Disclaimer: None of this is mine, the characters, setting and basically everything that you recognise are sadly not my creations so I will endeavour to keep everything the same and everyone in canon. Don't sue me.

A/N: This idea was originally my friends. She has since stopped writing but she generously donated this story to me. I have changed a few things about it but she has given me full permission, so if you recognise anything that's why. Hope you like it, please tell me what you think.

Raven

Chapter One: Bittersweet Summer.

As a child summers always seemed sunny and lazy. It felt like all you did was play on the beach or in the garden. Yet childhood never seems to last as long as you like. From a young age you begin to covet the lifestyle of your elders, girls mimic their mothers, they long to wear make up and high heeled shoes. Boys are not as bad, but they sometimes try to act like their fathers, some even copy what they hear them say.

When you reach adulthood however you realise how easy life really was, and as your responsibilities begin to mount you always wish that you were back in those carefree sunny days.

That is how Hermione felt right now, as she sat at home in the not so sunny summer holidays. She would soon be entering her final year at school. She had been filling out University forms all summer ready to send off when the school year started again. She was nervous about the prospect. It was nothing to with getting the grades, she was confident that she would be able to achieve the marks needed, after all she had been studying over summer and had always had the highest marks in her year. No it was the prospect of leaving the safety of Hogwarts. You always think that school is the worst place on earth and you spend your whole time there working towards that leaving day. But when reality hits you, and you suddenly realise that you have to leave the security blanket that is school, behind and make your own way. It's a pretty daunting prospect.

Those had been her thoughts through out most of the holiday. Suddenly the telephone rang, bringing her out of her thoughts. She picked up the white receiver and greeted the caller.

"Hello."

Hello," the familiar male voice on the other end said, "it's Harry."

Hermione smiled. They had both lived Muggle lives until getting their Hogwarts letters. They now knew they were Wizards yet they still used the telephone to talk. Old habits die-hard.

"Oh, hi Harry," she said feeling more cheerful at hearing her friend, "how are you?"

"Fine thanks, you?" He asked

"Great, a little scared about our last year, you know?"

"Yeah, but don't worry love, you'll be fine. Listen I called because I got an owl from Ron inviting me to go to his, Bill and Charlie are at home for a few weeks, their having a kinda party. Ron asked me to ask you."

"Okay, sounds great," she said feeling a lot happier now.

"Cool, me and Ron will be at yours about seven, okay? Get your stuff packed, you and Ginny are rooming together again."

"Great, see you then."

They said their goodbyes and put down the receivers.

Hermione got her stuff packed and sure enough at seven o'clock a familiar whooshing noise came from the chimney. Her parents were still amazed by the floo process but they were no longer surprised by anything strange that happened in their house these days.

"Hello boys." Mrs Granger greeted the two young men standing in their living room covered in soot.

"Sorry about the soot, Mrs Granger," Harry choked out causing more soot to fall on the light blue rug.

"Don't worry, I'm used to it now," she said going into the cupboard for the vacuum cleaner.

"Got everything love?" Mr Granger asked. "Take your mobile in case we want to get in touch with you," he turned to Ron. "Oh and Ron here's that biro that your father wanted to see," and he handed him a blue biro pen with Parker written on it.

Once Hermione was finally sorted they got ready to leave.

Ron went first. He had got really tall over the years. He had always been the tallest in their trio but he had really shot up recently. His hair still the same flame red, which he kept short in a vain attempt to hide just how red it was. He was well built from all the Quidditch he played, which was just as well considering the amount he ate.

Harry went next. He was more Hermione's size. He hadn't grown all that much really and he was thin and wiry, perfect seeker's physique. He had resorted to using Muggle hair gel to try and control his wild black hair, but to no avail. The hair had a mind of it's own.

Hermione kissed her mother and father and left for the Weasley's house via the fireplace.

Once on the other side she found herself standing in front of Mr Weasley who greeted her with a warm smile.

"You must thank you father for the pen," he beamed looking lovingly at the pen as if it was a family pet, "it's just what I always wanted."

He led Hermione into the kitchen, saying it was time for lunch. The kitchen was small, but the amount of people crowded into it made it seem just that little bit smaller.

All the Weasley's were there. Ginny, with her short bobbed ginger hair that was so silky, Hermione couldn't help but feel envious. She was sitting by Harry, and kept giving him sideways glances, to see if he was looking at her. He wasn't.

There was Charlie, as handsome as ever, his hair spiky now. He was showing off the burn on his leg, enjoying making Ginny go Ewwww.

Fred and George, still had that mischievous glint in their eyes and kept whispering to each other

Then there was Bill. He was the coolest, although Hermione had quite a soft spot for Fred and George. His long hair tied back, and he was wearing an earring that was a silver dragon. Charlie had bought it him for his birthday.

And last but certainly not least was Percy

The day was fun and lively. There was a Quidditch match in the big field and Hermione was the referee as she was not a very good flyer.

By the end of the day they were worn out and so full of food that they thought they would burst. For once the summer seemed sunny, like it had done when they were children.

Harry and Hermione were lying on the grass looking up at the darkening sky.

"Have you ever considered, you know, getting together with Ron?" Harry asked. Hermione laughed.

"Maybe once, but we're such good friends, you know?" Harry nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, I get ya. That's the same with Ginny and me. I love her like a friend, but I just don't feel anything else for her. I wish I did."

"Well romance is over rated anyway," Hermione said reaching over to touch Harry's hand. On contact she felt an electric tingle go through her. They both sat bolt upright.

"Did you feel that?" Harry asked looking at his hand in amazement.

"Yeah, wow, must be static," Hermione said her logical mind coming up with the only logical explanation.

Speaking no more about it they went off into the house, where everyone was talking noisily.

"Where have you two been," Ron asked his mouth full of more food.

"Just talking, lying down so as to help our bodies digest the amount of food we've eaten," Hermione said not believing how much food Ron could stuff down his throat.

He gave Harry an expression that said, "I only asked," and continued eating his food.

A large snowy owl, very much like Hedwig, Harry's owl came soaring through the window and landed on the table by Bill.

He took the envelope from the bird and feed it some scraps from the table. He looked at the envelope. It was written in black ink and the writing was elegant and italic.

"Has Bill got a secret admirer," George teased craning his neck to see what was written in the letter.

"No I haven't, unfortunately," he replied pushing his brother away to prevent him seeing whatever he letter contained.

"I recognise that handwriting though," Percy said trying to hide his interest, "anyone we know, Bill?"

"Bloody hell, you're a nosy lot aren't you. Haven't you got better things you can do other than pry into my private life?"

They laughed and left it at that, but they all remained curious about Bill's mystery correspondent.

That night they all went to bed and fell asleep immediately, so tired after their day of fun. Ginny wasn't in a very good mood though. She was always pining after Harry, and although he spent a lot of time with her it was never anything more than friendship. Hermione wished that her friend could move on and find someone who wanted her that way, who wasn't as blind as Harry or as stupid.

This summer had felt very bittersweet. She was happy that she was with her friends and they had had such a great time, but still there was this feeling of foreboding that she couldn't quite place.

At the Granger's house the phone rang. It was really late, who could be phoning at this time of night.

Mr Granger answered the telephone and mumbled a sleepy 'hello.'

"Hello Mr Granger, this is Dr Morris, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."