An early Christmas present! A new chapter! We are introduced to the other characters of the story, such as Hermione's adopted siblings, her childhood friend, and the disguised prince. Oh, I hope you all have a merry christmas and happy new years!!!!! If I owned either Harry Potter or SquareEnix, the storylines and plots would been alot different. Besides, why would be some fifteen year old in a blizzard type town? I only own Reks and Terra, Hermione's Viera guaridan. Everyone and everything else belongs to its rightful creator. Hermione's second song is the english fan made verison of Suteki Ne De, lyrics made by TaoJenChan and sang by katethegreat19 on Youtube. .com/user/katethegreat19, visit her page!!!! She is awesome! Never Alone belongs to Barlow Girls.

Chapter 1 The Raven Haired Stranger

Two years had gone by since the Empire of Slytherin took over the Gryffindor Kingdom and Hermione learning about her brother's unfortunate end. Despite the sadness she felt, she continued to tell stories to the kids, and took on two new jobs, she worked in the underground waterways of the kingdom and sang to the costumers who visited the Weasley Wizard Wheezes. But she had witnesses far more sadness than she felt after her brother's death, almost immediately after the kingdom's surrender; the Slytherin Empire attacked the capital. As she witnessed the empire's advanced group of soldiers, Death Eaters, killing the city's residents, Hermione saved a young boy and his little sister and adopted them as her brother and sister. News went around that still due to the shock of losing his wife, the prince committed suicide when the Slytherin Empire attacked.

Hermione was working in the underground waterway, and she was just finishing up for her work to head to the Weasley Wizard Wheezes. She looked at her reflection in one of the waterfalls, around her neck was her sapphire stone and Reks' garnet stone, she wore a long sleeved white shirt under a gray vest with only one sleeve on the right side and over that was a sleeveless black jacket. Wrapped around her brown pants were a couple of black and brown belts carrying the sheath of her brother's sword and on her feet were sliver boots.

"Hermione nee-chan!!!" a young voice broke her train of thought. She looked up and saw a young girl with shoulder length blond hair and bright sea blue eyes; it was Namine, her adopted younger sister. She wore an ivory hooded tunic that covered a pair of white shorts and held a pair of sliver boots on her feet. Strapped onto her back was a staff with a bit of a chain sticking out of the end, and dangling around her neck was a bright aquamarine stone. "Hurry up or they'll find us!"

"I know, I know, Namine!" she shouted back. "Just a little more! You and your brother keep an eye for me up there, Namine!"

Namine nodded and ran back to their brother; Hermione looked out and saw some rats running around her, crackling her knuckles, Hermione smiled. "One….. Two…. Three more. Right. Time to clean house." She took out her brother's sword and stood ready to attack them. She noticed an arrow through one and saw Terra running toward her, by the look on her face, she looked worried about Hermione. "Lady Hermione, we must hurry back to the Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Lian won't stop complaining about waiting for you!"

Namine appeared again and smiled in surprise, she shouted, "Wow, Hermione nee-chan! You got 'em yourself? Guess Cloud and I know who to call when something big comes!"

"Hey, Namine, it's good for practicing in the desert," Hermione told her as she and Terra walked to her. "I'm ready for anything now." She and Terra walked up to Namine and she said, "That's enough for today. Let's grab Cloud, Lian, and Nanaki and head for the shop. Hey, Namine, tell Cloud he should head to Ollivander's. Isn't he running errands for him?" Namine grinned shyly, placing her hand behind her head. "Oops! Heh. Totally forgot."

As they headed for the exit, they met up with Lian, Nanaki (this time in his animal form), and a boy with short spiky blond hair and bright sea blue eyes, that was Cloud, Namine's older brother and Hermione's adopted younger brother. He wore a dark blue sleeveless shirt and black pants, on his feet were black boots. He often had a large sword strapped to his back, and wore a darker garnet stone around his neck. Namine told him what he had to do, and he nodded. He turned to his adoptive older sister and said, "You should come, Hermione. He's busy today. Might have work for you to do, too."

