Time began to pass slowly but surely for the time travelers.

In the aftermath of the first flying lesson, Padma, Lavender, Parvati, and Su Li had joined the small study group which had formed and included Harry, Hermione, Luna, and Neville. While things seemed to more or less settle back into their normal stream, Harry noticed Padma watching him at times and, when in Transfiguration, she seemed to always partner with him. He found no reason to complain, though the questioning looks from her sister reminded him that Parvati knew about neither the time travelling nor about the soul bond he had formed with her.

Unless Padma had shared?

Over time, Neville had invited Hannah and Susan, whom he had grown up with, to their little study group and Anemy tagged along with them. It was certainly not an unwelcomed development in Harry's mind. While he sat next to Anemy every charms class, that really provided few or no opportunities for them to get to know one another. In their study group, however, he began to learn a bit about her family, just as he was doing with the other Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in his little group. The difference was he noted several occasions where tears seemed to begin to form as she corrected herself from using the past tense for her family. It was subtle, but Harry picked up on it. He always felt a drive to move to hug the witch with those wonderful Grey eyes, but his Gryffindor Courage always seemed to give out.

The oddest collection of people to join their efforts to learn seemed to be the small group of three Slytherins which sat just close enough to get help and at times be of assistance, but just far enough away they could say they were not part of the group. Tracey and Blaise seemed ready to jump in as a part of the growing team of friends, but the glares Daphne seemed to constantly shift in Harry's direction kept them apart.

It also led to Tracey, Hermione, and Luna all reminding him on multiple occasions that he really needed to step up and fix things. And to his credit, Harry did make a few efforts. Each one was spurned by the young blonde. And while Harry wanted to give up, he knew that was not an option…and he would have known that even without Tracey and Hermione serving as bugs in his ears.

Having already sat through the actual lessons occurring in class, there was little left for them to pick up. It had taken some convincing, but Hermione had been convinced to hold back, at least a little bit, while the other brilliant witches (which is indeed exactly what Padma and Anemy were) convinced Harry to actually put in the effort. As such, the time travelers were all currently being praised for their efforts, which had led them to the top of their classes. Harry was included in this and found a fun bit of competition with the others for the title of top student to be invigorating. Even Snape found very little wrong with their efforts, despite his own.

Dumbledore had, somehow, managed to plant a bug in the rumor mill which effected the student body something fierce. The new rumor surrounding the newly disfigured DADA professor was that his disintegration had something to do with the protections which had saved Harry from the Killing Curse as a child and did not interact well with Dark Magic, something which unfortunately Professor Quirrel was coated in due to his travels.

This naturally led to Harry's demonization at Hogwarts occurring nearly a year earlier than it had last time. He was now the distant hero which no one could touch. It was Dumbledore's master plan. IF the students were scared to be near Harry, no one could befriend him.

Unfortunately, Dumbledore had counted on neither soul mates nor genuine friendships to develop this early. That was simply because outside of Gellert and perhaps Snape, Albus had never truly experienced friendship himself. Even as a child and in school, his connections to other individuals was about what they could offer him. Not that he ever portrayed things that way.

So Hogwarts settled into a routine.

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As September 19th rolled around, Hermione was anticipating and dreading her 12th/19th birthday.

They were really going to have to figure that one out.

While she was thrilled to actually have friends this time around, not to mention whatever it was she had going on with Harry. She had never truly celebrated a birthday with friends. Her first time through Hogwarts, it was her 6th year before Harry and Ron discovered when it was and that was after the day itself had already passed. The following year had been during the hunt which left little to no time for them to truly celebrate.

Before Hogwarts, of course, there had been no friends to celebrate with. The one time she thought there would be friends, it had turned out that her parents had invited classmates who all simply showed up for cake. In fact, outside of handing her poorly wrapped gifts of no real significance, not one had talked to her. And this was when she was 10!

No, only her parents had ever celebrated her birthday before.

With those solemn thoughts, Hermione began to get ready for the day. As she left for the bathroom, she missed the smirking blond face which snuck over to slip a piece of parchment into Hermione's robe pocket.

As Hermione moved down to the Common Room with her now regular Book of Spells in hand, she heard a crinkling coming from her pocket. As she settled down on the couch, she noted Luna already curled up and once more sleeping as they waited for Harry.

As Hermione's thoughts drifted to her Black-haired best friend, she forgot about the crinkling in her pocket.

Somehow, a kiss from Harry had pulled her from her dying body back into her eleven-year-old one. While it meant coming back to bushy hair and buck teeth, perhaps it was better than dying. And more than that, Harry had kissed her.

