AN: The Wizard of Oz, is not of my creation. Nor any of the following characters in the HP verse.

"Curses! Currsess!"

Hermione watched with amusement at the witch in the film. The Wizard of Oz certainly was a spectacle after being in the actual wizarding world, and as she stared at the green makeup of the actress, she couldn't help but feel exasperated at the same time. Hooked nose, warts, green skin, and a pointed hat that was hardly seen even in Knockturn Alley, unfashionable dress robes… She knew this was as stereotype that had grown through the years of entertainment as well as religions that had deemed paganism as a sort of evil practice.

The woman as an ugly, evil, and jealous sorceress, hell bent on deterring the homespun country girl into giving up her shoes of power.

Hm, shoes…she thought idly.

Hermione was sitting in the den of her parent's home, awaiting news from Harry for when she and Ron would partake on their first journey, assignment, task, mission...whatever it would be. She was restless, and the pages of her books on loan from Professor -or Headmistress- McGonagall were wearing thin.

Things weren't all dark though, she thought as she watched Glenda the 'good witch' float down in her bubble and appear in her glittering Cinderella-like dress. Her crown seemed to be made of spun sugar and her wand was so ornate that Hermione barked out a laugh.

"Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?" Glenda inquired, and Dorothy had the same look upon her face as when Hermione had first received her Hogwarts letters.

She turned to look out the window again, her memories rewound until she stopped on the platform of nine and three-quarters and was looking back at her slightly worried parents.

"Send letters, we want to hear all about your new school!" chimed her mother, while her father waved. Hermione smiled and waved back, yelling "Every week!" And like clockwork, she wrote. Her first letter noted meeting Harry and Ron, along with a few other choice girls in Gryffindor. But the statement was short, as she realized they were only acquaintances and that she had reverted back to her normal cover for nervousness; being a scientific reference book.

But then her letters grew as her friendships grew, and soon there wasn't much more to write. She knew her friends so well and could not bring to tell her parents of the dark cloud that was hanging over them as well as herself, since she had decided to bear the burden of the rain with them.

She thought about Harry and Ron. As an only child, she noticed that she was a lacking in friendliness towards others, and wasn't so aware of her swottiness until her third year at Hogwarts. She thanked Harry and Ron for their tactlessness, as it let her be aware of her own faults. Harry built her courage and Ron built her patience. Ron increased her practicality while Harry increased her instinct. She had no idea how she had helped them, (well, she had some idea) but the impatience of wanting to use her abilities that her friends gave her was coming to a breaking point.

A not so bad witch, I suppose, she thought to herself.

She looked back to after the funeral of Dumbledore and remembered her conversation with Ron.

"You know, you're welcome to come stay at the Burrow."

"Thanks, but I want to spend some time with my family. Maybe have them arranged with the Order protection."

His eyes wandered absently, looking a little unsettled. "Well, I dunno how long it'll be until we see each other so…I'll write to you," he finished quietly.

Hermione looked at him with an eyebrow raised, an amused smile coming over her features. She thought it was something, since he had hardly made the effort all of the years before. She composed herself and nodded and graciously said with great difficulty, "That would be great, Ron."

He blew out a breath that he was holding, and was about to say something when a dark look crossed over his face.

"Tell mother I said hello," said Percy as he walked by quickly, avoiding his brothers eyes.

"You can tell her after you get over yourself!" he yelled back, obviously releasing some pent up tension. Hermione found herself amused again yet rolling her eyes and dragging him off to Harry.

It was then that she noticed a new feature on Harry's face that day next to the Black Lake. One she had only seen fleetingly while in the DA. One that she and Ron knew the meaning of right away.

A singsong voice called from the film and the quartet was skipping down that road again:

"You're out of the woods

you're out of the dark

you're out of the night.

Step into the sun,

step into the light."

Not quite, Hermione thought dully while thinking of the piercing look on Harry's face. She had learned later that he had just severed his ties with Ginny and up until that moment, had considered the same thing between him and Ron and herself. The expression he wore told her everything: that he would once again be alone with his enemy.

But it was Ron who blatantly said, "We'll be there mate, every step of the way."

She expressed the same tenacity, and willed him to wipe that damn look off his face. He did, eventually. But it was constant reminder of what was always on his mind, and never gave away.

She never really called it pity; what she felt for Harry and his responsibilities. But she knew that there was only so much a person could handle- should handle. The decision couldn't just be left up to him...because in the end, Hermione knew it would break him. That was why she needed to be there. She wouldn't have it any other way.

This decision had come to her years ago, and it was almost absolute, torturing pressure to think that Harry would abandon their oath for help. When was he going to write?

Hermione's eyes and thoughts lit up as she saw Hedwig swoop through the open den window and perch on the back of her father's wooden chair. She saw Harry's scrawl even from across the room.

Brilliant, she thought without a trace of fear and a little excitement as she tore open the seal.

Lets get started.