Hermione could see herself walking through the forbidden forest, "What am I looking for though?" she asked herself quietly.
It seemed like 2 or 3 hours of trudging through the forest before Hermione finally found herself in the clearing. The clearing itself was nothing more than empty space with a loan shack in the middle. All the vines and brush that Hermione was walking through seemed to be getting thicker and thicker making it impossible for her to walk through. The sky itself was dark and eerie but somehow the stars up in the night sky seemed to calm Hermione's ever fast beating heart.
All of a sudden she heard someone yell out in agony. It sounded like someone had just performed an unforgivable curse, but Hermione wasn't sure.
"That sounded it like it came from the shack. I better go and see if anyone is hurt."
The vines and tree branches kept growing at an alarming rate and it ended up blocking Hermione's path. "INCENDIO!" cried Hermione as she blasted apart the shrub in her way.
She kept moving forward to try and see who or what made that noise. As she walked closer to the shack, she saw a lone window on the front porch. Hermione was unable to see through the window, so she used her sleeve to wipe off the dirt that encrusted the entire window pane.
Hermione gasped at what she saw. She couldn't believe it with her own two eyes. There on the floor was her best friend of 6 years, Harry Potter, and it looked like he was tied up and left on the floor to fend for himself.
She tried banging on the window to get his attention but apparently someone had put a silencing charm around the entire shack, obviously to stifle any more sounds that would be emitted.
Oh my God, that yell must have come from Harry, what am I going to do? thought the ever quick witted Hermione Granger. She tried opening the door but it was locked.
"Alohomora," said Hermione, but the door still didn't open. She started panicking before she realized that maybe the window would open. She tried the same spell and she could have sworn she heard a slight click from the latch.
Hermione went to the window to push it open but before she could, someone's voice started filling her head.
"Hermione? Hermione, wake up we're almost there."
Hermione bolted upright and could feel the cold sweat trickling from her forehead. She immediately looked over at Harry into his wonderful emerald green eyes, and threw her arms around his neck and started sobbing.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry couldn't figure out what it was that had made his best friend of 6 years lose control all of a sudden. She must have had a bad dream, that's what it was. Harry thought to himself.
"Oh Harry, it was awful. I thought you were being tortured out in a shack in the forbidden forest."
"Its okay Hermione, I'm right here. I'm perfectly fine, nothing to worry about," Harry said softly in her ear, desperately trying to calm her down.
Hermione lifted her head and smiled meekly. "I know you are Harry, but it seemed so real. It just brought back those horrible memories of us fighting in the Ministry of Magic last year and those awful curses the Death Eaters were performing on us."
"We were fighting back too, remember?" Harry knew instantly what Hermione was feeling ever since that dreaded day when they had to fight off the inner circle of Death Eaters alongside Ron, Luna, Neville, and Hermione. A wave of pain suddenly rushed over him as he remembered his godfather, Sirius Black, as he fell through the black veil and died. He instantly put his worries and pain aside when the sounds of a crying Hermione brought him back to reality.
Harry thought to himself, Gee I hope she's all right, I wonder why she is so overprotective of me sometimes? Harry knew that it was a stupid question to ask because the answer was so obvious. Just Hermione being Hermione I guess.
"Okay Hermione we have to get ready, we're almost back at school." Harry tried to sound as energetic as he could, hoping Hermione would pick up on his energy and start feeling better.
Ron Weasley slid open the door to the compartment they had been sharing and frowned slightly at what he saw. "Harry whatcha say to her now?" Ron said with a slight smirk on his face, knowing that Harry probably didn't say anything to make Hermione cry.
"I didn't say anything to her, Ron. She just had a nightmare, woke up and started crying." Ron just rolled his eyes and looked on at a dismayed Hermione who was staring at him and thinking that if anyone would know how sensitive she was to a bad dream, it would be Ron.
"Don't expect me to comfort you Ronald Weasley the next time you have a bad dream." Hermione shot at Ron dejectedly.
It sure didn't look Harry was comforting you but whatever thought Ronald as he replayed the scenario he had just witnessed in his mind. It always struck Ron as weird as to why Harry never admitted the feelings that Ron knew very well that Harry had for Hermione, even though Harry never admitted it to anybody, let alone Ron. Oh well, I've got a little plan for you two lovebirds anyways Ron thought grinning slightly, making sure Harry or Hermione didn't see the look on his face.
The train started lurching so the trio of friends knew that their ride was coming to a halt.
"So who do you think made Head boy this year Harry?" Ron asked.
"I don't know Ron, it's probably going to be that brainless Hufflepuff, James something or other." Harry didn't know James' last name, but he certainly knew that being a klutz and oaf at times was his specialty.
