1 Chapter 2- New Arrival; New Emotions

Saturday evening, there was a raging blizzard. The next morning, the snow didn't show any signs of stopping. Instead of enjoying the uneven drifts, the students were forced to stay indoors. Harry, as the new captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team was very annoyed about the canceled practice. Gryffindor's match against Ravenclaw would be next weekend. Hermione spent most of the day reading Hogwarts: A History for the fifteenth time. It was the last day of vacation, and many students felt disappointed about not being able to enjoy it.

At dinner, the tables seemed more deserted than usual. The students returning from vacation were expected to arrive on the Hogwarts Express that afternoon, but the blizzard must have delayed it. Halfway through dinner, Hermione heard a low murmur from the entrance hall. It soon grew to a dull roar.

Suddenly, a crowd of students returning from vacation entered the Great Hall. Familiar faces were covered in snowflakes, and the bottoms of their heavy winter cloaks dragged in damp snow, creating miniature drifts. Except, one cloak was different. It looked like it was trimmed with faux fur, and was kind of shiny, like leather. Hermione quickly glanced at the face of the cloak's owner. She certainly wasn't a Hogwarts student. She had wavy, medium length blonde hair and hazel eyes. Her lips- well, she didn't get a good look at them, as they seemed to be constantly moving at a rate of about seventy miles per hour, cheerfully chirping at anyone who was near, whether or not they wanted to listen. She was rather attractive, but she seemed to be in a perpetual state of perkiness, and in a very annoying way.

"Ah, yes, the students have returned from their Christmas holidays," Dumbledore smiled. "And I believe we have a new arrival, our exchange student. Miss Atkins, would you please introduce yourself?"

Practically jumping up and down with excitement, the blonde girl bouncily strode up towards the front of the hall. "Hi everyone!" she shouted. The Great Hall echoed with the resonating high-pitched voice. Oddly enough, it sounded like it was her natural voice. "I'm Anna Atkins, and I'm gonna be staying here as an exchange student. I live in Manhattan and I'm a fifth-year at Salem Institute for Magic. I've already been Sorted, and I'll be staying in Gryffindor!" She looked at the Gryffindor table and smiled broadly, like they should be delighted at the news. To Hermione's disgust, Anna pranced down the aisle and took a seat right next to her.

"Hi! I didn't see you on the train! I've already met everyone who was on there. Oh, you must be Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Prefect!!! Professor McGonagall told me all about you! And you're a Gryffindor fifth year, too! We'll be roommates! I'm so glad that we've met!" Then, Anna gave Hermione a quick hug.

Hermione blinked. Anna's electric personality wasn't exactly what she was used to. "Um… yes I am Hermione Granger. Er… Welcome to Gryffindor. I'm not quite sure that our dorm is big enough for all of us. Wouldn't you prefer a more private dorm?" Let's see how perky she is after a night in the dungeons, Hermione thought. It wasn't that she didn't like this new girl, it was just that she was rather annoying, like a fly that would come buzzing right back after you swat it.

Anna was obviously horrified. "You mean… alone? Don't pursue a private room to yourself, Herm! What's the fun of that? Oh, it's gonna be like a sleepover every night! I can't wait!!! Please stay!"

"You just don't get it, do you?" Hermione sighed under her breath. Ick. She hated it when people called her Herm or Hermi. Especially people who had only met her thirty seconds ago. She had a feeling that it was going to be a long night, especially with Lavender and Parvati egging her on. To her surprise, when she opened her eyes to shake off the nightmarish reverie, Anna had already bounced off and was flirting with Ron.

"So, what's your name, anyway?" Anna smiled.

"R-…uh, Ron," he stammered, as if he wasn't quite sure of himself.

"Nice to meet you! Well, I'd better be off. Lots of new people to meet!"

"Bye then," Ron said reluctantly.

"Bye," Hermione said immediately. She was not looking forward to spending the night with her.

"She seems really nice," Ron said, unable to pry his eyes off of her. "She's outgoing, and friendly, and.."

"And sexy," Hermione butted in bitterly.

"Precisely!" said Ron enthusiastically. "I mean… no, it's not, that's not…"

"I know what you're thinking," Hermione said viciously. "It's always the pretty girls you're after. You never look below the surface of people."

"Why are you being so bitchy today?" Ron shouted, his face reddening.

"None of your business," Hermione said, her eyes glinting with angry tears.

"Well-" Ron started.

"Both of you, stop it!" Harry snapped. "I've had enough! Let's just drop the subject."

"Fine then," Hermione and Ron sighed in unison.

He doesn't get it. He just doesn't get it, Hermione thought to herself. She had had a pretty stressful weekend. On Saturday evening, she was quite surprised to see a large tawny owl swoop through the Gryffindor common room's window. She recognized it immediately as Viktor's owl. After visiting his home in Bulgaria over summer vacation, the two of them had become incredibly close. Nevertheless, there were miles and miles between them and their romance had turned into fondness, fondness into friendship, and now they were little more than penpals. However, Hermione was always delighted to hear from him. As was her custom, she petted the owl, sent him back to Viktor, and, letter in her hands, strode up to the girls dormitory, where she could read the letter and reminisce in peace.

This time, however, she sensed that this letter was different. It was shorter and lighter than usual, though her heart seemed much heavier by contrast. With trembling fingers, she unfolded the grubby note. It read-

Hermione-

(what happened to the My Dearest Hermione that he always started his letters with?)

You know how hard a long-distance relationship is to maintain. I just don't think I could manage it. I have fallen in love with someone else. You have been a good friend to me and I don't think I will ever forget you. You must admit that our love for one another has been fading for months. I just love another woman more than I love you. Goodbye, Hermione.

Viktor.

Hermione didn't know what to think. Could Viktor have really sent something like this to her? After analyzing the note several times, she decided that it was definitely his handwriting. Maybe Viktor was right. Their relationship had drifted. "Incendio," she muttered dully as the note burst into flame and a pile of ash collected on her bed. She didn't cry, though. Without Viktor, she didn't have the emotion to cry. There was just…emptiness.

After sitting on her bed and staring into space for about half an hour, she got a grip on herself and walked back down to the common room. The only person left in there was Ron.

"Hi," he said. "Everyone else has gone down to dinner except you and I. What were you doing in your room for so long? I was worried about you."

"I- I got a letter from Viktor," Hermione sighed.

"And?" Ron implored. "His letters don't usually keep you up there for so long. What'd it say?"

"Our… relationship…is over," she began. "He loves another girl more than me."

"That bastard!" he swore. "It's a shame Pigwidgeon isn't strong enough to carry a cursed letter all the way to Bulgaria!"

Hermione laughed halfheartedly.

"Listen, Hermione," Ron said. "I'm always there for you, okay?"

Hermione knew that everything was going to be okay.

And then Anna Atkins showed up, a playful, vivacious kitten tangling the yarn ball of their fates.