Disclaimer: All the characters are J.K. Rowling's, though I really, REALLY wish they were mine.
The best part about returning to Hogwarts is entering King's Cross station. That's when the excitement really hits - when you know you're truly back after two long months. I had fidgeted the entire ride there, much like a four year old who is taking their first trip to the circus. I grinned, knowing I had once been one of those four year olds, begging my mother for cotton candy or balloons.
I turned my heavy cart so it faced the stone barrier between platforms nine and ten, and was about ready to run at it when a heard a very unpleasant, yet vaguely familiar voice from behind me. I glanced quickly over my shoulder and stopped short. It was a very large, red-faced man towering menacingly over a boy with wild black hair and glasses.
"Harry!" I squealed, forgetting my luggage and sprinting at him. He turned and grinned when he saw me running toward the place they stood. I reached them and threw my arms around him, choosing to ignore the look of pure hate his uncle was giving me, not to mention the look of surprise on his cousin's face. We embraced for a moment and then drew away.
"Uncle Vernon, Dudley - I'd like you to meet Hermione Granger." I smiled at them, but felt quite surprised. This was the first time he'd ever formally introduced me to his relatives - they were so prejudiced against magic that he'd never bothered. But I caught a glimpse of his cousin Dudley's jealous face and it told me everything I needed to know. Harry was obviously pleased to have been greeted by a girl in this way in front of Dudley who, according to Harry, had never come close to having a girlfriend. It's payback time, I decided, my grin widening. Payback for all the years of Harry being tortured.
"Nice to meet you," I said sweetly, scooting closer to Harry's side. He glanced at me quickly and when he saw that I'd figured out what he was doing, he threw a casual arm around my shoulders.
"Anything else I need to know before I leave, Uncle Vernon?" he asked, his voice nearly breaking with laughter.
"N-no..." His uncle was speechless with shock.
"Okay then, I guess I'll be going. Thanks for the ride here." He turned to me and gestured toward his cart, his eyes glittering mischievously. "My lady?" Oh no. No no no no. He didn't mean - but apparently he did. I stared at him with questioning eyes, and he nodded slightly. I smiled.
"Thank you, sir." I took his hand and hopped on top of his trunk, hoping he was strong enough to push me. He looked confident though, and I trusted him. He put his hands on the cart, and I turned, grinning evilly, to the Dursleys for one last remark.
"It was nice meeting you." Harry wheeled me away, and we waited until Dudley left with a last spiteful glare in his direction before we burst out laughing.
"They bought it!" Harry choked through his laughter, "they believed it!" He was holding on to the cart handle for support, gasping. I nearly rolled off his trunk.
"Did you see Dudley's face?" I wheezed, "he - he -" I couldn't finish. We laughed until another voice spoke up.
"Well, this is an interesting scenario," a familiar voice commented. I looked up and into the grinning face of Ron Weasley.
"Ron!" I squealed, wrapping my arms around him. He hugged me back, but not without commenting.
"Whoa - easy Hermione. You're gonna kill me."
"Sorry," I told him, drawing back and wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes. There was an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach as I drew away from him - something I couldn't remember ever feeling before. I shook it off as Ron turned to Harry, and they did some kind of high five thing that I'll never be able to understand. Guy stuff, I supposed. I checked my watch.
"Hey - we'd better get going. We've only got ten minutes." I hopped off Harry's trunk and walked back to my own, hoping we could still make it. I wheeled my cart back to them and we started for the barrier. We'd gotten better at passing through it over the years, and now we didn't have to take it at a run anymore. We strolled toward it, talking casually.
"So - what's so funny?" Ron asked as we neared the wall.
"Long story - we'll tell you on the train," Harry answered. We stepped through the barrier from the muggle world to the magic one, and we suddenly found ourselves on a platform with a scarlet train and many chattering witches and wizards. We dragged our trunks on to the train and into an empty compartment. I sat back in my seat, beaming at my two best friends who were grinning back, and I felt amazingly relaxed. Hogwarts had just begun!
* * *
"Wait - you haven't heard the best part yet!" Harry exclaimed. We were halfway through our explanation of what had happened before Ron had arrived at the train station.
