He stared out the window, gazing at the large dark lake. The last of the students beside it were hurrying inside to escape the rain that had begun to fall.

There was a rap on the door, and he turned around.

"Enter," he said, his voice less like himself than usual. He couldn't decide what it was, but it was different.

The office door opened, and a girl of sixteen entered. Her brown hair had grown over the summer, and it seemed less bushy than it had the past June. "Welcome, Miss Granger. Sit down."

Hermione took a seat in the chair that sat in front of his desk. Dumbledore smiled and sat in his tall chair, folding his hands on the desktop in front of him.

"Professor McGonagall said you wanted to see me?" Hermione looked unsure of herself, shifting in her chair as she spoke.

"Yes," Dumbledore said slowly. "Yes, I wanted to speak with you for a few moments."

Hermione gave him a look that told him to continue but said nothing.

"As I'm sure you know, this year will bring many changes." Hermione nodded, and he continued. "I know how close you, Ron and Harry are, but I feel a strange connection between Harry and yourself, whether the two of you know it or not. The two of you have grown with non-magic families and have similar backgrounds."

Hermione looked puzzled. "Sir?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, you do. Neither of you grew up with families that understand our worlds. Though your biological parents are nearly completely separated from wizards, while Mr. Potter's were very involved in it, I still think you're quite similar. For one, you're both very passionate about everything you do, and don't stop at anything for your goals. You're impulsive, loving, caring, and strong. Yes, Miss Granger, strong. Both of you have dealt with difficult pasts, from deaths to discrimination. You are both extremely strong."

There was a short lull in the conversation in which Professor Dumbledore twirled a phoenix quill between his fingers. "Sir?"

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"I hate to sound rude…"

"And I'm sure you won't."

"…But what's your point?"

Dumbledore pushed his chair back and stood, gazing back out toward the lake. The sun had settled behind the mountains, just a few rays escaping from behind the trees. "You need to take care of him."

"What…?"

"You need to watch out for Harry, Miss Granger. He needs love, he needs protection. These next few years will be tough for him and the rest of the Wizarding world, I can tell, and I'm sure he'll take it very hard.

"Miss Granger, I have one of the most important favors to ask of you."

Hermione sat up in her seat, afraid of his words, faint tears forming in her eyes. "What?"

Dumbledore turned to face her. "If the time ever comes, you need to risk yourself for him."

A tear fell down Hermione's cheek. She nodded.

"It started with a sacrifice, and that's how it shall end. A sacrifice by the most important woman in Harry's life. First it was his mother, and, now, I know, it will be you." Another tear trickled down Hermione's cheek, and she nodded again, unable to speak.

"Hermione."

Hermione looked up into Dumbledore's blue eyes. Somehow, she thought, they had a different type of glint in them than normal. It wasn't mysterious or mischievous; this time, she realized, it was a tear.

"You need to save him if he needs you," he whispered.

Hermione nodded. "You know I would, even if you didn't ask," she replied in a quiet voice.

Dumbledore returned to the window, letting the tears fall down his face for the first time in a long while. The last rays of the sun were starting to disappear into the night, and he could just make out a faint rainbow forming in the darkening sky.