So, this chapter is going to be a bit longer! I couldn't help myself!...And 2,000+ words later, here you go! (PS- Remeber to R&R and remember, I'm open to all thoughts and opinions!)

Chapter 4

Half way to the library, Hermoine had wished she grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak. She had to stop herself multiple times from turning around and getting it. He'll ask why I need it, Hermoine thought. Besides, I know my way around the library better than anybody. I know the aisles to hide in if necessary... But there shouldn't be anybody down there anyways at this hour. No, there will be no problem.

She entered the library, but froze after passing the first study table. What was she doing here? At the time when she rushed out of the common room, she had thought this to be the place to go and clear her mind... But how? She's always come here for one purpous, books. Whether the books were used for research, or to pass time by, or what; that had always been her reason to come here to the library. And her initial instinct after reading that terrible letter was to come here. But do what? It's not as if books were going to help her face these threats.

Sighing in frusteration, Hermoine walked all the way to the table in the back corner of the library that, in her opinion, had the best view to watch a clear, stary night; like tonight. She pulled out her chair and sat down, slumping forward onto the table. She propped her head on her arm and just stared into the dark night sky. Everything just seemed so peaceful and perfect on a night like this. Hermoine could just tell by looking out the window how clean the air would be and she could just imagine a slight cooling breeze blowing through her thick, unruly hair.

This isn't the first time she had a that fantacy, but that was in fact what she would most likely dream about- at least that's what she most likely used to dream about. Now just about every other night, it was the same awful nightmare. She was captured and trapped in the Malfoy Manner with Bellatrix scarring her forearm and giving her the cruciartis curse. Hermoine cringed at the memory while a single, hot, lonely tear trickled down her face. She wondered if the nightmare would ever go away.

Moments later, Hermoine found herself rubbing her hand over the word Mudblood etched into her arm. She often found herself doing this lately when she got nervous or scared. Most of the time, she didn't even notice she was even doing it! But somebody knifed that word into her skin; Mudblood. That's all she was thought of by most of the purebloods and even half bloods (anybody really who supported Voldemort); a Mudblood. The war was now over and You-Know-Who has fallen; yet that doesn't change a thing. No matter what, people will hold onto their prejudices and no matter what, to certain people, that's all she was; a Mudblood. Filth. A pebble on the bottom of a shoe. Mudd. She wondered if some pure-bloodes even considered her human.

And now there was somebody out there. And that somebody is out to get her.

But wait a minute, Hermoine thought. It's not just one person! No! Whomever it was that wrote that continuously used the word "we" and "us". It's more than one person. It's a group!

"A group," Hermoine found herself whisper.

Just then, she heard the echo of a book falling to the ground and somebody quietly curse in frustration. For a moment, Hermoine frozed, afraid she was about to be caught by Filtch. But, no. It wouldn't be Filtch! It couldn't! There was no sign of Mrs. Norris. Hermoine felt some jolt of bravery as she was determined to find out who would be here at this time. She stood up from her seat quietly and listened carefully. She could hear footsteps running the opposite direction of her.

"Who's there!" Hermoine demanded. She meant to sound brave, but she couldn't help but to quiver as she spoke. She waited for a moment to give the person a chance to say something. When nobody spoke, Hermoine said, "I know you're there. Show yourself!"

Silence.

"Show yourself!" she yelled even louder. "Come on! Show yourself, God Damnit!" Hermoine cried.

Once again, nobody spoke. She fell back down to the table and hid her headd in her arms. Fear had begun to strike through her veins as she thought back to the threat. Was this them? Were they coming to get her? Or was this just their "eyes and ears"? It didn't matter who it was because no matter what, she had reached her breaking point. She broke.

"Aye! Hermoine! Wake up!" called a distant voice, shaking Hermoine by the shoulders.

"10 more minutes," she pleaded and turned her head to opposite way.

Bad idea! rang a voice in her head as her world of restful darkness was suddenly taken over by the noisy light of day.

"Ugh! What time is it," Hermoine asked the voice next to her.

"It's just about breakfast time, actually. I had to come in to find a book for class, and I saw you here. You gave me a heartattack for a moment there, Hermoine! For a second I thought you were dead!"

"What are you talking about?" Hermoine asked as she sat up from an uncomfortable position. She gasped in surprise to find herself in the library at a table. Then last night came flooding back into her memory. "Ohh..," she said.

Next to her, as she could tell was a guy. She looked up at him and squinted her eyes, sight blurry. After she rubbed them, her eyesight became clear and she looked up to find this guy next to her to be Seamus Finnigan. His eyes widened for a moment, taking in the sight of Hermoine.

"You look terrible, Hermoine!" he gasped.

"Yeah, well, I didn't sleep very well last night," Hermoine replied.

"You fell asleep here? In the library?"

"So it would appear."

He offered Hermoine a hand and she took it. He pulled her up from the chair and watched her stretch, curiously. Hermoine shot him a kind smile in return.

"You had Harry and Ron worried about you," Seamus said, walking down the halls with Hermoine.

"Oh! Shoot! I forgot about them!" Hermoine exclaimed, mentally slapping herself. How coudl she forget about Ron and Harry?! They were probably up all night waiting for her to return.

