The English Dictator

Chapter One

As the sun rose, lighting up the bedroom of a fancy house, a little eight year old girl rose with it. She and her parents had just come to Southend-on-Sea from London where her parents were successful dental practitioners, who had decided to move out of the city, and move their practice to a more scenic area. She could well remember how excited her parents were.

"Look at this, Wilma," her father had exclaimed over his typical coffee and newspaper routine he had in the morning, "the dentistry offices in Southend-on-Sea have shut down, and there are requests for new practitioners to take up where they left off. I'd say this is the moment we've been waiting for. What do you say?"

"It sounds good to me, dear," the girl's mother had replied in a bored tone.

"Girl!" Her father bellowed over his shoulder, "your mother and I are going out today. I want the car spotlessly cleaned before we leave, is that clear?"

For that was how the girl was treated by her parents. Ever since an event when she had been in Kindergarten—an event no one could properly explain-she had somehow managed to make objects fly around the room to help distract bullies so she could make a getaway—she had been less her parents' child than a menace and a nuisance, and they forbid her to appear anything less than normal, for the Grangers hated anything and everything that wasn't completely normal, and to have anything even slightly extraordinary was a matter of the deepest shame.

And their daughter, Hermione Elizabeth Granger, was about as far from normal as you could get.

She was about to find this out today, though she did not know it. She slipped into the shower and awaited her father's usual call.

"Girl! Get down here and fix us all breakfast!" Hermione's father, Dr. Russell Owen Granger called.

"Yes, sir," Hermione responded, finishing with her towel. She located one of the suits her mother had bought and indicated that she was to use for breakfast only, dressed and entered the kitchen. It was not unusual for her parents to not even bother saying good morning.

"Don't burn the eggs like you did last time," her mother, Wilma Valerie Granger said, not taking her eyes off her gossip rag magazine.

"Yes, mother," Hermione responded meekly.

"And if there is any funny stuff from you while you are making breakfast, you won't get any," Russell Granger added.

"Yes, sir."

After breakfast, Russell Granger promptly ordered his daughter to go back up to her room and change into her school uniform. Hermione obeyed, actually feeling excited for once. Hermione loved school. It was a sanctuary from her parents, but even more importantly, it was a place for learning. She never made many friends, as her father discouraged what he called overly forwardness, and in the end, did it matter? She loved to learn…or at least, that was what she told herself.

"Hermione Elizabeth! Get down here, young lady, or you will miss the bus, and we don't want to burden your mother with driving you, do we?"

Goodbye, Russell Granger-style.

------

Hermione knew her parents would not care if she stayed out after school a bit; she always did while they still lived in London, and frequented a park that was almost exactly in between her school and her house, and she was lucky enough to find one here in her new town.

The park consisted of a play area with swings, little climbing walls and monkey bars, and a short observatory tower facing the sea, with a fake telescope, where you could play that you were watching for pirates, and seats surrounding the play area where parents could keep their eyes on their children.

Hermione climbed up to the observatory tower and stood there, silently observing the playground. She watched enviously as kids frolicked around, chased either by their friends or their parents. Why won't my parents play with me? Hermione thought sadly, It wouldn't hurt them, would it? Another voice answered, you know that what your parents are doing is for your own good. Yes, and I know they're right, but it doesn't feel…right. But it is, Hermione Elizabeth, it is. Yes, yes, I know. She didn't notice a man with playful blue-grey eyes sit down on the bench and observe her. The only thing she did notice was that a solitary tear was fighting to get off her eyelash, and she furiously wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

------

Sirius Black sat down on the park bench in front of the observatory tower to wait for his godson and nephew, Harry Potter, to come home from school, as he had agreed to pick him up. Harry had not yet come to the tower, though he had promised, and Sirius was a bit worried. He had no children, as Harry was his best friend and brother-in-law's son, and he was not good at this whole father thing the way James Potter was, even though he knew from the moment Harry was born that he loved children, and wanted to have some with his wife, Juliana Hart Black (nee Potter).

