Chapter 01

Hermione grinned happy to herself as she slowly worked her way around a magical circle she had drawn in the floor of a classroom. Ever since Harry had mentioned Horcrux, she had and its possible reason for keeping Voldemort alive, she had gone through many a book on afterlife, and outliving your normal life span. Some of the ideas she found she actually was able to use herself, as they were not really dark, while others she had not even bothered to touch.

But this circle, was not something which would be used to increase her life span, if indeed any of those suggestions would actually work. Rather, it was to look at her past, or more correctly past lives. It was suggested though not entirely proven, at least to pure blood standers, that a person, be it beast or being, could have a past life. It also said that in muggle-borns, this tended to be much more common. Which was probably why Purebloods hated it, as they rarely had a past life.

So, in the spirit of research, Hermione had decided to test the magical circle and spell. If all went as planned, Hermione would meet her past self, and regain her former lives memories. If she did not have a past life, or lives, then nothing would happen. And idle thought crossed Hermione's mind as she carefully inked in a rune onto the floor, what if her past life showed her being related to someone like Rowena Ravenclaw.

"Probably be highly unlikely," Hermione said, examining the rune she had just finished inking in to make sure it was prefect.

Once she was satisfied with the circle, she began to prepare a few think around it in smaller circles that had been draw connected to the main one. In one, was a sample of her hair, in the other, a small vial of her blood. Those would be used at catalyst to help the spell focus its power.

Finally, she was ready, Hermione, then stripping down, removed all her clothes and robes. This was because the process, if a person's previous life involved being animal, could cause their bodies to shift temporally. Feeling the cold air cross her nether regions, Hermione quickly crossed to the door, and locked it shut, adding a small charm that would keep most people out.

With that done, Hermione sat cross legged in the circle and placing her wand at the head of the circle so it intersected perpendicular with the line. Nodding and doing one last look about herself, she took a deep breath, hoping this was not all for nothing. After all, the cold stone floor on her rear was quite uncomfortable.

"Power of water, wind and earth; turn my history back to its birth. Reveal the past I have seen; so that I may once more know, what has been!" Hermione cried.

As she did so, she placed her hand on the wand's handle. Continuing to repeat the words, powering began to swell around her, and skin prickling as the level grew. As she continued speaking, other voices began overlaying her own. Whether they were her past voices, or not she was not sure, but the magic seemed to multiply beyond anything she could understand with each new layer was added.

Hermione blinked as her vision began to fade. It was if the lights in the room were going out, but it was not the lights that were fading. Her eyes became clouded, blinding her to the light from the room. She did not panic, this was part of the process, but it was disconcerting. Finally, light reached her eyes again, but it was not the lights of candles or from the windows of the class room. It was the red light of sunset.

Hermione looked around and saw a deep thick jungle. In front of her, by a stream was a young dinosaur of some sort. It was dipping its pointed mouth into the water and quickly pulling it back up looking around. Hermione felt her mind suddenly filled with new thoughts, thirst, but also worries of attack as she was alone.

"I… was that creature," Hermione suddenly realized.

Hermione, or what Hermione had once been, looked up and around. Hermione was sure for a second that it had somehow heard her. But a second later, another one of her kind came trotting up to where the raptor stood. Hermione, the raptor gave the newest arrival a sniff than a lick on the cheek.

Hermione's mind was suddenly filled with one thought, this was her soon to be mate. He had spent long hours courting her, bringing her proofs of his hunting skill. Small animals mostly, but many of which were very fast and hard to catch. She had always returned his affection as they had grown older, and anyone who had tried to hurt or claim her had meant his sharp claws.

Suddenly the scene whirled around Hermione, and before she knew it, she felt a great pain in her leg. She was no longer looking at the raptor from the point of the observer, but rather out of the raptors own eyes. Her leg, had been cut up badly, the bone under it partly fractured. It was a bite from one of the other carnivores of the land, and she knew she could soon die.

But she was not dead yet. Her mate had worked himself from the fine state he was in, till he was little more beta rank pack member. But she still would not leave him if she ever lived through this, he had fought so hard for her. He was loyal, something very few in the pack could claim, even staying behind when all the others had gone on.

It was the changing of the season when their prey was moving to the south to where their food was now much more plentiful. As such, they were on the move till it was time to lay eggs, then they would let them hatch in the warm muds, before finally returning and raising them on the return trip north. But she, she could not travel at the needed speed, she had to be left behind or risk the packs life.

