Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Same Old Hogsmeade

"Hermione wake up," said Lily, it was the last Hogsmeade trip before Christmas and she was excited to get to the shops and buy all her Christmas presents. Things between her and James was slowly progressing now that she knew that he truly did mean everything he said to her. Hermione and Draco and revealed to her that James was the one, the one she had liked for longer than she cared to admit, after all the years of him constantly asking her out she had finally excepted his offer a few days ago. They were already being labelled the 'power couple'.

Hermione rolled over and buried further under the covers, it was too early to wake up, all she wanted to do was sleep. Closing her eyes and ignoring Lily's calls Hermione slowly drifted back to sleep. Until her covers on her bed vanished. Sitting up she scowled at Lily.

"What do you want?" she snapped, she was once a morning person but now with the stress of the year she just wanted to sleep.

"It's Hogsmeade weekend, we've got gifts to buy. Come on Hermione get up!" Lily shouted as she disappeared into their joint bathroom. Scowling at the door Hermione pushed her body from her bed and dragged her feet to her wardrobe where she grabbed the first thing that matched. She stomped into the bathroom as Lily walked out, slamming the door behind her.

"I take it she didn't want to get up early," said Magenta her eyes glued to the door Hermione had just slammed behind her.

"No I don't think she did." Admitted Lily wincing.

They left the room in silence and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Hermione was quiet as she thought back to her previous Christmas. Christmas day had been spent alone with Harry in Godric's Hollow at his parent's grave. Harry was now dead, killed by Deatheaters protecting another. As she consciously rubbed her scar on her arm Hermione looked to Lily and Alice as determination ran through her blood. The two mothers who were snatched away from their sons' futures would get the chance to know their children, would be able to hold them when they cried and cheer them on when they succeeded.

"Are you okay?" Alice whispered nudging Hermione, her eyes indicating to the scar she knew Hermione hid. Realising she was caught Hermione dropped her hand and smiled.

"Yeah, just got thinking," she told her and looked away a clear sign to drop whatever Alice wanted to ask her.

As they rounded the corner Draco and the other Slytherins ascended the stairs from the dungeons, Draco raised his brows and smirked in greeting before following Lucius into the Great Hall. Shaking her head Hermione followed behind him a smile on her lips that wasn't there before.

The group of five girls sat at the Gryffindor table eating their breakfast, from Hermione's seat she could see Draco. He had healed well, the scar on his neck was almost invisible and he was slowly gaining weight. Still a little skinny after his week of torment but she could clearly see a difference and she refused to admit it to anyone but she liked what she was seeing.

"Hermione, what you thinking of buying Draco for Christmas?" Lily asks her from her spot at the other side of the table.

"Well I haven't really thought about it," and she hadn't, buying Draco a gift for Christmas had been the last thing on her list of things to do but with Christmas being only a month away she realised that she hadn't long.

"Well what does he like?" Alice asked chewing on her bacon.

"I don't really know. Maybe I'll just ask him what he'd like." She was stumped, she had no clue about what he liked. Did he like books? Would he prefer something from a Quidditch store, hell does he even own a broom here? Did she have enough money to buy him anything? In desperation for an idea she looked at him, studying the way he looked to get any idea of what he liked.

"You can't ask him Hermione, we'll help you when we get to Hogsmeade."

"Fine," Hermione sighed and she spooned some scrambled egg on to her plate.

Across the room Severus nudged Draco, "What's going on between you and Granger, she keeps on looking at you?" Frowning Draco looked up at Hermione and to see that she was in fact staring at him, he raised a pale eyebrow but she looked away as Alice told her something. He continued to watch her as she tucked in to her breakfast.

"I don't know, maybe she was just looking my way,"

"She's been staring at you ever since she sat down," Draco's frown deepened. What was she thinking? He could easily have entered her mind but he quickly disregarded that idea, they had just started to get on, and he didn't want to blow it if she discovered him deliberately entering her mind without her permission.

