A/N- I'm back, y'all! I know that last chapter wasn't the longest, but it was groundwork that had to be laid. I've worked out the outline so far and it's sitting at 49 chapters. I'm sure my muse will come out and play and it might end up longer, so don't take this number as gospel.

To everyone that has already followed, favorited, read, and reviewed already, you're the freaking bomb. Y'all are what keeps me motivated. Anyways, enough of this chatter, I can't wait to get started on this chapter!

Disclaimer: Jake and Miranda Granger belong to me (well, possibly. I've heard so many different names for Hermione's parents that these very well could have been used before.) as does Isobel Cockney. The rest of the characters belong to the lovely J.K.R. All hail our queen.

Chapter 2

July 13, 1995

Hermione was enjoying her vacation to the fullest. She had arrived at King's Cross on the fifteenth of June, school having been dismissed early due to the incident in the graveyard regarding Harry and the Triwizard Tournament Cup. She had begged Dumbledore to let Harry return to Grimmauld Place, the Burrow, or even home with her, but he had flat out refused and told her that it just wasn't possible. When she pushed for answers, Harry had become slightly embarrassed, but she didn't care. Harry had no business going back to the Dursley's for another holiday of mistreatment, abuse, and neglect after what he had gone through. Or ever if you asked Hermione's opinion.

Dumbledore had seemed completely nonplussed at her borderline rude questioning. She knew that she should show her Headmaster more respect, but she struggled with the concept when it resulted in her very best friend having to endure his holidays rather than enjoy them. Sirius had been the only one in the room who hadn't gotten offended or embarrassed by her line of questioning.

Dumbledore had explained for the first time to Harry, Ron, and Hermione about the sacrifice of Lily Potter and how her love for Harry embedded itself in her very blood. This meant that it was in Petunia Dursley's blood as well since she was Lily's sister. Harry would be protected from those that would harm him because he was with his mother's blood. It sounded wooly at best to Hermione, but there really wasn't much she could do about it when everyone else seemed to believe the Headmaster's word as gospel.

Therefore, she had hugged her best friend fiercely when they reached King's Cross and made him promise to write her the second the muggles were mean to him. She vowed that she would find a way to fix it, but she had a feeling that he had made her an empty promise.

In true form, Hermione had finished all her holiday homework within the first week of her vacation. Her parents had always been fascinated with her homework as it was their only true representation of the fact that their daughter could use magic. Sure, they recalled the accidental magic she had first started displaying at eighteen months old. They had witnessed all the weird occurrences in their lives that originated from their daughter, but since she had started school and gained control over her magic, they had no tangible proof except for her homework.

In the time since she had finished her homework, Hermione and her parents had visited every major museum in the London area and had been to the London Zoo twice. While she adored museums and art and things of the like, the London Zoo was her all-time favorite.

When she had been younger, all the children that were her age had been well aware that she was different. Hermione had done her level best to fit in and play what the other children always wanted to even though they weren't particularly an interest to her, but it had never worked. She had learned before she even went to school that nobody wanted to be friends with her.

Therefore, the young Gryffindor had turned to books and animals. Hermione had always adored animals because they never judged and they never held your mistakes against you. It didn't matter to animals that she was so largely different from her peers. If she loved and fed them, they loved and accepted her in return.

Her parents had allowed her several cats and one dog throughout her younger years. They had bought her a season pass for the London Zoo every year since she had turned six, and she had been there so much that all the zookeepers there knew her by name. Her parents had also done what every little girl dreamed of. They had bought her her own horse.

Hermione had been six when she had received Bluebell. The grey appaloosa had been twelve years old when her parents had purchased her, but she was a perfect horse for a young child that would be learning how to ride. The young girl would ride the bus to the stables every day after school and ride Bluebell for several hours under the watchful eyes of the many instructors employed there until her parents got off work and came to pick her up.

Hermionr had enjoyed four wonderful years with her horse before the aged beast had died peacefully in her sleep. Hermione had been heartbroken and had cried like a baby, but she had been reassured by everyone that dying in her sleep was the best way to go and that Hermione had made sure that her last several years had been the best of her life.

Her parents had told her that they would be more than willing to purchase her another steed, but it had been to early. It would have felt like a betrayal. This actually worked out well because it was only three months after Bluebell's unexpected passing that she received her Hogwart's letter.

All in all, her summer thus far had been wonderful.

