Title: Harry Potter and the Rise of Voldemort

Rating: R

Summery: In the summer between his 4th and 5th year Harry has been busy getting ready for his next encounter with Voldemort. But will be the world's savior or become its greatest villain. H/H

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

A/N: I know I haven't mentioned this before but I am sure you bright readers have figured it out IF IT IS IN ITALICS IT IS THE CHARICTERS THOUGHTS.

Chapter 4: Hermione

The sunset was beautiful. It seemed the sky had no idea of the dark times coming. Or perhaps the cosmos really didn't care. Still Harry was glad for the sunset. He stood on a small hill letting the dying rays of light shine on his face.

Earlier in the day, after he had heard that Hermione was coming, he had excused himself from the table to go do some home work. He had actually finished it all over a month ago, one of the side benefits of hardly ever sleeping, but needed an excuse to get out of the room.

After getting to his room he had pulled out some books and tried to do more research but found it impossible to concentrate. So he put his books away an apparated out into the field beside the Weasley's home.

He had spent the rest of the day out here. No one had come to look for him.  That was fine by him. Harry was in a dark place right now and didn't want Ron or the Twins to try and cheer him up.

I especially don't want to see...

"Hi Harry"

Hermione Harry finished his thought. "Hi Hermione." he responded, the muscles in his stomach turning in a knot. Still with his back to her he closed his eyes. A cooling wind picked up her familiar aroma and carried it over to him.

"You weren't there to greet me when I arrived." She said not hiding the hurt in her voice. "And later when I went to talk to you, you weren't in you room."

"Sorry. I just went for a walk and lost track of time"

"I see" She said apparently not believing the lie but letting it drop. She took a few more steps forward to stand be side her friend. "It's an incredible sunset isn't it?"

Harry just stood there silently.

After several silent minutes passed Hermione hesitantly started "you didn't write back to me. I was worried."

"Sorry I didn't mean to worry you."

"I understand you probable had other things on your mind" she said thinking back to the events after the third trial of the tri-wizards tournament.

"I don't want to talk about it" Harry cut her off turning to face her for the first time. He wanted to be angry with her. Anger would help build the walls he needed for the battle a head.

She had grown even more beautiful over the summer. Her hair had relaxed some what into soft curls; her brown eyes twinkled with flecks of gold; and she was beginning to look like a young women.

Sensing the sudden change in Harry's mood she smiled and grabbed his hands with her own. They stood there silently just smiling at each other. "Come on, Miss Weasley saved some dinner for you."

The two young teens walked back to the house chatting and laughing as the sun finished it's decent into the horizon. Neither of them noticing a small Gardner snake lifts its head up from the grass and watches them go.

*******

Ron and Hermione sat with Harry as he ate his diner. Harry and Ron talked about how they thought different Quidditch teams were doing and the three of them laughed as they recapped adventures they had had at school when they were younger.

This is what he needs, to spend time with his friends. Ron thought cheerfully. It's good to see the old Harry back.

After Harry had finished, the trio went outside to join George, Fred, Ginny, and Dudley at a large bon fire. The twins where tell Dudley about the pranks they had pulled at school.

"Not that I am complaining but where is uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia" Harry asked. "I haven't seen them since breakfast."

"I think there in there room" said one of the twins, Harry couldn't tell which in the fire light.

"Aye" snickered the other "probable hiding under there bed"

The whole crowd burst out laughing.

"This cousin of yours isn't as bad of a bloke as I remember" said the first twin when he had regained control of his laughter.

An evil sort of grin crossed Harry and Ron face. "Well love can change a boy" Harry said betting his friend to the punch.

"Harry" Dudley shouted "you promised"

"Not to tell your parents. I didn't say anything about my friends." Harry interrupted.

He then began to tell them all about the encounter with the young witch.

It was late into the night before the small party broke up and they all went off to bed. Harry was wearing the first legitimate smile on his face all summer.

******

Early the next morning Harry came down the stairs. He was looking forward to spending more time with his friends.

It is great to be back at the burrow. 

As he walked into the kitchen he say Hermione sitting there talking to the twins while Ron was stuffing his face with what seemed to be an enormous plate full of food. Harry turned his attention back to Hermione. She is so beautiful he thought.

He realised he had been just standing there staring at her when Fred said "Drool much Potter" in a cold dry voice.

Hermione smiled shyly at him. Then she stood up and walked over to him. Slowly put her arms around him and started to press her lips into his.

Harry's head began to swim. What's going on his head was trying to figure out but Harry felt like he was thinking threw thick molasses. Suddenly she pushed him away and started to laugh, every one was laughing. Not the friendly laughter that Harry was use to but a cruel mocking laughter.

