Disclaimer: if it's worth suing it's worth reading. Anne belings to me, everyone else belong to JKR.

Chapter 2– Hermione's Arrival

Harry woke up early. He was awake and in a surprisingly good mood. He yawned, lying back on the bed. Harry realized that this had been the best sleep he had gotten in a while. He decided to just lie on the bed and enjoy the sweet scent of morning dew and the creeping rays of dawn. This experience was so peaceful, so perfect, he was just glad to be there. At that moment, Harry wished he could share this morning with someone; someone special. Not just the intoxicating smell of morning dew, or the beautiful, pink dawn, or the delightful songs of the waking birds. He wanted to share that and then some. Share everything he felt: the extreme comfort, joy, warmth, belonging, and much, much more than you could describe. All thoughts left Harry, and then he was just there, existing.

Harry did not know how long he lay there, but now that the Sun was fully up, he decided that he needed to get up. He got out of bed and felt the warm, wooden floor beneath his bare feet. He yawned and stretched. Bending backwards, Harry felt the pleasant ache of his spine. Sigh. This morning was nothing if less than perfect. Harry came towards his window and flung it open wide. After taking a minute to enjoy the fresh breeze, he began to get annoyed by an irritating rapping sound. Blasted woodpeckers, he thought. He took another deep breath and turned around. Walking away from the window, Harry noticed that the closer he got to the door, the louder the noise got. Why would the woodpecker be on that side if my room? Then Harry realized what he was thinking and felt extremely stupid. He rushed to the door. Woodpeckers? Have I gone nuts? Harry also felt guilty, because the person at the door had been knocking for what seemed to Harry, at least half an hour.

The moment he turned the doorknob, Harry saw a momentary flash of chestnut brown, followed by lack of air and kisses on both cheeks. Harry stood stunned as Hermione finally let go of him and stood there beaming.

"What? No big hi-hello?" She asked with mock disappointment. "Come on. The Weasleys are already downstairs. In fact, they've been waiting for you for some time now. Since when do you sleep in?" Harry smiled. He looked at his bushy-haired best friend and shook out the last few elements of sleep, then went out of the room, Hermione at his side.

"I'm sorry about that, Herm," Harry apologized as they came down the stairs. "I wasn't really asleep.." as Hermione raised an eyebrow, Harry muttered "I thought you were a woodpecker..." Then asked rather loudly "So how's that Aunt Gladys, Hermione..? Heard she's the one who kept you from coming here. How've you been? I rather missed you over the summer." Hermione didn't have a chance to answer, as they had entered the dining room and Mrs. Weasley hurried to make sure they were seated and eating breakfast.

That morning everyone had heated debates with each other on very different topics. Harry, Hermione and Ron were arguing with Ginny about her taste in music, but when she suggested classical music, Hermione switched to Ginny's side immediately. Molly and Arthur Weasley had been arguing about matters concerning the Order, but eventually switched over to the topic of Percy's recent behavior towards the family. Fred and George had so far mocked everyone else's argument and were now leaving the table when the mail arrived.

Pigwidgeon, who was now Ginny's, landed on the table and tumbled towards Ron. He gave a final hoot and stuck out his leg, which had many parchment scrolls attached to it. Harry was surprised to see that such a small bird was capable of carrying so much mail. As usual, there were the parchments with the Hogwarts logo. Hedwig also flew in with Harry's Hogwarts letter. The moment he detached the scroll she flew off again. As Ron looked through the letters he gave one to Mr. Weasley, who tossed it away after eyeing it, to Ginny, who began reading it hungrily since it was a long-awaited letter from her French penpal Gisele, and one he kept to himself. Twirling it around in his hands, Ron couldn't figure out who the letter was for.

"Open it." Ginny said half distractedly. With a shrug, Ron opened the strange letter and began to read. His face changed many times as he scanned the letter over and over. When he finished, he looked as confused as a 16 year old wizard could look.

"Is it just me or does my family keep getting bigger?" Ron muttered to Harry and Hermione, and went to find his mum, who, by now, had left the room.

