I thought I should address a couple of things for the people following this story. The digi destined will make there first appearance in chapter nine. I know this is a long time (I will try to get us their as fast as possible). The reason is that I need to set certain things up for the future. The digidestined in question are the first two groups. That is the adventure 01 and 02. I have tweaked a few things about them, mainly their ages to fit my needs. They will all appear. Their digimon will also be apart of the story, their role will be small at first. I should also tell you that this may develop into a series that will span their time at Hogwarts, I am not totally sure yet. Thanks, I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

Sarah blinked she had not expected this, not yet. Then a small smile full of sadness crept across her face. Only Hermione would be thinking ahead after hearing that kind of news. Sarah also knew the answer that Hermione would be hoping for, an answer that she could not give. The only real question was how to tell Hermione without destroying her completely. Right now Sarah couldn't even look at her.

Hermione watched Sarah contemplating her answer and knew then that what she had hoped for would not occur. She waited for Sarah to speak for an explanation. They were both still crying, Hermione thought she might never stop. Then she saw Sarah draw herself up and turn to face Hermione. She was ready to talk but was Hermione ready to hear. Oh well she thought too late now.

Sarah however, shocked Hermione by asking a question. "Hermione, did you ever wonder why your parents took the news of your being a witch so well?"

Hermione blinked; truthfully she had been too caught up in the whole thing to notice. Now that she thought about it she realised that they had accepted what the letter had said and what Professor McGonagall had told them. This didn't fit with other stories she had heard. Indeed a few had ended with trips to Saint Mungo's. Then it hit Hermione.

"When did you tell them?"

"Way to answer a question with a question Hermione. Before you start, you never asked until now so I didn't lie. As to the when it was, just after you set fire to the substitute's desk and made that girl bald. Your parents were considering punishing you and I knew then that I couldn't keep it a secret any longer. As I recall your father threatened to shoot me until I proved it. Then he fainted."

Both of them laughed as that was her father reaction to most things concerning Hermione, threaten to kill it then faint. They stopped very quickly.

Hermione then decide to continue the conversation by asking, "So what does that have to do with -"

"Everything", Sarah cut in. "You see at the time they were rewriting their wills and they wanted me to take guardianship of you if something happened. As it was I told them that the best thing they could do was to get you a magical guardian so that your future was taken care of. They asked me and I turned them down."

"You said no." Hermione said in a rather detached voice. The person apart from her parents who cared for her more than anyone, who put her above everyone and everything else, did not want her. Hermione started to panic. Was she going to lose everything in the space of a few hours? Sarah had noticed Hermione's growing panic and despair and decided to move on as fast as possible.

"It's not because I don't want you Hermione." Sarah was pleading with Hermione to listen to her. She had fallen to her knees in front of Hermione hoping that it would help. "If I could I would adopt you in a heartbeat you know that. I promised once that I would always take care of you. When I said that I meant it. If that means that the best thing for you isn't me then I will do whatever it takes to find whoever is. It does not mean that I don't love you. You and your parents are the only real family I have ever had. As far as I am concerned you are and always will be my little sister."

This seemed to calm Hermione down. When she looked at Sarah, her own eyes full of unshed tears she could see, in Sarah's eyes that she had spoken the truth. She had not lied. She believed this to be the best thing for Hermione. Even though it was killing her she would do it for Hermione. Sarah had always told Hermione that she would move Heaven and Earth for Hermione if that was what it took, she would find a way. To see Hermione, to make Hermione happy and if necessary stay out of her life forever if that was what was best for her.

Hermione threw herself at Sarah in a half tackle, half hug. Hermione knew that if Sarah thought it was best she would do it. If Sarah asked her no matter how much she hated, it or how hard it was she would do it.

Yet she couldn't help but whisper quietly to Sarah, "But I want to be with you."

That one sentence tore at Sarah's heart; she was only just able to respond into Hermione's hair without breaking down.

"I know you do. And I do too. But it has to be this way."

They knelt there on the floor for Merlin only knew how long. Eventually they broke apart and retreated to the chairs. Sarah contemplated how to tell Hermione who her guardians were when Hermione saved her the trouble by asking a question.

"So are my guardians magical?" It was asked with an air of resignation and Sarah could only do her best to answer. To try to ease the pain.

"Yes they are. After I turned your parents down," at this Hermione gave a sharp intake of breath," I promised them I would find two magical people suitable for the job. I found two people who I trusted and whom I knew would take care of you as if you were their own flesh and blood. Your parents met and approved of both and they are named as your legal guardians in both the muggle and magical world. As I understand it, you have already met one of them and the other you would have seen as you came in to this office."

