Chapter 1

Reminiscing… Missing… Still loving…

December 10; 12:00 am

The moon shone brightly that it gave a dim light over to Hermione's room. She sat near her window as she looked at the star-studded sky.

"It's been a year since I last saw your smile. I never knew that you'd leave me days just before Christmas…" Hermione gasped under her breath. Things flashed back her mind… making her remember everything that had happened that night… a year ago…

Flashback

Hermione, Harry and Ron were heading back to their dorm. While they were walking, they felt like they weren't getting anywhere…that the hallway seemed longer and longer. They still continued to go further, wanting to see what awaits them, but then the next thing that they knew was that they were strolling in a dark passage. Hermione, who was staying between Harry and Ron, held their hands. "Where are we?" Hermione asked. Harry did not say anything, but instead, he held her hand tighter. As they went on, she felt a cold gush of wind pass through her. Then they realized that they were already standing on an open field where no one seemed to have been in for quite sometime. .

There were no trees, but there were black roses scattered everywhere. Stone walls stood on the field too. They were all puzzled… Hermione looked around but saw no one.

"We meet again," a familiar voice spoke.

"Voldemort…" Harry whispered. He held his wand out, and pointed it at no one in particular. Ron placed his wand out, too.

Hermione looked at Harry. There was no trace of fear in his eyes, only determination… and the look of the person who is sure that the victory is his to claim. These things are the values that a real Gryffindor should have.

From the vacuous space that lay ahead of them, Voldemort showed up.

"So, you've decided to bring your friends along…" he shot.

"Leave them alone, it is I whom you want." Harry said. Hermione watched his hand slip away from hers. She looked up to his face and saw the anger that he had towards Voldemort.

"Harry," Hermione gasped… but it seems like he did not hear her… Hermione's voice sounded more as if she was pleading… pleading for this to end.

"I'm scared," Hermione whispered to Ron.

"Don't be," Ron replied, "We're here…"

"Oh!" Voldemort exclaimed, making Ron and Hermione stop exchanging words, "So, your little angel is scared…" He mocked, "Afraid to see things flash before you so fast? Okay then, let's make things easier. Oh, wait, by the way… I admire your best friends, Potter, for coming out here to he-"

"Enough said, Voldemort!"

"Relashio!" Voldemort exclaimed. A green light jolted from Voldemort's wand, hitting Harry flat on the chest. Harry was thrown backwards. He laid flat on the ground. He was wounded.

"Manners, Potter," he paused. "That will teach you how it is to respect someone who is still talking."

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. Her hands slid off from Ron's grip. She ran towards Harry, but before she could take a step further, she heard Voldemort say, "Impedimenta!"

Ron tried to do a counter jinx for it, but it was useless.

She closed her eyes tightly. She felt herself lift off from the ground, and onto the stone wall. Stone hands fastened her to the wall. She let out a scream of pain. She saw Harry's eyes look into her own before he stood up and started to exchange spells with the Dark Lord. Ron helped up, as well. She couldn't do anything. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She watched as Ron was thrown to the stone wall as well, just right in front of her.

Harry and Voldemort stopped exchanging spells. They both got wounded.

"Excellent choice of spells, Potter." He stated.

Harry cramped up in pain. He was just hit by the sectumsempra spell. He was badly bled.

"Let me help you out… Let's not lengthen this thing even more…Let me start with your blood traitor friend…"

"No! Expell-"

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort exclaimed. A green light struck Ron. Making this his end.

"Ron!" Hermione cried out…

Ron's eyes grew wide as he took his last breath of life. Ron looked at Hermione, before he bent his head down… His dead body still fastened to the wall. Hatred filled Hermione.

"Avada Kedavra!" Hermione cried out. Even without her wand, she was able to perform the spell.

A blue light jolted towards Voldemort, but he was able to perform a counter curse. A green light came from him, thus, creating a bow of light in the midst of darkness.

The green light was starting to overrule the blue light… Hermione was got weaker and weaker. She looked at Harry. This is hopeless I can no longer hold on, she thought.

Then a voice cried out, "Avada Kedavra!" A white light that came from Harry's wand hit Voldemort, as well.

Voldemort fell back. His lifeless body lay on the floor.

Hermione fell down from the stone wall. It was over.

She walked towards the place where Harry was.

"Harry," She said as she held him in her arms. He was bleeding badly. His scarred hands reached out to touch her face.

"'We did it…" He whispered faintly… "He's gone…" He forced a smile across his face.

Tears trickled down Hermione's eyes.

"Don't cry now…" He said as he wiped her tears off… "Smile for me… even for the last time…"

"Last?! Harry you're not going to die…!" Her voice was shaking…

"Just smile for me…"

She did. However, tears fell down her eyes…

"Hold on…" she whispered between her sobs...

"I can... no longer do so…"

"Harry!!" Her voice echoed across the field.

"Hermione... I'll always be here… I L-" He never finished it…

The last smile... The unspoken words…

"I love you…" Hermione whispered…

End of Flashback

Hermione woke up the next morning, the sun beaming at her. With sleepy eyes, she turned to look at the clock. HALF-PAST EIGHT!

