Author's Note: Sadly, I am not nor will I ever be J. K. Rowling. This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, so please bear with me. I'm a science major, so English and grammar are not really my strongest subjects. I apologize ahead of time of any errors that are sure to ensue. This tale begins at the start of school term after the final battle in DH. There is a possibility that I may disregard the deaths of some characters (probably Snape and Bellatrix for sure), simply because I love these characters and choose not to believe they are dead. Let me know what you think. Thanks, K
One
He reached out his hand to her. A soft wind ruffled his dark black hair. His piercing green eyes smoldered into her chocolate brown ones.
"Come to me, my darling. Come to me." He coaxed.
She stared back in wonder at his utter beauty. Her hand moved on its own accord, longing to meet with his. Her feet were solidly rooted to the ground. She stretched out her arm, trying to reach him, but still unable to make contact.
"Come to me, my darling. I can give you the world. Come to me." His melodic voice vibrated in her ears as she was swiftly pulled into consciousness.
Hermione awoke, staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom. She had been plagued by the same dream for the past fortnight. It was always the same. The same beautiful unknown boy. The same unobtainable goal. And of course, the same frustrating disappointment when she awoke too soon. There was something about the boy. He was so familiar, yet she was unable to put a name to the face. He looked to be around the age of 17 or 18. His raven black hair and emerald green eyes struck a sharp contrast against his flawless ivory skin. He was tall and had the sinewy muscles of a professional dancer, rather than those of a body builder. His sultry voice was capable of piercing through her eardrum, caressing its way down her ear canal, and melting her heart. Yes. She, Hermione Granger, was completely in love with a boy whom may or may not truly exist.
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Hermione heaved her trunk out of the back of her parent's car and onto a dolly. She kissed each of her parents on the cheek, and gave them a short hug goodbye. After Voldemort succumbed to his final death, Hermione has succeeded in retrieving the elder Grangers, and reversing their memory modifications.
"Good luck, sweetheart." Her mother said, pulling her back into a tight embrace.
"Be careful. We'll see you at Christmas." Her father added.
"Everything is going to be fine," she reassured them. "He's really gone this time. I'll just finish off my seventh year, and it'll be off to university next fall. Don't worry. Everything is just fine now."
Another hug and the Grangers tucked themselves back into their car. Hermione watched her parents pause for a stop sign, then turn a corner, and disappear from sight.
She took a deep breath, and willed away the tears threatening to escape her eyes. This would be the first time she had been away from her parent since they had been reunited only a few short months prior. She straightened her back and held her head high. Another deep breath and she pushed the dolly through the train station in search of Platform 9 ¾.
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Due to her overwhelming anxiety about the start of term, Hermione found herself to be one of the first students to arrive at the platform. She claimed one of the many empty compartments for her own, and settled herself against the window.
Now, she had plenty of time to sort through the many thoughts she had been avoiding over the past weeks. Professor McGonagall had been named the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, and had issued an invitation to all whose education had been disrupted by the occurrences of the previous year. The school had been returned to its previous grandeur. All signs of the war had meticulously been erased, in hopes of easing the painful memories that still burdened the wizarding world. Inevitably, her thoughts wandered to her mystery dream man. Who was he?
Caught up in her inner-thoughts, Hermione failed to hear the door of the compartment open.
"All right, 'Mione?" a voiced asked.
"Oh! Harry! So good to see you! Sorry, you gave me a bit of a fright there." She stammered. She quickly crossed the compartment to give him a hug.
"Hello, Ron." She said. She started to give him a hug as well, but thought better of it. After an awkward pause, they exchanged nods and resumed their seats. Following the battle, Ron and Hermione had realized that they were no more than friends. They still hadn't figured out how to interact with one another, so conversations were strained and uncomfortable.
The trio had not been together since shortly after the final battle. Hermione had elected to spend what remained of her summer with her parents, and the boys had spent their time at the Burrow with the Weasleys. Hermione and Harry caught up during the long ride to Hogwarts, while Ron sat quietly only commenting when spoken to directly.
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The start of term feast was uneventful. The sorting hat gave an elegant speech about bravery and hope for the future. The new first years were sorted, and would be joining classes with the previous first years. Everyone enjoyed a good meal and talking with friends.
As the evening came to an end, Professor McGonagall stood to make one last announcement.
"Due to recent events, it was not until last night that the decision for Head Boy and Head Girl was made. These two students have performed great acts of service not only to the school, but to the wizarding community as well. Please join me in honoring your new Head Boy, Mr. Harry James Potter. As well as Miss Hermione Jean Granger, your new Head Girl. These two students have been an integral part of the restoration for the hope of a brighter future. It is my belief that they will prove to be outstanding role models for their friends and peers." McGonagall stated, clapping her hands. The room erupted in applause, as Harry and Hermione both turned several shades of pink at the praise from their former head of house.
"Now, I would like to ask the prefects to escort the younger students to the dormitories. It is best to have a full night's sleep to prepare yourselves for the beginning of classes in the morning." McGonagall said in her stern voice. "Also, I would like a word with the new Head Boy and Girl. If the two of you could just keep your seats until the others have retired to their rooms, please."
After the other students had vacated the Great Hall, McGonagall presented Harry and Hermione with their badges. After a brief discussion of what was expected of them, she escorted them to the second floor. She led them down a hallway they had never been down before and stopped in front of a large portrait. The portrait was a meadow scene of a girl picking wild flowers. An imaginary breeze blew her strawberry-blonde hair in her face, and her pink dress danced softly against her legs. The girl tucked her hair behind her ear.
A loud gasp issued from Hermione.