Harry was just staring at her and did not see her fist come crashing into the side of his face. Falling with sickening thud Hermione continued her assault kicking and scratching at the prone wizard.

Ron lifted his head out of his food long enough to say "Get'em Herm" food spraying out from his stuffed mouth.

"You don't love me. If you did you would have protected me" Hermione screamed.

Harry looked at her to see that she had changed. She looked pale her skin hung of her face in small grey patches. Her hair was limp and dirty with no body. Her eyes where just black empty pits void of life.

Harry's eye snapped open. He was lying in his bed at the burrow. Ron was shaking him awake. He looked around his eyes open wide and full of terror. He had most of the Weasley's in the room. Hermione was also there. Some of them had wands in there hands.

"Harry are you ok." Ron asked.

Harry just stared at him for a minute and then started to calm down. "It was just a Nightmare. I – I'm sorry if I woke you all."

"Don't worry about that dear" began Miss Weasley "I'll go get you something to help you sleep." She offered.

"That's ok" Harry said felling more awake now. "I'll just take some dreamless sleep potion I have in my trunk" Harry felt bad. He hadn't even though to put up the silence charms. He had just grown accustomed to them being up.

Satisfied that he was fine the Weasleys started to file out of the room. Only Ron and Hermione stayed behind.

"Do you want us to stay" Ron offered trying to stifle a yawn.

Harry just smiled at his friend and said "no I don't need a babysitter. Go get some sleep."

Ron nodded and headed off.

Harry got out of bed and grabbed his key ring. Going threw the keys until he found what he was looking for. Producing a bronze key he went over to his chest and opened it reviling his school robes, books and some flasks. He started looking threw the flasks until he found the one he was looking for. He also took out a book titled "Harry's Nightmare Journal", a qualle and a jar of ink.

Hermione just sat on a stool in the corner of the room watching him. In the weak light of the room she reflected on the physical changes to her friend. He had grown a bit over the summer and had filled out a lot. Wearing only an undershirt and what she assumed were shorts (they were actually boxers). She could see how muscular he now was. His shoulders had broadened and his chest seemed larger.

Harry began righting in the book. "What are you doing" she finally asked breaking the silence.

Harry looked up at his friend. She had a night rob rapped around her and he could not make many of her features out in the weak light. He thought about lying to her but felt too tired to bother. He didn't want her to worry about him. "I've been keeping a journal of my Nightmares this summer."

"It looks like you've almost filled the book" she replied with concern.

"Yap"

"Harry do you think you should tell Dumbledore about them."

"He already knows. He suggested I keep the journal."

Harry had turned back to his writing.

"Was you-know-who in the dream"

"No, not this one, of course he might have shown up if Ron hadn't have woke me"

Several minute slipped by in silence. Hermione was debating on weather to continue. Curiosity having gotten the better of her she said "When you were asleep you where screaming 'Please stop Hermione'. What happened?"

Harry, having finished, put his quill down "I am kind of tired. Can we finish this tomorrow?" his eyes begging her not to ask that question.

"Ok"

Harry took a sip from his flask and placed his journal on a nightstand beside his bed.

Hermione smiled at her friend as he climbed into bed she leaned over him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

She smells wonderful he thought as he drifted into a deep sleep. He never noticed that as she had kissed him she had taken his Nightmare Journal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N – First off to who ever has added me to there favorites list THANK YOU. Also it has been brought to my attention that I had anonymous reviews turned off. This problem has been fixed. For those of you who wish to contact me by email your best bet is to mail me at slane@roguehobbies.com although I wouldn't hold my breath for a reply as I don't often check my mail. You are more likely to get a quick response threw ICQ but you should read my personal profile first as it lists the conditions under which I chat with people via instant messaging.

Diamond – I'm glad you like it. I must admit that it is my favorite pairing as well (H/Hr). There will be a bit more of Dudley in this fic but he won't play a major roll until the sequel (I'm already working on the plot outline for that one). Harry is going to need that strength for what is to come. Thank you very much for the complement and being the third person to review the story.

Promo – Not too much fluff in the next few chapters (This fic is NOT RATED R BECOUSE OF ANY RELATIONSHIPS hint hint). I don't know if I can live up to your high expectations ("I trust u to make this one of the best Harry Potter stories out there!") but I hope it is one of the better ones. Are you asking me if there will be any other pairings besides Harry and Hermione or are you asking if I like these two characters with other characters? As for Harry's bad attitude please read the summery.

nekuyr2002 – Thank you very much. I have very much enjoyed reading your fic Harry Potter and the Sword of Helios and would recommend it to any one who likes dark and depressed Harry Potter stories. Also thank you for the tip on anonymous reviews I think I have fixed the problem.

TBC