It seemed like Dawn all over again. The sky had turned to a golden hue, the clouds to purple where the few sunrays would touch them. After the end of the heavy storm, small drops of rain had fallen from the sky, gleaming like shinning stars before disappearing down to the earth bellow. Harry didn't have time to contemplate anything of this; he sped behind the flying Scarlet Steam Engine, it's wagons bobbling up and down.

It wasn't Dawn, but Sunset, and it seemed to Harry, that the night would be darker than ever.

The Dementors had left. His Patronus stag had now long winked out of the sky. But, he was late, late of two days. He hadn't had time to think about Ron or Hermione, but now that the threat was at bay, their faces swam in his head. Hermione would be probably mad; Ron would keep a grudge for a couple of days, but then what? He would have to explain.

Would they understand?

Harry thrust his broom up, heading straight for the clouds. He was frozen to the bone, his cloak soaked from the rain, his black hair plastered to his forehead, still full of water. He'd flown right through the storm, towards the train, lightning taking him for target, and the grail… The grail hadn't been the worse, with the help of a shield charm, the ice had only bounced off his advancing form. He'd flown for hours, fought off Dementors and two daring Death Eaters. He hadn't felt the cold back then, or the fatigue. The rush had left no place for such things. Blood had pounded in his ears as he flew, his body leaning against his broom, increasing the speed. But now, oh, he felt the cold alright and the weight of weeks without sleep, both now assaulting him at the same time.

The clouds swallowed him whole, and Harry felt safe for a while. It felt good to fly, it felt like freedom. He swooped around a large mass of fluffy white, just to feel the rapid flows of air. But soon he had to descend once more towards the ground.

He watched as the rather battered Hogwarts Express descended gradually towards Hogsmeade's train station. Harry heard the rails screech as the wheels came into contact with the ground.

He saw the students pouring out on the platform and tried to make out his two friends, but couldn't risk coming any closer to the station. He gave his broom a slight thrust to the left and he flew over towards the castle, black form against the setting sun. Over Hogwarts' grounds he went, his feet touching the top of a couple of trees that had itched their way apart from the Forbidden Forest, then over Hagrid's smocking hut and towards Hogwarts' front oak doors.

Changing his mind suddenly, Harry pulled his broom up and shot over the Front Doors and towards the towers, swaying between the stone pillars, glancing in a couple of windows as he passed. Unfortunately, something had been changed without his realisation.

A cold, hard hand struck out briskly, catching the end of Harry's cloak, jerking him out of the reverie that his flight had caused.

He hung from the grip of a large black form which hissed angrily as it shook Harry over a drop of forty feet.

Fortunately, Harry kept enough sense to not let his grip lighten on the handle of his Firebolt. He struggled, overhanging from the hook like arm. Swinging on his broom, he gave such acceleration, that the figure lessened it's grasp out of cheer stupor.

Harry landed on the roof with a thud, his wand already out and raised towards his aggressor.

"Freindlam!" Harry cried out, shooting a blue jet of light at the black form that advanced towards him, feline like. The spell bounced off the creature harmlessly.

"Striklamienta!" the red jinx did the same, falling away as if it had been a simple breeze. The thing groaned, it's footsteps heavy. It seemed ready to pounce.

With a last effort, Harry gritted his teeth, ready to throw one of the four Spells of Crumb. "Grinderlorma!" Purple lightning struck the thing, the licks of energy clinging to the form and then… it crumbled to rubble.

The last rays of light illuminated what seemed to be a pile of rough stone. Harry looked at it puzzled as the sun set for good, lights in the tower windows turning on like as many fireflies in a swamp, then night took over Hogwarts.

Something shifted behind Harry. He reeled around, trying to face the new threat. "Lumos," he whispered and his wand spread light from it's tip.

