Never Say Never Chapter 1: Nightmares, a harry potter fanfic

It was midnight at Hogwarts, and a misty veil covered the school and surroundings. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were climbing down a flight of stairs—and another—and another. When they finally reached the entrance hall, the group gazed at the front door. Ron was the first to go forward. He opened the door, which creaked loudly. They exited the castle with murmurs of, "Shhh!" and "Someone's going to hear us, I know it!" and "I knew we shouldn't have come". They stared at the Whomping Willow, not far from them. Without warning, the limbs started turning into huge snakes, which attempted to strike at the three. Ron crept closer. He was now an arm's length from the trunk. Hermione screamed, "No, Ron, no!" The largest snake posed, ready to take a bite from Ron. The snake paused and then—

Hermione jerked from a dead sleep into a sitting position.

"It was just a dream," She told herself out loud, "Just a dream." She looked around her room.

"I'm not even at Hogwarts yet," Hermione reminded herself. It was the day before her forth term started, and she nervously checked her watch. 5:17 A.M, it read. She lay down again. Sleep wouldn't come. When the sun rose, she jumped out of bed. Hermione heard her parents shuffling around in the kitchen. She dressed and skipped down the stairs.

"Morning," She said when she reached the kitchen.

"Morning," Her father replied, glancing up from his coffee and newspaper, which turned out to be the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. Her mother turned from the eggs she was frying.

"Morning, Honey," She said, pushing her dark hair from her face, "Are you completely packed?"

Hermione nodded as she sat pulled herself a bowl and spoon out of the cupboard, and served herself some Cheerios.

"We've got to be at the station at 10:15," Her mother continued, "So you have a few hours to see Rose before you leave."

Rose was Hermione's best 'Muggle' friend, and Hermione jumped excitedly at the thought of seeing her before she left.

"I'm done!" She said, swallowing the last of her cereal. Then she ran down the hall toward the front door, where a worn pair of tennis shoes lay waiting. She pulled them on quickly, and called, "Be home by ten!" before slamming the door behind her and running the three blocks to Rose's house. A cool September breeze surrounded her, and the morning dew caused the sidewalk to be slightly slippery. Nevertheless, Hermione reached Rose's simple Colonial-style house in record time. Not to her surprise, Rose was waiting patiently on the front porch, her hip-length red hair swirling around her body. Hermione shivered from the chilly Autumn wind, and ran up to Rose.

"I wish you could come with me," Hermione said quietly, as she sat beside Rose.

"I wish I could come with you," Rose replied, "It's a shame that the school is year-round…I never see you anymore."

Hermione sighed.

"I know…You'd really like it there…You'd make a lot of friends. The girls are really nice, and you could meet Harry and Ron…It's such a wonderful place…And so educational!"

It was Rose that sighed then. "Hermione, I don't see why you have to go…There are plenty of schools here! Now I have to go through tenth grade alone. Tenth grade! I thought we had promised to be friends forever. Remember? When we were seven years old? Now we're fourteen, and you're going to a school of magic."

Hermione frowned to herself. This wasn't Rose's usual attitude. The last three years, they had hugged goodbye and promised to write. What was happening?

Hermione chose her words carefully. "Rose, is something wrong?"

Rose reddened, the color of her skin slowly becoming as red as her hair.

"Hermione Granger, of course something's wrong! I'm going through tenth grade, and my best friend is going to a different school!"

"Rose," Hermione began, "I'm sorry…I didn't realize…We can work something out…After all, I'll be home for Christmas!"

"It's not the same," Rose whispered.

Hermione tried again. "Look, Rose, I know this is hard--for both of us--but I'll write, I can borrow Harry's owl, or one of the school's owls, and we'll keep in touch! And then I'll be here for Christmas vacation! Don't worry…I would never end this friendship…I know you feel the same way too."

Rose relaxed, but instead of the 'best friend' sort of comment Hermione expected, Rose murmured,

"Never say never."

Hermione coughed nervously, before saying, "Well, um, I'd better get going…We've gotta be at the station by 10:15, and it's five 'til ten already."

Rose inhaled sharply, and said curtly,

"I'll miss you, Hermione, enjoy your fourth year at Hogwarts. I wish I could join you."

They embraced for a moment and Hermione said, "I'll miss you too." Then she turned and walked slowly down the street backwards, waving to Rose who returned the action, but without her usual enthusiasm.