"Gryffindor!", the hat announced.
Hermione left for the Gryffindor table, unsure if she was excited or disappointed.
--- A few years later ---
"Harry!"
"Harry, where are you?"
The school was searching for Harry. It had been an hour since he had disappeared. Voldemort had told everyone to hand him over. Was it possible someone did?
Just then, a girl appeared from the Forbidden Forest.
"Quiet!", she ordered.
"You fools, your "hero" came to the Forbidden Forest an hour ago. He presented himself to the Dark Lord, for your well being.", she laughed hysterically.
"WHERE IS HE?"
The sky went dark. The atmosphere, cold as ice. Everyone froze.
Voldemort, along with Hagrid with a motionless Harry his arms and Death Eaters emerged from the Forest.
"Harry Potter is dead!", cackled Voldemort.
The Death Eaters laughed in content.
Harry Potter was dead. The snake was alive and well protected and so was Voldemort...
Voldemort and his army took over the wizarding world. Voldemort's pride grew and grew. He started killing whoever stood up against him and tried to end his reign. Dementors were set free. The Death Eaters had control over the Ministry. Soon, Voldemort was proclaimed the most powerful dark wizard in the wizarding world.
Everyone knew he was unstoppable, but did not stop trying to break free of this imprisonment. Everyone had no choice but to continue their lives normally. But nothing was normal. Everything had turned upside-down.
"All of this wouldn't be happening if Harry hadn't gone to the Forest that night", complaint Ron, despairingly.
"Harry is dead", Hermione said, frustrated because of how many times Ron would bring up the subject. "It'd be better for you if you'd stop talking about him. And anyways, he wanted to save everyone and the only way to do that was by giving himself up to You-Know-Who."
"Whatever".
They were both clearly hurt. Ron wanted to talk about Harry to feel better while to Hermione, talking about Harry would just increase the pain. The rest of the Weasley's also didn't like talking about Harry and Mrs. Weasley would start tearing up as soon as someone mentioned Harry's or Fred's name.
After Harry died, Hermione did not think it smart to bring her parents back. She wanted them safe, and the only way to do that was to stay away from them. So, she lived with the Weasley, who treated her like family.
"Maybe it's better if we talk about something else", Hermione said.
"Yeah.. Do you remember the girl? You know, the one who came out of the Forbidden Forest to.."
His voice trailed off. He didn't know how to put it without saying Harry's name.
"Yes. Her name is Emily Eddan, Slytherin. I met her in the Hogwarts Express in my first year. She was nice at the time. But after her cousin, Oliver Shirls was killed in the sixth year she became a Death Eater. He was like a brother to her. But he died trying to protect you know, Harry from Vol- I mean You-Know-Who. She blamed him for it and swore revenge."
She was trying her best not to mention Harry's name.
"Well, she got it... I guess", said Ron, "Sometimes I wish I would've died in the Battle along with Fred. at least the pain would've been temporary instead of permanent".
Hermione ran out, tears streaming down her face. How did life become so miserable?