Something enormous loomed over him, much bigger than the last one. Fangs gleamed dangerously. It's mouth hung wide-open, showing rows after rows of sharp teeth. Three eyes peered down at him, a great big massive paw raised over Harry's head, it's claws out. It's red eyes reflected the light from Harry's wand like mad fire.

"Grinderlorma!" Harry cried again, pointing his wand at it. The purple energy wrapped itself around the great form with an ear splitting 'CRACK'. However, the spell didn't have any effect on the monster, and Harry had to throw himself out of harm's way, avoiding getting grounded by the creature's paw as it pounded down on the roof, the tower trembling on it's foundations. He stood up only to find another grotesque face of a wild animal looking down at him.

Harry called his broom and jumped on it once more, escaping the lashing monster, it's enormous mouth missing Harry by an inch as it tried to swallow him whole.

"Maximus Lumos!" Like fireworks it whizzed out in a whirlwind of sparks and colour, forming a large ball of energy. It illuminated the dark for an instant, and like falling white flakes it disappeared with a 'WOOSH'. It was enough for Harry to make out a dozen, no hundreds of prowling creatures around him in the night, sharp wings spread out, deformed bodies ready to pounce on him. Distracted for a second, something hard picked him up and flung him off the tower.

Harry's wand escaped his grip and fell lower down, still casting light.

Harry caught the side of the tower just in time, swinging dangerously from the roof's gutter that creaked under his weight and grip, his feet kicking out at the wall as he tried to push himself back up. With a hard breath, he pulled himself up in a single motion. Scratching at the tiles as he tried not to slip off. He stood up, his eyes wide as, in the poor light, he saw a winged creature, looking very much like a dinosaur, flying directly at him.

A shrill whistle was blown from afar, followed by many others, like echoes in the night.

With a screech the flying animal passed over Harry's form and away into the darkness. The stone creatures (they could be made of stone to be that hard) seemed to have frozen in any of their movements, immobile like any lifeless statues.

Harry breathed. What were these dangerous creatures doing here, at Hogwarts? Serious damage could have been inflicted on him if something, or someone hadn't intervened, stopping their attack on Harry.

He crouched down at the edge of the roof, looking down at his still illuminated wand. He thrust his hand out, and with a silent order, his wand flew up directly into his palm. He straightened up, finding his broom not far away on the roof, intact to his relief. He mounted it and flew to the Astronomy Tower, gazing down at the stone creatures, their heads following him as he passed above them. Their silent gaze made Harry shudder, the hairs on the back of his neck stir uncomfortably.

Hermione spotted Ron as soon as she jumped out of the Hogwarts Express onto Hogsmeade's platform. She ran to him relieved to see him looking plainly alive.

It seemed that Hogsmeade had taken a good shower from the heavens before their arrival, Hermione had already stepped into a couple of puddles, and her feet were already wet. The air itself seemed to be holding water, making the air crisp cold. A couple of people already had pink cheeks and ears, puffs of mist forming as they breathed or talked.

"You're alright, Hermione?" Ron asked her as she finally joined him, noticing a bruise on her forehead.

"I'm fine…I think, and you?" She raised her hand to Ron's cheeks where blood had smudged and dried. She still felt shaken from the whole experience. If Ginny hadn't woken up, she dreaded what could have happened. "Your sister got hit-" seeing Ron's falling face, Hermione quickly added that she was actually out of harms way, even if Hermione did recommend that she went to the Hospital Wing right away, just in case.

Ron took her in large hug "How can I thank you?" he asked, relieved.

"That's what friends are for," mumbled Hermione in his chest, as he refused to let go. A smile was quickly catching on. They were alive, and the memories that Hermione had experienced on the train which had reappeared with the dementors, were nearly forgotten. It had been just that, another bad dream. They were well and breathing, and for the moment, she tried not to think about anything dark, but was quickly failing as she thought about her new duties as Head Girl. "Where's Harry?" she asked searching for her friend.

"He's back with the aurors, well, mainly with Mad-Eye-Moody, clearing some stuff up. He said he would join us in the Great Hall for the Sorting."

