A/N: Just a little heads up, there is a little violence in this chapter. Don't hate me too much.
Hermione
My birthday is today. I am not sure how I feel about it, I am not even sure if it is my real birthday. This was the day aunt Petunia said was my birthday, so I suppose it is. Maybe she lied, even if she did I have no real way of knowing. I am not really excited about it, I have never celebrated my birthday, uncle Vernon said I wasn't worth the effort. Maybe he is right. Mostly I just do not like my birthday since I was 13, it was when Dudley first started staring at me oddly. I hit puberty and filled out quite nicely, even my wild chestnut hair tamed itself out. It was also the first time he started coming to my room at night to have a little fun, as he liked to call it. I hated it, the stuff he did when I was thirteen, I didn't even know what it was or how wrong it was. It felt so wrong, and painful but every time I told him to stop he would hit me.
I don't even think aunt Petunia even knew what he did, not sure if she would stop it even if she did. School starts in a couple months. Dudley gets to go to this private school where he will be gone all year long, so at least I will get some reprieve from him.
"Hermione, you have a phone call!" Aunt Petunia yelled up the stairs.
"Phone call? Who would call me?" I asked myself. I made my way downstairs and grabbed the phone from my aunt, she didn't look happy about it. "Hello?"
"Happy birthday Hermione." The voice on the other side was a woman, an older woman.
"Who is this?" I asked.
"You will find out soon, dear. For now, there is a present upstairs in your room. Don't tell your aunt. Good day." There was a click as the woman hung up the phone.
"Well, who was it?" Petunia demanded.
I shrugged. "They wouldn't tell me. They wished me a happy birthday."
Petunia's eyes narrowed, "Oh right, your birthday." She sniffed in disdain. "Back to your room, you still have chores to do. I want to see my face in your floor."
"Yes aunt petunia." I muttered and raced back up the stairs. Closing my door behind me, I noticed a large wrapped box sitting on my bed. "How in the world did it get it in here?" I shrugged and started ripping the paper off.
Opening the box I gasped in shock at all the items sitting neatly in it. The first thing I took out, was a huge book with no name and no author. Opening it, I sighed in relief that it wasn't blank. I took out quills and ink and a beautiful purple leather journal. There were odds and ends inside the box too, but the last one I was confused about. It was a door knob. Picking it up and examining it, I noticed it locked. I grinned, I could finally keep that pig of a cousin away from me. I put everything back in the box and shoved it under my bed as far as I could, keeping the door knob under my pillow until after Petunia checked my room.
Hours later found me laying on my bed, staring at the door knob. How was I suppose to get this thing on my door? I only had a couple hours to figure it out until Dudley comes storming in here. Suddenly my door burst open and in walked my aunt. She glared at me and then noticed the thing in my hands.
"What is that?" She shrieked.
"N...nothing. I found it outside a few days ago." I stammered.
"You bring some filthy thing into my house? Get rid of it. Now!" I shook my head in terror. She couldn't make me get rid of the only protection I had. She grabbed it out of my hands and I could feel my eyes start to prick with welled up tears. "There, that was not so hard. Good night brat." She slammed my door shut and left. I cried into my pillow well over an hour.
Soon, I heard the door opening once again and I started trembling underneath my thin blanket. Dudley walked slowly to the bed and ripped the blanket off of me. I could feel his eyes devouring my half naked body. My night gown was at least three sizes to small. I felt the fabric of my night gown being grabbed and pulled across my flesh as he lifted it up so he could get a better view.
"Don't be scared cousin, you enjoy this just as much as I do." He whispered harshly in my ear.
I shook my head. "No."
"Shut up bitch." He half yelled, half whispered as he slapped my bottom with his belt. I whimpered in pain as he continued to get undressed.
"Get out of my room." I half choked- half sobbed out. My voice cracking, making him laugh.
"I told you to shut up. You will enjoy this." He flipped me around so I was laying on my stomach and then brought my knees up so my butt was in the air. "Ah, still as juicy as ever." All I could do was sob. I suddenly felt him at my entrance and something happened. I can't really describe it, first I was scared and then angry and the next thing I knew I was screaming no and he flew into the door, being as heavy as he was he went right through it.
"Oh my god." Aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon came running out of their bedroom, half asleep. "What the hell is going on?" She looked at her unconscious naked son laying on the hallway floor and then at me, sitting there crying, rocking back and forth wishing with everything I had that someone would come save me from these monsters. "I asked a question dammit." Petunia yelled. "Vernon, call the cops, they will get to the bottom of this."
"Dear, is that such a good idea?" Petunia glared up at her husband. "Clearly you must realize what is going on."
"Of course I do, that little bitch seduced my Dudley and when he said no she punished him for it." My eyes widened in shock. Vernon looked at him sympathetically.
"I will call the cops then my dear." Petunia nodded and he made his way downstairs.
Twenty minutes later the police arrived. Taking both me and Dudley to the hospital. The hospital reminded me of my room, but with a more bright white color splashed onto the walls. Dozens of nurses and officers came into my room, but I just sat there, not really sure what to do or what to say. Finally, one of the female nurses brought me a tea and sat across from me.
"Hermione?" I looked up at her. "Can you please tell me what happened?"
I shook my head violently. "He will not like it if I tell. He will beat me again."