Sirius' attention, however, was drawn to a young girl, appearing to be about eight years old, making her about Harry's age, as she scaled up the observatory tower and looked around. He observed her as she watched the other children in the park, her already sad eyes becoming progressively more saddened. As he observed her wiping her eyes, his heart went out to the crying child. He could not explain why, but the girl mystified him, as well as made him sad and uncomfortable, and Sirius wondered what the poor girl had done to make her look so longingly at the other families. He had just resolved to go speak to the girl when he felt a tugging on his sleeve. He looked down to see his nephew smiling up at him.

"Hello there, Pronglet!" Sirius said, hugging his nephew.

"Hi, Uncle Padfoot," Harry responded, "was that Hermione you were looking at?"

"Do you mean that little girl?" Sirius asked, nodding in Hermione's direction.

"Yeah, she's new in class. She seems nice, but she won't say a word to anyone unless the teacher calls on her to answer a question."

"She must be shy."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "I hope I can get to know her, though, she looked so nice, but she also looked lonely." Sirius could not explain why, but Harry's statement had left him with a lump in the region of his Adam's apple. Yes, the little girl, Hermione if that was her name, looked very lonely. Sirius looked down at his nephew.

"You should try to talk to her, Harry," he said seriously. Harry nodded.

"Okay, tomorrow?" Sirius nodded.

"Yeah, see if you can speak to her during class." Harry nodded again.

"Okay," he repeated, "now can we go home? I'm hungry." Sirius laughed out loud. There was no question that Harry and James both loved food. Sirius took Harry's hand, and led him over to a protected clump of bushes where they apparated away to Harry's house.

They arrived to see the beaming face of Lily Evans Potter, Harry's mother, staring at them from the kitchen window. Her face soon disappeared and she came out the door.

"Harry, my sweetheart!" Lily called happily, striding towards Harry and Sirius, "I missed you so much! How was school?" She hugged him tightly, and ignoring a protesting squeal, lifted him up into her arms, kissing him on the forehead.

"Put me down, Mum!" Harry said in good-natured indignation. Chuckling, Lily obeyed.

"So, how was school?" Lily asked again.

"It was bo-oring!" Harry replied in an over-exaggerated drawl, "why do I have to learn all of this Muggle stuff? I wanna go to Hogwarts!"

"Now, now, Harry, it's important that you take your Muggle education seriously. You can learn as much here as you will when you go off to Hogwarts, and besides, Muggle education is important. I'm afraid that they do not truly teach you anything in Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, and besides, what if you marry a Muggleborn witch?"

"She's not Muggleborn," Harry replied in what he hoped was an offhand voice. Lily and Sirius exchanged looks and tried not to laugh. Both had noticed the close friendship Harry shared with the daughter of their friends Molly and Arthur Weasley, Ginevra.

"Or at the very least," Lily said, "you'll do your old mum proud if you take your Muggle education seriously." They had reached the door of the house.

"Is that my mini-Prongs?" Harry's father, James Potter boomed, "missed you, Snitch."

"James Mark Potter, you keep your voice down when you are indoors, sir!" Another voice scolded him. "Hello, Harry." Juliana Black said, stepping up beside her brother.

"How was your day, love?" Lily asked James, stepping up beside him.

"Nothing exceptional, except that Dobbs, from the Registry of Wizards Office told me that there apparently is a new magical signature in this area, but as far as I know, no other wizard has moved into the Glen, although I noticed a Muggle newspaper that a new dentist, a Dr. R. Owen Granger, moved into the old building left behind by Dr. Wilhelm Stephen, but I can't see these things as being linked. I mean, it's always possible, but…" James said. He worked as an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, in the Muggleborn Warlock Services branch. The MWS was primarily responsible for assuring the safety and legal representation of all Muggleborn witches and wizards in the Registry, and James worked closely with Dobbs, head of the Registry, and Arthur Weasley, head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.

"I also heard about that," Sirius said, who also worked in the Ministry as an Obliviator, "Harry, you didn't by any chance hear that new girl Hermione's last name do you?"

"Er…I think the teacher may have said it, and I'm pretty sure it was Granger…" Harry replied uncertainly. The adults shared a look.

"Do you think Arthur would forgive us if we change our plans for dinner tonight?" James asked.