"Ariana?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Professor Dumbledore kept this portrait of her here, but I believe you are the first students to ever recognize her." McGonagall concluded. "The password is 'tranquility.' Goodnight."
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Harry and Hermione explored their new living quarters. There was a small common room. A large fireplace was the focal point of one wall. A couch and two large arm chairs were positioned around the fireplace. All the fabrics were rich shades of gold and maroon. A marble staircase led to a balcony overlooking the common room. A door at either end of the balcony led to a bedroom.
Harry's room was predominately maroon with gold accents. His trunk was already unpacked. A Gryffindor quidditch pendant hung proudly above his desk. Instead of the traditional twin bed found in the dorms, there was a queen-sized bed covered in a soft maroon duvet with gold piping around the edge. Hermione's room mirrored Harry's. Her room, however, was a kaleidoscope of gold and yellow with tasteful specks of maroon thrown in for added effect.
The new head students marveled over their new accommodations. They explored it thoroughly before ultimately retiring to their respective rooms for the night.
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"Come to me, my darling." His voice rang out through the dissipating mist.
Hermione looked around her, trying to find who was calling to her. Finally the last bits of the mist receded, and chocolate eyes connected with emerald ones.
"Come to me, my darling. I can give you the world. Come to me." He beckoned, reaching his hand out to her.
This time, however, was different than before. She took a tentative step forward. Reveling in her new found freedom, a smile spread across her face. Slowly, she started walking toward the dark haired angel that had haunted her dreams. She reached out to place her hand in his, staring into his captivating eyes. Just as she was about to make contact, she was jolted awake by her alarm clock.
Cursing the fool who invented such a device, Hermione rolled out of bed. She had been so close this time. Just a few more seconds. Was that too much to ask for?
With a sigh of regret, she prepared herself for the first day of classes. Sitting in front of her mirror, she looked at the changes that had gone unnoticed. Her previously bushy brown hair had somehow tamed itself into soft mahogany waves over the years. She had finally grown into her teeth, which had always seemed just a tad too big for her mouth. Not too bad, she thought. Maybe this year won't be quite like the rest.
She smiled to herself, enjoying her small ego boost. She swiped on a bit of mascara, and dabbed some lip gloss on her lips. Satisfied with the overall effect, she went down to the common room to meet Harry.
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The first few weeks of classes went by quickly. Not having to worry about Voldemort returning or planning some type of intervention to prevent such an occurrence, Hermione was able to complete all of her homework in a timely fashion. This left extra time for her to dwell on her dreams.
Who was he? Why did he seem so familiar? Why could she never stay asleep long enough to get close to him?
She was sitting in the common room contemplating these very questions, when the portrait swung open and slammed closed loudly. She jumped, knocking the long since forgotten book off of her lap onto the floor. She looked up to see Harry storm in, throwing his bag roughly against the wall. The snap came undone; books and parchment cascaded across the floor. A new bottle of ink crashed on the hard marble, bleeding a dark pool around the scattered debris. Harry was muttering incoherently to himself. His face was a deep shade of red. One hand clenched tightly around his wand, while the other roamed through his hair making it stick up more than usual.
"Harry?" Hermione asked quietly. She wasn't sure if she should interrupt his tirade or pretend not to notice.
"Unbelievable!" He yelled.
"Sorry?"
"She's un-fucking-believable! Godric! I don't know what more I can do! Honestly! And to think that she would even begin to think that...Argh!" He threw his hands up in the air, and collapsed into the vacant armchair. He buried both of his hands deep in his hair. Through gritted teeth he muttered, "Women!"
"I'm not exactly sure if you are talking to me or to yourself, but I'm going to guess along the lines of things aren't working out well with Ginny." Hermione stated, retrieving her book from the floor.
"Not in the slightest." He angrily muttered.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Ha! Right! Talk about it! With you of all people! Isn't that just peachy?" He roared.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she hopped up from her chair. "Now you listen to me Harry Potter! I have done nothing to you, and I will not be treated this way. If that is how you want to act then you can just stuff it!" She huffed and stormed off toward the stairs.
"Hermione, wait! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you. It's just. Argh! I can't believe her! She honestly thinks there is something going on between us! And I tried to tell her differently, but do you think she listens? NO! Of course not! And then he has to make matters worse by bringing up things that never even happened. I'm done with the whole lot of them!"
Hermione stopped with her hand on the railing. She turned around. "What are you talking about? And do you think you could take it down, I don't know, maybe a few decibels?"
"Alright. I'm sorry. Please come back and sit down."
Hermione walked back to her chair, and tucked her legs under her. "Okay. What's going on?"
"Well, we had the tryout for the team tonight. Ron's head really wasn't in it, and I made the decision to start McDonnell as keeper for the game against Ravenclaw on Saturday. When I voiced this, Ginny completely flew off the handle. She said that I was punishing Ron because things didn't work out between the two of you. And when I told her that the pair of you had nothing to do with my decision, she started on about us sharing a common room. That we are sneaking around under her nose. She said that I spend too much time with you alone. Which is ridiculous! I mean, you are one of my best friends. What am I suppose to do? Completely shun you because I have a girlfriend. So I told her just that, and well that didn't go over too nicely. Then Ron had to chime in with how we got so close when we were on our own there for a bit. He said that what Riddle's locket showed had to have some inkling of truth. Can you believe that? After all we've been through, and he still refuses to believe me. He told me to stay away from him and his sister. Mental. Completely mental."
"Wow. That's just, well, that's just ridiculous. Maybe if you just give them some time, they'll come to their senses. Don't worry about it now. There's nothing really you can do. I'm going to bed now. I'll see you in the morning." Hermione walked by, brushing a hand against his shoulder. "Goodnight, Harry."