A/N: I know this is a new style I am going for. It is fem/fem so if you don't like it sorry. I don't own any of it.
This story is dedicated to someone who has changed my whole world. I love you so much. I just want you to come home.
Hogwarts Gets Complicated
Hermione gazed out the window of the Hogwarts Express. Rain gently tapped against the window blurring the images of the things beyond. Lavender and Parvati were both currently fast asleep in the seat across from her. Hermione had spent the summer with the two of them enjoying the city of Paris. It wasn't a surprise for the three girls to spend most of the summer together, Padma included in their little jaunts.
Ever since second year had ended Hermione had found herself in the company of the two other Gyrffindor girls and occasionally Padma. Hermione did her best not to remember the day her whole world changed but as she drew closer and closer to Hogwarts she found herself once more bathed in a memory that still haunted her.
Hermione stumbled along beside Penelope as they were released from the Hospital Wing. Her head still buzzed from being petrified but there was little she could do to dispel the dizziness, and it made her feel a little better that Penelope was struggling just as much as she was.
Nothing could have prepared her for the sight before her as they entered the Great Hall. Instead of the banners to indicate which house had won there were black banners. Hermione felt her stomach drop. This was the one thing she had been afraid of the most, someone would die because of the basilisk. In desperation her eyes sought out the Gryffindor table as she searched for two familiar heads.
The red hair stuck out like a thorn amongst the other students. Her eyes spotted Ron, the tension eased slightly but she couldn't find the messy head of hair that she had come to see next to him. Tears burned her eyes as she stumbled forward. She didn't see the other students watching her as she took in the truth of what must have happened.
Her whole body began to tremble as her eyes searched in vain for Harry's messy black hair and found nothing. Everything began to spin and Penelope was suddenly holding her upright. Her hands were fisted in the older girl's robes as her eyes made their way to where the professors were seated. Instead of Dumbledore's usual podium there was a black stone.
She saw a picture of Harry's face and right below it was Ginny. Hermione's knees gave out and another pair of arms encircled her waist as Penelope and Lavender tried to hold her up.
"No," was her broken cry of dismay as she realized the truth. She had lost two of her best friends and there was nothing she could do about it.
Hermione looked up as Professor McGonagall knelt before her. There was a look of compassion and pity in the older woman's eyes.
"W-what happened?" Hermione questioned. She felt like the world was spinning out of control and she felt her heart being ripped to shreds.
"Mr. Potter went to try and rescue Miss Weasley from the Chamber. They never came back," McGonagall explained.
Then Hermione broke down crying. Lavender held her tightly as Hermione clung to someone, anything to keep her sanity in those brief moments.
She didn't hear Ron approach but she felt a definite chill in the air and Lavender tense. Looking up through blurry eyes she met Ron's accusing blue eyes and she recoiled in shock.
Hermione stared at him while Ron glared at her. She didn't understand what she had done to make him so angry. Then he left without saying anything and Hermione knew, without any doubt, that her friendship with Ron was over.
The door swung open, bringing Hermione from her thoughts. Padma stood in the doorway smiling as she spotted Hermione.
"Hey," she said with a grin as she realized her sister and best friend were asleep.
"Hey," Hermione replied with a smile of her own. She liked Padma, she was much quieter and nicer than her sister was.
Padma came in shutting the door behind her as she came to sit next to Hermione. The two girls had gotten much closer over the summer. Where Lavender and Parvati were out shopping for clothes, Hermione and Padma were out looking at museums and gaining as much information as they could.
"How long have they been sleeping?"
"About an hour I think," Hermione said with a shrug.
Before Padma could reply the door opened and there stood Ron. Hermione stiffened, glaring at the red haired youth that she had come to loathe. He glared right back at her, sneering in his obvious displeasure at seeing her.
"What do you want?" Padma snapped, catching Ron's attention for the first time.
"Nothing to do with you," he practically growled, making both girls even more edgy.
