Taking Over

Chapter 2

AN: Sorry this came up so late. First the laptop messed up, then it had to have a system restore, then the Microsoft Office disk was lost, then I got a new laptop and am currently typing this in the Quick Edit section. Even though I was a tad disappointed with the minimal number of reviews for the first chapter, hopefully the second chapter will bring more. It really does help to review, even if it's negative; I am one to accept flames for future reference, though that's probably one of the things it's usually not best to go around proclaiming to the world… well here's chapter 2!

Hermione looked through her eyes, but as if she were pushed back in her mind. She was no longer in control of the body she had become accustomed to owning. Now it seemed that something else owned it instead of her. She was only along for the ride.

An evil grin spread across the face of the young woman as she looked at the figure identified as her father. He closed the space between himself and her in a few quick strides and looked down distastefully at his daughter.

"Where is your mother?" he asked causing it to sound that she were involved in her absence. Hermione instinctively thought to become defensive, but found she couldn't as she lacked control of her body. Instead, the other force replied for her.

"Away from you, haven't you noticed?" came the remark. Hermione was stunned, but a small part of her was pleased. For once in her life, there was something standing up to her father. Realizing what was occurring, she sat back to watch what would happen.

"How dare you talk to me like that? I…" began Jake Granger before he was cut off.

"It's not polite to answer a question with a question. Were you never taught that when you were young? I know I sure as hell was."

"Yeah you were. And you better remember it. But now, I'll ask once again where your not-so-bright mother has run off to."

"Will you now? And do tell how you plan on getting off calling her the stupid one as your brain cells rot away from the immensely large amounts of liquor you consume quite regularly." Hermione started to think of where this could lead and started to fear the outcome. It made her remember a conversation she had once before with her older sister, Lira.

Lira was ten years older than Hermione and completely void of magic, but knew quite a bit about what went on in the world. She shared some of the less loved parts with her younger sister, knowing the girl would need the knowledge as she grew up. One of these was about their father.

Jake had by no mean ever hurt Hermione in any intentional way. Apparently, he had actually calmed some over the years. Hermione for a while now had kept her retorts to her father when he was drunk with as little menace to them as she could while still remaining sane. Lira told her about when she was younger and hadn't done that. The result was she and her father getting into fights, and "it didn't feel good," as Lira put it.

Ever since then Hermione had feared the same result, the day when she would push her father over the edge. This new presence lacked this fear, though. It defied it.

"You are never to talk to me like that! Ever! Now I will ask you one final time, where is your mother?" Jake asked as his voice grew steadily louder.

"She left, she'll be back tomorrow, now will you leave me alone? I have some other things to attend to," said Mi absentmindedly. She walked over to the dresser and picked up the hairbrush as she began to pull it through her long locks, leaving them softer than before. Mr. Granger stared in a fury.

"Don't disregard me like that. I own you and keep you alive. Do you want that to stop?"

"Which part?" came the reply, "because I would happily accept you no longer 'owning' me." She faced him with a glint in her eyes. He returned the look with a menacing glare.

He turned on his heel and left the room saying, "One of these days, Hermione…"

"Oh, and do me a favor. Call me Mi," she called to the retreating figure.

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Hermione woke with an amazing headache the next morning. She scanned her brain to find what could possibly be the cause. The previous night surfaced as she rested her eyes on the small chameleon next to her bedside. Relief weaved itself through her mind as she realized she was "free."

The night before, she was trapped beneath the power of whatever it was that had shown itself. Pushing the thought aside, she began to dress for the upcoming day. Her parents were going to take her out to London that day for a treat.

Walking into the kitchen, Hermione saw her mother dressed at the table with bags under her eyes. She walked over to her.

"Hey, mom. How'd it go last night?"

"That lady really doesn't know anything about parenthood," came the tired reply. "I even had to show her how to feed the baby properly."

"I'm sure it was just her excitement of having new life in front of her. She'll get over it." Hermione walked over to the cabinet to find the glasses to set for the table.

"I see London, I see France, I see Hermione's underpants!" exclaimed her mother. Hermione's hand quickly shot down as she spun around with a slight tinge to her face, glaring at her mother.

"You do not!" Hermione squealed defensively.

