Hedwig returned the next evening at about seven o'clock. She found Hermione much as she had left her: on the bed surrounded by paper. The reply the owl brought was to the letter Hermione had not sent.

The parchment was addressed boldly: Miss Hermione L. Granger. She knew immediatly that it was from Draco; the slicing hand and use of her hated middle initial gave it away.

Hermione broke the seal. Two sets of eight lines stared up at her. A poem?

In western lands beneath the sun

the flowers may rise in Spring,

the trees may bud, the waters run,

the merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night

and swaying beeches bear

the Elven-stars as jewels white

amid their branching hair.

Though here at journey's end I lie

in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,

beyond all mountains steep,

above all shadows rides the Sun

and Stars for ever dwell:

I will not say the Day is done,

nor bid the Stars farewell.