Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, or any of JK Rowling's other characters from her books.

Chapter One

"Mum, I'm home!" I had just got to my best friend Senta's house, when my mum called saying that I needed to get home immediately. "What's wrong? Is dad ok?" I was starting to get really worried, mum never called me from a friend's house unless it was important, really important.

"Hermione? Are you there? Oh, good, you're home. Well, Hermione Jane Granger, you are in so much trouble young lady! What made you think that you could sign up for a club without asking for permission? You better have a good explanation if you know what's good for you!" I was confused. I hadn't signed up for anything. Great, mum is mad, I hope she doesn't tell dad, or else I will really be in for it!

"Mum, I didn't sign up for anything! I promise mum. I always ask permission before I do something!" I started to cry, "Mum, please believe!" Oh God, I am such a wimp when it comes to me being in trouble. I sometimes wish I wasn't such a goody-two-shoes because then I wouldn't blubber up so much! Then again, I would only get beaten more, better stick with the blubbering.

She slapped me, "I will NOT have lies being told in this house, do you understand me? I have proof, you little bitch! You have just received a letter from something called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! So you think you are a witch huh? Well, you're right! You are a witch, an annoying, arrogant, undeserving little witch!" I stated to shake. I never even heard of this school! Why does the bad stuff always seem to happen to me?

"Mum, I swear I di–" She slapped me again.

"I said, do not lie to me! I have had enough with your constant lying! I am calling your father!" She stormed off, leaving the letter on the table. I picked up the letter, it was addressed to me in green writing.

Hermione Jane Granger

C/O Jane Marie Granger

258 Downing Street

Dorchester, England 55554

Where could this letter possibly have come from? I flipped it over, peering on the other side, there was a purple wax seal bearing a code of arms on it saying Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and it pictured a lion, snake, badger, and an eagle. Being my normal inquisitive self, I opened up the envelope and took out the letter.

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 Ms. Granger,

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 September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Who was this Minerva McGonagall? This Albus Dumbledore? I looked in the envelope again, taking out a list of books and items such as a wand and a cauldron. Wand? Cauldron? Who were these people? All of a sudden the letters and envelope were grabbed out of my hand by my mother.

"Aah, inspecting the evidence are we? Recognize it? You should, because you are the one who sent the application form to them! This isn't an ad, it is a notice of acceptance! Therefore, you had to have applied! I can't even deal with you right now! Magic of all things! Your father is on his way home, he will deal with you, you little witch" She stormed off, taking the letter with her.

I started to hyperventilate. Dad was coming home? Not good, so not good! I swallowed, and walked to my room. My room has always been my comfort place, neither mom nor dad ever came into my room. Why? I had no idea. They just point blank refused to come into my room, I never understood though, because my room was spotless. I always had been a neat child, always cleaned my room, was perfectly organized, did my chores without being asked, and I got excellent grades, so I never understood why they, my parents, were always angry at me. They always got mad at things, someone else did, or even what they did themselves. Life sucks, and now I was getting in trouble for getting an acceptance letter from something I never even heard of!

"Hermione Jane Granger, get your ass down here right now!" Uh oh, dads home. I stood up and slowly walked into the living room again. "Yes daddy?" I asked timidly. There was no way I was going to come out of this unscathed.

"Why the hell did you sign up for something? You know that unless it is for school, you cannot sign up for anything! Even then you have to ask for permission!"

"But daddy–"

"Don't 'but daddy' me! I am getting sick of your excuses! Excuses, excuses! That's all you have anymore! I want the truth! What? You're not going to tell me the truth? Fine, I will tell you! You signed up for this, this cult! Knowing that you would get in trouble! You only do this shit because you love getting us mad! It is like a personal hobby for you! Well, congratulations! You succeeded! We are both pissed off at you! Now go to your room. I will be in there to give you your punishment in a few minutes!" I quickly ran to my room. They must be really mad, if he is coming into my room to punish me. Right as I began to hyperventilate again, dad came in wielding a belt.

"Lie on your bed now! On your stomach you dunderhead!" He then began to hit me with the buckle end of the belt on my shoulders and back. He kept hitting and hitting, even after he drew blood, he kept hitting me. I refused to cry out so I counted, and counted, and counted. After he got to four hundred and thirty-seven, he finally quit. My back and shoulders were drenched in blood. If a random stranger were to walk in, they would think that they had just walked into a murder scene. He finally left, slamming the door after him.

He was gone so I could finally cry. My shoulders began to tremble with every sob I took. I made my way up to my bathroom, wincing with every step I took. I slowly undressed, trying to ignore the pain. I then turned on the water, not paying attention to how hot it was. I stepped in, cringing as the boiling hot water hit my wounds. I must have stood there for an hour, just allowing the water to burn my flesh. The pain was unbelievable, but i paid it no attention. Only when the water turned cold did I begin move. I got out of my shower, and wiped the steam off of my mirror. Turning around, I began to inspect my back. It was horrible, cuts and incisions everywhere. I could see impressions of the belt buckle in place of the few unmarred places.

I was shocked. Sure, I had gotten brutal beatings before. Broken arms, cracked ribs, concussions, torn ligaments, and a pierced lung, but nothing was ever this bloody. I couldn't understand it. Who would sign me up for such a thing? I didn't have enemies, and I don't think anyone is holding a grudge against me, so why? I sighed. I would have to think about this tomorrow. I turned around, and walked back into my room. Wincing, I pulled, what used to be a blanket, off of my bed and threw it on the floor. Not bothering to get dressed or even put on bra and underwear, I got into my bed on my stomach and lied underneath a light sheet. I figured if I didn't move too much while I slept, I wouldn't be in too much pain tonight.

I closed my eyes and began to dream. A dream where I had a good couple of friends and a loving family. A dream where I was happy.