Disclaimer: The only things I own are the plot bunny and Corinth. Everything else is owned by J.K. Rowling.

Note: This does not have a beta. If anyone is interested let me know please. Also, HBP did not occur for the most part. Dumbledore is alive. Draco and Snape aren't bad men but the horcruxes still exist.

She was never quite certain of the day they became friends, but friends they were. Hermione had been nine years old when she met Corinth. At the time all she could remember was thinking it was an extremely odd name for a girl to have. Yet, like everything else about her, Corinth's name was unique unto her. Hermione loved her dearly.

This was what Hermione Granger was thinking about shortly after returning home the summer after her sixth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had only been home a grand total of fifteen hours before Cori had shown up in her room.

"You know it is polite to knock before entering someone's personal room right?" Hermione asked her friend.

The other girl merely looked up at Hermione with a smirk. At the moment, she was sprawled on the bed with her head hanging over the side and her black hair falling to the floor.

"You know it is polite for friends to offer friends refreshment yes?" she asked in return, her black eyes glowing with barely suppressed mirth.

Hermione shrugged. There was no arguing with that type of logic. Still, it had been far too long since she had seen her old friend and she wasn't going to complain about out-dated social niceties when it concerned this particular person. If she remembered correctly the last time she'd seen Cori was after Sirius died. Far too long, if you asked her, but they were both busy. Hermione had to help Harry and Ron find the horcruxes and Cori… well she had her "job". That was one thing Hermione did not envy: the pressure Corinth faced on a daily basis.

"Stop thinking so much. You're brain will explode if you keep that up," Cori said from right in front of her. She tapped Hermione's forehead. "See. You're head is already swelling with the effort."

"Oh shut your face!" Hermione laughed swatting her friend's hand away.

Cori put her hands to her head and attempted a visual simulation of what Hermione had ordered. The result was a terrifyingly hysterical "fish-face". Hermione couldn't take it and burst out laughing. Cori soon followed her to the floor, making waving motions to somehow bring air back into her lungs.

Hermione had calmed enough to say, "You should really meet Harry and Ron. They would love you!!"

Cori sobered so fast that Hermione was actually worried she'd gone into shock. After all, she'd never mentioned introducing her two worlds to each other. She waved her hand in front of Cori's face to make sure she was focused. Black bored into brown as their gazes met. It wasn't Hermione's friend looking at her now, it was her other side. Hermione lowered her hand and waited for whatever Corinth had to say.

The other girl's eyes were filled with concern and the over-protective gleam they had whenever something was threatening something she loved. "Be careful this year, there are going to be many changes. Only one of them will bring you happiness. The time has come for you to choose between duty and what is right. This is not going to be an easy year for you or your friends. I will offer what help I can, but your destiny is approaching."

When Corinth finished speaking she vanished. Hermione was left in her room with those ominous words hanging over her head. Suddenly, it seemed like a very long time until she would see her friends again.

One month later…

Her name being shouted was the only warning Hermione got before she found herself being pulled into a tight embrace by none other than Harry Potter. Her nose was pressed into his chest and her arms pinned to her sides. She was completely surrounded by one incredibly strong quidditch player. She tapped him on the arm.

"While I am very happy to see you Harry, I still need to breathe," she stated, laughter coloring her voice warmly.

Harry had the decency to look embarrassed and let her go. Ron stepped in to take his place. He was slightly more daring and gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek. She blushed from embarrassment because her father had been standing right behind her and was now giving Ron a calculating look. The red headed young man shifted uncomfortably under the intense gaze.

"How are you 'Mione?" he asked, looking down at his feet.

"I'm doing alright Ron. How are you?" She turned to look at Harry. "And how are you doing Harry? You promised to write a letter once you got to the Burrow."

He offered her a lop-sided grin. Hermione shook her head wistfully.

"You owe me one Harry James Potter. You are going to make this up to me."

"I'll buy you dinner," he offered.

Mr. Granger's appraising gaze shifted to him. It was quicker to drop though due to his wife smacking him upside the head and telling him to be polite. After all, the neighbors probably thought it was odd enough that two young men, never before seen in the neighborhood had basically clobbered Hermione with their overly enthusiastic greeting. They didn't need to be getting the wrong impression about what kind of friends they were.

Ron took the opportunity to grasp Hermione's attention once more, "I'm alright. Bit tired ya know. Mum still hasn't had that poltergeist exorcised yet. Awful ruckus every night."

Hermione nodded in understanding. She smiled at her two friends and offered them her hands. "Come in both of you. I'll get you something to drink and we can talk in my room."

Five minutes later and all three were sitting in Hermione's bedroom. Hermione was sitting on the floor leaning back on the bed where Harry was perched. Ron was sitting across from her on the floor. Both young men were busy looking around at the unexplored territory that was a girl's bedroom. Hermione quietly enjoyed the way they seemed awestruck that her room wasn't done entirely in frills and pink. After another ten minutes of undisguised curiosity in which Harry had almost pulled open her lingerie drawer Hermione called for them to get down to business.

Harry was the first to speak and what he had to say wasn't good.

"We haven't found anything new. The locket is still gone and there's no way we can destroy Nagini yet. I'm seeing no way out of this."

"We'll just have to try harder that's all. Have you heard from Dumbledore?" She inquired.

Ron spoke up.

"There's an Order meeting tonight. He asked specifically for you 'Mione. Dumbledore actually forbade me and Harry from going, but he wanted us to let you know."

Hermione exchanged a worried glance with the two boys and felt a shiver crawling up her back. For a moment Hermione thought she felt Corinth's magical signature touch her, but she highly doubted it. She looked at Ron and then she turned to Harry.

"Why only me?"

A/N: Well, I realize it probably seems a little rushed, but ideas are all kind of scrambled into one overall picture. I promise it will get better as time goes on. Please review. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is welcome. Please no flames. Tell me what you think! Thank you!