A/N: BOOO. *Watches everyone scream* ..Funny. Haha..?

~~

"Hermione, are you alright?" Ron stared at her from across the table. "You seemed..out of it this past week."

"R-really?" She stuttered, dropping her bread roll into her soup, and knocked over her goblet. "I don't think so."

Harry raised an eyebrow and grabbed her goblet before it fell off the table. "Yeah I've noticed too. What's up, 'Mione?"

"Hm? Oh, Nothing. Nothing, really." She lied. Something WAS up. She was having recurring dreams about the 'love of her life'. It bothered her how she didn't know who it was..

Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Hermione butted in. "Care of Magical Creature's all afternoon! What do you expect Hagrid's got for us this time?"

"I heard Hagrid found a Nundu." Dean Thomas said from beside Hermione.

Hermione winced. "Nonsense."

"A Nunda what now?" Ron looked confusedly at Hermione.

"A Nundu, Ron. Haven't you read any of your textbooks?!" Hermione spat. Ron looked at her. "Oh of course you haven't, stupid question."

"Well tell me what it bloody is then, Smarty Pants." He glared.

Hermione sighed and recited from her memory, "A Nundu is an African beast that is arguably the most dangerous beast in the wizarding world. It's a giant leopard that moves silently despite its size, and its breath causes disease virulent enough to eliminate entire villages. Only over a hundred skilled wizards together can defeat the Nundu. Therefore you heard wrong, Dean. I don't even think Hagrid is crazy enough to handle a Nundu!"

"Sounds brilliant!" Ron beamed. Hermione rolled her eyes.

Harry was watching the entrance to the great hall apprehensively, as were many others at their tables. "Who's that?" He asked, and Hermione looked over. A pale girl, with long luxurious black hair and black eyes stood in the doorway, beside Professor Snape. Snape was muttering to the girl, and all she did was nod and smile at him, looking around the room.

"She looks like Snape!" Seamus Finnegan commented from Hermione's other side. "Only..better looking."

"Maybe she's related to him."

"I've never seen her around before." Hermione shook her head.

"Neither have I..maybe she's new." Harry shrugged.

"Possibly. But I didn't know Hogwarts took new students after the year started."