Hermione Granger fell with a thud to her hardwood bedroom floor, tangled in her blue cotton sheets, after awaking from her dream. Pulling her now tamed brunette ringlets from her face she glanced up at the clock on her white bedside table. 8:47 am! That finally pulled her from her sleepy haze! Dashing about after making her bed she grabbed her much deliberated-over outfit of flat knee length, dark green suede boots overtop of faded slim-cut jeans, to compliment her 5'6' figure. A simple, long fitted white tee shirt completed it. After returning at the end of sixth year her mother had taken her on a, as she termed it, much needed rejuvenation weekend. This included, mother-daughter facials, massages and plenty of shopping.

This had been an almost last ditch effort to close the colossal gap between mother and daughter. After finding out she was a witch, her relationship with her parents was strained at best. They couldn't understand the wizarding world being muggles and the harder they tried, the more ridiculous the attempts became. Just going to Diagon Alley was an awkward situation because of their backwardness with her world. Introducing them to the Weasleys had been an experience she never wanted to repeat. Her dad eyeing them like something under a microscope.

Before Hogwarts, she was being groomed to take-over the family practice, that had all changed the day she got her letter. To this day she would get the feeling that they expected her to return to the muggle world once her schooling was done, and how could she tell him that being a witch was more important to her than dentistry? They would never understand, and so she spent more and more time in the magical world and the distance between them grew and grew. It was unfortunate but unavoidable. They hid her abilities from everyone and, being conservative small villagers, this was no easy feat! Her wand was not to leave her room, and the covers of her books had to be 'covered' to hide the magical aspects. At the Dursley's, Harry had it much worse, she didn't have bars on her windows, and so she never complained, just worked hard to keep in touch with her world. Owls sent only at night, stories of friends and classes at her "elite" boarding school, the list went on and on.

She had to give them credit though, they were just trying to support her different qualities and survive small town life. This was their way, and they always would be her parents, but she'd sooner gnaw her right arm off at the shoulder than be shut out of her world. So, she accepted their attempts at understanding and bonding with grace and answered all their questions, and in return she complained of her biology Professor to her Aunt and the newest political policies with her Grandfather.

Ever since her parents dental practice really took off, to become the number one practice in her hometown and for a few villages around, her parents had money to burn. So, no one questioned her special schooling. Her mom, despite being the workaholic that she was, still took time out when Hermione was home, which was few and far between, to put her oddly good fashion sense to use. Most of which, Hermione has inherited surprisingly enough.

Hermione rushed downstairs her trunk in hand with Crookshanks in his carrying case. Her parents were away at a dentistry conference this weekend (where they were guests of honor, Hermione proudly noted). They wouldn't be home until September second, thankfully. Her mother, being the thoughtful and organized person she was, had ironed her uniform and laid it out for her beside her taxi fare, emergency muggle money and a note saying her supply money was in her Gringotts account with some extra "for a treat or two". Laughing to herself Hermione scooped it all into her purse. 'Really Mum, ironing it? Being a witch has it's uses' she thought. With that she laid it inside her trunk and walked out the front door. After locking it, a kindly taxi driver would have helped her load the trunk, but there was no taxi to be seen. 'So much for on time' she though and settled herself onto her trunk for the wait.

An Hour Later

Getting really impatient and thankful that her street was deserted at noon on a Monday she stuck out her wand hand to summon the Knight's Bus and thought hard about needing transportation. She had read about it in some book or another and had always wanted to try it since Harry had described it to her.

Five Minutes Later

"Argh! This is absolutely ridiculous!" spat Hermione, twisting her face into a look of utter frustration, she turned to go back into the house and call the taxi again when a thud sounded behind her.

"Hullo Miss! Have you been callin' us? I am Stanley Shunpike and I will be your conductor! The Knight's Bus at your service in aid of any stranded witch or wizard!" cheerily shouted a still pimply faced boy in a purple uniform. "Sorry it took so long, we were over by Yorkshire...Say! Need help with that?"

Breathing a sigh of relief as she turned and glanced at the beat up, violently purple triple decker with its sign announcing 'All Destinations! (Nothing Underwater)'. She replied " Yea, I've been waiting and can you get my trunk?"

"Where are you off to?" he questioned.

"Diagon Alley." She curtly responded.

"Ah, Ernie! Another from Hogwarts!" he exclaimed over his shoulder to the driver. He turned to face Hermione and announced "That'll be 12 sickles, but for 14 you get a sandwich."

Hermione dug into her wizard money left over from the recent school year, thankfully produced the 12 sickles and boarded the bus.

Inside she found a witch with large glasses clutching her chair in a death grip, her eyes scrunched closed. Further down was a sorry looking wizard who seem quite ready to be ill, gazing out the window in an almost pleading fashion. Deciding to keep her clothes as clean as possible, she sat in the back on an overstuffed royal blue chair. She had just sat down when they were off again in a flash.

Trying to concentrate on anything but the near accidents, rocking of the bus, and thinking that Ernie was never going to make that turn, she pondered her dream.

It had started out normally, her trying to make a spell work. Then there was the flash and the deep voice saying "It's time...". Time for what? Suddenly she was in her body, yet observing the scene outside it. She was Blonde! Part of some ritual, for her nearly infinite knowledge, she didn't have the foggiest what this ritual was or what it accomplished. The dancing and the eerie drum beat coupled with the haunting pipe still gave her goose bumps and the shivers.

She was thrown back in her chair as the bus screeched to a stop in front of a little cottage and the sick witch just ran off onto the ground, then they were off again.

"Have a Good Day Madame Marsh!" Stan shouted after her.

