A/N: I hope you liked the Prologue. Here is the first chapter. I hope you like it. R&R I love Reviews. NO FLAMES PLEASE! The song belongs to Evanescence. It's called Goodnight.

Chapter 1: Spinner's End

Severus Snape stood by as Dumbledore laid Hermione's body on the king size bed at the back of the house in his bedroom.

"Why does she have to stay with me, sir? Why can't she stay at Grimmuald Place or the Burrow," Severus asked frustrated.

"If she wishes to stay with them after she wakes up, then I'll take her there." Dumbledore left a short while later after explaining that Severus should do nothing to upset her when she wakes. Severus knew it was inevitable, but he agreed nonetheless.

After several hours of reading by the bed, waiting for Hermione to wake, he decided to make lunch. Sitting in the kitchen, eating a sandwich, he heard movement coming from his room. When he headed back, Hermione's piercing scream sounded through the house, ringing in his ears. When she stopped, he stepped into the room farther and walked to the bedside table to turn on the lamp. He turned to Hermione to have her stare at him with confusion and apprehension.

"Now that my hearing has gone down two notches, I think it's safe to say that I'm going to call Dumbledore to come explain things."

"What am I doing here? Where is here?"

Severus ignored her questions and headed to the fireplace. He put Floo Powder in the grate and stood back, waiting. When Dumbledore stepped through, he looked at Severus.

"Is something wrong?"

"Besides my ringing ears?"

"Ah, I take it Miss Granger has awakened." He didn't wait for an answer, but turned toward the bed where Hermione sat up against the headboard looking confused. She got up trying to stand when Severus walked over and gently pushed down on her shoulders, making her sit.

"You need to rest," He explained. "You took a hard fall."

"Where is he," Hermione asked.

Immediately, both wizards knew of whom she was speaking. "He's being held by the Ministry at the moment," Dumbledore said.

Hermione sighed, knowing what the meant.

"Miss Granger, I know that it hasn't been very long and you're weary, but I need you to explain what happened before the details become scrambled."

Hermione sighed and explained what happened while the two men listened patiently. When she was done, she was looking at her feet, fiddling with her hands in her lap.

"Miss Granger, when did the abuse start?" Severus stayed quiet, but looked to the floor, as if he knew something that Dumbledore did not.

"It started when I was nine years old, sir. Right before my brother left. Actually, I don't even think he realized the abuse was happening. Otherwise, he would have taken me with him, right?" She was talking to herself now. "I mean, I know that he's busy and he always has been, but he loves me enough to take me away if he knew what was happening."

"Who is your brother?"

"His name is James Michael….Riddle. He's not actually my brother, but he's lived with me my whole life and I've always seen him as an older brother that I could turn to." Severus looked up, but made no comment.

"Do you have any idea where he resides right now?"

"No. I haven't heard from since…that night."

"What night," Severus finally asked.

"When he sang me to sleep."

"What did he sing," Dumbledore asked, silencing Severus with a look.

Good Night, Sleep Tight
No More Tears
In the morning,
I'll be here……

"But he wasn't there," Hermione stated as she finished singing. "He wasn't there. He was gone. I haven't heard from or seen him since then. Not even a letter."

"Sir, can I speak to you a moment outside," Severus asked Dumbledore.

"Certainly, Severus," Dumbledore said seriously. There was no longer a twinkle in his eye. It seemed to have gone out.

They left the room and closed the door behind them, speaking in quiet voices.

"You know what this means, don't you, Albus?"

"Yes, Severus, I do. When can you contact him?"

"I can't. He's gone into hiding after he sent his last letter to her."

"You mean he actually sent her letters?"

"He's her brother. What did you expect him to do, just forget about her? He's been sending her letters since he left."

"Why didn't she receive any of them?"

"My guess is that Richard burned them before she could even get a glimpse at them."

There was silence between the two wizards while they contemplated the situation they were now faced with. Neither of them had any idea what to do with Hermione or how to contact her brother. This meant that they were in a big predicament.

"Don't let her know that you know the truth and don't tell her who you are until we can find her brother," Dumbledore finally said, breaking the silence.

'Do you suppose she remembers her real father and mother?"

"I have no evidence to support it. If he took the letters, Richard probably erased that part of her memory, if she had any inclination in the first palce. That means, he probably erased you, too. So, I don't want you to push her. Take care of her, but don't ask any questions that will give her clues."

They re-entered the room and Dumbledore spoke to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, do you have any idea where your brother is? Any at all?"

Hermione sighed and put her head in her hands as if she was thinking, looking back in her memory.

"Last I heard he was in Montana."

"OK. Now, do you wish to see him?"

"Yes, I have a lot of questions for him."

"OK. I'm going to try to find him for you. And when I do, I'm going explain the situation. Is that OK with you?"

"Yes." She said it slowly and carefully, making it seem like there was something else.

"But?"

"Will you be speaking to Harry and Ron about it?"

"Not if you do not want me to."

"OK. Where will I be staying for the summer?"

"If you do not want to stay with Harry or Ron, you will be staying here with Professor Snape until I am able to contact your brother. Afterwards, if he wishes you to stay with him, you have no choice in the matter."

"Why would he want me to stay here? He doesn't even know Professor Snape."

"You'll understand when I find him. Just stay here for the time being."

Hermione contemplated what he said. She didn't want to impose on Snape because she knew what he could be like if he was annoyed, but she didn't want to stay with Harry or Ron either.

"Where do you wish to stay, Miss Granger," Dumbledore finally asked.

"Are you sure there is no where else I can stay in the summer?"

Seeming to read her thoughts, Severus spoke. " Miss Granger, you are welcome to stay here for the summer."

Hermione looked up at the teacher who was loathed by many, secretly hated by most, and liked by few.

"OK. I'll stay here for the summer."

"Alright. I have a lot of work to do and very little time to do it. So, I must be going. I'll be back next week to check in on the two of you to make sure you haven't, but they both knew he was joking because of the twinkle that had returned to his eyes.