Chapter Two

MUGGLES

She clutched at her robes, pulling them down over her ankles. All she knew was she was in a cold, dark place underground. Was she still at Malfoy Manor? Hermione didn't even know anymore and she hated the feeling of not knowing.

What she did know was that she no longer had her wand. Completely defenseless, completely alone, and in total darkness. Just fantastic. A few minutes ago, when she had woken up, it hadn't taken long for sheer terror to give away to sort of a dull panic.

She stood up slowly. Hermione was still a little dizzy and nauseous, so she didn't want to stand too fast. She was horrified she'd throw up, and then where would she be?

"I was wondering when you'd wake up," came a familiar drawling voice that was eight hundred times more horrifying than Draco's. A light came on and Hermione felt a sharp pang of fear in her stomach. It was Lucius Malfoy-- potentially the biggest Muggleborn hater in the wizarding world. "Maybe we can have a little chat."

He was sitting in a large, elaborate chair that reminded her of a throne. "Sit down, by all means. You don't need to stand there."

She suddenly saw a chair from behind her and hesitated. It definitely hadn't been there before. What kind of dark magic was this? Or worse, was this even dark magic? Why couldn't she think clearly? Hermione knew exactly what Harry had meant, about not being able to think about anything you've learned at Hogwarts, it's just pure survival.

"Sit, foolish girl, I don't have the time for you to think about it. Rest assured, the games haven't even begun."

Hermione slowly sat up from lying in her warm bubble bath. She carefully dried herself off, got changed, and came downstairs in time for lunch.

She was staying with a Muggle family. Professor McGonagall had made the arrangements. There were a few Death Eaters still lying around and she had known that they would make the connection if she lived by herself. They'd also changed her name to Elizabeth Norman so it would be harder to find her.

The Normans were a kindly couple who reminded Hermione of her parents. As she sat down to eat with them, she remembered with a pang of sadness that she'd never see her real parents again.

This Muggle family had agreed to take her after McGonagall had discussed it with her. She'd said she'd created a deep wizarding spell where Hermione would be safe if she stayed with the Normans, not unlike the spell that had ultimately saved Harry's life many times.

"Hello, Elizabeth," came the cheerful voice of Mrs. Norman. "All packed and ready to go to university?"

Hermione nodded, her mouth full of mashed potatoes. They had discussed the possibility of a job once, but since she wasn't allowed to use magic she'd be doomed to have a boring Muggle job. She had opted to go to Muggle university, get a degree in medicine, and become a doctor. Besides, she loved to learn, and the University of London gave her a great opportunity to use her talents.

She finished her lunch, stood, and said good-bye to her surrogate family. "I'll see you this winter."

"All right, dear. Remember, take the train at King's Cross, and..."

"I know," Hermione said quickly. This woman nagged at her a lot, much like her real parents.

And with that, she got up, got her things together, and took the Underground to King's Cross station. After she crossed over the line between the Underground station and the train station, she stood and went over to wait for her train. Platform 11.

She began to make the trek to her platform. Platforms 7, 8, 9. She paused as she approached a familiar looking barrier. Platform 9 3/4. Hermione leaned up against it for awhile and closed her eyes. She found her back relaxing against the cool brick, until--

"What d'you think you're doing? Causing trouble?" a rough looking guard asked her, breaking her out of her reverie.

Never having been accused of causing trouble in her life (unless she was standing next to Ron and Harry) she found herself becoming indignant. "No, I was relaxing before I had to catch my train."

"Well, hurry on, then."

Hermione picked up her luggage and finished the short walk to Platform 11. She found herself grinning. At least this time she didn't have to run through a brick wall in order to take a train.

It wasn't long before her train pulled up and she was able to find a seat. It wasn't like it used to be, where she, Ron, Harry, and whoever else would find an empty compartment and talk about whatever was going on at the time. No one was playing with Fizzing Whizbees, Fred and George weren't causing mayhem, and Malfoy wasn't there to make threats and to bully them. Remus Lupin wasn't in the back of the train, nor was Luna Lovegood.

It was just a normal Muggle train, and Hermione relaxed against her seat, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.