Hi all! This is only the second fan fiction I've ever written, and the very first Harry Potter-based one! I should have a second chapter up in a couple of days, although that might be interesting because I've never had to add a chapter on this site...hopefully I won't lose it all! That kind of stuff always happens to me!

IMPORTANT: I've done some major editing to the story (this chapter especially). Some of the plot has changed slightly, so if you've read it before, you may want to reread this chapter.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy! - MI

Disclaimer: I don't own Hermione, Draco, Hogwarts etc. They all belong to JKR. The plot and any future original characters are my own.

A Twist of Fate

Chapter One: Silent Rain and Uncried Tears

Hermione boarded the train and handed her ticket to a friendly-looking conductor. She looked over her shoulder at her smiling parents and waved brightly. They waved back and, after she disappeared from sight, they rushed through the rain to their small blue car.

Hermione made her way slowly down the aisle, checking for an empty compartment. The first one had two young boys and a brown-haired girl inside it. One of the boys was talking animatedly and the other two children were laughing. She smiled; the scene reminded her of her own childhood trips to school. She kept walking, and eventually found an empty compartment in the second-to-last car.

She settled in quickly and retreived a small blanket from her carry-on before storing it in a cupboard above her. She then turned her attention to shaking the water from her trench and wringing raindrops out of her tight dark curls. Soon after, Hermione was curled up in her seat, the wooly blanket pulled tightly to her chin.

She decided that she preferred to watch rain than be in the middle of it. The pounding of the water droplets against the glass was quite spectacular, and its noise succeeded in drowning out that of the screeching rail and the shaking of the car. Hermione lifted a slender finger absently to the cool glass, outlining the racing drops.

The sky's tears reminded her of ones she had shed months earlier. Hermione sighed sadly. She had replayed the scene in her mind every day since.

***Flashback***

Her mother shifted uncomfortably. "Hermione, your father and I worried about your safety."

"What's wrong with studying wizardry?" Hermione didn't understand. "I've done it for seven years at Hogwarts."

Mrs. Granger looked to her husband for support but received none. She continued. "Things are different now. It's dangerous. Since you started going to Hogwarts...there have just been too many close calls."

Hermione was silent, a single tear slipping from the corner of her eye.

"You were young then. You didn't realize how serious the situation was. You didn't know the grave danger you were in. I worried about you, Hermione. I prayed to God for your safety every night for those seven years. That terrible dark wizard is rising to power. We're keeping you as far away from him as we can, dear." Mrs. Granger face was determined. "Before the situation gets worse."

Hermione looked at her mother, then her father. She shook her head slowly, focusing her attention on the ground.

"But, my dear, you mustn't give up hope. It's not too late for you to start afresh. Oxford will be perfect for you! It's the best school in England, and you've already been accepted, even though it's an extremely tight race." She was beaming.

"I've already been accepted? That's impossible! I haven't even applied!"

"Well, I filled out an application for you," her mother replied matter-of-factly. "You'll be taking their Modern History course. You leave by train on the third of September."

Hermione held her head in her hands; dark wavy pieces of hair escaped the clutch of her fingers. Her ragged breaths cut through the silence. "Mother, what's the matter with you?" she cried, unable to control herself for any longer. "Wizardry is my passion, don't you see? If I die doing it, at least I'll die doing what I love. The wizarding world is the only place I belong!" Her tears were now flowing freely.

"Calm down, dear," her father finally spoke up, smoothing the ends of his dark moustache nervously."The past few years while you were at school, your mother and I were going crazy with worry." The guilt gnawed at her instantly. "We want what's best for you. We want you to be safe."

"It's not fair," Hermione said weakly.

"Life's not fair, dear," Mrs. Granger's words were cold and firm. "We've already paid for your year at Oxford. You must respect our wishes. It's the only sensible thing for you to do."

"I hate you," she said quietly, refusing to look at either of them.

"What did you say?" her mother said, hurt evident in her voice.

"I said, I hate you!" she repeated viciously, saying it louder and louder each time. "I hate you! I hate you! I ha - "

"Tea or coffee, Miss?"

Hermione was jarred from her thoughts but her eyes remained fixed on the rain streaming down the window of her compartment.

"Excuse me, Miss?" the young female steward was becoming impatient.

"Oh...yes?"

"Tea or coffee?" she said with exasperation.

"Oh, tea, please," Hermione smiled. She needed something to warm herself up. Her hands were frozen from gripping the metal window ledge, and the glass itself was chilly from the cold wind and rain outside. The steward served her a cup of piping-hot tea with a small piece of shortbread on its saucer. "Thank you."

The steward nodded politely and moved to the next compartment, knocking on its rickety door. "Tea or coffee, sir?"

Hermione stared at the dreary outside weather once more. How fitting, she mused. I'm upset and so is the weather. She sipped her tea slowly and thoughtfully, sadly reflecting on the ugly confrontation with her parents.

Her parents had indeed won the argument; she knew they would. Her mother's mind was made up, and not even common sense would dissuade her. Hermione would soon be in the town of Oxford, studying the history of non-magical people and events. Her treasured wand had been left at home, at the bottom of an aging trunk. A faded worn copy of Hogwarts: A History, tucked in a pocket of her suitcase, was the only reminder of her old life.

Hermione smiled as she thought of the wonderful life it had been. It had started out on a train ride not un-like this one. Almost exactly seven years ago, Hermione had boarded Platform 9 3/4, nervous and uncertain. She had studied a book entitled Beginner's Magic and practiced casting spells for the entire preceding summer, desperate not to seem out of place when she arrived at Hogwarts.

Hermione had had nothing to worry about. The other students were kind and the professors helpful. Indeed, she found she was intellectually ahead of most other students, and, through hard work, she spent seven years at the top of her class. Her final year, as Head Girl, had been a triumph. She had looked forward to joining Harry and Ron in their wizardry training, eventually becoming a teacher at Hogwarts. Everyone she knew in the wizarding community, from Dumbledore to Mr. Weasley, expected her to do just that.

The thought of her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, succeeded in deepening her sadness. Today, they were probably starting their auror training, without a second thought of her. "The Golden Trio", as they were often referred to, had broken up and her lifelong friends would spend a year far from her reach. She hadn't even told them the truth about her plan for the year. As far as they knew, Hermione had become an apprentice at the Ministry of Magic.

Hermione leaned her head against the window, her memories of Ron and Harry fading into drops of rain that drizzled down the glass. The rain was now silent; the thundering downpour had subsided into a gentle mist. Hermione smiled, blinking back uncried tears.

This year won't be so bad, she thought. Just don't think about the past. Look ahead.

Hermione's thoughts were once again interrupted as the train slowed to a grinding stop. She peered out through the fogged-up window. A sign on a large stone building directly in front of her read "Oxford Train Station". Porters were unloading trunks and luggage from the storage below the cars.

Hermione inhaled deeply and stood up, leaving her empty cup and half of her shortbread behind. Her new life was about to begin.

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

Another A/N: Ok, that's it! Thanks for reading, hope you liked it! I did take some liberties, as far as Hermione's parents were concerned. Also, Draco will be entering into the picture eventually (I won't tell you when!). Patience, patience... in the meantime, REVIEW!!!!!!