DISCLAIMER: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter, I take no credit for her amazing work.

Chapter Two: An Emotional Conversation

The next morning the trio walked into the dungeon, waiting for Snape to arrive. "Do you think it's a coincidence that Potions takes place in the dungeon?" Ron suddenly asked as he pulled out some parchment.

"I think it's more than a coincidence. I mean, Snape's always conjuring tortuous assignments, that's what you do in a dungeon- torture and imprison people," Harry answered.

"What do you think, Hermione?" Ron asked, trying to bring the inattentive Hermione into the conversation. Her slightly bushy brown hair (it had more soft curls now) hung limp against her back. Her chocolate brown eyes were narrowed in concentration as if determined not to cry. Harry and Ron tapped her shoulder, causing Hermione to nearly jump out of her seat. "What?" Hermione asked, startled.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I'm just preoccupied with something."

"Does this have something to do with yesterday?" Ron asked warily.

Hermione nodded meekly, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "I'll tell you guys after class, okay?" Hermione whispered.

As if right on cue, Snape entered the room dramatically, his robes gliding over the floor, and his greasy black air flowing behind him. "How does he do that?" Ron whispered to Harry. Harry just shrugged.

"Today," Snape glared at the trio (Ron fought the urge to glare back)," we will concoct a very complex potion known as the Peristalsis Potion. Can anyone tell me the purpose of this potion?"

Surprisingly, Hermione's hand did not shoot into the air. Instead, her hands lay limp against her sides as she stared into space. Unfortunately, Snape noticed this. "Well, Miss Granger aren't you going to raise your hand?" Snape asked, smirking broadly.

"No, sir," Hermione replied, venom dripping over every word. This surprised Snape since Hermione was usually very respectful.

"Why not then? Have I asked you something that you do not know?" Snape asked, obviously enjoying embarrassing Hermione. Ron and Harry glanced at Hermione while the class stared at her in shock.

"Of course I know, sir. I just don't see the point of raising my hand when you never call on me. Why don't you call on one of you 'knowledgeable' Slytherins for today? Surely you don't believe their heads are completely empty." Hermione stood up defiantly, glared at Snape, and stormed out of the class, leaving the Slytherins seething and Snape in a total state of shock. The only time Hermione had ever walked out on a class was in Trelawney's divination class.

Snape quickly got himself together and announced," Well, for Miss Granger's impudence, all of the Gryffindors will write a ten-foot essay on the role of the Peristalsis Potion in digestion and why it's important. The Slytherins will complete the original assignment written on the board. This will be handed in next Thursday. Class dismissed!"

The students left class and began talking to each other excitedly about Hermione's odd behavior. No one had ever walked out on Snape's class before. They were so shocked that Snape had not hexed her into oblivion that they didn't even complain about the extra homework.

Meanwhile, Ron and Harry began searching for Hermione. "Maybe she's in the common room," Ron suggested. The two boys ran, dodging students in the corridors. There in the common room the boys found Hermione hunched over a desk, sobbing. Ron and Harry enveloped her in a hug, trying to comfort her. "Hermione, everything will be all right. Snape is always a git. Don't pay any attention to what he says." Ron said.

Hermione shook her head. "Thanks, Ron, but that isn't why I'm crying."

"So what is the reason Hermione?" Ron asked , squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.

Harry wiped away a tear from her cheek. "You can tell us anything. You do know that, right?"

Hermione nodded. "Thank you, both of you. I've been acting so emotional. The reason I'm crying is that I'm afraid of being alone."

"What do you mean? You're never alone. You will always have me and Harry," Ron asked, more confused than ever.

Hermione smiled, surprised by his sentimental words. "Yes, you're right Ron, but what if you and Harry are accepted into the study abroad program? You'll both be gone for an entire year and I'll have absolutely no one," Hermione said sadly. She chuckled for a second before continuing," You must think I'm being incredibly selfish and silly."

"No, not at all. You are the most considerate, sweet and intelligent human being on the face of this earth," Harry assured her.

"Yeah, no one holds a candle to you, Hermione," Ron added.

Hermione knew she was very lucky to have two such good friends. She took a deep breath and continued. "There's more. This past summer, my entire life changed for the worse: Voldemort killed my parents."

A/N: Ooh! A cliffhanger! Sorry about that. In case, it wasn't clear of why Hermione was crying, she's devastated over the deaths of her parents (obviously), and if Harry and Ron leave for school in America, she'll feel even more alone and depressed. No one will be there to help her through her period of mourning.

I give a HUGE thanks to my lovely reviewers:

Genickuoa : You were my first reviewer! Yes, I did read your story "Closing My Eyes," and I thought it was amazing! Everyone read this story!

Angel Slash Devil: Thank you for noticing I kept the characters in character, and for your review.

Lia06: Thank you for you kind words! I welcome any advice you have.