Thank you Shorty653 and dyk3adellic for the reviews and I'm sorry I didn't update as fast as I thought I would

Disclaimer: not mine

The girl—she still could not remember her name so this is what she will be referred to as until further notice—had found a hand mirror in the drawer of the small table next to her bed. Looking into it she saw her face which was familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. Dull, brown eyes and light skin that had been bruised and bloodied. Tangled, curly, honey-brown hair surrounded a youthful face that was covered in worry lines. So it seems she had been stressed out even before losing her memory.

This room was vaguely familiar and the girl was sure she had seen it before but with all of her scars she assumed that she was merely remembering another infirmary, they all looked very similar. By her side were the clothes she was found in along with a beaded purse. The nurse had yet to return with the headmaster so the girl decided to look through her things in search of clues. Her shirt was bloodied and torn as were her pants, inside the pockets all she found was some pocket change and a vinewood wand. Holding the wand in her hand she felt anchored. This was a part of who she was and spells were flying through her head begging to be cast. How odd, she could not remember who she was but she remembered all of these charms, hexes, and shields. She even remembered some nasty curses and that frightened her. She didn't think she was a particularly aggressive person but who really knew.

She picked up the purse and heard what sounded like many large objects moving within it when the infirmary door opened. Looking up, the girl saw the nurse walk in with an older man. He was quite tall with a long beard that was in the process of transforming from auburn to silver as was his hair. He wore a rather bright yellow robe with green moons and stars on it and his bright blue eyes twinkled behind half moon spectacles in kind curiosity. She instantly knew that she knew the eyes from somewhere, knew that she had been the subject of his gaze before. In his hands he held a raggedy old hat that he placed carefully on the table at the end of her bed before sitting down next to her.

"Good afternoon, you look much better than before, I trust Madam Pomfrey has been treating you well?" he asked in a fatherly tone.

The girl nodded, "Yes, sir."

He gave her a comforting smile, "I knew that she would. My name is Professor Dumbledore and I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Now can you tell me how you got here Miss…?"

Shaking her head she told him, "I'm sorry I can't. I don't remember anything."

The Headmaster sighed. "Madam Pomfrey told me as much but I was still hopeful. Do you have any vague memories? Siblings? Parents' profession? A town?" The girl once again shook her head, wondering how to get these people to realize that she really couldn't remember when she felt a new pressure in her head. It felt like a new, foreign presence was penetrating her mind. She did not know what it was but she did not like it despite the comforting influence it was attempting to convey and concentrated on getting it out. No matter how hard she tried it was still there but it did not travel any deeper into her mind despite its obvious efforts.

"Madam Pomfrey," she whimpered, "my head…"

Suddenly the pressure was gone. "It is alright, child," the headmaster assured her, "I wanted to see if there was anything hiding in there." The girl was not sure how to feel about his boldness but she felt sure that he would not try it again.

"Albus, please refrain from upsetting my patient," the nurse scolded as she began to dab the girl's forehead with a damp cloth.

"I apologize, besides I think I have a better idea." Dumbledore reached over to the table and picked up the torn hat, "This is the Sorting Hat; we use it to determine one's house in Hogwarts. He searches through the memories to find which house characteristics each student possesses and values. He should be able to find out a little more about you." And with a smile, the Headmaster placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Mmmm, interesting, very interesting. This is a one of a kind case, isn't it Hermione?"

The girl's eyes lit up, "Hermione? Is that my name?" she asked aloud.

"Yes it is, I can see all your memories though they are blurry. Yes this is very interesting indeed. Do not bother asking me any questions, they will all be answered in time. This will frustrate you but you must remember things on your own. I will tell you this though: Your birth name is Hermione Jean—I'll keep the last name to myself—you are the brightest witch of your age, nearly eighteen years old, and you are very brave. Have fun in 1976," the hat said cryptically before shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Dumbledore pulled the hat off and gave the girl—now known as Hermione Jean—a gaze filled with questions. "He said my name is Hermione Jean. He wouldn't tell me my last name or anything else really. I'm almost eighteen and I think he wants me to go to school here."

The Headmaster looked disappointed at the lack of information. "Well if that is all he'll tell you—he can be quite stubborn—then that is what we will settle for at the moment. We'll make Jean your temporary last name and you will be placed in Gryffindor. My old house actually, a very good place to be not that the others are bad. I guess I am just a bit biased," he said conspiratorially. "When Madam Pomfrey says you are well enough I will see to it that you receive a tour of the castle. But before I go lemon drop?" He held out a handful of small yellow candies which she declined.

After a day full of Madam Pomfrey's care and Hermione's own thoughts about what the hat said the nurse finally deemed Hermione fit enough to walk about the castle.

An older, strict looking woman who gave her the same impression of recognition as the headmaster came to give Hermione the tour. Her name was Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration Professor, and Hermione felt as if she could be friends with this woman. As she was given a tour of the castle the vague feeling of familiarity grew stronger. Hermione had been here before, she knew it. She had hoped Professor McGonagall would say something to confirm her suspicions but nothing like that was said. Finally it became too much, Hermione had to at least ask. "Ma'am? Do I know you from somewhere?"

The older woman gave her a sad look, "I'm afraid not my dear, I wish I could help you but I can't."

"But I know I've met you before," Hermione persisted, "and this castle, too. Something in the back of my mind is telling I've been here before, that I know you, but that's it. It was the same with Headmaster, too."

McGonagall shook her head, "I know this all confusing but we are doing the best we can to help you. I'm afraid your suspicions are unfounded, Miss Jean."

XXXXXXX

Two days passed and Hermione still could not find any memories. Each part of the castle gave her an odd feeling of nostalgia—including the girl's seventh year dorm she had been staying in—but nothing concrete.

The students would be coming for dinner tonight to start the new term and Hermione desperately hoped someone would recognize her. The hat told her to wait but she didn't want to, she was lost, confused, and scared.

Professor McGonagall had come up about ten minutes ago to tell her to get ready for the welcoming feast during which her presence would be announced to the school. Hermione hoped she would not attract too much attention but she feared that was more than she could hope for. She had been told that the school had never had a transfer student before so of course she would be the center of attention for at least a few days if not weeks.

She put on her uniform and cast glamour charms to hide what she could of her scars, the nastiest of which was the word 'mudblood' carved in her arm. Madam Pomfrey had not been able to look at it without pity and sorrow filling her eyes and whatever had been used to carve her skin had been cursed and thus made most charms useless. Thankfully they found one that worked, there were others she couldn't hide magically without being too obvious but her clothes took care of them for the most part. Taking a deep breath, Hermione left Gryffindor Tower and headed to the Great Hall.

Okay so I wanted to do 2000-3000 word chapters but this is obviously a little short, it just felt like a good place to stop and chapters will get longer in time. Please leave some reviews and constructive criticism