Disclaimer: It's all J.K. Rowling's.

A Note From The Author: Well, here it is. (Wow! Two chapters in four days! Have I been getting better at this or what? ^_^) As always, thank you so much to those of you who reviewed last time. I have never gotten so many reviews in one day as I did after posting chapter three. Thank you! Also, I made a few small (but important) revisions to Chapter Three, so I suggest you re-read that. This chapter is somewhat more fast-paced than the previous three, but I just made a *big* revelation about the plot that requires the introduction to be dragged out for another chapter. So sorry! It gets *much* more exciting thereafter, believe me! Without any further ado:

Aftermath and Awakenings
Part IV
A Harry Potter Fanfic by Aira

***

Hermione was involved in an intricate discussion with Professor Vector, her Arithmacy teacher, when suddenly Ron Weasley came running up to her. "There you are!" he said, gasping for breath. "Harry-dream-Divination-must tell you-"

With that, Ron dragged her away, tugging so fiercely that Hermione nearly dropped her books. "Common room," Ron murmured breathlessly, letting go of Hermione's arm, though still moving at a fast jog despite his books. Hermione struggled to keep up. Why was it so important they go to the common room now, anyway? Why did he need to speak to her so badly? And where was Harry?

Several very confusing minutes later, the pair climbed through the portrait hole gasping. "Well!" Hermione exclaimed once she had her breath. "What's so important that you feel the need to haul me away from Professor Vector and drag me halfway across the castle?"

"Harry-I think Harry had another one of those dreams. In Divination. He was clutching his scar."

Hermione paused for a moment to take that in. Normally she held little stock in dreams, prophecies, and the like. But there was no denying that Harry had a link with Voldemort that alerted him whenever the Dark Lord was feeling particularly vengeful. And a vengeful Voldemort amounted to nothing but complete havoc.

"Should we-wait for him, then?" Ron asked. "We've got an hour 'till Defense."

Hermione nodded mutely.

*

The next ten minutes were among the most anxious of Hermione's life. Not quite so anxious as waiting for Harry to face his dragon in the first task, or for him to come out of the maze in the third. But still, they were anxious moments nevertheless. The two sat close together, fingers intertwining. Neither Ron nor Hermione said anything. Words weren't needed just then.

When their short, black-haired friend finally climbed through the portrait hole, both nearly jumped on him. "What happened?" Hermione demanded instantly.

Harry looked like he would rather spend a day walking a blast-ended skrewt than answer, but he did anyway. "Voldemort," he said in a flat tone. "He's found the area where that passageway is. He may be coming sooner than you think."

"But-Dumbledore's working on protection spells, isn't he?"

Harry nodded. He looked like he was about to say more, but quickly changed his mind. His green eyes held a troubled look that Hermione couldn't quite put her finger on. And that scared her.

*

"Good afternoon, class."

The chatter quickly quenched as Professor Dorson entered. Hermione immediately focused her eyes on her teacher. It was absurd, of course, but there was just something so familiar about her…Hermione's musings were silenced by Dorson beginning to call for attendance in a soft, yet strangely silky, voice.

For the rest of the lesson, Professor Dorson gave a lecture to the class regarding various curses and their side effects. Hermione herself hung onto her Professor's every word, taking very neat and detailed notes. It cannot be said, however, that her classmates were quite so studious for the duration of the period. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione noticed Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil pouring over what looked like a copy of 'TeenWitch' under Lavender's desk. Upon hearing a mad scribbling from her left, Hermione looked at Ron-was he really taking notes? It was only upon further investigation that she saw the words 'Reasons Why Draco Malfoy Should Be Expelled' written on top of Ron's piece of parchment.

Sighing, Hermione turned back to her work, still unable to squash the uneasy feeling she received from Professor Dorson.

*

Harry mentioned that he would be late coming to dinner that night; Professor McGonagall had called a meeting of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team to discuss the coming season, which included selecting a captain. Hermione noticed Ron's ears turn slightly pink at the mention of Quidditch, though all he said was that with any luck neither Fred nor George would be chosen as Captain "or practices will be a circus."

Though Hermione felt somewhat guilty at this, she was glad to have a private moment with Ron. She loved Harry as a friend very much and always would, but there was just something about the time she spent alone with her other best friend that was so special. A glance at Ron told her that he was thinking the same thing, though he still looked embarrassed by something.

"Hermione," he began hesitatingly as they walked towards the Great Hall. "D'you think I might have a chance at being Keeper?"

Not being all that interested nor knowledgeable in Quidditch, Hermione was not perhaps the best person to direct that question to. But it was clear that Ron valued her opinion and he awaited an answer. Hermione recalled watching the boys play over the summer. Despite the fact that his broom was both old and slow, Ron had pulled off many a good save during the heated games. "Yes," she replied honestly.

Ron's face lit up. "You-you mean it?"

"Of course."

Ron's broad grin was worth a million "thank yous."

*

Harry returned with news that Angelina Johnson had been chosen as Captain. He also reported that tryouts for Keeper were to take place the coming Saturday "so get practicing."

The last comment was directed towards Ron, who had flushed at the news. Soon thereafter, Fred and George joined the discussion, which had turned, appropriately enough, towards Quidditch.

Hermione sat back in her chair and soon tuned out the animated conversation. That was one of the problems with being friends with boys. When the talk turned to Woollongong Shimmies and Wronski Feints, you felt somewhat left out.

