5 years later

Hermione:

"What's wrong?"

I just shook my head, unwilling to talk about it, and tried to avoid his gaze.

"Please."

That was all he had to say. I raised my eyes to his, smiling weakly and je returned it before listening as I said, "You've heard of Dudley Dursley, right?"

"He's a year younger than me," he agreed, nodding.

"He's the same age and me a…and I we…went over t…to his earlier…"

That was all I had to say, and all I could say because more tears were replacing the first. He didn't say anything but sat beside me and put his arm around my back. Eventually he did speak, "Ignore him. You're only eleven – right? – you have your whole life ahead of you, don't waste it on Dudley Dursley."

I caught his eye and let out a weak chuckle before nodding, "Thanks."

"No problem. Now, will you tell me your name?"

"I'm Hermione Granger."

"Luke Castellan," He greeted, holding out his hand for me to take, which I did with a slight smile.

"I live in number eight Privet Drive, near to Dudley's."

"Let's not talk about him. Come on, it's early and I'm hungry, let's go get an ice-cream."

"You get ice-cream when you're hungry?" I asked incredulously but still took his hand and stood up, grinning tearfully at him. He gently removed a stray tear and put his arm around my shoulder again, hugging me to him.

"'Mione?"

The voice jolted me awake and I sat up straight. It was the first time I had thought of that day in years. It was the day I met Luke Castellan, and it was a day I knew would stay in my mind forever, even if I never saw him again, which was likely and I hadn't seen him since then. I left for Hogwarts and he disappeared two years after – when I was thirteen and he fourteen.

The voice belonged to Ginny, who was seated at the foot of my bed, an amused smile on her face, "We have ten minutes before lessons."

"Fu…dge" I was about to swear under my breath but changed my mind at the last moment, "Fudge."

Gin laughed and shook her head, "Still don't swear, huh?"

I puffed myself up importantly, "Swearing is for the feeble minded who can think of nothing better to say."

"Remind me of that when I'm next talking to Ron, will you?" She teased, relishing in the slight blush that tinted my cheeks at the mention of his name. She just rolled her eyes and reminded me, "Ten minutes."

True to my word, exactly 8.5 minutes later I was standing outside the Transfiguration classroom with Harry and Ron, both of whom were laughing at the fact that the renowned Bookworm had almost been late to class. I pretended to ignore them as I took my seat at the front, a certain blond-haired boy still in my head.

"Now," Professor McGonagall began when she finally entered, "Everyone is to make their way to the Hall."

I – along with everyone else – sighed in annoyance, packed my things away and went to the Great Hall, where I took a seat beside Gin, who was supposed to have Charms. Once the last person was seated, Dumbledore rose and smiled at all of us in turn before he spoke, "This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I do not believe that becoming a skilled Witch or Wizard is all about what you learn in lessons, and that is why, starting tomorrow, We are starting an assignment. You will choose a group of four – from any year – and work on this assignment until January. In January we are going to choose a winning group from each house and these sixteen are going to have a trip outside of school. I am not to tell you where you will be going, only that I know it will be enjoyable. You get to choose what you want to work on, and must record everything you do relating to this. I wish you all the best of luck."

"Why didn't McGonagall just tell us this in class?" I asked as Harry, Ron, Ginny and I left the Great Hall, "Because we have to go back to McGonagall's lesson anyway."

"Then Dumbledore wouldn't be able to announce it, and we all know how much he loved doing that," was Ron's reply and I laughed daintily, all thoughts of Luke driven from my mind.

"We're working as a four?" Gin asked nervously, as though scared we would ditch her. I grinned, "Course." And my two male best friends nodded enthusiastically.

"Well, I have to go to Professor Flitwick's," she murmured glumly as we arrived outside the Transfiguration classroom.

"Remember, you already have a group," Harry shouted at her back as she sashayed away. He remained staring after her, a small smile on his face. It was clear that he was besotted.

"Is anyone already in a group?" Professor McGonagall asked once we were all seated. Before I could do or say anything, Lavender's hand shot into the air and she announced, "Parvati and I are going with Seamus and Dean."