"It's fine. I told them I'd keep an eye out for you. I suppose it's no shock to find you in the library," he nudged Hermoine and smiled. She, in return, laughed, but not a genuine laugh. She thought about Seamus and how he was a half blood and thought again about how there were half bloods serving Voldemort.

"Seamus?" Hermoind said.

"Yes?" he asked, looking down at her.

"What do you think of me?"

"Erhh," he replied, confusedly.

"I mean, as a person. How do you see me?"

"Honestly, I think you're a great gal! I mean, you're brought down You-Know-Who for Merlin's sake! You are the brightest witch of our age, Hermoine. You want to know what I think of you as a person? I think you're beautiful, smart, funny, brave. And actually, lately, I've been meaning to ask you something. You see-"

"Oh look who it is!" Hermoine heard a voice sneer from behind her.

Hermoine inwardly shuddered, remembering that voice whisper in her ear, that breath tickle down her throat. It was suffocating. And now it was back.

"It's the mudblood! And who's this with her?" Goyle said, walking up to them with Pansy Parkinson in his shadow.

"Watch it, mate," Seamus warned.

"Or what?" Goyle asked, amused, a glint in his eye that looked familiar to me as he and Seamus were now face to face.

"You bloody know what." Seamus replied. "Just go away and don't call Hermoine that name. Now get!"

"I don't need to listen to you," Goyle said, moving closer to Seamus.

Before Hermoine knew what she was doing, she uquickly slipped in between her friend and Goyle. She would not allow him to get in a fight with Goyle. She wouldn't let him get hurt defending her.

"Just leave us alone, Goyle," Hermoine snapped at him, shooting him death glares.

"How's that jaw of yours doing, Granger?" Goyle whispered. He then leaned in close so I could feel his breath against my skin again as he said, "My offer still stands. I know you won't turn it down. I have a free period today at 2:30. What do you say, I'll meet ya then?" he winked at me.

If only I had breakfast already, I could have opted the chance to throw up on him! Hermoine thought as she pouted.

"I don't think so." she snapped at him.

"I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. You'll come to me soon enough... Or I'll have to come to you, Mudblood," Goyle snapped, clutching my Hermoine's with a tight grip. She could feel Seamus's presence take a forceful step forward when just in time, a sound echoed through our ears.

"Hermoine!" Hermoine heard voice call from down the corrider.

She looked around and an instant smile widely pressed its way across my face as she saw Ron and Harry run run way.

"Listen, Goyle," Hermoine said, spitting out his name with venom. "You better let go of my arm this very second or my friends will hex you like there is no tomorrow. And if you ever lay a hand on me again, so help me-"

Without having to say another word, Goyle let go of her arm and shoved past her, Pansy doing the same (only she muttered a few unkind words to Hermoine as well). It didn't take long befor Harry and Ron caught up to her and Seamus.

"What was going on there?" Ron asked.

"You shoulda heard the things he said to Hermoine!" Seamus exclaimed.

"It was nothing. I could handle it," Hermoine muttered.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing! Just please leave it, guys!"

With that, she left to go find Ginny and join her for breakfast. As she ran off though, she could hear Seamus angrily mutter a few things to Harry and Ron. No doubt, she thought, he was telling them about their encounter with Goyle and Parkinson.

"So, where were you last night?" Ginny asked Hermoine at breakfast.

"Library," Hermoine answered. "I guess I fell asleep in there."

"Blimey, Hermoine! It's only been one day!"

"I know, I know."

"Don't look now, but Ferret over there keeps staring at you," Ginny said sourly, nodding her heads toward Malfoy at the Slytherin table.

Hermoine turned her head back to see him smirk at her. Her cheeks turned red and she looked away.

"Okay! What was that?!" Ginny exclaimed.

"I don't know," Hermoine answered honestly.

"You mean you don't know why he's staring at you nor why you just started furiously blushing!?"

"Yes! I'm telling you, I do not know!" Ginny gave her a disbelieving look and she sighed, continuing on, "Well, I mean. Apparently he's desperate to talk to me! But I don't know what about."

"So there's nothing going on then between the two of you?" Ginny asked sincerely.

"With me and Malfoy?! Oh, Merlin, never! He may have changed to our side during the war but to be honest I don't see him any different. He's still the same boy who taunted me and called me names for the past six years herea ta Hogwarts."

"Yes, I suppose," Ginny said, defeated. "Anyways! Harry and I are going out this evening!"

"Aw! Really, Ginny! That's great! Where to?"

"Oh, no where to special. Honestly, I'm glad he's taking me out at all! I wasn't sure things would go back to the way there were after the war."

"Yeah, it's great to see that," Hermoine said, happy for her friend.

"But, anyways, I'll need help getting ready. I actually don't really have any classes going on today after 1 and Harry is free after 2. So I was hoping since we were going out at 4, maybe you could find time and come help meget ready at 3'o'clock?"

"Yes, of course! I only have 2 classes today anyways, so I'll be spending most my time in the library!"

"Classic Hermoine!" Ginny noted.