As she scanned the common room, Hermione noticed Ginny Weasley sitting by herself. The usually cheerful girl wore rather a morbid expression, and her freckled face was a shade or two paler than usual. Her small frame seemed to cry out for companionship. Hermione knew what she needed to do. She obviously wasn't being missed in the Quidditch talk, and Ginny needed her.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked quietly, coming over to her friend.

Ginny looked up at her with wide, terrified brown eyes. Hermione remembered the Chamber of Secrets all too well. 'She's been closer to Voldemort than anyone else I know, even Harry', thought Hermione. 'No wonder she's so scared.'

"I heard Lavender and Parvati talking about how Harry fell asleep in Divination, and how when he woke up, he was clutching his scar. Is it true?"

Hermione nodded wordlessly. "Was it another one of…those dreams?"

Again, Hermione nodded her consent. "Can you tell me what it was about, or will that just terrify me?" Now Ginny's voice was at a near-whisper.

Hermione considered. It probably would just terrify Ginny. But then, Hermione knew her friend to have an active imagination. It would probably be best to tell her what was really happening, so to prevent her from dreaming up awful scenarios. Hermione dearly hoped Harry wouldn't mind her talking about his dreams. "Voldemort may be hatching a plan to-get into Hogwarts."

To Hermione's great surprise, Ginny now looked as though a great weight had been lifted from her. "That's it?"

Hermione was hardly able to conceal her astonishment at those blunt words. Noticing this, Ginny hurriedly explained. "I mean, it's awful of course, but I was imagining things much worse than that. I guess I do get carried away sometimes," she concluded sheepishly.

Hermione was pleased to see a bit of color returning to Ginny's cheeks, though her eyes were still dark. "And, anyway," her friend said, her voice forcedly light, "If You-Know-Who shows up, I might not have to do this essay for Snape."

*

Come Saturday morning, Hermione found herself in the Quidditch bleachers with Ginny, awaiting the beginning of the tryouts. Looking downwards, she saw Harry conferring with the rest of the team. She also saw a line of about eight or so Gryffindors, evidently trying out for the Keeper position. Her eyes fell on that familiar flash of flaming red hair among them, and her face broke out into a rather silly grin.

Madam Hooch walked onto the pitch, requesting that the contenders draw lots to determine the tryout order. After that was done, those trying out formed a line, evidently from who was going first to who was going last. Ron was going second. 'Well, good,' Hermione thought. 'At least he gets it over with that way.'

Hermione observed the first Keeper without much interest, though noting that she had missed three out of the ten shots that Angelina, Alicia, and Katie threw at her. Hermione swallowed hard after the last shot. Next was Ron's turn. He looked positively green, but she noticed her friend smile towards the stands before taking off. She smiled back.

Hermione held her breath as Alicia pelted the bright red Quaffle towards the goalpost farthest from Ron. 'Please, please, please, get it,' she found herself thinking. Ron zoomed over towards where the ball was headed as fast as his Shooting Star would take him. It was a difficult save…oh, no, he wasn't going to make it…Just a split-second before the Quaffle was about to go through the goalpost, Ron let go of his broom and grabbed onto the ball tightly. Hermione's was among the most rapturous of the applause that followed.

After that, Ron didn't miss a single save. Not a one. And not a soul was surprised when Angelina announced that the new Gryffindor Keeper was Ron Weasley.

Grinning madly, Hermione rushed down to the field to congratulate him.

*

The celebration that followed was as rambunctious, loud, and euphoric as could be expected when Fred and George Weasley were put in charge. It was because of the late hour to which it continued-or perhaps it was just a few too many Butterbeers-that caused Hermione to sleep uncharacteristically late the following morning. Groggily, she opened her eyes and was much dismayed to find that it was already ten-thirty.

"Oh, so you're finally up," said Parvati, who was already dressed. "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

Hermione didn't really mind Parvati, but she was a notorious gossip. Whatever news she had right now was not news that Hermione felt like hearing. The words that fell from Parvati's lips, however, were a far cry from her usual 'so-and-so broke up with so-and so.' "Susan Bones was killed last night."

"H-how?" Hermione heard herself gasp.

"Avada Kedavra, of course. Murdered right in her dorm."

Hermione felt a cold chill race through her as she pressed her hand to her mouth in horror. This was just like when Cedric died. Only worse. This wasn't about a student being taken and murdered miles away, tragic though that was. This was about a girl her own age being killed in cold blood in her own bed. How could she sleep at night after this?

"B-but who? And why?"

Parvati shrugged and for the first time Hermione noticed a gleam of sorrow in her eyes. "A Death Eater, of course. They're trying to find out who, but good luck catching any one of that lot. As to why, didn't you here? Susan made a prophecy about You-Know-Who's fall during Divination just this week…"

Hermione fell back on her bed, tears welling up in her eyes. This was way too much to absorb all at much. Susan Bones, a Seer. Susan, dead…Why, oh, why did she care so much? While Susan had been perfectly nice and cordial on the few occasions Hermione had spoken with her, she hadn't really known her. 'I think that's the worst part of all,' Hermione thought. 'I never will get to know her…'

Hermione closed the curtains around her bed and thought for a long time after that.

***

Author's Note: See that blue box down there? Be a dear and fill it out, won't you?