Hermione barely had any time to research Wizarding law over the next few weeks. She only had a chance to look over the books twice after she was done with her home work. She hardly even paid attention to Harry and his wonderings about Dumbledore and where he was and if he had forgotten about the lessons with Harry. Hermione worried for Harry but could not really bring herself to worry over Dumbledore like Harry did; she had Sirius, Cedric and herself to worry about.

But halfway through October their first trip to Hogsmeade was posted on the board. Hermione was a little surprised that they were still able to go, given that Voldemort was out and about. Hermione was just happy to see that they would be able to go and get out of the castle and the confines of its grounds for a while.

Hermione woke early the morning of the trip and wrote a quick letter to Sirius and another to Cedric. She then read a little bit in her potions book. She wanted to learn what they could be doing in the coming weeks, that and she couldn't help but read ahead in her books.

Her favorite book by far was the one for her transfiguration class. There was so much included in the book that she could read it over and over again and learn something new. She had already practice a few of the spells for the section that wouldn't be covered until the next term. Most of them were used for protection and she wanted to be prepared for anything that she might face now that Voldemort was out and about.

She had even found a few spells in books from the library that she found useful. The most useful spell she found was one to see if there was any poisonous thing in the food or water you had around you. Hermione was glad to have that because of the time they were in and many people could be out to get Harry or anyone that associates with him. There were a few color changing ones that she had found but she had also seem them in her transfiguration book so they weren't new.

Harry however had spent his time going over his potions book and seeing what the half-blood prince had written. The only spell that Harry had played around with that Hermione like was the Muffliato because it kept people from over hearing their conversations. Hermione was a private person and didn't like her information being out there.

The wind and sleet continued to pound against the windows. She continued to write letters to Sirius and Cedric because she hadn't been able to send the first ones she'd written. The letters were now each three pages long. She had just added more to them when she thought of something new to add to them. She signed the bottom of the letters when it was time for her to get ready for breakfast. She changed into jeans, a t-shirt, sweater and winter coat (which was draped over her arm). She grabbed her back (with letters packed inside) and went to greet Harry and Ron before the three of them walked down to the great hall for breakfast.

Her roommates were just now waking up. All though some were further along in the stages of waking up than others. She quickly slipped out the door because she didn't want to hear the gripe about how their hair wasn't doing what they wanted or how it was going to be ruined when they went out into the weather. She heard it practically every other day of the year she didn't want to hear it today. She ran into Ginny on her way down.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem like you are in a rush."

"Fine I'm just trying to avoid the rush morning complaints." Hermione replied.

"They've started early."

"It is storming outside." Hermione said. "They don't want their hair to get ruined."

"There are spells they can use to protect it." Ginny said.

"You know that, I know that, they know that but are too lazy to use them." Hermione replied.

"Guess you know what to get them for Christmas if you do buy them anything."

"I highly doubt that I'll be getting them anything right now." Hermione replied. "I'm not particularly close to any of them."

"Can't blame you. It's not like we are all going to get alone with who are dorm mates are. Personally I think Harry and Ron got lucky."

"Speaking of them those too I have got to meet up with them." Hermione said. "See you later."

Ten minutes later Hermione was sitting next to Ron in the great hall listening to him tell the tale of how he was woken up that morning by Harry. Hermione didn't think it was funny at all.

"You've used another spell from that book didn't you?" Hermione asked. "That books not good, one day you'll come across something that will get you into trouble."

"It's always the worse with you isn't it?" Harry asked.

"Well was it?" Hermione asked.

"Yes but no one was hurt so I don't see what the problem is." Harry said.

"The problem is that you thought that it would be a good idea to use some unknown spell on someone would if Ron had gotten hurt instead of rudely woken up."

"What's wrong with it being hand written?" Harry asked.

"Because it wouldn't be ministry approved." Hermione said. "That Prince character is a bit dodgy."

"Come on it was just a laugh." Ron said. "A laugh that's all. No harm came of it."

"Dangling people upside down sounds like fun to you?" Hermione asked. "Besides who puts their time into making up stuff like that?"

"Fred and George might think it was a good laugh," Ron said. "Sound like i—"

"My dad," Harry said, will a gloomy tone.

"What?" Ron and Hermione shouted together.

"Uh… Lupin told me my dad used it." Harry said. "He didn't tell me what it was just that my dad used it."

Hermione had a feeling that Harry was lying about that but she had no way to prove it. A truth potion would take too long to brew and it wasn't something that Hermione would want to give to Harry. She trusted him so there would be no reason for her to give it to him.