"Oh Harry, don't say that about James', you hardly know him." Hermione said quite astutely. He might be a klutz sometimes, but he certainly is cute Hermione thought inwardly not wanting to start giggling or blushing at the thought of him.
"What do you mean I don't know him? The guy practically has his own fan club of other obnoxious and brainless Hufflepuffs stating what he does on a regular basis." Harry said quite determinedly. "Remember last year before the end of term, when he thought it would be terribly funny to prank the Slytherin's with a few choice dungbombs and nearly stunk up the entire Great Hall?
Hermione chuckled at the thought and nodded her head.
"Yeah, well, that among other countless idiotic things he's done, makes him an airhead and Ron will back me up on that, wont you Ron?"
"Yesmb, I ctreanly gdoh" Ron said as he was stuffing his face with the last treacle tart that he had bought from the snack cart.
"Oh honestly Ron, when will you ever learn some manners?" Hermione said quite crossly with a look of disgust on her face.
Harry laughed quite loudly at the spectacle as he started taking his things down from the top rack to start his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ron and Hermione followed suit and led the way out onto the platform where they were awaiting the carriages that would take them to another year at their favorite institute of learning.
Harry leaned over and whispered in Hermione's ear which tickled her a little bit, "Are you sure you're okay from your nightmare Hermione?" She nodded her head and blushed a little at the thought of Harry caring for her as much as he did. Now if only I knew if he really cared for me more than a friend, I'd be the happiest witch on the planet Hermione thought secretly.
The familiar voice that they had been waiting for suddenly boomed into existence.
"Firs' years this way towards the boats," Hagrid yelled quite abruptly and seemingly from nowhere. The trio waved madly at Hagrid as he smiled back and wished them luck on their new year.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione piled into a carriage as soon as one arrived. Soon after they were riding beside the vast lake surrounding the school. Ron and Harry decided to stick their heads out and let the cool breeze wash over their faces along with taking in the entire beautiful environment that the lands surrounding Hogwarts had to offer.
"Come join us Hermione," Harry said as he offered his hand to pull Hermione to the opening on the side of the carriage. Hermione turned pink ever so slightly, but gladly accepted Harry's hand and went to take in the scenery.
All of a sudden Hermione started feeling a big differently though, being so close to the infamous Harry Potter. Oh stop it Hermione, its just same old Harry. The truth was, was that he wasn't just same old Harry anymore. He's grown a little more and is starting to become a very cute and handsome man Hermione thought. NO, STOP IT. He is not cute, and he is not handsome. The entire trip up to Hogwarts, Hermione's thoughts played a volley of yes he is, and no he isn't.
Harry looked over at Hermione and noticed the quizzical look on her face. What in the devil is she thinking about? Harry mulled it over for a few seconds and realized she must be figuring out what classes she's most likely going to be taking. Harry groaned at the thought of classes, even before he had arrived on the train.
As soon as they arrived, Harry stepped out of the carriage and bowed gracefully as he extended his arm to help Hermione down. "Quite the gentleman you are today, Mr. Potter." Hermione grinned, loving every moment of it. "Right you are Miss Granger."
Ron looked over at the two and rolled his eyes, wondering if his two best friends were ever going to realize that they felt something for each other. Probably not in this lifetime Ron mused.
As they walked up the steps past the giant oak door that led into the school, a familiar voice piped up from behind.
"So the Potty, Mud blood, and the Weezle are here again, are they?" said the evil grinning Draco Malfoy. As if on cue, Harry and Ron turned and stepped in front of Hermione with their wands out, ready to hex Malfoy into oblivion. "No stop, he's not worth getting a detention for," Hermione said pleadingly, hoping that her friends wouldn't do anything drastic.
"Follow the mud blood's instructions, both of you. As I'm sure you do on a regular basis." Hermione could feel the blood starting boil a tad, and responded quietly, "Malfoy I will be more than happy to punch you into next Thursday, but I have a feeling Professor McGonagall would be none too happy with my actions."
Draco thought about it for a second and remembered the mouthful Hermione had given him 3 year ago. "Come on Crabbe and Goyle, let's leave before we have to get serious with Dumbledore's pet students."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione could hear them laughing all the way down to the Great Hall where the feast was about to begin. "Hermione you should of let us do something to them. They desperately need to be a taught a lesson," Harry said knowing full well that McCgonagall would probably have been more than glad to teach them a lesson had they been caught hexing anybody.
"No Harry, they will be dealt with accordingly. Just have some patience," Hermione said with a touch of mischief in her voice.
Harry knew that this was definitely not the same Hermione he had grown up with and seen blossom over the years. Did I just say blossom? No, no thats not the word you use for a person like Hermione. Alas though, Harry gave up as the thoughts of everything Hermione had done for him over the years started creeping into his mind.