Summary: She looked at him as he stared at her in a new light. "What happened to you?" Harry asked the question that had echoed through the hallways and was spoken behind closed doors. Hermione looked down at her shaking hands, she could hear the sounds of hr prison around her as she spoke the next words, words that would keep the young male wizard up at night wondering what she meant. "It's not as it appears." Harmony with Runa and maybe DracoXGinny

Author Note: Takes place for their fifth year at Hogwarts. Also this is a Harmony tale and not a RonXHermione story. Why? Because I feel that Harry should have ended up with Hermione- End of story. But, I will not, however, bash Ron (too severely) there might be a smug comment every once and awhile, but that's IT! ~Minty


PROLOGUE

JUNE 15th

Hermione Jean Granger looked out the window of her parent's baby blue Prius,her mind buzzing with freedom and wonder. She had exactly three hours till her parents would be at the location of the train station in which she would be taking towards the Burrow. There, whatever Dumbledore had planned in store, would be handled and spoken about. She kept tapping her leg against the side of the door, making the small leather pouch rub against her jeans. In there possessed her trunk, all the books she would need, as well as some spare potions ingredients she kept just in case.

She smiled at herself remembering feeling so proud when she finally got the sixth year spell that made that possible as well as the slight help from a shrinking spell to get everything to fit.

"Oh Honey," her mother, Emma, spoke kindly as she turned in the passenger seat to face her buzzing daughter. Like herself, her hair was a chocolate brown with hints of red and gold to make it seem lighter in dawning suns. Emma's hair had been like her own daughter's: wild, untamable, and almost impossible to tame. But now it had progressed into lovely locks of swirled hair that twirled into gorgeous ringlets.

"Yes mum?" Hermione glanced at her mother, wringing her left wrist with her right hand.

"Stop choking your hand, first off," Emma teased. "And calm down, dearie."

"Yes," Mr. Julius Granger agreed. "You need to calm down, HJ."

Hermione rolled her eyes at her father's absurd nickname for her, but could wipe the smile off her face. While her parents would be off on their two month cruise, she would be with her two amazing best friends: Ronald (Ron) Bilius Weasley and Harry James Potter.

She smiled at the thought of the three of them planning shenanigans and plotting to save the world all over mugs of some of Mrs. Weasley's amazing hot chocolate.

"It looks like you are excited about seeing a certain boy?" her mother's next comment stopped all train of thought. "A crush I suppose?"

Hermione stared, wide eyed, at her mother. 'W-what?" Hermione stammered. "I-I- No, I mean... There is no one in..."

Her mother simply laughed at this while her father glanced back at his only child. He knew for a fact that his daughter was just as beautiful as his wife and and was deadly-smart.

It didn't help that this summer Julius also started to notice the stares and gawks the neighborhood's teenage boys (or any boy around her age for that matter) would give her as she passed. It happened just last week with the boy down the way in the far circle who used to tease his daughter. Julius was sitting on his porch, reading the newspaper and trying to locate things that he could that were linked with the wizarding world.

He had just happened to see the boy, Joey, walking in a pack of teenage boys- laughing and pushing each other around as if they owned the sidewalk. How couldn't he? They were terribly loud and it was effecting his train of thoughts. So, Julius watched them over the edge of his paper. That was shortly followed by seeing his daughter heading down the street in her running clothes.

Hermione had insisted that she push herself to the max, both mentally and physically, because her excuse was "I just want to Daddy!". Julius wasn't one to argue with his daughter, so he allowed it.

So there she was, right on time, dressed in tight black spandex shorts and a neon yellow sports bra. (He had refused at first but lost the argument to his wife who told him that was exactly what she wore when she went running every morning.) Her hair was pulled back into a high pony and she had her white Ipod earphones dangling from her ears, blasting who-knows-what.

Julius watched in horror as the group of boys on the other side of the street stop their antics and flat-out stare at her. Joey had actually whistled as he stared at Julius's daughter and all her exposed skin.

She couldn't hear what they were talking about and he, as well, couldn't hear is seeing as he was trying hard to control his anger.

Hermione had yanked out her earphones and ran towards the house.

"Hi Daddy!" Hermione had kissed her father on the forehead as she turned inside her house, the group of teenagers staring her down till the door closed.

Julius, had glared back to the group before taking his leave and walking into his house. That's when it struck him that little angel was growing up...

"Under no circumstances are you allowed to kiss any boys while you are there, understand?" Julius spoke with a tone that read 'disobey and you can kiss your library goodbye.'

Hermione rolled her eyes again. "Daddy, I won't. Promise."

Julius snorted at this as his wife glared at him. Emma thought it was great that her daughter was finally trying to put herself out there and wasn't very key to the idea of her husband trying to push her back.

"I love you." Hermione added weakly as the car pulled into the train station's parking lot.

Julius's heart softened and turned back to his daughter. "I love you too HJ."

"Don't leave me out," Emma joked as she glanced at the both of them. "And besides, we all know I love you both the most."

