Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters...

Chapter 2: Realizations

"So are you sure you're gonna be okay?" he asked...

"Yes, I'll be fine... Thank you Dean,"

"Ok, if you're sure. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Ok," she answered as he disapparated.

Dean had been so nice to her. He had stayed over and helped her through her first night after her parents death. He had been everything she was looking for and more. He had been understanding, thoughful, caring, loving and...no, wait..she didn't even know if he was married or had a girlfriend or anything! She didn't ask him anything about himself...'Wow...nice one Hermione...' Well, it doesn't matter she has no time for any of that stuff now. As she thought about this, sadness overcame her and she couldn't help but welcome the tears once again.

"Hermione?"

"Ahhh!" she screamed in fright as she slowly turned around."Oh, gosh Harry! you scared the crap out of me!" Harry Potter's head was sticking out of the chimney and it was surrounded by green flames.

"Sorry.." he said as he grinned at her. Then his expression turned to one of sadness and regret. "I..ummm...heard about your parents. I am so sorry 'Mione.."

At hearing his nickname for her, she started tearing up again. "Thank you Harry."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'll be okay." she added

"Well, Ron and I will be visiting you tomorrow... You should not be alone at a time like this."

"I really appreciate the thought Harry but you guys dont need to do that..I'll be fine.."

"No, Hermione! We're your friends and we want to be there for you." he said, getting a bit irritated at her refusal.

"Oh, alright. It'll be nice to see you both."

"Ok, well I have to go now, but we'll be there tomorrow morning." he said and winked at her, as his face disappeared into the flames.

She sighed. It had been along time since she had gotten together with those two.

She went into the kitchen and made herself a PB&J . Her favorite, and one her mother used to make for her all the time. Her mother... She still did not understand why they had been murdered. Why had Voldemort ordered their death? Maybe he had done it to get to her and then getting to Harry.

But no... It doesn't seem logical. She hadn't talked to Harry for a long time. Besides it's not like she's still doing work for the Order. She had quit a year after Hogwarts, it just got to be too much for Hermione. She wanted..no..she needed to know why her parents had been killed. Why did she have to go through this misery and pain? She clenched her fists and swore that she would find out. With a determined look in her eyes she grabbed some floo powder and headed towards the Ministry of Magic.

After all the twirling, that she still was not used to, she arrived at the Ministry foyer. It was a huge cavernous like room. It's ceiling had to be at least 10 stories high. At the very top, you could see the owls flying in and out to deliver messages. In the middle of the room was a magnificent fountain, gleaming in gold. There was a wizard, a witch, a centaur, a house elf, and a goblin at the center of the fountain. Hermione loved that it stands for everything in the magical world and the unity that wizards strive to achieve.

She headed for one of the lifts and touched the button for the 8th floor. She knew that Dean worked there in the Department od Dark arts and Auror force. The lift doors opened and she stepped into a busy room full of commotion and with people running to and from who knows where. She stopped a witch and asked for Dean Thomas's office.

"Keep walking straight until you reach the corridor. It's the first door on the left." said the young witch, then hurried off on her way.

Hermione turned around and headed towards the corridor, when she noticed something. Or rather someone. He was tall and very familiar, he was leaning down talking to a girl sitting at a compartment. He seemed to be angry about something.

"Neville? Is that you?" she asked unsurely. At the mention of his name, Neville Longbottom looked up and a smile creeped into his face. He walked to her and greeted her with a tight hug.

"Hermione! Wow, I can't believe it! I haven't see you in ages." he said happily

"I know, it has been too long Neville."

"You look great. But what brings you here?" he asked her.

"Well, I was hoping to find out more information about ...about what happened to my parents."

At this statement, Neville suddenly felt uncomfortable and worry etched itself onto his features.

"Hermione...I'm really sorry about what happened to them. I promise you that I will do whatever I can to hunt down those sons of bitches for what they did. They will spend the rest of their days in Askaban." he said bitterly.

She gave him a small smile," Thank you Neville, that means a lot to me. But I need to know what happened. Do you think you could help me with that?"

"Umm, we have rules about divulging information to civilians but..." he looked at her unsurely,"..Come with me." He led her into a corridor and through a door. They entered a room full of bookcases, it looked like a filing room. He walked to one in particular and pulled out a file. Then he headed to a table and motioned for her to sit.

"Alright, this here is the file on what we found at the scene. It also has a suspect list and some theories for their murder,that our Aurors came up with."

She looked at the file, it was thin. Somehow it angered her that her parents murder was filed into a few sheets of paper. But she knew that it had nothing to do with them, it was just the way things were done. She looked through the file, while Neville sat across from her and watched her.

