Disclaimer: Sadly not mine. A girl can dream, though...

A/N: For anyone who didn't want to read the prologue (it does contain descriptions of torture and death), here's the last part of it, which should be fairly safe. A summary of what happened first: Zoe Llewelyn is a girl from the Marauder's generation who was captured and tortured by Death Eaters (for as of yet unknown reasons) before her soul was cast out of her body.


Last time on… Alive Like Me.

"Too low," Zoe whispered. She tried to untie herself from the silver strand, but couldn't. They went straight through a roof, an inside ceiling, and stopped in midair.

She could hear a woman in the room screaming.

"Why won't it bloody come out already!"

"Just breathe, honey. You can do it!"

"It's at the shoulders now. One last push -"

"Ahhhhh!"

Zoe saw the baby as it came out. It was purplish and wet and bloody.

"Gross," she giggled to herself. "Like a prune..."

Then she was being sucked downwards again, harshly. She saw the closed eyes of the baby before she hit its face and passed into it.

She was in a small space, and the silver strand detached from her. There was a small sea of red sparkles around her, and it was amazing. She knew suddenly, instinctively, that she wanted - no, she needed to touch that red. But the silver wanted it too.

Zoe fought for it. She really did. She tried her best. She ended up grabbing two tiny red sparkles and wrapping herself around it.

The silver strand got every other one. It had thousands of red sparkles.

"Come on," Zoe pleaded with it. "Share with me!"

It seemed to consider it.

"She's so beautiful," the woman whispered.

"Welcome to the world, Hermione." The man was crying, very softly.

The silver strand unraveled, letting a few red sparkles through. Zoe leapt to catch them, and was suddenly caught as the other strand wrapped around her. She tried to move, and realized she was stuck. Well, it wasn't so bad. From her new position, she touched most of the red sparkles, and the silver strand was warm and comforting.

"Thanks," Zoe told the other strand.

Her world flashed white for one moment. Then she realized she could see properly.

"She has brown eyes." The woman whispered.

"This is your mother," the man told her as he stroked her cheek. "I bet you'll be beautiful, just like her."

Hermione giggled.

"She's so happy," her mother said rapturously.

"You did so good, Helen." He kissed Helen gently on the cheek.

Hermione kicked her leg.

"We did so good," Helen corrected him. "Look at her, so feisty."

Zoe tried to kick a leg again. It didn't work.

"Come on!" she cried. They didn't hear her.

Hermione blinked her eyes a few times. Zoe tried to stop, but it didn't work. The truth slowly sank in.

She had a second life. Wonderful, maybe, but she had no control over this body. The silver entity, who spoke none and knew nothing, was in charge.

"Damn it," she said angrily.

Hermione just giggled at her. The new parents cooed.

Zoe sighed. She had a feeling this was going to be a long day.

Scratch that. A dreadfully long lifetime.

Oh joy.


Chapter One

A girl wove through the crowd. Dark brown hair hung in waves about her head, hiding her face from any observer. She wore a black coat, a black scarf, and had a single black bag slung over a shoulder. She made herself inconspicuous.

One leap and she was on the train. She found an empty compartment at the end of the train, and sat in a seat.

Her hair fell into her eyes as she leaned her chin down. She hummed a melancholy tune as she slid her wand out of her pocket and twirled it between her fingers.

She gazed out the window.

It shouldn't take long.

'How long?'

A little more than seven hours.

She nodded to herself and closed her eyes. She slipped her wand into a sleeve, but kept it firmly in her grasp.

The door slid open and she registered light footsteps.

It was a boy. His breathing was uneven. He was no threat.

He sat down across from her.

There was a sound. Rib-bit!

"Hush, Trevor," he said softly, chidingly. "She's sleeping."

She mused to herself for awhile as she half listened to the boy breathing.

Zoe's memories of Hogwarts began washing through her mind. Within moments, she recalled the entire layout of the castle and its grounds. Another minute, and she recalled all the lessons she learned during her first year. Well, that was going to come in handy...

The boy was murmuring something to his toad.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. It took a minute for him to realize he was being watched. He jumped and looked at her with startled eyes.

Hermione forgot to breathe as their eyes met.

He looks... no.

"Hello," the boy said timidly. His eyes were a hazel green, his hair a dark brown, and his smile gentle. He had a dimple, and a few tiny freckles near his nose that would fade with time. His nose was small, and his high cheekbones were disguised by round cheeks.

"Hi," Hermione answered.

"Did you have a good nap?" Neville scratched behind his left ear as he tried to make conversation.