Indeed, injured like she was, the others had indeed already left her and her mate long since behind. However, her mate had stayed, fought and hunted for both of them as she moved along slowly towards the mating and hatching grounds. But they were both suffering, they were pack animals, not designed for this solo life. Still though, outside their hard life, she was rather content, he cared for her so much it felt wrong to see him suffer just to save her life.

Hermione's head suddenly jerked to the side as a scent met her nose. She knew the scent very well, indeed all animals knew that smell, a massive head with powerful jaws, smaller arms, and a large hindquarters and balancing tail. The scars along its face indicated the fights it had been in, and the scent; it indicated this was the same one that had bitten her before.

She tried to run, she really did, but she was not able to. Her leg was not able to take the strain of the rapid movement and with a resounding crack, her leg bone snapped as she tripped. She turned back, expected the jaws to close on her. Then die a moment later in one simple bite. But it did not happen, a screech was heard as her mate charged, not realizing it was pointless.

He leapt high, looking like a fly on the massive creature's side. He was clawing and biting at its massive body, trying and failing to force it off. Suddenly the monster swung around, and bit her mates tail. It pulled hard, tearing her mate form its side and shook its head. The force was enough to break bones in her mate's body, then it tossed her mate.

He flew through the air and struck Hermione, the blow causing her so much pain she blacked out. She never felt the killing blow, but she knew, or at least her future human self knew, that she would never awake again.

Hermione suddenly opened her eyes again, once again in the classroom. Tears streamed down her eyes as she felt a pang of lose for her mate. She could remember other details now, not just the two visions she saw. Her first mating, how to hunt, scenting her pray, fighting for dominance. Her mate leaning against her as a few of the long-necked dinosaurs sung their nightly tunes.

"Where is he," Hermione asked herself, trying and failing to wipe her eyes, her body was frozen, unable to move still.

"What is going on?" Hermione asked, but then noticed the light was fading again, she was heading back into her past.

This time she awoke in a small town, she was human again. But this was not anywhere she knew, in fact it looked to be in an age long since passed. Before her was an egg, green in color, reaching out her hand, she touched it, and it began to rock. Stepping back, she bumped into other behind her watching with hope as the egg shook even more.

Suddenly, the egg broke apart, revealing a small green dragon. It was a little awkward and its wings were almost too big for is body. But Hermione did not mind, it was hers. Or more correctly, it had chosen her to be its rider, and life was about to get interesting.

The scene whirled and Hermione, or more correctly a man named Erik, was partaking in a sword fight with his onetime elf master. Erik's female dragon, Rose, was watching quietly nearby as Erik and his master fought back and forth across the training ground. Erik had long since earned the title of rider, but still enjoyed coming back to Vroengard to learn more from his master, or test his skills against him. Finally, Erik's blade went flying from his hand, and he found himself an inch from the swords tip of his master's blade.

"As good as ever," Erik's master, Van, said.

"Not as good as you," Erik responded smiling in spite of his lose.

"I have had many years more time to practice than you have," Van commented and sheathed his sword.

They left the training field by Van's house and went in. On a nearby pedestal stood Van's dragons eldunari, or Heart of Hearts. The large purple gem glowed faintly, and inside it was the soul and mind of Van's once mighty dragon. It had fallen ill many years ago, but now lived on in this gem like form.

Erik smiled, as Rose came in behind them. The city of Vroengard had buildings that were made to house and easily allow access to dragons of most sizes. So Rose, the fierce if hearted watcher of Erik, could easily follow them through the building.

"Master?" Erik began, "is it true that a fallen rider will be attacking us?"

Van sighed as they passed into another room, "Yes, he lost his own dragon many years ago. And went mad, now he is returning to attack us out of some sort of misguided vengeance."

"And it is time for us to stand and fight then?" Erik asked.

"We shall, but I fear we may not live," Van responded.

Before Hermione could learn more about the fact to befall her past life's Erik's home, the scene whirled again. Suddenly Erik was riding Rose up in the air, as they circled through the sky fighting against two of the fallen, and their dragons. Erik's wards which had guards them so far, were failing rapidly, and soon Erik would no longer be able to guard either of them.

Suddenly, Erik, through Rose felt a great pain in his side. Rose had been cut in her right wing. Without warning the pair pitched sideways heading towards the ground. They were to low already, so instead of trying to heal Rose, Erik had Rose try and land them. It worked, barely. Rose's wing was badly injured, but otherwise okay. While Erik was mostly just shaken. One of the two riders swooped low, and launched himself off his dragon, and prepared to duel Erik in single combat.

