A love like Tinted Glass

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this story.

Chapter 2: An End or a Beginning?

Hermione's parents had gotten divorced back in her fifth year at Hogwarts. Her mother had tried to make it seem like it was a pleasant experience for everyone, and like it was a mutual agreement, but Hermione wasn't stupid. It wasn't a month after the divorce was finalized that her father had a girlfriend, who had two children as well. Hermione was sure that he hadn't waited to get the divorce to start looking elsewhere. It was her mother that had surprised her the most. Hermione had come home the summer after her fifth year to see her new step-father-to-be sitting in her fathers old recliner. A man she had never met before. She took it in stride though, and at the end of that summer, her mother was remarried to Dermott Kenton.

Her mother had, unfortunately, left the conversation of Hermione being a witch, to the young witch herself. That had been a fun night, resulting in Hermione locking herself into her room, while Dermott roared at her mother for half the night about keeping it from him. He had seemed like a nice guy for the most part, and he treated her mother well, when Hermione wasn't around. But finally, it was her last year of school, and it was time to head to the train station. Normally, her mother would take her, but Jane was visiting her mother, so Dermott drove Hermione to the station. It was a long drive, and awkward, filled with silence, and forced small talk. Dermott had never accepted the fact that Hermione was a witch. He considered himself to be a religious man, and often he referred to her as a demon. He only allowed her to stay during summers and holidays because her mother threatened to leave him otherwise.

Pulling into the parking lot at the station, Dermott left the car wordlessly, and fetched a trolley, while she unloaded her trunk from the car. She nearly yelped when he ripped the trunk from her hands, and slammed it on the trolley, and then put Crookshanks carrying case on top of it. She wanted to say something, but in all honesty, she was terrified of him. Turning to look her in the eye, through his horn rimmed glasses, the glint in his eyes reminded her of Draco, that day in Knockturn Alley. Swallowing hard, she backed up, only to meet the car, trapped again. She almost cringed when Dermott stepped closer.

“You a legal adult in your.... world, right? After you finish this year of school, you're done?” He asked gruffly, in a low voice. His face and eyes were intense still. She just barely managed to nod. Everything he said was true. He sighed, looking relieved suddenly. “Good. After you graduate, don't come back. Your mom and I are moving, and I don't want you near her or me anymore. I've put some money in your trunk, that should be enough to get you started. Good luck, and get lost.” And with that, he climbed into the drivers seat, and started the car, making her jump from her daze, and step away from the car. Wide eyed, Hermione watched him pull out quickly, leaving the station. It would be the last time she ever see him again. He'd just kicked her out. No more Mom... Surely Jane had no idea what Dermott was planning... But... He said they were moving... Her mom had never mentioned it. Fighting the tears that wanted to fall out, she swallowed a few times, and looked around, finding the trolley right beside her. Gripping it tightly to keep her hands from shaking, she walked slowly into the station.

By the time she reached Platform 9 3/4's, she had successfully pushed her emotions away, and locked a smile onto her face. It wasn't hard to do, she had years of practice in tricking people into thinking she was okay. It was especially important, this year, as head girl, in a time of war, that she showed no weakness at all. Once the train attendants had her things, she escaped, to the largest group on the platform. With out a doubt, it was the Weasley's.

“Oh and Harry! Please do be careful this year!” Came Molly's shrill, worried voice. She was doting over Harry, Ron, and Ginny. The only kids in her brood left to go to Hogwarts. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at her. It made her feel at home finally. She tried to sit back and watch for a bit, but Ginny had other idea's.

“Hermione! There you are!” Ginny called out, rushing over with a relieved look on her face, pulling the brunette girl over. “Thank God, the boys were driving me mad!” She muttered to her friend, laughing a bit. It wasn't long before Hermione was attacked by hugs from Harry and Ron, which she gladly returned.

“You guys have no idea how good it is to see you!” She exclaimed, holding onto them tightly. Harry raised his eyebrows at her as they pulled back, noticing something was wrong. But Ron interrupted, starting to talk about everything that had taken place. Mrs. Weasley started to usher them onto the train.

“Now, all of you are coming straight back to the Burrow for Christmas, and at the end of the year for a graduation party! Have a good term!” Hermione laughed, waving to Molly through the window. Her second mother. She was sad that she didn't get to see her at all that summer. Soon enough she was being dragged off to a compartment, bombarded with questions.

Where were you this summer?
Why didn't you write?
Is everything okay?
Do you wanna get something to eat?(That last one was from Ron, always thinking of food.

Harry and Ginny were genuinely concerned, but she hesitated.

“I actually can't stick around guys. I'm Head Girl this year. I have to go to the heads compartment, and do some rounds. I'll catch up with you at the feast.” She gave them a bright smile, and fled the room, running to the Heads Compartment like she had said she would. She was already in her uniform, so she didn't need to worry about that. Her main focus was the damn door. “Bloody... Door... Open... Goddammit....” She cursed, yanking on the door furiously. Her face began to heat up, her heart jumping into her throat, making her choke as she felt the tears she'd been holding back. The door was the last straw. The last thing that just wouldn't work for her anymore.

“Granger... Such vulgar language. Not befitting of the Head Girl. You should really look into cleaning it up.” Came that smooth voice. The last voice Hermione wanted to hear.

“Leave me the fuck alone, Malfoy.” She said through her strained, tense voice, ashamed of the tremble to it.

“Merlin, Granger, I'm almost worried about you. Can't even remember how to open a door...” He said softly, in a strange tone. She couldn't bring herself to look at him though. Suddenly, he reached around her, and flipped the lock on the door to the compartment and slid it open with ease. Hermione let out a silent sob, lurching forward into the room, collapsing onto a seat, and curled up.

Watching her for a moment, emotionless, Draco looked her over head to toe, his steel grey eyes considering. Finally, he slid the door closed, locked it for her privacy, and cast a silencing spell on the room, before walking away. It was as kind as he could be for her. And even then, he wasn't sure why he didn't just go in and taunt her more. Part of him wanted to, to make her angry, to make her yell at him, and make her forget what was hurting her so much. Instead, he walked away, and did his rounds.