"No, I don't," the older lady admitted, "but I nearly do with that skirt you have on." Hermione seemed a bit self-conscious of her new light green flounce skirt one of her Muggle friends had gotten her. Though a bit wary of it, Hermione had wanted to try it out; it was her first ever that rose anywhere above her knees. "It's very cute," her mother reassured her. She seemed to relax a bit, though was very careful with her movements.

"How are my two lovely ladies doing this fine morning?" came a cheerful voice from the other side of the room. Jake sat at the kitchen table. "So, what's for breakfast?"

---

Hermione watched out through the window of the back seat as the car silently moved along to London. Many trees were brilliant shades of yellow and gold as fall came about. Even though it was as a result of a fight that her parents were not talking, she enjoyed the quiet produced. Switching her view to what was coming up, she saw many tall buildings approaching quickly as they entered into the large city. Through it they drove for about ten minutes, in which Hermione watched the scenery fly by: the people bustling around trying to get from one place to the next, old gorgeous buildings, the overall appearance of everything in its set ways.

As the car swerved around a corner, it pulled up to a small Italian restaurant that Hermione had loved ever since she first ate there at the age of five. Her eyes glazed over as she peered through the window to see many people inside sitting around the tables socializing amicably. She rushed out as soon as the car was stopped and impatiently waited for her parents.

"Aren't you two coming?" she asked her parents who were taking their time. She let out a heavy sigh and cross her arms across her chest while staring at them. They began moving. "Finally," Hermione muttered, turning on her heel to enter the restaurant.

"How many?" asked the waiter. God does he look familiar, thought Hermione. She could not seem to place from where, though. He had slightly long brown hair, was around six feet tall, but had piercing silvery blue eyes. Not having time to think further of it, Hermione brushed the thought from her mind as she followed her parents to the table.

"What are you going to have?" Jean Granger asked her daughter,from whomshe received a slightly incredulous look.

"Same as usual, of course," was the reply she received. Hermione hadn't even need to look at the menu placed in front of her; she had it practically memorized. Her parents, on the other hand, were busy searching through to find what they would like. She took this time to rack her brain to see if she could figure out how she knew him. It was a Muggle restaurant, but she could not think of anywhere in the Muggle world she would know him. After all, it was not all that often that she was there. Perhaps it could be a wizard, but why would he be here? True, any number of reasons could surface for why a wizard would work at a Muggle restaurant, but anyone that would didn't fit the waiter. Why is it bothering me so much anyways? she wondered. Her throughts were interrupted by her parents beginning to rattle off the order.

Hermione gave her order insisting that she only wanted a water with it, despite the fact it said that it came with a soft drink. "I've come here since I was five, and have always gotten a water with this exact meal. I'm sure it will be fine now," she finalized. The waiter walked off with a scowl on his face. Silence resumed to the table until the food came fifteen minutes later. It was not until after they were finished that either of her parents said anything.

"Hermione, we need to talk," began Jake.

"What about?" Hermione inquired. "Does it have to do with why you two have been so quiet all day?"

"Yeah, actually it does. I'm really not sure how to say this so I'm just going to. We've tried to work our way around it, but this is for the best. Your mother and I are getting a divorce."

A look of shock spread across Hermione's face as what her father just told her settled in. "Why..how..when did you decide this?" she asked.

"It's been working up for a long time, Hermione. There's no use denying that. It really will be better this way," her mother tried to assure her. Hermione wouldn't listen, though. It just further upset her.

"Excuse me, she said as she rushed out of the restaurant. Once outside, she began to sob, not knowing what else to do. Little did she know, that very same waiter was watching this unfold, a tinge of sympathy touching him. Strangely enough, she began to quiet down and reached into her pocket. Suddenly, all of her emotions visibly hardened, almost like...magic.

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AN: Well, there's Chapter 2 for you! I hope you like it. The plot is starting to work its way in. Thanks to my two reviewers so far: Sunflower18 and many.boyz.lil.time For anyone that would like it, I'll e-mail you whenever I update. After this chapter you will automatically be put on it for reviewing (unless its an anonymous and an e-mail isn't left). I hope you all had a fun, safe, and happy holidays! Next chapter should be longer, sorry for the shortness.