"Good. Anyone else?"

"We're with Ginny," Harry said, indicating the three of us and the Professor nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

XxX

"What should we do?"

We were situated in the common room; lessons finished for the day. Harry and Ron had stolen the two best seats next to fire, opposite each other, leaving Gin and me to take the two next to theirs.

No-one spoke for a moment, everyone deep in thought, but nothing came to me. I was Hermione Granger, Brightest Witch of the Age, but I couldn't think of anything. There was nothing to distract me from thinking about Luke, and that was what I found myself doing. I was supposed to be thinking of our plan, but all I could think of was Luke Castellan and what became of him after we had parted ways.

"Hermione?" Ginny's voice broke into my thoughts and I whipped my head up to stare at them, "What do you think?"

"About what?"

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and Gin rolled her eyes but I was still clueless.

"Did you listen to a word I just said?"

"Sorry," I mumbled, waiting for her to continue.

"I was thinking that our project – assignment, whatever you want to call it – could be on the DA. I mean, everyone knows about it and it would be very interesting."

"I think it's a great idea," I intoned, my gaze on the flickering fire, my thoughts – surprisingly – of Sirius Black. I remembered his face in the fire, talking to us like he hadn't a care in the world when, in reality, he was the most wanted criminal of all time.

"Are you tired?" Gin asked, again successfully pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah," I muttered, yawning for good measure, "I'm gonna head up. I'll see you tomorrow, we can discuss details then."

Again they exchanged glances, "Tomorrow's the first Hogsmede visit of the year, I don't particularly want to do work."

"Of course it is."

XxX

Luke:

"It's been a long time," a voice rasped from the back corner of the room, hidden in shadows.

I was in a long, almost-pitch black room with sputtering candles in brackets along the walls. The floor was made of polished, plain, black marble – and the walls were much the same. The only entrance or exit was the one through which I had just entered, but that was barred from the outside and would only open if I was given permission to leave by the General.

The General preferred to stay in the darkness, conducting his business from there, and I couldn't blame him. Ever since I was twelve and had stolen Zeus' lightning bolt in an attempt to get it to Hades, Camp Half-Blood had been especially careful and wary. Anything that looked vaguely suspicious was looked into.

I had only ever seen him in the light once and it wasn't a pretty sight. He was extremely pale and had red slits for eyes. He looked like a human apart from the two horns that protruded from his head, curling into a thick spiral of bone, and the black, leathery wings that came out of his back.

"Camp Half-Blood has become complacent," I began. "Since Thalia's return, they have been even more on their guard, but that was four years ago and I believe, if we time it perfectly, then we could destroy them once and for all."

"And then?"

"Then comes Mount Olympus. The prophecy states that only Gods and demi-Gods together can save it, and if the Camp is destroyed, then there will be no demi-Gods to stand against us."

"I see you have given this much thought."

I paused for a moment in surprise, eyebrows half-raised before I nodded once in confirmation and waited for him to continue.

"Before we begin, I need you to travel to a Wizarding village called Hogsmede. Within a pub called The Three Broomsticks you will meet with a boy of sixteen. This is Draco Malfoy and he will be a valuable ally if we can get his father – and, in turn, the Dark Lord – on our side. Leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"It shall be done."

XxX

My room, when I returned to it, seemed even more dank and gloomy than when I had left. The rotting floorboards groaned and creaked while the wind howled through the half-open window. The mattress seemed to have all manner of bugs in it, making it preferable to sleep on the floor if not for the freezing cold that seeped into your bones.

I sighed once, resigned to my fate, and for the first time since I was twelve I thought for a moment that maybe what I was doing was not the right thing. For the first time since I had met a charming eleven year old girl called Hermione Granger I thought that maybe, once I had left her side, if I had revealed all to Chiron and Dionysus, all would be sorted and I wouldn't be out freezing my butt off for something that I wasn't even sure I believed in anymore.

I shook those treacherous thoughts away; thinking like that would send me to an early grave. Hermione had seemed so fascinating and I couldn't help but wonder if she remembered the small twelve-year-old she had met that day. She was probably surrounded by friends – oblivious to the world of demi-Gods and magic around her.

