::Authors note:: Hi there and thanks for checking out my lovely (and re uploaded, yes I had uploaded it under a different name but I didn't like it so I changed the story a bit) new Harry Potter fanfiction. I will only say this once "I do not own anything related to Harry Potter, not the characters, story, plot, nothing. All of that belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling." People are going to be in different years sometimes, and it will be a touch dark also because she is dealing with very difficult problems, maybe rated M later on. Italics are Hermione's inner thoughts. If you enjoy what you're about to read, please review! However, no "that's not how Hermione acts, she's not in their year!" stuff. This is my story, not yours please go write your own version of that's what you wish.
Chapter One: High Tides
It was the summer before her fourth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which had been her home away from home for the last three magical years.
Hermione Granger sat on the roof of her best friend's house, where she's been staying the last month while waiting for the new year to start. She quietly watched her friend and siblings play a long game of quidditch, blurs of coppery red hair and laughs passed by.
"Hey Hermione, are you sure you don't want to join us next game?" The only female Weasley shouted as she grabbed a makeshift quaffle and threw past her older brother Fred, scoring the last winning point.
Hermione shook her head, smiling at the happiness she got out of being around one of her best and only true friend. "No way, you know I'm not a good flyer Ginny. Plus," she said standing up, the late warm summer breeze fanning out her long chestnut brown hair, which thanks to an enchantment placed by Ms. Weasley, stayed straight and smooth no matter what weather. "I think I can hear your mum calling us for dinner." Which was followed by a huge gong being heard even by the boys further out in the field.
Everyone came down to the kitchen and sat at the table, all the Weasleys hungry and talking about their day. She tried not to think about what her own family might doing right now. How her own mum would be setting down a huge plate of her favorite food, and how her dad would turn on the radio and tell us about his day. Instead Hermione focused on what was happening in front of her from her place at the head of the table.
Ms. Weasley was talking about the trip to Diagon Alley in between bites that they would make in the morning to get their school supplies. Fred and George were stuffing their faces as usual, Ginny tried not to laugh as her dad showed her the newest muggle gadget he found, one that shocked you gently if you touched it. The youngest red-haired sibling, Ron, was picking at his food as he sulked over the lost game.
Lost in her thoughts about everything going on, she didn't realize when everyone stopped their conversations and looked at her. "I'm sorry?"
"Hermione dear, we were asking if you have everything ready for tomorrow? We're leaving early to beat the rush. Is there anything special you need me to pick up while we're there?" Ms. Weasley asked, a cheery smile on her face.
She thought about some of the items she wanted to get on her own while they were there, but shook her head no, telling Ms. Weasley that all she needed was her regular school supplies and books for the year, perhaps maybe a new pair of black stockings. Plastering on her own signature smile, she took a small bite of mashed potatoes and hoped that no one could see how she really felt.
After the meal was done, Hermione excused herself and went to bed, yawning that she would see them bright and early the next day.
How silly, what am I even thinking? What happens if they found out why I couldn't stay at my parents house the rest of the summer? That haven't asked yet, but it's only a matter of time. That I basically got into a horrible argument with them about… I just packed my trunk, grabbed Crookshanks, wrote a note explaining where I was going and that I'll see them next summer. Then I sent an owl to the Weasleys asking if I could stay for the remainder of the summer out of the blue. They'll worry and I don't think I would be able to handle that. How foolish could I be… NO. I have everything under control. I. Have. It. Under. Control. I must.
Stopping her inner monologue for the time being, Hermione turned over on her side, and pulled the covers tighter under her chin, her cat nestled behind her knees purring away. It was no use to think about things that happened weeks ago.
What mattered was the future, and how she was going to handle things when she got back to school. No one there was going to question her, or maybe even pay attention to her. Not like they really did before. Maybe her professors, but they would just explain it away as the normal stress from the classes she had signed up for but wouldn't say anything. She would keep her grades up and everything would look fine. I'm not the smartest witch of my generation for nothing after all. What's one more thing to add to the list of perfectionism?
As she drifted off to sleep, she hoped that everything tomorrow went well. Soon she would be at Hogwarts, where everything would be fine.