Erik watched the rider move forward, fear in his heart, but his blade still held steady and ready. This battle was lost, Erik and many others already knew it. They could not beat the traitors, who had turned against them when they had least expected it. The dragons in anger had attacked magically destroying the traitor's dragon's very identity, and Erik knew soon they would be no more than mindless beasts. But that would not be enough to change the course of this battle.

As Erik got ready to attack, a blast of light, brighter than the sun itself suddenly lit the sky. Before Erik or the his opponent could react, the shock wave hit them like a ton of bricks. Rose was lifted and thrown through a house, break her neck as she went. A quick death. Erik would have scream in agony at the loss of his love, friend, and partner of his heart, but the blast also buried him in rubble killing him moments later.

Hermione was one again thrown back into the classroom, fresh tears falling from her eyes. Her life as Erik becoming clear, the training and close friendship with her former love Rose filling her mind with yet more memories. Feelings for the dragon Rose, named after a flower, filled her heart, and a longing and ache now filled her being. It felt just as bad if not a little worse than the loss of her raptor mate had.

"Is… is all my past lives d-d-doomed to end so tragedy," Hermione asked herself, tears flowing freely from her eyes.

She longed to hug herself, but her body was not responding, it could not move. Almost fearfully Hermione was drawn back again into another past life. Opening her eyes to the first memory, she saw a world unlike anything else she had seen before. Ponies dotted the area, each with vivid colors form every color of the rainbow. Shades of reds, yellows, oranges, greens, blues, and violets could be seen in the different pony's manes, tails, and coats.

"It is like I walked into some girls coloring book," Hermione said to herself.

Hermione's eyes were then drawn to one pony in particular, a unicorn laying on the ground reading a book in the shade of a tree. She looked to be studying something, rather than playing with the others even though it seemed to be summer break. Nor did she seem to have any friends as none of the other nearby ponies glanced once over at her, or yelled a greeting as they walked by.

Hermione studied the unicorn, her coat with a light purple, with a similar shade for her eye color. Her mane and tail were a much darker purple, with a light purple almost pink strip running through it. And outside the coloring of her body and mane, the pony's actions for the rest of the short memory reminded Hermione a lot of herself as a young kid, focused solely on learning and not friends.

The scene spun about her and suddenly she was the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, but now she was no longer in the capital city of Canterlot. But a small town called Pony Ville, and it was her job to make sure the Summer Sun Celebration went off without a problem. She had already checked on one of the ponies in charge of food.

Now she was checking to make sure the sky was clear of clouds. But the pony in charge of that had not done anything yet. She soon found said pony, a mare like herself named Rainbow Dash. She got a little messy because of this, mostly just from Rainbow Dash fooling around. But the sky was soon clear of clouds, and Twilight moved on.

The scene began to whirl about faster and Hermione saw several fragments of scenes of life as Twilight. Saving the lands from Nightmare Moon, The Running of the Leaves, Winter Wrap-Up, The Grand Galloping Gala. Still more appeared, it seemed her life as Twilight had more big events in it than any of her other two lives did.

She watched as she went from the student of a Princess, to being a princess herself. Teach many ponies about the Magic of Friendship, defeat several dark beings who threatened the peace of the world. Convert, with help from her many friends, several others to become actually friendly to the people as a whole. And even discovering a parallel world.

Finally after several years of adventure, Twilight then fell for one pony. Rainbow Dash. They had slowly been getting closer since Twilight had earned herself a set of wings. It also helped that Twilight understood Rainbow better than anyone of the other ponies. Indeed, Twilight knew Rainbow Dash better than she almost knew herself.

Finally, during one later day in winter, Rainbow Dash asked Twilight if she would like to go on a date. Twilight, but surprised and a little embarrassed had said yes. The date, turned out to be rather fun, it was a picnic out by the rainbow falls. A bit of a trip if one was walking but only a hours flight a most.

Several other dates soon followed, and finally Rainbow Dash asked Twilight to marry her. Hermione could feel Twilight's joy at this question but also, a weird sorrow that had begun to grow. Hermione enjoyed the wedding surrounded by her many friends, and saw only two events between the wedding and one final memory.

