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Chapter One – Diagon Alley to Knockturn Alley

Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley tried everything they could to cheer Harry up.

"Come on Harry, go flying with Ron" Hermione said persuasively. Harry shook his head.

"Lets eat some chocolate frogs" Ron said. Harry shook his head.

"Beat up Malfoy?" Ginny said helpfully. Harry didn't respond.

They had tried everything. Nothing worked. "Why, Harry?" Hermione asked in a softer tone. Harry looked up at her.

"You don't know what its like, do you?" Harry said, in a cracked voice. "He was my only hope. The closest thing I had for a real relative. Voldemort has managed to take everything away from me. My parents, now Sirius. Don't you see? He's won" Harry finished, sadly.

Hermione looked outraged.

"Harry! How could you say that? If anything, these experiences should make you want to fight him more. He hasn't won. Don't let him!" Hermione shrieked. Ron nodded.

"Yeah, mate. I reckon shes right, you know. Its what Sirius would have wanted you to do" Ron said helpfully.

Harry nodded slightly. "I guess you're right. I miss him so much" Harry said quietly. Hermione hugged him.

"We all do Harry. We all do." She whispered.

Summer at #12 Grimmauld Place weren't the same without Sirius, there was no denying it. Everyone seemed to be in a state of shock. It had only been a week.

The only people who seemed composed were Tonks and Hermione.

Hermione went downstairs. "Hey Tonks" she said, spotting Nymphadora Tonks sitting in the kitchen. "How are you doing?" She asked genuinely.

"Holding up, of course. He was the best of the Blacks." She replied. Hermione studied her appearance. Her hair had been only very dark colors the department of mysteries incident.

"Tonks, do you think it would be ok if I went to Diagon Alley? I seen a couple book there that interested me" She asked the older witch.

Tonks looked thoughtful. "I don't see why it wouldn't be OK. You're very capable of handling yourself, and your 16 now, after all." Tonks replied, smiling.

Hermione smiled back. "If Ron or Harry come looking for me, tell them where I went, ok? I should be back in an hour" Hermione said swiftly. She grabbed her wallet and made her way to the fireplace.

Hermione loved Diagon Alley. She quickly made her way to Flourish and Blotts. Her eyes lit up as she stepped into the bookstore. She walked around the shop in silence, reading various titles. She found what she was looking for. It was a black, leather-bound book with the silver-stamped letters across the front saying "mysteria." It was a book on latin mysteries.

Hermione stopped at The Leaky Cauldron. "A cup of Chai tea, please" she asked kindly of Tom. He gave her a toothy smile from behind the bar. She had taken a liking for Chai tea ever since her parents made her try it. It was very good. She sat down and picked up the latest copy of the Daily Prophet.

She froze.

THE BOY WHO LIVED .. NO LONGER?

Harry Potter, the infamous boy who survived Voldemort is believed to be dead. He seemed to be in great trauma earlier this week, and hasn't been spotted out of his summer location since. Our sources tell us that one of his best friends, also believed to be his girlfriend, Hermione Granger, was spotted sobbing outside their summer home, clutching what appeared to be a black school robe with the Gryffindor colors on it. Some of their close 'friends', such as Remus Lupin, and Alastor Moody were spotted looking extremely upset. Even Albus Dumbledore has been seen looking more frail than usual. We mourn with Hogwarts and friends on the loss of the Boy who lived .. no longer.

Hermione slammed the paper on the counter. "Rubbish! Absolute rubbish!" she said angrily.

"Something wrong?" came a comforting voice from behind her. I don't remember bringing anyone along with me.. Hermione though, puzzled. She turned around, only to see Blaise Zabini.

"Oh, Blaise.." she said, trying to sound cold, but only manage to sound calmer. Blaise didn't look at her coolly or call her names. Despite being a pure blood, he was a lot like Hermione—very focused in schoolwork, top of his class. A prefect, too.

"I hate it when those bloody reporters pick on Harry" she explained angrily, "no, he's NOT my boyfriend, and he's NOT dead" she said, taking a deep breath. Blaise merely nodded.

"I never read those papers, anyhow. Nothing but rubbish and bad news" He said thoughtfully. Hermione nodded and smiled a bit.

"Join me for tea?" she asked, a bit unsure of his answer. He seemed nice enough. She never really talked to him in school at all. Despite being a Slytherin, he never picked sided. He just steered clear away whenever Malfoy decided to pick a fight.

He smiled and nodded.

