Author's Note: This is my first attempt at a HP fanfic guys so please don't be too mean when you review ). I hope you all like it though and I can't wait to hear what you have to say. Any creative criticism is appreciated!
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine and neither is the world. Depending on peoples' reactions to it I may or may not be willing to claim the storyline but its deffinately mine P
Chapter 1
"Go on Harry, Ron, I'll see you at the train," Hermione called over her shoulder as she dashed into Flourish and Blott's to look at an interesting volume she had seen in the window. Both boys just shook their heads and smiled at the bushy haired girl as she disappeared into the book store.
"Should we stay and make sure she doesn't lose track of time?" Ron asked Harry curiously. Harry just shook his head 'no' and turned to follow the rest of the Weasley family to the train station. Ron turned to ask Harry another question, saw him halfway down Diagon Alley already, and ran to catch up before he got left behind with Hermione.
"Her parents are with her Ron, they won't let her get too sidetracked," Harry told his fiery haired friend when he finally caught up.
Ron looked over his shoulder and spotted Hermione's parents just emerging from the ice cream shop across the street from the book store. Seeing them he realized that Harry was right and said, "Oh yeah."
"Ronald! Harry! Hurry up!" came a woman's voice from farther ahead.
Both boys turned and waved at Molly Weasley to let her know that they were coming. As they hurried to catch up with the rest of the family, Ron mumbled to Harry, "For once we are going to be on time and she gets all worried." Harry just laughed at his friend's obvious confusion about his mother.
Harry and the Weasley Family had been gone from Diagon Alley only moments before a rumbling shook Flourish and Blott's causing dust to rain down on Hermione from the rafters. Too occupied with the book she was investigating Hermione didn't take any notice, at least not until the screaming started. At the first scream Hermione looked up quickly from the book, her ears straining to place which direction it had come from. Almost as soon as the first scream died away it was answered by many more, all of them frantic and full of fear.
In a heartbeat Hermione was dashing through the stacks and shelves of books to reach the doorway. When she reached the door, Hermione's heart sank. She couldn't believe what she was seeing; Death Eaters were in Diagon Alley. Stunned into immobility, Hermione watched as the Death Eaters, in their black robes, stalked after their prey, grabbing some and whisking them away to who knew where but killing most.
It wasn't until Hermione heard a familiar voice screaming that she was able to shake off her own fear and the ability to only stare. Whipping her head in the direction of her mother's terrified screams Hermione was about to run to her when she saw the Death Eater, his wand pointed directly at her parents. In a blink of an eye her parents went from standing, her father trying to protect her mother, to lying on the ground twitching as the Killing Curse surged through them.
Just as she opened her mouth to scream a rough hand clamped over her mouth and she was bodily hauled back into the store. "What are you doing girl?" the frantic shopkeeper whispered harshly into her ear.
Hermione fought against her captor, biting his hand and scratching at his arms where they were wrapped tight around her waist. She had to get to her parents, why couldn't he understand that?
The shopkeeper continued to drag Hermione back into the store, farther and farther until finally they were in a back office where he shut and barricaded the door. The second he let go of Hermione she ran for the door and when she couldn't get it open she just pounded on it and yanked on the handle screaming out her frustration and pain.
The shopkeeper rummaged quickly through his desk and when he found what he was looking for he snatched it up and shoved it into Hermione's hands. "Girl, you need to get out of here. This is a Port Key to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, use it!" It quickly became apparent to the shopkeeper that Hermione wasn't paying him any mind, let alone what he was saying to her to try and save her life. Realizing she wasn't going to trigger the Port Key herself the shopkeeper did it for her and before she could react Hermione felt the familiar pull just behind her navel before she was drawn away from Diagon Alley and her parent's lifeless bodies.
Hermione emerged shaking and screaming, the students closest to her all jumped at her sudden appearance. Only seconds after arriving at Platform Nine and Three Quarters Hermione was surrounded by a slew of onlookers, all trying to figure out what could shake up such a normally stable girl. It wasn't until others started arriving in much the same state that the students bound for Hogwarts began to realize something was terribly, terribly wrong.
Harry and Ron had been on the train already when they heard Hermione's scream from outside. The boys looked quickly to each other, fear flashing in their eyes, before they both bolted from the compartment they had claimed for the ride to Hogwarts.
Once they managed to push their way through the crowd on the platform Harry and Ron found Hermione on her knees tears streaming down her face and screaming. "Hermione what's wrong?" demanded Ron as he knelt down beside her, his arms quickly wrapping around her to try and comfort her.
