CHAPTER 1

Hermione looked around sadly.

The Girl's Dormitory looked very different from what it had used to. Earlier, the three of the vanity tables in the room had been cluttered with lipsticks, rouge, and magazines that provided ample information on making one beautiful to the opposite sex. Parvati, Lavender, and Ginny had always held these top priority.

The fourth one, however, had been clean, except for a plastic hairbrush, and a copy of Hogwarts: A History, placed in the centre of the table, like an idol in a shrine. Hermione Granger always kept her table neat, and clean, and bare to the essentials.

Now, however, things were changing. All four tables were absolutely bare. The four poster beds were made and neat, looking, literally, as if they would never be slept in again. Parvati and Lavender had already taken their packed bags to the Entrance Hall. Ginny was sitting on her bed, and slowly, with fumbling fingers, zipping up her bag.

'I can't believe we're actually leaving,' she said, softly, to Hermione.

'Neither can I,' Hermione breathed back. 'It just seems so wrong...I always assumed Id stay at Hogwarts for all seven years, and then start teaching Transfiguration here.'

Ginny managed a weak smile.

'That's so typical of you, Herms,' she said. Then she grew serious. 'It will all be so new and different. It's scary.'

Hermione shook her head.

'It's not that,' she said, thoughtfully, 'I'm not scared. Just-upset.... I don't want to have to leave Hogwarts.'

'None of us do,' Ginny said, sniffling. 'But you might cheer up- you have only one year to spend in that horrible school. I have two!'

They sat on silence for a few minutes. Then, Hermione jerked, as if she had been yanked out a trance.

'We had better get going,' she said, grimly. 'Professor McGonagall is making a speech downstairs.'

'There you two are,' Ron said. Dully. All the vigor that had once been in his voice vanished. 'McGonagall is about to start.'

He pulled out a chair for Hermione, who sat down beside him. Ginny sat next to her.

'Where's Harry?' she asked, frowning.

Ron's eyes darkened a little. 'Harry is- still upstairs. He's- packing his trunk I suppose.' The lie was evident in his voice.

'He's all right, isn't he?' Ginny asked, fearfully. Ron winced.

'I suppose so.'

Hermione felt tears well up in her throat. Here was Ron- acting practical and deliberate, not to mention dull- unlike his normal hyperactive self. Ginny afraid to speak in anything more than the faintest whisper. Harry locking himself up in his dorm, idly playing about at his wrist with a knife. Everything had changed.

She looked around the Great Hall. The four tables were as they were. However, the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students were slouched low in their seats, their faces wide and fearful. At the far end of the hall, at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy was holding court. All of them had gleeful smiles on their faces.

Draco Malfoy...

Looking at him, Hermione felt a vicious lurch of hate in her gut. She had hated him when she first set eyes on his pale face, pointed nose, and sleek blonde hair. Nothing about that had changed except maybe she had grown to hate him even more. His insensitivity and his total disregard for others feelings made her feel like puking.

As she stared at him, loathing and hate reflected in her eyes, he turned his head, and all of a sudden she was staring straight at his eyes. They were cold, and hard. When he saw her staring at him, the slightest trace of a smirk etched itself on his lips, and he glared back at her. It was clear that the passionate anger she felt every time she thought of him was fully returned.

Why, though? She asked herself. Because she was a Mudblood. Not fit to be seen in the company of those as great at Draco Malfoy.

She bit down her anger. Now was not the time.

There was a small creak of a chair being pushed back. Hermione tilted her head up, and saw Professor McGonagall surveying the children in the hall. Her normally stern black eyes now looked hollow and sad. The tight knot at the back of her head was loose and rumpled, and her robes crinkled to the foot.

'Good evening children,' she said, in a soft voice. 'I- I am sure all of you know the extremely- tragic- not to mention devastating news that I am about to report.'

Hermione flinched. Professor McGonagall! Stuttering!

'As you all know, an- an attack was launched at Hogsmeade, a few hours previously. I am extremely- extremely sorry to tell you that- that our dear, and much loved Headmaster, Professor Albus D-Dumbledore, who was- it seems, occupying himself with listening to- to chamber music at the old inn is- is-.'

She paused. Her head drooped, as if she was loaded with shame.

'Is no more.'

There was no response from the crowd. Everyone knew. The news had spread like wildfire- Dumbledore dead! Dumbledore gone!

Hermione wiped away a few stray tears from her eyes.

'We- we believe,' Professor McGonagall continued, 'That Lord Voldemort might now try to attack the school. Thus- to ensure- ensure your safety, we are transporting you to another school. The Hogwarts Express is going to be taking- taking you to Durmstrang, where you will spend the remainder of the month. Your safety is out- our immediate concern. Later, we will organize for you to depart to your houses. The Hogwarts Express will leave in about half an hour. Your luggage has already been transported to the train. In twenty minutes, please assemble at the Hogwarts gates. Until then, you are free to do as you please.'

She stepped down.

Hermione no longer tried to restrain the tears that were pricking at her eyelids. She began to sob.