"Love to, but I have to get the shop and got other 'work' to do," Hermione said. "I'll see you at home. Hey, Cloud, lock up this place for us, will you? If Fred or George find out we've been down here, they'll have our heads." She quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek and he ran off to Ollivander's. After watching him leave, Hermione, Namine, Terra, Lian, and Nanaki went to the shop. The shop was in Diagon Ally, the major marketplace in Ivalice. The streets were crowded as usual, and Hermione decided to take a little break from her work in the waterways. Terra bought everyone a basket of fruit to eat, when Hermione grabbed one, she tossed it into the air and caught it, taking a bite. She and Lian were watching a shopkeeper try to sell something to a Slytherin imperial.

"Huh?" From what she could hear, it sounded like the imperial was accused the keeper of something. "What'd you say?"

"Sir, you haven't paid, and----"

The imperial grabbed the shopkeeper's neck and said, "Huh? Haven't paid?"

"On second thought, please, sir. Take it. It is a gift."

"Leave the poor sob be. We don't want trouble today." Hermione sighed as she watched, two years her, her siblings, and her guardians had to put up with those Slytherin imperial troops. She was getting sick of it, and she wanted to do something about it.

"Your luck, peddler." She and Lian watched as the imperials walked away, and a plan began to form in her head. She ran with Namine and bumped into one, she innocently said, "Sorry!" and continued to run to the shop with Namine, Terra, Lian, and Nanaki following her. She heard the imperial shout, "Watch where you're going, churl!"

But his companion realized his pouch was missing and said, "What? My pouch! It's gone! The girl!" They ran after Hermione, Namine, and her guardians, but their path was blocked by some of the Bangaa merchants, "Get out of the way." Realizing there was no way to get past them, they quit trying to follow her.

Terra began to realize what Hermione had done, she shouted, "How could you, Lady Hermione?"

But Hermione ignored her and continued to run, they ran onto the bridge and Hermione stopped and turned around, but someone grabbed the pouch in her hand. They turned around to face a boy around Hermione's age with a mop of bright flaming red hair and bright blue eyes, his face was covered in freckles, and wore sandy brown overalls over a navy blue sleeveless shirt, on his wrist were brown gantlets, the legs of the overalls become boots that covered his feet. Around his neck was a bright yellow feather, and he held the pouch in one hand, smiling slyly at his friends. He was a tall boy, at six feet, with Hermione at five-six; she could only reach atop his head. But then his smiling face turned into a frown, which he aimed at Hermione as he placed his hands on his hips.

"Hey, that's mine!" She told him.

"What do you mean 'yours'?" Ronald Weasley asked his oldest known friend, getting into her face. "You've been stealing again. What happens if they catch you, Hermione? We need you to be there for us, Mione! You're no good to anyone at the shop if you're locked away in a dungeon!"

Hermione walked around him and placed her hands behind her head, she chuckled at what she was hearing. "Oh, what, Ron, am I the leader now? My siblings, my guardians, and I are orphans. The first thing you learn is that you gotta watch out for yourself. Besides, Ron. You know that as well as I do." She turned around to find Ron peeking into the pouch, she shouted, "Hey, you give that back! What do you think you're doing?" But Ron ignored her, examining the money in the pouch.

"I thought this money was the people of Gryffindor's property," he told her. "The imperials stole it from us, so it's only fair that we take it back. It's our duty as citizens of Gryffindor." When he looked Hermione, she looked like she'd rather spend her time at the bookstore than give back the money. He sighed, holding a coin in his hand, telling her, "Well, isn't that what you said, Hermione?"

"Well, yeah, Ron, but I never said anything about taking it back from me, Namine, Cloud, or my guardians!" she said as Ron held the pouch in front of her and she grabbed it. Ron showed her the coin in his hand, "This is for the bread you took from me the other day. Just because Cloud and I help Ollivander out every now and then doesn't mean you always get to eat for free, you know, Mione." Slowly, Hermione looked away from Ron and told him, "I know that. You think I like living with your family? Not that I mind it, but it's just….."