Death Eater Suspects:

- Draco Malfoy

-Bellatrix Lestrange

-Lucious Malfoy

-Andromeda Tonks

The first name on the list caught her attention. Why hadn't she thought of him before? He certainly had reason enough to hate her. And he had, during their years at Hogwarts. She knew that he had become a known Death Eater, and had even risen above his father.

"Neville? Draco Malfoy is among Voldemort's most trusted, right?"

"He is Voldemort's most trusted." he stated.

"Oh."

"Hermione...I know how hard this is for you, I'll try to fill you in on any updates in the case. Personally, I think Malfoy plays a big part in this ..case." he said ominously.

"Yes..but why?"

"I dont know yet, but dont worry. We'll find out."

At that moment the bracelet on her left hand started flashing. She looked at it curiously, she was supposed to be on emergency leave...The bracelet was how the hospital let her know that she was needed. Every healer chooses an object that they are to carry all the time. Then whenever there is an emergency, they are easy to contact.

"I think I have to go." she said, "I'm needed at St.Mungo's"

"Oh, okay. Just remember I'll be here, stop by anytime you need to."

"Okay, thanks Neville." She got up and hugged him. "It was really great seeing you."

With that, she walked out of the Department of mysteries and in the lift she apparated to St. Mungo's. As soon as she got there, a pair of arms pulled her into a trot.

"Oh thank god, you're here." said her friend Healer Gelias.

"Why what happened? because you kno-" Healer Gelias interrupted her, "A Death Eater has been brought in."

Hermione stared at her in shock. She suddenly stopped petrified on the floor.

"Come on, They need you right now!"

"What?! Why? Do they expect me to heal him-her- whatever the hell it is? It could be the one that murdered my parents!" she yelled in outrage.

Her friend looked at her concernedly. "I know this will be hard for you Hermione but, how will you find out if we don't heal him.? " she leaned closer and whispered," He might be able to help us because he was attacked by other death eaters..maybe even You-know-Who himself!"

"You mean, maybe he wanted out and they wouldnt let him? So then, he could tell me who killed my parents..."

"Exactly. Ok, come on. We dont have much time." With that the two healers walked towards the room in which the death eater was in.

Hermione hated death eaters. They were evil, vile creatures. She wasn't sure if she could even call them human, after all they had done. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw, as she stepped into that room. No matter how much she hated them, she couldn't help but feel pity and horror at what had been done to this man.

He was lying on the bed unconscious. His face was scarred so deeply that his features were unrecognizable. Every bit of skin on his face was disfigured. It looked like he had been maulled by a bear..or worse. His chest was bloody and there were deep gashes all over his exposed skin. His breathing was shallow, it was evident to her by the way the ragged breaths proved to be very difficult for him. He was very pale and was turning a bluish color, except fot the skin around the wounds, which was black. And there, on his left arm, right above his wrist was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. It was the Dark Mark. A black skull with a serpent sticking out through its mouth. The sight of it sent shivers up her arms.

She walked to his side, taking a deep breath, and opened one of his eyes, shining her wand at it. She did the same to the other. She noticed his eyes were glazed over and his pupils dialated. But wait..his eyes were the color of steel, a cold dark gray. She had seen those eyes before, but she couldnt quite place them. Next she moved onto his chest. She murmured some incantations to heal the wounds. But these proved to be useless.

"We tried everything, nothing seems to..stick." said Healer Gelias from behing her.

"I think he was stabbed with a poisoned knife or sharp object. I will have to make a potion for that."

"What about his face.? We can't identify him and he is not able to talk due to the wounds and bruises on his throat."

"I don't know. None of my spells seem to work." 'It's like he was attacked on purpose but they did not want his identity to be known'. she thought.

"Gelias, I think I can heal him, but it will take time...and skill." but she wasn't sure if she would be able to handle it yet. She was afraid that once she did heal him, he would tell her who he was, or she would see for herself. He might turn out to be the one responsible for her suffering. But then again he might be the one to help her find a culprit for her pain.

She decided to help him. She was a healer after all and it was in her nature to nurture and care. Even if it meant caring for someone who hurts and destroys everyday.

She gazed out the window and admired the sunset. For a moment, just that one moment, she forgot about her pain and didn't realize what she had gotten herself into. Little did she know that she had just chosen to embark into a treacherous and dangerous path, but in the end she might reach her own awakening and..her freedom.

A/N: Hey guys! how did you like the chapter.? Bet you're wondering who the mysterious stranger is , huh? lol...You will soon find out, although you can guess.. Anyway please review! you know that button over there is calling your name...:)