"Don't talk to my sister that way," Parvati almost yelled as she woke to seeing the red head. "Get out of here before you get hexed."
Ron only looked at the other girl with contempt.
"See you soon, Granger."
He slammed the compartment door, startling Lavender awake, as he headed further up the train.
"What was that?" Lavender questioned as she rubbed her eyes.
"Just Weasley stopping by," Padma said with such disdain that it made Hermione turn to look at the other girl. Padma, seeing Hermione looking at her, flushed and turned away.
"Wonderful."
"I'm about ready to hex him," Parvati grumbled form her seat. "It's been over a year, I'm sick of him being around. He hasn't said anything about why he hates her."
"Well...that's not entirely true," Hermione said softly, making the other three girls look at her.
"What?" Padma questioned.
"I...I had a run in with him last year."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Lavender demanded now fully awake.
"Because it didn't make a difference."
"What did he say?"
Hermione looked away for a moment trying to collect her thoughts before turning to look at her three friends. Three friends who stood beside her despite everything that had happened. She knew that she could trust them with anything.
"It was just after Christmas. I was coming back from the library. I didn't see him at first, not until he shoved me. I hit the wall and fell. Then he was standing over me. I've never seen him so mad before. That's when I asked him why he was so mad at me. He knelt down, his face inches from mine. He told me it was my fault they were dead. If I had been there I would have been able to save them. Instead I was in the Hospital Wing and they had no idea what they were going up against. I should have helped them but I kept the information until it was almost too late."
"He thinks it's your fault?" Padma seemed absolutely stunned and from the looks the others were giving they felt the same.
"Madam Pomfrey had to restore his memory," Hermione admitted. "She thinks that something may have been missed when she was working. Ron's anger is just that anger. He needs someone to blame and I am that someone."
"That's such bullshit," Lavender grumbled.
"I'm sorry," Padma said as she leaned forward to hug Hermione.
Hermione returned the hug, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach that had been frequently reoccurring whenever Padma was around. Pushing aside the sudden rush of emotions the other girl's hug had caused she turned back to her friends.
They began talking about their trip that summer and Hermione was grateful for being let off the hook. Third year had been very uneventful for her and she was a little sad about that. The first two years had been intense and now, she felt Harry's lost even more than before.
This year was going to be a little better, Hermione realized this now. She knew why Ron was mad and she didn't really care. His anger was unfounded and it was really his fault more than it was hers, he had been there. Instead of letting this get to her she let it go.
Padma and Parvati told her that this year Hogwarts would be hosting the Tri-Wizard tournament. A competition that had not happened in a long time. Mainly due to the frequency of deaths that often occurred during such an event. Hermione had, of course, researched information about previous Tri-Wizard tournaments and was amazed at how complex the whole thing was.
Hermione was grateful for the friends that she had. Lavender had even taught her how to manage her hair, something she was pleased with to no end. Her parents had spoiled her when she had been home, they had even come to Paris with her. Hermione had finally broken down and told her parents the truth about what happened during her second year. Her mother had been very supportive and her father was just glad that she was safe. She had managed to salvage her relationship with her parents and it made her feel so much better.
The Great Hall was loud as Hermione and her friends entered. Padma said her farewell at the door as she made her way to Ravenclaw table. Hermione watched the other girl go until Lavender nudged her side. Snapping her out of her moment she followed the two girls to the Gryffindor table. She waved to Fred and George, who smiled back at her.
Taking her seat across from the other two girls she sighed happily now that she was back at school. Her eyes slowly drifted around the Great Hall until she found the black stone that was off to the side of where the Professors table was. She felt the sting of tears and the way her stomach clenched as she gazed at it. Never would she not feel the painful loss of two friends that were taken from her world.
Once the sorting was over they all dug into their meal.
"Do you think we will win?" Parvati asked doing her best not to allow anyone else to realize what they were talking about.
"Maybe, depends on who gets picked," Lavender replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
Hermione nodded her head in agreement. "It may be someone we can actually stand."
