Disclaimer: No, I don't own these characters (surprise, surprise). However, I own the plotline.

Prologue

The rain beat mercilessly down on the lone figure scrambling up the hill. A series of graves were aligned against the black clouds. The figure stopped and peered down at a grave, oblivious to the rain. Her shoulders shook as silent tears mingled with the rain. Engraved on the headstone were the words:

Maria Granger. Beloved wife and mother. Rest In Peace.

The sobbing girl fell to her knees in front of the gravestone and laid a single white lily at its foot.

A loud crack shook the air and a tall woman with bubblegum pink hair landed atop of the figure.

"Oops!" she cried, scrambling away. "I'm sorry Hermione. Really must practise my apparating sometime." Hermione looked up at Tonks, tears still streaming down her face. Tonks' expression softened from annoyance with herself, to pity for the shivering wreck of a girl before her.

"Molly says dinner's ready," she said calmly. "I wouldn't want to leave her waiting," she handed Hermione a broom and recited a spell to cloak the young girl. "There," she said. "Now hurry back" and with a crack, was gone.

Hermione turned to the grave, her soaking hair slapping against her pale face.

"I'll come back, Mum," she whispered to the gravestone and taking the broom, she flew away.