"Lemme guess. You two started acting like a couple of lovebirds -"
"Yup. Hermione's a great fake flirt."
"Shut up!" I said indignantly, swatting at him.
"You know, I think I could see that...," Ron said with a smile.
"You too," I answered, kicking him. But I couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay. So then what?"
"Then - then I told Hermione to get up on my trunk and she did and then I - I wheeled her away...." He couldn't finish. Ron was in hysterics, rolling on the floor, and I laughed helplessly, clutching my side.
"Man," Ron commented, crawling back on to his seat, " I wish I could have seen it."
"Don't worry - you will," Harry assured him. I shot him a surprised glance. He grinned mischievously. "Well - the Dursleys have to come pick me up at the end of the year, right?"
"Oh no," I said, shaking my head, "I am NOT doing THAT again." He grinned at me teasingly.
"Come on, Hermione....."
"No!" I sounded so forceful that he laughed.
"Okay, fine."
Sometime later, I leaned my head back against the corner of the compartment, my knees drawn up to my chest and my feet resting on the empty seat between Ron and I. We'd just finished lunch and Harry had fallen asleep. I found this a bit odd for a moment, but then dismissed the thought from my mind, deciding that he'd probably had a rough night, with his uncle and all. Ron sighed and mimicked my position, placing his feet on top of mine. I smiled a little, pulled my feet out from under his and put them on top. He grinned and did the same. The game resulted in both of us laughing and kicking each other, legs flailing wildly. I nearly fell off my seat, but Ron sat up and grabbed my arm just in time. He hauled me back up, putting a finger to his lips as Harry stirred a bit from the other side of the compartment. I nodded and leaned back again in my seat with a groan. "This place needs to come with pillows," I commented quietly. Ron grinned.
"Here - we can be each other's back rests." He turned so he was facing the wall of the compartment and his back was to me. I did the same and we leaned against each others backs, which was definitely more comfortable than the cold steel walls of the compartment. For awhile, neither of us spoke. Then I spoke softly, more to myself than to my crimson-haired back rest.
"I can't wait to get back."
"Hmm?" He asked, our backs still to each other.
"Oh - I just said I can't wait to get back," I told him, blushing slightly.
"Me neither," he said. I could tell he was grinning. "Ginny's been driving me crazy!" I smiled too. Then, I continued on a more serious note, my smile fading.
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever feel like - like Hogwarts is sort of - oh, I don't know. Maybe - kind of like your home? Wait - no, that's not what I mean -"
"I think I understand," he cut in, sliding one leg to the floor so he could face me. I turned around too. "Kind of like a place where you feel comfortable, where there's nothing you have to live up to?"
"Yes!" I exclaimed, delighted, "yes, that's exactly what I mean. Like - like a place where you can just get away from it all and be yourself?"
"Yeah. Everything's so much easier there. Especially for people like, well, like Harry." We both glanced at his sleeping form. "I really don't think he likes being famous. I mean, he can draw a crowd by parting his bangs!"
"Yeah...." I smiled, glad he agreed with me. I had been feeling this way for a long time, but I had been too shy to share it with anyone. Ron had seemed like the perfect person to start with. Sure, he was a kidder, but he was so thoughtful......
"Hey - Hermione?" He tore his eyes away from the window and looked at me. "How come you've never brought this up before?" I felt myself blush a little.
"I - I don't know. I guess I wasn't sure if anyone felt the same way, and...." I glanced up and caught his gaze. His ocean blue eyes stared into mine and I couldn't turn away. My throat went dry and there was an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach, the same one I'd felt when I'd hugged him in greeting.
"Oh....okay. Just....wondering..." He turned back to the window.
* * *
I lay back in my four poster considerably later, still taking in every detail of the dormitory I knew so well - the dormitory that four other people along with myself called home. I felt exhausted, with the train ride, the sorting and the feast, but I couldn't sleep. I reached for my wand on my bedside table and waved it in the direction of the curtains on my four poster, just for the sake of doing magic. They went a dark blue color, and then small, twinkling stars began to appear on them. I smiled. I'd always loved stars. My past notebooks and homework were covered in them (doodles of them, I mean). I considered doing the same to Lavender's hair, just to see her reaction in the morning, but I decided it was too cruel and put down my wand before the temptation became too great.