"Your dad might not have been the only one to use it." Hermione said. "We've seen a lot of people use it."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked defensively. "I…"

"Dangling people in mid-air, that doesn't sound familiar to you?"

"That was completely different." Ron said coming to his defense. "They weren't using it for fun. Harry was."

"They were Death Eaters it was their idea of fun," Hermione snapped. "And fun has nothing to do with it. It's irresponsible to perform spells you've found written in an old school book and have no clue what they are meant to do besides the name 'Prince' is some stupid old nickname and they don't seem nice to me."

"I don't see how you could come up with that. I don't see a Death Eater going around bragging about being a half blood." Harry said. "Can you see a Death Eater doing that?"

"No I can't but there have to be half-blood Death Eaters because there are not enough pure bloods left in the world." Hermione said. "Most of them are only pretending to be a pure-blood. It's only Muggle-born witches and wizards they can't stand. You and Ron would be prime pickings for them."

"I could never be a Death Eater." Ron said. "My family is filled with nothing but blood traitors and they are just as bad as Muggle-Borns to them. Heck they would even love to have Harry if they weren't trying to kill him off the whole time."

Hermione grimaced at Ron's comment. It wasn't something that she wanted to think about. Any one killing Harry or anyone else she loved wasn't something she wanted to think about.

"Yeah they wouldn't take me even then. I'd be a blood traitor." Harry said.

Ron snorted out in laughter; Hermione forced a smile.

"What it's true." Harry said when he caught the looks they were giving him. "I don't think that people like Hermione should be kept away from their magic."

Footsteps from behind them tore Hermione's gaze from Harry.

"Harry I was told to give this to you."

Hermione was pretty sure that it was announcing another privet lesson with Professor Dumbledore.

"Thank you, Ginny." Harry said.

"When's your next lesson?" Hermione asked him.

"Monday night," Harry said. "It's about time. It's been weeks since my last one. Are you going to join us in Hogsmeade?"

"I can't I'm going with dean but we could see you there." She said waving goodbye and walking away.

Walking out to the main hall later they ran into Filch. He was manning the large front doors and had been charged with checking off the names of people allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Filch took longer because he kept running his Secrecy Sensor over them.

After his third pass over Ron; Ron had snapped, "Why doesn't it matter if dark stuff is going out? You are supposed to keep it from coming in."

His comment had earned and extra large jab to the ribs with the sensor. Hermione and Harry snickered as they pulled their cloaks tighter. Their walk to Hogsmeade was not fun or any amount of enjoyable. The small parts of Hermione's exposed skin now felt numb from the cold wind blowing against it. Most of the student's walking to Hogsmeade like them were doubled over trying to protect themselves from the wind. Hermione thought that staying in the common room would have been a better option. A few of the shops had been closed and boarded up because of Voldemort's return.

Ron pointed to Honeydukes, which was still open and the trio trudged through the bitter wind to the blissfully and mercifully warm shop. Hermione staggered in behind him and Harry. The shop was crowed from student's who had the same idea as them.

"Oh man I say we stay here the whole afternoon." Ron said.

A booming voice from behind them told them all that their potions professor had the same idea as them or had just stopped in but Hermione was sure it was the latter.

"Oh no," Harry said when he heard Slughorn's voice.

"Harry I'm a little disappointed you have missed four of my little dinners now." Slughorn sounded a little dejected. "That will not do at all; I'm determined to have you attend. Even Miss Granger loves them, don't you Miss Granger?"

"They are just fine." Hermione said.

"So you will you come to the next one Harry?" Slughorn asked in a tone that said it was more of a demand than a request.

"I've had Quidditch practice, I'm captain this year and we have a lot of new players so we have practice a lot and I have to be there." Harry said.

"Then you should certainly win your fist match will all that practicing." Slughorn said. "But Mo—"

"I've got a meeting with Professor Dumbledore Monday night." Harry told him.

"Oh I have to be unlucky again." Slughorn said sighing dramatically. "But you can't avoid them forever Harry."

Slughorn then left them and the shop with a wave and clutching a large bag of sweets. Ron was disappointed that he had again been ignored by the professor.

"I can't believe that you have gotten out of another dinner." Hermione said. "I've only been able t get out of one and even then they aren't that ba—but they would be better if you and Ron were there. I would have someone other than Ginny to talk to."

Hermione hurriedly changed the subject to a candy display in front of them. It was all done up for the holidays of the specials (ten sugar quills for the price of one). They spend more time than usual looking at all the displays but Ron was still moody.