Starting to feel slightly sick she fixed her gaze on a single spot on the back of a brilliant purple chair in front of her. The bus swayed from side to side and she dug her fingers into the arms of her chair and squeezed her eyes shut.

'I'm alright, Harry survived this trip and so can I!' she thought fiercely to herself 'Come on Granger, you're made of sterner stuff than this! Think of something else... anything else... They'll announce Heads this year! Yes, that's it! I'll finally be Head Girl... I hope! That's something Mum and Dad can understand! I wonder who'll turn up this year, what with The War. I wish I could've spent this summer with Harry and Ron at Grimmauld Place...Mum and I certainly had quite the row about that, but she doesn't want her only daughter running off to fight in some secret war.' Then she sighed 'I could've done such good work though! I bet Harry won't even be allowed to go on the train to Hogwarts, he'll arrive with an army of Aurors or something of that sort and if Harry doesn't ride the train, Ron certainly will follow wherever he'll go... Oh well, more fun for Ginny and I! If I worry, it won't do a thing but weaken me...must remember that!' Her train of thought was interrupted by a screech of brakes and a flash of light.

"What the...!" shouted Ernie, the driver.

"Crucio." oozed a deep voice. Ernie screamed and it was so chilling, even she felt frozen.

"Ernie!" Shouted Stan, the pimply conductor "Stupe-"

"Imperio" croaked another voice. Hermione slowly moved from her chair to crouch on the floor, hidden by the chair in front of her. Her pulse beat rapidly in her chest and she felt all the color drain from her face. As she slid down she saw the people who boarded the bus. Death Eaters. She clutched her wand in one hand and peered under the chair to the front.

"Who has ridden this bus?" asked the croaky voice.

Stan answered in a faraway choked tone "Maggie Perkiss...Willy Widdershins...Virja...Madame Marsh...Hermione Granger..."

"Wait!" barked another voice. "The mudblood girlfriend of the Potter-boy is here?"

Stan choked "Yes..."

"This could be good..." slithered a female voice "Grange...here Grange...come out to play..."

"Elis, go amuse yourself, but we do have a task to accomplish, just don't kill her yet" instructed the croaky voice.

"Yes, no kille...Grange come play..." called Elis "Shallow cuts...yes yes...tickle the skin." Hermione's blood ran cold as the voice neared.

"Who else is here?" prodded the croaky voice.

Stan groaned "Micail Lunrick..." That seemed to please the Death Eaters and excite Elis.

"Oh! The Lunrick, Voldie will be so pleased!" whooped Elis.

"Remind me Lucius, why we had to bring her?" asked the croaky voice.

"Because Avery, The Dark Lord knows that even in her madness, Galara Elis is a most brilliant trueblood." answered Lucius "Now roundup all witnesses before you shoot off your mouth even more."

'Lucius?' thought Hermione, 'He's in Azkaban! If he really is here...the Dementors must've joined with Voldemort!'

"My pleasure..." crooned Avery as Galara giggled and he announced "I don't know who is more mad... Galara or Bellatrix."

"Avery!" barked Lucius "Do not second guess The Dark Lord's judgement, for this I'm sure you'll be punished."

"Yeah, just like you after your boy failed him? How is the voice doing by the way?" Avery asked, snickering to himself, "I have heard that the Cruciatus does quite a number on the vocals!"

"That is none of your affair!" spoke Lucius in a low threatening tone, "And if you know what is good for you, you will not provoke me!"

Elis came upon the sick looking wizard, trying to hide deeper in his chair. "The Lunrick-oh! Where could you go? Never hide, or never speak for darkness never sleeps!" she sang, then laughed.

Lucius spoke first. "Galara, il vous regarde."

Galara stiffened and in a cruel frozen voice she said "Avada Kedavra." Then she turned and walked away leaving Lunrick just lying in his chair.

Hermione choked back a cry and felt a tear escape down her cheek. She couldn't let them get her. 'What can I do...' she thought. Peering under the chair again, she brought up her wand next to her face. "Petrificus Totalus" she whispered and saw Avery go down "Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus! PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Then she jumped up to face Galara, "Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus!" shouted Galara "Silencio. Accio Wand! Locomotor Cage! Portus!" Then she grabbed Hermione. Fear filled Hermione as she tried to fight back. She grabbed Galara's hand and bit down. Galara snarled "Get offa me you!" She grabbed the cage and slung Hermione under one arm. "Shhh! Don't make me Body-Bind you snippet!" she stated and touched the trunk. The now-familiar feeling of a hook lodging itself behind her navel took over. Hermione in a state of absolute panic starts to struggle even more.

They arrive at a shabby dark room and Galara throws Hermione away from her. "Sit girl, I don't have much time. You have much ahead of you! So much pain...so much death...don't let the Dark ones get their hands on you or you'll end up like me. A poppet. Mind destroyed so they can't have it...the secret. You can't let them win. I shouldn't have let it get this far! Oh old soul...cruel fate has hold of thee..." she trails off then her eyes focus on Hermione "He's coming and he's mad...Hurry Hurry! Away Away! Mustn't let him see! In your dreams they will come to you, trust and don't trust... love and don't love... that mink will betray you! Unity unity all... Friends close but your enemies are closer...Granger GO! I must return to him...the horrible things I must do, the things I see! Don't let him get a weight to hang over you...I loved once...lived once..." she started to cry "I TOLD YOU TO GO!" then she pushed the cage onto her with her wand and said "Portus trunk... Remember all that I have said... and say nothing for even light ones lie in dark." With that she shoved her onto the trunk and Hermione was portkey-ed away to the main foyer of the Leaky Cauldron as Elis sang " Jack and Jill ran up the hill to fetch a pail of water, Jack fell down and broke..."