This confused the young witch to no end. She had spent the past seven years following Harry. Some said it was like a puppy, but Hermione knew it was something else. She had thought, in her first year, he was amazing and not because he was The Boy-Who-Lived. She had felt her heart, one long left closed and distant so people could not tease her, open itself to him in second year, especially as she heard about him sitting with her even while petrified. She had cried herself to sleep for quite some time over the broom incident of third year. She knew she'd had fights with people before, and most she could not care less if she dumped them after. At the time she had placed Ron in that category. But somehow, with Harry, it was different. She felt her heart soar during their year-end adventures that year.

Fourth year had been hard for both of them. While Harry was the one ostracized for his name coming out of the goblet, Hermione had not fared much better with coming down on his side as well as the situation with Krum and the Prophet. She had fought herself all year. She was just a friend helping a friend…right? She had accepted the offer to attend the ball with Krum for that reason and because she felt Harry deserved someone better. She had been scared when Harry so easily welcomed Ron back into the fold after the first task, but Harry had not let her slip away. And the Ball, it had all been worth it, the hours of fighting with her hair to get ready, just to see Harry's face when she came down. She knew she was in love.

But the final task and Voldemort's subsequent return had ended all her dreams of snagging the green-eyed seeker. He had no room for that and after all, he was like her brother. Wasn't he? Fifth year came as did the terror known as Umbridge. Hermione knew she had not been the best of friends then nor even in sixth, but she was trying to distance herself. Even unknowingly, she pushed him away because she didn't love him.

And it had all come down to the final battle. Even during the hunt when Ron ran, or when she was being tortured by Bellatrix, Harry had not backed down. He had fought through overwhelming odds. And the clincher was the final battle. Harry was amazing. He moved with grace and skill that wizards with years of experience could never even dream of. But a few mistakes had led to Voldemort seeing his guard drop, so Hermione knew what she had to do.

Sure, she had been dating Ron, but Ron was dead and in that instant, she knew that it was Harry who had and would always have her heart. It was Harry who had dragged her from her shell. It was Harry who was there for her just as much as she was for him. It was Harry she would give anything for.

And that is what she did.

She had seen the green light and with a speed she had not known she possessed, she dove between her green-eyed seeker and Voldemort.

But as her spirit was leaving her body, she was still aware. Somehow, by some miracle, her spirit could not flee the battle. It was drawn, attached to Harry. As were several others. Hermione could not identify them exactly, but she knew several seemed familiar.

And she had watched Harry explode on her death. That was when she knew. That was when all that mattered…didn't.

She knew Harry loved her.

Movement in the Common Room drew her from her thoughts. Hermione's eyes snapped up with a smile, expecting to see Harry.

Instead, her eyes fell on a sneering Draco Malfoy who had stopped long enough to see her. As Hermione saw others filling the room, she wondered where Harry was. He generally beat the rush. Draco's words cut through her distraction.

"What are you looking at mudblood? Looking for your precious defender? He couldn't even stand to wait for you." With a sneer turning to a grin, Draco turned swiftly to head out the door before two other Gryffindors grabbed him under the arms, lifting the smaller boy off the ground and heading back up the stairs.

"Sorry 'bout that…"

"…Hermione. Young Draco seems…"

"…to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed."

"He should know better…"

"…than to use such foul language…"

"…with a housemate."

"Don't you worry."

"We'll have a chat with him!" The twins finished in unison, disappearing up the stairs with Draco between them howling about his father hearing. Hermione grinned just long enough for them to disappear before turning back to a now awake Luna.

"So Harry already left?" Hermione felt herself a bit upset at this. While she didn't need a party, she did want to spend time with Harry. They were still sorting everything out, but in the end, it was her birthday.

Noting there was no response, Hermione looked over to see a playful smile on Luna's face. The young blond merely grabbed her bag before heading out of the portrait hole, leaving Hermione to chase after. As she did, Hermione heard the parchment crinkle once more. This time curiosity overtook her and she pulled it forth.

Hermione!

Happy Birthday to my oldest most spectacularly beautiful and brilliant friend!

By now you have figured out I am already gone. Well, for some reason Madam Hooch has canceled our afternoon classes and as this is the celebration of the birth of the one person who I literally owe my life to a dozen times over, I felt we should celebrate!

Now, do not miss your morning class ma'am, but following lunch join me. You should know where, but if not, ask the House Elves.

There was no signature, but Hermione needed none of that. She knew that chicken scratch anywhere. With a face splitting grin stretching across the expanse from ear to ear, Hermione tore off to follow Luna who was now well ahead.

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Harry's absence, while noted by herself, Luna, and Daphne, seemed to be ignored by everyone else. Hermione, however, was too distracted by Professor Quirrel and the smell coming from him to really get into figuring out why this was.

