Chapter 2 to 'Death by an Angel'

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

The night now wrapped darkness around the globe that many called their home. The Earth was still revolving, but Hermione's world was destroyed. She couldn't put Harry's face out of her mind. She looked at the landscape around her in the fading light.

'I'll have to return to Hogwarts soon, but I don't know where I am.' She thought and then the unicorn turned back in the direction they had come from as if it had heard her thoughts.

She sighed and breathed in the crisp fall air. What had happened to those beautiful summer days? Why couldn't things just stay the way they had been? Everything had changed when they came back to Hogwarts for their last year. What went wrong?

* * * * * Flashback * * * * *

Hermione stood there in black on a rainy September day. Standing a few feet away was Ron Weasley and what was left of his family. His once radiant red hair was dull and rather untidy. He looked exactly like that of a child who had lost his way.

It was true. While Ron had been on vacation with his best friends something terrible had happened. Of course Ron had noticed something was wrong with his mother before he'd had left, but had thought nothing of it. Now he repeated the same sentence in his head. 'If Only.' 'If Only..' The worst part was no one could even tell him how she had died. Was it because they wanted to protect him or was there some other forbidden reason? After his mothers death and his return home, his father hadn't been the same. Two days later Ron woke up to find that his father was gone; most likely dead.

Hermione Granger paid no attention to her wet hair and clothing as she walked towards Ron. Hermione had never lost someone important to her. She didn't know the excruciating pain of the life.

A light fog now encircled the scene making it look even more obscure. Ron didn't cry as they lowered the casket into the damp Earth. He looked at his youthful sister and saw the raw pain unmasked in her eyes. He didn't want to think about what their family would do after this was all over. No one wanted to think about these things it was much too painful. But he knew most of the pain pressed on Ginny the most. He'd heard her crying every night since his mother's death. But only Ron was there to comfort her. He knew what is was like to be surrounded by people and yet all alone.

In Hermione's mind she reflected upon just how much suffering she'd had in her life. Little did she know pain was about to become predictable in her life.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

When she looked at her surroundings again there was Hogwarts in front of her she felt almost refreshed from her ride. With the past out of her mind for a moment, she started towards the steps of the massive castle. She turned to thank the unicron, but it was nowhere in sight. She was almost prepared to face her fears and confront the ones who had caused her the most pain; the ones she loved most.