"It'll be warm in Three Broomsticks, we should go there." Harry said. "I could go for a butterbeer to."

The re-bundled themselves and went back out into the skin numbing wind. The wind seemed to only get worse as they made their way over to Three Broomsticks. The street was nearly empty as most people rushed from one shop to the next hurrying to get the things they needed, so it made the two men standing outside of Three Broomsticks stick out like a sore thumb. Hermione recognized one of them as the man that ran the Hog's Head. The other man became more recognizable as they moved closer to the pub.

It was Mundungus Fletcher. He was a member of the order and a thief. He was a short man with long scraggly red hair. He had two old and ugly looking suitcases (most likely filled with stolen good) tucked up under his arms. One of the suit cases slipped from the hold of his arm and felt to the ground splitting open. Hermione was right stolen goods that looked familiar.

"Hello, 'arry," Mundungus said. "Nice seein' you here but I have got somewhere to be. I'll be seeing you."

Mundungus had ducked down to pick up everything that had fallen out of the suit case and quickly ran away.

"Was he selling that stuff?" Harry asked.

"I would guess so. It was probably all stolen too." Hermione said. "I mean he had all those dodgy caldrons brought to the headquarters last year. Ron's mum went nuts."

"Hang on he left something behind," Ron said. "I think I've seen it before."

He picked up a silver goblet and showed it to Harry and Hermione.

"That Sirius's," Harry said.

"He must have gone in and pilfered the place when Sirius was at Hogwarts after the fight at the ministry." Hermione said. "No one would have been there to stop him for about a week maybe even longer."

"I can't believe that he took it from Sirius." Harry said. "Sirius was nice to him allowed him in there and he…"

"There is nothing we can do about it now." Hermione said. "At least we can send this back to him. He might not care that Mundungus stole it. He hated that place after all."

"That's true but it doesn't mean it is right" Harry said. "I kind of want to hunt him down and get the rest of the stuff."

"Harry you can't Sirus wouldn't want you to." Hermione told him. "Come on let's go get that butterbeer."

"THAT BLOODY THIEVING…." Harry yelled at the top of his voice.

"Harry there is no point." Another voice said. "Mundungus will be in London or out of England by now."

"Tonks," Hermione said. "What are you doing here?"

"I've been station here." She said. "The ministry wants the school to be protected."

"You should get out of the cold." Tonks said without her normal cheerfulness. "It won't be a good idea if you get sick."

Hermione led the two boys into Three Broomsticks with Tonks watching. Harry continued to gripe about Mundungus stealing Sirius's stuff.

"Harry I get I really do but could you stop shouting about it. People are starting to stare." Hermione said. "Sit down by Ron and I'll get the drinks."

Hermione found Harry still fuming a few minutes later when she appeared carrying their butter beers.

"The dang order should be controlling Mundungus shouldn't they?" Harry asked.

"Harry he can't take any more stuff from the house of black." Hermione said. "Sirius is staying there until he can prove that he's innocent." She stopped to take a sip of her butterbeer. "But yes I'm annoyed by it too. I'm Sirius's daughter and it's my family's things he's taking and selling in dark alleys but Sirius doesn't care about that stuff so I don't see why you or I should either."

"I still don't like him. He is dodgy and I do not think he is trustworthy." Harry said. "He's a thief no much honesty in his line of work. They lie on where they got stuff, where they took it or how much they got for it. At least tell Sirius for me Hermione."

"I will." Hermione said.

She looked up from her butterbeer to see Ron looking off into space.

"You see something?" Hermione asked with an airy ton in her voice.

"Not a thing." Ron said.

"Yeah I don't believe you." Hermione said. "She's probably in the back getting more firewiskey."

"I wasn't looking for her." Ron snapped at her.

He took a drink of his butterbeer so he wouldn't have to talk any more. Harry had remained silent after he stopped talking about Mundungus stealing Sirius's things. Hermione tapped her fingers on the top of the table out of boredom, looking between Ron and the untended bar. Hermione drained her bottle.

"I think it's a good time to leave don't you?" Hermione asked Harry and Ron.

The two in question nodded, paid their tab and bundled up for their trip back up to the castle, in weather that had only gotten steadily worse since they've been in the pub. Katie Bell and one of her friends were in front of them arguing over something as they walked up the High Street. Hermione's mind was on Sirius and Cedric wondering when she was going to get her letters to them. It would be better when spring came or at least when the weather wasn't as bad. Shaking her head she trudged on in the frozen slush. She couldn't wait to climb into the prefect bath tub and soak and let the warmth of the water seep into her bones.

