I do not own any of the characters, they are the wonderful J.K. Rowling's. Also this is my first story, and any feedback is appreciated!

Special thanks to Mrs. Stockwell for helping me with this! I've have fixed the spelling and grammar mistakes she showed me, so it will be easier to read!

I do not own any of the characters, they are the wonderful J.K. Rowling's. Also this is my first story, and any feedback is appreciated!

Chapter 1: The Dream

Hermione suddenly awoke. She could smell the familiar scent of vanilla as she pulled the covers down and began to get out of bed. Her textbooks had been already unpacked and organized along with the rest of her belongings. She was granted her own room this year because of her Head Girl status, and it was everything she had imagined it to be. The bed was larger than her previous one and definitely more comfortable.

She stared at the clock on the wall and realised it was only 4:30 and she would not be expected in the Great Hall until 7:00. Hermione thought back to why she had awakened so suddenly from her deep sleep. All she could remember were the wisps of black and soft hands that had longingly graced her body. But who was that? She thought as she rested her head against her pillow.

The second time she woke up it was already 6:50 and she sprang from her bed. Quickly she went to her bathroom and turned on the water. She stood in the shower for several minutes enjoying the way the warm water danced on her skin. It was peaceful and she knew the peace and quiet would end when she entered the Great Hall. She was beginning to wash her hair when she remembered her dream. She was frustrated that she could not make out the face even when she had fallen asleep again that morning. However she quickly put the thought out of her head and turned the water off. She dried her body then began with her bushy hair. She murmured "crispus capillos lenis" and her hair turned into smooth curls that fell down her back and bounced from her shoulders. She had learned the spell over the summer and was able to tame her bushy hair without losing her curls.

When she arrived in the Great Hall, Harry and Ron were already waiting for her with an open seat. She smiled at them and walked towards them. She was at home at Hogwarts more than she ever would be in the muggle world. Her parents loved her dearly but could not fully understand the wizarding world. She tried time and time again to explain even the smallest things, but would only find her parents smiling but with confusion in their eyes. Nevertheless that was better than the arguments that commonly erupted. After the Battle of the Department of Ministries her parents tried to force her to stay home, however without success since she was now sitting in the empty seat next to Harry.

"Hey Mione, how was your summer?" Ron asked as she reached for the pumpkin juice in front of her.

"It was very good actually," She said with a forced smile. She had decided not to mention the fights with parents over the summer holiday. She was happy to be at Hogwarts, but knew she had driven the final wedge needed to separate her from her parents by coming this year.

"That's great!" Harry exclaimed "We missed you at the Burrow."

Hermione smiled at them and looked around the Great Hall pretending to be interested in the sun that was peeking into the enchanted ceiling. But before long, Harry and Ron were discussing Quidditch and knew the time for questioning her about her summer had passed.

She looked around the Great Hall to everyone talking and laughing, but focused her attention on someone in particular. His blond head was fixed on a letter in front of him and he looked annoyed. He had the tendency to appear as if he had smelled something awful with his nose in the air and his face scrunched into a scowl but this was different. He was not angry or with the sour look upon his face, but his expression had changed to one of hopelessness. Possibly more previously unknown Death Eaters had been caught, she thought to herself. Almost all of them were either caught or killed after Voldemort was destroyed, however many, like Lucius, were hiding from the Ministry. Kingsley Shacklebolt was the new Minister of Magic and being a former member of the Order of the Phoenix, he had been tough running from. He had increased the number of Aurors and sought to capture every last Death Eater.

Hermione's train of thought broke when she realised his piercing blue eyes were staring back into her chocolate brown eyes. He still had the look of pain on his face but it was partially replaced with curiosity. He stared at her as if to wait for her to speak to him across the Great Hall, but instead she looked away towards her friends still conversing about their beloved game. Where is Malfoy's disgusted look and why is he still staring at me, she thought as she started eating her eggs. She wondered what the letter had said and what caused his full blue eyes to be averted from the rest of the Slytherins.

Again Hermione was pulled out of her mind when Professor McGonagall tapped her shoulder, causing her to jump up.

"Hello Miss Granger, I trust your summer went well," The professor said while giving her a withered smile.

"Yes Professor McGonagall, but I missed Hogwarts," she replied calmly despite feeling as if she had been caught misbehaving. She was startled, and the way Professor McGonagall's wrinkled eyes bore into her made her feel as if she knew Hermione was thinking about a Slytherin.

"Well here are your schedules," Mcgonagall said as she passed Harry, Ron, and Hermione's schedules towards them and walked to the next set of pupils who were awaiting her visit.

Hermione looked at her schedule and was pleased to see that she had Defense Against the Dark Arts first, followed by Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy, but was not excited about double Potions to end her days. For a moment she saw the pieces of black hair, from her dream, cross her mind, however she quickly pushed the thoughts away. That was definitely not him. She was not about to ruin her peaceful dream with the thoughts of her potions teacher.