Hermione awoke the next morning thoroughly embarrassed about the previous nights events. She had meant the things she had said, but never the less had she not meant to say them. The potion seemed to grasp that tiny flame of emotion inside of her and turned it into a full-blown bon-fire. The way Ron had patted her back, he had told her there was nothing to fear. No, he had not pushed her away when she cried. He had comforted her, made her feel safe. She hadn't even gotten into her night clothes before collapsing into sleep. Potions was their first lesson. She hadn't written Ron's paper; of course, there was nothing to write. He acted perfectly normal, but she pulled together a last minute paper to satisfy Snape and she hurried into the dungeon, her lateness deducting 10 points from Gryffindor.

"Now that everyone is here," he summoned the papers and they all zoomed toward him, neatly landing on his desk, smirking, he continued. "Hopefully, no one preformed too rashly, which would be highly unlikely due to the fact that I was not a Behavior Changing brew in which you consumed, but a Personality Revealer. The emotion that is strongest within the consumer will show out in everything that person does." He drawled. Ron was befuddled. But- Hermione was nervous and sad, and Harry thoroughly depressed. Could it really be true? That Snape had been toying with their emotions, for his amusement? He glanced at Hermione who's face was flushed as she scribbled a note on her parchment. She flicked her eyes back to Snape, who was now explaining that they should have noticed that it was not a behavior changing brew, but Ron was not listening. He thought that Hermione was acting the way she had due to the potion, but now...

Hermione felt herself glow red as Snape's words pierced the classroom. She avoided Ron's gaze, but instead pretended to write notes all through the class, feeling her heart beat. Thats why she had acted that way. But now she felt so vunerable. Ron knew of her fear. He knew that she was (on the inside) always fearing that one day her attacker may strike again. She paced her things up as Snape dismissed them to their free period. Dashing to the library, Hermione desperately tried to avoid Ron, but he followed her. She curled up on a beanbag with her books and pretended to read, knowing that Ron would be there. He came running through the aisle, earning a scowl from Madam Pince. Sitting next to her, he spoke softly. "Mione, are you okay?"

She felt the hot tears sting her eyes, trying not to cry, she nodded, but Ron knew better. He kissed her softly on the cheek and gave her a one-armed squeeze. "That was horrible of Snape. He-he shouldn't toy with peoples emotions like that!" Ron said, trying to lower his voice, due to Madam Pince's hushing. Hermione weakly smiled and put down the book. He was so sweet, his blue eyes seemed to sparkle and he was covered in freckles. She let out a deep sigh and picked up her book again, but she wasn't focusing on how to transform turtles into toothbrushes- her thoughts lay solely on Ron. She stood up abruptly, causing Ron to fall sideways of the beanbag. Rubbing his head, he followed Hermione as she weaved around book shelves until she stopped by the restricted section.

"Mione- What are yo-?" Ron started but Hermione had clapped a hand to his mouth. She preformed a non-verbalized unlocking spell and the gate flew open. She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the restricted section, fumbling around until she found a book labeled Secrets of Dark Arts. Ron raised his eye brows as she grasped another book, he didn't have a chance to read the title of before she shoved them into her bag and dashed out the library, Ron following. "Hermione. What was that about?" Ron asked as they made their way to Charms.

"Honestly Ron. The first book explains how to defend yourself against an attacker, if you must know and the second," Hermione said, flushing a light pink. "It none of your business."

x

Hermione lay in her bed that night, reading by wand light. In truth, the book she had borrowed from the Restricted Section, was in fact a book that gave several fatal potions, but it had one that removed hair. Hermione found the thought of this much more intriguing than having to shave. But of course, the potion was complicated, although she figured she could make it- it would be worth the 2 week wait. Luckily, she had all the ingredients already in her Advanced Potions kit, so it was really just a matter of where to make it. Hermione carefully stored the book under her bed and fell asleep, dreaming of thestrals and hairless legs...

