Disclaimer: I DO NOT own any of the Harry Potter characters! J.K. Rowling owns ALL!

Chapter One: Dreams of Death

He was leaning down to her… closer and closer… She could feel his breath on her neck, growing warmer and warmer. His nose was now touching hers; their lips were an inch apart…now a centimeter away… He leaned closer. Please hurry, she thought. Closing her bright amber eyes, she leaned forward, savoring every magical moment. "I love you," he whispered. There was nobody in the world as beautiful as she…her smooth, vivid hair bounced around her, illuminating her beautiful face. He bended forward and kissed her. She kissed back, but as soon as his lips touched hers, he seemed to fade into the black misty night. She tried to touch his cheek, but she felt nothing. "No!" she cried. Her eyelids flew open, searching desperately for him…Cold mist swirled around in loops, gradually fading from view. She hugged her robes closer in hope to shield against the dark winds. There was nothing. "No!" she cried once more. Her ragged breath increased as she stumbled about. The winds were closing up on her…she choked on the cruel, frozen air. "I can't live without you," she murmured softly. The cold was sinking into her skin… she was going to die! "Don't leave me..." Those three immortal words reverberated around her mind, driving her nearly insane. She shivered and squeezed her feeble robes around her for support. Tears sprouted in her eyes. "Just… please don't leave me…"she said. Darkness filled her mind as she hit the ground. The last thing she saw was the diamond ring that rested on her finger.

Hermione's chocolate eyes fluttered open in surprise. Where was she? Her familiar room slowly unfolded before her eyes- the same matching maple bed and side tables sitting peacefully while her wand lay a few inches across from her. Her heart pounded furiously. It was only a dream… Cold relief sank in, mixed with the feeling of dread. This wasn't the first dream, though…

Hermione sat up instantly and turned on the lamp that sat on her bedside table. A warm light filled the room. She scrambled out of bed and pulled on her robes. It was no use sleeping now that she was wide awake. The cold though… it was just so real. Her purple robes clung tightly to her skin as she stepped outside her apartment, welcoming the cool breezes that danced lightly around her. She shivered. It wasn't a cold night, but a clear one with several shining stars. The trees were merely shadows against the darkness, and the street ahead was an eerie silver that glowed brightly in the moonlight. The whole world was sound asleep, and it was her, and only her. Just like my dream…she thought.

Hermione walked precariously among the streets, silently thinking. Why, though, was she constantly having these dreams? They haunted her thoughts and caused her to lose her confidence in even the most normal situations. It was like some sort of spirit took shelter in her mind, feeding on all her happy memories and making sure to leave only the horrible ones…like a dementor, almost. And why is it, exactly, that nobody seemed to really care? Nobody truly understands how I feel…

Tears sprung to her eyes. Hermione silently shook them away. It just wasn't fair! Why was she alone in this world? Why did nobody understand her? They've always said that it was normal...that I would get over it soon enough…that it was a part of life. But it just wasn't normal! If it was, she would have gotten over his death by now. Her grief was just much too much to bear… I just wish that it was all over, now. Her heart ached once more. "I wish that I was dead," she whispered into the breeze. But, secretly she didn't.

She impatiently wiped her eyes and kept on walking. A small lake laid nearby, it's silvery waters curled up in gentle waves and ripples that seemed to beckon her forwards. Hermione glanced down at it. In the reflection, a witch stared back at her with dim brown eyes and untamed bushy hair. Her eyes were filled with pain and hurt. Hermione looked away. She couldn't bear it. Was this really her? It couldn't be me… She dabbed away at her tears again. Where did the ambitious and witty Hermione Granger go! It was as if her real self was simply thrown away forever- the only remains was an empty shell with no dreams, no future. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut. What happened to me! her brain seemed to scream.

A bitter wind surrounded her. Something isn't right…Hermione's eyes snapped open and watched in amazement as a silent figure formed in front of her. That was him! She leaped forward, hoping with all her heart to land in his strong hands. She grasped his cloak and looked up into his face, completely covered by a hood. She struggled to remove it, but he did it first. Happiness soon turned to horror as his once handsome face slowly formed into a grotesque, deformed one. His fingers melted into spiders in her very hands. His beautiful green eyes faded into cruel darkness as he stared at her. He smiled, revealing ugly yellow rotton teeth. She screamed. His spider hands were now digging around her neck, digging deeper and deeper. It was so cold…just so cold…Hermione searched frantically for her wand. It wasn't there. Her head screamed in pain. She fell back and hit the stiff concrete, fighting with all her might. Make it stop! Her mind reeled, and she felt all the air being sucked out of her. The creature squeezed her neck harder. She felt her lungs burst inside of her. She was dying…she was going to be with him again!

"Acidio!" a man's voice called. He had a deep, rich voice. The creature howled, and Hermione felt its fingers drift away. Cold air filled her lungs as she gasped and sputtered for breath. A man's figure loomed up in front of her. I'm going to die…Hermione fought hard to see, but her vision was fading fast. The man's body blurred and soon disappeared. Everything disappeared. She fought to stay alive, but darkness soon entered her mind and soothed her. Just like my dream…she whispered. Just like it.

A/N: I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry that it's such a short chapter! I promise that all the future chapters are going to be longer. Please review! Was it good? Bad? Completely horrible? Tell me the truth! winks Should I continue? REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Thanks a bunch! No flames please.