Hermione stared out the window. Snow fell softly, covering the Hogwarts grounds like a huge white blanket. Depressing, she thought, that's what this scene is. The whole holiday she had been feeling out of place, lost and confused, not even Harry or Ron could coax her out of her moods.

"What is wrong with me? I hate this!" She thought aloud.

"I don't know... why don't you tell me?" A voice behind her sounded.

She whirled around, furious. "Harry! What on earth are you doing in here? Boys aren't allowed in the Girl's dormitories! Get out!"

Harry didn't move, trying to smile he moved closer to her. "Hermione," He whispered softly, "Please tell me what's wrong."

Tears gathered at the edge of her eyes, and her mouth wobbled. "I-I c-can't Harry, be-because I don't know!" She erupted, the hot tears flowly down her face. She trembled as he placed his arm reassuringly around her.

"It's ok... it's going to be ok." They both knew it wasn't, but they sat anyways.

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Christmas was the same as always. The cheery feast and the presents, the beautifully decorated hallways, the bright lights and the singing of the children. This day should be perfect, but it isn't. It will never be. Hermione sat glumly at the tables, Harry and Ron on either side of her.

"Hermione, help me pull this wizard's cracker!" Ron commanded.

Reluctantly, she grabbed the end and pulled. BANG! Streamers shot every which way and Ron hooted and tried to grab the falling prizes. Something landed on Hermione's outstretched palm and she looked down. There was a curled piece of paper. Hermione read aloud:

"All happiness is gone, go looking for the angel."

She snorted and crumpled it into a wad and lobbed it across the Great Hall. What absolute rubbish, it made no sense whatsoever. Another resiliant 'BANG!' came from across the Hall and Hermione sighed, got up and walked out of the Hall.

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That night was dreamless for Hermione, but something stuck at the back of her mind and she remembered the paper. Oh, why did I throw it away? She thought. It was hardly past dawn but he got up from her bed. The room was empty as the other girls had all left for home. Hermione would have been one of them, but she had decided to stay at Hogwarts for once. Her parents greatly annoyed her anyways, and she would rather spend her holiday with the friends she loved.

The newly fallen snow hurt her eyes to look but she kept staring out the window. The tallest tower facing Hermione was dark. Odd, she thought, it should be lighted like the others. She shrugged it off and crawled back to bed feeling immensely alone and above all, scared. Of what, she had no idea, but was about to find out...

To be continued...

Look for the next one, it will be called 'The Dark'