Hermione was not having a good summer. For the most part, she was able to hide from her father when he was in a demanding mood. "Freak, make dinner" or "Brat, get the dishes clean." It was always the same. He roughly shoved her more than once and occasionally got in a rather painful slap or two if she was extra mouthy. It stopped having a large effect on her though. It all just felt normal. She never spoke.
At school, she was so confident. So smart and independent. At home, she was nothing. A piece of dirt to only be wiped off of her father's boot. Yes, it was sad, but it was reality.
That particular day, she was in the backyard resting under their big oak tree. She used to climb it all the time, but fell once. That was the day when her fear of heights began.
It was quiet, peaceful and all around strange. There was no yelling or shoving her around. Well, it was game day. Her father was preoccupied with his Telly. The only time he would call her was for her to grab him another beer.
All that alcohol wouldn't end well for her: he would get more bossy. A lot more demanding. Too frightening. She didn't worry at the moment, though. All she wanted to do that day was relax.
Hermione wondered how Harry was doing. He got out of the Dursleys home for the summer and she was happy for him. She couldn't help little jealousy. He left her alone for the summer. The only reason Harry was ever allowed near her was because the Dursleys dragged him around.
Other than a pang of jealousy and hurt, she was really happy for him. Harry and Sirius. The two finally had some happy points in their lives. She could see them right now. Just talking and enjoying their time together. It was joyous.
"GET IN HERE SPAWN!" Hermione winced. That was a name that really grated on her nerves. She could take freak, brat and even bitch on occasions, but the word spawn was just sore. She didn't know why, it just was.
Hermione got up and didn't even reach the house when suddenly, something was thrown towards her head. She didn't duck in time and the obvious broken piece of glass hit her head. It cut her skin and she clutched her forehead.
He stomped up to her in a flurry of anger and yelled, "That's what you get for breaking another one of my dishes! What did you do with it? You fixed it with your magic! Magic is not allowed in my house! Do you understand!?"
Hermione whimpered, "Yes Papa." She had to smack herself for her own stupidity. Of course the magic wouldn't stick. The plate would break apart sooner or later. Her magic wasn't strong enough to keep a damn plate together!
The man grabbed her by her colour and placed her in front of the overflowing sink. He yelled, "You mess up on the laundry, the dishes, making dinner. You can't do anything right! All the mistakes, there is no use on you being here!" Spittle was hitting her face along with a strong smell of alcohol. She watched the sink. It was full of grimy and dirty water. You know what her bastard father did? He shoved her face in it. She struggled to get out, but he kept her face in. He was trying to kill her?!
She heard him say, "I'm done with your freakish behavior and your constant mistakes! That is the last mistake you'll ever make!"
Hermione was freaking out. She kept trying to get her face out of the damn water, but he was just too strong. So, she thought fast and quit moving all together. She slumped against him and played dead. It worked for Opossums, why not for her?
The man quickly grabbed her head out if the water and through her to the ground. Her head collided with the floor and she tried desperately not to cry out in pain.
She could hear her father begin to panic. "What have I done? What have I done! I hated the bitch, but I didn't mean to kill her! I didn't…. I'm not a killer. Oh, the cops will come. My life will be ruined! I can't rot in jail! I can't…..." He stopped pacing and went into the living room. She decided that it was a good time to make her escape. He was feeling guilty, he would hesitate and let her escape. She was about to get up when she heard it. The subtle click of a gun being cocked. Hermione quickly opened her eyes and scrambled up to see her mentally unstable father holding a gun to his head. It could have very well happened in slow motion.
He pulled the trigger as she screamed, "No papa!" His eyes widened as the bullet passed through his skull. He fell to the ground with a look if pure shock and despear on his face.
Hermione didn't stay. She ran. She ran far away from her house and far away from her life that had gone from one to negative ten in the span of four minutes.
Hermione always knew her father's brain was a bit broken, but suicide? All because of her. Not because he killed her, his daughter, but because he just killed a person. He really didn't care for her. She was no better than a spawn of a dead woman he used to love.
Hermione ran away from her house and didn't even bother going back for her Hogwarts stuff or wand. All she wanted to do was run away.
A cop car passed her on her run. Probably to her house. A neighbor most likely heard the gunshot.
Hermione slowed her run and moved her soaking hair away from her face. She stunk and felt awful. All she wanted was Harry. For him take her away from the nightmare.
Only a distance from where Hermione had run to, Harry was feeling something. Like a weight had settled on his chest and panic was beginning to overcome him. Something was wrong. He just knew it.
Harry quickly told Sirius that something was wrong and he was leaving. The man tried to stop Harry, but he couldn't. Harry ran out of the house and followed his instincts. It was like he was following an invisible string that kept pulling him towards somewhere,
Harry wandered for what felt like hours. He found what had made the panic. Hermione. She was sitting against an alley wall with tear stains on her face. Her hair was damp, dirty and very messy. There was a cut on her forehead that looked aggravated. Harry quickly ran up to her and hugged her to him.
Hermione clutched onto him and began to cry. Harry tried desperately to comfort her. He asked her softly, "Tell me what happened, Kitten. Please."
She sucked in a breath and shakily told him, "He tried to kill me Harry! Papa tried to drown me in the sink!" Harry clutched onto her again as she sobbed. Her father tried to drown her?
He whispered angrily, "I'll kill him. Don't worry Hermione, he'll pay."
Hermione shook her head and half shouted, "Too late! He already killed himself!" Harry gasped and fully pulled her onto his lap. He stroked her filthy hair as she cried and felt like crying himself. It wasn't fair. Sweet and strong willed Hermione faced all of this. It wasn't fair!
The two stayed in that alley, Harry trying to comfort Hermione. She eventually just passed out. That's how Sirius found them. Curled in an alleyway. He didn't ask, but gently took Hermione from Harry and walked both home.
Hermione was put in a room they had been preparing for her and covered her up to sleep. Sirius cleaned her up with a swift spell and left Harry and Hermione.
Harry held Hermione's hand as she slept and hoped his precious Kitten would be okay.