It was probably a hundred or so years since the first memories Hermione had gained of Twilight's. Rainbow Dash, now showing signs of her age was laying on a bed, smiling happily at Twilight. Twilight had not aged a day in nearly a hundred years, not since the change. And now Hermione understood Twilights sorrow at being asked to be married by Rainbow Dash. She was going to one day leave her behind and have to move on for hundreds if not thousands of years to come.

"I am sorry about this Twi," Rainbow said, her voice only slightly weaker than it had been.

"It is not your fault, it is mine, I could not find a way to save you," Twilight said, her hoof gently Rainbow's back.

"No, not that," Rainbow Dash said with a bit of a sad chuckle, "I have lived a good life. I am only sorry I have to leave you behind. I would gladly choose to live on in this increasingly weak body if only to keep you happy. I would give up my titles of leader of the Wonder and Shadow Bolt to keep those tears that will soon fall from ever forming. But alas, I cannot."

Twilight and through her Hermione was silent, watching as Rainbow Dash smiled. And raised her hoof caressing Twilight cheek. Twilight closed her eyes, able to easily imagine a stronger and bolder Rainbow Dash touching her. The pillar of Loyalty that was Rainbow Dash, never faltering.

"I know I am the last Harmony to pass on before you," Rainbow Dash said sighing, "So I will make one last request before you join me in the next life. Find a worthy replacement, someone who will do everything they can for their friends and family."

Twilight nodded, "Of course, why would I do otherwise?"

"Because you will rush to follow me," Rainbow Dash said chuckling, "And don't make lists, don't set up charts. Follow and listen to your heart, when you find the next Element of Magic, you will know it so deep down even your magic will know and agree."

Twilight smiled, "speaking form experience there?"

"Maybe," Rainbow Dash said chuckling and sat up stretching.

Twilight smiled and helped the aged pony out of the bed and out of the castle to greet the new day. Rainbow Dash died two weeks later, the funeral held was among one of the bigger ones in Equestria. Of the six original Elements of Harmony, Rainbow Dash was the most well know. She was Head of the Wonder Bolts, one of the fastest and most skilled flyers in the world. But she was also kind, aiding and helping anyone, even at personal risk to herself. She had saved towns from bad weather, delivered medicine in storms so dangerous it was considered impossible.

Twilight lived on another ten years, her strength finally beginning to fade. It seemed the Elements of Harmony were going dormant once again. Twilight did as asked, and searched for the next bearers. Finally, in a small town, in the far north, Twilight came across a small unicorn who was practicing magic. At first, Twilight did not pay the Unicorn any mind, but her attention kept on being drawn back to her. Finally, unable to help it, Twilight got up and walked over to the Unicorn.

"Child, what is your name?" Twilight asked, the Unicorn.

"Trixie, named after a great and powerful Unicorn, or so I am told," Trixie answered.

"Greater than you might realize," Twilight said, a sad chuckle escaping her as she remained her old friend.

"Really?" Trixie asked.

Twilight nodded, studying the unicorn. She was still young as she did not even have her Cutie Mark yet. Her body was covered in yellow fur, and mane and tail were both bright red. But as Twilight looked deeper, she could feel a well of magical power unlike anything she had ever felt before.

"Trixie, would you like a small gift," Twilight finally asked.

"Sure, I like gifts," Trixie said bouncing up and down happily.

"Okay calm down," Twilight said, and Trixie sat down looking up hopefully.

"First, one question, do you know who I am?" Twilight asked.

"No, not really. You seem familiar though," Trixie said tilting her head slightly, the gesture reminding Twilight of Pinkie Pie.

Twilight nodded, "Very well. Close your eyes and hold still."

Trixie did as tell, and Twilight began summoning the last of her magical strength and transferred it to the young Unicorn. Twilight felt her wings vanish, and her strength rapidly wane. Finally, as Twilight finished, she saw not before her a young unicorn without a mark, but a young Alicorn, a mix of Unicorn and Pegasus, before her.

"Princess Trixie, I wish you the best of luck in your life. Find friends who will treat you right, and never give up on them. Listen to those around you, and above all, share you love and magic with all those you care for," Twilight said.

Trixie's eyes suddenly sprang open as she realized who was speaking and looked at Twilight in awe. But before Trixie could say anything, Twilight seemed to fade away her cloak and saddle bag falling to the ground. Trixie gabbing these items ran home, never noticing the wings she now had. Nor realizing the life she now would lead would be more special than she could have ever dreamed.

