Hermione Granger woke up that morning with an odd feeling in her stomach. She sat up and looked around her dorm. Lavender Brown was still snoring in the bed next to hers and Parvati Patel was tossing in her sleep on the other side of Lavender. Hermione looked at her watch and saw she had awoken 30 minutes early, but in any case, she was too excited to go back to sleep. After all, she thought to herself, how many times does a girl have a sixteenth birthday? She got out of bed and put on her uniform. She pulled her hair into a loose bun and went into the Prefects bathroom. She enjoyed the separate bathroom even more on days like these and was sincerely grateful to Dumbledore for assigning her the position of Female fifth year Prefect. She brushed her teeth and even applied mascara and lip-gloss for the happy occasion and when she was finally ready she walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast. As she turned the corner she nearly smashed into Nymphadora Tonks, a Hogwarts Alumni.
"Wotcher, Hermione." Tonks giggled. "So sorry I wasn't watching where I was going." Her embarrassment caused her hair to color itself pink. Tonks was a Metamorphmagus, meaning she could alter her appearance at will. "Oh, and happy birthday of course!" she added.
"Thank you, Tonks," Hermione grinned at her. They chatted for a while longer and Hermione found out that Tonks was at Hogwarts on top secret, official, Ministry of Magic business. Hermione knew not to pry further and after a few more kind words they bid each other farewell.
Walking down the stairwell she saw a face that always made her cringe and it belonged to one Draco Malfoy.
"Hey, Granger, decided to horrify the school with your filthy presence once again? Here I had my fingers crossed, hoping you were gonna show us some mercy and stay in Gryffindor tower for good," He said to her, and his dimwitted cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, chuckled along with him.
She felt her cheeks burning in anger but regained her composure and replied, "Lovely to see you too, Draco." She strode past them without a second look and pretended not to hear them whispering mudblood as she went. Hermione wasn't going to let a Slytherin git like Malfoy ruin this day for her. Soon thereafter Susan Bones, Hufflepuff, and Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw, wishing her birthday greetings sidetracked her. Susan seemed nice enough but Hermione noticed a strange look on Luna's face.
"How old are you today?" Luna asked.
"Sixteen, of course," Hermione giggled. It was funny to her that she would have to be asked, as most students in her year were sixteen years of age.
Luna's face relaxed and she exclaimed, "Oh! That explains it!"
"Explains what?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Never you mind," Luna said knowingly, "Happy birthday again, Hermione. I'll be seeing you later," and with that Luna smiled and skipped off down the hall.
Hermione stood flabbergasted and then decided to shrug it off. Luna's actions had always been a bit unusual anyway, she told herself. Hermione finally made her way into the Great Hall. She found her seat next to her best friends Harry Potter, Ron Weasely, and Ron's little sister Ginny. Ron was anxiously and obviously waiting for breakfast to appear while Harry read a book about Quidditch, the magical sport Harry and Ron played. Ginny was writing an essay frantically and looking back and forth to consult her Potions book. Hermione cleared her throat after waiting a whole three minutes for them to acknowledge her. Hearing the noise, the three Gryffindors looked up at her.
"Oh, good morning Hermione," Harry said, smiling at her with his boyish grin, "Do you want some tea?"
Ron held out the teapot to her until she shook her head and he sat it back down. Ginny smiled for a split second before looking back at her book. Hermione looked at them, speechless. Just as she found her words and was about to reply, Albus Dumbledores voice was projected throughout the dining room.
"Good morning students," The headmaster smiled. "Just a few quick announcements before you eat. First off, Professor Hagrid has just received the shipment of double-ended newts, and wishes that those who were interested in keeping them as a pet, see him directly after breakfast. Also, Professor Umbridge has requested that the Head Boy and Head Girl meet with her, in her office, precisely at noon. That being said, I want to make it known once more that the Forbidden Forest of off limits. No matter what the case, students are to stay out. Now, enjoy your breakfast."
Hermione couldn't help noticing he looked right at her when he said the bit about the Forbidden Forest, but she soon forgot all about it as the four house tables suddenly filled with food. Ron's eyes lit up with joy as he immediately dug in, and poured himself and Harry another cup of Tea. Hermione sat waiting a bit more. Harry put his book down and started helping himself to buttered toast and jam. Ginny finally looked up from her paper to eat some kippers and Hermione finally spoke.
