A/N: I'm sorry for the delay with this chapter, I had a few things I had to deal with in my life. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed, followed or faved. Each one kept me going to write this chapter. I hope you enjoy…

Common rooms and Investigations

Walking out of the last class of the day Hermione was shattered, she was looking forward to falling asleep and recharging what Madam Pomphrey had called her magical core. However once again being left to fend for herself she had no idea where the Slytherin common room was. She mused all the possibilities, she knew they didn't have a tower, and she presumed since Snape was their head of house it would be in the dungeon, but where within the maze of passages she did not know. She then thought about how earlier in the day she had help from the castle's dead inhabitants, now how do I find those.

She started looking around until instead of a ghost she found a portrait hung on the wall. He had an old wizard face, with long flowing grey hair. He was sat in a library at a desk covered with papers. There were candles casting a dim glow over the scene. The man looked at her as if considering whether to acknowledge her.

Hermione looked up and though to herself what's the worst that can happen.

"Excuse me sir, do you know where the Slytherin dormitories are?"

The man looked down at her with shock in his eyes.

"And why, do you want to know that?"

"Well you see I missed the first night and my house mates don't exactly like me, and I have no idea where they are and no idea even which direction the common room is." Hermione said in a rush, her words blending into one long never ending sentence

"Oh, I see well a lost Slytherin, and you were hoping I could help you?"

"Well, I suppose if there was any way I could help you in return?" Hermione said.

"Well, Slytherin, I would enjoy seeing the sunlight again, the darkness if nice but can become a bit overbearing"

"Maybe I could see about moving you to a corridor with a real window then." Hermione countered.

The man seemed to contemplate Hermione's offer

"Well then, we seem to have a deal, Salazar Slytherin at your service, and you are?"

Hermione just stared at the man, he was the founder of her house, and well that was a development.

"Hermione Granger, sir."

"Granger, I don't recognise that name, are you a half blood." The man asked suspiciously.

Hermione looked at the floor, shame filling her face. Her entire posture changed, her shoulders dropped, her arms hung with her hand clasped together.

"I'm muggleborn" Hermione muttered under her breath, barely audible.

"What was that girl speak clearly now" the man said impatiently.

"I am muggle born." Hermione shouted, "A common and dirty mud blood that is obviously unworthy of such a noble house."

She looked at Salazar to find his lip curled in discus and her nose pointed in the air as if he could smell something bad. His look of distain made Hermione re-evaluate the man. So all of the rumour of his blood purity were true, Pity she thought, he couldn't see past heritage and lineage. Well then, it's his loss, she would deal with him similarly to everyone else in this school, by rising high above it.

"Well thank you for your help sir" Hermione said walking off away from the man.

It took a while before she came across 3 older Slytherin that looked around 5th year. They had obviously been sneaking out after curfew, as were now sneaking through the dungeons. She followed them silently before they whispered then stepped through a full length portrait containing a snake which had swung open. Yes, she thought, she found it, she approached the door to find her trunk outside with a note pinned to it and the door closed. She ripped the note from her case and started to read.

Mudblood

You are not welcome here, if you enter do not blame us for whatever fate becomes you. It is certainly not our fault you have dirt running through your veins.

You have been warned…

She read the note and was only slightly disappointed, why did she think she would be even welcome in her house common room. Well she mused, it could be worse. She started wandering her trunk floating after her. She walked aimless round and round the dungeons, not even caring were she ended up. It must have been hours although she really couldn't tell she had worked herself further and further into the maze. All the stone work was identical, each twist and turn lead her deeper into the darkness, which was only dispersed with torches that were getting more and more infrequent.

She had given up all hope of ever finding her way out and had lent against the wall. Sliding down it, exhaustion filling every bone. She just wanted somewhere to sleep. She mused she could have spent it in a corridor, but she felt less safe there than on the streets. She wanted desperately somewhere she could go and relax. Then as if someone had heard her prayer a door appeared. It was rather ominous, the darkest of the black. It had deep grains running deep, into it, with swirling silver hinges that slithered across the door like a living snake. There was a silver handle too, thick and chunky, a ring of heavy material that hung waiting to be opened. Hermione thought even for magic this was unusual, she didn't feel depletion in her magical core so she didn't think she had done it so who had?

She felt a gentle caress of her ice walls, surrounding her mind, as if someone was only trying to reassure her someone was there. It however, felt powerful, almost omniscient in nature, it had felt her distress and tried to help, whoever it was tried to help, and in this state Hermione was not going to decline.

