A/N: Hello my babies. Yes I know it's been a while but with school, clubs, and getting ready for my future (yay!!) it's been pretty busy. But I'm sure you guys have been busy too. I don't really like this chapter much but...anyway I hope you all like it. I can't wait to write the -spoiler- scene. It's going to be SO COOL! Well anyway here is chapter 10. Yes the halfway point. Oh by the way the way this chapter continues directly from Chapter 9. Remember to review.

Chapter 10

Abigail's Warning

Hermione wanted to get this over with quickly, she resented having a detention in the first place so she avoided going to dinner and headed straight for the trophy room. Her detention? She had to polish every trophy in that room..and there were over 5,0000 of them. She couldn't use magic.

She stood in the center of the room, it's many trophies standing proud in their cases.

"I deserved this for some reason..." the seventh year muttered while sliding on yellow gloves. "Well here goes. " She sighed and pulled out wax and a towel.

She first mapped out a plane, to wax the larger ones then the smaller ones. She started on her first one, first reading the name, some boy from two years ago had won a 'Star Student' award. At first Hermione took greatest interest in reading each name and the honor they were bestowed. But after a while it all became a blur.

But then something stopped her quick cleaning. It was one of her last trophies, one of the older ones. Silver and ancient, with a musical symbol engraved into a chalice with wings

Richard Blackheart

1907

Outstanding Achievement in Music

"Richard...Blackheart...could this be..him?" Hermione muttered examining the trophy thoroughly.

This couldn't be the Richard she thought she knew. This person was around more than one hundred years ago. He would be amazingly old or dead. Hermione knew that witches and wizards had a longer lifespan that muggles but none could stay young forever. This couldn't be the same Richard...but then again. Anything was possible. Especially with this boy.

He'd never said he was alive. Nor dead.

"Miss Hermione. We meet again." a voice said directly behind her. Her hair stood on end as the room grew cold and she shivered violently.

"Oh...ha. Hello Richard." Hermione said. "I was just looking at your trophy. " She indicated the trophy while watching closely for his reaction.

Richard didn't even look at the trophy and his face stayed blank.

"I came to apologize for getting you in the most awful trouble, I beg your forgiveness." he said softly hanging his head causing his hair to fall gently around his face.

Hermione resisted the urge to brush his hair from his face and hug him and tell him that it was okay and that it wasn't his fault.

"I forgive you Richard...Blackheart." Hermione said forcing a bright smile on her face and looking up at him.

Richard looked up at her blankly. "Are you done here Miss Hermione?" he said not even flinching at the mention of a possible last name for him.

"Oh..yes I am Richard. Um..care to walk me back to my house?" Hermione asked sweetly. It occurred to her that she still knew not what house he was in.

"Come Miss Hermione." Richard said taking one of her wrists and leading her from the trophy room. His fingers bit through her skin like ice but she didn't make any noises of pain.

They walked in a frigid silence.

"What house are you in?" Hermione asked suddenly when they reached the portrait hole. The fat lady was fast asleep, a bit of drool coming from her mouth.

"Don't turn to others for answers." he muttered and let go of her wrist. He began to leave her side.

"Why-" Hermione began, she wanted to know why he would never tell her anything. But he cut her off abruptly.

"It doesn't matter." he said icily, staring directly into her eyes for an intense moment before leaving down the hall.

Hermione would never truly know the answers.

"Password dear? I mean I don't have all night while you're up in the wee hours frolicking with your little boyfriend." The fat lady said curtly breaking into Hermione's thoughts.

Hermione flushed. "Manifest Destiny" she muttered the password while staring at the wrist Richard had been gripping slightly roughly.

"Proceed." The fat lady said swinging open the portrait hole.

-

Hermione entered the common room to find it almost completely dark. There was only one other person present: Ron Weasely.

He was sitting in one of the armchairs by the dim fireplace half asleep.

Hermione tried to make her way as silently as possible up the girl's staircase.

