A/N: Hi everyone. This is my first fan fiction. Please review!

Disclaimer: I'm just putting this in the first chapter, because I have noted that they get rather annoying. I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, I wouldn't be writing stories for free online, with nothing else to do.

And on with the show… er… story.

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"Rooooon!" Hermione whined, trying to get him to retrieve the book that Harry had just stolen from her. This led to the red head promptly jumping on the raven-haired boy, tackling him to the ground and swiping the book.

Ron turned to return the book to Hermione, who was sitting in one of the armchairs in the Gryffindor common room. "Here you go, Hermione," Ron said while outstretching the book. But when she went to grab it, he pulled his arm back. "On the second thought," he said, pretending he was pondering something very important, "I think I should get something," he winked as he said this, "as a thank you," he finished.

"You mean, besides me not hexing you into oblivion?"

"Or me?" added a very disgruntled Harry as he began to stand up.

Ron ignored Harry and spoke again to the girl in the armchair. "Aw, come on Hermione! I'm your boyfriend. I think I deserve at least a kiss."

After Ron said this Hermione stood up and stretched. While all of this had been happening, she had been thinking about her relationship with Ron. They had been dating for a few months now, and she knew he completely adored her, as he was constantly hugging and kissing her, holding her hand, or finding any way to be near her. She knew this, but she wasn't sure why he felt that way. Sure, he said it was because she had a great personality, but she had always had the same personality. He hadn't shown any romantic interest in her until the beginning of sixth year. She had to think that a lot of this was owed to her looks.

She had changed a lot physically over the last summer. Her golden brown hair, although still a bit frizzy, had definitely tamed. A lot. It now reached just below her shoulders, softly curling. Her teeth were white and perfectly straight. Her skin was tan, not as pale as it used to be after she would spend so much time reading in the library, barely ever going outside. She had also begun dressing in a way that showed off her figure and beauty, and she always wore the perfect shades of make up, always accentuating her big chocolate colored eyes. Hermione knew Ron had noticed these things at the start of the year, and she often caught him staring, causing his face to turn redder than the famed Weasley hair.

Another thing about her relationship with Ron was how she felt about him. Ron loved her, but she wasn't sure she felt the same. Yes, she loved him as a brother, but nothing more. Hermione considered breaking it off romantically with him, but she didn't want him to feel bad, nor jeopardize the friendship they shared.

She pushed these thoughts to the back of her head, for now, however, as she walked over to Ron and kissed him quickly on the lips before taking her books and walking towards the portrait hole. But before she could step out, she collided with Ginny who was hurrying in.

"Ouch." Hermione mumbled.

"Sorry!" exclaimed Ginny, not even looking at who she bumped into, obviously distracted. "I was hurrying to find Hermione Granger," Ginny explained, " I have a message from Dumbledore. He says it's urgent."

"Ginny?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, no time to talk, Hermione. As I said, I have to find...oh," Ginny trailed off. "Sorry, Hermione."

"Oh, it's fine. So I have a message from Dumbledore?" Hermione inquired.

"Oh, yeah, right," mumbled Ginny as she handed a folded piece of parchment to her friend. Hermione quickly scanned the note.

Miss Granger,

Please report to my office immediately.

-Albus Dumbledore

P.S. I currently fancy licorice wands.

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Hermione chuckled slightly at the headmaster's last words, knowing that 'licorice wands' was his new password, as she also wondered what he wanted to talk to her about. She walked through the corridors quickly, and soon came to the statue of a gargoyle that served as the entrance to Dumbledore's office. She whispered "Licorice wands" and stepped onto the staircase spiraling upwards.

She knocked on the headmaster's door and it swung open instantly.

"Ah, Miss Granger, come in," said the voice of Albus Dumbledore, As Hermione walked in, she noticed that the headmaster's eyes, usually kindly twinkling, instead looked a bit said and tired. She knew instantly that his was not going to be good news.

"What did you want to speak to me about, Professor?" Hermione asked apprehensively, and Dumbledore noticed the worry in her voice and eyes.

"Miss Granger, please take a seat," he motioned to the chair in front of his desk. "Now, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. Earlier this morning, your parents were reported missing. Muggle police as well as some Order members are searching, but have yet to find any evidence as to their whereabouts. However, though we have no solid proof, we believe this could be the work of Deatheaters." He watched her face slowly slip. It slipped into a look of complete sadness and despair. Her eyes became shiny, and tears began falling.

Dumbledore walked over to where the now sobbing girl sat and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Hermione. There is still a large chance that your parents are indeed alive."

Hermione looked up and Dumbledore gave her a weak smile, trying to cheer her up a bit. She still, however, continued to sob, and the headmaster could hear some of her muffled words through the tears. "Why? Why! They... don't deserve... they didn't... do... anything!" After a few more minutes of sobs, Hermione started to worry. She had no place to go. Tomorrow would be the last day before summer holiday. 'Where will I live?' she thought.

As if reading her mind, the headmaster began speaking again. "Regarding your living arrangements, I have already spoken to Molly Weasley, and she will be taking you in for summer holiday." He paused and Hermione silently nodded. "I have made arrangements for George... wait Fred... no, I was right the first time, I believe. I have arranged for George Weasley to pick you up tomorrow, as I am sure you would want to leave as soon as possible right now." Again, he paused as Hermione nodded.

"Do any of my friends know?" Hermione questioned suddenly.

"They are finding out as we speak. I assumed you didn't want to have to tell everyone."

"Yes," said Hermione. "When will George be," she sniffed in the middle of her sentence, "picking me up?"

"Ah yes, he will be here tomorrow at eleven in the morning. Enough time for you to get packed, eat breakfast, and do whatever else you find necessary. Do you have any more questions, Hermione?"

She looked up into his eyes for a moment and thought. "No, not right now."

"Very well then. I want you to know that I'm very sorry that you have to go through this and I truly hope they find your parents soon." The wise wizard said, adding soon instead of alive, not wanting to further upset the girl.

"Thank you for everything, sir," Hermione sighed.

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She walked back through the corridors as though in a trance. She didn't think about where she was going; she just went. Next thing she knew, she was walking back and forth three times in a hall, thinking about wanting to be with her parents. The witch stepped into the room that had just appeared. The Room of Requirements.

The room had pillows and cushions on the floor for seating. As Hermione walked in, this was the first thing she noticed. But then she saw them. There were tons of pictures in the room. They were all photos of her and her parents. The girl walked around the room, looking at each and every one of the pictures. While she did this she had tears streaming down her face.

When she finally decided she should go back to the common room, she had collected three pictures that were in frames from the room to take with her. She got to the portrait and spoke the password, hoping she could sneak in without anyone noticing and then go straight to bed. But this wasn't the case. She entered the common room and got bombarded with hugs and "I'm so sorry"'s from Ginny, Harry, and Ron.