Mannerisms too. Please no.

"It was too short."

"Ah," he nodded.

The door opened, and Hermione twitched. Neville noticed.

"Anything off the cart, dears?"

"A cauldron cake and three chocolate frogs, please," the boy said promptly.

The plump woman handed him the food in exchange for a few knuts.

You know the order, get to it!

"Twenty pumpkin pasties, ten cauldron cakes, fifty chocolate frogs, fifteen bunches of licorice, thirty boxes of Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans, ten packs of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and two glasses of pumpkin juice, please." Hermione smiled up at her.

After a moment of shock, the tea trolley lady gave Hermione her sweets, accepted the two galleons it cost, and headed off down the corridor again. The door slid shut behind her.

Neville stared at Hermione.

Don't meet his eyes. Don't...

She tapped her wand to her watch, and most of the food disappeared.

"Sugar's good," she remarked blandly to the boy, not meeting his eyes. She took out a pumpkin pasty and bit into it. They chewed in silence for a while.

"Juice?" She offered it to him. "The cakes aren't moist enough."

"Thanks," he grinned. "You're right."

She smiled gently. He was absorbed in eating, and missed the flash of sadness that crossed her face as she studied him.

Just like Frank...

"I'm Neville." He waited for a response.

First choice for a boy. Eleanor if it was a girl.

"I'm Hermione." She finally whispered. He nodded.

"That's a pretty name."

Not as pretty as yours.

She nodded and smiled slightly in thanks.

"Are you excited?" Neville asked after a while. "The castle's supposed to be beautiful."

"It is," she responded reflexively.

Mistake! Mistake!

"I've seen pictures," she added quickly. Neville nodded.

"Is your family magic?" He queried.

And now I'm thinking about them again.

"No," she responded shortly. "Just me. And you?"

"My parents were both wizards," Neville scratched that spot again.

Were...

"Were?" She asked, a look of shock crossing her face.

"They're – uh, gone. Since I was a baby."

Zoe couldn't think properly.

"I'm sorry," Hermione gasped. "I – uh – lavatory." She fled the compartment and pushed past a redheaded boy.

"Oi!" he called at her, but she ran into the lavatory and closed the door. A frantic wave of her wand insured that nobody outside the lavatory could hear her.

She broke down into sobs.

Twelve years – never knowing anything. All this time... Oh, Frank! Alice!

It was some time before she ran out of tears. It had been building since she walked into Diagon Alley last month. Seeing everything again... And now, meeting the children of Zoe's closest friends – it was so strange, so painful.

He looked exactly like Frank, Zoe thought desperately. Why do I...

'Hush,' Hermione told her suddenly. 'Zoe, we can take care of him. Keep him safe for them.'

Zoe thought.

Yes. It's the only thing to do.

'Good. Now stop making me cry,' Hermione ordered the other soul within her.

Yes Ma'am.

Hermione took a moment to make herself presentable again. A few charms and she was the same as before.

She walked back to the compartment, and found Neville frantically searching the small room, turning out his bag and muttering to himself. He looked up and saw her.

"I can't find Trevor," he said desperately.

The toad, right?

She scanned the room briefly.

"Maybe he got out when I left. Do you know summoning charms?"

"No," Neville admitted, his eyes nervous.

"Relax and take out your wand," she instructed. Cautiously he did so.

She flinched, and he frowned.

Every little thing.

"You okay?"

"Fine."

Ash wood, dragon heartstring, eleven and a half inches, flexible.

"So... what do I say."

"Ah-key-oh," she said slowly. "Spelled a-c-c-i-o. Say it as you give your wand a little flick, like you're trying to knock a fly off of it. What really matters is intent. You need to want your toad back. Close your eyes and concentrate on the image of Trevor – imagine him flying to you."

Neville pinched his eyes closed.

"Take your time."

Finally, he said it, slowly and firmly.

"Accio."

Hermione stepped to open the door. Seconds later, Trevor came flying into the room. Neville caught him in one hand.

"Good job," she praised him. "I'd think about investing in a cage, or a tracking charm."

"Thanks," he shot her a blinding smile.

Zoe tried not to cry again. Hermione worked hard not to let her. Despite the fact that she was the one usually controlling her body, Zoe's emotions always effected her.

Hermione gave Neville a small smile and looked away. They watched the countryside go by in companionable silence for the next hour or so. Neville's eyes began to close, and Hermione began to sing softly.

He smiled in his sleep. She didn't stop singing.


