Disclaimer:: I don't now own Harry Potter, this is a work of fiction.

Chapter One

It was a dark Orphanage, stone and wood mostly. Lightly decorated but nothing really extravagant. The floor boards above shook from patters of feet causing dust to fall onto the sleeve of her thin black coat; which was more of a cult robe in her opinion, but it was standard here if she didn't have one. It was freezing or it could possibly be the way Mrs. Cole - the matron - was staring at her. Dumbledore, a principle at the Orphanage seemed a little more inviting smiling warmly on occasion as Mr. Couch and he went over school transfer papers.

Was schooling in an Orphanage common? She leaned back into the chair tiredly, fixating on the thought and trying to avoid making eye contact with Mrs. Cole.

"Mrs. Cole, could you show Miss. Granger around? She looks far too happy over there," Dumbledore smiled. Nodding Mrs. Cole stood.

"Follow me, I'll show you to your room." She grabbed some papers from her desk and Hermione grabbed her small luggage bag following her out the door. Mrs. Cole shifted through her papers as they climb the stairs seeming too busy for conversation… or perhaps trying to avoid it. It was okay—she didn't feel like talking to her. Something about Mrs. Cole seemed uninviting and it wasn't her sharp features or iron pressed faded clothes but something more unattached and distant. They stopped at the second floor and she noticed Mrs. Cole flipping back and forth her papers with what she interpreted as concern.

"If you don't like your room… later—if there's an opening, we can switch it perhaps." She shakenly pulled out a set of keys. They made their way down the hall stopping at an old wooden door, unlocking it revealed a rather small and dank looking room. The floor tile and half brick up walls looked like a holding cell, she was prisoner 05. Mrs. Cole wasn't looking at her room though, she was looking at her wall suspiciously. Finally collecting herself she beckoned Hermione to put down her bag before crouching to her level "The other children don't like to be bothered in their rooms much… I would keep it down in here if I were you."

It was a warning.

Unsurely she settled with a nod and Mrs. Coles once again glanced at the wall before picking herself up and taking out a sharpie from her dresses pocket. Uncapping it she took Hermione's hand and wrote the room number on it.

"Unpack your bags later, for now, I'll show you the cafeteria. It's a weekend so there are no classes today. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are announced over the speakers. If you miss it, Dobby and Winky will to get you something if they are still here." So if I miss lunch, go get the cafeteria staff? Seemed unorganized. Mrs. Cole started out the door and she fell into step behind her. "The kitchen is locked at night but there is a fridge with snacks, pre-prepared meals and drinks ready. We are short staffed right now so we trust you will not break the rules, if you do there will be consequences."

"What type of consequences?" She asked trying to keep her pace as she started down the stairs.

"You will be banned from outdoors and reactional activities, confined to your room or have one of our staff follow you. It depends. I will go over the rules with you when we return..." The previous week had flown by, a confusing one with court hearings she couldn't remember. She was hitting a hard reality that this was more or less a jailhouse.

The cafeteria was not far from the staircase and it was big enough to sit over a hundred kids with four long tables set in the middle. A slightly plump boy with dark hair dressed in a sweater vest and brown khakis sat inside eating what looked like orange juice, eggs and toast with jelly.

"Having breakfast at six o'clock?" Mrs. Cole frowned.

"My mother used to make me breakfast in the afternoon mam. She worked at night so her schedule was all off..."

"Ah, well continue…" the caretakers face turned red, whether she was embarrassed or mad she couldn't tell. Either way she cared little to argue with him and instead nudged her forward.

He looked to Hermione curiously.

"Hermione this is Neville Longbottom, from what I know he will be in your class. Neville show her around." She pawed her hand at him and just like that she was pawned off.

"A Gryffindor!" He smiled ear-to-ear. Mrs. Cole rolled her eyes murmuring to herself before walking away. Hermione knitted her brows at her as the door click shut.

"So… what's a Gryffindor?" she turned to Neville.

"Our class name. There are too many kids in Wools so they split them into groups for classes. We made up the group name. There's Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff." He scooped the rest of his eggs into his mouth and wiped with his sleeve before standing. "We have some classes with the Slytherin group but thankfully only three."

She put a finger to her lips "what do you mean, thankfully?"

"Caught that did you? I'm not trying to scare you, it's just always been a bit of a competition with the other classes. They keep track of behavior and grades by groups. Miss Cole thinks the names create tension but since Dumbledore lets us she doesn't really have a choice. This place wouldn't be able to run if it wasn't for him" Neville titled his head slightly "It just happens that Slytherin has a bunch of rotten eggs if you asked me, sore losers and trouble makers." Something negative crossed his face but it was gone before she could say anything. "You mind if I ask why your here? You don't have any relatives to take you?"

She stiffened suddenly at his last remark.

"I'm sorry, that's not my business!"

"No it's okay," she forced a smile which felt unusual on her face "they are gone… I think. I don't really remember them... Well I don't remember… much." She rubbed the top of her hand nervously.