Hermione finally came to in the classroom lying on her side. Her mind was filling still with Twilight other memories. It took quite a bit of effort to keep her new memories sorted. She had lived, not including her current life, nearly three hundred total years between those spent of Twilight, Erik and the unnamed female raptor.

Tears were leaking out of her eyes again. She found herself feeling lonely, and scared. She had lost her lover three times so far in the past, as well as many friends. But at least in the most recent life Rainbow had passed on peacefully, rather than the violent deaths that had taken her other two loves. As Hermione shifted she realized that a blanket was covering her body, which explained why she was only slightly cold.

"You are up," a voice said, Hermione turned a little and saw Harry sitting nearby the book she had used to do the ritual in his hands.

"How did you get in here?" Hermione asked.

"The map showed me how to open the door," Harry said smirking, before it became a frown.

Hermione only nodded, the Marauders Map, was enchanted with magic to reveal ever passage in Hogwarts, and how to get into them. It must also tell how to defeat changing blocks on the doors as well. But that did not explain why he was here or where the blanket had come from.

"So, what were you doing?" Harry asked, coming over and helping Hermione to sit up, taking care to keep her body covered.

"A ritual," Hermione said, finding her body extremely weak at the moment, and having to lean against Harry to stay up.

"I guessed as much," Harry said, "But what kind of ritual?"

Hermione sighed and tears began to leak down her eyes again. She did not want to talk about her past lives, and the lost she had felt three times over now. True each life held wonder and glory, but also great sadness. Harry noticing her crying did something he had rarely done before and pull her into a hug, cradling her against his chest.

"Hermione, what is wrong?" Harry asked, his voice soft and filled with concern.

Hermione just shook her head, she couldn't say it, she wouldn't say it. It was not for Harry to know, indeed, Hermione never planned on telling anyone else what she had done or learned. But that feeling of loneliness was only growing in her heart. She needed someone who could help her through it, and of the many people she knew, only Harry had dealt with this kind of pain before.

"I… just promise me you will not tell Ron," Hermione said, taking several deep breaths calming herself a little.

"I promise," Harry said, rubbing her back now trying to sooth her.

Hermione leaned into him a little more, drawing the blanket about her tightly, shielding her nudity from him. She thought for a few moments about what to say, or where to start and decided a true version of the events and in order was the best idea.

"The ritual I just did, I found in a book that talks about a person's soul. I was trying to find more about Horcruxes but nothing came up. However, the ritual I saw I decided to try, as it lets person view their past lives if they should have any," Hermione explained.

"And you had one or two?" Harry said more than asked.

"Three. But of them, I only think one was in this world. The first one, in which I was a female dinosaur, a raptor. I saw a few things before gaining all the memories. The first was a male trying to become my mate. Then a later scene of the same male caring for me when I had become injury; before we were both killed by the same creature who had caused my injury," Hermione explained.

"Sound's harsh alright," Harry said, before adding quietly, "So does that mean you are a million some years old?"

"Of course, not," Hermione said, but smiled, "I… the raptor only lived to be about two or three years old. Mating and nesting age. And even then, I have only lived in this body for a little over seventeen years."

"Did you ever mate?" Harry asked, surprising Hermione.

Hermione nodded after a few moments though and smiled saying, "Only once, and we had four young that made it to mating age. But only my mate was around to save me from the attack."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"The seasons had changed, and it was time to migrate to warmer climates. With the injury, I could not keep up so my mate stayed behind to move at my slower pace," Hermione answered.

"He must have been something else then," Harry said.

"Yes, the best of mates," Hermione said, a hint of pride in her voice.

"So, after this life, what was your next one like?" Harry asked.

Hermione smiled remembering the lands of Alagaesia. And it took her several minutes to explain about her life as Erik, and his partner of heart and mind, the female dragon Rose. Harry was unsurprisingly, surprised by this turn of events. But did not laugh or make any crude jokes about it. Instead asked what the world was like, Hermione gave Harry a rather brief history on the riders. Starting with the elf and Dragon war, which ended in peace and the formation of the riders, a little about the people in the lands which included Elves, humans, Dwarves, dragons, and Urgal. Before finally explaining the possible fall of the riders, and the battle in which she as Erik and her dragon died.

Tears once again began to flow, as Harry rubbed her back, letting her take her time as the memories of loss hit her again. She felt also even more alone than before. As a rider, she had always had part of her touching her dragon. Now, she was truly alone, even though Harry was as close as she had ever let someone get, he could not comfort her like her dragon Rose had once been able to.