He watched her stand and leave the Great Hall with the girls in her year and turned back to Severus, "No idea what that was about. Are you going to Hogsmeade?"

"Yeah, I need to get a few things. Do you want to come with me?" Draco nodded his head, he went back to his breakfast yet his eyes kept floating back to the door Hermione had just walked out from.

The trio, which consisted of Alice, Lily and Hermione walked out the doors of Hogwarts and headed down the winding path to Hogsmeade, scarves were wrapped tightly around their necks while bobbled hats sat on the top of their heads. After returning to their dorm room to quickly change into suitable clothing they had headed straight to Hogsmeade, each with a list of names ready to be ticked off once a present had been purchased.

Stepping into Hogsmeade for the first time in 20 years Hermione paused and scrutinised the little village, it looked no different from what she remembered. From her spot she could easily see The Three Broomsticks that was owned by Madam Rosmerta. The ever lively Zonko's joke shop and Honeydukes filled with sweets and chocolates the mind couldn't think up. As she surveyed her surroundings she swallowed the lump in her throat. It was perfect and tears began to form in her eyes as she realised she was experiencing this on her own. Harry and Ron were no longer beside her, Draco was elsewhere with his own was no Neville, Luna or Ginny joking a few feet in front of her, or talking about mystical creatures only seen by believer's eyes. Hogsmeade was exactly the same but nothing else was and it hit her, nothing would ever be the same again.

There was going to be a war, she had to kill Voldemort and if she survived the future would be altered, there was no guarantee she'd still be friends with Harry and Ron, no guarantee she'd be placed in Gryffindor. There'd be no troll in the girl's toilets because there'd be no Quirrell being controlled by Voldemort because he no longer existed. The Chamber of Secrets would remain a mystery because Lucius Malfoy wouldn't place Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron. Professor Trelawney wouldn't predict a servant returning to his master because there was no master to return too. Harry wouldn't be in the Triwizard Tournament because Barty Crouch Jnr wouldn't become Alistair Moody, Dumbledore's Army would never be formed because the Ministry wouldn't interrupt their learning and they'd be taught correct Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry wouldn't learn about the life of Tom Riddle because he didn't need to destroy Horcruxes. They'd not be on the run, spending Christmas Day in Godric's Hollow cemetery, breaking out of the Ministry and in to Gringotts Bank, there'd be no Snatchers searching for Muggleborns, Hogwarts wouldn't be destroyed because of a Mad man, so many families would be safe yet her life was over. The life she cherished so fondly would be over and there was no guarantee she would remember any of it.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Lily asked carefully holding on to Hermione's frozen arm, she shared a glance with Alice whose own eyes were reflecting a mixture of worry and fear.

"Everything is going to change now, isn't it?" The same words she had muttered to Harry and Ron years ago.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Lily slowly started to steer the stiff Hermione down the slope in to the village, watching Hermione all the while worried for her friend.

"I don't know," Hermione whispered brokenly, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"Let's go and get a drink from The Three Broomsticks and have a talk, yeah?" Hermione nodded her head allowing Alice and Lily to link arms with her and guide her to the pub.

Alice ordered three butterbeers and they hid in the farthest corner of the pub. "What happened back there, you suddenly just froze and then you were crying."

"When I attended Hogwarts in our third year we were allowed to enter Hogsmeade for the first time, I was blown away with how it hadn't changed and it sort of set the ball rolling. I have always focused on the past and the present. I knew what had happened in my time, all those memories are still fresh in my mind. Once I arrived here and learnt what I had to achieve I focused entirely on the task at hand. Find the Horcruxes, destroy them, rid the world of Voldemort it wasn't until I looked around Hogsmeade did I realise nothing will ever be the same. My future will cease to exist, everything I know and love, all the people I have met and cared for, learnt from and admired it'll no longer remain. To you the future is doom and gloom but not for me, it's all I've known and for all those dark and hard times there has been good and glee that's over shone it. There is no guarantee that I'll be friend with Harry and Ron, no promises I'll even remember my past."

