A/n: Hi ya'll! I hope you like this little prologue I wrote. It's inspired by the Rob Thomas song "Ever the Same". Here's the lyrics, just in case you haven't heard the song yet (I really recommend his CD, Something to Be). Oh and sorry that the title sucks, please any ideas are greatly appreciated.

I don't own Harry Potter or the following Rob Thomas song.

Love, Liv

we were drawn from the weeds
we were brave like soldiers
falling down under the pale moonlight
you were holding to me
like a someone broken
and I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

just let me hold you while you're falling apart
just let me hold you so we both fall down

fall on me
tell me everything you want me to be
forever with you forever in me
ever the same

we would stand in the wind
we were free like water
flowing down
under the warmth of the sun
now it's cold and we're scared
and we've both been shaken
look at us
man, this doesn't need to be the end

just let me hold you while you're falling apart
just let me hold you so we both fall down

fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
forever with you
forever in me
ever the same
call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you're no burden I assure
You tide me over
With warmth I'll not forget
But I can only give you love

Hermione Granger, well known at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for being the brightest witch of her time, was at her breaking point. The war with Voldemort was in full swing, half the known death eaters were dead (Hermione herself killing two face to face), she, Harry, and Ron were out of school temporarily to save their energy for fighting, her parents had been killed, and to top it off it was raining and Hermione hated the rain. Rainy days used to be her favorite, but her parents had been killed on a rainy day. Now this weather just brought pain.

Restless without school, Hermione fidgeted about endlessly in the old, unused rooms the trios were given beside Dumbledore's office. These rooms were cold, dark, and oddly the safest place for the three of them. The only warmth in the room was from the fire lit in the fireplace that stood in the common room. Hermione wanted out of the castle, but she didn't want the guard (who now accompanied them everywhere) to go with her. Staring into the fire, her artificial sunny day. She decided to get out. She needed to get away. Away from the members of the order, away from Harry and Ron, and even away from the side of good she fought for.

Taking action on her impulse, she gabbed a quill and piece of parchment to write a note to tell everyone she was OK and not to worry. Dashing the quick note, she had only one thing left to do: find someplace to floo to.

It was raining in Scotland, where Hogwarts was, but maybe, just maybe not in London. But who to go to? Hermione only knew a few wizarding places in London, and two of those were out of the question. One was Grimauldi Place, the epitome of good in the magical world, and the other was the Ministry of Magic, the exact opposite of Grimauldi Place, extremely bad. The last place and Hermione's only hope was Percy Weasley's apartment.

Percy was still estranged from his family, and now he was also separated from the Ministry of Magic. In Hermione's eyes he was the perfect person to go to, in between good and bad. Though she had never been close to him, she hoped he'd understand and talk to her.

"Perc . . ." Hermione had begun to call out his name when she realized she couldn't be sure if he was attached to the floo network or even if he was still going by "Percy Weasley".

"On second though," Hermione though out loud, "The Leaky Caldron, London!" Hermione threw the powder in the fire and jumped in. Remembering to tuck in her elbows, she was soon transported to the Leaky Caldron.

Tumbling out of the new fireplace, Hermione stood up and dusted herself off. Walking confidently, she approached the counter.

"Excuse me, do you happen to have a phone book?" Hermione asked the bar maid, sure Percy had to be listed. She flipped to the W's and quickly found his name; after all it was only one of the five W names. Writing down his address, she closed the book and handed it back to the bar maid, "Thanks." She said simply, with a blank face. She turned towards the door feeling a tiny bit better. Something, if only finding Percy, had happened for good. She walked into the street, starting her short journey to his home. As she walked she heard a clap of thunder and saw a bolt of lightning, and seconds later the downpour began.

Hermione continued walking though, now bawling endlessly. Her hopes that Percy would welcome her, a near stranger after nearly three years of last seeing each other, into his home, where so strong she truly believed he would have no reason to turn her away.

After about five minutes of walking, Hermione came upon the tall, non-descript, apartment building. She entered and went to the elevator, where buttons were labeled with the names of all the occupants on that floor. Quickly searching and finding, through her tears she pressed the number four. The doors quickly closed and a second later opened directly across from room number 77 with "Weasley" printed clearly on the door.

Hermione needed not even a second to gather her courage, because her misguided hopes told her he was what she needed for comfort. She walked straight forward, tears streaming down her face, and knocked. The very tall Percy Weasley, horn-rimmed glasses and freckles still in place quickly opened the door.

"Yes? Hermione? Is that you? What's happened?" Panic laced his voice.

"Can we talk? Please?" Hermione managed to choke out.

"Yes, yes, come in." Percy quickly ushered her inside and shut the door.