A large shadow passed over them, and Hermione looked up. It was an airship, someday she dreamed of being a sky pirate like her new idol, the famed Sirius Black. She sighed and said, "One of these days I'll fly an airship of my own. I'll be a sky pirate, free to go where I will." Ron turned to her and smiled, then started to walk to the shop, "Well, Hermione, be careful. You'll never fly anywhere if you're rotting in a dungeon! And hurry up! Fred and George are saying it's that time of the month. Oh, yeah, I'm going to Ollivander's, he had some errands that need doing. He wanted me to drop by his place. So, while I'm gone, it might be a good idea to lead a hand at the shop!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and followed Ron, motioning for Terra, Lian, Nanaki, and Namine to follow them. They did, walking through the streets in silence. When they finally came up to the shop, a wind of magic surrounded Nanaki, in his place was his human form.

Everyone entered, getting into their uniforms. Hermione was grabbed by two identical flaming red haired boys, both their faces covered in freckles; they dragged their brunette haired employee to a part of the shop where a group waited for her. Her job was to entertain some of the costumers who came; her voice was so beautiful that she often sang, taking a deep breath, Hermione started to sing, "They say they don't trust you….. me…… we….. us…… So….. we'll walk if we must. You…. Me, and it's all about, it's all about…."

Terra could hear Hermione from what she was standing, and smiled. Her summoner had the most beautiful voice in the land, she just felt bad that Hermione didn't know yet about the power in her stones, and in both Namine and Cloud's stones, also the power within Ron's feather. "It's all about us, it's all about us!!! There's a theme they can't touch cause you know. It's all about us, all about us! We'll run away if we must, cause don't ya know?! It's all about us! And no one can touch, it's all about us, it's all about us!"

Ron entered the shop to pick up some supplies and smiled when he walked past the room Hermione was in, listening to her sing. "If they hurt you, they hurt me, too…. So we'll rise up, won't stop, and it's all about, it's all about….."

Namine, who was working in the kitchen, could hear Hermione sing and smiled. She got a cookbook out and decided to make Hermione's most favorite snack, not just for her, but for everyone. "It's all about us, all about us!!! There's a theme they can't cause you know. It's all about us, all about us. It's all about, all about us, all about us. We'll run away if we must cause don't ya know? It's all about us! It's all about us! And no one can't touch, it's all about us, it's all about us!"

Fred and George Weasley grinned to each other as they heard her sing, knowing for the two years she's worked for them, she was able to bring a lot of costumers. "They don't know…….. They can't see…….. Who we are…….. Fear is the enemy. Hold on tight, hold onto me. Cause tonight………."

Lian took Nanaki from where they were working and walked to where Hermione was, to listen to her better. "It's all about us!!!! It's all about, all about us!!!!! There's a theme they can't touch cause you know. It's all about us, all about us! It's all about, all about us! All about us! There's a theme they can't touch cause you know! It's all about us, all about us!!! It's all about us, all about us! All about us! We'll run away if we must don't ya know? It's all about us! It's all about us!"

Once the crowd knew she was done, they walked away and the twins dragged someone up to her. Hermione let out a gasp, who they dragged was a boy around both her and Ron's age, he had short messy raven black hair and the most beautiful emerald green eyes she ever saw. He wore a brown cloak over his clothes, but she noticed dangling around his neck was a ruby stone. The twins just grinned as Namine came out of the kitchen, asking, "Hermione, would you and your guest like a snack?"

Hermione nodded, she guided her 'special' costumer to the dining room. Laid out on the table was a pile of plates and a lovely baked carrot cake, Hermione smiled, the carrot cakes Namine made were the best she ever tasted. Namine handed a plate to everyone with a slice of carrot cake, as Terra watched Hermione eat the cake with a smile, she was confused. She asked, "Lady Hermione, I think carrots were your least favorite food?"