In her dream, Hermione was being dragged under dark and freezing water. She was only wearing a small red dress and was reaching out her hand towards the surface. In the dark she could hear a soft sound, sort of like music but not quite. In the distance she could see a shadow coming closer, and the odd thing is, she didn't feel panicked, instead she felt a calming that she had been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Without a second thought she opened her mouth and took in the icy waters into her lungs.
:: The Next Morning::
"Okay everyone, you know the plan. Meet back here at one o'clock by the giant clock by the cafe, don't be late." Mr. Weasley said looking everyone in the eye, getting nods and snickers in return. "Alright off you go then."
Ginny grabbed her wrist and started pulling her down past shop after shop, talking about all the things she wanted to buy. Sweets from Honeydukes, robes from the discount shop across the way, and most importantly, she wanted to look at the newest quidditch gear.
"You know Gin., I think I'm going to go get my books first." She said, slowly pulling the red head to a halt. She knew Ginny had no intention of going into the bookstore until her mum dragged her in there at the last possible moment. "I'll come find you later then?"
The look in her friends' eyes had a glimmer of being off the hook and nodded before she dashed off again. "Thanks 'mione! Don't forget okay, one o'clock!"
With a heavy sigh, she pulled out the folded piece of paper that had her own list on it. Most of it was vials of potions and tablets, ones to help you stay awake, to sleep, calming ones, and for concentration. The one she wanted the most was the ones at the bottom of the list. The ones for taking away physical pain, to quite your mind completely, and ones to take away emotions, even take away hunger for hours.
However, she would need to visit Knockturn Alley to get these things, and she had checked in advance to make sure they would have it. Slipping the paper back into her pocket securely, she looked around to make sure no one she knew saw her. How do I explain what I'm doing buying dark items if someone sees me? Hopefully it won't matter…but I don't have much time to think about it.
As she began walking down increasingly dark alleys where witches eyed her with curiosity at what a young witch like her would need from here. Finally, she came across the shop she needed and pushed the door open without hesitation.
Items of all sorts were piled and placed carefully on tables and shelves. A jar held what looked like a miniature lightning storm, bright flashes periodically happing. Passing all of this, she had to keep telling herself it was almost done, and she could leave soon. For now, she had to act like she had important business here. Which in fact, she did.
A cough from behind the counter caught her attention, and she came to stand in front of a man that had very sharp teeth when she smiled at her. "How can I help you miss?"
"I asked about some items. My name is-"
"Granger? Is that you? Well well…. the mighty do fall, don't they?" a silky-smooth voice called from behind her. Oh please no. this can't be happening.
The air turned noticeably cooler as she turned around, coming face to face with one of her worst nightmares. "Malfoy. I'm not surprised." The smirk that was on face was enough to make her want to leave this instant, but she had her priorities.
He looked her up and down slowly, obviously knowing it made her skin crawl. Her overly long white knit shirt and knee-high leggings along with a slim black sweater, suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"What do you have here?" Malfoy said as he reached around her and peeked into the sack the man had brought out for her once he said her name. "These are some serious potions Granger. A potion to take away pain? What would you need this for?"
Grabbing her bag and giving her money to the man, she glared at Malfoy before she walked away. "Mind your own business Draco."
Taken back by the spark deep in her eyes as she looked at him, he let her walk out the door without further argument. He genuinely wanted to know what she would need with such heavy potions though. He only used them himself occasionally when he was under a lot of stress and couldn't get his mind right. But Granger? Malfoy shook his head and decided for right now he wasn't going to find the answer he wanted. For the time being he would let it go, thinking things were going to be interesting when they returned to school.
She practically ran to where she was supposed to meet the Weasleys. Why was he so interested? Taking in the time, it was only a quarter to eleven. She found a bench to sit at while she waited. Her heartbeat slowly went back to normal while she looked around for a flash of blond hair. It doesn't matter, I got what I needed after all.
Her stomach quietly rumbled, she hadn't eaten breakfast with everyone this morning. As she looked in her bag, she selected a tablet that would help ease her mind and popped it into her mouth. It tasted like dried Autumn leaves. As she sat there, she couldn't help but think things were going to be very interesting when she returned to school.
A roll of thunder made her look up, and that's when the first drop of the cold coming rain hit her, and she smiled. A new year and a new image could do us some good.