Domus Tenebris Book 1

Chapter 1: Train Ride

I don't own any of the characters and all credit belongs to JK Rowling.

This is a dark Hermione and dark Harry story, but they do not. I said DO NOT, get together and it is purely a brother/sister relationship.

Harry POV

In shock, Harry Potter stared at the Scottish countryside as he contemplated how much his life had changed over just one week. Not only did his parents love him, but they were also good and kind people, not at all like the criminals his aunt and uncle always told him they had been.

Better yet, he was a wizard. Harry could hardly believe it when the lovable giant Hagrid had told him about this whole new world that Harry was a part of. Walking into Diagon Alley didn't even seem like reality. With owls flying everywhere, people appearing out of thin air, broomsticks that could let you fly, and overall the pure magic he had felt when he walked down the Alley, Harry knew this was a place he could finally be happy.

Giving his new owl Hedwig a pat on her snowy white chest, he realized the wizarding world had already given him two more friends than he had ever had, three if you included the strange boy he had met in Madame Malkins.

Harry was interrupted from his thoughts as a boy his age with bright red hair barged into his compartment. Green eyes met soft blue as the boy's eyes widened comically.

"Oh um, sorry. I was trying to escape from my brothers. My names Ron Weasley." the boy explained sheepishly. Harry smiled a little, taken aback from his abrupt entrance.

"That's alright, you can wait here for as long as you want," Harry told him, gesturing to the seat across from him. Ron had other ideas as he sat down right next to Harry. Harry shifted away, not wanting Ron to invade his personal space.

"Wait are you…Oh bloody hell, your Harry Potter" Ron exclaimed, pointing at his scar rather rudely. That was one thing Harry was quickly beginning to dislike about this place. Hagrid explained why everyone seemed to love him, his famous defeat of the darkest wizard ever wasn't an easy secret to keep when everyone was always whispering about him. Harry didn't want the fame though. All Harry wanted was to be normal.

"Well yes, I am. Nice to meet you" Harry said holding his hand out to shake rather wearily. Once Ron shook his hand, he quickly jumped into an autobiography of his entire life. Harry listened on rather bored, jumping for joy when the trolley came around. Harry was simply amazed at the array of wizarding candy and decided to buy a little bit of everything. As soon as the trolley left. Ron picked up some of Harry's food and continued talking. Scowling in discomfort, he zoned out and observed the countryside as he chewed on a liquorice wand.

A couple of hours later, when Harry had no choice but to continue listening to the rather annoying boy in front of him as his countryside view was being blocked by the rain, they were interrupted once again.

His eyes shifted to the door as a girl with bushy brown hair and buck teeth asked in a rather bossy voice;

"Has anyone seen a toad, a boy named Neville's lost one?" She asked them, leaning against the door with an eyebrow raised in question. Ron looked rather cross at her for interrupting his story but Harry was just glad he was momentarily relieved of the escapades of Ron and his Ghoul.

"No sorry, but your welcome to join us" Harry replied, trying to convey his need to have another person to talk to. Ron looked at him in confusion.

"Thank you," she said primly sitting across from him.

"My names Harry Potter," he told her, expecting another wide-eyed fan to emerge. He was confused when her face shifted to sympathy instead.

"Oh yes, I read about you in a book I picked up to prepare for school. I'm sorry for the loss of your parents" she told him, patting his hand in pity. Harry didn't know what to do, as no one had ever thought about his side of the famous story. He jumped when she continued talking, "My names Hermione Granger, and you are?" she asked Ron. Harry couldn't shake his smile at the disgusted look on her face.

"I'm Ron. Ron Weasley." He replied, just as snarkily. They glared at each other for a second before Hermione stood up.

"Well, I best be going, unless either of you would like to help look for Trevor that is," she asked us both. Harry hadn't a clue what or who Trever was and neither did Ron it seemed. "The toad" she explained, smiling at him slightly. Harry blushed and stood up, nodding to let her know he was following.

Ignoring Ron's huffs of annoyance at being left behind, Harry and Hermione made their way through the train asking around. Hermione looked a little surprised he was so willing to help, but Harry just didn't want to listen to Ron Weasley's voice for another second.

When their search seemed to be for nothing Hermione looked at him for a second before speaking.

"Seeing as Neville's toad seems to have disappeared, you don't have to help look anymore, and I know that you probably don't like me so, it's okay if you want to go back to Wea-, I-I mean Ronald now." She told him, shyness and uncertainty suddenly laced her eyes. Harry realized that Hermione, just like himself, must not have had any friends growing up and therefore presumed Harry didn't like her.

"Well Hermione, as I'm sure you realized Ron isn't very good company" Harry smiled as her head lifted in shock, "I'd very much rather be your friend," He told her smiling. Hermione smiled back and through that, the beginning of their friendship was born.

Hermione POV

Giggling as they ran along, Hermione dragged Harry through the Hogwarts express, sharing stories as they went. She couldn't believe she had made a friend, a real one this time she just knew it.

When she found out she was a witch, Hermione simply couldn't believe it. She had felt invigorated and yet incredibly nervous to enter a world that thousands of people already knew about. She had been a subject of bullying for many years because of her studious nature and unnatural intelligence but this was her chance to start over.

Her muggle parents were less than supportive but that wasn't a surprise. She had always gotten the feeling they didn't like her very much, and so they left her alone and she left them alone. She guessed they were all just independent people, but that didn't make the loneliness any easier.

Shaking away her sad thoughts she waited outside Harry's old compartment as he got his trunk. She wanted to help but Hermione knew from just one glance that the snotty Weasley didn't like her very much. Not that she wanted him to. While she was trying to be more nice and open, Hermione thought he was brash and even though he had only known him for two hours was already taking advantage of Harry's fame.