I turned over, but couldn't sleep. There was something nagging at the back of my mind, something itching to be thought about. I tried to ignore it, but couldn't. I knew perfectly well what it was. Ron. Plain and simple. I had all these mixed feelings about him now, feelings I couldn't name. It was strange - he was always such a great friend to me. And he still was. Just the thought of him made me smile a little. I was confusing myself. What was up?
Now that the lagging thought had been thought out, I managed to fall asleep, feeling more happy and contented than I had in two months.
The morning was a relatively normal Hogwarts morning. I showered, pulled on my robes and tried fruitlessly to tame my wild tangle of curls. I sighed, exasperated. It was hopeless! Finally, though, with some help from Lavender and Parvati, my hair was plaited into two braids and we were on our way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
I slumped down into the seat that Harry and Ron had saved for me and reached for the sausage. "Ron - hand me the orange juice?"
"Here." He handed me the jug and I filled my glass. "Hey - nice hair!" He grinned and tugged on one of my pigtails. Though I'd been wearing braids for several years, he never ceased to tease me about them, even more so after he'd found my copy of Pippi Longstocking in my trunk one year. I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks, Ron. I really appreciate it," I said, taking a bite of scrambled eggs.
"No problem," he answered. "So - new classes today?"
"Mmmm hmmm," I answered, picking up my schedule. He glanced over at it.
"Wow, Hermione - less than fifteen classes this year. Congratulations!"
"Ha ha. Very funny," I said, twirling one of my braids around my finger. I was getting that weird feeling again.....
"Hey Hermione - take less than twenty five classes this year?" Harry leaned over Ron for a glimpse at my schedule.
"Geez, you guys are pathetic. Find some new insults - this one's years old."
"Even older than Pippi Longstocking?" Ron teased, holding my braids straight out the sides of my head.
"Yes, even older than that," I answered, my heart beginning to beat rapidly. "And, for your information, I am only taking eight classes this year."
"Wow, Hermione, it's a record," said Harry with a grin. I rolled my eyes.
"I give up!"
The day went relatively well. There were no major accidents like there had been on that memorable first day of our third year. Hagrid still taught Care of Magical Creatures, and the ministry, though still controlled by Malfoy's father, had learned to ignore any complaints Draco made about the class. Snape was still as horrible as ever - he managed to take five points from Gryffindor just after breakfast because Neville had spilled his bookbag and caused a hold up in the corridor. I dreaded even the thought of his potions class. McGonagall was still as strict as ever, and Flitwick seemed to have shrunk an inch or two. Or perhaps I was finally growing. Whatever it was, he seemed exceptionally short this year, something Ron, at nearly six feet now, was quick to notice.
Ron....several days into the term, I began to see a pattern in the weird feelings I got when I was around him. It was only when he was really close to me, like playing with my hair or looking into my eyes that I got it. I began to feel uncomfortable around him as the realization of what I was feeling finally sank in. I began to avoid him, and became incapable of human conversation in his presence. Harry soon became aware of this and dragged me off to a quiet corner of the common room one day while Ron had detention.
"Hermione - what's going ON with you? You're acting so weird around Ron -"
"What do you mean, Harry?" I asked, trying to buy time before I had to confess.
"You know what I mean, Hermione. I'm not that dense." I raised my eyebrows at him, but he ignored it and continued on. "I'm serious, Hermione. What's up?" I sighed. There was no way around it.
"Harry - do you promise not to tell?" He nodded solemnly. "I mean it, Harry. You cannot ever repeat this to anyone." He nodded again. I took a deep breath. "Harry, I - I think I'm in love with Ron." I glanced up at him, waiting for a gasp, or a wide-eyed expression, but nothing came. "Well?" I demanded. "Aren't you surprised?" He smiled.
"Actually, not really. I have to confess - I've been expecting that for years."
"You have?" I asked, confused.
"Yes," he answered, grinning. "I could see it coming. You two match up perfectly. I promise I won't tell anyone. I never have before."
"Thanks, Harry," I said gratefully. I knew I could trust him, and it felt wonderful to have told someone and gotten it off my shoulders.
