Hermione sighed and glanced with morbid disappointment out the window of the taxi. The rain drenched everything in the overly green surroundings; the trees, the grass, the ground, the bushes. It didn't really bother her; it wasn't as if England was much better, really.

But she didn't particularly want to be here. Her parents had insisted that, because she had just graduated and would be able to stay for a few months, they should visit their family.

In Forks, Washington.

She couldn't entirely remember having family in America at all. She hadn't visited with them since she was a small child, according to her parents. Her cousins weren't rude, or even boring, but the town lacked entertainment, sunlight, and, most importantly, magic.

Hermione wasn't quite as dependent on magic as her former classmates had been; growing up as a muggle had done that for her, at least. It wasn't very difficult to adjust to not using it. The only problem was that she felt as if she were unprotected and vulnerable, which, she was sure, wasn't the case. She could defend herself if it was necessary. She'd just fought, victoriously, in a war and had unwillingly and guiltily murdered more than one soldier on the opposing end.

She shook her head away from the memories of the bloody battlefield and focused again on the greenness outside of the window. A slither of panic wrapped itself around her when the car began to slide on the pavement. She hadn't noticed how fast the driver had been speeding down the two-lane roads.

A blur passed by the window, confusing Hermione, but she truly did not have the time to be concerned with it, as the car was swerving out of control.

Fear curled up her spine and nested there. She yearned to yell at the driver and instruct him to slow down, but she couldn't speak, and his face was far too frightened for her to even consider adding more stress to his shoulders.

Another blur, this time to the left of the car, distracted the taxi driver and his grip on the wheel loosened as the car dove, with a shriek from Hermione, nose first into a tree trunk.

- - - -

Author's Note: I'm aware that it's short. I'm also aware that this is a different take on mostly everything, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless. I hope to enjoy writing it! Next chapter should be up tonight or tomorrow.