She walked over to the door and pulled it open. As she walked through it, she felt as if a wall of magic washed over her as if it would only let her enter. She was greeted by a lovely lounge area with an emerald green sofa in front of a roaring fire place. The fire kept the room warm and gave it a homely feeling. Around the other three sides of the walls were full floor to ceiling bookshelves. The books looked old, full of knowledge ready to be learned. There was also a large mahogany desk, with silver upholstery. The room was extremely elegant but at the same time homely. Hermione loved it.

In one of the corners another black door stood, and as her curiosity got the better of it she went exploring through. Behind it lay her bedroom. A wrought iron bed, that's headboard was as black as ink and twisted into shape. The covers had a lovely swirling silver pattern on a green background. There was a think luscious rug on the floor, which was joined by a large wardrobe, chest of draws and dressing table all in a dark rich mahogany wood. This Hermione thought was more than she could have ever dreamed of. She was now actually glad that her house had refused her entry, or she would have never found this paradise. She had never had somewhere she felt more at home.

She then noticed another door connecting this room to what turned out to be a bathroom. It contained a beautifully large shower which Hermione started at longingly, how inviting it looked, maybe in the morning she pondered yawning as she did. She looked around the room; it was more than she could ever have hoped for. Hermione wondered who on earth did this for her, it certainly wasn't the headmaster, and she didn't think this would be something Snape would do, as she was pondering a warm feeling spread through her mind again, this feeling without using words said Hogwarts. Hermione was shocked; Hogwarts did this, the building as some believed was indeed sentient. Well that was a surprise. She concentrated on the warm feeling and thought of the word thank you and pushed it toward it. Hogwarts replied, anytime, and then as quickly as it came the feeling was gone.

Hermione sat there for a while reeling over the implications over what had just happened; the castle liked her and had given her a room. This was big, she had a no strings attached ally. Finally, although as the thought popped into her head, can a building however sentient it may be, be your friend. Probably not she sighed; well an ally is better than nothing.

Then a sudden, loud crack filled the air and before Hermione stood a small wrinkled creature. It was the size of a small toddler, with unhealthy looking grey skin. It had a long protruding nose and floppy ears which dangled down below its head. It looked rather peculiar Hermione thought, but then who was she to judge.

"What is miss doing in here?" The being asked determinedly, oh so it's one of those Hermione thought.

"Well I was just kicked out of my common room when I found this door, you see and then I just went along with it and sat down, I'm having one of those days" she replied.

"Miss, shouldn't be here, Miss should be in her dormitory."

"Well then, do you want to go to my dormitory and explain to them that, as they threaten me if I even stepped foot in that corridor let alone get into a bed in there?"

The elf looked at Hermione calculating. "You should not be here!" the thing almost screamed at her.

Hermione was taken aback why it was getting so caught up in this?

It continued "If miss doesn't go back to her rightful bed the house elves will not help miss they won't!"

Hermione pondered, the house elves that's what they're called, well she was not giving in.

"That's fine by me, I certainly don't need your help, I am quite happy in this room, on my own."

"Fine, see how you like it in one week!" The house elf angrily spat.

And with another crack, this one louder than the first it disappeared again.

Hermione wondered if this day could get any weirder, it was certainly quite interesting, but all she really wanted was to get some sleep. She found her way back to her bedroom and just gently reaching a tiny bit into her core she imagined her belongings coming out of the trunk and unpacking themselves and sure enough one by one each of her personal possessions floated past into her rightful place. Her books came flying out first as they arranged themselves alphabetically on her newly acquired book shelves, then all her stolen robes flew into the wardrobe followed by her dark purple bag, which also unpacked. Then when she thought she was finished, some of her books, quills and parchments all went back into her satchel, packing it for the morning.

She then went to the bathroom, freshened up and changed into her night clothes. She then got into bed, it was so soft so luxurious. The mattress made of clouds, and the pillows like marshmallows enveloping her into them. It was heaven, yet as Hermione lay there she just couldn't get to sleep. It was then she noticed something was missing, and mused if she could truly correct it, no harm in trying right? This time she reached deeper into her magical core, ideally, she thought maybe she shouldn't have gone that deep but oh well too late now. She thought and though about what she wanted to happen. And as soon as she opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, she was greeted by thousands of stars illuminating her ceiling and in one corner the moon shone brightly. It was truly beautiful she thought as she drifted quickly off to sleep.

She woke up to sunlight shining open her, looking at her watch reading 5:30 wow, she thought that's helpful. She dragged herself out of her bed and into the shower savouring every moment as the glorious hot water rained down on her, then realising she should be at breakfast dragged herself once again out of the warmth, quickly drying herself and throwing on a new pair of robes.

