Chapter 1: The Lesson

It was almost a month and a half ago, when Hermione was with her friends at Hogwarts. She hadn't heard from them all summer, and she was beginning to wonder if something was wrong.

She had other things on her mind. Her mother and father had recently passed away due to a car crash when they went on vacation. Hermione heard the news and was sent to 'Surrey Life Orphanage.' She was much smaller than most of the people there, and she was a girl, so the bigger boys liked to pick on her, stole books from her, and spit gum in her hair. She was distressed. Tonight however, it was a boys night out, and Hermione and her new mother, Carol, were home alone for a long, long time.

"Hermione," called Carol in her sweet voice, "dinner is on the table." Hermione cheered. She was starving!

Hermione loved being with Carol, because she was the only one who seemed to understand her feelings. Her previous husband used to abuse her, and she felt she wanted to help other people who have the same problem, by working in an orphanage.

Hermione practically fell down the stairs as she ran so hard to get to the table. She took her seat and Carol passed her her plate. Hermione picked up her fork, but felt Carol's warm hands make her release it. Bewildered, Hermione looked up at Carol, and felt a stinging sensation that came to her so fast, it took her a while to regain focus. Carol had slapped her across the cheek.

"W-what was that for?" Hermione stuttered, "What did I do, Carol?" Carol's ferocious eyes seemed to burn Hermione's. Carol replied, in a scratchy voice.

"Hermione! You were late going to the grocery store, and your father had to leave a little later than planned. You know the consequences," Hermione was shocked. She knew she was late, but why didn't Carol say anything to her then? Just when the pain was wearing off, she felt herself being pulled off the chair, and thrown against the wall. She just lay there, expecting more. More come. Carol threw books at her, spoons, and even slapped her with her hand a few more times. Just as Carol was cooling off, she told Hermione to get up. Hermione followed, and realized she was being pushed and kicked up the stairs.

"Never again," Carol began, "will you disobey me, your father or doing anything wrong again, or you will experience another little lesson from me." she turned around and walked back downstairs. Hermione limped to her room, closed the door, and examined her body. She had bruises from head to toe. She couldn't tell anyone, because she knew they would panic. She was thinking of Ron and Harry and their reactions. Ron would make her tell Arthur, and Harry, Dumbledore or something. She would let it go, unless it happened again. It did.