Note: Sorry I didn't get this to you sooner. I couldn't get to the computer due to um, technical problems with my internet connection.
Hermione was climbing up a mountain that wasn't very steep. The sun shone brightly, but she didn't need to shield her eyes. She had already climbed halfway up the mountain and nothing was going to stop her now. She had a lot of equipment for cliff climbing, but she didn't need it. On the top of the mountain was everything she ever wanted. There was a large trophy branded with her name on it commemorating her hard work. Up there was the perfect career, her best friend who was her perfect companion, the power to help those who were in need. She knew when she finally reached there then her life would complete. She looked around to survey the rock and then to her right was a steep dangerously cliff. She looked back forward and she was still on the easy path to the top. Something inside made her want to swing to the other side and cliff up that way. She resisted.
She looked back to the right and all the sudden she saw someone was climbing on that side. He was a little lower than her carrying a lot of luggage with a small owl circling over his head. She threw him a rope and beckoned him over. The boy ignored the rope and kept on climbing. The rope swung back to Hermione's side and she threw it to him again. He didn't take the rope. Instead he smiled and tossed his own rope back at her. The rope was a bit worn. She almost reached for the rope, but the path ahead of her was much safer and she let the rope fall back to the boy's side. She continued climbing, but constantly looked to her right to see how the boy was doing. She had gained a bigger lead and the boy was struggling to climb the steep slope of the cliff. She wondered how it would be like climbing the other side of the cliff when the sky suddenly turned dark. A creature half bird and half woman began screeching up over Hermione. The creature began to dive straight towards Hermione. Hermione screamed. She quickly ducked and the bird missed her.
The boy's owl began by flying around the creature in an odd off balance movement. The boy began throwing his rope to Hermione, but she kept on missing it. "Grab it," he yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I can't!" she yelled back and the creature had forgotten about the little owl and began flying for Hermione again. The boy dug in his bag madly and tried to pull something out from it. This was a wand, but the wand snapped in half when he pulled it out. He tried pointing it at the creature anyway, but it backfired and he lost grip of the rock and fell. Hermione screamed and fished for her wand. She pulled it out of her bag and fired it at the creature. It shot the creature in the eyes and it blinked madly. When it regained its vision it flew back up into the sky leaving Hermione. Hermione woke up when Crookshanks leapt on her. She had told Crookshanks she needed to wake up early. It was probably a coincidence that he woke her up. "I was dreaming," she said. She remembered that she had had this dream before and it wasn't finished yet, but she had no clue what it was about.
Hermione had taken up to the things that she had planned. Wrapping presents was one of them. There was no tape and Hermione had to resort to using wizarding glue to hold the wrapping paper together. Harry and Ginny's presents were easy to wrap, but Hermione had no idea how to wrap Ron's cauldron. After twenty minutes and a lost of lots of green and red wrapping paper and lots of ribbon, she gave up and slapped a bow on it. She quickly and efficiently wrapped Harry's present. Ginny's present was a large box of chocolate frogs and that was easily wrapped also. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. The first thing on her list was done, but the next step was much more difficult. She made sure Parvati, Lavender, and the other girls were still asleep and put the presents under her bed, except for the cauldron, which was impossible to hide.
Hermione reached under her bed and pulled out a small black box. She opened the lid to take a quick look. The Sleekeasy Hair Potion was still there and so was the glossy lip balm she had gotten, but never dared to use. It would embarrassing getting dressed up for no reason, but tomorrow was Christmas so she had an excuse. "What have you got there?" boomed a voice behind her. Hermione turned around. Parvati was standing behind her with a smile on her face. Hermione's cheeks turned pink; Parvati had seen what was in the box. "No need to be embarrassed," she said. Hermione didn't say anything. Parvati returned to her bed opened her curtains and pulled out her trunk. "I have to perfect things for you."
"No thanks, Parvati," said Hermione.
"Don't be silly," replied Parvati. She took out a handful of makeup and gave them one by one to Hermione. "Mascara, tan blush, foundation – it seems right for your skin tone, and powder.
"I don't think I need all this," said Hermione.
"Take it and don't bother returning it to me. My muggle pen pal didn't get me the right skin tone."
"Thanks," replied Hermione. She shuffled the things into her box. Parvati looked pleased with herself.
"Glad to be of help," she said. Parvati beamed. It felt strange being given advice because usually Hermione was to be the ones to help to others in her class.
"I'm going back to bed," said Parvati. "I'll help you put in on tomorrow." Hermione began to say no, but she supposed that it couldn't hurt to get Parvati's help. She knows more about the subject than I do, thought Hermione.