"Well?" She demanded. They all looked at her, confused.
"Well, what?" Ron asked with his mouth full, "You said you didn't want any tea."
Hermione felt close to tears. "Doesn't anyone have anything they want to say to me?" She asked.
Harry now looked at her, startled, seeing her eyes getting wetter. All three of them searched their own memories in desperation.
Ginny finally sat up, as if a light bulb had gone off.
"Oh goodness, Mione!" Ginny said, clearly ashamed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't forget, I promise. There's just been so much homework and pressure for exams, I simply let the days get away from me." She started rambling, "Please don't hate me, oh this is so terrible, I'm such a lousy friend."
Now Ginny was near tears and Hermione was the one feeling guilty.
"No," Hermione interrupted, "It's okay, Gin, it was my own fault for not mentioning it yesterday."
Harry and Ron looked more confused than ever.
"Er," Ron started, "Is this a S.P.E.W. thing that we've forgotten?"
Hermione sighed, "No actually, it's—"
Professor Delores Umbridge, shouting at the groundskeeper Mr. Filch, drowned the rest of her sentence out.
"I told you specifically that all of the flowers in or around my office were to be Snapdragons and none other," She spoke menacingly in that shrill voice of hers, "and you go and plant Freesias? Did you think I wouldn't notice? Or did you think you were more qualified than I to be making floral judgements?" Filch tried to defend himself but she would have none of it.
"If those flowers aren't replanted in one hour, there will be severe consequences." With that final note, she turned on her pink heel and left.
The foursome went back to their conversation.
"What were you saying Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I was saying that it's my—" Hermione was interrupted once more as Dumbledore announced the end of the meal. She sighed and stood with the others. Ron and Harry were already headed off to class without even waiting for her to finish. Ginny stayed back and started talking about baking a cake and having a small party in the common room that night. Hermione barely heard a word of it. Ginny was suddenly aware of her silence and the look on her face.
"You shouldn't let them get to you, Mione," she said with a sad look. "I'm sure they're just distracted by the OWL's. After all, they are important exams, and Ron and Harry are pretty worried. I'll remind them and tell them about the party as soon as I see them and I bet they'll feel dreadful for not remembering."
Hermione sighed. "Thanks, Ginny. A party really isn't necessary though. Are you going to Hagrid's to get a Newt?"
Ginny nodded and Hermione walked with her, seeing as she had Care of Magical creatures first that morning anyway. As they walked, Ginny continued to plan what she was going to wear. Suddenly, Hermione saw something silver out of the corner of her eye. It hopped down the hill out of sight and she just assumed it was a rabbit and tried to focus back in on what Ginny was saying. Hermione heard the words fringe and vanilla cake before the silver flash caught her eye again. She saw it more clearly this time.
"Did you see that?" She asked Ginny, and pointed to the bushes by the edge of the forbidden forest.
Ginny looked to where Hermione was pointing, "See what?" She asked
"It looked like a rabbit." Hermione stated.
Ginny snorted. "Well, Mione," she started, "a rabbit's not a very uncommon thing to see, is it?"
"No, I guess not," Hermione mumbled.
The girls continued walking and Ginny continued talking until they were finally at Hagrid's hut. Ginny got her new pet, named it SlimeyTail, and went off to her first class. Hermione's class spent their lesson talking about how to take care of the newts. Her mind wandered off in different directions as the knot in her stomach twisted ever so much. Harry kept looking over at her with a worried look on his face. Ginny must've ran into him on her way back to the castle, she thought before her mind wandered off again. She thought about the rabbit. It seemed so strange to her but she couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was because of how its fir seemed to swirl or how it ran as if it wasn't even touching its feet to the dirt.
"Er, Mione?" The sound of Harry calling her name brought her back down from her wondering. She looked up startled and then realized they were the only one's still there.
"Is class over?" Hermione asked.
Now Harry really looked worried, "Are you okay, Hermione? You seemed upset earlier and you were obviously distracted all through class."