"I never thought of it that way," Lily finally whispered, Hermione was right. To her the future was awful she'd be dead in four years' time but to others the future was very much the present. "Will you tell me about Harry?"

"He was always so brave, so kind and forgiving. He'd cling to his love ones because he lost them so freely. He always applied far too much pressure on his shoulders, he'd never want to involve others because he didn't want them to get hurt. The day after Dumbledore disappeared Harry told Ron and me that he'd not be returning to Hogwarts next year, he expected Ron and me to attend without him. I remember saying to him, I admire your courage Harry but really, sometimes you're really thick. Do you really think you'll be able to find all these Horcruxes by yourself, you need us Harry? And he did, no matter how noble and courageous he was, Harry lacked the ability to plan ahead, he was lucky to be alive for as long as he was. Harry was my best friend, and I miss him every day. It's so hard to look at James because I see Harry but then I look at his eyes and they aren't right, and it's punch to the stomach. I hate looking you in the eye Lily because I see him, his bright green eyes are shinning back at me. It's so cruel. You and James together are him, he's here beside me yet he's nowhere in sight." Tears streamed down Hermione's cheeks, the pain inside finally being set free after keeping it in for so long.

"You've know idea what it's like to see the features of a person you love, that you care for, trust, and believe in when they belong to the wrong person. It's crushing and inspiring at the same time. When I want to curl into a ball and hide from the world, when I want to go home and be hugged by my Mum and Dad, I look at you and James and I remember why I'm here, because Harry would die protecting his friends and loved ones, and I can't, I won't let him down because he deserves so much." Lily bits her fist as sobs escape her.

"I never realised how hard it is for you," she finally splutters out, "I've been so busy thinking of myself and what you've said that I've forgotten for you this is painful. You don't really see us as we are, you see us as our elder versions, you don't see Severus Snape as a boy but as your Potion Teacher.

Hermione nods, "it's the strangest experience ever. Seeing a man you knew, whose inflicted fear in to you and then to stand beside him while he's a boy."

"I understand why people say time travel can send a person crazy." Said Alice sipping at her drink.

"Draco and I are going to borrow Professor Dumbledore's pensive in a few days. We're going to show you clips of the future from our memories. I'm hoping the shock tactic will be enough to scare everyone into the future without Voldemort."

"Are you going to show us nice memories?" Lily asked warily, it was okay listening to what the future had in store, but she wasn't sure if she really wanted to see it.

"Afraid not, there's going to be some really nasty ones in there."

"I was hoping there wasn't" Alice moaned sinking into the comfort of her chair. "I don't know if I want to see them."

"There'll be a few I've not seen, plus there's one we're showing that I don't want to watch but I know a few of you need to see it." Hermione instinctively grasped her arm, causing Lily and Alice to automatically glance to it. They paled at the thought, they were going to watch Hermione's real life nightmare unfold in front of them and they'd be unable to stop it.

"Should we get on with our Christmas shopping?" Asked Alice once they had finished drinking their butterbeers, snow was slowly falling outside.

Lily and Hermione nodded their heads and they left The Three Broomsticks and headed left, straight to Tomes and Scrolls the very same bookstore Hermione had been so excited to go into back in third year. The little bell above the door chimed as they entered the store and the smell of parchment and old books wafted under Hermione's nose. She separated herself from Alice and Lily and gazed around the shelves, hoping to find something for Draco.

The task in itself was proving to be difficult, she rummaged high and low reading the different names on the spines of the books but not one stood out to her, nothing said Draco like she wanted. She had found many books that she desired to read and even a book to give to Lily and Remus as gifts. They had paid for their books they left the store, Hermione crossing out a book for a possible gift.

