Over the next two weeks they all tried to start over. Lucius watched his future wife with her cousin laughing and was struck by how beautiful it made her look. Lilly, Hermione and Narcissa began talking about the girly things.

Hermione felt her heart flutter every time Severus smiled at her and when he would talk about what he wanted in his future, a wife, a family and a job. She just smiled hopping that things might have already changed enough for that to happen. Lilly and James told the whole school they were dating and he just smiled.

"Students, there will be a dance in two weeks to celebrate the founding of the school and this weekend is a Hogsmead weekend." Dumbledore said one evening two months after she had arrived. She looked at Lilly and then to Narcissa and Bella who had come around after a couple weeks.

After dinner she went to the library and started her homework and was half way through when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and Brown meet Onyx.

"Hermione, I was wondering if you would go to the dance with me." Severus asked

Her bright eyes shined and she nodded pulling him into a hug. Her arms locked around neck and she placed a kiss on his cheek. Severus laced his fingers into her long brown hair and turned her face to cover her lips with his. At first it was just a soft kiss. Then he pressed harder as she responded. She tasted of strawberries and cream. Her tongue played with his and she moaned deep in her throat. He pulled back.

Her eyes were half lidded. "That was great." She whispered still holding him close.

"I've been waiting to do that for a month. "He said with a smile.

"Why?" She asked her eyes falling to the floor. "It's not like I'm pretty."

He tipped her head up and made her look into his eyes. "Hermione Granger you are beautiful."

She only smiled at him than pulled him in for another kiss. It lasted longer and was even more passionate.

Half an hour later she meets Lilly in the room they shared with two others.

"You're blushing." Lilly stated as she sat down on Hermione's bed.

"Am I?" She whispered still smiling.

"What happened?" Lilly asked

"He kissed me." She whispered

"What!" Lilly exclaimed

"Severus kissed me." Hermione said with a bright smile.

"Oh my Hermione "Lily said "I can't believe it, you've melted his heart."

"Lilly he was nothing like the ice prince I used to know." Hermione said thinking of a certain future blond slytherin by the name of Draco.

"Oh do tell." Lilly said pushing her dark red hair behind her ear.

"He was in another house and he never showed any emotion other than hatred. He even looked the part with platinum blonde hair and silver eyes." Hermione told her friend. "I punched him third year."

"He sounds like Lucius." Lilly laughed and Hermione joined her thinking she wasn't far off it had been his son. She sighed to think that she was now best friends with his mother and almost with his father.

"What?" Lilly asked noticing how quiet she had gotten.

"Just thinking about all the new friends I've made." Hermione said

"Oh, are you happy with us?" Lilly asked

"Yes, you're my new best friends." Hermione said "You remind me of my old friend Ginny."

"Tell me about her." Lilly asks pulling her legs into Indian style.

"Ginny was a year younger than me, but she was my first friend girl wise, she had red hair just like you but her eyes were bright blue. She was the youngest in her family." Hermione paused fighting back tears. "She loved just as fiercely as you do, but she didn't get her happy ending."

Lilly pulled Hermione into her arms and shushed her as she once again cried.

"Ginny, Gave her life to protect Harry." Hermione said softly from her friends arms. "I couldn't save her, that crazy woman was just too fast."

"Hermione, you don't have to say any more." Lilly told her rocking her. "Do you want James?"

Hermione shook her head no. James smelled just like Harry, like grass, Sunshine and the snitch. She didn't think it would be a good idea to call James when she was like this. Lilly held her until her tears subsided. Hermione and Lilly talked for a little while. Then they both got ready for bed.

Lilly woke up the next morning before Hermione and found James and the guys in the common room. Hermione had cried in her sleep for hours and Lilly had Lain awake listening to her cry. She fell into a better sleep around midnight.

"Morning boys." She said sitting down next to James who caught the expression on her face.

"What's wrong Lilly?" He said

"Hermione cried most of the night." She answered.

"She cries a lot." Sirius said eyeing the stairs for their new brunette friend.

"She said I remind of an old friend named Ginny." Lilly said quietly "I asked about her. Hermione told me she died protecting Harry."

"She talks about that Harry a lot to its strange." Remus said

"Not really, he was her best friend." Lilly replied.

The four boys just sat there. What made Hermione cry so much was a mystery that they all wanted to figure out? Most of the time she was happy and smiling, sometimes though something would trigger a memory and she would cry sometimes for hours.

"She was so happy before that; I hate it when she cries." Lilly said "I should wake her it is a Hogsmead day." She stood up but was pulled back by James.

"Let her sleep love." He said pulling Lilly close again.

"Alright." Lily laid her head against James.

It was dark in the hall, all the candles blown out; she could see Harry fighting with Voldmort, Mrs. Weasley fighting a lesser death eater while Ron and Draco were glaring at each other. But she couldn't find Ginny. Throwing a binding curse at her opponent she left. She heard Harry call out the killing curse and turned when she heard an enraged screech. Bellatrix Lestrange was running at Harry and when she fired the killing curse Harry was knocked out of the way.

Hermione Screamed as she watched Ginny fall her long red hair flying behind. Hermione felt the tears before she heard her own sobs. Harry sat with Ginny's head in his lap tears cascading down his cheeks. The remaining death eaters were rounded up while the D.A. mourned those lost in the battle.

"Hermione!"

She heard her name but didn't move tears still flowing down her cheeks. She stared at the bodies around her calling out names and felt strong arms wrap around her waist.

"Hermione, wake up it's just a nightmare." A deep voice woke her and she whipped the tears away before meeting deep blue eyes behind a pair of glasses.

She clutched his shirt. "It can't be true now." She whispered

"What?" James asked as the three of them went back down the stairs her in his arms.

"She can't kill Ginny." Hermione Whispered "She's different now, I know it."

"Hermione what are you talking about?" Sirius asked when James, Lilly and she were seated.

"Bella." Hermione whispered just loud enough for Lilly and James to hear.

"How could she have killed your friend Ginny?" Lilly said

Hermione snapped back to her present and sighed. She had said too much.

"I can't tell you anything more." She scrambled out of James reach and ran.