A/N: thanks a bunch if u reviewed the first chapter!!…..this chapter is gonna build background info for hermione….and the 3rd chapter will be pretty short, but interesting…..well, hopefully….and it'll be easier to read now that I know how to save it properly….all thanks to my beta reader!!…anywho, here u go….

Chapter Two: The Dreadful Twists of Fate: Hermione

"Rise and shine!!"

"What?….uh….." I replied only half-consciously. I pulled the covers over my head and drifted into deep sleep again. A few minutes later I felt the covers being ripped off of me.

"What?!" I said with a slightly raised tone. My eyes refused to open with the fear of the blinding sunlight that shone through my window.

"Come downstairs and eat breakfast. We have to leave soon."

"…..ok….coming mum…" I pulled the covers off of my body and just lay there for a few seconds. Just cherishing the beauty of life. Oh Hermione, you don't have time for this. Get up already.

I slowly got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. It pained to open my eyes, but knowing that we'd have to leave soon, I did anyway. As I reached for the toothpaste, I realized how tired I was. I felt….dead, in a way. These past few months, that same feeling has swept over me quite a few times.

Ever since that one trip to the doctor's earlier this summer, or life has changed so much. That day, Mum picked me up at Platform 9 3/4 as usual, but my dad wasn't there. At first I didn't really think it was worth asking. I thought that maybe he had to work or something. However, on the car ride home, I noticed that Mum seemed a little preoccupied. Something must have happened. So, I finally got up the courage to ask he where my father was.

She paused for a few seconds and then replied, "Hermione, the past few months, your father has been, well…sick. You see, it started out with nothing more than a slight cold. But then the symptoms didn't go away, and more kept appearing. And I know you're probably wondering why we didn't tell you. But Hermione dear, you were doing so wonderful in school, and everything seemed so great. So, we thought that it could wait until you came home. Anyway, as I was saying before. The doctors prescribed your father with a medication and told us not to worry about it. So, your father did as he was told and took the medication. After a month of taking it, he realized that it wasn't helping at all. We immediately informed the doctors about this. And for the past few weeks, your father has been undergoing a series of tests. Today, he will be diagnosed."

I was beyond shocked. While I was having fun at parties in the Gryffindor common room, my dad was suffering!!!

I didn't know what to say, so I was silent the whole car ride, just processing everything I had just been told. Finally, the car stopped. But I realized that we weren't home….we were at a hospital.

I got out of the car and and silently followed my mum. The parking lot was pretty much empty and there weren't any people around.

Soon, I found myself in an elevator. Mum went and pushed "9". There was a slight jerk and then we just floated up. I watched the little numbers…3….4….5….6….7…8….9…. after a small ring, the elevator doors opened, letting us out. I kept following my mother as she turned left and then into a small room. It was a doctor's office.

"Hello, Mrs. Granger," the woman greeted.

"Hello Avara. Any news?"

"Oh, yes, let me get the doctor. One moment."

"Of course. Thank you"

Just then a tall, slender woman with jet-black hair and chocolate brown eyes walked into the room.

"Mrs. Granger!"

"Yes. Hello doctor. What's today's news?"

"There's good news and bad news. The good news is that we have diagnosed your husband. The bad news. Well, after the many tests Mr. Granger has taken in the past few weeks, we discovered some patterns in his symptoms. And….unfortunately, Mr. Granger is suffering from cancer"

"Breakfast Hermione!!!"

"Coming!!!" Hermione, stop dwelling on that day. You know that it's not going to change.

I walked over to my dresser and picked up my hairbrush. Slowly, I brushed through my straight, golden-brown locks. My hair had tamed down a lot during the past few years. I put the hairbrush down, applied some pale pink lip-gloss, and hen walked over to my closet. I decided that my white flip-flops would go with the outfit I was wearing today: a light pink align skirt that went down a little below my knees, with a white, spaghetti strap tank top.

I slipped on my flip-flops and went downstairs.

"Hurry up!" warned my mum, "We have to leave in 5 minutes. Your father's visitor hours are going to end."

So I scarfed down two pieces of toast and gulped down a glass of orange juice. Then I ran outside and jumped into the car.

"Will we make it in time?" I asked.

Mum slowly backed out of the driveway and replied, "Yes. I think we will"

I just leaned my head back and drifted away into a thoughtless trance I havent had one of those in a while. Quite creepy.

Suddenly, the car jerked and then stopped. "Come on Hermione. It's time to get out."

I opened the car door and stepped out onto the smooth, paved ground. It was a sunny day outside; perfect for Muggles to play the sport they called baseball.