As she entered the Great Hall, still reflecting over the past few weeks, Hermione failed to notice a distinct lack of presence from her study group. In fact, she was halfway through another chapter of her newest study companion textbook before she remembered she was actually supposed to be eating.

It was strange for the bookworm. She had become so used to Harry or Luna saying something to draw her from her books that pulling herself from them felt out of place. It took her a few more minutes to realize that neither friend was with her. This started a panic in Hermione as she rose to her feet, seeking out another friendly face to ask.

Noting that Neville was also gone, Hermione began to panic. Her notes and book forgotten, Hermione thought hard. Where could everyone be?

As Hermione left the Great Hall, she did not notice the pair of blue eyes following her. Either set, from the green and silver table nor the head table.

Hermione was distracted, but as the missing friends began to pass her in the hall, she felt more frantic. Finally, as she passed Neville, she grabbed his lapels.

"Have you seen Harry!"

Neville looked at the wild look in her eyes with confusion in his own.

"He said he was doing something for you."

Those words stopped Hermione short. She had been freaking out so much about the change in routine that she completely missed and forgot about Harry's note. This set her back on the riddle.

Where would the house elves send Harry?

After a quick pass through the kitchens, Hermione knew where she was off to next. She would have run to the seventh floor if not for the distinct movement of the fabled Hogwarts stairs slowing her down. As she arrived, breathless, she began pacing before the door, thinking about seeing Harry.

As the door appeared, Hermione moved quickly to grasp the handle. She took one more steadying breath before throwing the door open to enter.

And the room was bright.

The Room was open.

And the room was empty.

Empty?

That did not seem to fit. She had asked to see Harry. Why was he not here? Hermione began to feel despair growing in her. Her life over the past few years, or weeks, depending on your viewpoint, had been insane. She had kissed Harry to time travel, thinking she loved him, and that he loved her.

But now he seemed to be playing with her.

It was in this state, as she collapsed on the ground, that Hermione missed the wall opposite the door shimmer out of view as several friends screamed to her.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE!"

The entire group came up short as they saw Hermione look up with tears on her eyes. As they fell on Harry, there was an angry smile on her face. She stood up and stormed over to him.

And she punched his shoulder. Some of the group winced from the sound of the flesh on flesh contact. Harry just stood there before holding his arms open. Hermione, now smiling even brighter through her tears, threw herself into his arms.

"You jerk!"

"I know."

"I've never had a party before."

"I know." His acknowledgement, made Hermione look down into his chest, she felt sadness creeping in at his knowing that. She felt a finger gently cup her chin and draw her face to his.

"Hermione, this is a party to celebrate you. Because you deserve it. Because I need you to know how important you are, how special you are." Harry was whispering in her ear as he pulled her close now. Others began to shift away to give the two their moment. All except for Luna who looked on with her own wet smile.

"Hermione Granger, you have been everything to me for several years now, but I was too stupid to know it. I did not know what love was. But I do know this." He pulled back to gently kiss her here before continuing. "I know that without you, I have no life. Could I not see you and talk to you, there would be no point in my going on." As she opened her mouth to speak, Harry once more kissed her. Some of the others, not time travelers, noted this was not a kiss seen between two eleven-year-olds, but let it slide. Harry and Hermione had already proven to be…well…unique.

"Hermione, I told you what happened when I died, but you need to know what happened right before."

"I know." Now it was her statement bringing him up short. He looked in her eyes, clearly confused.

"You…do?"

"Harry, I don't know how, but I saw everything. I saw your reaction. I saw you try to end it. But promise me something?"

"What?"

"First, never to keep me from fighting." She placed a finger on his lips, already seeing his protest. "Yes, I know you want to keep me safe, and I'm sure you want to keep all of us safe, but that is not my place and you know it." After several seconds of consideration, Harry asked.

"And second?" Hermione seemed to be fighting with tears herself now.

"And second, should I ever die, promise me you won't stop living?"

Harry felt his own tears coming. He laid his head on Hermione's shoulder. "How can you ask me that?"

Hermione carefully pulled back, forcing him to look into her eyes.

"Because I love you, but I'm not the only one." After a few tense moments of staring and contemplation, Harry gave in. This drew a smile from Hermione. She knew she would still be fighting this battle for years to come, but it was a start. She glanced over his shoulder to see their friend milling around, some looking distinctly uncomfortable. Luna looked pleased, however. Hermione pulled herself from his embrace and grabbed his hand.

"Come on, though! Today it is my birthday and I get to spend it with friends!"

Only Harry knew of her past and knew it was the friends making this special, not the birthday.