"It has noting do with you, Leanne!" Hermione heard Katie yell.

The two girls continued to argue over a package that Katie was carrying. It was small and wrapped in brown paper. Their figures started to blur as they got farther and farther away from the trio, while more and more of their argument was being carried back on the cold biting winds. Katie's friend Leanne grabbed the package and tired to rip it from Katie's hands the tugged on it back and forth and soon it fell to the ground while Katie rose up into the air with her arms outstretched like she was going to fly away.

There was nothing comical or beautiful about Katie being suspended in air. Katie rising into the air was eerie more than anything. Her hair was wiping wildly around her face by the strong winds. There was no expression on her face and her eyes were closed. Hermione stopped right in her tracks and looked at her. Leanne was only a few feet a head of them looking up in horror.

When Katie got to be about six feet above them she let out a blood curdling scream. Whatever she was experiencing was causing her a great deal of pain. Leanne started to scream along with her as she tried to pull her down to the ground but it didn't work. Hermione rushed to help but even that didn't work and nor did Harry and Ron when they ran over a few minutes later. Instead Katie fell in a heap on top of them. They lowered her to the ground where she continued to thrash around screaming.

"Hermione stay here," Harry shouted over the wind. "I'll go for help.

Hermione could see why he was going for help. There was no one in the area that could help them. She stayed with Leanne and helped her trying to keep Katie calm. She watched Harry run down the lane toward the castle… toward help. Ron stood behind her and Leanne looking on in horror at what he saw.

More and more students seemed to stop and stare at what was going on. Hermione wished she could guard Katie from their gawking but couldn't. She pushed Katie's hair back away from her face in a calming gesture. Leanne kneeled on the ground crying over her best friend.

Eight minutes later Harry came running back up the lane with Hagrid. Hagrid got to them before Harry did and had to push his way through the small crowed of students that had gathered there. Ron had joined her and Leanne in trying to calm Katie down. She was still screaming and moving around on the ground.

"Come on get back, get back!" Hagrid said. "Come on let me through I need to see her."

Leanne told Hagrid in between sobs what had happened to Katie. Hagrid looked down at Katie for a moment and then without a thought swooped down and picked up Katie up from the ground. In the next second he was running up toward the castle at full speed. Katie's blood curdling screams soon died on the wind.

Hermione hurried over to Katie's friend who was still crying and put an arm around her trying to comfort the girl.

"Your name is Leanne, isn't it?" Hermione asked.

Leanne nodded.

"When she went in the air was it all of a sudden or—"

"It happened when the paper ripped open." Leanne said through her tears to the large snow soaked package lying on the ground just feet away.

The paper was split open and showed a green glittery jewel. Ron bent down and reached his out to touch it. Harry grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Don't." Harry said. "We don't know what it did to Katie."

Harry bent down to get a closer look. The ornate necklace was poking out of the paper slightly.

"I think I've seen this before." Harry said. "It was on display at Borgin and Burkes years ago. It must have been cursed or something nearly everything in that shop is dodgy. The only question is how did Katie get this into her hands."

"It's why we were arguing. She came back from the bathroom holding it, said it was a surprise for someone at Hogwarts and that she had to deliver it to them." Leanne said. "Oh I bet she was—"

Leanne began to shake with even more sobs.

"Leanne it wasn't your fault." Hermione said. "Did she say who gave it to her?"

"No, that's why I knew something was wrong. She wouldn't tell me who gave it to her just that she was to take it up to the school and give it to someone there. I tried taking it from her and you saw how that ended.

"Come on let's get you back to school." Hermione said. "We can find out how she is doing." Hermione added helping her stand up.

Harry paused for a second then pulled his scarf off and wrapped the cursed necklace in it and picked it up.

"Madam Pomfrey will need it to help Katie," he replied to Hermione's questioning stare.

Hermione helped Leanne up and walked toward the castle. She tried to comfort Leanne the whole way up to it. Hermione wasn't sure how well the comforting was doing; Leanne just seemed to cry and not much else.

Harry and Ron were behind her talking about whom or how the necklace got into Katie's had or why someone wanted her to take the necklace up to the school. Hermione agreed with some points my by each boy. She could see why Harry suspected Malfoy or why Ron doubted that it was Malfoy. Hermione sided with Ron because she couldn't see how Malfoy could do it all –not that he was dumb.

"McGonagall," Ron cried out.