Hermione had heard from Harry several times. He never told her that his horrid relatives were mistreating him in any way, but she supposed he was probably keeping it from her so she wouldn't worry or make a scene. As much as she loved the fact that he cared enough about her to not want her to worry, it also angered her because she knew that they were being terrible and he was simply lying to her.

Harry had told her that he had alreast finished his holiday homework as well, that he was now rereading his text books from last year because he truly had nothing better to do. If he had been anywhere other than at the Dursley's, she would have asked him if he was sick or polyjuiced.

Ron had written her a grand total of once this summer. Truthfully, she wasn't surprised, but she still would have welcomed a more frequent writing partner. Just because she had friends at Hogwarts didn't mean that she had friends at home. When her parents were at work, she was still quite lonely.

It was for this reason that she was laying outside on a patio chair in her bikini. The pool was moderately sized and she could say that it was probably the second best thing about being home in the summertime. The phone was at her side, along with her wand and a glass of lemonade. A book about advanced properties used in Arithmancy was propped up against her knees.

The sun was beating down on her bronzed skin, warming her completely. She never had to worry about getting burnt by the sun's strong rays because of a handy little spell she had found while flipping through a random charms book in the library her third year. It was a spell that you cast over yourself once every six months and kept the sun from burning you. It would tan you until you looked like you were a native from Mexico, but you wouldn't burn. It had saved her hide many times over her last summer at home.

Therefore, she felt no anxiety when her eyes grew heavy and she set her book to the side next to her wand. A nap in the hot sun suited her just fine and she would probably grow even tanner. While she didn't consider herself a vain witch by any means, she could admit if only to herself that being tan made her look older and more mature. It was completely possible that it was all in her head, but she didn't mind.

Hermione was startled out of her light doze by the phone ringing next to her head. She sat up straighter and put the phone to her ear, wondering who in the world would be calling knowing that her parents were usually at work during the day.

"Hello?" She smiled when she heard her parent's oldest secretary, Isobel Cockney, respond.

"Hermione?" She didn't wait for Hermione to respond.

"I need you to get dressed. I'll be there to get you in five minutes." Hermione could feel the confusion cloud her features.

"What's going on, Isobel?" The older woman sighed heavily.

"Your parents were on their way home to have lunch with you. As they pulled out of the office, they were hit by a drunk driver. They've both been taken to the hospital and I'm not sure what their statuses are." Hermione felt her heart stop at Isobel's words.

Her parents had to be fine. There was just no other reality that Hermione could imagine where they weren't alive and supporting her in every move she made. They had been her only friends for so long that she couldn't bear the thought of losing them now.

Hermione didn't bother saying goodbye. She hung up and leapt up off the patio chair, grasping her wand and shoving it through her messy bun. She didn't even bother to change out of her bikini; she threw on her cover up and jean shorts that she had worn outside and slid her feet into flip flops. She knew she looked like a bum, but she didn't care at the moment. What mattered was getting to her parents as soon as possible.

The Gryffindor decided to wait on the porch for Isobel. She grabbed the 20£ note that her mother had left on the counter for her and crammed it in her back pocket along with her identification, just in case someone questioned who she was to her parents. The door slammed shut behind her and she waited impatiently for Isobel to arrive.

When the beat up Ford Fiesta pulled up in her driveway, Hermione was already bolting across her yard so she could jump in the passenger seat. Isobel didn't say a word, but backed out and started for the hospital. It was only a ten minute drive, but to Hermione, it felt like ten years.

Both women were out of the car quicker than a snitch once they were parked in emergency parking. They rushed inside and stood at the desk, waiting impatiently for the receptionist to come help them. When the young woman came to see what they needed, Hermione spoke quickly.

"I need to know about my parent's Jake and Miranda Granger. They were brought in by ambulance in the last half hour." The receptionist held her finger aloft and pointed towards the waiting room.

"I'll let the doctor know that you're here and need a report as soon as he's able to get away." Hermione nodded dejectedly.

She and Isobel took seats next to each other and laced their fingers together. It seemed like ages had passed by without anyone coming in the waiting room at all. After probably half an hour, a young woman with a small baby on her chest came in and took her seat across from Hermione. She rocked the infant softly against her breast and gave Hermione and Isobel a reassuring smile but remained silent.

It was well over an hour before a middle-aged man in green scrubs came into the waiting room and beckoned for the pair to follow him. His name tag said Dr. Karl Green and he looked exhausted. When they finally reached a cozy office, he held his arm out, inviting them to come in and take a seat.