The next shop they entered was Zonko's. It was nothing like Weasley Wizard Wheezes, in fact compared to Fred and George's shop Zonko's was boring. The atmosphere just wasn't the same. Buying gifts for Sirius, James and Peter were easy however and she quickly gathered a healthy supply of joke items, ranging from dung bombs and sugar quills to hiccough sweets and nose-biting teacups. She paid for them at the counter and crossed off the final three Marauders. She was uncertain what to buy the other Slytherins so she decided to simply buy them each a large pack of Honeydukes sweets and chocolate when they entered the sweet shop.

"Who you got left to buy for?" Lily asked as she swapped her heavy bags into her other hand.

"Everyone," moaned Alice. She had only bought gifts for her parents and Frank, she still needed Lily, Hermione, and the Criggs twins as well as a few others she was close to in school.

"How's yours going?"

"Okay so far, I've bought for James, Sirius, Peter and Remus. I've even got a gift for Severus and you Alice. I just need things for my parents, Magenta and Fuschia and Hermione and then I'm done."

"Well lucky for you both, I've got the four boys sorted, as well as your gift Lily. I just need to buy for Draco, Frank, as well as Magenta, Fuschia and the Slytherins though I'm thinking of getting them a bag of sweets maybe something else if I can find it."

"Any idea what you're going to buy Draco yet?" Hermione shook her head, it was proving difficult to think of something. Their next shop was the Quidditch store and Hermione gazed around the store looking for inspiration yet, like in the bookstore nothing jumped out to her. Draco Malfoy was proving hard to buy for. Walking out of their empty handed Hermione suggested Honeydukes. Squeezing into the cramped store Hermione quickly grabbed a basket and started to fill it with different sweets and chocolates, each Slytherin got a lolly that changed tastes, a box of Berties every flavoured beans, a couple of chocolate frogs and some cauldron cakes. She chose several random sweets from the tubs behind the counter and handed the money over. Her purse feeling a lot lighter as she left the store.

Alice dragged them into Dogweed and Deathcap searching for ingredients for her window garden. While she rummaged through the store Hermione and Lily sneakily broke away from her and quickly purchased Christmas presents for Alice, Hermione even managed to find something for Frank. He was also a Herbology fanatic.

As one paid for their item the other kept Alice occupied, asking her questions on plants. As soon as Lily had paid she swapped with Hermione allowing her to go and buy her gifts. Alice meanwhile was complete unaware over what was going on. Lily and Hermione waited patiently while Alice purchased her supplies looking out of the window of the store watching as Hogwarts Students of all ages had fun in the village.

"It's hard to think a war will be upon us soon." Lily said quietly, Hermione glanced to Lily but the red head continued to stare out of the window.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Hermione said hoping to reassure her.

But Lily looked back at her, her green eyes sad. "It's not me I'm worried for, it's you."

The conversation was dropped as they left the store. Hermione had decided on two new quills for Magenta and Fuschia. While there the three girls stocked up on parchment, and ink.

Hermione looked down her list and frowned, there was only one name not crossed out and it was the one person she had searched high and low for. As they left Scrivenshaft's Quill shop and headed back down the road Hermione paused and stared up. That was it. She'd found what she was looking for. As she gazed at the beautiful ink black cloak she knew it was for Draco. The lining was the exact colour of his eyes, she walked into the store and smiled at the store clerk before walking to the window. She glanced at Alice and Lily who stared back at her from outside and ran her fingers down the cloak. Soft to the touch, warm and the perfect length.

"Can I help you Ma'am?" the store clerk asked from behind her.

"This cloak, how much is it?"

"21 galleons," Hermione reached for purse and looked inside. She still had enough to buy the purse as well as support herself for the coming months. Looking back at the cloak she nodded her head. "I'll take it," The store clerk smiled at her and carefully removed the cloak from the mannequin.

"Would you like it gift wrapped for 10 Sickles?"

"Erm, yes please." The lady nodded and took the cloak to the till, while she carefully wrapped the cloak in silver wrapping Hermione looked around the shop. Scarves were the latest fashion accessory she had been told by Magenta this morning. She slowly searched through a few scarves until she found one she liked. It matched the grey on the cloak and she handed it to the lady.