The nurse sucked in a breath. "Again?" I nodded. "How long has this been going on?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Maybe if I told her what happened they would take me away from there. Away from those beasts. "Thirteen." I choked out.
"Thirteen?" The nurse looked at me confused. "Has this been going on for thirteen years or since you were thirteen?"
"The second one." I took a sip of my tea. "Could I get an ice pack please?"
"For what sweetie? Is your tea too hot?"
I shook my head and slowly slid off the table, wincing in pain as it came into contact with my butt. I turned around and lifted my night gown. I heard her gasp, when I turned to look at her, her hand was covering her mouth and her eyes were wide in horror. "I am sorry. Maybe I should not have shown you, but it really hurts."
"What... what else has he done to you?" She shook her head. "I will be right back with a doctor. Hermione, can you please put this gown on and then lay on your stomach?" I nodded and she walked away.
She came back a few minutes later, with a female doctor. "Hermione?" The doctor asked. I nodded. "I am Dr. Granger, do you mind if I examine you?" I looked at the nurse who nodded so I nodded too. "Thank you." She started at my butt. "Look at this nurse. You can see scars from the previous times. How long did she say this was going on?"
"Since she was thirteen doctor."
"Has he done anything else besides hitting her?"
"I do not know."
"We will have to check. Hermione will you please turn onto your back and put your feet in these stirrups." I nodded, and did as I was told. "I want you to hold the nurse's hand and close your eyes. I need to check you."
"Where?" I asked, fearful.
"Down there."
"No, no. You can't! He said he was the only one down there." The doctor and nurse shared a look I couldn't quite decipher.
"Sweetie, you will be fine. I promise." The doctor smiled at me. I nodded and closed my eyes.
A few days later found me in some temporary foster home until they figured out what to do with me. There were four other kids besides myself. I was the oldest and the youngest was only a year old. The couple were nice enough, they moved here from America and had a funny accent. I was sitting in my room I shared with a little girl who was ten when I was called downstairs. I was shocked to find the couple holding out two envelopes for me. I smiled at them, grabbed the letters and went back up to my room. I opened the plain white envelope first, it was sealed with a stamp of the government of Britain.
Dear Hermione J. Potter
Upon careful consideration we have decided it best if you remained in foster care. The investigation against your aunt and uncle are still under going and have not yet gained reliable results. We are sorry to if this news upsets you, your worker will be there on the next possible work day to go over details with you.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
Tears blurred my vision as I reread the letter. I was thrilled to not have to go back to that house, but now I would be shifted from foster home to foster home until I was eighteen. What was worse? I wiped away my tears and grabbed the other envelope. This was a mustard color envelope and had a seal I did not recognize on the back. There were two pages. I read the first one:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black) 2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear 3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) 4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
I stared at the letters dumbfounded. There was no such thing as magic. I thought back to the night of my birthday and how Dudley flew through the door. Was that magic? How was I suppose to find any of this stuff? Who sells stuff like this? How in the world was I suppose to get there? My head was spinning with a thousand questions. The most burning question of all was: is this all some kind of sick joke? I fell asleep shortly after that, dreaming of magic spells and brooms and cackling witches with green faces and warts all over their face.
The next morning I awoke to the sound of Mrs. Foster talking rapidly at me. In my half asleep state I didn't understand a word of what she was saying. Finally she stopped rambling and stared at me.
"Well are you going to get up or not? Your guest is not going to be kept waiting for long."
"What guest?" I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
"The one that is currently waiting for you downstairs." She rolled her eyes. "Honestly girl, have you not been listening to a word I have said?"
"Not really. I was sleeping." I cringed as the words left my mouth, waiting for her to start yelling or hitting or something.
"Funny. Now, get up." She demanded, strolling out of the room.
I finally made it downstairs, ten minutes later. I stopped short when I saw the woman sitting in the chair in the living room, sipping on her tea. She was wearing some sort of emerald green robes, her hair was piled onto her head in a tight, perfect bun, streaks of grey showing in her auburn hair.
"Good morning Hermione." She smiled at me while I continued to gap at her like a fish.
"You are the one who called me on my birthday." I blurted.
She nodded. "Yes, I am sorry it wasn't that great of a birthday." She cleared her throat. "However, I am not here because of that. I am here to take you to school."
"Excuse me? School doesn't start for like another two months."
"Yes dear, I know. You are going to start a little early. After all, you have missed five years of school."
"I have?" I asked, confused.
"Shall we walk and talk my dear? We have plenty to do before we go to Hogwarts."
"You mean its real?"
"Of course child." She made shooing motions with her hands. "Go get dressed. We are rather pressed for time."
I nodded and ran upstairs and got dressed. I said good bye to Mrs. Foster and followed the woman out the door. "I just realized I do not know your name."
"How silly of me. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall."
"Your name was on that letter I got yesterday."
She nodded. "Yes, you are a witch my dear."
"How is that even possible?"
"A lot of things will become clear soon, I promise. But first, we must be on our way. Grab hold of my arm please." I did as she said, and the world started spinning. It stopped as soon as it started, making me gasp for air. "Sorry." She muttered.
"Where are we?" I breathed out.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."
A/N: Chapter three is up, hope you guys enjoyed it.
xoxstorii-gurrlxox