Alright, I've finally made as many changes as I possibly can and I'm completely content with this chapter. I can see you all shouting, FINALLY! I guess I'm too much a perfectionist. It's a fault. Hope you enjoy this story! Reviews are greatly appreciated as per usual. Thanks Lavinia!

Impossible Love
By: A. J. Seawiel
Chapter One


Her black cloak rippled in the soft breeze; her long hair shielded her face from the slowly fading light of dusk. She stood, motionless, in front of a diminutive beige house. The letterbox picketed in the front lawn was labeled, The Grangers.

The girl sighed impatiently while waiting for her best mate to arrive - she was late. Watching the living room light in the house flicker through the windows, she began to vaguely wonder why she was doing this. It didn't seem entirely right; but for their sakes, she didn't have a choice.

A rustle of leaves cut through her reverie, startling her and alerting her senses. A hand reached out and grabbed her from behind, causing the girl to flinch from fear. The hand whipped her around to face another girl, around the same age as the first, with a grin spread across her face. Her deep blue cloak blended evenly with the rising of the night.

She spoke softly. "My, my, don't we scare easily."

The first girl shrugged off her hand, attempting to slow her rapidly beating heart. "You're late."

"Slight complications; ready?" was the wicked response. "You're not getting cold feet, are you? You know this is your duty."

"Of course not." The other scoffed.

The blue-cloaked girl turned to face the letterbox. "Have you finished, then?"

"Yes, stop badgering me."

She grinned. "I could get used to working with you. You certainly know how to take care of yourself." The other said nothing, but scowled. The second girl continued, "Well, let's give it fifteen minutes."

The black cloaked girl nodded solemnly and sat down at the edge of front lawn, silent as a shadow. As she watched the house, her previous thoughts returned to her. What mess had she gotten herself into now?

----

"Hermione, darling, can't we talk about this?" Angelique Granger asked as her daughter turned to face the kitchen. Her husband, Sam, took the pipe out of his mouth and put his arm around his wife, who seemed about to cry. Sam was quite worried - both parents were - their daughter had never before gotten this angry with them.

Hermione closed her eyes, inhaled slowly and rounded on her parents. "I really don't want to talk about it right now. I'm going out, I'll be back." With this statement, she strode from the house, slammed the door and ran. She ran as far and fast as she could until she couldn't run any longer. Hermione sat down on a park bench and let her tears fall freely from her eyes.

What have I done? Why wasn't I able to stay in control? These thoughts flowed around in her mind as she sat weeping salty tears. I've never told my parents I hate them. What's wrong with me? Here was sweet, little Hermione, always cheerful, now feeling the worst she'd ever felt in her entire life - even worse than when she received lower marks than Harry in a Defense Against the Dark Arts exam.

"Hermione?" She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked upwards into the beautiful bright eyes of her best Muggle friend. Jessica Jenkins had sky blue eyes and auburn hair. She was always smiling, which earned her many deserved compliments, and hated to see anyone cry. Hermione felt lifted; Jessica's smile lit up her whole face, and it was difficult to cry when looking at it.

Hermione Granger stood up and embraced her friend, soaking Jessica's shirt collar with salty tears. "Oh, Jess! I'm so h-happy you c-came!" Jessica hugged her and held out a tissue. Hermione stepped out of the hug and dabbed her bloodshot eyes with the tissue her friend offered.

"There, there, Hermione. No more tears, okay? Tell me what's up," Jessica said.

Hermione nodded and sniffed. "I had an argument with my parents. I can't go back home tonight, I couldn't bear to see their faces. Could I possibly spend the night with you?" she added hopefully. Jess nodded and hugged her best friend again.

"What happened?" she asked curiously.

"We argued about stupid things. Then something came over me that I'd never felt before," Hermione said and wiped a tear from her eye as they walked. "It was strange really. I just burst out that I hated them, and then I ran. I regret it, I should apologize; they're probably worried."

Jessica looked at her as they walked. "Well, apologize in the morning. It's better if you cool down for a night first."

Jessica only lived two blocks away from the park, the third house on the right. When they were small, the two friends used to play there until darkness covered it. They had only just reached the street on which Jessica lived when a huge barn owl fluttered down and dropped a letter into Hermione's hands. It gave her a small hoot and then flew off into the night.

Confused, she opened the letter and read aloud:

"Dear Miss Granger,

Do not go back to your house tonight. You are in serious danger. Please believe me."

There was no signature.

Hermione's eyes widened and her face paled. Jessica clapped a hand over her mouth and her pupils dilated. They looked at each other and ran flat out into Jessica's house, bolting the door. What was going on? Would Hermione's parents be all right?

"Oh shoot! What do I do?" Hermione whispered with worry etched into her voice. Jessica shook her head and they climbed the stairs to her bedroom. When the reached her bedroom, Hermione noticed the phone on the nightstand and strolled over to it.

"What in the world are you doing?" Jessica asked as she got a spare pair of pajamas out for Hermione.

Hermione picked up the receiver and dialed her home number. "Just telling them I'm spending the night here."

Jessica placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at her best friend. "I'll scream at them if you wish," she said, looking at her friend's face.