Hermione's screams stopped suddenly as she jerked away from Ron's touch. Looking up into his eyes, her own brown eyes were haunted. Ron didn't understand what he saw in them but it scared him and he shuddered involuntarily. Harry, standing directly behind Ron, knew the look in Hermione's eyes all too well; he'd seen it in his own eyes for nearly a year after the death of Cedric. "Oh Merlin, Hermione…I'm so sorry," was all Harry was able to say as he realized that Hermione had just witnessed Death Eaters in action.
Ron, hearing Harry speak, turned to look back and up at his friend to get an explanation. The look on Harry's face spoke volumes more to Ron than the look in Hermione's eyes had. Sudden realization came to the red-head and he turned back to Hermione just in time to see her jumping up off the ground and bolting for the train. In an instant she was inside and out of his sight. Jumping up, Ron was about to run after the fleeing girl when Harry stopped him, "You'll see her at the Prefect meeting Ron, just wait until then." Ron turned and glared at Harry for a moment but eventually looked away, back to the train, and nodded. He would see her at the Prefect meeting and afterwards he would make sure she was okay.
Once inside the train Hermione lost track of where she was going. At first her feet headed for the regular compartment that she'd always shared with Ron and Harry but then she remembered that she was Head Girl this year and turned back towards the front of the train.
In a haze Hermione finally found the compartment she was to share with the Head Boy for the ride to Hogwarts. Opening the door to the compartment barely wide enough for her to squeeze through Hermione took a spot near the window on the bench that wasn't occupied. Pulling her knees up under her chin, Hermione just stared out the window as the train pulled away from the station. As she stared out the window, Hermione didn't see the beautiful scenery rushing by. All she saw was the image of her parents falling to the ground, screaming and twitching over and over and over again.
Draco had been observing the last few students board the train when he heard the compartment door slide open. Turning to see who was coming in, Draco's face screwed up into a sneer at the sight of Hermione Granger. He was about make some snide comment about her ancestry when her lack of attention stalled him. His curiosity perked, Draco sat silently and watched her as she stared unseeing out the window.
After a few moments Draco realized that Hermione was completely oblivious to his existence and, rather than let a Mudblood's inattention to him bother him, he just turned his own attention back out the window. Periodically though, his gaze would return to Hermione and he couldn't help but wonder just what could shake up such a normally strong girl like her. At that thought he snorted, why was he worried about a Mudblood? He really didn't care. Really he didn't.
Hermione had been roused from her terrifying memories halfway through the train ride and had followed dutifully after the Head Boy as he lead the way to the car that the Prefect meeting was going to be held in. She wasn't sure when she had realized the Head Boy was Draco Malfoy but Hermione didn't care and she wasn't terribly surprised. For all his arrogance, he was just as good a student as she was. As she followed Draco into the car where the Prefects of each house were waiting Hermione straightened and lifted her head high. She wouldn't let the others see her this way, they looked up to her and she couldn't let them down.
Inside, Hermione saw Ron nearly jump out of his seat to run to her but he was stopped by one of the other Gryffindor prefects, for which she was very grateful. There was no way Hermione could deal with a concerned Ron right now.
Hermione sat in silence as Draco directed the Prefect meeting. Only when he or one of the other students spoke directly to her did she say anything. The meeting had gone smoothly and was nearly over when one of the younger prefects, a Hufflepuff actually, asked Hermione carefully, "Are the rumors true? Was there an attack on Diagon Alley right before the train left?" Hermione wanted to calmly answer the girl but all she managed as an answer was a teary eyed nod. Then, before she could break down completely, she excused herself from the meeting and went directly back to the compartment she was to share with Draco for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts.
Draco watched as Hermione hurriedly left the car and was about to leave himself when he saw Ron jump up to follow her, the other Gryffindor prefects no longer able to hold him back. Jumping out of his seat, while still somehow managing not to seem in a rush, Draco made it to the door first and blocked Ron's way. With a snarl, he said to the red-head, "Back off Weasel, your little mudblood girlfriend doesn't need you pawing all over her right now."
Ron jumped back from Draco at the vicious tone in his voice. Ignoring the obvious insult to Hermione, Ron spluttered and stared. How dare Malfoy accuse him of wanting to 'paw' at Hermione! Before Ron knew it Draco was out the door and moving down the narrow corridor after Hermione. Letting out a low growl, Ron immediately bolted out the door after him shouting, "Malfoy! Hey Ferret!"