Hermione took the first seat available and Isobel right next to her. The doctor took a seat behind the desk and he rubbed his temples for a moment before he began.

"What are your relations to Mr. and Mrs. Granger?" Hermione scooted further out to the edge of her seat.

"I'm Hermione Granger. I'm their almost sixteen year old daughter. This is Isobel Cockney, a close family friend of my parents." The man leaned forward and folded his hands together on the desk.

"The first bit of news is the worst. Your father's heart was punctured by a piece of metal in their car. When we tried to remove it, the damage was too extensive to fix. Even if he hadn't bled out on the operating table, we wouldn't have been able to save him in time. He's gone. I'm so, so sorry for your loss." Hermione felt numb. She couldn't bring herself to react though. She needed to remain strong and decide just how her mother was. They could grieve together.

"What of my mother?" The doctor wiped his hands down his face before he met her eyes.

"Your mother is critical. She's conscious, but we haven't given her long. Both her kidneys were completely crushed. She needs at least one to survive. If they had just been damaged we could have bought her time, but there's nothing there but bleeding tissue. She needs a kidney and fast. We've put her on the list for a donor, but I doubt she'll receive one in time. I'm sorry." Hermione felt hope flare in her heart.

"I'll donate a kidney. Please, take one of mine." The doctor seemed to study her, perhaps to see just how serious she was. Isobel tightened her grip on Hermione's hand when the doctor spoke.

"You'll need to get a blood test first of all to make sure that you're even a match. If you are, then we'll have to have your mother sign a waiver." Hermione nodded and stood.

"Where do we do this? You made this sound like it needed to happen yesterday." Dr. Green stood and gestured for her to follow him.

"We can do it all while you sit with your mother. She's been asking for you." Hermione followed willingly.

Hermione and Isobel stayed right on Dr. Green's heels as he wound his way through the corridors. They ended up in ICU and were led to a private room at the end of the corridor. Hermione didn't wait for an invitation, she just entered as if she owned the place.

Her mother was laying in the bed, slightly inclined so she could see what was happening around her. Her face was bruised and had fresh cuts over her cheeks and forehead. It looked as if she had had her face slammed into the dash. There were so many tubes and lines coming out of her body that Hermione didn't think she'd be able to count them.

Hermione didn't care if it made her look young and immature. She rushed to her mother's side so quickly that she almost slid out of her flip flops. The joy on her mother's face spread into a smile and Hermione let the hope blossom further inside her chest. She took her mother's hand and put it to her face.

"Mum, you have to sign this waiver." The nurse produced a sheaf of paper that she handed to Hermione. Hermione handed it to her mother and searched for a pen to hand her. Miranda Granger tried to focus on it long enough to read, but she didn't seem to be able to accomplish it. She laid it down and turned to Hermione.

"What is it, baby? I hurt too much to read." Hermione instantly felt guilty.

"I'm so sorry, Mum. It's a waiver for them to take one of my kidneys to give to you. They're getting ready to test me now. If it's a match I want to give you one of my kidneys." Her mother's face instantly crumpled.

"Baby, don't do something like that for me. I don't want to take something like that from you." Hermione felt the first tear slide down her cheek and she tamped down ruthlessly on the urge to break down in sobs. Now was the time to be strong, for both herself and her mother.

"Mum, please. Dad's gone and I have to do everything I can to save you. I can't bear to lose you both. Please don't stop me from doing this for you. I love you and I want to know that you're going to be around for many many years to come. Please just sign the fucking paper." She had never cursed like that in front of her parents and she hoped that the fact she was doing it now would show her mother just how serious she was. Her mother squeezed tears down her cheeks for half a second before she did her best to pick the paper back up. The nurse stepped forward and spoke.

"If you can't manage your whole name, an X will do just fine. I'll sign below it to show that I witnessed you signing it." Her mother gave her a grateful smile and signed a large looping X instead of her full name. Her eyes looked heavy as the nurse came forward and took the document. Hermione kissed her forehead in much the same way her mother had kissed her while she was growing up.

"Take a nap, Mum. I think the nurse just came in to get my blood." Her mother relaxed back into bed and gave her a small smile at her words and actions. She let her eyes slide shut so Hermione turned her attention back to the nurse that had just walked in.

The pretty young woman had a name tag with the words Jenny Doughtry pinned on her light blue scrubs. She had a kit in her hand that looked to contain several vials and a needle. While she usually wasn't a fan of needles in general, Hermione could find no fear in herself as she held out her arm.