The family laughed as the passenger door was thrown open.

"I'm afraid," a strange male said as he pulled out a wand. "There is a change of plans."

Hermione didn't even have time to breath as a stunning spell hit her and her parents dead in the face.

CHAPTER ONE

October 23rd

Harry Potter sighed as he and his best Ron Weasley walked towards the small town of Hogsmeade that was in the shadows of Hogwarts school. Neither really wanted to be here at all, seeing as their, very close friend, Hermione Granger failed to show up to Hogwarts.

It didn't help that she didn't show up on the train early that year telling the Weasleys in a letter that she was terribly sorry she wasn't able to make it because of the sudden illness her aunt, Heather, had received. The letter also stated that she would see Ron and Harry on train or, if they failed to meet up, at the dinning table in Hogwarts.

She failed to come to that as well.

She hadn't answered any letters since the very last one about her failure to come to Ron's over the summer. It was also strange how Hedwig would come back every time with Hermione's letter still strapped to her leg.

This had made Harry and Ron both stay up late at night pondering the same thing: did we do something to upset her?

But that was before her failure to show up to Hogwarts. Now, they both stayed up late wondering the same thing, but different: what happened?

Of course they had voice their concerns to the Order as well as to the Weasleys, but they both responded with the same message: "Obviously her parents didn't want her to attend this year because of the danger that has risen."

This was a horrible excuse, but one Harry and Ron couldn't argue with. They had no proof to say anything that would push the Order into doing something to look for the bushy-haired girl.

"Well, I don't want to be here," Ron admitted as they stopped on a small bench near the very front. "It just isn't the same..."

It even hurt to speak her name at times.

"I know how you feel," Harry gulped. "I miss her too."

Ron sighed and leaned back while Harry leaned forward.

Aside from the DADA teacher running in terror two days ago, nothing has happened very eventful. (AN: Umbridge comes in later... Like next chapter or so later.)

Before Harry could suggest that they head back to the castle and do something else, a loud POP filled the air. Harry's head, as well as Ron's, snapped towards the sound which was near the Hogshead at the end of the street.

There were three people, two men and one female. The two males were trying to wrestle the struggling brunette down as she fought to get away: all three were oblivious to their surroundings.

"Snatchers?" Ron questioned as they watched the fight. All who were out made no move to help them and those watching through the windows had their faces pressed up to the glass.

The girl landed one good blow to the blonde snatcher's nose and a swift kick the the black haired snatcher's gut. She was dropped out of shock. The girl, who seemed to be in burned and torn clothing, ran down the street.

The girl rotated her right wrist, causing her wand to slide out of a leather cuff. The snatchers yanked out their own wands and began chasing her, firing spells willy-nilly. Students screamed and ran for the cover for shops, except Harry and Ron. Both of whom stayed rooted in place.

Spells fired left and right as the girl tried her shake them. All she could hear was the blood pounding in her ears and the flashes of colored spells in the corners of her vision.

A spell, a stunning one, hit the girl straight in the back, causing her to fall. She was about twenty feet away from Harry and Ron when Harry finally sprang into action.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the blonde one. The blond snatcher's wand flew out of his hand and into the other one's hand. They both looked up, shocked on how they got here.

Obviously the girl was the one to apparate, Harry thought to himself as he pointed his wand at the snatchers. Glancing around he saw that some daring students had also peeked through and were pointed their wands at them as well. The two shared a look before turning on their heels and disapperating out of the area.

Harry, wasting no time, ran to the girl. As he ran he couldn't help but take into account... Her.

She was in a tight black blouse... Or the remains of a blouse, seeing as it was barely covering her at all. Her pink bra stood out against her tan skin and the faint marks of disappearing scars showed brightly on her.

The jeans she was wearing was ripped and burned as well but was covering much more skin then the top. Her brown hair was pulled into a sloppy ponytail and her wand lay right beside her.

As Harry fell to his knees he got a closer look at the wand... A wand he had seen many times throughout his life.

"Hermione?" he whispered as he gently shook her. Those who had moved to help, including the four Weasleys as well as Harry's fellow dorm mates, gasped.

Hermione stirred before her eyes shot open. Her fist connected with Harry's jaw before anyone could cry with relief to see the fellow Gryffindor. Harry, who had not expected that from Hermione as well as the strength behind it, tumbled. Hermione hopped to her feet, a dagger in her left hand and her wand safely in her right.

"Hermione!" Ginny tried to grab the girl she considered to be her best friend by the shoulder but almost received the a knife to the face. Thank Merlin that she had fast reflexes.

"Hermione!" Harry, who had hopped to his feet, and grabbed the girl by the shoulders and turned her to face him.

Before she could attack again, she got a good look at his face. Her eyes widened as she stared at him.

"H-H-Harry?" she stuttered the name.

Harry nodded right before he caught her in his arms. She had fainted.

Sorry its so short! It'll be longer next time- Anyways, comment, review, etc., ~Minty :D