"I think he'd understand, it's Molly I'm not so sure about," Juliana responded, "you know how much she likes these get-togethers."

"Are you suggesting that this girl Hermione may be a Muggleborn witch?" Sirius asked. James shrugged.

"Of course, we should meet them anyway," Lily said, "as we were patients of Dr. Stephen—we're going to need a new dentist."

"I'll make the calls," James volunteered.

------

Hermione returned home at a quarter to four, the curfew set by her father and timidly knocked. To go directly into a house, even your family's was disrespectful, and Russell Granger had forbidden his daughter to be disrespectful.

"Good afternoon, father, how was your day?" Hermione asked softly.

"My day was very good, thank you, and how was school Hermione Elizabeth?"

"It was very nice, thank you, sir," Hermione replied. "Good afternoon, mother," she added, seeing Wilma Granger sitting at her usual place at the table reading yet another gossip magazine.

"Good afternoon, daughter," Wilma Granger replied coolly. Just then, the phone rang, and Hermione, as per custom, answered it.

"Grangers' residence, this is Hermione, who do I have the pleasure of addressing?" On the other end of the line, James Potter shuddered at the sweet, soft, musical, yet eerily polite and sad voice of the young girl answering his call.

"Miss Hermione, I'm James Potter. I hear you go to school with my son, Harry."

"Yes, Mr. Potter, Harry is a very nice boy," Hermione replied politely.

"You should see some of the stuff he does over at our house," James said chuckling, "might alter your perceptions of him a bit." Hermione heard Harry in the background say "Da-ad!" "Sorry, Pronglet," James replied, laughing. "Anyway, Hermione, I was wondering if I might speak with your father."

"Certainly, Mr. Potter," Hermione said like a baby receptionist, "please hold the line for one moment," she put down the receiver and walked over to her father, "sir, a Mr. Potter would like to speak to you." Russell Granger nodded, and walked over to the phone.

"Russell Granger," he said.

"Dr. Granger, this is a pleasure. James Potter, my son, Harry, goes to school with your daughter."

"Indeed, I was not informed," Russell replied casually.

"Technically, Harry didn't tell us anything either," James said chuckling, "he told my brother-in-law instead! Anyway, Dr. Granger, my wife and I would very much like to have you and your family over for dinner tonight at eight, so we can get to know you."

"We shall be delighted," Russell said in an oily voice, "we'll see you at eight." And he hung up.

"Hermione Elizabeth!"

"Yes, father?"

"You did not tell me about having a friend at school," Russell said in a cold voice, "what have I told you about being overly forward? Answer me!"

"I should not draw attention to myself," Hermione recited, "children are to be seen but not heard in the presence of family and peers. To do so is arrogant, presumptuous and greedy."

"Very good, Hermione Elizabeth, that is correct. And what have I told you about lying to your father?"

"That lying to one's father shows—"

"Forget it. I trust you know this and will continue to apply these rules?"

"Yes, sir." Russell responded by slapping Hermione hard across the face.

"That was for being overly forward," he said, and roughly took hold of the helpless girl's left arm, turned it over, and slapped her hard on the wrist.

"And that's for lying to me. You should get more, but I'm in a lenient mood today. Now listen closely, Hermione Elizabeth. We are going to the Potters' for dinner. I will call for you when we are ready. Except to freshen up, you are to remain in your room, and think long and hard about being overly forward and lying. When we are at the Potters', I expect you to be dressed in your best, be on your best behavior, and there is to be absolutely no funny stuff!! If you show any of your abnormalities, you shall not have any food or drink the rest of the week. Do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes, sir."

"Then go."

