Un-Betad

This chapters dedicated to Brighteyes284 (hope that's right) who was first reviewer 

AN/ There are a few things I need to explain before you read this chapter other wise you're going to be confused:

Dumbledore was killed but his murder did not involve Snape or Draco. Sorry if this bothers anyone.

McGonagall is now head mistress.

Hermione's parents names in this are Tom and Helen: I couldn't find her real parent's names so I made some of my own.

I have no experience what so ever with death so please forgive me if I have portrayed Helens grieving wrong but I have tried my best.

I think that's all, please enjoy the chapter and I'm sorry if anyone finds it slow moving but almost everything that is in this chapter is necessary for later on.

This chapter's all about Hermione but the next one will involve the other characters as well.

Please leave me a review if you read it.

The Betrayer

Chapter two

A middle aged woman sat on the sofa along with a teenage girl arguing, the older of the two constantly pushing away the worried looking younger one.

"Leave me alone" She moaned.

The girl sighed. "No mother you have to eat. You haven't touched your food for days." Her reply was stern and in her hand she carried a silver spoon filled with food.

She waved it under her mother's nose in the vain attempt that she might actually want to eat.

"For God's sake Hermione leave me alone!" The woman hit the spoon out of her hand. "I've told you I'm not hungry."

They stared at each other for a moment, time froze and Hermione broke the silence.

"Fine!" She snapped. "If you want to waste away then go ahead. I'm obviously wasting my time here." Hermione walked over to the door and slammed it behind her. She hadn't meant to lose her temper like that but her mum really was pushing her to the limits these days.

Helen Granger winced as her daughter slammed the door. Her hands massaged her temples, her headache's intensity now doubled. She knew that she was being hard on Hermione not that she had ever meant for things to be like this but since Tom died she felt lost.

She no longer felt like Helen Granger, she felt like a nobody, just wallowing in dark thoughts all day and reminisced happier times most of the night.

It was a viscous circle of which she was unable to escape. She just didn't care about anything any more, the only thing that she truly desired could never happen.

She wanted to cry but all the tears were dried up no one could help her now, only he could and he was not coming back.

Flowers turned their colourful heads away and all living creatures fled as Hermione Granger stormed down the garden path. Un-intentional magic surrounded her very being, sending warning signals to all living things in close proximity. Get away from me!

Stopping when she reached the bottom of her garden she sat cross legged on the grass next to their pond.

How had her life gone so wrong?

Her sixth year at Hogwarts had been awful; Dumbledore had died at the hands of Voldemort's death eaters and Harry still hadn't got over witnessing his death.

Hermione had known that things were going to be difficult from now on but she hadn't expected her troubles to start as soon as she stepped on to the platform.

She had got to the station expecting to see the usual two beaming faces practically smothering her as she came off the train.

Instead she saw no one; in fact she saw none for the next two hours for which she had waited before calling a taxi home. Something was wrong she had already known then. Hermione had got home expecting answers as to why she was forgotten, to find her mother sitting on the kitchen floor staring in to space. The dark circles under her eyes indicated that her mother hadn't been sleeping. The gasp Hermione had been holding released itself as she saw how thin she was.

For ten minutes Hermione had tried everything to get answers out of her mother.

Where was dad and how could he leave her in such a state?

She ran next door to ask her neighbour if she knew what was going on. Rose was old and had been there for Hermione for as long as she could remember.

It was her that had got Hermione so interested in reading and researching and she would be ever grateful to her for that.

Rose answered her door to find a red faced girl in the doorway. She recognized her almost immediately.

"Hermione is that you, gracious I haven't seen you for ages. What's the matter pet?"

Hermione proceeded to explain about her mother and Rose was shocked, had no one told the poor child?

"Has no one told you? I didn't even know your mother was still there" She said her voice filled with a sadness that Hermione could not ignore.

"Told me what?"

"It's your father he died, a few weeks ago. Honey I'm so sorry I thought some one would have told you. He fell down the stairs."

After that Hermione's memory was hazy all she knew was that she had collapsed on the floor crying, screaming while Rose desperately tried to comfort her.

Hermione shuddered, the very idea that no one had told her plagued her every minute. She had even missed his funeral. Her mother was in no fit state and she had been left alone. True she had no family near by but it was still no excuse for all this.