I kept walking and found myself in the same elevator I had been in the day I had gotten the dreadful news. Small shivers ran down my spine from the cool air-conditioning of the building. Then, I heard the same ringing noise of the elevator as the doors opened, signaling us out.

We stepped out of the elevator, this time on level 10. And as we entered the long, narrow hallway, I realized how silent it suddenly was. So silent, it was creepy. We turned the corner and Mum opened the same door she had last week, about this time.

I walked into the room cautiously. My eyes scanned the room and landed on the bed where my father lay.

"Dad? Are you awake?" I asked. It was hard to tell.

"Hi sweetheart. Yeah…I'm awake."

I walked over to the bed and sat down in the chair nearby.

"Hey."

"Hey. How's it going? You feeling any better?"

"Well, I don't feel sick at the moment. So that's a good sign, right?"

"Sure is!"

"So how are things at home? Is your Mum feeling any better than the last time?"

"Yes….she's gotten over the shock. You know……I never thought that anything like this would happen to us." Tears started welling up in my eyes; as much as I resisted, the more prominent they became.

"It's okay, honey. I know this is really hard for you. It is for all of us."

I wiped the tears from my face and spoke, "Yeah, I know. But……why me?"

Dad ran his hands through my hair and caressed my face. Then he said, "Hermione, why don't you call your mother in now. Go calm yourself down."

"Okay dad…..I love you."

"I love you too, honey."

I got up and gave him a hug; my tears dripping down onto his shoulder. I let go and then slowly walked out of the room. Outside, I saw Mum waiting for me to come out.

"Are you okay?" she asked, aware of the tears running down my cheeks.

"I'm fine. Go ahead, dad's waiting for you."

I went and sat down in the nearby, empty chair. Great Hermione. You're crying again. What would Malfoy think seeing you like this?

After about fifteen minutes of just sitting there and calming myself down, Mum appeared in front of the green door.

"Let's go, Hermione."

I got up slowly, and Mum started walking towards the same elevator as before. When we walked in, Mum pressed the chipped "1" on the keypad. Suddenly, there was a familiar jerk and we plummeted downwards.

My eyes slowly opened. I was very confused. Cautiously, I felt the covers on my body, and the pillow underneath my head. Ok Hermione. You are not dillusional. You are definitely in your bed.

"Mum must have brought me up," I thought out loud.

As my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight, I looked my lilac room; from the oak dresser, to the sheer lilac curtains, to the small purple lamp that stood on my oak nightstand.

Just then, my door opened.

"Awake, dear?"

"Yes, Mum. I just woke up a few minutes ago."

"Have a nice nap?"

"Yeah…I guess."

"Okay." She replied sweetly. "Up for some lunch?"

"Sure…" I lied. I didn't want her to think that something was wrong.

"Okay. I'll be up in a few minutes then."

"Sounds good." This was another lie. Just the thought of food made me nauseous.

A few minutes had passed and Mum came up to my room again, with a tray in her hand.

"Soup and crackers, hermione."

I leaned over and took the tray from the hand.

"Thanks Mum."

"You okay, honey?"

"Of course. I'm fine."

"Okay. Well bring your tray down when you're done."

"Sure."

As soon as the door shut behind her, I heard a pecking noise at the window. When I looked over, I saw a small, tan colored owl. It was probably my Hogwarts letter. As I walked over to the window and opened it, the owl started hooting very loudly.

"Calm down," I said when the owl flew in. "let's see what you have."

The owl stretched out its leg, showing me the letter he had brought. I slowly untied the strings and opened the parchment.

The first one was the normal letter from Hogwarts about reporting to school on September 1st. And then there was a list of supplies as always. However, here was a third piece of parchment.

I slowly opened it and read :

Dear Miss Granger,

Congratulations! As your seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, Head Boy and Head Girl are chosen.

The staff at Hogwarts would like to congratulate you for your accomplishments that have earned you the title of Head Girl.

We look forward to seeing you on September 1st. attached is your badge. Details about your title will be given after the welcome Feast.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I was Head Girl! This was the perfect way to end my days at Hogwarts. I looked at the badge and realized that I would be sharing a common room with the Head Boy. But who could that be? Dumbledore had always liked Harry, but I don't think he'll be Head Boy. Nor will Ron. I really wanted to know who Head Boy was. After all, I would be spending the whole year with whoever it was.

Just as these thoughts filled my head, they vanished. Slowly my vision became blurry and my eyelids drooped down leading me into a utopia, where I would have no worries or fears.