Chapter One
"Dr. Granger," it was one of the first year interns that woke her from the nightmare she
was having, "You're needed in ER two, an attempted suicide."
9:00pm was the time Hermione's watch read as she rose from the chair she had fallen
asleep in, and walked out of the doctor's lounge. She had just turned twenty-two yesterday,
and was the youngest person to have received a PhD in all the fields of human medicine. But
that wasn't her passion, her real talent was magic. So when she walked into the emergency
room and saw the thin teenage girl lying on a bed shaking with intense energy, and the flock of
nurses who were running around like chickens with their heads cut off; Hermione knew
immediately what was wrong.
A tall, blonde woman rushed up to her as Hermione stood in the doorway, "We thought
she might have over dosed, but we can't for the life of us find anything that will make her calm
down, she's been like this for more than half an hour."
Hermione flipped, "Half an hour!!!??? Why didn't you get me sooner? Jeez Monica,
what did you do forget about me?" Hermione was astounded that they'd waited so long before
finding her.
Monica didn't reply, she; like all the other M.D.'s at the hospital were secretly jealous of
'perfect' Dr. Granger, who could solve everything and never had any problems.
Hermione knew how to help the girl; but it would require her to use her magic, and to
have a large group of muggles (non-magic folk) watch you perform spells was just plain stupid, "
Everyone, out!!" she ordered, pushing everyone out of the room. Then once she locked the
doors, she subconsciously drew her wand out of her pocket; ten inches of Beachwood with a
unicorn hair source; focusing the tip of it on the girl's shaking chest, she muttered the Latin
words, "finite incantatum," and the girl's body stopped in mid shake and went limp as she
went into an unconscious state.
After placing her wand back into her pocket and opening the doors everyone came
pouring back in and Monica once again approached Hermione, this time a suspicious look
played on her face, "How'd you do that?" Hermione simply shrugged her shoulders, "You
should tell us how you did that in case it happens again and you aren't here."
"It shouldn't happen again, and besides there was nothing you could've done to help,"
Hermione replied before leaving the room full of horrible memories.
*^Six Hours Later^*
She sat on her bed in her blue satin pajamas, unable to sleep, only to see pictures of her
life five years ago when she closed her eyes; and thoughts of what-ifs when she let her mind
wander. It had begun so normally, how had it gone so horribly wrong?
She looked down at her wand that lay in her palm, where had it come from?
***
They were dressed in deep red dress robes talking about something that must not have
been very important for she couldn't remember the topic; when the headmaster, Professor
Dumbledore walked into the room; even in his old age, Dumbledore had, held an aura of youth
around him, causing the students to respect him greatly, and consider him a friend, so as he sat
down everyone went silent. Hermione took that as her cue and stood, walking up to the front of
the hall where a stand was set up, following her was Draco Malfoy in dark green; as head girl
and boy they were required to say a speech. Hermione went first:
"Seven years ago we all began a new era in our lives and today that era will come to a
glorious close. So as I look around this hall I see my friends, enemies, and classmates and I
wonder what the next era, which will begin as we leave Hogwarts, will bring each of us. For as
we go our separate ways what will we take with us; the knowledge of magic; memories both
good and bad; hopefully a friend or two?
'I know that most people think of me as a condescending, know-it-all; but I'm satisfied
with what I am going be able to take with me as I leave; I have great friends, great memories,
and the comfort that I have the ability to make something of myself, because I learned it. What I
want you to ask yourselves now is; are YOU satisfied." With that she straightened her robes
and with a last glance at the crowd stepped off the podium as Draco took her place.
"Are you running for Minister, Granger? Good speech," he looked down at Hermione,
and then paused, "But seriously, who are you guys? I know that we have lived in the same
castle for seven years, but I have never taken the time to get to know any of you. I know
names, and I know faces. I know who I hate and who I don't. But I've never really known
anybody. I hope you haven't made the same mistake, because names and faces fade from the
mind, but great friends last forever in the heart," He paused in deep thought, "I know I'm not the
most liked person in this room at the moment," some people scoffed, "and I know that I've hurt
a lot of feelings, not to mention egos. But I don't want to start off my life with regrets, and
people hating me. So I apologize, for everything that I have done, or said." He walked off the
podium, leaving everyone in awe; the hateful Draco Malfoy was asking forgiveness?
As he walked off the stage he turned to Hermione and held her eyes with his, "Granger,
I meant what I said up there; I am sorry," he pointed at the podium where McGonagall was
now talking, "No hard feelings?" She couldn't have turned him away if she wanted to; because
in his deep grey eyes, he was truly sorry, and he did want to make amends, she didn't know
how she knew, but she knew that he meant it. All she had to do was nod, and she was scooped
up into the biggest, most meaningful hug she had ever received; most of the Gryffindors, and all
of the Slytherins stood up gasping in horror at the sight of their embrace; but that wasn't
important, for all was forgiven.
But all was not finished; for just then some two hundred figures in adorned in grey robes
and white masks burst into the room; and among them was a tall figure in bright red robes, a
high cackling laugh emitting from his throat. Voldemort.