She noticed her reflection in the water.

"God I look like a wreck!" She murmured and she did. Hermione had been looking after her mum since that day and spent endless hours awake at night making sure her mum got some sleep. She had, had to keep all the affairs in order, pay the bills and such. It was all taking its toll on her.

As she ran a hand through her hair she was disgusted to find tangles and knots preventing her from running her hands through it like she normally did when she was stressed out.

Hermione had never seen her mum like this before, she was always so calm and all problems in life just glazed over her. She felt ashamed for snapping at her just now she didn't deserve it.

She knew the real reason that she was constantly on edge however was not the exhaustion, the grief or even the lack of her own personal time it was the worry that she might not return to Hogwarts this term. Her mother was just not well enough.

The new term was starting in three days and she hadn't even got her books nor had she even thought to write to Ron or Harry all summer, they didn't even know about her father. Hermione knew that she probably wouldn't have spent much time in school this year as Harry needed help with destroying the Horcruxes but they had agreed to spend as much time in the castle as they could.

She knew that she would be devastated if she couldn't go back but what was she supposed to do? She couldn't just leave her mother alone and there was no one else to look after her.

She was in a tricky situation for sure.

Hermione buried her head in to her knees the need to cry was overwhelming but she knew if she did she wouldn't be able to stop.

A crashing noise came from the house, horrified she sprinted in. What if something had happened to her mum? She would never forgive herself.

"Mum ...mum, where are you?" Hermione shouted frantically as she burst in through the lounge door.

"Mum what are you going?"

Helen was chucking anything and everything she could lay her thin hands on at the wall watching them smash.

Broken china lay on the floor along with shattered glass from photo frames and ripped pages from books. Hermione ran over to her and grabbed both her hands,

"Stop it!" She screamed.

Helen recoiled from her daughters glare and looked around. What had she done?

Hermione watched as her mother collapsed on to the floor and broke in to tears.

Hermione couldn't put how glad she was in to words. This was the first real emotion she had seen from her mother since coming home. This had to be a good thing.

She dropped down next to her and held her mother as she sobbed hard in to her shoulder.

"Shhh" She soothed her, she could feel the protruding bones in her back, she needed to eat and fast.

"I-I'm so sorry Hermione," She cried.

"You've nothing to be sorry about mum." Hermione said gently.

"Your not going to leave me are you?"

Hermione went stiff, here it was the question she had been dreading so much yet she felt that she had known the answer all along.

And as much as it pained her to do so she let that answer be heard.

"N-no mum I'm not going anywhere." Helen Grangers eyes gazed up in to her daughters, full of a happiness which had once permanently resided there.

Hermione beamed back, how could she ever have thought to do any different?

A short time later Helen fell asleep, Hermione eased her off her lap and pulled her on to the sofa. Her mother hadn't slept for days so Hermione figured she would be out for a few hours now, maybe more.

This was the right time to do something she had desperately wanted to do for ages, visit her dad's grave.

Silently slipping on a red t-shirt, jeans and her trainers she crept out of the front door and shut it behind her.

After checking through the window as to whether her mother as still asleep, she saw the rise and fall of her body. Satisfied she set off out of the gate and up the gravel path towards the cemetery.

Hermione had never been up here before as she had to admit she wasn't too keen on graveyards but this was different. Her father was there.

Her feet crunched on the path; she entered through the gate and shuddered at the sight that lay before her. Grave stone upon gravestone covered in moss and dirt resembling rotten teeth sticking up from the ground. The names that had been carved in to the stone were now un-readable and it was anybody's guess as to who rested beneath it.

Her father's grave was easy to spot as it was the newest and fresh flowers covered every inch of the soil in front of it. Hermione kneeled down.

Who had left all of these? Her mother certainly hadn't. Curiously she opened one of the cards and smiled.

To the best dentist in the world (it read)

I'm going to miss you so much, I've been remembering to brush my teeth every day like you said and they're really shiny.

Tommy

Opening the others she found they were all from her fathers patients. She realised how much he had meant to others.

Tears formed in her eyes for the second time that day but once again she held them back. She could not cry she needed to be strong perhaps if she told herself this enough times she might actually start to believe it.

"Hoot"

A noise startled her, the light blinding her as she looked up her questions were answered however when a beautiful brown tawny owl landed in front of her.