Neville woke up an hour later.

"We're almost there," the brunette told him softly. "Did you have a good nap?"

"Best in a while. Was it you... who was singing?"

"Yes."

"I think – I think I've heard it before," he frowned slightly. "It sounds really familiar."

"It's a lullaby," she said softly. "An old friend taught it to me. Maybe... your parents sang it to you when you were little."

If you only knew, Neville.

Neville looked sad and thoughtful.

"Maybe."

The train came to a stop. They peered into the hallway and waited for it to clear before getting off of the train.

"So do we take the carriages?" Neville asked, looking at where most of the students were going.

Can't take the boats. The time I did it, with Frank, Abby, and Marlene was too perfect. I can't redo it. I'd just cry again...

"Do you want to see Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked, ignoring his question.

"The village? We aren't supposed to, are we?" Neville wondered.

She just shrugged.

"Don't you want to see it? There's a joke shop and everything."

"Wow," he breathed. He glanced at the carriages.

"We can catch one later," she said, putting a hand on his arm and smiling disarmingly.

"I guess," he said slowly, excitement blooming on his face.

"Let's go then." Hermione slipped her hand into his and led him down the path to Hogsmeade. The way from the train station led them directly to the main street, which was filled with shops.

When they came to Zonko's, Neville rushed in and stared at the large selection of joke materials.

"Have you ever pranked people before?" Hermione asked him.

"No." Neville's eyes were wide. He reached out and hesitantly touched the jar of dungbombs.

"Well, let's get some of those then," Hermione said, grabbing a few of the (mostly) harmless bombs. "Come on, I bet it'll be great fun pranking people with these."

"We?" He sounded absolutely stunned.

"Yeah, we can be a team."

A memory of those same words, uttered from Frank's lips, surfaced suddenly, and Hermione blinked furiously.

She purposefully didn't look at Neville. She didn't want to cry...

Instead, it was his eyes that teared up at the announcement. He wiped them furtively, blinked a few times, and Hermione never noticed.

"That sounds good," he told her. Hermione made several purchases, and then they left the shop and continued down the street.

"Honeydukes!" Neville whispered as they stopped in front of a shop. "I've heard they have great fudge."

"I'm going to get some," Hermione declared, and took him with her into the shop. She purchased several pounds of dark fudge, some strawberry fudge, and mint fudge. It was all wrapped up, and when they left, she tapped her watch and it all disappeared.

"How'd you do that?" Neville asked curiously.

"It's a charmed watch," she told him. "I got it in Diagon Alley. You can keep lots of stuff in it."

"Neat." He was impressed.

They left and scurried back towards the train station. Everyone was gone, including the train. There were no carriages left.

"What do we do now?" Neville asked.

"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "Just walk, I guess."

They took up a fast pace as they headed to the castle.

"We're going to be in trouble," Neville stated, matter-of-fact, though his eyes were wide.

"Just say Trevor hopped off to the village, so we went after him, and had trouble catching him," Hermione said after a moment. "They'll believe us."

Neville glanced at her. He didn't know whether to be shocked or impressed by how easily she thought of the lie. They continued on down the path, and Neville began to hum.

"Aaahhh!" Hermione shrieked suddenly, stock still as she pointed a wand straight ahead.

Neville looked up fearfully and saw it.

What – the - hell! Zoe screeched inwardly.

It was a huge black horse-like creature, with a skeletal body, enormous white, shining eyes, a pointy head and dragon-like wings.

Neville stopped.

"I don't know what it is," Hermione said in panic.

"It's okay," Neville said suddenly. "I know... I know what it is."

He stepped forward slowly.

"What?" Hermione squeaked.

"It's a thestral," he said softly. It eyed him as he approached, but Neville continued to move.

"They're very magical, and very lucky," he went on. Hermione watched as the boy extended a hand towards the creature.

They waited a minute before it cautiously leaned forward to nudge Neville's hand with its nose.

"Hey, beautiful," Neville said to it. It didn't back away, so he brought up his other hand to stroke the side of its head.

It made a soft keening sound, and Hermione found her fear dissipating. She walked forward and waited for it to nuzzle her hand, although it took another minute.

"Such a good girl," Neville crooned, and it moved its head to look him in the eye.

Suddenly it moved, shaking off their hands and stepping between them. It lowered its head and wings, and bent its legs.

"It's offering us a ride," Neville said in awe.

I don't know if that's a good idea...

"Really?" Hermione was skeptical. Neville carefully climbed onto the back of the thestral and wove his hands into its mane.

