The Tale of Dark Hermione

Year 3 - Going Back Home

Hermione was waiting for her mother ready to go back to Hogwarts.  Her mother insisted to actually completely go with her this time, which was a shock.  The entire summer was tense in the Granger household, Hermione knew it was somewhat her fault because she couldn't help but think back to the chamber with Tom Riddle.  It was bothersome and she couldn't help but be cautious around her parents.  She was avoiding them with all her power and instead of staying inside to read her walked to the local park and just sat there staring into the large lake that sat below the small ridge in the park.

Avoiding was easy to Hermione, but now she was forced to actually be with her mother this time and Henery didn't even offer to go along.  Again the car ride was silent for a while before her mother not being able to stand it anymore started babbling about anything while Hermione just sat staring off into space not really paying attention.

Jean Granger didn't stop talking even once they came upon the wall of platform 9 3/4.  Hermione thought this would be it and Jean would go back leaving, but instead, she followed much to Hermione's surprise.

They walked to one of the doors where families were gathered around waving or hugging their children good-bye.  Hermione let one of the conductor men take her trunk onto the train before she stepped on she got a surprise as Jean grabbed her hand.

"Wait..." Hermione turned to look at her mother.

"I know I haven't been the best mother for these couple of years...but I'm going to try harder okay.  I hope it's not too late but I..." Jean tried to continue on but Hermione stopped her because now the question that was on her mind the entire summer came up, but it was more like a statement than a question.

"Henery isn't really my dad...is he..." Jean caught so off guard with the question started paling once the question registered in her brain.

"W-what...I..." Jean was interrupted by the train whistle signaling that it was about to take off.

Hermione looked into her mother's eyes knowing the panic and turned walking onto the train knowing the answer she refused to acknowledge until now.  She didn't look back as the door closed behind her as the train slowly took off.  She walked through the train carts looking into every cart until she came upon where Harry, Ron, and Ginny were sitting.

Putting on her Slytherin face she opened the door and walked in and sat next to Ginny.  They looked at her and Hermione rose an eyebrow at them.

"What no hello? And who is he?" Hermione questioned pointing at the sleeping man in the compartment.

"Sorry Hermione, you look good, you've grown. And we have no idea but everywhere else is full," Ginny stated.

"Thank you, Ginny, summer has been very kind to me plus I'm growing up I guess. Best to stay as quiet as possible to not wake him." the others nodded.

"Anyway, for all of you.  How was your summer?" Hermione questioned refusing to talk about her own.

Harry started talking about hanging with the Weasley after the incident with Aunt Marge and staying in Diagon Alley after Hermione went back home for the rest of the summer.  Ron and Ginny also talked about the rest of their summer and soon they started joking about some of their past.  

Listening to the Weasley's talk about their past as siblings was different for Hermione because she grew up alone.  Sure Harry was an orphan but he still had Dudley no matter how horrible he was around so he was never truly alone.  Hermione truly felt alone at that moment.  Her parents would either be working or just go out together leaving Hermoine alone for hours and she had no muggle friends mostly due to an incident a long time ago.  The neighboorhood has always been avoiding her since then.  

She started thinking back then, but the train suddenly jerked and stopped on the tracks. 

"Blimey, are we there yet?" Ron questioned as the boys ended up on the floor from the jolt of the train stopping.

"Don't be silly Ron we still have an hour left," Ginny stated.  Harry looked out the window and as ice seemed to case the window.  The cold slowly filled the room and ice even encased the glass doors inside the train.

"What's going on?" Ginny questioned quietly as doomed seemed to slowly grow closer to where they were.

Thoughts kept running through Hermione's mind and memories she rather not think about.  It felt like all the happiness in the world was disappearing. 

A black figure was floating outside of the door now and it reached out its hand magically opening the door to the compartment.  Harry fell to the floor and passed out, the others shivered in the cold, Hermione was lost in her mind running into one memory that should have been forgotten long ago.

The sleeping man jumped up pulling out his wand as a light appeared out of it pushing the creature out and warmth filled the room again with the light. The other seemed to go normal again, while Hermione was pale still shaking from the memory and Harry laid on the floor.

The man shook Harry awake and put some chocolate in his hand. "Eat this...it will make you feel better."

"Who are you? And what was that thing?" Harry questioned still a bit dazed.

"That was a dementor.  Don't worry about that Potter you'll learn about those soon.  And I'm Professor Lupin the new defense teacher.  Now I must be off to tell the conductor to continue on." Lupin got up and walked out the door but turned around one last time, "Eat it will help."

"Well that was strange," Ginny commented.

"At least he seemed like a competent defense teacher, so far we've had no luck there," Ron stated to Ginny while Harry and Hermione were quiet.

"You okay there you two?" Ron questioned.

Hermione just nodded and looked out the window her mind in other places. Harry was another story, "Did anyone scream?"

Ginny and Ron looked at each other and shook their heads no.

"N-never mind then..." Harry also started looking out the window as Ginny and Ron shared a glance at each other.

Even during the feast, the two were unnaturally quiet.  Sure it was normal for Hermione since she was a Slytherin and no one talks to her, but she didn't even respond to the taunts thrown her way which was odd.

Everything was almost back to normal once Hermione finally ended up in bed ready to start classes to get something normal back.  Yes, classes would be a better start than what just happened on the train.  Sleep soon took over and her dreams filled with the memories that haunted her and now the truth that was staring her in her face.

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A.N. - Don't worry I know it's been a while since I updated I've been just really really really really busy with summer and all.  Not everyone can have a summer off of everything.  AS I STATED BEFORE THOUGH I WILL NOT STOP THIS STORY I WILL FINISH IT.  It will take time, but I'm truly trying my best.   

Lots of Love to everyone who reads this and I hope you enjoy this because now I'm going to go off the beaten path a bit from the originals cause it's fun!!!!   WHOOOOO INTERESTING LETS GOOO!!!

ENJOY!