"Shit," She snapped as she hurriedly got off to her feet and fixed up. Her classes would start at nine and she still hasn't even eaten yet.

First word. First curse. Early in the morning.

"First subject, Transfiguration..." She read. She went off to their classroom. When she finally got there, everyone was seated and the seats were taken... well, disregarding the one that is beside Neville. She looked a bit foolish looking blankly at the seat. She realized what she was doing only when Neville called her attention, "Hey, Hermione! There's a vacant seat over here." He obviously saw her staring at the seat, but was too polite to make a fuss out of it. He smiled at her, and she couldn't do anything else but to smile faintly as well. She then sat next to him.

"Hey Neville," She said faintly.

"Hi. Is everything all right, Hermione? Well... you look a bit haggard and all that..."

"Well yeah... it's just that-"

"Good morning," McGonagall stated. Hermione was cut off. She and Neville stopped chatting.

Hermione couldn't really concentrate very well. She was obviously anxious with what lies ahead of her for the day. Her training will start this afternoon and she doesn't know if she could survive all of the tests that would be given to her. She knew that things weren't going to be as easy as how she wanted it to be.

Right after their transfiguration class, they had Herbology... then potions... arithmancy... Moreover, the next thing she knew, they were having Defense against the Dark Arts... her last subject for that day.

She felt more and more uneasy as every minute passed. She didn't participate much, aside from the times where in she was called to answer questions.

Fifteen minutes before their class was over, McGonagall called for Hermione.

"Good afternoon professor, may I excuse Ms. Granger?"

Hermione turned to look at Professor McGonagall. It was weird, but she felt... nervous.

"Go ahead. You may go now, Ms. Granger."

Hermione took her things in her arms, and went out.

"Good afternoon, Professor," Hermione said.

"Good afternoon to you as well, Ms. Granger," she paused. "Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you before you start your training. He is in his office."

Hermione did not say anything, but instead, she just gave a nod, and then left for Professor Dumbledore's office.

When she reached the office, the door was open, so she peeped in.

"Professor…?" Hermione called, peeking into the room.

"Oh Hermione… Enter..." He replied calmly as he descended the stairs.

"Good afternoon, Professor," Hermione greeted, "Professor, I was just wondering... the training will not start until its half past four, right?" She asked… Puzzled on why he called her at this hour of the day.

"Well the, yes. I just wanted to tell you that we would be having another student for the training. I've informed the rest of the trainees about this."

Hermione's face lit up, "Who is the student professor?"

Dumbledore said, "Draco Malfoy."

The smile in her face vanished... she gasped, "Malfoy?"

"Yes Hermione-"

"But Sir...! He tried to kill you!"

"But then-"

"I never tried- not even wanted to kill Professor Dumbledore. I was just stuck in a situation where in I had to choose between them... My family... or professor..."

Hermione stood there, staring at Malfoy as if she wanted to kill him at that very moment."

"Hermione-" He was interrupted.

"Wow," Hermione spoke up at last," I'm impressed, Malfoy. You still have the guts to show up after what you've done."

"I explained this already, didn't I? I said I never did anything that you're accusing me of!"

"And you expect me to believe in this nonsensical lie? Malfoy, I am not as gullible as your guards, or your so-called friends!" She paused for a while, "Now tell me, WHAT DO YOU WANT?! Have you not done enough... no! You've done too much... causing as much harm... You want more lives taken. How long-"

He interrupted her," I came here to help out, and not you... nor anyone surrounding you! Let me tell you that I did not want Weasley or your Potter dead! Now will you keep still for a moment and stop blaming me for everything bad that has occurred?! I lost my parents, too! You're not the only one who lost those people whom you love!" He raised his voice. He did not want to do this right in front of Dumbledore... he did not even want to go raising his voice as he spoke to her, but he left him with no choice.

"I never wanted to kill anyone okay?! I was scared of killing Professor... and I tried to help out there in the battle field! Think about it, Granger... If I wanted you dead, I could have killed you in the exact place where I found you... that would be easy... you, lying there... Helpless! I could have just shot you a jinx!"

Hermione stood still... not knowing what to utter. What the hell is he talking about? She thought to herself.

"Excuse me, professor... "Draco said in a low voice. Then he left.

Hermione sat down on the chair across Dumbledore's desk.

"Professor... I'm so sorry about what happened... I just could not help myself... I was just... shocked. "

"I know and understand where you're coming from, Ms. Granger." HE paused, "I think the both of you, as I have seen- will still have to adjust in each other's company."

"Professor, what did he mean by, 'He could have killed me in the exact place where he found me'?"

"I cannot tell you, Ms. Granger. You will have to ask him about that."

"Not now Professor... I still can't approach him in a nice way." She paused, "Professor?"

"Yes?"

"What if we never get along?"

"We'll see about that," He replied.

"Professor," She stood up, "I'm late for the training!" Looking at the Grandfather clock, she realized that it was already quarter to five...

"Oh, yes, yes... I'll inform them about this. See you later, Hermione."

"Thanks Professor!"

After then, she went to back their common room.