Hermione nodded at this, giving a last glance at the train as Ron and she left towards the black carriages that would take them up to the Main Doors of Hogwarts. It was their final year… Which reminded Hermione that they had their N.E.W.T.s to see to as soon as possible.

"I'm going to find Ginny," Ron said. "I'll be back in a minute."

"'irst years, this way!" Hermione heard a booming voice call the first years. She turned to find Hagrid towering over the arriving students that looked up at him unsure if they should follow him or run for it. She headed towards him.

"Hagrid!" Hermione called, waving her arm over her head.

"Hello Hermione! Good to see ya!" Hagrid said patting her on the shoulder as she got to the piling first years, who seemed to ease when they saw Hermione talk friendly with the large man with the doubtful and enormous fur coat. "How was your summer?" Saying this, a dark cloud seemed to pass over his face, sobering his expression, but it quickly left.

"I went to Bulgaria, to see Viktor Krum with my parents," she told him.

"So did ya. That's the Bulgarian Seeker ain't it?" He lifted a large eyebrow with a grin. "Nothing more goin' on with Krum? Been in touch since Fourth year, haven't ya?"

Hermione had the decency to blush in front of the First years. "You're taking the First years to the Lake?" she asked to change subject. She wished that people would

"Nah, not this year, go in the carriages… just in case, ya know." The same worried expression clouded his face. "And after what I've heard on the train, you've just got out of som' pickle."

"But there was Harry Potter!" a first year that was listening to their conversation spoke up, his eyes gleaming. "He made the Dementors flee! And you're his best friend, right?" he asked pointing at Hermione with his finger.

Hermione smiled at him, her brown eyes tired. She headed to the carriages, the Thestrals still invisible to her eyes, and entered an empty coach, now waiting for Ron, Ginny, Luna... and Harry.

Hermione sat back, resting her head against the side of the carriage, a headache slowly creeping up. She felt washed out of all enthusiasm, as if all her energy had been stolen without her noticing before. It seemed like she had aged years in less than a day. She yawned, pulling her hand up to cover her mouth.

'You're his best friend.'

Making sure that neither McGonagall or any aurors were too close, she took out the small piece of parchment from her pocket. Hermione still couldn't believe it'd been so easy to fool them. She'd ripped this off from the Contract Parchment as she distracted Professor McGonagall by asking about muggle protection, even Mad Eye Moody hadn't noticed the ordeal.

She placed it in a small book, 'The Great Dictionary of Magic Abnormalities and Dysfunctions' She then made a small sealing charm over it to keep it shut. Satisfied, Hermione hid it back in her cloak just as Ron, his arm around a rather good looking Ginny came back, followed by Luna that was still quite pale in the cheeks from the fright.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked once more.

"Special orders from Moody, he gets his own carriage," Ron told her.

The carriage lurched forward and the coaches, like black beetles, wobbled up towards Hogwarts, leaving Hogsmeade behind.

Ron was busy fussing over Ginny, who tried to convince him that she was perfectly fine while Hermione looked out of the carriage's window. The sky was clearing just as the sun was setting. She wondered about Harry's strange behaviour, did it have anything to do with the aurors? He hadn't seemed himself, if that was even possible. She then started thinking about her new responsibilities towards the school as Head Girl. They'd taken every necessary precaution, would it be enough? If there was an attack on castle, she and Neville would have to lead their Gryffindor House straight out of Hogwarts… and she wouldn't be able to stay with Harry or Ron and fight by their side in the last battle.

Hermione tightened her cloak around herself as she peered out of the carriage window; they were steadily approaching Hogwarts' Gates.

As the Sun was finally disappearing, Hermione squinted to have a better look at the Castle. It seemed there were flashes of light amid the towering peaks of Hogwarts. Before she could make out anything more, thick acacias hid the view just as night fell.