At this Hermione's head shot up. Obviously the strange girl she had seen out there was one of them. She didn't look to bad but someone she had already met. Knowing Sarah the one she had already met would be male. This worried Hermione as she had met few men in the wizarding world who she actually respected and completely trusted. She was about to ask Sarah who they were when Sarah spoke.

"The girl you saw outside is fairly young but she is more loyal than just about anyone you could find. She will always be there for you when you need her. She is also an absolute riot. I want you to have fun Hermione. When I read your last letter I could not believe what they have done to you. It is time to find new friends, who will treat you better and respect you. She will help you with all this and more."

She didn't sound too bad but Hermione still had to know who the other one was.

"Now I know you are anxious about the second guardian. As you have probably figured out it is a male. You need to know that he is your primary guardian. The one you will live with and who will be responsible for you. Now I know you and this particular person have not seen totally eye to eye because of different things that have weighed him down in the past. However I met him when he was being himself. I promise Hermione that if you give him a chance you will find that he is an absolutely kind, loving gentleman. He will take care of you above everything else."

At this point she paused and was trying to gather her thoughts but was stopped when she saw Hermione's face it was one of slight panic. "Don't make that face Hermione. I promise the real him is way better than the version you have been dealing with."

Hermione's face fell at this; she was being a bit judgemental.

"Hermione do you trust me?"

Hermione thought it was an odd question but managed to nod in response.

"Have I ever steered you wrong?"

She shook her head.

"Do you believe that I would allow someone who I did not trust or believe would harm you to even be in the same room as you?"

Hermione saw were this was going so added another shake.

"Good. Then trust me. You trusted me when I told you to avoid certain places and people didn't you. Everything worked out alright then, believe me that it will work out now. I know it's hard but it is only for a little while longer. Soon I will tell you everything. Until then trust my judgement and promise me. Promise me that you will give this person a chance; I know he can be a bit prickly but he is a good person. Promise me Hermione, please." There was a pleading note to Sarah's voice as she said this.

Hermione looked at Sarah and sighed she was desperate which meant it was important. Hermione knew she would not regret following Sarah's advice, didn't mean she had to like it though.

"Fine but you better tell me everything in the end." It came out harsher than Hermione intended but it was honest.

"I promise that I will tell you everything. When the time comes." Sarah said this as if she was agreeing to die otherwise which worried Hermione a little.

"I guess this is goodbye for now then." Sarah spoke quietly and got up to leave. She was halfway to the door when Hermione called out to her.

"Don't I get a hug?"

Sarah chuckled to herself before coming back to Hermione who was already beginning to cry again. The hug seemed to last forever before Hermione broke it and looked at Sarah. It wasn't a look Sarah wanted to see. That look was the 'I just put something together and have a question' look. Hermione's eyes had narrowed and her brow had furrowed. Her lips were pulled together and it looked like she might be biting her tongue. Never a good sign. So when she did ask Sarah was ready for the inevitable.

"Why?"

Sarah blinked twice,that was not what she had been expecting. She replied, "Why? What do you mean, why?" She asked this as if it was the most ludicrous thing she had ever heard.

Hermione gave her best reproachful look before responding. "Why can't you take me? What is stopping you from having guardianship?"

Sarah slumped back into her seat looking thoughtful. Hermione mirrored her motion and stared at Sarah waiting to see what she would say. Though the thoughtful look full of pain that was on Sarah's face worried her. It could not be good. When Sarah started muttering to herself Hermione got worried it did not sound good. She only caught snippets along the lines of '...it won't change anything... she deserves to know... you made a promise...' but it was enough to worry her. So when Sarah looked up and directly into Hermione's eyes she knew this was bad. The look on her face was as serious as the one she wore when she had told Hermione about her parents. However Hermione noticed that Sarah looked tired. There were shadows under her eyes and wrinkles around her eyes that had not been there before. This would not be good.

"Hermione I can't tell you the full truth just yet. I promise I will tell you eventually. Until then you have to trust me. Promise me that you will." Sarah's tone left no room for argument and Hermione knew that as soon as she said yes she would get a partial answer. But she hesitated. Did she want to know? Her curiosity won out.

"I promise." Two words that would give her an answer.

Sarah took a deep breath and looked at her sadly. Taking a deep breath she gave her answer...

"Because Hermione, I won't be alive long enough to take care of you."