"Really," he agreed.

Don't do it... Hermione! Don't you dare! Flying should be done on brooms, not on potentially dangerous creatures.

'Oh hush.'

Hermione shook her head, but got on behind Neville, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Oh Merlin! Why don't you ever listen?

"Up now, girl," Neville told the creature softly. It lifted its head and began to trot, its wings flapping. They were heading towards the castle, and then...

It flapped its wings again, and they were off the ground. Hermione gasped and Neville laughed.

They rose higher, and soon they could see the castle ahead of them.

I suppose this isn't so bad after all...

"Where do we want to land?" Neville asked his friend.

"I don't know," she admitted.

The thestral decided for them as it lifted above the castle. Right beyond the large entrance doors, there was a flat section of the roof that shimmered.

They flew down and right through into... A very large room.

Would you look at that? We got here just in time for the Sorting.

"The Great Hall," Hermione whispered to Neville. "Smile."

Indeed, hundreds of students and dozens of teachers were staring up at them as they flapped gently into the Hall. They landed before the table of teachers.

Hermione hopped off and grabbed Neville's hand to help him down. They both hugged the thestral gently around the neck.

"We'll come visit you later," Neville promised it quietly. Its eyes seemed to twinkle at them as it lifted off and exited through the ceiling.

When it was gone Hermione and Neville looked around them. They were still being stared at. A woman was standing in front of them, her mouth wide open, and a large pointed hat in her hands.

Aggh! McGonagall! Make an excuse! Now!

"We got lost looking for Neville's pet," Hermione explained sweetly.

Professor McGonagall nodded dumbly, then realized her mouth was open. She shut it quickly.

"Stand in line with the other first years," she said sharply. "It's time for the Sorting Ceremony."

Hermione stepped into line next to Neville.

She glanced over at the boy on her left. He had black hair and glasses, and looked at her with astonished eyes. Bright green eyes... And messy, messy black hair. He had to be -

Not now. Not now. Ignore him. Ignore him.

"Her name's Abby," Hermione told him. "Wasn't she pretty?"

"I – I guess." He blinked a few times, then turned to watch the professor.

Hermione yawned as names were called. Students stepped up to a stool, sat down, put on a hat, and waited for it to yell one of the four Houses, the communities within Hogwarts. Finally, her name was called.

"Granger, Hermione!"

She sauntered forward, twirled the hat in one hand, and tipped it onto her head as she sat down with crossed legs.

So where are you going to put me? Zoe asked it eagerly.

'Ooh yes, do tell,' Hermione chimed in.

Oh Merlin, the Hat groaned. It can't be – two of you?

Yep.

Zoe Llewelyn? How did you – never mind, I don't want to know. You always were a troublemaker. Ravenclaw, I remember. Now, though... Slytherin, most definitely.

'Ew!' Hermione thought. 'I don't want to be in Slytherin! I want Gryffindor.'

Absolutely not! Zoe said disgustedly. We want Ravenclaw.

'You can't speak for me,' Hermione said defiantly. 'I've had control for twelve years. I get to decide.'

Shut up, the both of you! I'm the Sorting Hat, and I get to decide!

Fine, Zoe whined. So choose already!

One of you is fit for Slytherin, the other for Ravenclaw. One of you wants Gryffindor, the other wants Ravenclaw. So you know what? Screw you both! You're going to

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Whether you like it or not!

How dare it! It didn't listen to a word either of us said... Uppity, frumpy old cap!

Hermione refrained from blowing the Hat to pieces as she walked to the Hufflepuff table, where everyone was cheering enthusiastically.

"That was a sweet entrance," a girl told her as she sat down.

"Yeah, I haven't seen one that good in, well, ever," a much older boy said.

"What flying spell did you use?" A red haired girl asked.

"They rode in on a flying horse," an older girl sniffed. "Didn't you see it?"

"What horse?" A blond boy asked.

"It was a thestral," Hermione told them, and turned to watch the Sorting. They continued to argue as she ignored them.

"Longbottom, Neville!"

She watched Neville walk to the stool. The Hat was on his head for two seconds before it screamed -

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hermione cheered as her new friend came to sit beside her.

"Looks like we've got the newest group of pranksters in our House for once," a boy with a prefect badge grinned. "Finally! It's almost always the Gryffindors. I bet you guys could come up with something to knock the Weasleys off their feet."

Neville and Hermione looked at each other and exchanged secret little smiles.

Oh, it's on, Zoe thought happily. Merlin knows I could use the distraction.