Draco, not wanting to rise to the taunt in Ron's shouts, just ignored him and continued on down the corridor. Draco was nearly to the compartment he shared with Hermione when Ron caught up to him and grabbed him by the shoulder, roughly turning him around. Before Ron could react Draco had his wand pressed into the other boy's throat and he was hissing in a deadly whisper, "Don't ever do that again Weasley. Ever."
Ron choked as Draco's wand poked hard into his airway and quickly he dropped his hand from Draco's shoulder and backed away. "Well, what right do you have telling me to stay away from Hermione? You're not her friend, I am! She obviously needs me!"
Draco just raised an eyebrow in disbelief at the belligerent Gryffindor Prefect before coldly saying, "I have a right, Weasel, because as Head Boy it is my job to look after all the students' well being, including hers. And, as quickly as she bolted from that car, I highly doubt she wants your company right now so just bugger off." Without waiting for any response from the dumbfounded Ron, Draco turned on a heel, opened the compartment door, went inside and shut the door in Ron's face.
Ron stood staring at the compartment for only a moment before giving a snort of frustration and disgust before he stalked back to the compartment Harry was in. Harry wouldn't believe this.
As soon as he shut the door to the compartment Draco leaned against it, the sight before him unnerved him more than he wanted to admit. Hermione was curled up on her bench again but instead of just staring out the window blankly, she was rocking herself back and forth, her whole body shaking as it was wracked with silent sobs.
Unsure of what to do really, Draco just locked the compartment door and took his seat across from Hermione. He watched her for a long time as she sat there rocking and crying. When she had finally cried herself out, she fell asleep and Draco continued to watch her. But he only watched her to make sure she didn't fall off the bench. Gryffindor or not, Hermione Granger or not, he couldn't let his fellow Head Student get hurt on the train ride to Hogwarts. He wasn't really concerned for her at all. Really, he wasn't.
Hermione was jolted awake as the train came to a slow chugging halt at Hogsmeade Station. Looking around bleary eyed she realized that the compartment was empty and the door was open a crack. Draco had already left.
Uncurling from her place on the bench Hermione stretched her stiff joints and was about to change into her school robes when she realized that all of her luggage was still back somewhere in London. Groaning at that realization she just grabbed her coat and nearly shrieked as something big and heavy fell out of it and landed on the floor with a thud. Jumping back she was ready to bolt if whatever it was turned out to be threatening but then she saw it was just a book. She snorted cynically and stepped closer to see which one it was.
As soon as she saw which book it was lying on the floor, Hermione's eyes immediately filled with tears again, it was the one she had been looking at when her parents had been killed. Slowly she knelt down next to the book and gingerly she reached out to touch it. She wasn't sure why she was scared to touch the book but it was with great reluctance that she finally picked it up off the floor. As she held the book, Hermione couldn't help but want to send it up in flames. If it hadn't been for the cursed book her parents would still be alive. If she hadn't been so intent on getting one last look at it before getting on the train, she and her parents would have been at the platform when the Death Eaters had swarmed over Diagon Alley. With a sudden fury, Hermione threw the book against the wall as hard as she could, screaming her rage at the thing, before she bolted from the compartment and off the train.
As soon as all the students had exited the train the house elves went from compartment to compartment, gathering up all the student's belongings. When they came to the compartment Draco and Hermione had shared the elves took out Draco's things but were confused why Hermione hadn't had any. Then one of the elves saw the book and gathered it up. At least the elf could take the book to Hermione's dorm for her.
The Sorting and Welcome feast, both normally greeted with great enthusiasm by the students, were rather subdued as word got around about the attack on Diagon Alley. Apparently many Slytherin students had been taken in the attack and not a few students from the other three houses had been killed. The fact that Hermione had escaped was considered sheer luck by most of the students. Hermione however was wishing she had been with her parents rather than looking at a stupid book.
The other students of Gryffindor could sense the Head Girl's mood and all gave her a small bubble of space. Hermione was rather glad that nobody would meet her eye as she wasn't really in the mood to talk but at the same time she just wanted somebody to tell her it was a horrible nightmare.