The two girls smiled at her.
Lavender and Parvati began talking about fashion and Hermione reached into her bag to pull out a new book.
She wouldn't lie, her clothes had a bigger and bigger influence thanks to Parvati and Lavender. Hermione at first had resisted until they appealed to her better side. She soon realized how much she liked the way she dressed. It wasn't as eye catching as their clothes were, they were still a bit conservative but showed a bit more than her old clothes used to. They made her feel better knowing that the choice was hers and she liked her new opinion of herself.
Dinner was winding down and Dumbledore approached his podium for the first time. Hermione could see a chair had still been left empty at the professors table, which was unusual.
"Welcome everyone to yet another wonderful year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said his voice resonating through the Great Hall gaining everyone's attention. "This year we are going to welcome a new teacher, Professor Moody, who will be taking over the place of Defense Against the Dark Arts."
This took Hermione by shock. There was no reason why Professor Lupin was not able to return to his post. She was one of the very few students who knew his secret. No one had been told about his being a werewolf so she didn't see why he had been unable to return.
"He is currently finishing up some work elsewhere but rest assured he will be back in time for classes tomorrow. Also, we are pleased to announce that this year we are going to be participating in a very special magical tournament. We are hosting the Tri-Wizard tournament. Two other magical schools will be joining us this year, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. They will be arriving at the end of October. We also would like to inform everyone that we will not be having any Quidditch this year because the pitch will be used during the tournament. Now, everyone enjoy the rest of your evening. More information will be put out the closer we get to the tournament."
Hermione rose to her feet with the other two girls. The hall had exploded into uproar once Dumbledore had finished talking. They had already known this news so it wasn't all that interesting a topic for them so they just did their best to hurry to their dorms. They got there first and Lavender told the portrait of the Fat Lady the password to be let in.
They smiled as they entered the common room. It was a mutual satisfaction to return to a place they all considered to be home.
Up in their dorm they got ready for a new school year.
Hermione looked around her eyes landing on the cabin that stretched out before her. The wind tugged gently at her hair as she slowly made her way across the open plain. The cabin itself was on the other side of the clearing and Hermione realized that it was going to be a long walk.
She walked along, her eyes looking for something interesting to gaze upon but there was nothing. The sun hung high in the sky heat beating down on her skin. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and she could only see a field everywhere she looked.
After a while she began to hum to herself. She wasn't sure where she was but she knew that something important must be held in that cabin.
Slowly it was getting closer and closer, making Hermione excited about getting out of the sun. She was soaked through with sweat and her legs had begun to ache. Licking her now dry lips she was hoping to come across water somewhere.
After what seemed like hours Hermione made it to the cabin. It was a simple wood cabin that held no decorations. Slowly she began to approach the door. She may be curious but she wasn't stupid. Reaching out to the door she knocked on the door. Then she waited.
After a minute she realized that no one was going to open the door. Reaching forward she opened the door. It was dark and drafty inside the cool house. Hermione stuck her head in, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. Hesitantly she stepped inside, eyes searching for any clues to what was contained in the cabin.
The only furniture that was contained in the building was a table. A large wooden table that held stacks and stacks of books. Hermione's eyes lit up as she saw the books.
She made her way to the table and froze.
Nothing could have prepared herself for what she saw before heart felt like it had stopped and the world was spinning around her.
"G-Ginny?"
Hermione woke with a start, sitting up as her eyes wildly raced around the room. Her heart was racing in her chest and she couldn't breath. Tears were running down her cheeks and she felt like the world was falling apart around her. There was no way, no way she could have seen that correctly. Ginny was dead, gone.
Crying she pulled her knees up to her chest, arms wrapping around them as she tried to wrap her mind around everything. It must have been coming back to school that had made her dream about Ginny. That must have been it. There was no other explanation as to why she would be seeing her old friend.
Lavender was sitting beside her, arms around her as she cried. She hadn't meant to wake up the other girl but she couldn't help herself. Turning so that she could bury her face into her shoulder she clung to the only solid thing in her life.
