Chapter Text
Cold and putrid, the streets of Muggle London offered no shelter to the deshevelled looking wanderer. Hermione wandered the dump streets of the unwelcoming city for days. Starving and frozen to the bones, all she craved was to sleep.
Her house, her family and even her name were all gone. Her shattered memories offered no direction and not a single warm blooded friend. Fog blinded her mind more than the thick smog that clung to the stinky air.
A hand, warm and welcoming held her arm. The touch was so gentle she didn't feel the need to run. Surprise etched on the hardened features of the tall man. Her heart gave a thud at the look in his eyes.
Yellow light flooded her vision, as the stranger ushered her inside a building entrance.
Warm and fragrant. The private laboratory of sorts smelled like nothing she could have imagined. The vision brought vague memories of witches and coldrons from a children's book.
The sweet odour of hot chocolate tickled her frozen nose and she was startled by the warm mug floating into her palms, defying gravity. She smiled at her lack of surprise. That was a far more pleasant dream to die in.