"I'll take this as well, but I don't need it gift wrapped." She nodded her head and ringed it up on the till. Hermione handed over the money and grabbed the bag. She thanked the store clerk and exited the store.

"That for Draco?" Alice asked her as they walked back to Hogwarts. They had been shopping for four hours and they were ready to go back to the dorm, put their feet up and relax.

"Yep, I saw it and I knew it was perfect. He's always wearing a cloak even when he doesn't need to. It's him and the colouring is perfect. The lining is the same colour of his eyes."

"You must have spent a lot of time staring into his eyes to know the exact colour of them," Lily teased, a wicked grin on her face as Hermione blushed.

"I haven't been staring into his eyes, I've known him for years, we argued and shouted a lot it involved looking at him."

"Sure, I've been shouting with Sirius Black for years but I couldn't tell you the exact shade of his eyes. But don't fret Hermione, your secret is safe with Alice and me."

"Gee thanks." Hermione muttered pulling her scarf around her face trying to hide the blush on her cheeks.

They trudged back to Hogwarts, tired and cold. When the castle doors came into view Hermione silently cheered. Her arms were killing her and she wanted to lay in her bed and go back to sleep. They walked up the staircase to the Gryffindor Common room and Lily muttered the password. The Common room was packed. Ignoring the hustle and bustle of the crowd they hurried up the stairs to the seventh year's dorm room. They pushed open the door and quickly placed their gifts under their beds. As Hermione rose from the ground she noticed the letter on her bed. It was addressed to her, with a frown Hermione looked at the letter and she opened it.

Miss Granger

Please come to my office as soon as you return from your trip to Hogsmeade, I've sent the same letter addressed to our young Mr Malfoy instructing him to do the very same. I have very important news to inform you."

Albus Dumbledore.

Groaning Hermione flopped on to the bed, sleep would have to wait. Whatever Dumbledore had to tell her was obviously important.

"I have to go see Dumbledore, I'll be back soon." Hermione told Lily and Alice and she left the room. The letter held tightly in her hands, she waved to Remus who was sat laughing at James who was being chased around the room by a green haired Sirius. Chuckling at the sight she slipped out of the door and headed to the Headmasters office.

"Sugar Quills," the gargoyles sprung apart and the staircase in the wall appeared. Standing on the bottom step she glanced around the slim staircase. Knocking on the door she entered the room.

Draco was already seated on the sofa, he didn't appear to have been here long she mused as she took a seat beside him.

"What's this about Professor?" Draco asked suddenly pushing himself into a more comfortable position.

"I've received news that I believe could be beneficial to our cause. You informed me of that I was the one that destroyed the Horcrux hidden in Gaunt family ring. Ever since I heard this I have searched high and low for it but now I believe I've found it." Hermione stared at Dumbledore wide eyed, she couldn't believe what he was saying. It was the second Horcrux she had no knowledge of its where abouts. If Dumbledore had truly found it then their task suddenly became a lot easier. "I've asked you here this afternoon to accompany me to the location of this Horcrux. With the hopes of finding it and destroying it." Hermione and Draco both nodded their heads.

"Where do you believe it to be Professor?" Draco asked.

"I believe it's located just outside of Little Hangleton. At the house that once belonged to Marvolo Gaunt, Tom Riddles grandfather."

The beginning of this chapter wasn't supposed to be so angsty but I loved how it turned out, so I kept it in and I'm still very pleased with it. You wouldn't believe how difficult it was trying to think of a present for Draco. That boy is tricky to buy for!

As you can work out the next chapter will all be about The Gaunt Family, the house, the ring, and even the old Riddle Manor next door.

I really hope you've enjoyed this chapter, love to hear from you all so please review.

And a final big thank you to everyone that reviewed, alerted and added it to their favourites. Much Appreciated. But until next time... ME!