She turned her attention to her red hair friends, and more particularly to Luna Lovegood. She sat silently in the corner, her exuberant eyes still a little red from the tears, her usual radish earrings swinging to the carriage's movements. She was staring at Ginny, without blinking once in a whole minute. Luna then adverted her unflinching gaze to Hermione, giving the Head Girl a small, worried smile.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt, Ron bumped his head backward to Ginny's and Luna's amusement. They climbed down into the little courtyard in front of the Great Gates. There were a couple surprised cries, and some scurrying until Hagrid's booming voice calmed them down.

"Nothing t' worry about. They're new Security, now go ahead to the Great Hall, First years follow me."

Flanking the high, thick oak doors, were two immense statues, ten feet tall, sitting perfectly still, their spiked tails curled around their paws, their large grimacing heads looming over the arriving students. They were menacing enough. Hermione looked up at them with no surprise, neither did Neville or any of the other Head Girls and Boys. These Gargoyles would be their First Defence against any of the Death Eater's attack.

"A Gargoyle attacked my Dad once, in Paris at the Cathedral," a Third Year was telling his friends. "Broke his arm. Needed five Sentinels to calm it down, and Dad was warned to not come back. Talk about a grudge, Dad had only tickled it to see if could move."

Harry was nowhere in sight.

She walked up the steps without giving the gargoyles another glance. The red eyes that gleamed in the faint light of the carriages' lamps followed the students as they entered. Ron had stopped next to one and was gazing up at it's deadly jaw.

"Wonder what they eat," he said aloud.

"Ron," Hermione called pulling him by the arm and away from the deformed beast. "They don't eat, they're made of stone." She didn't like the creatures one bit, they weren't exactly known for their remarkable intelligence.

The Great Hall was once more lit with thousands of floating candles, the four House tables were still there, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, from left to right. The ceiling above hung with dark clouds. This could have been a usual school year, expect for the added places up at the Staff's table. The three friends sat at the Gryffindor table, Luna heading to the Ravenclaw one. Dean and Seamus soon joined Ron and Hermione.

"Alright after the trip?" Seamus asked them. He didn't seem to have come round after the attack, and was still shaking a little. "Don't know if I should be relieved with Gargoyles keeping guard, you know," he said sitting down next to Ron. "Stone brains and all."

"I'm sure Dumbledore has them very well trained," Hermione told him, trying to reassure the Seventh year boy. Seamus glanced at her Head Girl badge.

"Heard about the Exchange Students?" Dean said excitedly. "Never saw a fairy of my life..."

As Professor McGonagall placed the battered brown Sorting Hat on the stool in front of the Staff table, all discussions faded away. The Hat cleared it's voice and started the annual song.

"Here again are seated in this Great Hall

Like many times before

The Four Houses, together but alone

Their hearts turned to stone.

The Cold Wind has come again,

And as you shiver out in the open,

The clouds will loom over the plain

As you shall fight until the end.

Gryffindor might slay many foe,

And Hufflepuff stand against the snow

Ravenclaw deceive the enemy

And Slytherin protect sincerely,

Only bound and together,

Shall you defeat the Dark Lord.

Here again are seated in the Great Hall

Like many times before

The Four Houses divided

Fate and Destinies already decided.

Spring might never rise from the Cold,

And Winter be your only grave,

But hope and glory have not been sold,

To no one you shall be slave.

Love and Friendship is still yours.

So Hogwarts of Four,

That you be of Daring Gryffindor,

Or clever as Ravenclaw,

To Hufflepuff always true and faithful

Or of Slytherin, of the old school…

Here you shall stand in the Great Hall

Like many times before

The Four Houses proud and tall

United under the lore."

The Great Hall fell silent with the last echoing verses of the Sorting Hat, the rip for mouth closing. The students glanced at each other questioningly. The Sorting Hat had never mentioned Voldemort in any of it's songs before, not even in the warning it had given two years ago. This time it had actually given an omen of death.