"Anyways lets go." he said giving her an odd look but motioning for her to follow "I'm here till my parents get better. They were in the war and were captured. After coming home they weren't what the doctors said-" he quotation marked his fingers "mentally fit to care for me right now." His smile got bigger but it didn't quite reach his eyes "They will get better though." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than her.

"Oh, I see..." she added not sure what to say. He started up the flight of stairs passing the second floor to the third. She should say something, anything "So… do you like it here?" Yes I'm sure he's thrilled you idiot, she chided herself.

"No, but they let us keep pets here. They think it provides good emotional support. Ron has a pet rat, scares Mrs. Cole so much she won't enter his room! Do you want to see my frog?"

"Um, sure." She smiled. The pets they were allowed to keep here were a little weird.

Rats.

Frogs.

"My friend Harry had an owl."

Owls.

A pale girl with white blond hair appeared suddenly from a doorway "Harry? ...Neville have you seen Harry? My book disappeared and I want to be sure he didn't borrow it and it wasn't the nar-"

"LUNA… this is Hermione," Neville quickly interjected, Luna looked to her unfazed by his outburst. "Luna is a Ravenclaw... but don't worry she's okay."

"Thank you Neville," she said nodding to him still with an aloof smile. Turning her attention back to Hermione she held out her hand. "I'm Luna Lovegood, my parents died in a nuclear accident." Slightly dumbstruck she felt her brows furrow instantly but tried to force them back up opening her mouth before she knew what to say. It would have been something along the lines of 'I'm sorry for your loss'.

"Luna, you will scare people if you keep introducing yourself that way," A voice behind her said disapprovingly just as she took Lunas hand. A red haired girl with lots of freckles, she was cute. She looked slightly younger than her and the other two. "Ginny." She took her hand shaking it firmly.

"I'm Hermione Granger."

"Sorry, can't stay, I'm also looking for Harry and Ron. Knowing them, they are with Fred and George playing a prank on Mr. Filch." She grabbed Luna's arm leading her away.

"Mr. Filch is the janitor, he only comes in the afternoon but he's quite a grump so stay clear of him. If you don't want to get into trouble for 'lollygagging'." Neville said rolling his eyes. "Oh, about Luna" he faltered for a moment "...Well, uh...That's probably not how her parents died, she makes up a new story every week. It's kind of her thing, I think she just doesn't want to talk about it."

"That's... understandable." I guess, she added in her mind.

Neville groaned and she looked up. A white-blonde haired boy, the same color as Luna's strutted his way down the halls in a gray pricey looking vest covering a green stripped tie, two goons with green stripped ties as well but a messier attire followed suit. Instead of stopping to say anything he chose to keep walking shouldering Neville on his way.

"Move your fat ass," he said causing Neville to stumble, the two goons behind him snickered.

"That wasn't very nice!" She yelled at his back glaring daggers. He flicked his brows at her continuing down the hall. 'That wasn't very nice' she could hear him mimic to his goons who chuckled on cue. Neville was already pulling her away before she could say anything more.

"That's Draco Malfoy, just avoid him." That goes without saying, but still. If you don't have a backbone everyone would walk over you. "Stupid ferret." He mumbled causing her to break into a smile.

He practically beamed "Didn't think you had a real smile in you!"

"It's been a long… depressing day. So, why a ferret?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." They stopped at his door, he pulled his key out, unlocked it and headed straight for his tank. Looking around his walls they were scattered with pictures of his parents. Still as dark and dank as hers but decorated. "This is Trevor!" The frog appeared suddenly in front of her face giving a hollow croak.

"Hello, Trevor," she smiled backing away. She grabbed his webbed hand and gave it a shake. "I'm Hermione Granger."

"Granger? What the hell type of name is that?" A shrill voice said from outside the open door. She spotted a solid green tie over her white button up first, a pug nose second. "Your hair looks disgusting. Ever heard of a brush?" She felt her cheeks flush. Compared to Pansy's hair which was straight solid black and bobbed. Her hair more lengthy and had a lot of… healthy curls, given it was probably a bit messy from the day, she smoothed it instinctively. "Like that's going to help."

"This is my room Pansy." Neville said turning red. Pansy gave an over exaggerated sneer before leaving. She mentally scolded herself for just standing there. God I hate green ties, she thought unknowingly smoothing her gray skirt and sweater. "Sorry about that, she and Draco stay on the second floor... that's why they're up here a lot..."

"I'm on the second floor, should I not be there?" She joked but when his face tensed she mentally sighed.

"Well, it's because he doesn't want them there right now." Neville's eyes flickered to the door nervously as if someone would pop out saying 'got you'.

"Who?"

"I'm not, well—" He fumbled and seemed to contemplate his words "we don't talk about 'him'. I mean if you're smart you shouldn't talk about him, not that were 'talking' about him badly—"

"Are you talking about Riddle?" A boy with rounded glasses and shaggy brown hair appeared.

"Shhhh—Harry! Someone will hear you!" A red headed boy also appeared beside him, he must have been related to the red headed girl—because the resemblance was striking. They started bickering amongst each other and she eyed Harry's slightly oversized flannel shirt with curiosity.