"So, what are your plans for the day?" he asked casually. Hermione glanced at him suspiciously.

"I was, um, planning to go to Knockturn Alley" she said, blushing a bit. Knockturn Alley was known for its "dark" reputation. It wasn't a place for a 'young innocent Gryffindor', as many people had told her.

Blaise merely stared at her. "You can't go to Knockturn Alley. Its not a place you should be" He said indifferently. Since when had he become so concerned with her welfare?

Hermione glared at him.

"Why not? Don't think I can handle myself?" she snapped. Blaise looked taken aback.

"No, that's not what I meant. It's a dangerous place. Dark arts and stuff. Not a good place to be .. for anyone. Why do you want to go there, anyhow?" he asked curiously.

Hermione bit her lip. "I uh, wanted to look for a book. A book on the Department of Mysteries and the Veil" she said, holding back emotions.

Blaise surveyed her. "You should go with someone then." He said shortly.

Hermione looked at him pointedly. "I came here alone." She replied. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"My uncle actually owns a bookshop in Knockturn Alley, actually. Would you like me to take you there?" He asked. Hermione studied his face. Was he to be trusted? His expression was unreadable.

"Would you? That would be of great help to me.." She replied cautionously. Having a Slytherin accompany her into Knockturn Alley was not the most favorable idea she had in mind, but she wasn't a witch for nothing.

20 minutes later, she paid for her tea and she was on her way to Knockturn Alley with Blaise Zabini. They walked through Diagon Alley silently. There wasn't a lot they could talk about. After all, they really didn't know each other.

"So, er .. is your family into Dark Arts?" she asked, cringing. A truly stupid question, Hermione.. She thought bitterly.

"Yes, unfortunately" He replied, with tone laced with bitterness. "Mother isn't, shes truly against it. Father is, could you say.. interested in it. I believe some of our more distant relatives are connected with the dark lord, however" He replied. Once again, he face was clear from all emotions.

Hermione didn't know why, but she felt a tinge of pity for him. She really didn't know what to say. "I hope things work out for you and your family.." Hermione said cautionously. Blaise merely nodded.

As they entered Knockturn Alley, the reason it was considered 'dark' became clear. Battered witches and wizards, who resembled hags, lined the streets, selling strange looking things. Hermione shivered inwardly. Suddenly it felt good to be walking beside a Slytherin. No one bothered them, or even talked to them.

Well, almost no one.

"Zabini, who's the hot chick beside you?" drawled a painfully familiar voice. Hermione cringed. Not Malfoy .. Not Malfoy.. Not Malfoy.. She mentally chanted. Blaise spun around. Hermione followed.

"Malfoy" Blaise said. It wasn't a question, it was merely a statement, or rather, an acknowledgement. Hermione followed suit. "Malfoy" she said, with obvious coldness.

Draco looked at her, as if she couldn't be real. "Granger? My god.." He replied, slightly lost for words. Hermione noticed that Blaise was smirking.

"Are you always lost for words around girls, or is a muggle-born's presence intimidating for you?" She asked smartly, smirking. Blaise looked surprised at her comment. Draco merely glared.

"Watch yourself, Granger. You don't belong here." He said coolly. Hermione smiled slightly.

"I know. And goodness gracious, look around. Who would want to belong here?" She replied. Again, Draco looked taken aback. Her comebacks had dramatically improved over the summer.

Draco chose to ignore her last comment, and turned to Blaise. "Whats with the mudblood?" He asked, as if she wasn't there. Hermione sighed.

"I'm accompanying her to The Dragon's Quill" he replied shortly. Once again, he wasn't taking sides. His face appeared emotionless. Draco gave a curt nod and walked off in the other direction.

"You know, I'm glad you're accompanying me." Hermione said, after a couple moments of silence. Blaise flashed her a charming grin. "Its nothing. I have nothing better to do, anyhow" He replied.

They turned another corner, and arrived in front of a dark, old-looking bookshop. Blaise turned to Hermione. "Well, here we are. The Dragon's Quill!" He announced.

Author's Note: Well, here it is. The beginning of another story. I plan to write one story for every year the trio remain at Hogwarts. I will continue off where JK Rowling's last book left off, so therefore this story starts off in the summer between their 5th and 6th year. In this story, you can expect to see a lot of characters that aren't usually mentioned in fanfics. In this series, the books will, like the original JK Rowling fics, have an encounter with Voldemort at the end of each story.

Review if you can, they make my day and encourage me to continue!