She grabbed her book bag, and walked out of her safe paradise, she found that she knew exactly where she needed to go, as if instinct was guiding her. Reaching out to her surroundings she pushed a message: did you do that? To the wall of Hogwarts. A sheepish, maybe, was all she got in reply and she started laughing. Well it was quite a nice gift to have and it saved her getting lost on a maze every time she wanted to go to bed.

She made it up to the great hall, and as she walked in the door, she wondered where the hell was everyone. There was no one there. The staff table was empty; no students lined the house tables, looking down at her watch it read 6:15. Then she saw the ghost that helped her find professor Snape.

"Excuse me sir, do you know where everyone is?" she asked.

"Hello there Slytherin, you are quite early, you won't find anyone else for at least an hour."

"Oh, well thank you."

"My pleasure" the ghost said drifting off.

Hermione sat down at her little table and noticed unlike the rest of the tables there was no food on hers. Oh, of course the house elves, that made sense they must be responsible for the food. So where did that leave her, without food, and if they did that, they were probably in charge of cleaning and washing too. The last too she could handle but the first how was she going to deal with that. She got up and walked back to her rooms, when she got there, she noticed another door leading off her sitting room. She opened it loving all the surprises to find a kitchen of sorts, there was a little range, and many cupboards she opened one to find it cold, like a fridge and full of food. The other cupboards seemed to be in the same state full of raw ingredients she could do something with. In one corner there was also a shelf filled with cook books. That she thought was extremely handy. She made herself some breakfast, and then wondered how she was going to excuse herself from all the meals in the great hall. When her toast and tea vanished, the warmth of Hogwarts pushed the image of hr food appearing on her table in the great hall, and so she trekked back.

Sure enough, when she got there her crude toast and butter was laying there along with a pot of tea she had made for herself. She noticed as she sat down, she was still the only person in the hall. As she ate, she grabbed her copy of Wandless magic: What you need to know, and continued to nibble on her toast.

She noticed that around half seven, the first egger Ravenclaws and a few staff member walked in, among them professor Snape and Quirrell. She glanced over to them and just stopped when she saw Quirrell. Around his head was a black sickly cloud of this smoke, it screamed evil and death and just... Hermione couldn't breathe. What was wrong with him? The darkness was overwhelming it was just, everywhere. How could he even be alive with that, and what the hell was his turban hiding. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't friendly. It felt like a sort of parasites, sucking all of the life out of the professor. What was she going to do about it?

It presented as a quandary to Hermione; she thought how nobody else noticed this. It was pretty dam obvious. So why had nobody done anything about him? She had finished her breakfast and saw Snape exiting the hall. She quickly followed him.

"Professor I have something important to talk to you about."

"What is it now Miss Granger"

"Professor Quirrell, he has a thick black cloud of dark magic covering his head sir." Hermione replied determinedly

Snape Hermione looked at her with disbelief.

"Does he now, the stuttering mess that is professor Quirrell is covered in dark magic, I highly doubt that, now if that is all I have better things to attend to."

Hermione sighed well that went well.

Snape entered the hall to see only one Slytherin sat at the table; of course, he thought to himself it would be Granger. She was a bit of a mystery. He drank a cup of strong bitter black coffee, he felt as if he may need too today. Quirrell entered they nodded politely at each other but didn't exchange any words. He didn't eat anything but helped himself to another cup of coffee. He then started to leave; he had to prepare the lab for lessons.

As he walked out of the hall he heard the light patter of feet after him and then Granger's voice rang out.

"Professor I have something important to talk to you about."

Oh, why couldn't she have waited until the coffee had at least kicked in, he was up late last night talking with the headmaster about the protection surrounding the philosophers stone. It was ridicules keeping the stone here in the same place at the precious boy who lived, it was like adding another target on a school, but who was he to argue against the headmaster. He was as a result of the meeting in a foul mood.

"What is it now Miss Granger" he drawled.

She looked determined as if this was of deathly importance, what she said almost made him laugh. Professor Quirrell, the scared of vampires, stuttering professor Quirrell covered in dark magic preposterous, the girl he thought was wrong. Maybe she just wanted the attention or maybe she did truly believe it. But he knew it wasn't possible.

He bit her a cruel reply the hope of her leaving it alone. She looked crest fallen then her face filled with a bitter look of determination, that he didn't like, as she walked off towards her next lesson. He was slightly worried, that she was going to do something stupid.

Hermione walked out of the great hall with an added determination, so only she could see the horror that was professor Quirrell. Well then, she needed to deal with it. She thought she could start by testing the waters with each member of staff to see if they could help her.