"Our cousin, Anne, is coming to Hogwarts this year." Explained Fred a few minutes later, after he was through listening to Ron interrogate Mrs. Weasley. "Apparently, she only got her Hogwarts letter now, which is strange. She's fifteen."

"Since when do you have a cousin?" Hermione asked, just as surprised as everyone else.

"Since now, apparently," they heard Ron's voice, followed by Ron himself, as he came through the door into the dining room. "Mum and dad kind of... forgot about her family. I just never knew...."

"We never knew" interrupter George. "Ickle Ronniekins seems to forget his siblings exist." Ron scowled at him, but George smiled innocently, then ruffled Ron's hair and chuckled.

"So! Is she coming here first?" Ginny asked ever so hopefully. She wanted another girl there so badly. Although she had Hermione now, she was still greatly outnumbered by brothers, and chances were that Hermione was with them.

"no, she says she'll meet us in front of platform 9." Ron told her, still scowling at his brother. "she has never been around magic, therefore will not be able to get through to 9¾."

Harry, Ginny and Hermione all nodded. Harry wanted to say something but decided against it.

It was a late August evening. Hermione was reading, Crookshanks curled up on her lap. Harry and Ron were playing chess, Ginny watching them. Hermione turned a page in her book and yawned.

"We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow" said Ginny thoughtfully. "I have to pick up two copies of each book. One of each for Anne. She'll be in my year you know. I don't know how, though, she's going to catch up. She'd missed four years, and we do have OWLs this year."

"If Dumbledore put her in fifth year, I'm sure he had a reason. He knows better than to put her there because of her age knowing she won't pass. Then again, maybe not. I trust Dumbledore knows what he's doing." Hermione said with a shrug.

"That's not what worries me," Ron joined the discussion, momentarily distracted from his game of chess. "What if she's good looking?" He received blank stares so he tried to explain himself, "We're partly related, right. And if she's good looking then we can't... you know."

"RON!" both Hermione and Ginny screamed, "That's sick!"

"And a bit wrong," added Harry who, until now, was trying to raise an eyebrow at Ron, failing at every attempt. Ron gave a sarcastic smile.

"I didn't mean it that way," he finally said, "but you all k now how it is when we see a pretty girl. AND by 'we' I mean us, guys." He added hastily.

"He's got a point there" Harry said. He smiled and shook his head, "The only way we won't be able to tell whether somebody's pretty, is if we'd lived our whole lives with them. For example, Ron will never be able to see just how pretty Ginny is." The last comment made Ginny blush.

"But... but... that's cause she's not..."

"RON! Do you not have any tact?" Hermione snapped, interrupting Ron.

"That's alright Hermione, really. I have six brothers and I'm used to it." Ginny laughed at Hermione's attempt to defend her. She dismissively waved her hand.

Footsteps were heard outside the room and shortly, Mrs. Weasley came in.

"It's time for bed. All of you. Diagon Alley tomorrow, you need your books. Don't stall, you need rest. Oh, and Hermione, dear, do try to keep your cat in your room at night. Last night he came to our bed and purred so loudly, Arthur and I barely got any sleep. Now, come on. Chop – chop." With that, she left. The four exchanged glances and began to gather their things; Hermione – her book and cat, Harry and Ron – the chessboard and pieces, Ginny – herself. They walked out of the cozy family room and headed up the stairs in silence.

"Guess it's g'night then." Harry spoke as they reached the top of the staircase. Everyone nodded, exchanged 'goodnights' and went to their own rooms.



Ginny tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having another one of her nightmares where she's walking and searching for something she knows not of. She walked through a village. There were lots of people, but she couldn't stop. She had to find it, but what was it? Hogsmeade. Still searching. As she was about to enter some shop, she noticed something odd ahead. A small crowd of people were standing further down the road, but they did not look normal. Something about them was very peculiar. She could not exactly put her finger on it, but they were not regular people. Just as she started to concentrate, a tall man appeared. Very suddenly, with fires burning in his eye sockets. Just for a split second Ginny saw his silhouette right in front of her. She screamed and jerked awake choking at the awful smell of molten metal. No matter that she was already awake, the man's image was imprinted on the back of her eyelids.



