Hey everyone I am back with the second installment of The Curse of The Lovers! After posting the first chapter I realized I forgot to take the special omega symbol out, which ended up being printed as W's. I know some of you were wondering what all the W's were about well that was the reason. This chapter will stray away from some of the past events in the series. It is kind of hard to explain but when you read the next couple of chapters you will see what I am talking about. Anyway, thank you for the reviews and keep it up! So, with that said… On with the chapter!

Several gasps escaped across the Great Hall. Even Professor Snape now released from the spell Hermione placed on him was at a loss for words.

"It all started when I was eight years old. My father was killed by a group of robbers on his way home from work. He was a carpenter and with him gone my mother could barely keep the two of us afloat. It didn't help that I showed signs of mysterious powers, which could cost me my life. You see I was born to two muggles who lived in a time when witchcraft was treated with death at the stake. If my mother wanted me safe the only thing she could do was send me somewhere I would be accepted."

"I still remember the day my mother came home and told me the arrangements that had been made for my life. She told me that she by the grace of God bumped into a Lady at the market, my mother would sell her knit work at the market to for money or food, who was looking for a young servant girl to work for her. She told me that at first she was real hesitant until the Lady assured her that I would be most at home at her estate for she was too like me."

"I remember being scared at first because I didn't really think my mother would go through with this. I really wanted to stay with my mother, even though we had nothing. I knew if we stayed together and tried hard enough we could make it, and part of me was scared my mother thought of me as a freak and this was just her way of washing her hands of me for good."

"No amount of pleading or begging could get her to change her mind. I was going and that was that. So, that Sunday after worship she helped me pack my bags and we got on the carriage waiting for us outside. The ride to the mysterious Lady's house, my mother had not really explained to me who the Lady was, was silent. I was too busy sulking about what was happening to make conversation and my mother was busy staring out the carriage window. I could not stay cross long for the carriage stopped outside of a long drive that led to a castle that could only have come from one of the many fairytales my father told me."

The vision hanging mid-air behind Hermione began to waver and a carriage appeared on its canvas. The carriage slowly pulled to a stop and the driver jumped down to open the door for the passengers inside. A woman of medium height stepped out followed by a little girl who was looking at her surroundings while the mother talked to the driver.

"Why have you stopped here?", Jessica Granger asked.

"Well, commercial carriages are not allowed beyond this point Ma'am. I am afraid you are going to have to walk the rest of the way. I'm sorry.", The driver replied.

"That is quite alright. It's not your fault it is just unexpected. Here is your due.", Jessica said as she handed the driver five cow pecks.

"Thank you Ma'am.", The driver took the money, hoped back onto the driver's seat, and rode away.

"Well, I guess we are going have to grab these bags and walk. Come on Hermione let's go.", Jessica grabbed Hermione's bags and began walking up the long path with Hermione walking behind her.

"Mother?", Hermione said after they had walked for some time. "Is that castle ahead where I am to live?"

"Yes, my love."

"So, this Lady you met in the market is a not just a Lady but a Princess?", Hermione asked her face lighting up at the possibility of being around a Princess.

"No, she isn't a Princess but she is a Lady. Lady Riddle to be exact."

"Oh.", Hermione had not realized that her mother literally meant that she was a Lady. Hermione didn't notice that her mother had stopped walking until she bumped into the back of her.

"Hermione do watch where you are going."

"Sorry Mum."

"We are here.", Jessica said as she walked up the steps and knocked on the door. "Hurry along Hermione."

Hermione rushed up the steps to her mother and stopped in front of her. "Let's see about your hair. I am afraid the wind has blown it out a little.", Jessica knelt before Hermione trying to smooth it down with her hands. "Okay, that's the best I can do under the circumstances."

As Hermione's mother stood up, the dark oak door was opened by an elderly woman with salt and pepper hair. "Yes may I help you?"

"Um, yes. Lady Riddle requested that my daughter Hermione come to work for her as her personal servant. We are suppose to be here for a meeting on the exact terms for the job at one."

"Yes, Hermione and Ms. Granger. Lady Riddle is expecting you. Please come in.", She stepped aside to allow them entry into the house and closed the door.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Kathryn and it is a pleasure to meet both of you.", Kathryn reached out and shook Jessica and Hermione's hand. "Lady Riddle is waiting in the Blue room for you. This way.", She started walking down a hall to the left of the entrance way and led them through several halls elaborately furnished with furniture that neither Jessica or Hermione had ever seen. Kathryn stopped in front of a pair of doors and slowly opened them. As they entered Hermione could see why the room was called the Blue Room. It was blue everywhere she looked; the furniture and the walls were blue.