As soon as the feast was finished, Hermione practically bolted for the door, she just wanted to go to bed. She may have slept on the train but the day had been the worst of her life and she was more than ready for bed. She hadn't quite reached the door when a gentle hand halted her hurried pace. Turning, she saw the Headmaster looking at her, the normal twinkle in his eyes replaced by a deep sadness. A sadness that spoke to Hermione's own heart. "If you need to talk my dear come to my office at any time, the password is Orange Creamsicles." With that Professor Dumbledore squeezed Hermione's shoulder once more in his gentle, reassuring manner and then walked past her on his way to his office.
Hermione, unable to hold the tears back any longer, gave up any sense of decorum and ran full out for Gryffindor Tower, barely remembering to call out the password to the Fat Lady before rushing through the entrance to the common room. Without even stopping to enjoy the return to her favorite place in the wizarding world, Hermione bolted up the girls stairs to her private dorm and slammed the door. She would have put a locking spell on it as well but she realized she didn't even have her wand, it had been with her luggage and she had no idea where it was. Without any pajamas to change into Hermione just fell into bed fully clothed.
Sleep took Hermione quickly and whereas most nights that would be a welcome thing, this first night back at Hogwarts, Hermione was plagued by nightmares. Nightmares that could rival any Harry had ever had.
In Dumbledore's office there was a small gathering of Professors and Madame Pomfrey. Sitting on the couch across from Dumbledore's desk was Madame Pomfrey and Professors McGonagall and Sprout. Standing near the door was Professor Snape. Professor Flitwick was pacing nervously before Dumbledore's fireplace and well, Dumbledore was sitting calmly behind his desk watching everybody else.
Everybody knew why they had been called to the Headmaster's office but none of them wanted to break the silence, all in their own way fearing that if they spoke then the day's horrible events would become more real. Finally it was Professor Snape who spoke up, his voice tight with a mixture of anger, worry, and shame, "The majority of my sixth and seventh years students were 'taken' in the attack."
After that the remaining three Heads reported to the losses each of their houses had suffered, most shocking were the numbers of Gryffindor families that had been affected. Very few Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw students had lost family members, let alone their own lives. None of this was lost on any of those present but nobody knew precisely what to do.
After a few moments of silence Madame Pomfrey spoke, "If you four," she said with a look to each Head of House, "will keep a good eye on your students and send any to me who seem more upset than what is typical for those dealing with a loss of a loved one, we might be able to help them cope. I have prepared some Draft of Peace potions and will keep a ready stock throughout the school year." Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout all nodded their understanding. It would be best if the students could deal with their losses on their own but sometimes a carefully used Draft of Peace could help with the mourning process.
Shortly after the impromptu meeting had begun it was finished and the professors started to leave for their beds. Today had been a long day and likely the next few weeks would be just as hard and they all wanted as much sleep as they could get.
Dumbledore had been staring into his fire as the others had left, lost in thoughts, and so when he finally looked back to his desk to read over the reports from the attacks he was surprised to see Professor McGonagall still sitting on the couch. In his typical mild mannered tone he asked, "What is it Minerva?" After seeing Hermione Granger in the Great Hall he had a pretty good idea but most of the time it was best to let people get things out on their own.
Professor McGonagall had been staring at her hands waiting for the Headmaster to notice her and when he finally did she nearly jumped out of her skin as he spoke to her. Looking up from her hands she said in a quiet rush, "Miss Granger's parents were killed today in Diagon Ally and I'm worried for her. Ronald Weasley has already come to me worried about her because she won't talk to anybody."
Dumbledore nodded sagely and answered, "I know, Minerva. I have a feeling that only time will heal our Miss Granger and nothing else. So many people see her as a strong, invulnerable girl but in truth I believe she only appears that way because she covers up her emotions well. Keep an extremely close eye on her and if she shows any odd behavior, take her to Madame Pomfrey immediately." Then after a moment's thought he added, "I will have the other teachers on alert to her emotional status as well, every extra set of eyes can't hurt."
Professor McGonagall smiled greatfully to the Headmaster and thanked him before getting up from the couch to leave. She was at the door and about to leave when a thought came to her and over her shoulder she asked, "Does she have any other family that we know of?"
Dumbledore had already investigated this a bit and it was with a sad heart that he answered her, "As of yet I've not found any other family for the girl but I'm not going to give up hope. I'll let you know if I find anything." The Headmaster watched as Professor McGonagall nodded and then left, shutting the door sofly behind her. As soon as the door was shut Dumbledore turned back to the reports of the attack to try and find a pattern to the killings and the kidnappings. He'd already found one likely pattern but he hoped very much that he was dead wrong about it.