Disclaimer: All character's mentioned in the story except 'It' are the property of J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter and the Body Snatcher, Chap. 1

Hermione brushed a strand of her hair away from her face and pulled her heavy fur coat more tightly about her as she gazed up at the mansion in front of her.

Two men-servants bustled out of the door to help she and the part owner of the house, Victor Krum, with their luggage.

"I hope Greece agreed with you, madam," said a rotund man with a very proper English accent as he picked up her suitcase. "Yes, Charles," beamed Hermione, "Victor and I had a wonderful time."

"I'm afraid your parents are away, sir," Charles addressed Krum "And by all indications, they shan't be around for quite some time." "Oh then, vee shall haff to do vithout them." sighed Krum.

He offered is arm to Hermione and led her up the marble stairs.

Hundreds of miles away, Ron Weasley was hurriedly tearing open a letter he had anxiously been awaiting for weeks. He absentmindedly stroked the magnificent owl that had delivered the letter.

Dear Ron,

              I'm so so sorry I haven't gotten in touch with you for some time now. The holidays have just seemed to fly by so fast! I took Victor up on his offer to visit him over the holidays. He and his parents live in this wonderful house on top of a mountain! You can see for miles and miles when you look through any window. It's simply marvellous, though it's always a bit too chilly. We're at Greece (Victor and I) at the time I'm writing this. WE shall be back at the mountain by the time you finally receive it. Anyway, I won't be able to come over to the Burrow this time. Sorry again. I'll just have to meet you at school. I'll break off here. Say "Happy Birthday" to Harry for me if he's there with you. Bye!

- Hermione

P.S.

      Victor says hello.

P.S. (again)

       Please take care of Zograf; I had to plead with Victor before he gave me permission to use him. He's his favourite owl.  

 Ron read the letter and re- read it again. He was going over it for the fifth time when he realized he was strangling the owl and it was hooting in pain.

 The commotion woke Harry, who was sleeping on the bed next to Ron. "Whatchs thee mather?" He slurred. His head cleared in time to see Ron hurling the shrieking owl out of the window.

The bushes below caught the bird and it flapped lopsidedly away as fast as it could with one functioning wing.

"What's going on?" asked Harry again bewilderedly. In answer, Ron flung the crumpled paper at Harry and proceeded into the bathroom that had been fitted in his room.

 "I thought you and Krum had things sorted out," Harry yelled over the roar of the shower. Ron stepped out with a bright orange Chudley Cannons towel wrapped around his waist. Miniature players zoomed after orange balls in it. He went over to his wardrobe.

 "That was when I thought he had finally decided to behave civilly. Hermione's just fifteen, what in her could possibly interest him?" Harry rolled his eyes upwards and said, "She's not a child, Ron, she's a big girl, and she can take care of herself."

 Ron answered as he put on a pair of jeans. "That's exactly what he wants her to believe. He's a slow but sure worker, that one. Believe me, Harry, I know these things."

 Once again Harry raised his eyes to the ceiling and grinned knowingly.

 The child's little heart burst and oozed blood as It sunk its teeth into it. It murmured a sound of pure pleasure and hungrily devoured it, then continued with the rest of the body parts. It knew it was safe, for the meantime.

 But It knew it couldn't continue to possess the body it had. People were beginning to pry; the child's disappearance wouldn't go unnoticed. The woods were small and it would take but an hour to search it through inside out.

 The mountains. That's were It would go.

 Food was not an obstacle. It had seen a house on top there. It had even seen the young, fresh people trudging towards the building.

 It grinned, showing the chunks of flesh wedged between its teeth.

A/N: There! That's Chapter 1. I'm really going to develop this. Reviews motivate me to write faster, though. So press that little purple button there, NOT THE ONE IN THE BRACKETS! (whew)There, that one, and make me smile. ^_^.