"That's his name, Tom Riddle, to be afraid to talk about him... It's stupid." Harry rolled his eyes. Neville was pale and watching the doorway like a hawk. "Stop it, Neville they are just rumors."

"Barking mad you are, he killed your owl Harry!" Ron was looking at him wide eyed.

"No one knows how he died Ron. You're. Being. Stupid." She held out her hand deciding to change the topic.

"Hermione Granger," she took the brown heads hand.

"Oh, Harry- Harry Potter." He had soft green eyes under his glasses. Then something caught her eye under his hair, a scar. Looking closer at it, it looked like lightning. Amazing, she gawked "It's a long story."

"Sorry," she blinked biting her lip but he shook his head dismissively. Maybe he was stared at a lot. "So they let you have owls too?" She asked wanting to change the subject, he smiled at her sadly—wrong subject.

"No, I just took care of him on the roof. Then one day when I went up to feed him and he was, you know—"

"—after an argument with... You—know—who." Ron leaned in whispering the last part to her, but she was very confused what to make of it. He took her hand suddenly just as she had with Harry. "I'm Ron by the way."

"Weasly? I think I've met your sister, Ginny?"

"Yeah, that's right. I have four siblings here, unfortunately."

The evening passed with Ron trying to show her his rat Scabbers and his brothers Fred and George trying to get her to drop water balloons on the other kids; that's where she met Percy who reprimanded them, claiming to be some sort of head boy. Apparently older kids stayed on the first floor with special privileges but more responsibilities. Who needed staff when they could make the children take care of the children? Ridicules. Eight o' clock stuck with an announcement.

—Everyone has fifteen minutes to curfew—

"Breakfast with us tomorrow." Harry pointed his index at her and she said yes with a smile. She agreed as they dispersed from Neville's room. Ginny linked arms with her down the hall.

"I'll show you where the girl's bathroom is. Did they give you a toothbrush or shampoo… or anything?" Hermione shook her head no. "Of course they didn't." Ginny led her to Mrs. Coles office and retrieved a caddy full of everything they didn't give her. Including a laminated list of rules for the orphanage. So much for going over the rules with her. The bathroom was on the first floor and kids were overcrowding them so the fifteen minutes they gave her was not a blessing but a curse. Her caddy was even tossed to the ground at one point causing Ginny to curse at a girl name Bellatrix. She didn't have green on her but she somehow knew what class she was from.

"Is it always so crowded in here?" Hermione lowered her elbows to not get hit as she brushed her teeth.

Ginny nodded "Mornings are better, I would shower then. Nobody wants to get up that early."

Taking her advice for later she finished and they departed on the second stairs immediately she noticed the difference in noise, unlike the slamming of doors above and the chatting below. Children seemed to float like ghost into their rooms on her floor, quiet as mouse's. It was almost eerie how she could hear her foot steps and for a moment she remembered how really depressing this orphanage looked. It was actually really dark.

What was her room again?

She sighed, the marker had smudged from all the handshakes. Seeing the faded first two numbers she remembered which side Mrs. Cole had led her on.

"Eeny—meeny—miny—moe…" she mentally pointed going past the doors, she pushed one open.

Nope, there was a boy inside standing across from his wardrobe with a box, his face turned to her slightly with a hint of irritation. He eye'd her his stare going from dark to darker a slight glint to them.

"Sorry, wrong room," she smiled and was about to close the door before he spoke softly.

"You're the new girl." It was a statement not a question "your room is to the right, next door to mine."

"Oh, okay thanks," she reached her hand out to greet him like she did the others. "I'm-"

"Hermione Granger, I know." He looked to her hand with faint disinterest, but didn't take it. Instead he put his box away sitting down in a chair leisurely looking out his window at the small raindrops that formed. Rude, she thought closing her hand. "These walls are paper thin, so you will keep it down when you're in your room. If you slam the doors I will address it."

She scoffed and he turned his head back to her "Address me?" her mouth twitch in a smile before growing serious again and furrowing her brows "Are you in charge of this floor or something?"

"Or something," His eyes flashed dangerously to her and she somehow found herself unable to retort. Heat rose to her face and her throat knotted. "When I'm talking, you will listen, understand…" he flicked his head dismissively "Go away now, don't come in my room again. This is your only warning."

She stood at the door wanting to say something, anything to him. But nothing came. So she stood there with no words.

"I said, leave." He hissed his features contorted. Since her mouth would not move she mustered every ounce of strength and slammed the door so hard it echoed throughout the hall.

Yeah, she showed him…

A rush of energy sparked through her it was enthralling, she felt proud. Until she heard the creaking of children rising from their beds, doors opening, heads peeking out. As she backed away from the door about to go to her room their whispers broke out and she picked up words such as 'dead girl' and 'you-know-who', a chill ran up her spine. The puzzle clicking together all the way to Mrs. Coles worried face.

That was the orphanages most fear occupant.

And she slammed the door on him.

Sorry guys the story is slightly re-written to fill some plot holes and character depth. Sorry about no updates I was a little disappointed in the unorganized direction.