The nurse swabbed her skin with alcohol before she readied the vials on the table before her. Hermione didn't even feel the stick of the needle and kept control of her stomach as she watched the thick, red fluid fill several vials. When the nurse was finished, she wrapped a tight band of gauze around the injection site. She rushed off to go run the appropriate tests on the sample and Hermione turned her attention back to her mother.

Before she could say or do anything, Isobel stepped forward and pressed a bottle of water into Hermione's hand and urged her drink. Hermione hadn't even realized that she was thirsty until the cool water hit her throat. She drank greedily and when she turned to Isobel, the older woman was smiling softly at her.

Hermione didn't wake her mother. She let her sleep for as long as she possibly could. It was quite obvious that Miranda Granger was weaker than a kitten and if she was going to pull through this surgery, she would need her strength.

Hermione could feel herself growing tired as she just sat there and waited. She was beginning to get a chill from being dressed in just a tiny bikini with next to nothing over the top of it when Dr. Green stepped into the room with a clipboard in his hands. Her heart soared when he took the seat in front of her. When he spoke, her mother stirred and blinked her eyes open.

"Miss Granger, I think what you're willing to do here is just wonderful. I wish that there were more family members out there that were as selfless as you are." Her mother smiled softly at the praise the doctor was showering on her daughter. The older man sighed.

"This being said, you can't donate a kidney to your mother. You're not a match." Hermione felt a stab of all encompassing pain envelope her heart. She tried her best to process his words.

"What could you mean? I know I'm a match." Her mother grabbed her hand and tried to pull her in close, but Hermione resisted. She leaned further forward as Dr. Green spoke again.

"Miss Granger, the only way I can explain it is that your parents both have type A blood. That means that as their child you should have either type A or type O blood. You don't. You have type B. You aren't a match." Hermione simply stared at him for a moment before what he was saying really clicked.

"Are you saying that my parents aren't my biological parents?" Dr. Green looked extremely uncomfortable, but he nodded.

"There is no way that you're their biological child unless one of them sired or birthed you without the other." Hermione wasn't sure she could handle this right now. She turned to her mother and her mother looked just as confused as Hermione felt. She squeezed her mother's hand to catch her attention.

"Mum, did you adopt me?" A glazed look came into her eyes as she spoke.

"Baby, I swear to you that you belong to your father and I. I gave birth to you, you were pushed from my body. I wouldn't lie to you." Hermione was growing more suspicious as to her mother's actions.

"Was it raining when I was born, Mum?" She shook her head.

"Of course not, sweetie, it was sunny." Hermione's heart sank when she realized exactly what had happened.

Her father had always told her the story of her birth taking place in the middle of a downpour.

Hermione suspected that she didn't belong to either of her parents and they had memory charms placed on them to make them believe that she was their biological child. This did nothing for the situation at hand and it broke her heart. She gave her mother a comforting smile before turning back to Dr. Green.

"What are the chances of a donor kidney coming before it's too late?" The doctor's eyes saddened even further.

"The chances aren't good. People usually wait months for a donor organ. We've moved your mother to the top of the list, but I really don't think there's much of a chance." Hermione felt her heart break the rest of the way. The doctor and his nurse stood and started for the door.

"We'll leave you to spend some time together." Hermione knew that that was code for "spend your last moments together".

Isobel followed Dr. Green and his nurse out, obviously doing her best to give mother and daughter privacy. Hermione turned to her mother who patted the bed next to her. The young girl didn't hesitate. She crawled right in the bed and snuggled into her mother's side as gently as she could. Her mother stroked the skin of her neck, back, and shoulders as she spoke.

"I don't have long, Miney. I can feel that my time is near. I don't want you feeling guilty about your father and I. This wasn't your fault." Hermione buried her face in her mother's chest and could just barely smell the comforting scent she always wore, vanilla and honeysuckle.

"It was my fault, you and Dad were coming home to have lunch with me." Her mother laughed softly and kissed the top of her head.

"We were, sweetie, but we go home for lunch every day. Even if you hadn't have been home, we still would have been in the same place at the same time." Hermione finally let her tears fall. She was sobbing into her mother's chest.

"What am I going to do once you're gone? How will I move on?" Her mother started to play with the little curls escaping her bun.

"Miney, you're the smartest girl I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. You are my daughter regardless of what that doctor tried to tell us. You were your father and I's greatest achievement. We are so proud of you. You will change the world in so many ways, baby. Whether your father and I are with you til the end or we're looking down from above, we will be there cheering you on." Hermione couldn't stem the sobs no matter how hard she tried. Her world was falling down around her and she had no idea what to do next.