"Under the lore? What lore?" a Fourth year Hufflepuff whispered.

The First Years looked terrified at the Hat's song, and had taken a couple of steps back, some were actually glancing at the entrance from where they had come in.

"What lore?" Ginny asked too, quickly regaining her senses.

"Lore can also mean knowledge, teaching," Hermione told her looking grim, thinking hard about the meaning of the song. It was clearly referencing to the Death Eater attack and Voldemort's rise to power. Could the Cold Wind have any connection to the muggle Cold War?

"Has anyone heard about a 'sincere' Slytherin?" said Ron, rather puzzled about the whole ordeal. He shot a dirty look towards the Slytherin table, and more particularly at Malfoy, surprised that the git was still there this year with his farther publicly declared Death Eater.

"Now let the Sorting be attended to!" Professor McGonagall declared opening a roll of parchment, from which she read out the first name on the list of First Years. "Abigdale Leliane!"

The Great Hall had calmed down. Hermione looked up at the Staff table as Abigdale Leliane became Hufflepuff. Professor Lupin was sitting next to Professor Sinatra. Dumbledore who was listening attentively to the Sorting, had a dark wizard seated beside him. There was another new witch, thin and unusually tall, who contrasted terribly with the tiny Professor Flitwick. Hagrid, who was sitting at the end of the table, towered over a small Asian witch.

'Cardigan Healus… Dimwit Dorothy… Duranthrill Octavus…" Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff. Cheers erupted from different tables as the First years were divided between the Houses. Hermione wondered where Harry had gone off to again. His place was empty next to Ron's.

Hillfred Guilliem became the first Gryffindor and Hermione clapped her hands with the others as the small boy headed towards their table.

Then more names followed, First Years pulling the Sorting Hat over their head. "Jered Holly… Kanon Sideralia…" and so on, finishing with Wart Winifred and Xineth Oliver. Three more boys and four girls had joined Gryffindor table, each getting their share of applause.

McGonagall regaining her seat at the Staff table just as Professor Dumbledore sat up, tinting his wand against his glass to have the attention of the numerous students.

"Before I forget with the approaching feast," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Welcome to this new year at Hogwarts. I would like you to greet our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers. Professor Guilduim." He mentioned to the wizard sitting next to him. "Professor Lupin that has joined us once more." Remus Lupin stood up and gave a curt nod to Dumbledore. "Professor Agresti." The thin witch stood up. She actually was taller than the Headmaster. "And Professor Xio Zong." It was the Asian's witch's turn to get up.

"I might remind you a couple of important rules," Dumbledore continued on. "The Forbidden Forest is like it's name, forbidden to all students. Magic in the corridors between courses is, as Mr Filch, the caretaker told me to remind you, not authorised.

"I would like to say a couple of words on this new school year. As most must have heard, Hogwarts will be greeting foreign students this term. A première in this School's history. New horizons will be opened, an excellent opportunity to meet and familiarise one's self with the outside world. Now, before I make you wait for too long… Tuck in."

Food in plenty appeared on all four tables, and everyone started pilling Potato Wraps with Corn and other such good thing on their plates.

"He didn't say when they would be arriving," said Ron before munching on his chicken wings.

"Suppose it's got to do with 'unifying' thing the Sorting Hat talked about," remarked Ginny.

The mood wasn't very light, what with the earlier attack and the Sorting Hat's song.

Harry still hadn't arrived, and Hermione and Ron weren't the only ones who'd noticed this. A couple of Hufflepuffs were pointing their way and the Slytherins weren't making much effort to keep their conversations discreet on the matter.

"Malfoy's a Head Boy too," Hermione said.

Ron stopped munching on his corn. "You must be kidding, I thought Neville was Head Boy."

"There's two by House now," Hermione said, scooping some Fisherman's Pie on her plate.

"You get your own room, don't you?" Ginny asked.

