Disclaimer: If I owned HP, would I be writing fanfiction? No, I'd be working on the 6th book. Same for Anastasia.

Is Hermione still alive?

Ten years later

It was a gray winter day in Hogsmeade. Snow froze the toes of people who stood in long lines, hoping to get some food rations.

Ten years. It had been ten years since the Deatheaters had attacked Hogwarts. It also had been ten years since Voldemort was defeated by Dumbledore, reduced to nothing but a wandering soul - yet again. Still, Hogwarts was in ruins, the pupils scattered all over - most dead. To add to it, Dumbledore died shortly after he defeated Voldemort and the fears of Voldemort rising into power once again returned. Hopes of ever returning to times like the past were fading dreams.

"Thank goodness for gossip!" one woman said to another in line. "It's what gets me through the day."

A man in front of her turned around. "Have you heard? There's a rumor going through all of Hogsmeade. They say that maybe one student may still be alive. Hermione Granger!" he exclaimed. Then his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, "They say that Draco Malfoy will pay a large sum to anyone who may bring the love of his life back to him - in Paris!"

In an abandoned part of what was left of Hogwarts, a young man named Harry carried out his latest scam. He had put up several posters to audition young British girls for a very special part.

The role of Hermione Granger.

Harry had once been a hero - the Boy who lived. Now, he scrounged for a living like everyone else. But not for much longer, if I have my way. No more stealing. No more forging. I'll be rich - RICH! Harry thought to himself. In fact, he was so confident he would succeed, he even roped in a friend to help - John - knowing that he would well be able to give some money to John and still live comfortably.

"Everything's going according to plan," Harry said to John. "All we need is the girl."

So they sat there all day, watching girls come and go. There were probably hundreds of them, all coveting after the prize money. Harry shook his head. Not one Hermione in the whole bunch. Not even close! Even the finest gowns and jewelry wouldn't have made any difference. John sighed.

Harry pulled something out from his vest - a small golden box. For a moment his mind filled with the images of the night Voldemort had attacked Hogwarts.

He was helping Hermione and Draco escape from Lucius. Hermione had dropped her box but Harry urged her to go on, saying he would get it for her. Then he had met Lucius Malfoy and some other deatheaters. He managed to avada Lucius, but the other deatheaters were too strong for him. Luckily, Dumbledore defeated Voldemort and the deatheaters, without the strength of Voldemort, were too weak to carry on. Harry knew Draco had escaped to Paris. What about Hermione? He was certain she had died - how could she have not?

Harry shrugged. Who cared? There was no use wondering about her. The days of the Gryffindor trio were over. In the past ten years Harry had learned the cold, hard facts of life. He had no way to get back to the muggle world. Even then, would Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia take him back in? He doubted so. They probably had forgotten all about him.

There was only one way to survive in this new Hogsmeade: by cheating. And Harry had had enough.

The new scam - and the tiny golden box - were his ticket out of poverty forever.

Somewhere at a dilapidated corner of Hogsmeade, a 27 year old girl named Mia stood by a crooked iron gate. She hunched her shoulders against the cold. She made a face at the old house that had been her home for the past 10 years.

Home. Hardly the word to describe that place, she thought.

Yes, she had shelter from the roof and food given to her. But home was a place with love - the house certainly hadn't had that. Mia couldn't exactly remember a time when she'd had that.

"I no longer need your services here, times are getting harder and I can't afford to pay you. Here, take this galleon as payment. Leave, and I never want to see you again!" said Mrs. Hunsdorfer, the widow who owned that small house.

Mia scowled as she remembered the many times she had gotten beaten just because the floor wasn't shiny enough or because the dishes were still dirty.

Gazing at her necklace of a snake coiled around a lion, Mia ran her thumb over the words that were engraved - Together in Paris - and she sighed. Many times she had told Mrs. Hunsdorfer that she wanted to go to France. Every time, her response was the same.

"Little Miss Mia, you have no idea who you are and you don't even have any money to your name, and you want to go to Paris to find your family? It's time to take your place in life. And be grateful, too! For the last ten years I've fed you, I've clothed you, I've kept a roof over your head..."

"I am grateful. Grateful to get away!" Mia muttered as she started down the snowy road. She had no idea where to go. All Mrs. Hunsdorfer had told her was to go to Hogsmeade. Maybe in Hogsmeade, she could find a way to get to Paris. Maybe in Paris she would find out who she was. Who her family had been. Maybe she would even have a home. A real home.

With that, Mia flung her scarf around her neck and took her first uncertain step towards Hogsmeade - and towards her future.

A/N: Ahhh I love you all! :) 17 reviews. Wheee. Is this chapter longer? I hope so!

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