She watched it ruffle its feathers and took the two large letters from its beak.

Hermione sighed her Hogwarts letter, she had been dreading this.

Miss H. Granger

Cemetery

Tom Grangers grave

She smiled as she read the address; her white fingers prised open the envelope and removed the folded piece of parchment.

Her eyes scanned the various books and items that she would have needed for her seventh year, still not quite believing that she wasn't going back.

The letter dropped to the floor and she picked up the other one and pulled out the parchment.

Dear Miss Granger

I Professor M. McGonagall headmistress of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry am glad to inform you that you have been selected as this years head girl.

Please find your badge enclosed.

Her hand went up to her mouth in disbelief she was head girl and she wasn't going back.

Slowly Hermione tipped up the envelope and a shiny gold badge landed in her palm. The words head girl emblazoned on it in red

"No" this had to be a nightmare, she was glad she had made head girl but knowing that she would have to give her job to someone else was un-bearable.

She read the rest of the letter.

This year's selected head boy is Mister Draco Malfoy.

I know that you may not be spending as much time at the school this year due to the current circumstances however I know that there is no other better for the job. Well done and I hope you enjoy the privileges that come with your position.

Yours,

Professor McGonagall

"Malfoy head boy!" She was shocked. His father must have paid someone or something like that.

Mind you considering how much of a spoilt and malicious brat he is, he's not a half bad student.

In fact when she thought about it his grades were not far behind hers, yet another reason for him to hate her.

She had even caught him reading in the library once, not that that was out of the ordinary, it was what he was reading that had caught her interest. For no Slytherin wizard would ever be seen even looking at Hogwarts a history he had it hidden of course but she had recognized the gold sleeve poking out anywhere.

She had to admit she was surprised and if it hadn't been that one person who she would never go near then she would actually discuss it with him as she had yet to find another who had so much as heard of it. She assumed people were put off by its size.

A breeze started to pick up, she rubbed her arms to create some heat.

"Wish I had brought my jacket" she mumbled before turning her attention back to her father's grave.

"Well I did it dad…I'm head girl" She knew wherever he was he was proud of her.

Hermione bowed her head, her bushy hair curtaining her face, she thought about things she should have said to him. He was still young he shouldn't have died.

For the only time in her life she actually regretted having muggle parents maybe if he had had magic he could have saved himself or if she had been there….

She sat there for what seemed like hours talking, thinking so immersed in fact that she did not notice a figure appear behind her.

"I knew it!" The person gasped.

Hermione spun around her wand already in her hand. "What the…Rose!"

"Right you are chicken." The old lady smiled.

"Why are you here? You nearly gave me a heart attack." Her heart was thumping in her chest. Why had she been so shocked this was not like her?

"Ah yes sorry about that." Rose apologised and looked down at the piece of wood still pointing dangerously close to her neck. "Would you mind lowering that thing?"

Hermione blushed. "Sorry" she mumbled. How was she going to explain this, oh sorry I just decided to attack you with a stick?

Rose smiled again. "Don't worry dear I know exactly what that is. You know I always thought you were a witch, saw the signs even when you were a child."

Hermione's brown eyes widened. "What are you a witch?"

Rose laughed although Hermione noticed it seemed rather forced. "No dear but my brother was. He got in to Hogwarts to, got a letter just like that one there." She pointed at Hermione's letters on the ground. "I remember I was so jealous of him only one in the immediate family you know." Rose smiled at Hermione's gaping jaw.

"Why didn't you ever mention it?" Hermione asked.

"You never asked and besides I wasn't quite sure if you were a witch, didn't want to get I to trouble now did I or carried off to a mental hospital either for that matter."

Hermione nodded still in shock.

"So are you looking forward to your new term it starts in a few days doesn't it?"

Rose was surprised to see the young girls face suddenly look so solemn. Hermione turned away and felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong pet?"

"I'm not going back to Hogwarts this year or at least this term. It's my mother she's not right I can't leave her not now dad's gone."

For once the fiery girl looked defeated for she really could not think of another way around it.

"You poor thing, take me back to your house and I'll see what I can do."

Rose noticed the flash of hope in the girl's eyes and was glad to have been the one to put it there. What could she do though?

They arrived back at Hermione's and found Helen still sleeping. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief she had been worried.