"Where will I go?" Miranda Granger stilled for a moment before she continued to stroke her daughter's hair.

"You get a hold of that Headmaster of yours. Once I'm gone, you won't have any ties to this world anymore. I'm sure he'll find you a nice family to live with, that will love you just as much as we do." Hermione nodded softly. She had no other option.

"I love you, Mum. I don't know where I would be if I didn't have you and Dad." Her mother laughed openly now.

"Miney, your father I always said we wouldn't know where we would have ended up if it hadn't been for you. I love you more than life itself. I'm counting on you to grieve, but not lose yourself. Don't stop living. Keep moving forward in your life, find love and happiness, achieve your goals. Make the best of your life for your father and I. Promise me." Hermione finally stopped sobbing because she could feel her mother's breaths getting shallower. She sat up and looked her in the eyes.

"I promise, Mum. I'll accomplish every one of my dreams for you and Dad." Her mother rested her head back on the pillow.

"We'll see each other again someday, Miney. We'll be waiting at the Gates when it's your time." Hermione gave her mother a small smile.

"I'll see you there." Her mother smiled softly and closed her eyes. Her breathing was far more shallow now and Hermione knew it was close.

She held her mother's hand close to her chest and sang to her. Amazing Grace was her mother's favorite hymn and Hermione thought that it was fitting to send her mother off to heaven with her favorite hymn in her ears.

Halfway through the second verse, Miranda Granger's chest quit rising and the machines hooked up to her went crazy.

Nurses and doctors rushed in and started to pull paddles out of some machine nearby. Hermione had never seen them up close and personal, she had only ever caught glimpses of them on the telly. They were trying to pull her off the bed with her mother. Finally, Hermione couldn't control herself anymore. Her magic lashed out and every lightbulb in the room burst. The doctors went silent and the only light in the room was what was pouring in through the door. When Hermione spoke her voice was raw and thick with tears.

"Just don't. I'm her daughter and I say let her go. She won't survive long anyways if you manage to bring her back. Just let her die with some dignity." Everyone backed away from the bed and her mother's body.

Hermione bent down and pressed a kiss to her mother's cheek. She had gotten her closure with her mother and she had no urge to stay with her mother's body. It wasn't her mother anymore. The body on the bed didn't possess her mother's wit or sense of humor. It no longer held her intelligence or her love and compassion that she held for mankind. Her mother's shell was what remained and she had no attachment to that. What she was attached to had left the earthly plane and traveled skyward to where her father surely waited for her.

As callous as it may seem, Hermione couldn't help it. The empty shell on the bed merely reminded her that her parents were gone and would never return. The less reminders she had, the better.

Isobel came through the door and saw that Hermione was in the process of leaving. Her face was tear stained, but her eyes were dry now. She would shed more in the privacy of her own home. Once Isobel had correctly gathered what had happened, she opened her arms to Hermione.

"Come child, you'll come home with me until we figure out what your next move will be." Hermione nodded. Truly, this suited her just fine. There would only be a million more reminders at home that her parents were gone.

Isobel laid an arm around Hermione's shoulders and started to guide her towards the lift. Hermione knew she was starting to go into shock. She could feel it, but the thing she needed most was to get away from the hospital. Her whole world had just been destroyed and she was trying to cope as best she could.

The trip through the hospital flew past without Hermione actually seeing anything. She faintly realized that Isobel was helping her into her Fiesta and strapping her in. Hermione turned to Isobel the second they pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

"Can we just go straight to your house? I can't face my house right now." Isobel gave her a soft smile and nod.

"Absolutely, Hermione. You are most welcome. I have some old clothes you can change into." Hermione smiled softly, but didn't answer. She settled back into the seat and let Isobel handle the rest.

Hermione was trying to figure out how she was going to grieve, but not drown. They didn't call her the Brightest Witch of her Age for nothing. She'd get there eventually.

A/N- Seriously, I bawled my fucking eyes out writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy. I almost decided to keep her mother alive, but decided to torment everyone instead, including myself. For the medical people out there, I have no idea if this is really how organ compatibility is discovered. If it is, look at me go! If not, well, forgive a girl for being too damn sick to actually research that. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and continue to leave me your thoughts.

Next chapter, Hermione tries to figure out how to get a hold of Hogwarts and something unexpected happens to our girl.

Thanks again, y'all.

Love,

Alicia