Therefore when Ron followed Harry out of the compartment, she glared at him in dismay. He shrugged helplessly and so she snatched his owl off him and stomped down the corridor, only getting angrier when she could hear Ronald snickering behind her.

"Hey, Hermione, where exactly are we going?" Harry asked from just behind her. Huffing she tucked a frizzy curl behind her ear;

"I just have to tell Neville about Trevor and then we can find my private compartment," she answered, shifting her gaze to Ron before turning around and stomping down the corridor again.

When the trio arrived at Neville's compartment, Hermione was shocked to find others in there with him. Two of them were quite ugly and bulky, they didn't seem to be talking much and drool was dripping out of one of there mouths, making Hermione's nose scrunch in disgust. The middle boy and the only one doing the talking was quite angelic, with his aristocrat features and platinum blonde hair, however, the effect was ruined by the scowl on his face.

"That's the boy I met in Diagon Alley," Harry whispered in her ear. She nodded in understanding before shifting her gaze to Neville who looked utterly terrified, which made her frown. Neville had been a perfectly polite boy if a bit shy.

She hadn't any more time to assess the situation before none other than Ronald Weasley pushed past her and straight into Neville's compartment, his face the same colour as his hair. She glanced at Harry and noticed he was just as annoyed as she felt.

"Oi Malfoy, leave this kid alone," Ronald Weasley spat at him before Harry pulled him away from the blonde boy called 'Malfoy'. Ron was still red in the face, but Malfoy looked unimpressed by the Weasley.

"Well look who it is, red hair and a hand-me-down robe, too many freckles too handle and a boisterous and overconfident attitude. You must be a Weasley" Malfoy sneered at Ron, causing Hermione to smile slightly before covering it up with a cough. Looking between Harry and herself, his expression morphed from disgust to intrigue, then he got a glance at Harry's scar.

"So, the rumours are true then, Harry Potter has finally been returned to the wizarding world." He said while sauntering up to Harry and Hermione. "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. This is Crabbe and Goyle." He informed them gesturing to the boys guarding his back. Hermione glanced between Harry and Draco and sighed when they started sizing each other up.

Pushing in front of Harry, Hermione held out her hand. "I'm Hermione." She said, glancing up at him impassively, guessing that until she knew his true intentions with her and Harry she shouldn't let him know what she was thinking. Before he could say anything though she asked in the most polite tone she could muster; "Do you know of any free compartments, Harry and I were hoping to lose some unwanted cargo?" She asked him, gesturing to Ron who was still glaring at Draco.

He smirked at that and gestured for them to follow. Allowing Harry to go first she passed Ron with a glare while he mouthed nasty words behind her back. Hoping that Ron wouldn't try anything, she followed Draco Malfoy, not knowing the trouble doing so would get her in.

Following Draco into his compartment, Hermione quickly hid her smile as she looked at his three other friends. Right next to the window as a girl who looked too tall to be a first year, with soft blue eyes and golden hair. Hermione was envious of how smooth it looked. Next to her was a boy with dark skin and piercing eyes, however, unlike the girl who was scowling out the window, he wore a bright smile that dimmed in confusion when he saw them. Across from those two was a skinny boy with dark brown hair and high cheekbones.

"This here is Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott," Draco informed them, gesturing to the three occupants of the compartment. "Guys this Harry Potter," he told his friends before sitting down next to Theo and smirking up at them. Hermione and Harry sat down wearily next to them while Crabbe and Goyle sat across from them.

Looking around, everyone's eyes seemed glued to Harry, more specifically where his scar would have been. He rolled his eyes in expiration before lifting his fringe and showing it to them. Hermione scowled in annoyance, 'why did everyone have to take advantage of Harry's fame'.

"So what house are you two hoping to get into?" Blaise asked them trying to break the silence. Harry looked confused before realization dawned on his face.

"Well I'd be happy with any, honestly I'd be happy just to get accepted. Probably Gryffindor though, that was the house my parents were in." Harry replied, sadness in his eyes.

"I like the idea of Ravenclaw," Hermione said, worriedly glancing at Harry. Draco informed them that they were all hoping for Slytherin and Hermione shook her head in understanding. She secretly thought she was more Slytherin then any of the other houses. Growing up she knew she was smart, and while the bullying hurt, she knew she was better than her bullies ever would be. She would always be better than them.

"So what is your name then?" Daphne asked while the boys were explaining what quidditch was to Harry.

"Hermione Granger, nice to meet you." Hermione held out her hand to shake. However, she was disappointed when Daphne recoiled instead.

"You're a muggleborn then," Daphne said, glancing wearily at her friends who quieted down once they heard what Daphne said. Hermione had expected this to happen, she had read in her history textbook what the first war was about. She had hoped that these people might be a bit more understanding but it seems she was wrong. What scared her most was that Harry might leave her for these people now, then she would be friendless once again.

"YOU'RE A MUDBLOOD!" Draco shrieked, jumping out of his seat and pointing a finger at her. The sight would be funny if he hadn't called her such a vulgar word. Honestly, they were only eleven. In response, Hermione stood with a glare. Looking around the compartment all of them, bar Harry were wearily staring at her. Even Crabbe and Goyle lost their attention to their food.

"Yes, I am as you so eloquently put it, a mudblood. That does not make me any less of a person as you thought Malfoy" Hermione replied.

"Yes, it does. You have dirty blood. You stole our magic. Do you not understand what my father is going to do to me once he finds out I invited you here." Draco glared back, a hint of fear lighting up his eyes.

Harry stood and put an arm around her protectively, glaring at the would-be Slytherins before announcing they would be leaving as cordially as he could. Hermione buried her head in Harry's shoulder trying to hide her hurt. It was just so hard though, after all, she had gone through as a muggle. Now it seemed she would never escape it.