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The rain poured down her florid face. It wasn’t the first time something like this happened. Hermione was sick of it, sick of her fellow classmates treating her like this. What had she done to deserve this kind of treatment? Indeed, she had skipped grades and gone to the highest course levels the school could offer. She was only 9, yet she was having class with students at least one year older than her. The new book Hermione had freshly bought from the store was floating in the nearby puddle. Another two galleons wasted.
At that thought, Hermione began to sob loudly.
               “This must be yours,” A soft voice replied.
Hermione looked up, yet her eyes were blinded by the tears. She wiped her eyes wit the back of her hands and stared at the figure standing in front of her. There stood a man who looked around 30 years old with black hair that fell to his skinny shoulders. The huge black trench coat couldn’t cover his lean frame. Hermione’s big, brown eyes caught his pair of dark, cold ones. Hermione blushed at the unfathomable eyes of the man staring at her, and instinctively shifted her gaze to the soggy book in his hands.
                “I suppose you would want it back?” the man wiped the cover of the book with his black sleeve. “Pride and Prejudice, hmm, a really good book. Not really fit for males though.” He gave Hermione a small smile.
                “It’s ruined,” Hermione whispered.
                The dark haired man’s smiled broadened. “No, it’s not.”
Hermione looked at him incredulously.
The man gave her a quick glance as he reached into his jacket. Hermione’s eyes followed his skinny hands. Slowly, he pulled out a wand.
               “What are you doing?”
The man didn’t answer her; he simply pointed his wand at the cover of her book.
              “Reparo.”
The ebony wand glowed brightly. When Hermione blinked, her book had been fixed.
                “How did you—”
                “You shouldn’t give them the advantage to bully you like that,” he bent down and pulled Hermione to her feet.
               “Scourgify.”
Hermione watched as her muddy clothes became clean as the pink bubbles covered her.
               “Who are you?” Hermione studied his features closely.
                “You wouldn’t want to know, Miss Granger.”
                Hermione’s eyes widened. “How did you know my name??”
                “In a few more years, you wouldn’t want to know why.” He reached up and pushed a strand of hair from her face.
                The man stood up and sighed. “Can you walk home?”
                “I suppose so.”
                “Then go before the rain gets hard again.”
                Hermione tugged at the rim of his coat. “Will I get to see you again?”
                “Certainly.”
                Hermione grinned. “Okay!! Good bye then!!”
Hermione ran as fast as her little legs could carry her back home.
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