Before I could dwell on those thoughts any longer, the decaying door was swung open. It was no-one of much importance but when all you really want to do is sleep, having a demi-God burst into your room is the last thing you want.

Ethan Rust stumbled forward, a dopey smile plastered onto his face as he swigged from the beer bottle in his hand. In reality, the bottle only held water but that was irrelevant. I rolled my eyes at his antics, prepared to slip under the covers, but he stopped pretending to be drunk and faced me, head bowed.

"What is it?"

I was being rude but at this particular moment I didn't much care.

"The General told me that when you go to Hogsmede, you are to be staying in Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry as the esteemed guest of Draco Malfoy."

I nodded once, sneering at the thought of all the Witches at the school. Without saying anything, Ethan left, flicking his long, black hair out of his eyes as he did so.

XxX

Hermione:

Saturday dawned bright and early, a welcome change from the business of the past weeks. It was only November and we weren't taking our OWLs or NEWTs this year but we were still swamped with work. I would have been more than happy to stay behind and do a five-foot long essay on the properties of a bezoar but it seemed that my assignment-mates wouldn't let me.

Gin was in my room at what seemed like six in the morning but in reality was eight; my other dorm mates had already left for breakfast. I levelled my best glare at her, but she returned it with a blithe smile. I gritted my teeth and changed in a baby-blue tank top and jeans. Gin nodded her approval and we made our way down.

"Finally, we were gonna send a search party up," Harry joked while Ron stuffed his face full but still managed to mutter, "Oo, ook, ice, Mine."

"Sorry," I asked in disgust, flicking a speck of half-chewed food off my top. He swallowed heavily and turned to me, blushing heavily, "I said, you look nice Mione."

"Oh!"

I blushed slightly, feeling guilty at the disgusted look that had been on my face barely moments before. From his expression, Ron had seen it and that disheartened him. Gin and Harry exchanged knowing glances, the former smirking while the latter rolled his eyes.

I took a slice of toast and started buttering it while Gin took the seat beside me, opposite Harry and Ron.

"So," Ginny began, drawing out the word like she expected to be interrupted. She wasn't disappointed.

"So what?"

"What are we going to do about our assignment? I know we have a long time but wherever they take us must be really good or they wouldn't even consider it."

"I know," Harry replied in a murmur, "But what do we do within the DA?"

"We could…" Ron began loudly, his voice raising with excitement but his sister launched herself across the table and clapped her hands over his mouth to prevent him from saying anything else. In doing so, she knocked a cup of orange juice all over Harry, who gasped more from surprise than anything. Through my giggles I quickly remedied the situation and suggested, "Let's talk about this in the Three Broomsticks at three o'clock. Gin and I have some Christmas shopping to do."

"Agreed," Harry replied, throwing a warning glance at his fellow Gryffindor idiot as he rose, waiting for us to follow him out.

We walked slightly ahead of them as we gave Filch our permission slips and made our way out of the imposing castle gates.

"Where do you need to go first?" I asked by way of conversation, not satisfied by the nod she gave me in answer. "Come on, there's got to be somewhere." Again, she shrugged, not saying anything, eyes trained on the ground.

Without thinking through my actions, I grabbed her arm and dragged her none-too-gently into a side alley, ignoring her glare of annoyance and demanding, "Spill."

"Spill what?"

"Ever since we've gotten out of Harry and Ron's listening range, you have been silent. I demand to know what's wrong."

I was scared that maybe I was being a little forthcoming, but eventually she sighed in defeat and began to speak, "I guess you know that I really like Harry, right? But to him all we can ever be is just friends." She seemed to be waiting for me to contradict her but I didn't because it was true. "I just wish he would see me as someone other than Ron's little sister and actually see me as girlfriend material."

I felt that I had to say something, "Gin, he will see you like that eventually."

I had been hoping for a watery smile or at least some indication that my words were okay. Instead, her eyes filled with tears that began to spill. She sobbed unabashedly into my arms for at least five minutes before she could brush them away with a weak grin and order that we continue with the shopping.

