Entering the Great Hall was like taking a walk back outside with the cool clear night sky shining above everyone on the enchanted ceiling. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table waiting anxiously for the feast to begin.
Professor McGonagall came through the doors with the Sorting Hat in her hands and a handful of nervous first years following.
"You think this year's going to be different, you know, now that everyone knows that You-Know-You is back?"
"Of course it is Ron. Dumbledore's not going to take security lightly. After all it's Harry Voldermort's after and no offense Harry, but this is where you happen to be. Dumbledore or not Voldermort's going to try to something," replied Hermoine.
"What makes you think he's going to try something now? He had all summer and Dumbledore wasn't there, why didn't he try anything then?"
"I don't know Ron, but obviously he's up to something," Hermoine retorted now ready for a full-fledged argument.
"You'd have to admit though Hermoine, Ron's right. There hasn't been any news about Voldermort all summer. No attacks or anything. Maybe he wasn't strong enough to come back fully after the fight last year. Maybe he's too afraid of what will happen to him if he does anything," Harry replied not understanding why Hermoine was so caught up in this.
"Don't be ridiculous Harry. Voldermort has never been afraid of what would happen to him before. This times no different," Hermoine's temper rose with every word along with her voice.
"Hermoine keep it down someone might hear you," Harry told Hermoine as Scott Fitzsimmons was placed in Ravenclaw.
"Harry you have to understand that you're not safe anywhere you go. You have to be to ready for anything at all times. I don't want to lose you too," she told him desperately.
"Too? Hermoine what do you mean by too?" Harry asked but got nothing but silence in reply and Hermoine lowering her head as to not show anyone her face. "Hermoine?" He asked hesitantly.
"Nothing, Harry, I didn't mean anything by it," she slowly looked up with a new quiet, depressed presence surrounding her.
The rest of the evening went by slowly with Harry and Ron looking up at Hermoine constantly with a mix of care and sadness in their eyes for their now silent friend who, after Dumbledore's speech, had not looked up off of her plate once.
Once the plates were cleared Dumbledore stood for a last word.
"Now with our stomachs full I would like to forewarn everyone for what is to occur this year. As everyone may already know Voldermort is back." There was a slight murmur with the mention of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named name. "I am sure we shall all be safe here but for extra protection we have numerous Ministry workers standing guard throughout the castle along with other various creatures guarding the grounds thanks to our outstanding Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Hagrid. In addition we are proud to announce our once new but now returning Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin. I hope you will all make him feel at home here."
Harry and Ron, who had not noticed when they arrived Lupin sitting at the teacher's table, had looked up swiftly at the mention of his name. Both boys broke out in grins as Lupin beamed down at them. Hermoine was the only one at Gryffindor table not celebrating the fact that Lupin had returned. With that, Dumbledore dismissed the crowd and watched as students dispersed with prefects leading the first years to the common rooms. Hermoine and Ron's group did not seem too happy with Ron's attitude towards the first years but had to deal with it because of Hermoine's lack of trying.
When they reached the common room Hermoine announced that the password would be 'olivander' and that breakfast would be served at 7 am and schedules would be given out then. With that she departed for her room where she laid in bed thinking of what she almost let slip during the feast. About how she really ended up in Africa for the summer.
Meanwhile Harry and Ron had made themselves comfortable in chairs by the fire in the common room. Being the only ones left not in bed they felt they could talk freely about the events of the evening.
"What do you reckon's wrong with Hermoine, Harry?"
"I don't know Ron, but whatever it was must have been really awful. She didn't talk all night. I really hope we find out what she meant by she didn't want to lose me too."
The two boys didn't notice the dark shadow standing in a hidden corner eavesdropping on their conversation. "So Granger didn't tell Golden Boy about her summer. What a surprise. That's just a mistake on her part that she'll have to regret the rest of her life. Just as soon as we get our hands on her," the stranger thought with an evil grin creeping to his face. With that he turned swiftly and silently made his way out of the common room.
A/N: I would like to thank everyone for reading this; being my first story I don't know how good it is. But I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to comment or criticize. Thank you all.