------

James Potter had quickly disabled the spells on his house that prevented Muggles from seeing it, so that the Grangers would be able to find them. Dr. Granger had hung up before James could give them the appropriate address, and he and Lily had fretted about it. Juliana had been the one to pass at the top of her year in Muggle Studies at Hogwarts—which simply meant she knew more than the teacher—and had reasoned that since James and Lily had listed the address in the Muggle phonebook, that the Grangers could find their way to the house. James had been uncertain, knowing that while his family referred to Southend-on-Sea as 'The Glen' referring to Godric Glen, the wizarding village located within Southend-on-Sea, where James' home, Potter Manor was, Godric Glen was a place no Muggle should know about. Even though their house was protected by an invitation ward, meaning that, in theory, any person, Muggle or magical, who had been invited to the house would be able to see it if anyone had temporarily deactivated the ward—and James had, at the same time he removed all the other protective spells on the house, save a select few that didn't matter to Muggles; only wizards knew that the spells were in place should they see the house—but James and Lily had not tested whether the invitation ward would work or not, as the only Muggles to ever frequent the place were Lily's parents and her sister and brother-in-law, and Lily had taught them all to floo in. James sighed, hoping everything worked right.

At a quarter to eight, there was a sharp knock on the door and James had his answer. He sighed with relief and went to answer the door.

"Dr. Granger, I presume?" James said, trying not to show his discomfort eyeing the man who stood imposingly on his doormat, and extending his hand, "James Potter. Won't you please come in?"

"Thank you," Russell Granger replied in a detached manner and stepped in, followed by his wife and daughter.

"Dr. Granger, I would like you to meet my wife Lily Evans Potter, our son Harry, my sister Juliana, and her husband and my—scratch that—our best friend, Sirius Black," James said, indicating each respective person.

"This is my wife, Wilma and our…daughter, Hermione Elizabeth," Russell Granger replied. The two families shook each others' hands. Wilma Granger, James noted, had a very 'wet-fish' handshake, and her smile did not reach her eyes, which were cool and calculating.

Juliana, on the other hand, had at once noticed the pause when Russell Granger had addressed Hermione as his daughter. It was almost like he was ashamed to admit that he was related to her, but Juliana was completely lost. One look at Hermione, who was obviously very shy, as she was trying very hard, and with no success, to make herself inconspicuous, and Juliana fell completely in love with the precious little thing.

"Hello, Hermione," Juliana said kindly, "how are you doing?"

"I…I'm very well, thank you very much, Mrs. Black." Juliana chuckled.

"Please, Hermione, call me Juliana. No one's called me Mrs. Black since I was married to that mutt…I mean, Sirius."

"Hey!" Sirius called from where he was setting the table with Harry, "I can hear you!"

"Sorry!" Juliana called back, teasing Sirius. "Would you like a tour?" Juliana said, turning back to Hermione.

"Thank you," Hermione responded, "that would be lovely, Mrs. Black."

"It's Juliana!" Juliana replied, laughing. Hermione nodded, but Juliana was quick to note how her eyes traveled to her father in a terrified way, glancing at him as he and her mother made idle talk with James. Juliana frowned to herself, but said nothing, and offered her hand to Hermione. Hermione shrunk away from her hand, looking terrified and a tad bit sad. Juliana's heart broke at the sight, wondering what in the name of Merlin would make such a sweet little girl so shy.

"Hermione, I'm not going to hurt you," Juliana said softly.

"I…I'm sorry, Mrs. Black, I…I think I had better stay here." Juliana was now very confused, but she was saved the need to answer, as just then Lily called out that dinner was ready. Everyone ran to the dining room. Juliana chuckled at the longing expressions on her brother and nephew's faces. Everyone began to pick out their seats.

"Hermione Elizabeth, you are between your mother and me," Dr. Granger ordered.

"Please, sir, I'd be honored to have Miss Hermione beside me and my husband," Juliana said, not entirely sure of why she was offering an alternate seating assignment. Dr. Granger looked at first very angry, but seemed determined to make a good impression on the Potters and Blacks present, for he said, very reluctantly,

"Hermione Elizabeth, you may move your chair in between Mr. and Mrs. Black." Hermione did so, and everyone sat down and tucked into Lily's fine cooking.

It was Harry's turn to notice something: conversation during the meal was very forced. He knew that both of his parents, but especially his mother, were very good conversationalists, and it didn't take Lily much to get a flowing, homely conversation going, and with a look, she could gain just about anyone's trust. But tonight, all conversation was very stiff and formal, not to mention uncomfortable, and though Lily was doing everything she could to gain it, the Grangers did not seem willing to trust anybody, and Dr. Granger and his wife remained cool and intimidating. James' offhand remark about old Wilhelm Stephen, the Grangers' predecessor as town dentist didn't help. Harry also noticed his Aunt Juliana's fruitless attempts to get to know Hermione.