"My Lady?", Kathryn said as she stepped further into the room. "Ms. Granger is here with her daughter.", Hermione could see the top of an auburn head sitting behind a large blue chair. As Kathryn told her mistress that they were there the Lady in question rose from her chair. Any doubts that Hermione had about coming to work for her were quickly thrown away for when she saw her face she saw such kindness in it that her soul was set to ease. Lady Riddle was one of the most beautiful women that Hermione could ever remember seeing and she could tell from just one look that the beauty was more than skin-deep.

"Ah, yes. I am glad that you both could make it.", Lady Riddle quickly move towards Hermione and her mother. "Please have a seat. Kathryn can you prepare some tea and scones for us please?"

"Yes my Lady.", Kathryn quickly left the room.

"Well, I am really glad to have you here. So, you must be Hermione am I right?"

"Yes."

"And how old are you?"

"Eight."

"Eight! Eight years old! Why I thought you were at least ten. You are quite the little lady aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Well as you know Hermione you are going to come to work for me as my personal servant. That basically means that you will be spending a lot of time here with me keeping me company. It is lonely here for me being the only woman in my family and given I can not have anymore children…", The cheery look of Lady Riddle's face faded alittle at this; Hermione found herself wondering what could of happened to her to prevent that. "I had hoped to have a little girl but that was not to be so, I will look to you as my own little girl that I could never have through God's means."

At Jessica's worried look Lady Riddle sought to immediately ease Jessica's worries. "Ms. Granger you do not have to worry. I would never take anyone's child from them, never! I know too much what that is like and I would never do that to anyone else. What I mean is you will very much stay Hermione's mother and can come and go as you please and Hermione can go whenever she wants to visit you. The only difference is that you will be paid Hermione's weekly earnings and Hermione will be taken care of by me. All her needs will be meet and you needn't have any worry. She shall be as my own blood in every sense; she shall only be an servant to me because of her weekly pay and that will be the only way that will be seen as such. She will attend the best schools and have the best of everything. Whatever my son gets she shall have the same of."

Hermione's mother started to cry., "Why are you doing this for us?"

"Please don't cry. I am doing this because I know that Hermione is a muggle born witch and I know that if she were to stay out in the muggle world she would eventually be targeted and killed. I know what it is like to be treated like I am almost nothing because people just suspect something. By Hermione coming here I can help her tame her powers and teach her how she can live in both the wizarding world and the muggle world."

"What is a muggle?", Hermione asked able to speak after the shock of the gift that was being handed to her.

"Oh Honey, that is a person who doesn't have any powers like you and I have.", Lady Riddle said with a warm smile.

"I don't know how I can thank you.", Hermione's mother cried. "You have no idea about the situation we were in."

"Don't worry about it."

"Um, I should probably get going. I need to get back home to get my knit work together for the market.", Jessica said as she began to rise from her seat. "Can I have a few moments alone with my daughter?"

"Of course. I shall be in the other room; just call me when you are ready to leave.", Lady Riddle left through a door to their right that neither one of them noticed before.

Once Lady Riddle was gone Jessica picked Hermione up in her arms and starting whispering in her ear. "Now I want you to be a good girl for Lady Riddle okay?"

"Okay Mummy. Will you come and visit me? You are not leaving me for good are you?"

Jessica drew back to look her daughter in the face. "Don't you ever think that I am leaving you ever! I love you and want what's best for you and this is a way of ensuring a future for you that I could never give you myself. If you ever doubt anything about me never doubt that I love you do you hear me Hermione?"

"Yes Mummy."

"Good. As for your other question I will write you often and visit too and I want you to visit every holiday. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now I better get going.", Jessica set Hermione down and wiped her eyes. "I better go call for Lady Riddle." She walked over to the door that Lady Riddle disappeared through and called for her. Lady Riddle appeared a few moments later and talked with Jessica about the way she was getting home.

After they talked for a few minutes Lady Riddle came over to Hermione telling her to wait there while she walked her mother out.

Hermione started roaming around the room looking at different items and stopped in front of a table in the left corner of the room. On the table was a drawing dated Sunday, September 9, 1502; today's date. It was a very beautiful drawing of a garden; Hermione picked it up to get a better look at it.

"It's my mum's drawing.", startled Hermione dropped the drawing as she whirled around to face whose voice she just heard. She came face to face with a little boy who seemed to be her age. He had jet black hair and brown eyes that were looking curiously at her.

"You are the new girl that is to be living with us?", He asked as he picked up the drawing and set it back on the table.

"Yes. Who are you?"

"Tom Riddle and you?", The boy replied as he stuck out his hand.

"Hermione Granger."

That is the end of the second chapter folks. Remember to review and hopefully the next chapter will be out soon.