The next month or so was pretty uneventful. Fall settled in, turning the leaves of the trees brilliant shades of red, orange and gold, and the air became chilly and windy. Quidditch season began, featuring Harry as the returning Gryffindor Seeker and Ron as Keeper. Ron had joined the team in our fourth year when Oliver Wood had left. I was just beginning to believe that this year might not result in another near-death experience when Halloween came. And that's where the trouble came in.
It began normally enough. We (meaning the Gryffindor sixth years) started toward the Great Hall for the much awaited Halloween feast. Although I'd attended it five times before, it was still one of my favorite events at Hogwarts. I was just explaining this to Lavender when Harry, who was walking in front of me, stopped short. I nearly crashed into him, but steadied myself as a familiar voice spoke. "Ah, off to the Halloween feast?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore," we chorused.
"One of my favorite nights of the year," he said, smiling. "Well, I certainly won't hold you up. Except you three - Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger? Would you accompany me to my office for a moment?"
"Yes, sir," we answered, puzzled. The others also looked confused, but promised to meet up with us at the feast and continued down the hall. Dumbledore led us to his office in silence. He looked a bit worried, and none of us took that as a good sign. He led us through many staircases I'd never seen before - all secret passages to his office - a place that I had never been. I glanced at my two friends. Ron didn't seem too concerned - he seemed to be more interested in this new section of the castle than he was in going to Dumbledore's office. But Harry - Harry looked worried. I wondered if it had anything to do with the dark circles that had been under his eyes lately, or the fact that he kept rubbing his scar, a gesture he only made when he was nervous or if there was danger coming. Either way, it was not a good thing. I began feeling a bit nervous myself. I was hovering on the edge of actual fear by the time Dumbledore finally led us into his office and gestured for us to sit down.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," he said, looking very grave. I swallowed hard. Harry turned pale and Ron looked extremely nervous. "It's about Voldemort -"
"He's here, isn't he?" Harry cried, his hand tracing his scar again, "I knew it! I could feel it! I was having these dreams, and my scar -"
"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore cut in, "he is here. We don't know exactly where, or in what form, but he is here. He is obviously after you, Harry, but we believe that you two," he nodded at Ron and I, "are in danger also. Voldemort will go to any lengths to get to Harry, and you could be targets." I listened with wide eyes, Ron doing the same next to me. Voldemort - again? We hadn't had any trouble with him since our second year, with Riddle's Diary. Why would he come back now? As if reading my thoughts, Dumbledore continued. "We believe that he has not shown himself before now because he was saving his strength and becoming stronger. He has full power now." I swallowed hard. He went on. "I am sure that you three will be alright for awhile - I doubt that he will show up anytime soon. But I wanted you to know so you could take the necessary precautions." I nodded. He smiled. "I'll let you go on to the feast now - you'll hardly be in danger with so many students and teachers around. And please don't worry - I have faith in you three. I think you'll be fine."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," I said as I rose from my chair and followed Harry and Ron out the door. We walked in silence for awhile. Then Ron spoke.
"Do you think he'll come soon?" He asked, leading us down a long staircase.
"I don't know," I answered, sliding my hand across the banister. It was smooth and cold, cold enough to send shivers down my spine.
"Wow - that's a first," joked Harry, cracking a weak smile.
"Har har," I answered sourly, "very funny." But it made me smile, which, for some reason, felt wonderful.
"Let's just enjoy the feast," Ron suggested, "you heard Dumbledore - he probably won't show up tonight, with the feast and all. Let's just have fun and relax, okay?"
"Okay," said Harry as I nodded. Ron pushed open the door and we entered the hall.
The Great Hall looked amazing - it really did. Hagrid's usual twelve foot pumpkins stood in the corners, hundreds of bats swooped around over our heads, and the enchanted ceiling revealed thousands of twinkling stars above us. The room was already filled with hundreds of chattering students and teachers, and the delicious aroma of the steaming food had spread throughout the room. "Let's go eat," I suggested, suddenly realizing how hungry I was. It seemed amazing that I could have any kind of appetite at all after hearing the news Dumbledore had just given us, but apparently it was possible. Harry and Ron nodded and followed me to the table, still surveying the magnificent decorations. I ate greedily, smiling and laughing between sips of pumpkin juice. Harry nearly sprayed the population of the table with his, after hearing the punch line of one of Ron's jokes. I couldn't blame him. Ron's jokes aren't very often funny, but when they are, they're real side-splitting, gut-busting, roll-on-the-floor funny. The night couldn't get any better. I should have known it was too good to last.