"More potatoes, Hermione?" Juliana asked kindly, offering the potato bowl to Hermione.

"Thank you, Mrs. Black," Hermione responded softly. She proceeded to spoon herself a bit of potatoes.

"I think that's quite enough, young lady," Wilma Granger said coolly, as Hermione had placed about a quarter of a spoon of potatoes on her dish—hardly enough to be much bigger than a quarter, "we don't want you to become sick." Juliana looked at Hermione's meager helping and laughed out loud. Normally, Juliana had a very cheerful laugh, which anyone who knew her described as being the most infectious, heartfelt laugh anyone could have now sounded mainly forced, and not nearly cheerful enough to be a true Juliana Black laugh. Even so, she pulled out a much more healthy spoonful of potatoes out of the dish, and began to put it on Hermione's plate, ignoring the totally scandalized, disrespectful looks both of the elder Grangers were throwing at her. Hermione however, had noticed, and terrified, tried to stop Juliana from putting the potatoes on her plate, but didn't succeed, and looked down with horror at the much larger portion now on her plate.

"There you go, love," Juliana said, reaching out to pat Hermione's upper back. However, as she reached in, Hermione flinched, nearly knocking herself into Sirius.

"No! No! Please, Mrs. Black!" Hermione squabbled, as a very light sliver sheen appeared around her body, making it impossible for Juliana to touch her. When Juliana withdrew her hand, the silver sheen slowly died away. The adults, save the Grangers, all traded wondering looks with each other. Even Harry knew what this must mean. Both Hermione's parents looked at her with cold fury written very clearly on their faces, and Hermione paled, hoping against hope that tears were not welling in her eyes. Just then, Juliana cleared her throat nervously.

"Um…Dr. Granger, Mrs. Granger, we…uh…need to speak with your daughter alone for a minute, please."

"Whatever you have to say to Hermione you can say to us," Dr. Granger replied very coldly. Harry even shivered, and Lily gently placed her arms around his shoulders. James stood up and walked over to where Juliana, Hermione and Sirius were sitting.

"I don't know if you'll understand…I mean," James started out uneasily, "you see, I don't work in the right…the right department, but…Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger…er…Hermione is…is a witch. She has magic." James finished nervously.

"Hermione has magic?" Harry asked excitedly, momentarily forgetting his fear, "you mean she'll come with me to…"

"Pronglet," James said warningly, and Harry immediately fell silent at the look he was getting from the Grangers.

No one said anything for a moment that could have been a breath or years long.

"Come on, Juliana," Lily said at last, "we should start cleaning up." Juliana nodded, and the two began clearing everyone's plates, and taking them into the kitchen to be washed.

"We had better be going," Mrs. Granger said to no one in particular, "it is already way past her bedtime."

"Indeed," Mr. Granger said, "come, Hermione Elizabeth!" Hermione shuffled over to where her father waited. He roughly took her hand, and due to the stillness of the air, everyone was able to make out the sickening sound of flesh coming down hard on flesh, and Hermione's subsequent whimpers. Beside Lily, Juliana stiffened up, her eyes now glassed over with pure hate. Lily's own hands were shaking as she continued to wash the dishes.

"Don't hurt her!" Harry's panicked and terrified voice rang out.

"I hardly think you're in any position to tell me what to do with her!" Dr. Granger snapped, "let's go!" and so saying, he actually kicked Hermione out the door.

Lily and Juliana stepped out of the kitchen to find James cuddling Harry who was softly crying, and Sirius, who was banging his head on the wall.

"Why did he hurt her, dad?" Harry sobbed, "she didn't do anything, and she's so nice, you should see her at school."

"I know, Snitch, I know," James whispered soothingly to Harry, wishing that he could say something better, but he was just as unsettled as Harry was.

"I'm going to call Petunia and Chris," Lily declared, coming over and hugging Harry. Petunia was Lily's sister, who had not inherited Lily's magical gifts, and though she had admitted to being jealous and somewhat scared by Lily's abilities, remained very close with her sister, and had married a very nice man, Christophe Laney, a gentle lawyer who specialized in family law. She held Harry tighter. "Shhh, Harry, we're going to do something for Hermione, I promise."