"Thank god she's still asleep."

The broken glass and debris still lay on the floor from Helens outburst earlier.

Rose eyes winded as she looked around" What happened here?

Hermione shifted her feet. "My mother she.."

Rose cut her off. "I understand pet come on let's get this cleaned up before your mum wakes up shall we?" And then I'm tucking you in to bed you look exhausted."

Hermione nodded and they got to work.

There was a bang at the door; Hermione immediately had a bad feeling.

"Rose don't answer it!" She screamed.

Rose heard her scream and turned around however that didn't stop the person on the other side. The door unlocked itself and in the doorway stood a pale figure robed in black.

A menacing aura surrounding his very being, behind him Hermione could se countless death eaters his servants.

She could see Rose lying on the floor. What had happened to her? She looked for an escape where was her mother?

Voldemort glided up to Hermione his spider like hands on hr shoulders pressing her down in to the floor.

"You know why I'm here don't you" he said silkily.

Hermione was frozen; the shock of Voldemort being so close to her, touching her was un-bearable.

Voldemort's thin lips curled upwards in to a sneer.

"Your mother Hermione I've come for her."

His words hit Hermione like lightning "No!"

Voldemort removed his hands and turned around. "Ah there you are, you have kept me waiting."

"Please except my apologies master." Helens slender figure stood in the door way robed like Voldemort, in black.

"Mum no what are you doing, why are you wearing those robes?" Hermione shouted.

"Why are you calling him master?" She cried as she watched her mother leave the house by Voldemort's side, he turned his ugly head.

"Trust no one Hermione." Ordering one of his servants he shouted "finish her off!"

"No-no help" It was too late to reach for her wand, the robed figures had surrounded her she fought but it was no use.

"Hermione, Hermoine" they chanted, she screamed for help.

"Hermione, Hermione…."

"HERMIONE!"

Hermione shot up, her breathing coming out in short harsh gasps she could feel that she was sweating. Someone was shaking her.

Rose's worried face looked down on her.

"Thank god you're awake! I've been trying to wake you for the last five minutes I-"

"When did I fall asleep?" Hermione interrupted. She was on her sofa, an imprint of her face moulded in the brown leather.

"About half an hour ago, I mean to wake you but I had just got your mother to start eating so-"

"Mother is she here is she safe?" Hermione asked frantically.

Rose was confused why she was acting so odd. "Yes of course she is, she's just in there."

"Let me see her." Hermione demanded.

"Hermione you've just had a dream. It's nearly ten perhaps you should go have a rest you've had a hard day."

"Let me see her" Hermione repeated. They went in to the kitchen Hermione breathed a sigh if relief.

There she was sitting at their table picking at the plate of food in front of her barley acknowledging their presence.

"Thank god" Hermione muttered to herself." Rose I'm going to go upstairs you don't mind making sure mum goes to bed do you?"

"No pet you go on upstairs. You need a good rest you do."

She really was worried about Hermione not only was she acting very strangely she looked as if she had been dug up.

When Hermione left the room Rose turned to Helen. "Right then you, you need to stop this and tell me what's going on."

Helen looked up at Rose and looked back down.

Hermione entered her room and locked the door behind her. Flicking on her lamp she lay on her bed, still feeling shaky after the night mare. What was it?

Did it mean anything or was it really just a dream? Un-answered questions flowed in to her head.

Her mum hardly knew about Voldemort let alone think about joining him, she just wouldn't any way. That was ridiculous but he had said something.

She thought back trying to remember.

"Trust no one "she muttered to herself, that's what he had said.

Did that mean something? Not knowing the answers she needed was frustrating.

Hermione stood up and withdrew a quill and parchment. She began a letter to Harry knowing now she would have to tell him everything including her father's death. This was going to be difficult but he needed to know.

Hope you liked the chapter, please leave me a review. Hope the dream didn't confuse any one.

Next chapter: Harry receives Hermione's letter and tells Ron.

We find out what's been happening to Draco since last time and we return to Hermione who needs to find a way she can get back to school.

Quotes will be up in a few days.

Big hugs to all that reviewed chapter 1, I didn't think I'd get so many and they were all so lovely so I'm glad you like chapter one and I hope you all liked this one to.

And there won't be such long authors notes in future just thought it was necessary.