Chapter 1

She walked silently through the forest, trying to see where she was going. Suddenly she was blinded by a bright light. Holding her hand up

to sheild her face, she tried to see where it was coming from, but failed. All she could see was the light. But wait, what was that? Off to her right was a person, a person dressed for a muggle funeral. He was looking straight at her, smiling, the trees shadowing his delicate face.

"Hermione, Hermione. We have been waiting for you. Come, join us. You can excape from your pain. It will all be better when you come with us."

Even as she said no, she found herself walking toward the man with the enticing voice.

"Hermione, Hermione, Hermione." It seemed that was all he could say, "Hermione!" the tone changed from soothing to demanding, as if she did not go, she would regret it. "Hermione! Hermione!"

Hermione woke up to her three best friends standing over her, heads bent together, looking at her strangely.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes, Ronald. Whatever made you think differently?" Hermione said, stiffiling a yawn. She had just arrived yesterday at Ron Weasly's house. She

"Well you looked as though you were have a fit of some sort," Harry replied, as though he was not upset at all by her agitation at Ron, "we were worried."

"Well don't be. I, unlike you, Harry, don't have dreams that I think real."

"Sorry, it did look like you were having a nightmare. Don't blame me, it was Ron's idea."

"Leave me alone. I have to get ready. If you didn't notice, the train leaves in two hours."

And with that she stormed out of the room.

"She has been bitchy since she got here," Ginny said as soon as she knew that Hermione could't hear her

" I know. I wonder what's wrong..."

' I wish they would leave me alone...'Hermione thought to herself.' They just don't understand. I don't ask to be troubled by this dream. I don't know what it means...maybe i should consult the dream oracle, nah, that is one book that wouldn't be worth reading.' Hermione laughed to herself at her thinking a book wouldnt be worth reading. She remembered a time when all she did was read. How seven years could change a person.

As she stood in front of a a mirror, she finally had a moment to really look at herself. For the first time, she liked what she saw. Instead of the scrawny, bushy-haired, little buck-tooth girl she remembered herself to be, she saw a sophisticated, curly-haired, young woman. Her hair tapered around the face in tight, full curls, instead of bushing out everywhere. Her teeth were a normal size, thanks to Draco.

Now theres a thought. Draco...Hadn't she been thinking of him too much lately. She had been confused to realize that her thoughts of disgust and hate whenever he was mentioned, had turned to a weird feeling. The same feeling she had with Viktor. She remembered with shame and embaressment the day Drace had made her teeth grow during an attack in the corridor. Wow, he had changed. It truely is a wonder what seven years could do to a person. She even wondered what he would think when he saw her...

"Kids!" Molly called from downstairs,"we will be leaving in ten minutes. If your trunks are not down here with you in five minutes, you will be left!"

"Some things never change" Hermione said to no one, and picked up her Head Girl badge from the dresser. She could'nt wait to see who she would be sharing her common room with. Now that she was head girl, she had the luxury ao a common room and dormatory shared with only one other person. She did'n even dare to hope it was Draco...but one had to wonder.