Everyone,

I am sorry it has taken so long for a chapter. I am having trouble getting through a block. I hope this is worth the wait. Thank you for your support.

~Alex

Minerva McGonagall was typically labeled a smart woman, and even those who absolutely hated her spoke of her in the highest regard, even if that regard was spat in hostile tones. She sat before a fire nursing a small tumbler of firewiskey as she thought back on the interaction with the Granger girl. She was quick witted and very evasive bordering on mysterious. From that moment when the girl seemingly came out of nowhere on the Granger's front porch in and eerily 'normal' yard in the middle of a cookie cutter like subdivision, she knew there was more to the father/daughter duo.

Mr. Granger was beyond accepting for a father who had a daughter who was a muggle born, brought up in a world where magic was nothing more than fantasy or science fiction. His smile, it was his damned smile. It was creepy to the point that when Minerva thought more on this her own hands grew cold at the oddity of Mr. Granger. Then there was the girl.

Hermione Granger.

Minerva took another small sip from her crystal glass and licked her lips savoring the taste of whisky on her lips. She shook her head. The girl was something she could not put her finger on. She was something… more. Her eyes, yes she was caught in them for a moment in that alley, were deep as an ocean, her tone was old like the stones, and her attitude, was haughty as if she figured out life and found it nothing more than a nuisance. No, Hermione Granger was a lot more than a simple eleven-year-old girl.

In front of that fire all she could wonder was who was this enigma. Who was Hermione Granger? It didn't help that when she looked down the alley, she saw a person she had not seen in quite some time. She had graced these halls as a student and had a daughter that graduated not long ago. She thought she knew her old student and her post-Hogwarts life very well, and if so, miss granger's gasped statement left Minerva's head running a mile a minuet. Why would she call Andromeda Black Tonks mother?

Minerva sighed as she found the bottom of her glass empty and closed her eyes. This girl brought more questions than answers.

ooo

She hummed as she washed dishes while smiling. The mundane skill of hand washing dishes was rather therapeutic for a witch. She snorted with a chuckle. Witch, please. She was far more than that, she was a holy terror… according to who you talk to. It was along time ago and an even longer story to tell but for Andromeda, to those around her, the memories were as crystal clear as if they happened no more than a week ago, yet it was eons.

She wiped her hands on a dish towel and dismissed the dishes with a flip of her hand and then walked toward the front room and tidied up the area. She finished the chore quickly for she always kept a clean home, and then sat before a television and placed the channel on nature and muted the sound. She watched the world go by and remembered all the places she had been. One scene came by and her jaw grew tight. She remembered the day she was rejected, kicked out and practically chased down and there he was. He saw her plight, he saw her possible ending and helped her.

Many times, they found each other, struck up am acquaintance, and them eventually loved one another. Then Andromeda smiled. She saw her today, she saw her daughter, a daughter she had not seen in far, far too long. She had not seen her since she was born but as soon as she walked by Ollivanders, she felt it and when she looked in, she knew it was her.

"Hermione," Andromeda whispered and then touched her lips as if she had spoken a secret out loud to the universe. Then a black Kneazle jumped up next to her and she stroked his fur.

"I saw her today, Jett," the cat nuzzled in her hand and then looked at her intently as if telling her to go on, "I saw her, and she was gorgeous. I could see through the glamor. I saw it and knew she was mine," then she sighed and let her smile fall as she watched her familiar.

"Yet she was not mine, and it is best that way," Andromeda absently stroked the cat that climbed into her lap. Wishing for a rewritten past. Wishing to have been there. Only one consolation kept her spirits high. She saw her today.

ooo

Hermione stood on the platform with her father. She looked around at the bustling people and couldn't help but wonder if there was some rush or fire somewhere. People clambered about and pushed and shoved and wove in and out of the crowd. Others shouted to garner attention from people looking about. Hermione cocked her head slightly as she watched faces light up at recognition, and smiles stretched over lips from frowns and worry.

There was another side to this energy though. It was an undercurrent she could swear she could reach out and touch. She knew it well. It was a current she felt when she had to collect souls from some of the most heinous crimes. It was hatred, animosity, and if she were to lick her lips, she might be able to taste the copper of old blood of scrubbed hands.

"Go. I'll look for her and see if I can't pinpoint the items. I shall miss you my daughter," Death said to Hermione. She looked up into Death's black eyes and smiled.

"Of course, you will. Gil can't do my job forever," she jibbed back and they both shared a small laugh.

"I don't know he is doing a great job as is,' Death poked fun back. Hermione smiled and nodded. Gilgamesh was doing splendidly. She checked her watch and saw the numbers within an admirable range.

"Ill do my best Dad," Hermione said the last bit for the people around them, but it was more for the both of them. She will find the Hollows.

He hugged her as any father letting their child go for a few months would and then she walked toward the shinning red train and boarded. It was a jungle. She walked as far as she could and then pulled open the closest door to her. She found two boys, one redhead, and then other… He tasted of death, but not something else, something sweet like wine and raspberry jam. She looked down the corridor and saw more people. And then thought better of it.

"May I join you?" she asked the boys. The red head had a odd looked slip over his features as she shrugged, but the wine and jam boy nodded and indicated to the seat opposite them.

The train began to move and then she watched the two boys. Both devoured sweets and she felt her teeth hurt from the amount of sugar they ate, then the red head smiled and moaned from delight the other boy smiled too and then turned toward her and offered her a chocolate frog.

"I'm Harry, and this is Ron," wine and jam introduced.

"I am Hermione," then she saw his glasses cracked and she whipped out her wand, "Would you like me to fix those?" she asked. He nodded and she pointed her wand right into his face and she nearly giggle from the pure horror on his face.

"Occulas Repairo," Hermione said, and then placed her wand back in her robes. Harry pulled his glasses from his face in wonder and then beamed at her as he found them perfect. Not even a smudge.

"I can cast a spell," came the red head as he pulled out an old wand and then proceeded to turn his rat yellow to no avail

"Doesn't seem to work really well," Hermione pointed out looking at the rat and then looked up realizing her tactless comment but shrugged. Screw them. The spell sucked, also the rat seemed weird. She saw Harry shrug as if she had a point and thus began the trip to Hogwarts. Hermione had to close her eyes. Too many people, too much activity, and the smell of hatred and blood was heavy amongst this train. She was actually afraid to open the door and be hit with the sensations these magicals had swirling about them.

When she opened her eyes, the train stopped, and the sky was a dark as Death's eyes. She got off the train, retrieved her trunk and then looked around. Standing tall, and light with small lights through windows stood a castle. It was beautiful.

She boarded the boat with Ron, Harry, and a giant of a man named Hagrid. He chatted away. Hermione was grateful. Ron wouldn't look at her and Harry was enamored with everything magical. She looked over to the boy. He was so very young. She looked out over the lake with a fleet of small boats magically driven toward the castle. She sat back and let everything go for the few more moments she had left.

She stepped from the boat and onto terra firma. Her job had just begun.