Chapter 1: Ready to Go
He pushes her up against the wall, his amazing eyes boring into her's as she struggles. Oh yes, she wants him, but it couldn't be. He was this amazing creature, and she was no more than the book worm. He starts kissing her neckline, up to her jawbone, and just as he was about to kiss her lips, she turns away, ashamed that it had ever come this far. He senses her dismay and backs off, his eyes so emotional she felt like screaming,
"Don't leave!" But of course she doesn't. Her heart tells her to say it, scream it, shout it to the whole world, but her mind is telling her the more she resists, the more she will have an easier life. He speaks, his voice smooth and kind, trying so hard to cover up his true feelings.
"You cannot keep me away forever, Hermione." In such a whisper it twists her insides. He turns heel and walks off, cloak swishing. She just slides down the wall, tearing pouring out of her chocolate brown eyes. She knows how close she was to being completely seduced by him, and it scares her. She can't live like this, in fear of the thing she loves most. She stands up, shakily, and walks slowly to the owlery; the highest tower in the school. She steps up onto the ledge, and glances down, enjoying the feeling of the wind playing across her face. How did it come to this? She can see the Gryffindor team practicing at the Quidditch pitch, only a few feet away someone flies by, not noticing her on the ledge, ready to fall. No one ever noticed her before, and she's still glad most don't. All she'll ever be to them is the book worm who couldn't keep her mouth shut and her books closed. A smile crosses her lips as she remembers earlier years here trying so hard to get attention; if only she hadn't gotten the wrong attention. She looks down, knowing this is the only way. He doesn't deserve her, nor she him.
"This is the best way, the only way." she says to herself. But her heart isn't with her; its where ever he is. She closes her eyes and pulls out her wand, impulse really. Feeling that last surge of happiness, she steps off and into nothingness, spreading her arms. She has always wanted to fly...
Hermione Granger sat up in bed, gasping for breath. She could still feel the wind rushing by her, the grass only inches away. She shook her head; this had been the third dream she had. And each time, the feelings got stronger, the circumstances deeper, until today. When it had seemed like she was actually there. The funny thing though that in each dream, she seemed to know who the boy was, but when she woke up and remembered, she only saw a blurred picture of him. She fumbled for her silver iPod and put it on Shuffle, laying back down and closing her eyes. The first song was 'Animals' by Nickelback, which she immediatly skipped, not wanting to think on her dream. Sighing slightly, she hummed along to 'When You Were Young' by the Killers.
Hermione couldn't wait for school to start; she had much more fun there than at home. But she was evern more anxious for tomorrow, which was Semptember first. She had already packed, and was sure Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter her best friends, would be surprised. This year she had decided to show off her figure (which just happened to be amazing), so all her clothes were...different. Finally Hermione slipped back into sleep, and awoke to 'Disappear' by My Chemical Romance. She glanced at her clock, and grinned. It was 7:00, and she was to leave at 9:00. Her stuff was alrady packed, so she got up, pulled out the earphones, and stumbled into the shower. She loved the feeling of the hot water pouring over her, and was sad when it started to turn cold. She sighed and got out, pulling her hair into a hasty bun and wrapping herself in a towel. She looked in the mirror, surprised at herself. She looked a little different...but what was it? Oh; all her acne (not that there had been much) had cleared up, leaving her skin clear as porceline. She dried her hair, getting even more surprised as she found it was a little straighter and less frizzy. She loved her new bangs, which she had gotten a few days ago, as they hid one eye and made her look mysterious. She stuck in silver paw-print earrings and a similar necklace. She also put on a golden band around her neck; she loved the contrast of the silver chain and gold braid,. She walked out and into her walk-in closet, which after much begging and good grades (that's what started it all!) she had gotten from her parents. She chose a white collared short sleeve shirt and a black tank overtop that said,
"Love is a battlefield" in white letters. She slipped into a red pleted skirt that had a black skull and drossbones on it and black combat boots. She looked in the mirror and loved it. Only Ginny knew about her rebel side, and Hermione could see the look on Harry and Ron's faces. She walked back into the bathroom and sat down at a vanity mirror. She outlined her eyes in black and added a little pink-red eye shadow. 'Better wait 'till breakfast before putting on lipgloss' she thought to herself, and walked down stairs.
"You look cute." said her mother, who was making bacon. Mrs. Granger had always been rebel type, relaying to Hermione all the concerts and protests she had been too in her childhood in America.
"Don't you think that's a little...dark?" said her father, sitting at the table reading the paper.
"No. It just happens to be who I am. But thank you for your concern, daddy." She kissed his cheek and sat down beside him, spreading jam on a piece of toast. He just smiled and went back to reading the paper.
"So...are you excited about going to school?" asked Mrs. Granger, putting the bacon on the table and sitting down herself. For some reason, she never called it Hogwarts...but merely school. Not that she hated magic, or anything.
"YEAH! What time is it?" She finished the bacon she was eating and stood up, not really that hungry anyway.
"8:50. Goodness...go up and check to see if you've forgotten anything." Hermione nodded and ran upstairs, checking her room and stowed her wand in her pocket. She put on red lipgloss and brushed her teeth. Then she magiked her trunk downstairs, glad that today was her 17th birthday and she coud finally use magic outside of school. When she got down there, her parents were waiting with a wrapped box.
"happy birthday, hunny!" said her mother, holding out the package.
"Thanks!" said Hermione, sliding a black box out of the paper. She opened it to reveal a silky silver mask. "Oh...it's beautiful!" she exclaimed, sliding her fingers over it.
"We got a letter saying you needed a dress for this year. You're having a masquerade ball!"
"We are!?! That's GREAT!" said Hermione, hugging her parents. She absolutely loved masquerade balls. Her father opened the coat closet and took out a silvery, flowing dress on a hanger. It had only one strap, and a wave of silvery material from the left waist to the right bottem. A pair of glass heels hung with it.
"Like Cinderella." said Hermione, in awe. The large grandfather clock in the living room then rung 9:00. "Oh! Quick...I'll hide it. I don't want anyone to see it!" she cried, using her wand to make it small enough to fit into the box, which she then stuffed into her trunk. "Thank you..thank you so much!" she said, hugging her parents once more.
She walked outside, waving one last good-bye, and stood in the shade of a large rowan tree, making sure no one was around. She exhaled, and spun, keeping a tight hand on her trunk. Hastily, she landed in a stall in the girl's bathroom at Kings Cross Station. She stepped outside and placed the trunk in a cart, hiding it behind a pillar. She went back into the bathroom and apparated back to the house, where her mother was waiting with Crookshank's basket.
"I think I liked it better when I went to the Burrow," said Hermione, hugging her mom one last time, "I didn't have to keep apparating." She turned once more, appeared in a stall, and walked out, ignoring the stares of some girls who swore she had never gone in. She put the basket on her cart and rolled off, looking for the barrier. She found it, and, making sure no one else was using it or around, she walked trough it and onto platform 9&3/4.