AN: This is my first fanfiction, so be gentle! The first few chapters are about Hermione over her first few summers. Will follow the first 3 books, but then go AU from the fourth. Eventual Fleurmione. Everything belongs to Rowling!
Hermione Granger was many things. Muggleborn. Witch. She was the brightest witch of her age for crying out loud. However, for all her book smarts, she couldn't quite work out where her parents were.
Hermione had just completed her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and now sat alone just inside the entrance to Kings Cross, her trunk propped up by her feet. She had last seen her parents at Christmas, and whilst they seemed like they understood her first term at the school, there was a distance there that even the 12 year old had picked up on. They had sent her a few letters since then, and Hermione had assumed that they were too busy to answer the rest of her letters.
Either way, it had been several hours since she had gotten off the Hogwarts Express, waving goodbye to Ron and Harry, and waiting for her parents to show. Hermione had, of course, tried ringing her house phone, having found a few muggle coins in her pockets, but received no answer, and opted for leaving a rather uneasy voicemail. As time ticked on, Hermione wondered if her parents had forgotten about her. They weren't overly fond of her being a witch, let alone going to a school so far away. Perhaps they were running late at their practise, last minute appointments, or even an emergency.
The station guard that had spoken to Hermione earlier, kept looking over at her. She knew why, of course. It's not every day a 12 year old is left alone on a train platform. She had put him at ease earlier, claiming her parents were merely running late. However, Hermione couldn't help but wonder if they had truly left her alone here.
That last thought ran through her head, and she couldn't help the tears that started running down her face. Hermione hid herself behind her bushy hair, and tried her hardest to start thinking of other ideas, of ways to get help. She could always owl her head of house, Professor McGonagall, see if there was a way to stay at Hogwarts over the summer. She could hide in the library.
As soon as that idea came, Hermione snorted. There was no way for her to owl her professor, and she was silly to think they would even want to come get her. No, there has to be another way. Perhaps she could hide in Diagon Alley, she did have a bit of money left over, enough to perhaps get some food.
Hermione kept running ideas through her head, trying to come up with a plan, leaving her tears to fall freely. So much so was she in her own head did she not even realise someone had sat next to her.
"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours?" Hermione jumped out of her seat, turning her attention to the rather amused woman next to her.
"What on earth are you on about?" she whispered, clutching her wand in her pocket tightly. This woman couldn't possibly know about Hogwarts, could she? It wouldn't be the weirdest thing she learnt this year.
The older woman motioned for Hermione to sit down, and once she had, placed a finger against her lips with a wink. The woman's wand appeared in her hand, and with a flick, a little spark flew out the end.
"Now your turn, if you don't mind?" The woman asked, her eyes dropping to where Hermione's hand still gripped her own wand in her pocket.
Nodding, Hermione pulled it out, letting it rest in her hand, still uneasy about this witch sitting next to her.
"I'm Rhosmari. Well, just Ros for short, unless I'm in trouble" Hermione nodded, her tears had stopped falling for a moment.
"Hermione Granger, lovely to meet you" Hermione replied. She may not understand why the witch was sitting next to her, but she wouldn't let her manners slip by the way.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Hermione" Ros hesitated for a second, seeming unsure of her next words. "What brings you to Kings Cross, so late after the Hogwarts Express?"
Hermione couldn't help the tears that spilled over, and ducked her head again, biting her lip to stop sounds from coming out. "My - my parents"
Ros cooed, quickly pulling the younger girl into her arms, humming softly at her. "It's okay, Hermione, shush, you're alright now, I promise"
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Hermione sobbing into Ros's shoulders, and the older witch rubbing her back, humming an unfamiliar song into her hair. They pulled apart, Ros laughing, as Hermione' stomach decieded to - rather loudly - remind them that she hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning. The younger girl blushed, and kept her head down.
"Hermione - I - look" Ros started, thinking hard about how to approach the subject gently. "How about you stay with me. And before you start thinking - it's not a trap, I have a, well, a small family, and my partner wouldn't mind really."
Ros stopped herself from rambling, and instead lifted Hermione's head, making them lock eyes. Ros could see the hesitation in the girl's eyes, but eventually, there was a little nod. Barely. But it was there nonetheless, and Ros smiled brightly. With a quick glance around, ensuring that they weren't being watched, Ros flicked her wand at Hermione's trunk, making it shrink to the size of a book. Giving a smirk at Hermione's delighted expression, Ros placed Hermione's trunk in her pocket.
Hermione followed Ros out of the station, frowning at how dark the sky had become. They walked along the road in silence, Ros's arm wrapped over Hermione's shoulders. After a minute, they ducked into an alleyway.
"Have you ever apparated before Hermione?" Ros asked, breaking the silence that had started from when they left the station. When she saw Hermione shake her head, Ros continued. "It's a bit like going through a tube. But very tight. It is the quickest way to get to the house, I'm afraid. It'll take seconds"
Before Hermione could react, Ros gripped her arm tighter, turning on the spot. Instantly, Hermione felt a tug, and felt herself being pressed into Ros's side. Almost as soon as it started, the younger witch felt her legs giving out under her. They paused for a moment, Ros letting her catch her breath, holding her up.
"I'm sorry, it does get easier with time. I'm quite impressed though! Most people throw up the first time" Ros smiled uncertainly at Hermione, still gripping the younger witch to keep her upright.
"I'm good. I think" Hermione replied, still trying to regain some control over her breathing. As she stood up, she turned to the gates they were standing in front of. More important than the ravens woven into the metal gates was the large house at the end of the drive. Hermione realised that this was less a house for a small family, as Ros had said, but rather a large mansion, for many, many people.
The two witches had made their way through the gates, and were strolling up to the doorway of the mansion. Ros had started to explain that this was her family's home, and had been in for generations.
The door swung open in front of them, Hermione suddenly started feeling a lot more nervous, and hid behind Ros.
"We'll go straight to the kitchen, everyone else would have eaten by now" Ros explained, navigating through the foyer, to the kitchen. "After we've eaten, I'll show you to your room, and you can meet everyone tomorrow. It's been an awfully long day, and I'm sure you'd rather spend tonight in peace, unpacking?"
"Yeah, that would be great. Thank you Ros" Hermione couldn't help the next onslaught of tears, the older witch had been so nice, and so welcoming, and Hermione was just so tired.
They sat on a chair, Hermione wrapped carefully in Ros's arms. She barely paid any attention to her surroundings, and only looked up to see a plate of food in front of her. Hermione's stomach grumbled again, and she ate quickly, just wanting to go to bed and sleep away this nightmare.