"And study," Hermione added. "Bathroom too." She wouldn't have to share Pavarati and Lavender's nonsense girl talk all day, but she knew she would miss them in the end.

"It sounds worth being a Head Girl," Ginny said dreamily.

"If you don't count patrolling at night and endless meetings. I have one per week with Professor McGonagall."

"Oh yeah… Percy used to-" Ginny stopped in her sentence too late.

The table around Ron became uncomfortable as Ginny named her and Ron's older brother.

Desert finished, the Great Hall was soon filling out, the prefects leaving with the First Years, showing them the way. Then the other years started leaving, yawning tiredly, following behind at their own rhythm. Hermione watched as Malfoy sat up with a larger group of cronies than usual. Head Boy seemed to be suiting him rather well. Pansy Parkinson didn't seem to have taken the news of being left out very well, glaring daggers at the Slytherin Head Girl, Blaise Zambini. Hermione wondered if it was necessary to risk their heads with the Slytherin, was it worth it? Only time would tell, and Hermione promised herself, that if Malfoy crossed the line of treachery once, she would make sure that he left Hogwarts for good.

As they climbed the main stairs, Hermione saw, from ahead, what was unmistakably Tonks with orange flashing hair. The auror waved at them, pocking a Third year in the head, to which she excused herself, and rushed over to Ron and Hermione.

"Hey kiddos, how was summer, didn't get to much of a fright on the way here?" Tonks had a grin plastered on her face, Ron and Hermione exchanged questioning glances.

"Summer was alright," Ron told her without giving more indication. "Hermione went to Viktor Krum's Manor."

"Really? On the good side of an International Quidditch Star, huh?" She winked at Hermione.

Harry turned his head back at Hermione and gave her, Hermione swore that she hadn't dreamt, a wink. She blinked, trying to put her thoughts back into place.

Hermione stared up at Tonks from the lower step. This explained Harry's strange mood on the train. It couldn't be, could it? "Orange suits you better than jet black." Hermione said, waiting for Tonks' reaction. The Auror's face fell a little. "Where's Harry?" Hermione added, waiting for some sort of confession that would give her reason.

"Could never fool you, Hermione," Tonks said, her usual cheery personality dimmed. "He's waiting for you on the fourth floor, next to the Mad Witch statue."

Tonks gave them no more indication, and continued her way without another word.

"What was all that about?" asked Ron when they arrived at the Fourth Floor, rather confused about the exchange between the two women. They walked down the gothic corridor together, searching for the statue.

"It wasn't Harry on the train," Hermione told him after have made sure that the busy stairs were out of earshot. "It was Tonks under disguise."

"That explains the cards," said Ron.

"And why he didn't already know that I'd gone to Viktor's."

"And his lack of reaction to the Chocolate Frog Card," Ron muttered under his breath, remembering when he gave the card to Harry. He would have thought that his friend would at least get a little angry. But the only sign of emotion had been a simple shrug.

"What Chocolate Frog Car?" asked Hermione trying to remember a particular discussion.

"Oh, nothing," Ron quickly added. "Wonder if it was another one of Mad Eye Moody's mad plan? The Harry swapping, the train flying... But how can you know if this is going to be the Real Harry too?"

"You can see to yourselves," said a voice as a figure left the shadow of the Mad Witch statue who had her arms brandished, her face contorted by a silent scream that made her eyes pop out incredibly.

"Harry…" Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. This, this wasn't the Harry they had left at the end of last year's school term, he didn't resemble Tonks' interpretation either.

Harry had grown, but still not as tall as Ron. His shoulders seemed broader. But this was not the only change. His round glasses had disappeared from his nose, so had the boyish expression that would seep over every now and then. He was wearing his black school robes, patched up and ripped at certain areas, his cloak dangling from his arm. It seemed to have been burnt at some extent. But it was his face that had changed the most. It looked hard, and in the light the corridor torches cast, Hermione noticed that his green eyes had darkened. What had happened to him?

