All's fair in… LOVE AND WAR

Chapter One

Harry and Ron entered the dining hall chatting loudly about an upcoming Quidditch Match, scanning the filled tables for Hermione. They spotted her talking to Ginny and Draco.

"There she is!" Ron shouted rather loudly. "'Ello girls!!" they said, taking a seat across from the two. "Why, hello. You're up rater late!" Ginny noted with a wink. "Ginny's right! Where have you been?" Hermione laughed.

"Well…I've got some ideas…" Draco joked. "Oh shut up Malfoy…" He scolded in a joking matter. "For once in seven years, I don't have an early class! I'm taking advantage of that!" Ron chuckled.

"Hermione and I were about to take a walk around the campus before our first class, you want to join us?" Ginny asked as her and Hermione stood. "Oh, maybe later," Ron said, sighing. "What about you, love, can you come?" Ginny looked at Draco with pleading eyes. "I wish I could, I have class." Ginny pouted, but he kissed her quickly as he walked away, "Bye."

"Oh, well...Harry?" Hermione looked at him curiously. "Uh, sure, I'd...I'd love to." "Good!" Hermione exclaimed. Ron looked at the two of them, "On second thought, Hermione, I'd love to." Ron said loudly, getting up and putting his arm around Hermione. Ron and Hermione had been together off and on for the past two years. Their relationship had changed their friendship, but Harry had gotten used to the idea of them as a couple. As of the current status, Ron and Hermione were back together. It would only be a matter of a few days before they would break up once more. Although, they would end up together again because they were strangely attracted to her. They bickered all the time and Ron was extremely possessive. However, for some strange reason, Hermione put up with him. So now, the four of them began their walk around the grounds.

Harry, Hermione and Ron were rather silent as Ginny wouldn't let them get a word in edgewise. "…and I think he's completely adorable, I know you don't have a good relationship with him, but he's really a sweet guy." Ginny rambled on about Draco Malfoy, "And-" "Oh, shut it Gin." Ron yelled in frustration.

"Ronald!!" Hermione yelled, "What is wrong with you?!" Harry gasped silently. "I'm sorry Hermione, but I can't stand here listening to my little sister talking about falling in love with Draco Malfoy!"

"Ron, don't-" Harry said trying to stop him. "Ron…! Draco is your friend! You guys have hung out a lot since that thing with his dad! He saved your life! He is so different now, and you know it! He may not be perfect but it took me awhile to realize it but he proved it to me for a long time, and I trust him. Get over it Ron, I love him-and you can't change that!!" Ginny screamed, running off.

It was true, ever since last year, Draco Malfoy had completely turned around, partly because of Ginny's faith in him. He betrayed his father, Voldemort, and all of the Dark Side and basically saved the lives of the trio. He was welcome with the Weasley's now, Molly loved having him around. The past is over, she always said. Draco joined the group now, and was now one of their best friends, surprisingly. But Ron still didn't even like Gin dating someone he was friends with.

"She is so damn stubborn." "I don't believe you, Ron, you're the most ignorant person! Come, Harry, it's almost time for class." Harry shrugged at Ron and cast him a look saying, "She's right you know." Harry trailed behind Hermione slowly. As they walked through the hall, Hermione was rambling about Ron and his stupidity.

Just then, Headmistress McGonagall approached them and said to Harry discreetly, "I need to speak to you for a moment, Harry." Hermione eyed Harry cautiously. "Oh, well then, um…I'll go to class, and I'll catch you later." "Okay," he replied.

As he turned to walk away, she grabbed his arm. He turned around. "Harry?" She asked. "Yeah?" Hermione looked deeply into his sea green eyes for a moment. "Never mind."

"Harry- I need to talk to you about something very important. It's about the Death Eaters…the followers of the Dark Side. It's serious." "What? Are they..." Harry dropped his sentences, looking down at his feet. "I've been very worried about your well being lately, Mr. Potter. I know the war changed everyone extremely, especially you. You and your friends. You defeated Voldemort at the age of sixteen! And now, I must warn you, there are more death eaters out there. And we predict that they are coming closer and closer to the castle and to Hogsmeade." Harry shuddered at the thought of the war. "So they're coming?" "Yes." Harry's eyes darted with a strange intensity.