x

The months flew by and it was soon time for them to board the train and head home. On her last night in the castle before returning home, Hermione packed her trunk up. The hair removing potion had worked after she found a place to brew it in (Moaning Myrtle's bathroom). She hadn't felt this happy in a long time- Her parents were going to spend the summer in Paris so she would be home alone, she had been slightly disappointed that she couldn't spend the summer with Harry and Ron because the Weasley family were going to take a trip to Romania to visit Charlie and Harry had been invited to go with them- but Mrs. Weasley had said that because Hermione would be alone, Ron could come back after 4 weeks and keep her company. Now feeling elated as she added the last things to her trunk, she then met up with Harry and Ron in the Great Hall. Ron was busy inhaling chicken and Harry was talking with Ginny. Sitting down next to Ron. Hermione watched half in disgust half in humor as Ron attempted to talk to her through his full mouth.

"Feel r'lly ba bout leavin ou lone fer fur wees." Ron managed to say. Hermione playfully slapped him on the cheek, not hard, but just enough to get him to stop eating and verbalize what he had meant to say. "I feel really bad about leaving you alone for four weeks." He repeated. Hermione knew what he was talking about- he, like her, was worried that Malfoy may attempt to find her.

"Ron. I'll be alright! I mean, I'm not of age, but I can still put up a fairly good fight." Hermione said, responding to his nervous look. He didn't look comforted as he slowly returned to his chicken and dug back in. Hermione sighed before piling some roast beef, ham and roast potatoes onto her plate.

X

The next morning came to soon and before Hermione knew it, she was on the Hogwarts Express, on her way back to the muggle world. As the train grew closer to the station, Hermione turned to Ron and planted her lips onto his. Ginny was red and Harry was fidgeting with his quill when they finally broke apart. "Be safe." Ron whispered into her ear. Hermione nodded, placing her head on his shoulder and engulfing him in a hug as the train stopped at the station. She departed from the station, after many farewells and goodbyes. She got into a cab and told the driver where she wanted to go and they drove in stony silence. her parents left the previous night, so when she entered the house it was empty. After changing into more comfortable clothes in the summer heat, she curled up on the couch and began to watch one of her favorite movies, Mission: Impossible. Hours later the movie was over and she was climbing the farmiliar stairs up to her bedroom when she heard a noise- barely audible- but she could have sworn she heard the words "Lumos." She almost fell as she ran down the stairs to the window and peered out. There was certainly a figure outside. And the figure was holding a wand, with the tip ignited. She quickly locked the door and returned to her spot by the window. She suddenly became very self-conscious of what she was wearing- a thin t-shirt and short shorts. Glancing again out the window, she saw a glimpse of white blond hair. She practically ran up to her room, where she locked the door and got changed into clothes that were easy to run in but difficult to get off. Trembling she hid by her bed, grasping her copy of Practical Magical Defense, looking up to laws for underage magic.

In the case of an emergency, an underage witch or wizard may use magic in the presence of a muggle.

She quickly read to the section of unrecognizable charms:

Lumos
Nox
Summoning Charms
Unlocking Charms

She bit her lip. None of those could help her. she didn't have an owl, so there was no way of contacting Ron or Harry. She heard a rustling at the door and recognized the sound of it being opened. She crawled under her bed and listened to Malfoy's voice, strong and clear.

"Alohamora." He said, opening her door. She felt her heart pound as his wand light the small, pale red room. Flicking on the light switch, he saw her trunk resting on her bed. His footsteps drew nearer towards her..She felt the hot tears form in her eyes, as she knew that she was yet again defenseless. trying not to let out her sobs, she felt him grab her ankle. Hermione gave a scream as he pulled her from the bed and covered her mouth with his hand. She looked up at him- Azkaban had rotted his features, his once sleek blond hair was messy and pallid, his skin weirdly distorted, like graying wax. He pushed her onto the bed, his hands at her throat. His eyes were now bloodshot and he had a crazed appearance about him- like he was insane. She aimed a kick at him, which he dodged, regaining his hold on her throat, he aimed a punch at her and everything went black.