Creak

"Darn it." Hermione muttered-she took another step.

Creak

"Oh, I've been waiting for you." Ron's groggy voice said.

Hermione continued up the stairs.

"Oy Hermione, I have gotten something for you." Ron said.

What could he possibly have for her?

Ron was suddenly at the bottom of the stairs and his is hand was her wand.

Hermione hadn't even realized she had dropped it. She came slightly down the stairs and took it silently from his hands, being sure not to touch his skin as she did it.

She turned her back stiffly to him and begin to retreat up the stairs.

"You could at least say thank you." Ron said pointedly.

Hermione stopped in her tracks. She wanted so badly to respond to him, she craved contact with her 'old' friends. She hadn't hardly spoken in weeks, she doubted if she still could. But still..she said nothing.

"Hermione what is wrong with you? You walk around like you hate us or something. I mean...look at how you treated poor Loony Lovegood." Ron said quietly.

A lump formed in her throat but she didn't speak.

Ron sighed discouragingly. "Hermione...Harry and me and Ginny...we are worried about you." he continued barely audible.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She blinked them back.

"Is this about Richard? He's turning you away from us I know it. And you can say what you want...it's not just that I don't like him. Can't you tell us what it is? Hermione?" Ron said, there was a pleading tone in his voice. "I..." he trailed off and sighed.

A strangled sob escaped Hermione's lips.

"Hermione?" Ron said tensely.

Suddenly Hermione was so overwhelmed that emotion that her knees buckled, she felt like she was about to pass out. Her head began to ache painfully but she managed to remain standing and with her back still turned to Ron.

"Hermione at least...look at me?" Ron said in such a way that Hermione couldn't say 'No.'

She turned around slowly and looked down at him from her place on the stairs.

Inevitably their eyes met, his green eyes...

His eyes searched her face as if they were looking for something.

She hadn't seem his eyes in what felt like eternity that it seemed like the first time.

Suddenly Ron gave her a small smile.

Hermione's head began to throb painfully and emotions filled her again. Against her better judgment she ran down the steps and practically flung herself on Ron in a desperate, almost clingy hug. She broke down into uncontrollable sobs and clung to him.

Ron hid his utmost shock. He patted her on the back silently and held her.

Hermione buried her face in his chest and her tears flowed freely. She wanted to be...free.

Then suddenly a rage rose in her, one that wasn't her own, these weren't her feelings. She pushed Ron away from her, she screamed something at him angrily with savage hate in a voice that wasn't her own and stormed up the girls' staircase.

Ron wasn't sure what all that was about..but he was sure it had something to do with Richard.

---------------

Hermione slammed the dormitory door closed and leaned against it. She was sweating and shaking, she breathed in and out rapidly trying to make sense of her emotions.

What had happened? Was she losing her mind?

She couldn't believe she'd broken down like that. In front of HIM.

"You alright? Gosh coming in here slamming doors. I'm trying to sleep." one of her roommates muttered with annoyance.

Hermione didn't respond to this person. She simply went to bed fully dressed.

There was a girl. At first it seemed to be Hermione but upon closer inspection this girl had long brown hair and eyes that had long since lost their brightness. She was standing in an unidentifiable area, Inky blackness around her.

She looked up at Hermione with a sad smile.

"You are in danger child." the girl said, though her lips remained still.

" Aren't you Abigail Rose?" Hermione said.

"He is dangerous. Don't let it happen to you too..."

Suddenly there was a sound emitting from the darkness..it sounded like the roar of a wild animal.

"I must go. I do not belong here. Farewell. Remember my warning."

The girl disappeared.

Hermione woke up to find herself drenched in sweat and breathing rapidly. It was a while before she found the comfort to find sleep again.

A/N: well...hmm wonder what Abigail was talking about. Anyway I know this isn't a great chapter but don't worry, the others will be :). So anyway my lovely children please review and tell me what's up. I should be updating again during Thanksgiving break.