"Well, they are, Terry," Hermione told her but smiled, "but Namine's carrot cake is a different story." She smiled at Namine, who started to tell them why Hermione liked her carrot cake as Hermione started to recall the memory. It was just after she had adopted Cloud and Namine as her siblings, but still felt the shock about learning of her brother's fate. She remained in her bed for days, everyone was worried about her, but Hermione won't eat or sleep at all. Ron, who was greatly worried about his friend, stayed by her side, but Cloud, who couldn't bear seeing his new sister being miserable, asked his sister if she could make something for Hermione to cheer up. Namine agreed, but couldn't make anything to bring Hermione's spirits up.

She was thinking about maybe making a carrot cake would do the trick, but Terra had told her that carrots were Hermione's least favorite foods. Namine had told her she knew, but she had to try. Once the carrot cake was finished, she brought it to Hermione's room and held a small piece to her. Hermione tried it, and finally smiled. Through the piece she had tasted, she could feel Namine's hard work, her kindness, and gentleness.

After she was finished, she led her guest around the shop, and back to her room. The boy asked, "I heard your voice. It's very lovely."

"Oh, thanks," Hermione said, smiling. "What's your name?"

"James…….." He sounded sort of nervous when he spoke to her. "May you sing a song for me? I have some requests."

"Sure, James," Hermione said. "What kind of songs?"

"Songs of never being alone and losing someone dear." Hermione smiled, she nodded at his request, knowing what songs to sing for him. Taking a deep breath, she started to sing his first request, "I waited for you today…. But you didn't show…. No no no….. I needed you today, so where did you go? You told me to call, said you'd be there. And though I haven't seen you, are you still there?"

Terra, Lian, Nanaki, and Namine watched from outside the room, listening to her sing to her guest. "I cried out with no reply and I can't feel you by my side. So I'll hold tight to what I know, you're here and I'm never alone. And though I cannot see you, and I can't explain why such a deep, deep reassurance you've placed in my life."

James stared at Hermione as though she looked familiar, but he couldn't really place his finger on it. "We cannot separate 'cause you're part of me. And though you're invisible, I'll trust the unseen. I cried out with no reply and I can't feel you by my side. So I'll hold tight to what I know, you're here and I'm never alone."

Terra started to feel tears as she heard her summoner sing, but Lian stood still. "We cannot separate. You're part of me and though you're invisible, I'll trust the unseen. I cried out with no reply and I can't feel You by my side. So I'll hold tight to what I know, you're here and I'm never alone."

After she had finished singing, James smiled and softly clapped for her. Hermione smiled back, and started to sing his second request. "Angel white of labyrinth blue, do you see me as I see you? Soft darkened eyes haunted by dreamless sleep. Is it your ghost I see in the mirror? Reach out to touch me, dearest dream of mine. Open your eyes, say you're alright. The glass shatters at the softest touch. Is there a soul beyond the shards?"

Nanaki realized she was singing about her brother, the sadness she felt when she heard the news of his fate. He sighed. "Warm tears sting my eyes as all of these sweet memories flood back to me. Reminiscing now, the sun will set beyond the cruel mountain range. I'll still be here, begging your heart to beat. My existence is not the same without you here... "

Thinking about his departed wife, James sighed as he heard her sing this song, his heart ached with pain. He wished he could tell her the truth; he was really the widowed Prince Harry Potter, who had been in hiding for two years after the attack on the capital. Someone had made the rumor that he had killed himself; the commander of his army had been taking care of him for the past two years. "You shut your eyes and gave in to that light. A beauty frozen in eternal night. Just when I realized the error of my ways, you slipped between my fingertips. I was a fool; I was stuck in such bliss. Wish I could grant, you your first kiss. Sorrow only grows if I try to forget, you're an eternal part of me."