"Uncle Padfoot, stop!" Harry said through his tears, "you're going to hurt yourself."

"He's right, you know," James said, going over to Sirius, "what are you doing, Padfoot?" Sirius turned to face them, tears in his own eyes.

"Why didn't I recognize what was happening? I should've known what they were doing to her, I've seen it all…lived through it all…why didn't I see? I should have known…" he moaned hoarsely. Juliana walked up to him and cuddled him, kissing him.

"We couldn't have known, Dog-star, we just couldn't," she replied.

------

Upon arriving at their house, Russell Granger immediately sent Hermione to her room. She knew better than to assume he would leave her alone. He would wait a few minutes to let her wallow in her fears, and then come up and prove that everything she feared was going to happen. Sure enough, as soon as she had run through what he might do and say, from the basics to the worst, as though he was reading her mind, her father opened the door and entered, carrying his favorite belt.

"So," he said, sitting down beside her as though to have a father-daughter talk, "you are magical, are you? Is that what all this funny stuff is? You're magical. Do you remember what I said about unnaturalness?"

"That unnaturalness is…"

"Don't answer!" Dr. Granger roared, and slapped her hard across the face, "Didn't I specifically state that you were to be on your best behavior tonight and no funny stuff?! Well, did I?!" He punched her. She knew that she would have a black eye tomorrow.

"Yes, daddy, you did," Hermione cried out, "I tried, daddy, I really did!"

"Did you?" Dr. Granger said icily, and carelessly turned Hermione over, picked up the belt that he had tossed aside and began to belt her.

"Please, daddy! I tried, I did! Honestly! Please, daddy, don't!"

"Oh, but I must!" Dr. Granger said in an eerily reasonable tone, "you are a child of the devil! I'm trying to help you! You are a bad person, and I must regrettably make things right!"

"Please, daddy! I didn't…" she started, but then seemed to loose her nerve, "I know I'm a bad person, daddy, please, I won't do it again, please, if you'll just let me be! I know I'm bad, daddy, just let me be!" Dr. Granger whipped her two more times and then stopped, untied her, and roughly turned her over onto her raw back.

"You will not eat or drink until I expressly allow you to, you are not to speak to that boy or any of his family, and you are not to leave this room, even for the bathroom. Tomorrow, I shall provide you with a chamber pot. If I find that you have not followed these rules to the letter, you will get much worse. Do I make myself clear, Hermione Elizabeth?"

"Yes," Hermione replied in a tone of pure pain.

"Really," Dr. Granger replied in a skeptical tone, "I think I had better make absolutely certain." And he punched her hard on her chest, knocking the wind out of her, causing Hermione to thrash around for a minute, unable to take a breath to react to the pain. Her father was not done, however, and bent her fingers slowly back until her vision was blurred with black spots, and she wondered if he had broken a couple of fingers, too.

"Now, go to sleep, dear Hermione," he said in a horrible over-honeyed mock fatherly voice, "and do not cry, for you know what happens to little crybabies." He got up and left. True to his word, Hermione did not cry. At least until his footsteps died away, and she had finally gotten her breath back. She tried not to gulp as she took big breaths, her back and chest screaming in protest against the great amounts of air filling her lungs, but at least it felt…sort of good. After a few big breaths, she buried her head in her pillow to muffle the sound and cried, hoping her father would be unable to hear her, and lay down on her stomach.

The sheets were damp with her tears, and to lie on her back stung from the belt, but to lie on her stomach hurt too, because of where her father had hit her. How could she not cry? As she rocked herself to sleep, the image of Juliana Black's smiling, kind face filled her mind, and as she imagined Juliana rocking her, kissing her and singing her a lullaby, she slowly fell asleep.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah, I know, one hell of a dark, angst-filled start. I apologize in advance, but you will not get a reprieve from dark material in chapter two, in fact, I hope to make it, if possible, darker, but in a very different way, as I plan on introducing the story's bad guy…who will be…can you guess?