Everyone was once again at the table, enjoying breakfast. Dream nearly forgotten, Ginny chatter happily away with her three best friends. She dismissed the dream as a long-term side effect from second year when she was a tool of the dark arts. Such dreams happened to her every now and then.

As the table was cleared, everyone began preparing for the trip to Diagon Alley. Everyone spoke of things they'd buy, Hermione bragged on about the things that they will be studying this year, and how she already knows most of it because she read Fred's old sixth year textbooks. Everyone laughed along with her. It was very typical of Hermione to do something like that.

Somehow, the conversation steered back to Ron's well discussed cousin. As they were halfway up the stairs Ron asked, or rather, wondered out loud.

"Wonder if she'd liver her whole life as a muggle, that Anne. Reckon she has, although I don't see why. Being related to us and all..."

"Well, maybe she had to be brought up that way for a reason," Harry interrupted Ron's train of thought. "I would understand... to some extent. I mean, I didn't know I was a wizard at all until Hagrid came. I would know if... I'm rambling, aren't I?" everybody nodded. Harry stuck his tongue out at Ron, who was , until now that is, so accurately lip-synching Harry's long, rambled speech. Hermione rolled her eyes at the two, for although she knew they weren't that immature in life, it still got on her nerves.

Harry and Hermione followed Ron to his room, as they were already packed and ready to go. They offered their help, since Ron's room was quite a mess. He kindly declined the offer, not wanting to subject his friends to the difficult task of finding his personals in his seriously trashed wardrobe.

The two friends dragged themselves over to Harry's room where Hermione sat onto the bed and Harry onto the chair that had stood unused until the very moment. For about a minute they sat in silence, then Hermione broke it.

"So, Harry, what classes have you taken this year?"

"Oh, the usual. Transfiguration, potions, ugh. Another year of Snape. Double Snape, actually. Dumbledore talked him into teaching me occlumency again. I took runic studies as well. I need it to become an auror. Why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering if you took the new course; diverse magic. They are having the first class ever this year..." Hermione paused as she saw Harry's confused stare. "What?"

"Where do you find out about these things?" Harry said in awe as well as confusion. Hermione managed to know anything that has to do with school and classes. "I, for one, did not know that Hogwarts was offering new courses. I know of the student exchange program, but that's because Dumbledore mentioned it at the leaving feast." Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps you just didn't pay attention. Anyways, I found out about it from professor Vector. She told me on the last day of classes because that was the last year of arithmancy for me, and Professor Vector really wanted me to take another class instead of hers. She knew I would be interested. The strange thing about it is that it's co-ed between classes. Not many people signed up, so they are combining all of the students that have signed up from third year and up." Hermione sighed as she saw that Harry wasn't paying one bit of attention to what she was saying. She glanced over to where he was sitting and found him distant, deep in thought. She foliowed his gaze out the window but saw nothing worth staring at. Except Harry. He had the internal beauty that shone its brightest at moments like these. Hermione parted her lips in an astonished smile, blushing unconsciously.



"Harry! Hey, Harry, wake up!" Came Ron's bellow from the doorway. Harry stirred. When he was sure he really did hear Ron screaming and it wasn't a dream, he opened his eyes. He was still on his chair, but his arms were folded on the small desk, his head upon his arms. He raised his head and rubbed his eyes, slowly turning around. His vision was still fuzzy but he could make out Ron's red-headed silhouette standing next to a shorter, fuzzy haired one that was Hermione.

"Sorry, don't know how I dozed off. The trip still on? You didn't go without me did you?" Harry asked sleepily. He was having a hard time waking up and didn't snap back into reality until Ron poked him in between the ribs with his long bony finger.

"Hey! Profesor!" Ron said laughing, "You sure you're awake?" Harry nodded, his eyes coming back into focus. He yawned and stretched, though still a bit sleepy, he could focus now.

"I am now. Sorry, didn't catch what you were saying. It was like your lips were moving but no sound was coming out." He looked apologetic.

"Ron said that the trip's off till later. We still have about a week left until school begins. We also got another letter from Anne." Hermione blurted out before Ron even got a chance to open his mouth.