Disclaimer- I own nothing. Sad, I know.

Prologue- The Last

Cold.

That's the only word to accurately describe...everything. The weather, the ground...me.

There was and endless sea of people around me, and yet, I felt alone. Empty. Desolate; and any other adjective that goes with that fits that line of thinking. But I had to stand there and endure it all without comment.

I looked around at all the faces before me, and I saw all the same things.

Sadness.

Anger.

Disbelief.

Sympathy.The last, however, was directed at me every time. Unfailingly. I was getting very sick of it. I was ready to scream at the next person who told me that they knew how I felt.

They didn't.

No one did.

But, nonetheless, I said nothing as people approached me time and time again as I stood, staring at the freshly dug graves.

I was still standing there, long after the last person left, when I felt, rather than heard, someone Apparate near me.

The person slowly came towards me, and the closer, the easier it was to identify him, regardless of the fact I facing the other way.

Remus Lupin.

"Is it time already?" I asked, voice devoid of emotion.

"It is. I'm sorry, but Albus feels-"

"I know exactly how he feels. What with him locking me in the castle, away from all those I know and love," I snapped.

Lupin sighed, "Don't be that way."

"I'll be however the hell I want to be," I hissed, though I knew exactly what he meant. Albus, in his infinite wisdom, felt it necessary for me to be at Hogwarts for the duration of the summer because the threat of Death Eaters was constant. However, he also felt it necessary that no one, except those at the castle, could know. Which translated to my best friends being under the impression that I was currently staying with muggle relations in America after the 'terrible ordeal I've gone through' (Dumbledore's words not mine). Those muggle relatives don't exist; another high point in Dumbledore's plan. Dumbledore and I have yet to sit down and have a conversation, mostly because I've been too volatile to have a conversation with.

There was a rustling sound as Lupin pulled something from his pocket. All too soon he held a miniature stuffed parrot in front of me.

A portkey; and one of Albus' poorer attempts at humor.

"Fifteen seconds," Lupin informed me, glancing at his watch.

I took a last look at the graves before me.

"Ten seconds."

I sighed and continued to stare out at the space in front of me.

"Four," Lupin said, warningly.

Slowly I reached out, hand extended towards the parrot, but still I didn't touch it.

"One," he said as I grabbed the bird; my grip accompanied by a familiar tug behind my naval.

Even in my depression induced haze, the Hogwarts castle was still an amazing site to behold. As we walked to the castle there was no conversation, only the grim knowledge that I would be in that castle for the summer, not able to leave. Upon crossing the threshold I was immediately bombarded by condolences by both Dumbledore and McGonagall, I notice that Snape wisely stayed in the backdrop. Lupin stepped forward, effectively cutting off my Head of House, "Headmaster, I believe it would be best if she gets some rest. It has been a trying day."

"Yes, Remus, of course," Dumbledore responded, he then turned to me, "if you'll follow me." He smiled kindly at me and led me away, leaving the other professor's behind.

"You'll be staying in a room on the East Wing. The student dormitories are closed during the summer holidays, and the only empty rooms are located there, as some of the staff stay for part of the summer," Dumbledore informed me as we walked, speaking to me like I was five.

Apparently death affects my intellect. I nodded mutely, choosing to keep my comments to myself. After walking for a few minutes we finally stopped in front of a portrait of a woman, who in my mind looked strangely reminiscent of Gwenivere from Arthurian times.

"The password is habitat," Dumbledore said, turning towards me.

She lives, I thought, referring the Latin meaning, how appropriate. I waited for Dumbledore to leave me before I whispered the password. The portrait swung open revealing a darkened room. I stepped inside the blackness and sighed.

I, Hermione, the last of the Granger's, was finally alone.