Her whole body shook with her sobs. This wasn't supposed to happen to her. She didn't understand it, not at all.
"What's wrong?" Lavender asked as she rubbed Hermione's back.
"I saw her," she whispered softly.
"Saw who?"
"Ginny?"
Lavender stopped her movements as she took in what Hermione was saying. "In a dream?"
Hermione could only nod. "I was walking towards a cabin and when I got there, there was nothing inside but a table full of books. So I went to look at them and there she was sitting at the table reading over the books. She looked up at me and I just...just couldn't believe that I was looking at her. It didn't make sense to me. How could she be in my dream?"
"Do you think it's just because we are back at school?" Lavender asked, trying to help her reason through this moment with her.
"Maybe, but Lavender," Hermione looked up at the other girl.
"What?"
"She wasn't eleven."
Hermione woke feeling exhausted. After she had finished talking with Lavender she had attempted to fall back asleep to no avail. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Ginny's face. It made her chest ache painfully and she was afraid to fall back to sleep. Instead she woke early, showered, and got ready for the first day of classes. Today did not look like a promising day at all.
She was already down at breakfast when Padma managed to stumble into the Great Hall. Padma easily spotted her and headed over to say hello. Hermione was currently reading a book her mother had given her and was hardly paying attention to anything around her.
Padma placed her hand on the other girls shoulder, making Hermione jump. Turning she was faced with the Ravenclaw and her heart was racing in her chest. She brushed away the unnerving feeling and figured it was just because Padma had scared her. As she returned the smile she was beginning to think she couldn't continue to push off these sudden feelings.
"You're awake early," Padma said to her as she sat down beside her.
"I couldn't really sleep," Hermione told her with a shrug. She wasn't ready to let everyone know about the dream she had. Who would believe her anyway? Lavender promised not to say anything about it until she was ready to talk about it again.
"Ready for classes?"
Both girls knew the answer to that question. They both loved to study and Hermione was grateful to have someone to talk to about books.
"I am, but it looks like we don't have any classes together this year."
Padma frowned. "Really?" She dug into her pocket to pull out her class schedule. They had gotten the courses the night before because classes would start in the morning. "Oh, we don't."
Hermione saw the disappointment in the other girls eyes and couldn't help thinking it was for her. She quickly shook off that line of thinking. What was she doing?
"Well, there is always studying at night," Padma told her, her smile coming grinned at her.
"That would be nice."
Padma opened her mouth to say something then seemed to change her mind. "I'll catch you later?"
Hermione nodded and Padma rose to her feet to head back to her table.
Once the other girl was gone Hermione let out the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. With a hand that shook, she ran her hand through her hair. What was wrong with her? Was she really attracted to Padma or was it something else? Her mind was in a whirlwind and instead of trying to figure out the question she turned back to her book. She could always figure it out later.
It wasn't long before Parvati and Lavender made their way down to breakfast. They were not morning people so Hermione knew better than to say anything except for a short greeting until they had both eaten.
"So what do we have first?" Lavender asked when she had finished breakfast.
"Herbology with the Hufflepuffs," Hermione told them as she finally closed her book.
"Oh joy," Parvati grumbled.
"Then Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins," she added as she looked over the timetable she had.
"Still not taking Divination?" Lavender questioned.
"Nope, Arithmancy," Hermione replied casually.
The two girls smiled. They knew what she thought of the class itself after she stormed out last year.
"Well, let's get going."
The three headed out of the Great Hall. They were talking about when the first trip to Hogsmeade was when Ron slammed his shoulder into Hermione. Hermione stumbled, caught off guard by his sudden attack. Parvati caught her by the elbow to steady her.
"What do you think you're doing Weasley," Lavender yelled as she rounded on the red haired youth. Ron had certainly gotten taller over the summer but so had Lavender and they both stood on even ground. Hermione always found it odd how tall Lavender was but was grateful during moments like this.
