Darkness Falls

Four

1991 - First Year

Hermione arrived at her house to the smell of her mums cooking the second she walked through the door, there was no smell she found more comforting.

Hermione and her dad made their way into the living room whilst her mum went to put on a pot of tea, 'some things' never change Hermione thought. Her dad sat eagerly waiting to hear all about her new school.

Once the Granger's were all settled in the living room, she wasted no time in telling them all about Hogwarts. She told them the kind of lessons she was taking and how she was the top of her class for most, if not all, of her classes. She even told them about her disinterest in flying but left out the fact that she had detention. She told them about how she had made friends with Harry and Ron. Hermione's dad pulled his face slightly when he registered they were both boys but she ignored it and carried on. She then told them about Draco and how they had become friends but it was difficult.

This was something her parents struggled to understand and her mum couldn't help but feel offended by it, "So they don't like the fact that we are non magical?"

Hermione nodded at her mums question, she could see the hurt in her eyes. It wasn't something Mrs. Granger had expected, to be ridiculed because she was born without magic.

"Some wizarding families believe that all families that aren't pure are dirty. For example, Harry's parents were both magical, but Harry's mum was like me. Ron's family are actually pure-blood, however they associate with Muggles therefore they are classed as blood traitors in the eyes of real pure-bloods. Draco was raised in one of those families, but he's trying to understand. I've obviously confused him."

"Well you are special sweetheart," Hermione's mum responded and put her hand on her arm to comfort her. "What a poor boy, to grow up in that kind of household. It sounds awful and very lonely!"

Hermione could only nod as she fidgeted with her hands, she didn't want to think too much about it. Thankfully her dad always could pick up on whether or not she wanted to discuss something and quickly changed the subject. "Tell us more about Harry and Ron."

She smiled and went into great detail about Ron and his family, his 3 brothers that also attended Hogwarts, along with the 2 that had already left. There was also a sister who would start next September who she was eager to meet. She then went on to tell her parents Harry's story. They didn't find this one as happy as Ron's' and Hermione's mum almost cried when she reached the part in the story where Harry told her about his Christmas with the Dursley's.

"The magical world is a lot darker than I imagined. I don't know what I expected when you started this school but I know it wasn't this."

"Do remember dad, the war was years ago. Just before I was born, and that man is gone now thanks to Harry so there isn't anything for you to actually worry about now. I just wanted to tell you his story," Hermione shrugged her shoulders and picked up the cup of tea her mum had poured for her. Hermione had gotten so used to the magic surrounding Hogwarts and the spells that performed every action for her that she almost forgot how to make herself a cup of tea the muggle way.

The Grangers continued to discuss the wonder that was Hogwarts; Hermione even showed her parents some of the spells she had learned as well as the rules that came with casting magic outside of school. After a few hours Hermione's parents started to fill her in on anything she had missed out in since she went to Hogwarts, it was only then she realized there were no Christmas decorations around the house. "Where's the tree?"

"We haven't got one yet. You didn't think we would go tree shopping without you did you? It's a tradition that you pick the tree and we decorate together!" Her dads words filled her with warmth. She really was so happy to be home.