A/N: Reviews! Thanks to everyone that's reveiwed so far, I really love all your comments :):):) Now, to business, I like this chapter! May be subject to a little change though, if anyone's too OOC. Please tell me if they are!

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Chapter 3 - Altitude

Harry rapped cautiously at the door at the very top of the Gryffindor Tower. There was no response. Ron pushed him lightly out of the way.

"Let me try," he said, and knocked rather impatiently, hard enough to bruise his knuckles. There was still no answer from inside.

"That's wierd," said Harry, reaching for the doorknob. "Wonder where she could be?"

The door opened with a soft click, and Ron frowned. "That's not like Hermione, doesn't she usually have a locking spell on her room?" He walked in, Harry behind him, and called her name.

"She's not here, Ron," said Harry, glancing at the surroundings. A fire still blazed in the fireplace and there was a note on her bed. He picked it up and read it aloud.

Don't blame yourselves,
Love, Hermione

Ron paled and ran for the door. Harry dropped the small package he was carrying and raced after him, grabbing his shoulder.

"Ron, stop. She could be anywhere, we need to find Dumbledore. He'll know where she is," Harry said, surprising both himself and Ron with his calm tone.

Unable to speak, Ron nodded and they ran all the way to Dumbledore's office. Harry could have screamed his frustration at the sight of the stone gargoyle, and frantically started listing every wizarding sweet he could think of. He was down to Toothflossing Stringmints and Ice Mice when the gargoyle slid aside, and he found himself face to face with the Professor himself.

"Harry! Ron! What brings you two here?" he asked, uncharacteristically surprised.

"It's Hermione," they both blurted at once.

Professor Dumbledore's bemused expression turned to one of concern, and he beckoned them into his office. Harry managed a tine smile when he saw Fawkes, looking magnificent in bright red and gold plumage. He let Ron tell Dumbledore of their discovery of the note and the conversation that had led to the visit to her chambers.

Dumbledore nodded gravely and motioned for them to stay seated while he entered the adjoining room.

"He must be contacting the other Professors," whispered Harry to Ron, who was so pale his freckles stood out. Neither boy was quite sure how to comfort the other, so both sat quietly simply taking comfort in the other's presence.

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Hermione had always loved the Astronomy Tower, having spent countless nights at its top, studying the stars and planets with her small Astronomy class. She had even visited it with Harry to deliver Norbert, Hagrid's pet dragon, into the hands of Charlie Weasly and his friends.

But tonight, tonight was different. A sense of calm, even relief, settled over her as she ventured toward the edge of the viewing platform. Below her the castle was still and silent, not a sound could be heard from its grounds. The lake; so serene and seemingly untouched, yet ripples gently lapped at the water's edge.

For the first time in years, Hermione felt at peace within herself. She sat, just taking in the scene for what seemed like hours, though judging by the candles she had left on the small table, it had been but a few minutes of reality.

A cold breeze whispered past her, and she shivered. Slowly, she rose and moved to the very edge of the tower. There would be no backing out now; just one more step and she would be free of this uncaring world. Hermione took a last look around her, then closed her eyes and lifted a foot. For a moment she wobbled, but steadied herself and began to lean forward. I'm coming, she thought desperately, as the faces of her parents entered her thoughts.

The vision flickered and died as a cold hand gripped her arm. Hermione's eyes snapped open in fury, as she spun to face her assailant.

It was Snape.

"I didn't think you would actually do it," he said, pulling her further from the lip of the platform. His black eyes glittered in the candlelight as he continued, "Who would have thought, Hermione Granger, best student Hogwarts has seen for years, attempting suicide."

There was no malice in his expression, but nor was there pity. He wore his usual cold, hard, emotionless look, and his complete lack of understanding made Hermione furious.

"How dare you! You have no right to intefere, this is my life, you cannot comprehend, even begin to understand...," she trailed off as anger entered his own eyes.

"I don't understand? Miss Granger, you are surely mistaken. If you knew anything of my past, you would not make such outrageous claims. Now, I suggest you go and find Professor Neffler, I...understand the pair of you are close."

Hermione nodded, she knew that even in such a situation his tone was not one to be argued with. She started towards the stairs, but stopped and turned back around. However much she despised him, she had one question that needed answering.

"Professor?" she asked, failing to hide the obvious hatred in her voice.

He sighed impatiently, nodding for her to continue.

"Why were you up here in the first place?"

Snape seemed to be taken a little off balance. "I enjoy the fresh air," he told her. "Now you should leave, before you have any more ridiculous ideas concerning great heights."

What a load of rubbish, she thought as she descended the stairs. A Potions master, enjoying being on top of the Astronomy Tower?

A strange weakness settled in her knees as full realisation of what had just occured struck her. She sank to the ground at the bottom of the tower and curled up around herself, completely oblivious to the rest of the world.