"She was in my way," he said casually as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"She was not and you know it," Parvati snapped her own anger getting to her. "You did that on purpose and you better apologize."
Ron looked at Hermione then snorted. "Like I would apologize to that filthy little Mudblood."
Then suddenly Ron was on the ground. Cedric Diggory, of all people, was towering over Ron pure rage on his face. He was flanked by his Ravenclaw friends all of them looking equally as pissed as Cedric did.
Ron stared up at the older boy stunned. Fred and George appeared next to him, dragging him to his feet.
"What the hell was that for Diggory?" Fred asked stunned. It was obvious that no one knew what was going on.
"He called Hermione a mudblood," Cedric said in such a cold voice that it left the three girls stunned.
"You did what?" Fred and George screamed at their younger brother who had the grace to flinch.
Ron refused to answer leveling a glare at Hermione as if this was all her fault. Hermione just glared right back at him.
"I would expect this kind of talk from Malfoy," Cedric began. "Not from you Weasley. You need to learn some manners or have you forgotten that Hermione is the top of your class? Where do you rank again?"
Ron turned his glare on Cedric who, upon seeing it, took a step forward until he was looking down on Ron. He looked up, never breaking eye contact.
"We don't care what petty little problem you seem to be having but I refuse to allow you to treat other students like that. You will learn your place. As I am a Prefect I am giving you detention for a week with Snape. Now get out of my sight before I do something more permanent to you."
Before Ron could even protest Fred and George were dragging their younger brother away.
"Thank you," Hermione said sincerely as she turned to face the smiled at her.
"It's the least I can do after you kept me from failing last year. Tell us if he give you anymore trouble."
Hermione nodded her head and watched the boys head off.
"That was new," Lavender replied with a shake of her head. "I didn't know you helped him."
"It wasn't that hard," Hermione explained. "I mean he was just looking in the wrong section. I've helped out most of them with their homework."
"You would."
The three turned to head to Herbology and Hermione met Draco's eyes from the other side of the courtyard. The blonde youth met her gaze steadily. This wasn't the first time she had seen him watching her. Instead of confronting him she left him to himself. He had left her alone ever since second year and she figured that if he had something to say he would come say it.
As she looked at him he slowly nodded his head. Stunned, the only thing she could do was nod back. Draco gave her a half smile before he turned and walked away.
Today was going to get weirder apparently.
School seemed to fall into a very easy routine. Their first DADA class had been quite memorable. Professor Moody had done something that many people wouldn't have done. He taught them about the Unforgivable curses. The class had been stunned and intrigued by this new approach. That was until Hermione couldn't stand the way Neville had reacted to one of them.
She had approached the youth later, who could only give her a shaky smile in return. Hermione was one of the few people who knew what happened to Neville's parents. So she had snuck him some cookies from the kitchens later that night to make him feel better.
Hermione was making her way back to Gryffindor tower after a brutal day of lessons when she spotted Padma. Padma was leaning against the wall, her eyes focused on something she couldn't see. Hermione approached, wondering when the other girl would hear her.
"Hey," Hermione finally said when she stopped next to the jumped looking startled and flushed when she saw Hermione.
"Hey," she replied with only a slight tremor in her voice.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I was waiting for you actually," Padma told her.
Hermione smiled, she couldn't really help it. They had studied together almost every night since classes started. She definitely was beginning to realize that she was attracted to her close friend. The only problem was that she had no idea what to do about it.
"Why were you waiting for me?"
Padma smiled back as she dug into her pocket and pulled out a box. With a wave of her wand she enlarged it, holding it out to Hermione.
"Happy birthday," Padma was grinning outright her eyes dancing.
"Oh Padma you didn't have to get me anything," Hermione said suddenly feeling shy and pleased.
"I know but still."
She shook the package in front of her and Hermione took it from her.
"Come on, open it."
It was clear that Padma was excited for Hermione to see what she had gotten her. Shaking her head she unwrapped the paper and carefully opened the box. She gasped as she saw what was inside.
