Author's Note: Yes, my dearies, this is it-- the long-awaited sequel to The Secrets of My Heart. It's taking a bit of a different turn than I had originally imagined, but then again... What doesn't?

Prologue

Hermione was running down the corridor, trying to escape it. Him. There was no reason to try... he was going to get her in the end, why not just give up now? Save her strength to fight another day. No! her mind screamed. If she didn't escape now, she never would.

Her legs ran faster, and still the unseen person gained on her, and she was thrown to the ground. She screamed--

And was jerked awake by her husband. "Hermione!" Harry whispered urgently. When he saw she was awake, he breathed a sigh of relief, running a thumb across her cheek, collecting the tears which had come with the dream. He frowned. "It was that dream again wasn't it?"

She nodded, looking away.

Harry drew in a shuddering breath. "I am so sorry... it's my fault. All my fault..."

Her head snapped back to him and she cupped his face urgently. "No, it was not your fault! It was never your fault. There was nothing you could have done."

He looked at her, knowing she truly believed that. He had never believed it though. Harry blamed himself for the dreams that kept her awake at night, knowing if he had just been stronger, she wouldn't have to live in the fear that always came in the dreams' wake, even when, the next morning, a cement brick wouldn't have been able to shake her solid foundation.

If only...