"Hermione, Ron…" He spoke their names as if they might be ghosts and he was only imagining their presence.

"Mate, what happened to you?" Ron said staring at his best friend. "You look…" the words failed him.

Harry turned his gaze away and walked up to a door. He opened it and mentioned them to follow. Ron and Hermione entered the deserted classroom, Harry closing it behind them. He then quickly lit his wand. A giant mirror was leaning against the wall, it's golden frame engraved with figures. The mirror of Erised.

Harry finally broke the silence. "Are you all right? Did you get hurt in the attack?" he asked, concerned with the wellbeing of his friends.

Hermione spoke up as Ron was too dumfounded about Harry's appearance to speak himself. "We're alright. Ginny got hit, but she came out of it fine. You were there… weren't you? I saw the patronus stag and well…"

"Yes, I was outside, on my broom…"

"Where have you been?" asked Ron, after have finally got out of his stupor. "I mean Tonks was posing for you, right?"

"Yes, she told me, I wasn't aware first. Moody decided it was the best, so no one would get suspicious. I was late..."

Hermione didn't know where to start either. "What happened to you in the summer?"

Harry turned his gaze to her. "Nothing happened to me in the summer, but, on my birthday. I got shot."

"By who?"

"By what?"

"By my Uncle, with a gun. He was out of control, and he started shooting anywhere. I got hit in the shoulder. I'm fine now," he added seeing Hermione's horror struck face. "A gun is a muggle weapon," he told Ron noticing his confused expression. "I was sent to St Mungo's for care. And Dumbledore came to visit me with Moody," he told them, leaving the Battle Wizard's presence out of the story altogether.

"Where did you go, if you were late?" Hermione asked. "Another attack or…"

"No, not another attack. I went…" Harry seemed to be weighing what he was about to say. "I went back in time, with a Time-Turner, back of about a year."

Hermione gasped. But if he had gone back in time… what could make him possibly want to go back in Time of a year? The Attack on Diagon Alley? But no, as far that Hermione could remember, the attack had taken place, she still had the scars… "What for?" she asked. Time Travel had consequences, what would they be this time?

"You told me that had to learn as much as possible, no?" Harry told Hermione. "I took the advice. I spent a year in Nepal, training for the Final Battle."

Neither Ron nor Hermione knew what to say to this. The room fell into an eerie silence, none of them tempted to speak. They wanted to ask Harry thousands of questions. But deep down, they knew. The Final Battle was close, and Harry had decided that, to have better chances of living, and protected his friends, he had to become stronger, stronger than Voldermort. But at what cost?

Hermione traced Harry's gaze to the mirror of Erised, wondering if he still saw his parents there, or something more. She refused to let herself get lost in the reflection of pompous desires of her unconsciousness which would never get to be fulfilled.

Hermione walked up to him, and seizing his free hand, leaned up and gave him a brief kiss on the cheek, taking his gaze off the mirror. The skin of his palm was rough, but she gave no attention to it, squeezing it lightly as she looked up into his green eyes. People don't need something else to tell them what they want. They have to find out by theirselves.

They left the room together for the corridor, still not exchanging any words. Hermione finally let go of Harry's hand and took a step back, not without remorse.

"We'll see you tomorrow then," Hermione said. "Down at breakfast in the Great Hall."

Harry nodded before leaving with Ron. Hermione stayed in the corridor until her two friends disappeared from view.

Oh, here's the chapter then. Things will be getting more interesting… Well I hope. New time tables, Hermione's new responsibilities, Slytherin hatred, and much more. Changed the summary, passed over previous chapters once more, to get rid of some errors. And there. 4th chapter. Woooo, I've never been writing such long chapters before. I keep wanting to put more, but I might just run out of ideas in the future, so keeping them for then.

Any COMMENTS? Good or bad, I take both! Review please! Thanks.