"Harry, please be careful. I will do all I can to protect you and your friends." Harry remained silent. "Alright then, I'll check in with you later. Meanwhile, be conscious of your surroundings." "Yes Sir, I will." Harry answered taking a deep breath. As McGonagall walked away, Harry looked down to the ground. He walked slowly, the intensity of that conversation leaving him in sudden sadness, confusion, and silent fear.

The day passed by Harry quicker than he could grasp. It slipped right through his fingers. His brain rattling, he stumbled into the Gryffindor common room. Hermione was there, on the couch, thumbing through a book, as usual. "Reading?" he inquired solemnly, taking the seat beside her. "Extra credit for McGonagall's class." "Do you really need extra credit?" Harry chuckled. But Hermione shot him a defiant look that made him shut his mouth immediately. Harry smiled, "I'm sorry, Mione...I just…" "Mione?" she asked scrunching her eyebrows. "Oh-sorry it just kind of slipped out." "No, I like it." She said smiling. "Good, I'll remember that." He laughed. Surprisingly, she shut her book, and turned to face him, making direct eye contact with him. "So what was your talk with McGonagall about?" He hesitated, but answered. "The war, the Death Eaters." Her eyes widened, "Oh my-What? Have they… have they found…found the rest of them?" "No, No, that's what he was talking to me about. He figured if I went back to that year, maybe it'd help him uncover his origin, and when he might return." "Oh-Harry!!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around him. "That must've been so hard for you! The war…it was…it was…" She pulled away and looked at him; she had tears in her eyes. When she looked into his eyes, she was brought back…..

It was dark and misty outside, for the past few days, the three, Harry, Hermione, and Ron had barely slept. Each of them covered in scars and dirt, they stumbled along the hillside, when they were met with a pair of burning red eyes. "So, here we are again, Mr. Potter." "Expelliarmis!" Harry shouted, wasting no time. The spell made Voldermort shudder a bit, but didn't lose his wand. Voldermort pointed the wand at his friends, "they will die along with you." "NO! Don't hurt them!" Ron was knocked out by a silent muttering curse Voldermort had just said. "And now…YOU!" He pointed his wand at Hermione. "Hermione! RUN! Hermione… get out of here!" Hermione backed away cautiously. "Watch out, Hermione…!" He warned her yelling, as he began growing weak by one of Voldermort's curses. Hermione shouted something Harry was unaware of and ended the curse. She looked deep into his emerald eyes…

"Hermione?? Are you okay?" "I'm sorry...I was just thinking about… I got lost in…" "Shh...It's alright Hermione, we're okay…" He comforted her as she laid her head on Harry's shoulder. His eyes gazed deeply into the fire. Hermione drifted off into an uneasy sleep, and Harry quickly followed. They were awakened suddenly by the noise of a huge "crash". Startled, they jumped up, Harry holding a protective grip on Hermione's arm. "Oh! Sorry to frighten you!" an unfamiliar voice said, "I saw you sleeping and tried to be quiet, but all my bags tumbled down the stairs." A boy looking about their age appeared at the end of the stairs. Harry's grip on Hermione's arm loosened, but didn't release. The boy walked over to Harry, extending a hand. "Stanley Moorburg." "Harry Potter." Harry said, accepting it with his free hand, gazing at him suspiciously. "And you are?" He looked at Hermione questioningly. "Hermione Granger." Harry answered for her. "Well…nice to meet you, Hermione and Harry. I'm a new student here, a seventh year; I transferred from the Massachusetts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when my parents moved to London." Hermione looked at him strangely, "No one told us there was a new student…" "I guess no one knew. Anyways, I better go unpack, sorry for waking you." He said, heading for the door. "That was weird." Hermione said. "Yeah, a little bit too weird." He said, releasing her arm and facing her. "I'm sure he's nice; though, after all, he'll be in your dorm, might as well get to know him!" "I suppose." Harry murmured. "Well, we should probably go to bed, it's past midnight." "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." "G'nite." "G'nite." The two parted ways and went up the spiraling stairs on either side of the common room.