In her heart, Hermione saw images of Reks, asking her to help the harvest, showing her the proper way to use a sword, and listening to her a book. "A sweet lullaby clasping my fragile heart and whispering your name. Soft embrace in my sleep. Is this a dream or is it yet another nightmare of thee? Don't let this end……Wait on the other side and I will slumber deep. I'll see you soon..." Hermione bowed at James and he bowed back at her. Walking him to the door, she waved goodbye and James disappeared in the crowd, a hood covering his face. After the shop was closed, Hermione, Fred, George, Namine, Terra, Lian, and Nanaki walked back to the Burrow, the manor where Hermione, her guardians, and her siblings had stayed for the past two years.

Lord Arthur Weasley, who had been greatly wounded two years ago, stayed home with his wife, Lady Molly Weasley, and the rest of his children. Despite the sadness he felt upon learning about his only daughter, he remained cheerful and happy; he even accepted Hermione and the others as his children. As he watched them come through the entrance that led to the shop, he smiled, saying, "Dinner is ready."

Everyone went to the dinning room, finding dinner on the table. As Hermione sat down, she noticed Ron and Cloud were already back. Molly appeared and everyone started to eat, Ron nudged Hermione and asked her to meet his room tonight. Once everyone finished their dinner, Hermione went to Ron's room and sat on his bed. "Yeah?" she asked.

"Ollivander has an errand for you," Ron said. "He wants you, Cloud, and Namine to head over to the Ravenclaw Kingdom and get an item there. Besides, tomorrow is your day off. He's willing to pay you ten sickles for the job to be done."

"Okay, Ron." Hermione stood up and went to her room. She took her necklace off and flapped down on her bed, sighing. She closed her eyes and began to sleep. But she felt different and a man with golden brown hair in red and gold armor. In a way, the man felt familiar, but she couldn't really place her finger on it. She saw James behind the man, staring at her with his beautiful emerald green eyes. Her heart felt like it was gonna melt, just staring at those eyes. Namine shook her awake, and quietly, they headed to the stables. Hermione calmly pulled a snow white stallion she had named Nimbus, Namine was stroking the mane of her horse, a reddish brown mustang called Axel, and Cloud was taking out his horse, a all black stallion named Zack.

"Let's get going," Hermione said, getting on Nimbus. Cloud and Namine nodded, getting on their horses. The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, casting everything it caught in its light to turn to a bright orange-red color, Hermione stared at the rising sun, and sighed. "Let's stop by the shop to get some supplies."

They nodded, and the trio entered the marketplace, unaware of the people watching them from afar.

In a dark room, a magician was staring into a magical pool of water, staring at the image of Hermione within it. A voice asked the magician, "Merlin, is this girl the one?"

"Yes, she is the one," Merlin said, lighting a candle. The voice belonged to a muscular man with shoulder golden brown hair and golden yellow eyes, he wore dark red and golden yellow armor, a cape draped over his shoulders, dangling around his neck was a garnet and a sapphire stone. At his hip could be seen the handle of sword, the handle was encrusted with large rubies. It was Godric Gryffindor, founder of the Gryffindor Kingdom. He stared at the image and sighed.

"Something wrong, Godric?" Merlin asked. Godric shook his head and smiled, "Nothing. Anyway, I must tell the other founders of this." He walked out of the room, and sighed again. In a way, that girl reminded him of the founder of the Ravenclaw Kingdom, but there was something else about her. He just sighed and stared at the horizon, holding his aeon stones in his hand.

'Hermione Granger, huh……' He chuckled to himself.

A/N: Cliffhanger!!!!!!! What could Godric be thinking about Hermione?!!!!!!!!!! The dark garnet Cloud has contains the summon Neo Bahamut, Namine's aquamarine is part of the stone to summon Leviathan, the other half belongs to Sirius. The feather Ron has is a Phoenix Pinon, allowing him to summon Phoenix. And Harry's ruby is the ruby to summon Carbuncle. The sapphire, if you're wondering, hold Fenrir. Pleaes, R/R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas!