"Justin?'

"Justin looked up as Hannah looked at him, concerned.

"Yes?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why do you care? You never cared before."

"I care."

"I hear what you say about me behind my back."

Justin looked away and looked back to Hermione's paper. It was basically perfect. He smiled to himself. No matter how much Hermione would be gone, she would always come out top. He looked back towards the portrait. Hannah picked up a paper from the table.

"What's this?"

"Nothing. Give it here." Hannah shook her head as she looked at it and grinned. Justin looked at her warily. He didn't like the look on her face.

"You like Hermione!"

"W-what?" he asked fearfully.

"You like Hermione!"

"Well of course I like her! She's my friend. My only friend."

"No! I mean you really like her?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Goal: Revenge on Malfoy and Zambini. Reason: Hurt Hermione."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You are not a vengeful person."

"And you would know this how? You don't even know me, Ms. Abbott."

"I know when someone likes someone."

"I don't like her like that!"

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do"

"Don't"

"Do"

"Don't!"

"You do! You do!"

"I do NOT!"

"Yes you Do!"

"I don't!"

Dean, Padma, and Terry came out looking at the pair. "What is all the commotion about?"

"Justin here won't admit that he likes Hermione!" Justin glared at Hannah.

"I don't like her like that!"

"Yes you do!"

"Arrrrrrgh! "

Dean and Terry looked at each other, amused.

"You like her!"

"Oh I give up! You'll never get it! I don't like her! And even if I did, she already has a boyfriend and I'm a nobody, remember? You said it yourself!" He stormed out of the room. Hannah stared after him.

Justin walked out of the castle, thinking. Hannah's words had hurt. He would often hear her when she thought he couldn't hear how he was a loner, a bookie, but unlike Hermione, a nobody; someone who had no friends and would always be alone. He would never admit it to anyone that her words hurt nor would he tell anyone what Hannah was like. It wasn't just Hannah after all. It was almost the entire student body. Justin always wasn't the type of person who would go out and destroy a person Unless they hurt people I care about, he thought to himself remembering how he felt when Malfoy and Zambini were attacking Hermione. Hermione. He smiled as he thought of her. Hermione, who thought of him like a real person, who understood him, respected him, smiled at him. Why, she even looked up to him. Justin was a true Hufflepuff because he was the most loyal person you could find. He continued walking, not really minding where he was going. All he needed was to be alone with his thoughts. He continued walking, knowing he was going further away from the castle. If someone saw him, he was sure to get detention, but he honestly didn't care. He stopped when he herd music coming from a distance. He looked out and it looked it was at the very edge of the grounds. Curious, he followed the music. He gasped at what he saw. There she was, free as a bird in all her beauty. He couldn't take her eyes off her as she skated.  She skated so perfectly to the music. Was this really Hermione. Her robes were thrown to the side and she was dressed in what he knew was what only professional skaters were. She was beautiful.

Hear my silent prayer
Heed my quiet call
When the dark and blue surround you
 
Step into my sigh
Look inside the light
You will know that I have found you
 
Hear my silent prayer
Heed my quiet call
When the dark and blue surround you
 
Step into my sigh
Look inside the light

You will know that I have found you

"Dreamcatcher"

-Secret Garden

Justin watched, mesmerized. He'd skated for years, but had never seen someone who looked like se belonged there. Justin was frozen, eyes never leaving Hermione.

"She's talented, isn't she?" Justin looked over, shocked. He hadn't heard anyone approach. Professor Dumbledore stood there, smiling.

"An angel on ice," Justin murmured. Dumbledore smiled at Justin through his glasses and his eyes twinkled.

"Tell no one of this location. I'm trusting you to keep a secret. Only you, I, and Hermione know of it.'

"Professor?"

"Yes?"

If it's a secret, then how?"

"People who need sanctuary from the cruel world. You and Ms. Granger are more alike than you may believe and more like Lily Evan was. You may be each other's salvation." Justin nodded in understanding as Dumbledore walked away. He turned back to watch Hermione. She jumped into an axle and landed smoothly n her blade. Her eyes were closed and you could tell she was lost in the dance. She had a smile on her face as she jumped up into a somersault and landed on the tip of one blade, without losing balance. Justin shut his eyes and opened them, reliving the scene. He hated to admit it, but Hannah was right. A solitary tear ran down his cheek, knowing Hermione already had a boyfriend. He quickly wiped it away. He would not cry. He had put up with everyone's cruelty and he wouldn't let the only person who cared for him see him cry.

He contented himself in watching Hermione again and smiled.

"Justin?" Justin met Hermione's eyes and intook his breath. She was so beautiful, from her tan skin, to brown eyes, to brown hair, to her lips, and to the way her whole face glowed when she smiled.

"Hi Mya. You are amazing, you know that?! You…Does anyone know you can skate like that?"

Hermione blushed. "If I tell you a secret, will you keep it one."

"I'm in the World Championship. That's why I miss classes so often. Harry and R know, but they don't really see what the big deal is. That's were I met Kelly, well at the auditions. I don't think anyone except those who were involved in the competition, my training, my family, or you has actually see me skate."

"Dumbledore has."

"I figured as much. He led me here. Well more like gave me this space for my practices. How'd you find this place?"

"I was walking far from the castle. I heard music and followed it. Dumbledore said it's a magical place. Is a sanctuary for people who really need it to escape the cruel world."

"You know, the last person to use this place was Lily Evans."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah.. So what were you doing out here Jus?"

"I had to get away." He looked away, so she couldn't see the pain across his face, but Hermione could hear the sadness in his voice.

"Jus?"

"Hmmm?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that." She sat next to him and turned his face so se could look at him. She could read the pain in is eyes. "Justin. Pleas tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong." Hermione looked at him with a look.

"I don't believe you. Now, you've been there for me, why can't I do the same? Are you going to tell me what's wrong r am I going to have to resort to drastic measures?"

"It's nothing new. What it always has been."

"Justin."

"I'm a nobody. That's all there is to it. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley! Why would you believe that?"

"It's what everyone thinks. People talk. I heard Hannah talking to Mandy."

"Justin. I don't think you're a nobody. You are a sweet, intelligent, wonderful person. Don't pay attention to them. I'm just a bookworm right?"

"But you're not a nobody."

"And you aren't either. Look, the only reason people even pay any attention to me is because I'm Harry Potter's best friend and we only became friends because he was lost. Don't listen to them. Promise me."

"It hurts. It hurts not to have any friends. To be alone all the time-no one to talk to."

"Justin. I'm your friend and I will never leave you."

"Mya?"

"Yes, Jus?"

"Can I hug you?" Hermione smiled  at his innocent request and wrapped him in her arms. Justin smiled in content. If he couldn't be with Hermione at least she was his friend and at least he could hug her or be held in comfort. At least she could smile at him.

"Thank you."

Hermione smiled at him and took his hand. She grabbed her bag in the others. "Let's get going back to the castle. "

"Mya. Can I come watch you skate. You are an angel on ice. You'll win. I know you will!"

"Yes Jus. And thank you! That means a lot"

"I'm coming to your competition."

The two slowly walked back to the castle, unaware that a pair of twinkling eyes was watching them. The eyes smiled. "It has begun."