As we were all preparing to leave, several people screamed. I rolled my eyes, assuming it was some sort of special effect the teachers had planned, or maybe Peeves playing a trick on them. But then there came the flashes of light - a light too bright, a light that could only mean dark magic. The screams were louder now, and through them I could hear loud bangs like explosions. I could feel my heart plummet into my stomach. It was him. I turned to Ron and Harry. They looked terrified, but I could see in their eyes that they knew. It was time.
Harry was the first to come to his senses. He whirled around and sprinted at the large doors that led out of the Great Hall. He had to get out of there - he had to get Voldemort away from the rest of the students. Ron and I raced after him, throwing ourselves against the door and following the sound of his pounding footsteps. It took me a moment to realize that he was running toward Gryffindor Tower. I didn't bother to think about why - thinking took up too much energy and running was all that mattered then. The corridor with the portrait of the Fat Lady came into view, but Harry didn't slow down. He hurled himself at the door at full speed, not bothering with the password. But the Fat Lady let out a shriek and Ron grabbed him while I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Fiddlesticks!" The door swung open and I threw myself in, Ron and Harry tumbling in behind me. They slammed the door and we lay, tangled on the floor for a minute, breathing heavily.
Suddenly, there was a wild pounding on the door. I screamed. I couldn't help it. We jumped to our feet and raced to different parts of the room, ready for whatever was coming. If it ever came. Voldemort was still banging violently on the door, and I used the time to meet Ron and Harry's terrified eyes. There wasn't time for a formal goodbye. And so we stared at each other, eyes locked, waiting.
There was a loud bang and the door burst open, and a hooded figure stepped through. He walked slowly toward Harry, his words coming out in a cold, cruel voice. "So, Harry Potter. We meet again. For the fourth time, I believe? Yes, the fourth time - and the last." Harry walked slowly backward, drawing out his wand as Voldemort advanced on him. I noticed that Voldemort wasn't holding a wand - he had mastered the dark arts, and was obviously powerful enough to perform even the most draining charms without one. He raised his hand to send a curse at Harry, but Ron screamed some sort of spell, directing it at Voldemort. The Dark Lord whirled on him, furious. And thus the battle begun.
I whipped out my wand and began screaming curses, charms, anything that came to mind. The common room was exploding with flashes of colored light, each one holding a curse more deadly than the next. "Ron, look out!" I shrieked as Voldemort shot a curse at him. Ron tumbled to the side as a flash of green flew by him. He jumped up as soon as it was gone, but I instinctively moved toward him to make sure he was all right. I was so focused on Ron that I didn't notice Voldemort diverting his attention toward me. I heard Harry's voice pierce through the noise.
"Hermione - DUCK!" I gasped and stared at the jet of light hurtling at me. I couldn't move - I was paralyzed with fear. Suddenly, though, someone dove down behind me, grabbing my ankles, yanking them out from under me. As I toppled over, I caught a glimpse of Ron's brilliant red hair as the light from the curse exploded above me.
"Ron - thank you," I gasped. Voldemort was advancing toward us, his hand raised, ready to finish us off. I lifted my chin defiantly, ready. We'd never go to the Dark Side, never. Before he could mutter the curse though, I heard Harry's voice, loud and strong, screaming an incantation. Voldemort turned around and Ron and I jumped up, joining Harry in the spell. Voldemort was weakening.
"No!" He screamed, over and over, his voice, dripping with evil, echoing through my head. I struggled to hold up my wand - the curse was very draining. I could feel myself getting weaker. Voldemort twisted and turned, screaming as the curse took effect. Darkness was coming. I could feel my arms dropping, my breath getting shorter. Voldemort was still screaming, arms and legs flailing. I gasped for air, still screaming the spell. I was drowning in darkness....Voldemort let out a final scream, and then everything went black.
End of part 1.