"Of course, I'm okay. I was only upset earlier because you and Ron forgot my birthday, you know." She stated with a bitterness she didn't even realize she was feeling. The know in her stomach grew even more as they walked back to the castle. Harry looked bewildered at her words.
"Oh, Mione!" he started, "It's like Ginny said, the days just went by. Before she reminded us it was your birthday, you would've had a hard time convincing Ron or myself that it was already September!"
She nodded, on the verge of tears once more. Harry stopped walking and pulled her into a hug.
"I really am so sorry." He said into her hair.
"S'okay Harry," she replied, pulling away from him. "I'm sorry for getting so emotional. Don't worry about me, go on and get to class before you get another detention."
Harry laughed at that and hugged her once more before going to join Ron in Potions class. She looked at her watch and realized she only had six minutes to get to her Transfiguration lesson. She rushed as fast as she could but before she reached her destination her attention was intercepted. Twins, Fred and George Weasely, were blocking her path and sporting identical grins.
"Ello, Hermione!" George exclaimed.
"Happy Birthday!" Fred followed.
"Thank you both," Hermione said hurriedly, "and I'm very sorry but I really have to go."
Fred and George simply smiled and said simultaneously, "Not without your present."
"All right then. "Hermione sighed, knowing very well that she wasn't going until they were finished.
Fred pulled a small box dressed in blue velvet from his robes, and George pulled a small black bag from his. She took George's first and seeing it was full of Bertie Botts Every Flavored Candy Beans, she put them in her bag to have during lunch. George took no offense, knowing that she wouldn't eat sweets unless after meals anyway. She took the box from Fred and opened it, revealing a silver neck chain. She noticed the chain first but as she pulled it out of the box she saw the shiny otter charm hanging from it. Stunned, she looked up at both of them.
"Harry told us your patronus was an otter,"
"And this one isn't just a charm, it's a conscious charm."
"So if you ever get stuck, it'll show you which way to go"
Their grins widened along with hers as she clasped it on and thanked them profusely. She hugged them both and continued on to her class. She had only gotten a few feet before she was stopped once again.
Severus Snape was standing in front of her, burning holes into her with his beady, black eyes.
"Shouldn't you be in class, Miss Granger?" he asked sourly.
She nodded, "Yes sir, that's where I'm headed right now actually, and I still have time to make it, so if you'll kindly excuse me." She replied.
Professor Snape looked shocked, as she'd never taken such a tone with him before, but she was in such a good mood that she didn't even care. He stepped out of the way and she hurried to class, making it to her seat just before Mcgonagall arrived.
Professor Mcgonagall was always Hermione's favorite professor by far. Her lessons were always intriguing and Mcgonagall always seemed to know the right things to say, even outside of class. After two hours of turning rats into water goblets, the class was dismissed and Hermione made her way back down to Hagrid's. She had a free break and always liked to help out with Hagrid's classes whenever she could. On her way, they same silver ball caught her eye once more. She was sure it was a rabbit and after a second of looking at it, she realized why it seemed so strange. It's a patronus! She thought to herself.
The feeling in her stomach tightened and, before she knew what was going on, she broke into a sprint. Something strong inside of her was telling her she had to find out where it was going. She wandered into the forbidden forest and after running for what seemed like hours, she lost sight of the silver rabbit. She looked around, disappointed, before fear struck her, bringing with it the notion that she had no idea where she was. She felt something hot against hr chest and looked down to see her otter charm glowing. Then, as if an unknown force was guiding her, she turned to the left and started running once more. She was almost back to the hut when the rabbit dashed past her on her left. Ignoring the burn, she changed course entirely and started running after the patronus once more. Finally she caught up to it. Her lungs felt as if they were about to explode but she held her composure. The rabbit patronus looked at her, stood up on its hind feet, and vanished into thin air. She was astonished, but then saw something drop to the earth in its place.
"This is so strange," she whispered to herself. The charm on her necklace was trying to pull her back but she kept walking towards the object. She leaned down and examined it, realizing it was a teacup.
Hermione reached for it, and as soon as her fingers grazed it she felt the knot in her stomach hook into her navel and then everything went black.