But first she had the lesson she was least looking forward to, flying. The subject simply didn't appeal to her. She certainly didn't trust a small broom to hold her weight and fly. No matter how much she believed in magic some things were just too preposterous. She looked at her timetable to find that they had it with Gryffindors simply brilliant.

A gaggle of students were already waiting in the court yard, when madam Hooch strode out and blew a whistle to summon then round her. Hermione sighed she didn't have a good feeling about this. She stood next her broom and looked down at it; it had bent sticks protruding in every direction, it looked even worse than her hair, a feat she hadn't believed possible until now. Well she thought best get this over with. She held her hand and firmly but encouragingly commanded it up.

The broom she decided, didn't like her and to be honest the feeling was mutual, after five more times where the boom had simply rolled over or tried to float. It finally came to her hand reluctantly. It was so humiliating. She was the second to last with only Neville left, All of the other Slytherin and Gryffindors were giggling at them.

As soon as Neville had finally got the boom to comply, they were instructed to mount the brooms and grip on tightly. What did madam hooch think, that she was going to do let go? Then when they were told to kick off and hover, all hell broke loose.

Neville's broom flew off extremely fast. He was chaotically zig zagging across the sky with no control as he got higher and higher. Madam hooch was screaming for him to get down, but Hermione thought that was highly unlikely from that height she was surprised if he could see them let alone hear them.

The broom then went vertically leaving Neville sliding of the end and falling from a great height. Hermione instinctively reached into her core and concentrated on a soft landing for Neville. He was plummeting to the ground fast but when he was about to hit the floor he stopped a few feet above the ground. Hermione relaxed knowing that at least he hadn't died.

Madam hooch looked shocked, and then rushed over to where the boy was lying on the ground. The rest of the class was staring at him and Hermione simply slipped away. She didn't know if they'd work out it was her and she certainly didn't want to stay around to find out. During the proceedings she ruled out Hooch as someone who could help her with Quirrell if she couldn't handle a broom accident how would she cope with dark magic. Well who was next?

She mentally went through a checklist of all the staff, ruling out ones as she went. Their history of magic professor was a ghost so she didn't think he would be much help, professor Sprout her herbology teacher was a kind looking Hufflepuff woman who Hermione thought looked as if she would faint if she even tried to deal with the blackness and evil around Quirrell. Her astronomy professor Sinistra, didn't seem like the sort of person to want to deal with anything outside of her subject so she too was off the list

So who did that leave, Flitwick was a dueling champion so maybe he might be useful and used to combat, McGonagall seemed a capable witch even if she didn't like her maybe she might be able to help.

She decided on during her next class talking to Flitwick. She arrived slightly early, and as it was a theoretical lesson got her quill and parchment out of her bag and then her book on wandless magic.

The class soon began, but with the notable exception of one boy who lived. Never mind, she thought she had bigger fish to fry. The lesson dragged on, and on. It wasn't especially boring it was simply, well she was impatient. Finally, she managed to get Flitwick alone.

She walked up to his pile of papers he was stood on and cleared her throat.

"Um, excuse me professor I was wondering if I could talk to you?"

"Of course, Miss Granger is there anything I could do for you?"

"Well as a matter of fact yes..."

She explained to him about seeing the cloud of black around Quirrell and how she told Snape who dismissed her.

"We'll Miss Granger if professor Snape says there is nothing to worry about then I am inclined to agree with him. Do not worry yourself I'm sure your just imagining things."

Hermione stormed out of the room how dare he accuse her of making things up, she knew what she saw. That cloud was pure evil. Nothing less. She had one last hope professor McGonagall.

She rushed down the corridor realising her talk with Flitwick had almost made her late for her lunch. Instead of going to the great hall she rushed to her room, into her kitchen and made herself a quick sandwich. She then rushed off to her next lesson, transfiguration. She soon learned after the first fun lesson of each subject the teachers all seemed to have mountains of theory they had to do. So, as she worked through all of the basics of transfiguration, she let her mind wander. What on earth could that dark cloud be, a disease, it looked evil maybe it was a curse whatever it was she wasn't sure.

Hermione looked up to see everyone handing in their work, she too scurried to the back of the line. When everyone had left she looked at professor McGonagall, and decided to deploy a different tactic.

"Excuse me professor, I was wondering if it was possible to see magic?"

The professor looked taken aback.

"Well it is possible but only very powerful wizards who have spent their lives dedicated to it, Why do you ask?"

Hermione pondered, McGonagall didn't seem like she would believe her.

"No reason I was just curious, thank you for your help professor."

Hermione decided to abandon that as if the lady would ever believe her, she thought as she walked out of the class room

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if so please review, follow and fav. I will post another one soon.