At exactly five to three we met up with our two friends outside The Three Broomsticks and together we entered. The pub was crowded and only one table was available at the far end. With a loud sigh, we made our way to it, only to find that the table right next to it was occupied by none other than Malfoy, his two cronies, Parkinson, Zabini, and another man who seemed vaguely familiar.

His hair was a shade of blond although much darker than Malfoy's, while his eyes were a brooding blue colour. His lips turned down slightly at the corners and he had a spattering of freckles around his nose. He was by no means perfect, but he was very good looking.

Malfoy's drawl turned my attention back to him, "It's Potty, Weasley, Weaslette and Mudblood. Watch out or we'll be contaminated."

I summoned my best glare and levelled it at him while Harry and Ron tugged their wands from their pockets.

"Don't." My voice was quiet but held authority and, reluctantly, the wands were replaced.

"Listen to Granger, she actually speaks some sense," Malfoy smirked, raising an eyebrow threateningly.

"At least we're not a slimy Ferret. How did you like Goyle's pants Malfoy?" I asked, giving him a smirk worthy of a Slytherin. Goyle's hands immediately went under the table, his face while, while Malfoy turned a delicate shade of red.

"You'll regret that, Mudblood."

XxX

Luke:

The Three Broomsticks was unlike any pub I had ever seen. The air practically hummed with magic and they paid Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. The drinks were weird as well; butterbeer and firewhisky were only a few of the things on offer. The pub itself was surprisingly unremarkable – from the black chairs to the beer-stained tables – but almost all of the people sitting were dressed in robes. I felt starkly out of place.

I scanned the pub for any sign of the signature blond hair, finally finding it at the back, next to an empty table. I made my way there immediately, standing almost to attention as I waited for him to acknowledge my presence. When he didn't, I cleared my throat loudly and asked, "You're Draco Malfoy?"

Finally he turned to look at me and I noticed the cold, steel-grey eyes that were regarding me solemnly, "And you are?"

His tone was rude but I shook it out of the way before replying tersely, "Luke Castellan."

At first I wasn't sure that he had known to welcome me but eventually he murmured, "This is Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle."

I nodded once to each person before taking the final seat. The conversation immediately turned dark.

"I believe that the General wants my father to join his cause, is that correct?"

"It is."

"Why?"

I regarded him in surprise, wondering how to word the answer. In the end I muttered, "We need all the men we can get in order to destroy Camp Half-Blood. Once the camp is destroyed, we set our sights on Mount Olympus. If – and when – we succeed in our quest; the General has agreed to give your father and any other Death Eaters that join us lots of land and slaves – prisoners of war."

"It sounds tempting, but how do I know your General is not lying?"

He spoke like an old man and that thought nearly made me laugh. Nearly being the key word there. I managed to choke it back and reply in as normal voice as possible, "He will be willing to take an Unbreakable Vow."

Draco opened his mouth to say more but closed it again upon seeing who had just entered the pub. The boy in the lead was most definitely Harry Potter, with his unruly, black hair and lightning shaped scar. The two people who came in after him both had flaming red hair, making it obvious that they were brother and sister. The final Witch to enter seemed so familiar. Her hair was long, curly and a shade of brown never before seen on Earth. Her eyes, when she spotted the only unoccupied table –which happened to be next to ours – were a deep honey-brown and her red lips were puckered slightly from the cold.

They approached cautiously and made to move past but a drawling voice stopped them. I listened to the hateful banter for a few moments in silence before Draco said a name – or rather, a surname – that I never thought I would hear again. Granger. It wasn't exactly a common name, was it? But she did look familiar. There was a chance.

As soon as they were gone, I whirled to face Draco, asking in a hurried whisper, "Who's the girl with the brown hair?"

"That's Hermione Mudblood Granger," was the scathing reply.

I frowned at him, well aware of the hateful name, but it was her. Hermione Granger; a girl I never thought I'd see again.

It had been five years but she hadn't changed that much, which was why I recognised her.

Had she recognised me?

I know that this chapter is more Hermione-based than Luke-basedbut I will try to remedy that in the next chapter.