The New and Better Beginning

Authors note: Ok, this is our first fanfiction working together. Yes I said 'we'. There's two of us working on this. Im Amie, the crazy psychotic goth, and the one who shall write chapter TWO shall be the insane punk Paige. Anyways, the starting chapter might not be to great, but once we get going, things will start picking up. We both love writing, and hopefully we're not the only ones.

Disclaimer: Don't own them, never will, so just don't bother trying to sue over nothing

There was a faint sound in the back, but so quiet, that if it weren't for the utter silence, no one would know it existed. Two years, had it really been that long? Two years since the war? Two years since Hermione had been on the run? Could a war last for such a short time, but seem like such an eternity? An eternity of hell? But here she sat, in the cave, hiding. Always hiding. By this time the real question to her was whether she'd ever be free to be normal again. Up until a week ago, Hermione had it all pulled together…at least that was what she thought… Thanks to a spell that she had found, no one knew her from her past life, and the Death Eaters could never have found her. Without the protection of her closest friends, this was the next best thing.

Dumbledore's death had been the starting point of the end it seemed. After him many other deaths followed, but something unexpected had happened…someone took over when all hope seemed lost. At first, it seemed that they were saved, the Dark side finally pushed back…but then the Order vanished. They left Hermione, Harry, and Ron, not telling them where they had gone. Harry and Ron both had been found, and killed. She was all that was left. She thought all was over, but up until a week ago, came in contact with a member of the Order. She hadn't been told much, but at least knew it was still there. Staying under an alias in the wizarding world had been tough, but she had it all figured out…until the 'member of the order' turned out to be a death eater. How could she be so stupid? No matter though…just another cast of the spell and it would all go back, she'd just have to apparate…back to where it all began.

Hermione waited another hour, and then emerged from the cave. She stood up and looked around through the night. She would have to start over, once again, but this time…there was more hope. This time she KNEW there really was still an order…there had to be if the death eaters still were looking for her. That meant that they surely must still be afraid…at least that was what she had hoped. With a simple flick of her wand she apparated back to Diagon Alley. They moment she got there she started to smile at all the familiarity. It wasn't nearly as crowded as normal, only a few bustling witches and wizards getting the essentials as quickly as they could. But either way…it was home to her now. She went to the Leaky Cauldron and saw old Tom. She still had the old spell on her, and he didn't seem to recognize her. After a few minutes of talking with him, he arranged a room for her. She didn't have much money left, but luckily She could make do for now. Only a few gallons, but the last of the money all the same.

She headed to her room but before she could get to the stairs, tripped over a stool and landed on something soft. She immediately apologized and looked up to what looked like a muggle. Was it normal for muggles to be in a place like this? They surely couldn't be a witch or wizard…they were wearing clothes that didn't even resemble wizard clothes…almost like those odd fasions she was seeing lately…puh something…prick? No…definitely not…polk? No, no no…punk? Yes…that was what she was looking for…punk.

"Oi, you sure your alright there? Sorry about that, I tend to walk right into things, but suppose it doesn't help that me friend likes to push stools out in the walkway either eh?" It was a girls voice, but was thick with an Irish accent.

" Not like I was lookin'…sorry 'bout that…" The other girl had a bit of a British accent, but didn't seem to be as friendly as the first.

"Im Her-Jane…the names Jane…Im sorry about running into you…" Hermione stepped back to look at the two girls and noticed that they were motioning for her to sit down. She did as told, and they began a conversation that went a little something like this:

"Im Mallie, I know what yer thinkin' most cliché Irish name out ther' but what can yah do? And this one over here is Sanders."

"Would you stop speakin' for me you jack arse?"

"Not till you start talkin' fer yerself."

"You are a complete and total bi-"

"So, what are you doin in these parts? Been here long? How long are yah stayin for? Do you like it here? What do you think about muggle bands? How mu-"

"MALLIE! Shut the bloody hell up!"

"Jane was it? Alright if I call you Janie? You don't look to well off…how about working at our place for a wee bit hm? Yeh can stay at the club and don't worry about the pay to much, and hours don't really matter as long as yeh can work them. Hows Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays for you?"

"Um…excuse me…but what are you talking about?"

Before Mallie could answer, Sanders hit her upside the head and looked at Hermione. "We work at a punk club. We need some help to take care of the place, and since we don't want any trouble, we stay underground so neither the order or the deatheaters try to find it. It's pretty neutral and safe if that's what yeh might be afraid of. I take it that yeh weren't always looking as scrappy as you do now."

At this Mallie stomped on Sanders' foot. "You don't have teh be so rude about it…now she wont werk fer us anyways."

Right when they looked ready to murder Hermione stood up and shouted, "GUYS! I'd like the job, but do you always have to fight?"

They both blinked and nodded. "We're related we are…step sisters and all." Sanders mumbled something like, 'Bloody pain in the ass too' but seemed to keep it quite a bit down.

"Fine then, come on, we'll show you the place now…go tell Tom, we'll be going soon."

After that conversation, Hermione knew her life was at new and better beginning…finally…something that had hope in it. Maybe things were going to be better than before…and that when she saw him…

After apparating into an old run down werehouse and going into a metal elevator that was see through, she got to the basement…it was a very nice club, but was definitely not just any old dance or rave club. But all decorations aside, in the far back table, someone was watching them from ontop of it.

"Oi, Caspian! Arent you supposed to…oh…I don't know…work?"

Hermione snorted at the name. She'd read a book with a name like that before, but someone actually called that? That was just plain weird.

Mallie grabbed her hand and ran over to the tall blonde. "Caspian, Janie, Janie, Caspian. You guys are going to be working together fer awhile, hope yeh don't mind, and I must apologize Caspian, but that apartment your in is goin ter have teh be shared with this girl…we don't have the others furnished yet, we didn't expect to have such a short notice."

Oh yes…this was going to be the best beginning Hermione had had in a loooong time…she could feel it.