Chapter One

6 Months Prior

"I swear Pansy. You are the dumbest, most inconsiderate person in the world and no wonder you will end up alone, with a face like that no man is ever going to touch you again," I spoke in harsh tones toward my newly ex-girlfriend. "And another thing, it's not normal for a girl to smell like a fish down there, I was just being nice!"

I stormed out of the room in a huff and eventually landed on the chair in our dormitory looking out at the lake as the squid swam by. This is getting beyond ridiculous. How come every girl in my year has turned out to be two-bit stupid? My thoughts were interrupted by Crabbe and Goyle barging in.

"Ha ha, stupid blighter – who did he think he is? I mean, come on, he should really know better," Goyle remarked as Crabbe nearly split his pants laughing.

"Yeah, stupid Potter, why does he come in all the time when we're torching someone?" Crabbe turned and they both stopped, startled.

"It's torturing, you numbskull," I said. "And what did Weasley do this time?"

"HA! That's the best part, ya, it wasn't Weasley, I had Granger by her hair and Goyle was…" Crabbe started but I felt enraged. That's when I knew it was showing on my face.

"YOU DID WHAT?"

"Well, I grabbed Granger by the hair and started in on her…" his voice was cut off by a choking sound as I pressed him against the wall into his throat.

"You touched, who?" At this moment as he tried to explain what he did to Granger, I felt an unabashed amount of hatred for this person in front of me; I began to press my hand harder into his throat. He could not touch her – especially to cause her harm. It wasn't right. I had… to stop… him.

His face began to turn purple and that's when I felt two arms around my mid-section pulling me away. I snapped out of it when I heard Goyle's screams to "let him go!" and to "get the fuck off him!"

I stood there looking down at a gasping Crabbe and Goyle trying to help him breathe, but couldn't place what had just happened. Had I just defended the filthy little mudblood? But what the hell had come over me?

I turned quickly, but before I left the room, spoke, "Don't either of you touch her ever again." I slammed the door behind me.

I ran down the dormitory steps into the common room filled with people. Pansy and her group were off in the corner with her huddled in the middle crying. Good, I hope she does cry, stupid girl. I turn sharply on my heel and run out the door. I didn't know where I was headed, I just knew that I had to get out of that room. I had to get away from that room.

I couldn't believe I just hurt one of my best friends over someone who means absolutely nothing to me. She's just some insignificant girl – especially some girl who isn't even a pureblood. I can't believe I got that worked up over her.

I make my way up the staircases with no final destination in mind. It feels like I'm heading nowhere before I notice a familiar setting and the room of requirement – a fable I had heard about – begins to form in front of me. A large, oak door with unique carvings and patterns begins to emerge between the stones. Then before me is a handle – a large, copper handle – that was aching to be turned.

I grabbed the handle and open the door. The room was vast with tall ceilings and drapes covering what would be windows. In the center of the room was a sectional – including a big comfy cushion, recliner and foot rest – my gaze ran the length of the walls, which were covered in books, posters of far away lands, a radio – on the smallish end, just enough to play some music off the radio – looking overhead, though was the most curious sight of all. Above me was an exact replica of what I had seen earlier this evening in the great hall – a starry night, with scattered clouds and a full moon.

I turned my gaze back and realized that I was not alone. Next to an open window stood Hermione Granger.