Hermione's Secret

Chapter 1: A Visit to Knockturn Alley

Mr. Borgin was not as terrible a man as everyone thought he was. Although he owned the shop Borgin and Burkes, which was infamous for selling objects with dark magical qualities, that was only his way of making a living. Back at home, he had a family and often took his grandchildren down to the park by his house. Mr. Borgin also cared very much for the welfare of others. Too often a time had he seen young wizards and witches in Knockturn Alley, who looked like they had no place there and he often wondered what they were doing. In fact, as Mr. Borgin looked out his window shop, he saw one such person walking down the street.

She was a beautiful young lady, with warm chocolate eyes and cheeks turned rosy from the cold. She was clothed in warm navy blue robes and her hair was placed in a bun under a ski hat. Mr. Borgin looked closer and saw that if it had been worn down, it would've been brown and bushy.

"Wonder what a girl that is doing here?" he muttered to himself as she walked into the apothecary across the street.

*

Hermione Granger felt glad to be inside, away from the cold air and the staring shopkeepers. The apothecary had a warm fire going and smelled as it always did- of herbs and sweet oils. The owner of the shop, Silus Merrywater, appeared from the back.

"Good day, Hermione."

"The same to you, Silus."

"My, I must say you came here rather quickly. I only sent an owl about two hours ago letting you know your order had come in."

"Yes, well, I wasn't doing much at home so I figured I might as well come and collect it." Hermione pretended to interest herself in some new lotions that were on display while Silus went back to find her order. She didn't dare tell him why she had really come so quickly. She didn't dare tell him that she needed that potion for she had no more left in her stock and the month was almost over.

Silus emerged from behind carrying a medium-sized box. "Here you are, Hermione dear. All twelve bottles. I expect it will last you another year."

"Yes, thank you, Silus, I believe it will." Hermione took the box and peered inside to make sure they were all there.

"Such a sad day it will be tomorrow," commented Silus as he stirred a few crushed unicorn horns in a glass bowl.

"Sad?" asked Hermione. "How so?"

"Oh, well don't you remember Hermione? Unless I'm very much mistaken, and that doesn't happen often," he winked at her and then returned to his serious mood, "isn't tomorrow the day that the poor Weasley girl died? What's her name?...ah....Ginny! That's right...Ginny."

"Oh, yes. I had almost forgotten," Hermione replied quietly, suddenly going pale. The memories came rushing back to her, like a gust of icy wind, chilling her to the bone, and she shivered in spite of the warm apothecary. Oh, how she wished she could never remember that day.

"Hermione, you all right?"

She looked up to see Silus staring at her, his eyes full of concern. She quickly regained her composure. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just not a pleasant day for me to remember. That's probably why I had forgotten. Yes..." Hermione trailed off, lost in thought. She almost laughed at the irony of what she had said. There was no way she would forget that day; not a snowflake's chance in hell. God knows she had tried. She had tried with every ounce of her being. At times, Hermione thought she had succeeded, but she had been wrong, for the memories always returned, stronger than before, to haunt her. Silus pulled her out of her thoughts once again.

"Hermione, are you sure you're going to be okay? You're making me feel bad about bringing it up."

Hermione pushed the thoughts out of her mind and forced a smile. "No, no, Silus, really I'm fine," she lied because she was anything from that. "I just have a lot on my mind and a good amount of work to do today."

"Well then I won't keep you any longer," replied Silus, although he did not look thoroughly convinced. "Oh, and give my regards to Mr. Potter."

"I shall," she replied, then left the shop and hurried out of Knockturn Alley as quickly as she could, leaving a bewildered Silus behind.