Hermione looked up and saw the professor rushing toward them down the castle steps and threw the bitter wind. Hermione came to a stop in front of her and Ron and Harry stopped right behind her.

"Oh dear Hagrid says you four saw what happen to Ms. Bell." McGonagall said. "Please go up to my office. What is that in your hands?"

"It's the thing that Katie touched Professor." Harry replied.

"Oh my," McGonagall replied. She took the necklace from Harry's hands and treated it with kid gloves. "Mr. Filch don't they are with me." She added as Filch came running with his Secrecy Sensor in hand and waving it around. "I want you to take the necklace to Professor Snape now and do not remove the scarf."

Hermione, Harry, Ron and Leanne followed Professor McGonagall upstairs to her office. The windows were now rattling because of the sleet pounding them. Professor McGonagall opened her office door and allowed them to enter. There was a chill in McGonagall's office even with the fire rolling in the fire place.

"Tell me what happen." McGonagall said.

Leanne went first. She told McGonagall everything she knew from Katie to going to the bathroom in Three Broomsticks up until she rose into the air. She told how she thought that it was odd Katie was insistent on delivering the package to the unknown recipient. She told how Katie must have touched the necklace after Leanne had tried to rip it from her hands causing the package to be torn open. Leanne had turned into a sobbing mess that she couldn't continue speaking.

"Okay Leanne, you can go up to the hospital wing and please have Madam Pomfrey give you something to calm your nerves they have to be shot right now."

With Leanne out of the room McGonagall turned her attention back to the trio.

"What happened with Miss. Bell and how was that necklace—"

"She touched it and rose into the air." Harry said before Ron or Hermione could say anything. "Then when we went to help her back down she fell to the ground. Can I see Dumbledore?"

"No he is away until Monday." McGonagall told him.

"He's away?"

"Yes, Potter he is a very important man." McGonagall replied. "But anything you have to tell him can be told to me."

Harry hesitated for a moment. Hermione wasn't sure what he wanted to tell Dumbledore, she could only hope that Harry would tell her what he thought. He was nervous his eyes dotted all over the room avoiding everything in sight.

"I think Malfoy is the one that gave Katie the necklace," Harry said.

Ron did nothing and acted like he hadn't heard what Harry told their Professor. Hermione just looked down at her feet. She knew that's what Harry thought but there was no proof that Draco had given the necklace to Katie."

"That's a serious accusation, Mr. Potter do you have proof to that?" McGonagall asked.

"No I don't," Said Harry, "But—"

"Mr. Potter if you don't have proof do not make the accusation." McGonagall asked. "What you've said Mr. Malfoy has done is serious matter in a time of great turmoil."

"He was in Borgin and Burkes asking how to fix something." Harry said. "But that necklace was in the shop."

"How did you know it was there and did you Mr. Malfoy leave the shop with anything?" McGonagall asked. "Because again you would need proof of you accusation."

"No he didn't leave with anything but he couldn't leave with anything."

"Harry," Hermione said. "I don't think he brought anything out or wanted to. Borgin asked him if he wanted to but Malfoy told him no."

"That's because he didn't want to touch the thing." Harry said. "You saw what it did to Katie."

"No he told basically told Borgin that he would look like an idiot carrying whatever it was down the street." Hermione explained.

"He would look like a prat carrying a necklace," Ron said coming from nowhere.

"Ron the necklace would have been wrapped up so he wouldn't have to touch it and no one would know what it was. He could have easily said it was a gift for his mother." Hermione told them. "Besides I asked Borgin what it was when I went into the shop to see what he wanted and he said the necklace hadn't been sold."

"You beyond obvious." Harry said. "He knew what you were up to five seconds after you entered the shop and Malfoy could have written him while here at school saying that he wanted it."

"Oh that is enough!" McGonagall shouted cutting Hermione off before she could speak. "I thank you Mr. Potter for telling me your suspicions of Mr. Malfoy but they are just that suspicions, so I have to remind you that Mr. Malfoy is not the only one to visit that shop also security measures put in place would have made it impossible for Mr. Malfoy to have brought the necklace into school without the staff being alerted to it."

"I tried telling him that." Ron said.

"Thank you Mr. Weasley also Mr. Malfoy was not in Hogsmeade today so he could not have given the necklace to Miss. Bell."

Harry just looked dumfounded at her statement.

"How—"

"How did I know?" McGonagall asked.

Harry nodded.

"I knew because Mr. Malfoy was in detention with me. He's failed to complete his home work twice now. So again thank you for telling me what you knew, Mr. Potter." She said walking past them. "I'd like to talk more but I do have to check on Miss. Bell sometime tonight."

