Sing to Me the Song of the Stars

Running in the Rain

Hermione was scared, more so than she'd ever been in her life, because she was running away from home. He had gone out with her mother; they'd gone dancing and would be back at an unpredictable time. Now was her chance, to finally leave the place she hated more than anything. Placing her wand in her pocket, she picked up her trunk, which she had rendered almost weightless with the simplest of spells, and trudged into the main hall. She made her way over to the hall closet and grabbed her coat. Gingerly she took in her surroundings; she knew it would be the last time she'd see this place.

'Good.' she thought.

Just as she turned to unlocked the door, she heard a car door slam outside.

'Shite. They're home!' her mind screamed.

Hermione's pulse quickened as she grabbed her trunk and ran towards the back door. She fiddled with the lock for a few seconds before she swung it open and heard their voices just outside the front door. Just before she closed the door behind her, she heard a key enter the front lock. She glanced around and saw rain thundering down, and for a moment she regretted her decision of leaving. Pulling the hood of her sweater over her head, she raced to the back gate and struggled to unlock it. She could hear her name being called throughout the house. Her heart rammed in her chest, and she breathed a sigh of relief when the gate opened.

She knew they were aware of her absence, and her mother was probably looking around frantically for her. Someone would come bursting through the back door any second now, and she would be punished for what she had almost gotten away with doing. Running faster than she had ever in her life, she lost track of her surroundings and was only aware that she was getting further and further away from the place she had once called home.

Finally, her legs gave out from under her and she landed on a wet patch of grass. Her chest heaved as she tried to regain her breath and all coherent thought. She picked herself up off the ground, looked around and smiled. She knew this place; she came here often with her muggle friends. She was at the local park, a twenty-minute walk from her quaint suburban neighborhood. She walked over to the nearest bench and sat down, letting the rain soak through her once dry clothes. Where did she go from here?

Staying at the Weasley's was out of the question, Molly would march her right back home to apologize for her behavior. She couldn't go to Grimauld Place, the order members were familiar with her mother and they too would see to it that she went back. She could always stay in Diagon Alley, but she had no money of her own to pay the fees.

A sudden idea shot through her mind, causing Hermione to grin. Her Aunt Estella would surely let her stay! She wasn't too keen on him either, and the previous summer they'd become rather close when she'd stayed in town for the two months. Then, she realized with a groan that her aunt lived hours away.

'The Night Bus would take me there though, wouldn't it? After all, we'd get there within the hour. I'll just tell them she lives in- Shite, where was it she lives again? Ashter-something-or-other. Oh, help me Merlin.'

Hermione put her head in her hands as she began to cry. Everything was going terribly wrong and nothing was making sense. She was soaking wet and freezing without a place to seek shelter, she was alone in the dead of the night, and her bruised body ached from the beatings.

A sudden noise rang through the air as the rain continued to fall, causing her to hold her breath as she waited for something to happen. Through the steady beating of the rain against the pavement, she made out light, soft footsteps heading in her general direction. She found herself suddenly wishing she were invisible, and almost screamed when the sound of someone's voice reached her ears.

"Hermione, may I enquire as to what you're doing out so late at night? It's rather cold, I wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

She smiled; she'd recognize that voice anywhere. She jumped to her feet and turned around.

"Professor Dumbledore! You have no idea how glad I am to see you." she grinned as she placed a hand over her heart to show how frightened she'd been.

"Yes, I suppose one would be. Tell me, what are you doing here? I was on my way to visit an old friend, and here I find you! What a pleasant surprise."

"Um, well. I was . . . running away from home?" she squeaked.

"Are you not hitting it off with your new stepfather?"

"Yes, that's about it." she answered, looking down and kicking her feet around.

"I'm fairly certain he isn't half bad, Ms. Granger. Why don't I accompany you home?"

"Please, Professor! I can't go back, not now."

"Where exactly were you planning on going?"

"My aunts, she lives a few hours out of the city," she answered.

"I see, do you know the exact location?" the wizard asked.

"Not, exactly." Hermione admitted guiltily.

"Ms. Granger, I think I have a much better idea. If you'd please take hold of my arm?" Dumbledore smiled down at her.

Hermione nodded and turned to grab her trunk, which was still sitting on the bench. She walked back over with a faint trace of uncertainty, but quickly dismissed any regrets. She held on firmly to the Headmasters arm, and before she knew what was happening everything turned black and she was feeling immense pain all over her body. She tried to breath but found she could not, and just as she was starting to panic, it ended.

She took in everything around her and saw the rain had almost let up, but the sky was still a threatening shade of gray. She let go of Dumbledore's arm and her eyebrows shot up as she saw where she stood. In front of her, was an enormous gate that guarded an even more majestic building. She looked questioningly towards the wizard beside her, but she got no response, as he was already reciting the string of words that would open the gate before her.

"Come, Ms. Granger." he smiled once the gate had opened.

Dumbledore closed the black gates behind them, and walked silently beside one of his brightest students. Hermione's stomach was full of butterflies, and she had no idea why. Surely, the Headmaster wouldn't take her anywhere she would be in harm, but still her nerves were betraying her. The path towards the front of the house seemed endless, and before long she found her legs beginning to tire. As they approached the door, her heartbeat quickened and she held her breath.

The wizard rang the doorbell, and Hermione could hear the noise even from outside. She heard many spells being muttered from the other side of the door, and before long it swung open. She found herself face to face with Blaise Zabini.

A/N Did you like it? I hope you did, but I'll never know unless you review (pokes).

readyformycloseup.