Epilogue:



Hermoine read the note over once more just to be certain.

"Hermoine Granger, your assignment, until otherwise notified, is this: protect Harry Potter. Do not allow him to enter into dangerous situations, and always make sure that he is being protected by either you or your partner at all times.

"Your partner is a new transfer student to the school. She will be sitting on the train, in the last car, eating a "Mars" muggle-made candy bar. She will know your name. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, you met at summer camp."



Hermoine stuck the note back into her pocket. She sighed.

"Something wrong, Hermoine?" Ron asked. He shoved her trunk into the baggage check.

"Nothing." She bent over, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He reddened. "I'll see you on board?"

"Sure thing." He kissed her once, then he ran back to where his mother was waiting to bid him goodbye.



Hermoine set Crockshanks down on an empty chair.

"Keep the seat warm for me," she whispered, before hurrying to the last car. It was dark. She could make out the silhouette of a person.

"Hello," she said reluctantly. The door slammed shut behind her, and Hermoine felt the familiar buzz of magic in the air, sealing her in with the person in the shadows. "So, you're my partner, huh?"



Hermoine pulled out her wand, and with a flick of her wrist, the car lit up. Hermoine blinked a few times to make sure she was seeing things right. A familiar smile greeted her.

"Patrice!" she cried, running forward. She ran forward and hugged her friend.

"Hermoine, I'm glad to see you," Patrice whispered. "I was hoping, when they told me I'd be back here, that you were my partner."

"I thought you had been killed."

"Naw. Takes more then a little knife to kill me. I just wanted Voldemort to run, that's all." Her face fell. "But I was demoted, to Tenth Rank."

"That's my rank."

"I know." Patrice pulled up a cloth over an owl cage.

"Athena!" Hermoine cried, delighted to see the bird. Athena opened her eyes. She blinked at Hermoine.

"Whoo," she cooed, recognizing her. Athena had a long, jagged scar across her left wing.

"She can't fly very well anymore," Patrice said, "but she's just glad to be alive."

"You can talk to her again?"

"Sure. You gave back my magic. Don't you remember?"

"Not really. It's all a blank to me."

"Just as well, my friend."



Hermoine grabbed Athena's cage.

"What's up, Hermoine?"

"You're coming to sit with me. There's enough space."

"But I'm not supposed to know you."

"We met at summer camp," Hermoine reminded her with a grin. "Just don't try to steal Ron out from under me."

"I wouldn't," Patrice replied, laughing. "It will be just like old times, but only the two of us will know."



Hermoine sat down next to Ron.

"So these are the friends you've been telling me about," Patrice said.

"Is that an American accent?" Ron asked. Hermoine burst out laughing. So did Patrice. Harry and Ron gave them odd looks.

"I'm from Canada. Name's Patrice. Nice to meet you."