on chairs, facing the rest of the students and teachers with looks of fear on their faces. Argus brought out a chair and an old hat Hermione recognized.
Then the sorting began.
It didn't take long to get through the students, as Ron was placed into Gryffindor, Hermione saw him walk to the table of clapping students, Hermione noticed a few students with identical red hair, and similar facial features.
"Must be his brothers." She thought.
Then it was Harry's turn. Hermione watched as he conversed with the hat briefly, before it called out "Gryffindor!", and Harry went to sit at the Gryffindor Table.
Next was Draco. Hermione wasn't surprised in the least when it called out "Slytherin!" after barely touching his head. Crabbe and Goyle followed next, then it was her turn.
"Ah, you seem familiar…have we crossed paths before?" the hat said quietly as it was placed on her head. She could feel the hat's magic trying to probe her mind, "Yes…Granger, I remember you. Strange that you should return."
Hermione was just thankful it was only speaking to her, and not out loud.
"It's complicated. I don't want to go into it." she thought.
"Very well then, I know just where to put you, back where you belong." it said to her, then it called out,
"Gryffindor!"
As the Gryffindor students cheered and clapped, Hermione got down from the chair and walked towards them, passing the staff table as she did so. Her eyes locked briefly with Minerva and Albus, and she wondered if Minerva had figured it out yet, and if Dumbledore had too.
"We will talk later, Miss Granger. But for now, I will say this. It's good to see you again." Came Dumbledore's voice in her head. Hermione had to do a double take as she sat down between Harry and Ron.
"I think I'm going to like it here." Harry said.
"Yeah, me too." Hermione replied, giving Harry a smile.
"Aw…! Isn't this nice? Our 'ickle Ronniekins has joined the gang, I think we've been blessed." Said one of the Redheads Hermione had seen, the one sat next to him, who looked identical, replied.
"Or cursed."
"Oi! Nock it off you two!" Ron protested.
"Fred, George, leave him alone." Said an older redheaded boy, who appeared to be in his 5th year, and wore a Prefect's badge.
"Yes, all mighty liege Percy!" the twins said in unison, their tone full of sarcasm. Hermione chuckled, as did several of the other students.
"Are they always like that?" she asked Ron.
"Always." Said Ron, his cheeks scarlet with embarrassment.
oOoOoOoOoOo
After the ceremony was over, came the first evening Feast, once that, and the customary greetings and laying-out of the rules by Dumbledore, the students retired to their respective dorms.
Hermione was just carrying her trunk along the corridor, when one of the ghosts, Hermione recognized him immediately as Nearly-headless Nick, floated in front of her.
"Hello Hermione, I'm here to tell you that once you've settled in, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office." Nick then gave her a kind smile, before floating through the wall.
About 20 minutes later, Hermione had stashed her trunk in the first year girls dorm, then was making her way back to the tower where she knew the Headmaster's office was located.
When she reached the Gargoyle, it turned its stone head to look at her. "Password." It said.
"I'm expected." She replied.
"I still need the password." Came the stoic reply.
"Fine." Hermione sighed. "You just better be prepared to explain to Dumbledore why I'm late, when he's asked to see me." That seemed to get the Gargoyle's attention. It blinked at her, before stepping aside, allowing her access to the rotating stairwell.
Once she stepped off the stairs, she casually walked forward into the main office. She'd been here several times the last time she was at the school.
It didn't take her long to spot Fawkes, who was perched on a stand over what looked like an ash tray, she then looked around at all the paintings, all of whom seemed to be sleeping. She also noticed, with a little smile, the portrait of Professor Dippet.
"Ah, Hermione, come in." at the voice, she turned to seem Dumbledore sat behind his desk. Minerva stood off to one side, looking at her intently.
"Hello Minerva, it's good to see you again." Hermione smiled. Minerva's eyes widened, then a look of uncertainty crossed her face.
"So, I was right. It really is you, isn't it Hermione?"
"Yes, Minerva. It is." Dumbledore answered, drawing their combined attention towards himself.
"But…How?" Minerva asked, looking at her mentor and friend.
"You were right, Minnie." Hermione said, Minerva's face softened at that nickname. "Tom Riddle is a no-good piece of-"
"What did he do?" Minerva asked.
"He killed me. He killed Myrtle too, and pinned the blame on Hagrid."
"I know, dear, wait. He killed you? And Myrtle? But, you don't seem dead to me." Minerva said, looking confused.
"An old friend of mine intervened, and took her away to somewhere where she could be healed." Albus replied for Hermione.
"But, how? Death isn't something you can just come back from." Minerva protested. Hermione smiled. "If only she knew…" she thought.
"You asked to see me Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked.
"Indeed I did. I was informed of your impending return, I'm also aware of why you're here, and who sent you." Hermione's eyebrows raised.
"He knows Ash?" she thought.
"Indeed, I do know him." Albus said.
"Professor, if you know why I'm here, then you must also know what I plan to do to Riddle when I get my hands on him."
"Yes, but I must warn you to keep your head down, for now. Don't let anyone, particularly any of the Slytherins, know why you're really here. And, if you need to gain access to my office for any reason, merely present the Gargoyle with that rather nice looking tattoo on your right shoulder, and you will be granted entrance."
Hermione nodded, but Minerva cut her a sharp look. "A tattoo? I hope it's nothing that would be regarded as something evil, like the Dark Mark." Hermione shook her head.
"No, the man who put it there said it would one day save my life." She replied. Dumbledore nodded. "Interesting. Now, Miss Granger, I believe it's time for you to return to your dorm. Classes will begin tomorrow after breakfast. At breakfast you, along with your fellow students will be issued your timetables." Hermione nodded her understanding, then turned and left, casting a look at Fawkes, who stared back at her, before she was out the door.
As soon as she was gone, Minerva turned on Albus, her eyes aflame. "Why didn't you tell me Hermione was still alive?! You know Albus, I never believed what you told me; about her wondering into the Forbidden Forest and getting killed by some of the creatures there."
"I understand you're upset Minerva, but please, try to understand, there are forces, and beings, at work that are far more powerful than your or I." Albus replied. Minerva scowled at him, before turning and storming out of his office. Dumbledore sighed, but he knew the best thing for him to do was to let Minerva calm down on her own.
It was the start of a new term, a new year at Hogwarts, and truthfully, he didn't know what lay ahead, he only hoped Hermione was prepared for anything, and everything, that happened, and that she would keep to her assignment.
----
As Hermione settled down into bed, she wondered what the next day, the real start of term, would bring, and she wondered just how well she'd do in potions this time around, since her teacher was a Slytherin this time, not a Ravenclaw. Sighing, she closed her eyes and went to sleep, waiting for the morning.
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Well, how's this for a second chapter? I also noticed I only got two reviews for the first chapter, I admit I would like a little more feedback, I need to know what you people think of this story, and, if you have any ideas, put them in your review, and I'll see what I can do.