"Padma this is...this is beautiful," Hermione gushed as she pulled the jacket from the box. It was a leather jacket she had spotted when they had gone out with Lavender and Parvati for a day of shopping. "I didn't think you were there when I saw it."
"I wasn't," Padma replied. "Parvati told me about it so we snuck out and got it later."
"Thank you," Hermione replied with warmth as she reached to pull her friend into a hug. Padma hugged her back and Hermione felt her whole body tingle, stomach filling with butterflies.
"I'm glad you like it," Padma said when they both pulled away.
"I really do," Hermione looked the jacket over once more. It was dark brown leather that had a well used look to it that Hermione had loved. She turned it over and grinned when she saw her name sewn into the collar. "Thank you so much."
"I wanted to make sure you got your present today."
The two girls gazed at each other, Hermione feeling a little breathless as she continued to look at her. She didn't know what was coming over her, but she really wanted to kiss her. Padma's eyes searched hers and Hermione had no idea what the other girl was looking for. Slowly, they both leaned in towards the other.
"Hey Granger!" A voice called from the end of the hall, making both girls jump.
They both flushed and looked away suddenly embarrassed.
Hermione feeling angry turned to see who had called her name. Her anger fell when she saw that it was Draco calling for her.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked a bit confused.
"Hey, can I talk to you?" He asked as he slowly approached frowned but nodded her head.
"Want me to stay?" Padma asked looking warily at the blonde youth.
"No, I think I've got this. See you tomorrow?"
Padma smiled and nodded before turning to head off towards her common room.
Draco came to stop next to her, watching Padma leave with a frown on her face.
They didn't say anything for a moment before he turned to look at her.
"What's up Malfoy?" Hermione finally asked when she could take the silence no more.
"I've come to talk to you about something," Draco began as he looked up and down the hall to make sure they were clear. "I need your help."
"My help?"
Draco nodded as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black journal.
Hermione stared at it for a moment. It looked so familiar to her somehow.
"That looks like Ginny's old diary," Hermione said softly confusion clear on her face.
"Yes and no," Draco told her. "This...this is the reason that Potter and Weasley are gone."
"What?" Hermione almost yelled.
"Sh, Granger," Draco snapped. "You don't want anyone else finding out about this. I had to steal it from my dad to get this here and I certainly don't want Dumbledore realizing that I have it."
"Why? Malfoy I don't understand."
"Look, before our second year when I got into that fight at the bookstore, you remember that right?"Hermione nodded her head."Well, my father slipped this into Ginny's cauldron. I didn't know what it was or why he had done it only that I did. Inside of this...this journal was a piece of someone's soul. Tom Riddle," he explained as he turned the journal over. In small golden print was the name Tom Marvolo Riddle. "It...he...this thing was controlling Ginny and making her open the Chamber of Secrets. This journal came out the Chamber but they didn't."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I was listening to my father talk about it. He thought it would bring back another form of the Dark Lord but it only made Potter and Weasley disappear. I...I think they are in here."
Hermione looked shocked, confused, and unsure of what to say.
"How could they be in there?"
"I don't know that's why I am talking to you."
"Wait, did you say the Dark Lord?"
Draco nodded. "I don't know what this Tom Riddle has to do with the Dark Lord but it seemed very important."
Hermione held out her hand and Draco passed her the journal. She opened it to find all the pages blank.
"How does it work?"
"By writing in it and before you go and write in it, don't," Draco warned.
"Why not?"
"Because that piece of soul is still in there," he explained. "Writing in it could mean what happened to Weasley could happen to you."
Hermione looked at the boy. He was nervous. He wasn't sure what to do about any of this, even more unsure about asking her help with it.
"Alright, what do we do?" Hermione asked.
"I have no idea," Draco admitted a bit of tension leaving him as he realized she would help. "I suppose we could start with the guy but other than that I don't know."
Hermione nodded her head.