The phone rang busy and Hermione placed it back down. "You're in luck now, aren't you, it was busy." Jessica giggled and threw the blue spotted pajamas at Hermione. Inside, Hermione felt relieved - no awkward conversations had happened because her mother was probably talking to Grandma Helen about their argument.

When they were in their pajamas, they climbed into bed and chatted. Eleven o'clock came and went and they talked well past midnight about the strange owl. Suddenly a loud bang was heard that made the whole house shake. Hermione and Jessica screamed and dived under the covers, terrified.

When the shock had subsided, Hermione leapt from the bed with a new thought pulsing in her brain. What if her parents were in trouble? She reached the phone on Jessica's nightstand and dialed her home number for a second time. She held the receiver to her ear mumbling, "Pick up, oh please pick up!" The line went dead, just as Hermione's face paled once again.

"I have to go and check on my parents!" Hermione yelled and ran to the bedroom door with Jessica on her heels. They sprinted out of the house and around the corner; an amber blaze was seen above the houses. Hermione had no more energy to scream but her face turned chalk-white as she continued to sprint to her house. Jessica caught up with her when they stopped just outside.

"Holy mother of God!" Jessica whispered and there was no trace of her brilliant smile as she caught sight of the Granger house. It was up in flames and charred black. A single shape appeared in the night sky and there was the sound of two magical pops, barely audible above the roar of the flames. The shape flew up above the house and was illuminated clearly: a bright green skull with a serpent protruding from the mouth.

Hermione broke down and wept on her knees as the fire department rushed up, the sirens blaring. Jessica crawled beside her and rocked her back and forth like a mother with her small child. As Jessica stared at the strange shape, she knew that this had nothing to do with her kind. Hermione couldn't control herself, she blacked out just as two body bags were removed from the house.

----

Hermione awoke five hours later in a white room with Jessica beside her bed. For a few moments she wondered why Jessica was covered in black ashes and why she was in a hospital bed, and then she remembered...

The fight...

Running away...

Fire...

Body bags...

She rolled over and hurled onto the floor while Jessica ran to her side and climbed into the bed with her.

"I'm so sorry Hermione. They couldn't do anything – you – your parents are... dead." Jessica cried into her friend's bushy brown hair. They stayed that way for some minutes until Jessica's parents showed up. The Jenkins hugged Hermione and said they were really sorry about the tragedy and if there was anything they could do, she just had to ask. Hermione couldn't think right now, though, everything around her sounded like buzzing bees. She was trying to let it all sink in... her parents... dead. Hermione Granger was an orphan. Now she knew how Harry Potter felt...

Harry! Ron! Dumbledore! Hogwarts!

Hermione's face brightened slightly and she asked if she could please have a pen and paper. Mrs. Jenkins handed her the items and Hermione wrote feverishly.

"Could you please photocopy two of these? I'd really appreciate it," Hermione asked politely. Then she sighed, where was a photocopier shop open at five in the morning? Mr. Jenkins took the letter and exited the room.

----

Jessica helped pack up Hermione's things from the hospital room the next afternoon.

"Look, Hermione, I'm really, really sorry about what happened but something's been bugging me."

"Hm? What Jess?"

"Who wrote that letter? It obviously wasn't someone from my world because I'm sure that Mark had nothing to do with Muggles. Perhaps it was the murderers or maybe someone from Hogwarts?" Jessica asked reasonably. Hermione had been told she could tell one person about her abilities and she had chosen Jessica. That was how she knew about Hogwarts, owls and various things magical.

Hermione pondered this for some moments. She knew it wasn't Harry's or Ron's handwriting, both were very messy and the writing she had received was neat and tidy. Which could only make her think it was someone from Hogwarts. Perhaps it was Dumbledore or someone else from the Order? She was sure the Death Eaters had no reason to purposefully kill her parents, they were probably after her. Also, why would they warn her ahead of time? That could only mean an ally sent her the note - the question now was who.

"I don't know, Jess," Hermione replied, puzzled.

Jessica looked down and then her head snapped up. "You think it was the Death Eaters who burnt your house, don't you? Well, do you know any Death Eaters with kids going to your school?"

Hermione nodded, then it hit her...maybe the Malfoys? They were definitely evil enough and how many times had Malfoy said he despised all Muggle-borns, calling them Mudbloods? It had to be them and a squad of other Death Eaters... Malfoy would sure think it funny if she died right before term started. Hermione felt confused again: why would he send her the note…unless he didn't want her to die in the fire? It made no sense.

Either way, she was sure the Malfoys had something to do with it. Her sadness vanished instantly to be replaced by a feeling beyond anger. Revenge; something she so desperately wanted. Suddenly, for the first time, school rules seemed to be inconsequential. Malfoy had taken the two beings most dear to her and it was time to make him hurt just as badly, perhaps worse, as he had hurt her.

Hermione fingered the wand she had just placed in her bag - the one solitary item she carried with her everywhere since the beginning of Voldemort's new reign. Malfoy was thinking of returning to Hogwarts, was he? Hermione slung the exercise bag over her shoulder and strode from the hospital room with Jessica by her side. He was never returning, not if she could help it.


A/N: Sorry for any typos and thanks for reading!