She held open her office door. They had been dismissed and had no choice but to file out past her without another word. Harry looked ticked off, while Ron was indifferent.

"Who do you think the necklace was meat for?" Ron asked as they walked up to the common room.

"I don't know but it could have been catastrophic for Katie." Hermione said. "And whoever it was meant for had a narrow escape also. After seeing what happen to Katie, I believe that necklace would have killed anyone who touched it full on."

"That necklace could have been meant for anyone in the castle." Harry said. "Dumbledore would be my first guess; any Death Eater would have wanted to knock him off. Or may be Slughorn, he said the Death Eaters what him but who knows if he was telling the truth."

"What about you?" Hermione asked. "You have to be a Death Eater target."

"I don't think so." Harry said. "Katie could have just turned around while we were walking back and given it to me. We were behind her the whole way, and it would make sence if she gave it to me then if it had been meant for me because Filch was checking everyone coming and going. Wonder why Malfoy wanted her to take it inside the castle."

"Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade Harry, McGonagall just told you that." She snapped. "You didn't listen to her did you?"

"Maybe he had an accomplice, then." Harry said. "People commit crimes like that all the time."

"Yes they do but they aren't all sixteen and going to school inside a castle in the middle of nowhere." Hermione countered.

She was tired and hungry which in turn made her irritable and rather hard to talk to. Hermione gave the password to the Fat Lady and her portrait swung forward. She mumbled goodnights to Harry and Ron and trudged up to her dorm. She had passed through the common room without talking to anyone because all they wanted to talk about was what happened to Katie and there was only so many times and so many ways that Hermione could tell them what happened.

She was glad to find the peace she wanted inside the curtains of her bed. Only one of her roommates was in bed. The rest were down stairs talking about what happened to Katie and how terrible it was. Hermione agreed that it was terrible but there is only so much you can say until you have beaten the subject to death.

A faint tapping could be heard in the room and it was starting to bug Hermione because she couldn't find the source of it. She finally gave up and figured it was the pounding of the sleet and hail against the window. She climbed into bed and fell asleep only to be woken up an hour later for Lavender Brown holding a letter.

"The dam owl has been tapping on the window since I've gotten in." she snapped before walking away.

Hormone pulled her bed curtains closed, laid back and ripped the letter open carefully. It was from Cedric. Hermione's cheeks flamed with her blush at the sight of his had writing. She missed him and couldn't wait to see him.

Hermione,

Sorry if this gets to you late and its arrival wakes you up but I got some news and I just had to tell you. I got a job at a muggle shop. I know to you it's not a big deal but to me it is. I guess because for once I have too actually try hard at something. School came easy to me and I have a feeling real life won't be like that but then again you also know that.

The guy that gave me a job and asked me what if I had anything to do while I was on my way home. I told him I didn't and he handed me a broom and told me to clean up and if I did a good job that I could get paid for doing a good job. I did get paid it wasn't much money but I liked doing the job and earning money that I didn't use magic to earn.

I'm sorry I got to go.

I miss you.

I love you.

And I can't wait to see you again.

Love, Cedric

Hermione smiled as she finished reading Cedric's letter. She scrapped the letter she had written him hours ago and started a new one.

Cedric,

It's good to hear from you. I had already written you a letter and was waiting for the weather to clear so I could send it when I received yours. I threw that one away and started to write this one. I'm happy you got a job if it makes you happy and it seems like it does because going to school can seem like it's repeating it's self after a while.

I was glad to receive you letter when I did because something really bad happened on my way back from Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron. Katie Bella –a girl a year ahead of me—was hurt. We don't have any idea what's wrong with her because she just touched something that was cursed. It worries me that someone could get to just a little ways from the castle. If that object had gotten into the castle who knows what would have happed or how many people could have been hurt.

Sorry for the depressing turn, but I wanted to tell you before you read it in a newspaper or the gossip mill finally got to you. So to turn things in a happier direction tell me what your favorite muggle thing is so far? Write what you can tell me about it and I'll explain anything you don't understand but only if you don't go and read about it first.

I guess this is goodnight or morning depending on when you get this.

So goodnight.

I miss you

I love you.

And I really can't wait to see you again.

Love, Hermione

Hermione folded up the letter and sealed it with candle wax from the candle beside her bed and put it away so she could send it tomorrow. She snuffed out the candles flame and slipped back under her covers. Her sleep was fit full but then again no one in Gryffindor tower would sleep well that night not after what happened to their house mate that is.