The gossip about the Penelope, Odysseus, and Fleur triangle was dying down because most of the Hogwarts students were going home for winter break. When returning from breakfast to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione noticed the new portrait of a knight swung open. Penelope stood by the portrait next to three silver suits of armor. "Penelope," called Hermione. Penelope turned.
"Oh hello, Hermione," she said. She began smiling. "Our rooms are great. They are much better than my old dormitory at Ravenclaw.
"You're a teacher now," said Hermione.
"Student teacher," corrected Penelope. "I'm going to help Professor McGonagall."
"I'm supporting you all the way," said Hermione.
"Thanks," said Penelope. "Odysseus is going to help Professor Trelawney." Hermione rolled her eyes. Penelope continued talking. "And Fleur Delacour is going to help Professor Snape." Hermione pictured Fleur Delacour cutting up lacewings and leeches spoiling her delicate hands and ruining her nails and Snape yelling at her for not throwing in the right amount of leeches. Even Fleur didn't deserve that.
Penelope led Hermione through the portrait hole. Her room was indeed very nice. It was decorated with antique furniture that was typical of Hogwarts; the carpet was soft, and there was an outlook to the school grounds. It was a lot bigger than Hermione expected. She figured the room had been expanded magically. "Fleur's room is next door and Odysseus' is across the hall." Penelope pointed to a velvet-lined chair next to the wall. "Sit." Hermione took a seat.
"I feel sorry for Odysseus and Fleur," said Hermione.
"Yeah," replied Penelope. "McGonagall isn't that bad. Snape's expectations will probably be very high. Professor Trelawney isn't so bad."
"Isn't bad!" cried Hermione. "She doesn't know what she's talking out. Predicts Harry's death every class."
"Sometimes she gets her predictions right. She predicted that I would one day become a teacher."
"That's just a coincidence. I could probably predict that. You're smart."
"Thanks. I promised Odysseus that I would show him around the school. I'll talk to you later."
After eating breakfast Hermione returned to the girls' dormitory. Since it was the winter holidays she wouldn't have to monitor the halls. Everything was going according to schedule. Hermione opened her trunk to check on the dress robes she planned to wear tomorrow. She took a look at it. It was well tailored. She pick it up secondhand over the summer and although it was well tailored there was something in her that didn't want to wear it. She was being ridiculous. It was part of her plan. She closed her trunk.
The rest of the day was spent playing Exploding Snap with Harry and Ron in the common room. Hermione, Harry, and Ron also took turns playing chess. After a bitter defeat, Hermione decided to cheer on Harry.
"Try using the knight, Harry," said Hermione. Harry ordered his knight to advance. Harry's knight took out Ron's rook.
"Thanks, Herm--" said Harry. Ron cut him off.
"You had your rematch," said Ron looking at Hermione. "Check!" Hermione figured that she hadn't given Harry the best advice.
"Sorry, Harry…" said Hermione.
"That's okay," he replied. Harry studied the board for a while and moved his king to the left.
"We all make mistakes," said Ron. He had a bit of a smile on his face.
"Like you forgetting to buy your cauldron?" said Hermione.
"I didn't forget. You can help me fix my old one." Hermione sighed.
"No I can't. Alchemy is very difficult. It took centuries to figure out in the Middle Ages. Weren't you paying attention in history?" Ron chose to ignore this.
"So, I think I'll just move my queen," said Harry. He was trying to change the subject. Harry ordered his queen to advance. Ron grimaced.
"Fine, I'll just move my rook." He looked at his rook. "Go six spaces forward." Harry wrinkled his brow. Ron tapped his fingers making a face at Hermione. Harry ordered his bishop to advance and it took out one of Ron's pawns. Ron told his knight to move to where Harry's rook was. Hermione noticed Ron had made a mistake.
"You can move your rook back," she whispered to Harry. Harry nodded. He ordered his rook to go back.
"Yes!" cried Ron. He ordered his queen to take Harry's rook. Hermione wanted to kick herself for falling for the trap.
"Nice move," said Ron eyeing Hermione.
"It's okay," said Harry.
"Are you trying to patronize me?" said Hermione. Ron put on a blank expression.
"Am I trying to what… you?" Harry opened his mouth to tell him. Hermione heard a giggle. Parvati had walked into the room.
"Never mind," said Hermione. She tried to study the board. "Sorry Harry."
"It's really okay, I have Ron right where I want him," said Harry. Hermione forced a laugh. She kept quiet for the next few moves until she saw something.
"Harry, maybe you should use your queen. Take his pawn." Ron gasped. Hermione thought she must have been on to something. Harry ordered his queen to advance.
"Wait," he said suddenly. "Take his king. Checkmate!" Hermione couldn't believe it Harry had beaten Ron at chess!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. Harry Potter and the other characters are property of JK Rowling and Scholastic.