"Why me? Why? I thought you wanted to be one."
"No, my father wants me to be one. I don't want to live that life."
Hermione studied him for a while, not sure what to make of him. "Alright, I'll help you but I reserve the right to hold my trust from you."
Draco nodded his head. "I can understand that. Contact me if you need any help."
Hermione nodded and began to head towards her common room and stopped turning to look at him.
"Thank you Malfoy, this...this means a lot."
Draco gave her nod. "Don't write in the journal." Then he walked shook her head and couldn't help but smile as she headed down the corridor.
Lavender and Parvati were lounging on one of the couches when she came in. When they spotted her they both jumped up and grabbed one of her arms and took her up the stairs to their dorm.
"What are you..." Hermione trailed off as she saw the set up before her. They had presents strewn across the room with balloons, streamers, and posters of some Muggle movies that Hermione had taken them to see over the last summer. "What's all this for?"
"Your birthday, of course!" Lavender replied with a laugh as she shut the door behind them.
Hermione was grinning, she had amazing friends.
"Hedwig," Hermione said with surprise as she spotted her snowy white owl. Hedwig had come to her the summer after second year and never left. She knew the owl was intelligent and she was appreciative of the company the owl had given her. She reached out to pet the beautiful owl and it still pleased her that Hedwig had chosen her.
The owl hooted softly as she stuck her foot out. Hermione grinned as she took the small parchment from the owl, giving her a treat after.
She placed the parchment on the bed and sat down on the edge.
"Now, what do you have there?" Lavender asked as she pointed to the package sitting on the bed.
"Oh! Padma gave it to me," Hermione said excitedly as she pulled out the leather jacket that was in it.
"That's beautiful. Isn't that the one we saw in Paris?" Lavender took it from her admiring the beauty of the leather.
"Yes, we snuck out to get it," Parvati replied with a grin.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Please don't tell me you got all of these presents for me?"
"Not all of them are from us. These three are from your parents," Lavender told her as she handed the presents to her.
Hermione grinned as she reached for the first one. Her parents had sent her a collection of new books, a pair of new boots, and a new dress.
Setting those aside she turned to face her two best friends.
"This one is from Neville," Parvati explained as she handed the present to her.
Hermione ripped it open and was startled to see a Herbology book inside.
Happy birthday Hermione,
Professor Moody gave me a book like this and I thought you would like to learn a bit more.
Neville
She was grinning. "He knows Herbology is my weaker subject," she explained by way of answer.
"You have a bad subject?" Lavender said in shock. "No way!"
Hermione threw her pillow, the three of them busting out laughing.
"Here is another one, it doesn't have a name on it though," Parvati handed over the package.
Confused Hermione opened it up and gasped out loud. Her hands were trembling as she reached into the package to hold the Invisibility cloak that lay inside it.
"What is that?"
"It's...it's Harry's Invisibility cloak, Dumbledore gave it to him during our first year. I thought I would never see this again."
The two other girls gazed at it in amazement. Hermione felt tears burning her eyes. It made her painfully aware that Harry was gone and this was all she had left, that and Hedwig.
"Alright, more presents," Lavender said excitedly as she piled the presents on her bed.
Together the three of them, they tore apart the presents. Hermione had new clothes, books, and a few random gifts. As they settled in for bed for the night, she was grateful for the friends she had.
She found herself in the field again. Her eyes searching frantically for the cabin she knew was around here. Then she spotted it on the horizon. Fear, dread, and curiosity burned through her stealing her breath from her lips.
Slowly, against her better judgement, she began walking towards the cabin. It had been weeks since she'd had this dream. She couldn't deny that she was a bit excited at the thought of seeing Ginny again, even if it was her imagination.
When she reached the cabin she stood gazing up at the door. Fear coursed through her when faced with the idea of going inside. Her heart was racing in her chest and slowly she pushed the door open.
The cabin was the same as it had been last time. Books were stacked on the table and there was no other furniture to be seen. Slowly she entered, eyes adjusting to the darkness.