"Now that is a life I would have loved to had seen," Harry said, catching Hermione by surprise.

"Really?" Hermione asked.

"Indeed, dragons and riders. And you, one of the most skilled in magical arts through sheer knowledge of the Ancient Language," Harry said grinning.

Hermione nodded to herself, though she could not remember telling Harry about the Ancient Language, which was odd. She normally remembered everything she had ever said or someone had said to her. But then again, in her state, what she had said to Harry was not a big worry. He would never betray her trust, at least not without a very good reason.

"I wish I had time to say goodbye to Rose, I miss her more than anything right now. I guess I should be happy, I never felt her mental touch fade from my own mind. The effects are normally enough to drive either the rider or dragon mad for a time," Hermione said, unable to suppress a shiver of fear and anguish.

"And now? Will you go mad?" Harry asked.

"No, I am whole. Or at least I am in this life, and I have you and Ron to keep my company. Give it time, and I shall recover. I think," Hermione said a bit of resentment still in her tone.

Harry only nodded, rubbing her back slowly still, her body still tense. He could sense it fear, anger, resentment, self-loathing, loss, hurt; all emotions he had felt when he had watched his own Godfather killed right in front of him. He had been terribly confused and unprepared emotionally for the hole that had been left in his life. It had taken Luna Lovegood, explaining a few things about loss, having lost her own mother at a young age, to help him to begin moving on.

"You shall, give it time, and enjoy those memories you have of her," Harry said finally, "She would not want you to stop living now because of past events."

Hermione nodded, "Yeah, probably would give me a good thrashing too if I did not learn to move on. Though, for riders and dragons, when one passes on, the other almost always follows soon after. Only those with reasons for pushing on, even try, and not all succeeded either."

"Yes, but you were not a normal rider, and you will not pass on now because of a loss from ages pass," Harry said.

"How do you know that?" Hermione asked, surprised by the amount of certainty in his voice.

"Because I know you, better than you probably knew yourself till recently. Besides, if you decided to pass on right now, you would never be able to complete your final year and a half at school. Nor save all those poor, poor house elves," Harry said, more teasingly than serious.

Hermione knew he was baiting her, but she did not care and glared at him, "Getting top level grades is very important. And we should be helping the House Elves."

Harry just smiled at her at this, and Hermione unable to keep her glare up, soon returned the smile as the tremors her body felt were finally calmed. Hermione leaned against Harry again and closed her eyes. She wondered if she should tell him about her last and most recent life. It was not that telling him about Equestria was a bad idea, just she was not sure if he would believe her, when she told him about a world that looked more like some girls coloring book than an actual world of wonder.

"So, your last life?" Harry asked.

"I was… a winged unicorn named Twilight Sparkle," Hermione said finally, feeling that for now she would keep this life hidden.

"Winged Unicorns are not native to this world," Harry said after a few moments, "Though Hagrid did comment it was possible to breed them using a Pegasus mother and a Unicorn father."

Hermione nodded after a few moments, remembering that lesson with Hagrid back in fourth year. But she knew Harry was not meaning she had been breed by someone as a pet. He was merely sharing a comment, still it did surprise her that he had remembered that little fact after so long.

"It was a different world and place," Hermione said, "And to be honest, rather girly. But I loved it and my mate from that world as well. I lived a long life, and after she passed on, I continued on for another ten years before passing away."

Harry nodded, "nothing violent I hope."

"No, old age actually, but no kids to carry on my line," Hermione explained.

Harry nodded, "I understand."

They remained like this for several more minutes. Hermione thinking about her past lives, while Harry remained a solid comfort by her side. He never spoke once, letting her decide when she wanted to talk more on the subject. But for now, Hermione was not ready to reveal anything else.

"I think I should get back to Gryffindor tower," Hermione said finally.

"Need any help?" Harry asked as Hermione stood up, and carefully pulled on her clothes using the blanket to hide her nudity.

"No, I can make it just fine," Hermione said after a few moments, then left.

Hermione sighed as she left the room, leaving Harry behind. She wanted some alone time to think about everything. She also decided a good meal, and a night's rest would do her some good as well. Tomorrow, she would decide what, if anything, she should do about what she had learned.

However, Hermione had forgotten something in her haste to get some more time for thinking. She had left the ritual marks still ready to go on the floor, and Harry still had the book. And while she knew he would not try anything risky, if he was curious, he would more than likely use the ritual.