Through the Tears

I woke up to find herself in a bed. For a long time I just laid there, refusing to get up – it would be too much pain to know that I was in a completely different world. Different people, different lifestyles, different … everything. I didn't want to open my eyes, didn't want to verify what I already knew.

I was so far from Kansas, Toto, that even yesterdays memories seemed distant.

After hours of refusing to see, I was forced to open my eyes. I had felt a hand shaking her shoulder in an attempt to wake me up. Knowing it was time; I unveiled my eyes and looked straight into the face of Albus Dumbledore.

I couldn't decide whether to feel happy at the sight of my headmaster, who had died a few days ago, or sad at the ending he would have if I failed.

"Excuse me, Miss-" Dumbledore paused.

"Grendell. Hermione Grendell." Not even Dumbledore could know who I truly was. Trusting anyone at all would be far too risky.

"Miss Grendell, I don't mean to be rude but you could you explain to me why you're here?"

As Dumbledore asked me questions, I thought of the answer on the spot.

Why are you here? I'm a foreign exchange student – I transferred from being home schooled in France.

Then why don't you have a French accent? Because I moved to France when I was eleven, the same year I would have started Hogwarts.

I don't believe that Headmaster Dippet is aware that you were coming. Really? My parents told me that everything was cleared up and that I was already enrolled.

I was under Dumbledore's interrogation for at least half an hour.

When Dumbledore said his parting words I was hit by surprise. "Miss Grendell. I know for a fact that almost nothing, if not anything, you told me was true. Being the one to find you first, I treated what needed immediate attention. Several of your wounds were inflicted by very dark and advanced curses."

Looking Dumbledore in the eye I said, "Professor, please believe me that what I'm doing is in the best interest for everyone."

I can't say if Dumbledore believed me or not. He gave me an assessing look before saying his goodbye and departing.

I fell asleep after that and my night was filled with nightmares, visions and memories of the war.

The clearest thing was seeing my dead friends over and over again. I couldn't make it stop.

When I relieved the battle, fighting the death eaters was no longer able to distract me. I was watching it from a helpless bystanders point of view. I called out when Harry, Ron, Ginny and all the others died, but no one could hear me.

I sat up with a gasp. Putting my hand to my head I could feel the sweat dripping off me. I was panting, the nightmare shook me up an unimaginable amount.

Looking out the window I saw it was dark out. I spent the next few hours tossing and turning – trying to get back to sleep.

When I awoke next, I had to talk with Dippet. I have no idea how he ever became headmaster. He was a very whiny and lazy old man. Very much a pushover also.

He welcomed me to the school and explained to me how things worked. I listened for the first half of it to see if there were any major differences, luckily there wasn't and I was free to zone out during the rest of his speech.

When he finished talking, I very politely thanked him.

Before he left he told me that since my belongings seemed to have gotten lost on the train that was supposed to bring them to Hogwarts, he would supply me with some money to buy myself robes and all the necessities.

He also told me that I was to be sorted after the first years in the welcome feast.

Since school started in two days, I spent the first buying everything I needed and the second mourning for my friends.

The only remembrance I had of them was a magical locket that hung around my neck. It was charmed to be any size or decoration I wanted it to be. Inside were five pictures. There was one of my parents and me when I was seven years old at Christmas. Another of me Harry and Ron in first year. A picture of all the members of Dumbledore's Army and the last frame held the note that I received when I was given the locket as a joint present by All of the Weasleys, Various members of the order and Harry.

The note told me of how every single one of them was proud of me. It said that each one of them loved me, not necessarily in the same way but each of them still loved me.

I had charmed it to be waterproof, indestructible and to never be able to be taken off my neck.

I cried more and harder in that day than I had in the rest of my life. But it's understandable – there was just too much to cry for.

---------------------

The applause died down from the Gryffindor table after their last member had been sorted.

Professor Dippet stood and cleared his throat. "It is my pleasure to introduce to you a new student this year. She has come here all the way from France and is currently heading into her final year at school. Hermione Grendell."

The headmaster had decided that I should enter in style. Therefore, he had charmed the great hall doors to both open when he introduced me.

Seeing the new student sent whispers and wolf-whistles around the room, both coming from every direction causing me to blush. It didn't help that I had to walk all the way to the staff table, prolonging my embaressment.

I sat down on the stool and a teacher, one who I had never seen before, placed the sorting hat on my head.

The sorting made the students even more curious about me. The hat took at least twenty minutes, debating with my mind, about what house he would sort me into.

Slytherin? Are you kidding? No way. It might help your mission.

Hufflepuff? Oh please, I'm almost insulted you suggested that. It is a rather pathetic house isn't it.

Ravenclaw? Maybe, it would help me to interact with all the other houses. You just don't seem like a Ravenclaw though.

Gryffindor? My house in the future. No complaints. How would you get close to Riddle though?

The sorting hat and I went back and forth for a while until it finally gave in and put me in the house where I belong.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table roared to life and I found myself blushing once again.

A/N: ok, so just so you know. This story happened right after HBP. Voldemort surprised them with an attack a few days after his first. Smart right? … my idea, not Voldemort's.

I got a few reviews for my last chapter and I'm hoping to get more (hint hint)