"G-Ginny," she called out softly as she approached the table.
When she reached the table she was disappointed to see that no one else was there. She felt a little stupid at the thought that she had truly seen Ginny.
"You came," the voice made her turn around and there was Ginny. "I was beginning to think that you weren't going to come back."
Hermione stared at her, confused and a bit scared.
"How? How is this possible?"
Ginny smiled as she approached the older girl. "Magic," she said with a smirk.
"Really?"
Ginny's smile faded. "It's been a long time."
"You...you're dead," Hermione all but whispered.
Ginny could only shrug. "I can't explain anything to you, I am just happy you came back. I'm sorry I scared you last time."
Hermione just gazed at the young red haired girl, her eyes burning, a lump forming in her throat.
Ginny looked upset as she stepped forward to hug the older girl. "Don't cry."
Hermione clung to her, a feeling a desperation she had never felt overcoming her.
"I've missed you so much," Hermione said passed the lump in her throat.
Ginny pulled back to smile at her. "I've missed you too. Just look at you. You've really changed."
"That's Lavender and Parvati's influence."
"Really? I would have expected you would still be friends with Ron," Ginny questioned confused.
"No...we...we don't talk anymore."
Ginny's eyes narrowed realizing that there were things she wasn't saying.
"What's he done?"
"Ron...Ron is Ron."
Ginny sighed. "What year is it?"
"Fourth."
She nodded her head.
"Why are you here?" Hermione finally asked the one question she needed an answer to.
Ginny looked away for a moment as if contemplating her response. "I came here to see you."
"That's all?"
"Hermione, there are some things in this world that we don't understand or could even begin to describe. What happened to me, to Harry, thats one of those things."
"Harry? He's alive?"
Ginny looked at her a sad smile on her face. "Neither of us is really...alive."
Hermione felt that crushing feeling in her chest again.
"I...I won't be able to come back Hermione."
"What do you mean?"
"To see you. This...this was a favor and I was lucky that you fell asleep again. I needed to come see you, you're the only one who can help us."
"Help you? How? How can I help you?" She could hear the desperation in her voice but she didn't care.
"You'll see. Something, quite a few things are about to change for you. You need to be ready for anything that happens but you also need to be careful. Hermione, you need to trust Malfoy about what he is asking."
"Malfoy? Are you serious?"
Ginny smiled at her. "I know, it was hard even for me to say but I'm telling you the truth. Trust him about this, other than that I will let you make your own decisions."
Hermione sighed heavily as she looked at the red head. "Will I see him? Will I get to see Harry?"
Ginny cocked her head to the side as if listening to something that only she could hear. After a moment she smiled.
"Maybe, we aren't sure if they will allow it or not but Harry will do his best to visit you once. I don't know when or if he will ever be able to but you'll know it when he does. Can you do this for us? Be strong?"
"I will, I'll do my best. Am I allowed to tell anyone?"
"No, sorry but you can't. No one would really believe it anyway."
"That is true. I won't tell anyone."
Ginny's smile got bigger. "I don't have much time left but you should know that nothing was your fault. Everything happened for a reason and you, you are so much stronger than you used to be. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Be safe Hermione."
"I'll try. I miss you both, so much."
"Miss you too but maybe, maybe you'll see us again."
Ginny began to head out the door, Hermione watched her go, heart heavy with anxiety and loss. Ginny paused at the door looking over her shoulder at Hermione. She met the younger girls brown eyes dead on.
"Don't run from her," Ginny said suddenly.
"Run from who?" Hermione asked confused.
"The girl with blue eyes."
Then Ginny was gone.
Hermione sat up in bed her head spinning madly as she looked around the room. Lavender and Parvati were sleeping soundly in their beds and nothing was out of the ordinary.
With a sigh she flopped back down onto her bed. Ginny, she had spoken to her. Was it possible? Was it possible to bring back her two best friends? She sure hoped so.