A/N: I would like to thank the following people for reviewing my last chapter: JanieGranger, LillyOfTheValley, Marilyn, Slayergirl1362, LadyDelphinea, omnipotent otaku and JTfanaddict
I know I have not updated in quite a while, but with my exams drawing nearer I don't have as much time for my stories as I would like. However as it is the Easter holidays I decided to update this story.
I hope you enjoy. Please read and review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
She looked into his large green eyes, they were unreadable and that scared her more than anything, "I'm sorry," she whispered at last.
Harry sighed and looked at her as if for the first time, "what do you want me to say?" he asked quietly.
"Just tell me you forgive me," the Gryffindor girl mumbled sadly.
He opened his mouth as though to speak but then closed it again, instead leaning over and surprising the bushy haired girl with a hug. He had considered shouting at her… storming out and refusing to speak to her. But what good would that have done? Since the start of the year Harry felt Hermione slipping through his fingers; she used to trust him, but now they barely spoke, and he hated it. He couldn't risk loosing her again.
He just wanted things to go back to how they were.
"I hate it when we fight," he shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips, "plus, who would I have to copy potions homework from?" He laughed as Hermione's pillow hit him square on the face.
Minerva McGonagall stood in her usual manner, head held high and every hair in place, tightly tied in a perfect bun. Her shoulders straight and posture so perfect one could tell it must have come naturally to her. She tapped her knife gently on the side of her goblet looking down upon the four tables full of Hogwarts students. She neither spoke nor moved until complete silence had fallen over the students. They looked at her expectantly, and she in return looked at them, a sad expression on her face, and yet she still had about her an air of power and strength.
"I am afraid," she began addressing the students, "that I have some bad news. By order of the ministry and Cornelius Fudge, the school will the shut down…" she paused for a brief second whilst an outburst of voices erupted from the hall, she tapped her knife once more upon the goblet and continued addressing the students, and "the school will be shut down on the sixteenth of January due to the growing danger of safety here at Hogwarts," she finished bitterly, "there is nothing I can do".
She observed the students from where she stood, each had a different reaction, and then lastly her gaze fell upon Harry, his face distraught, knowing he would return to his aunt and uncle seemed to be worst than the threat of Voldemort to him. One last time she opened her mouth to address Hogwarts, "I expect you to carry on as normal until this date, the Christmas dance will be held on the twenty fifth of December just as noted and lessons start again on the eight," with this she bowed her head sadly and resumed her place with the teachers.
Hermione watched as the teacher took a sip from her goblet and quietly conversed with Snape. "What are we gonna do?" muttered Harry in her ear.
"Don't worry mate," began Ron, "I'm sure everything will turn out fine, it always does," he patted Harry's back and made every possible attempt to avoid Hermione's eye, still slightly annoyed and not ready to forgive her.
Harry shook his head, "no, you don't understand," he shouted banging his hand on the table, "I feel him. Voldemort. He's back, and this time, fighting him will be futile. He's never been so strong before," silence once again fell over the students of Hogwarts, horrified looks on their faces.
"Then what's he waiting for?" muttered Ginny, "why doesn't he just kill us all and get it over with?"
Harry looked at her sadly, "I don't know".
Hogwarts School as aflame with whispers and rumours of Harry Potters outburst for days, and most students seldom left their dormitories, however, as days past and Voldemort had not attacked, most decided to put it down to the crazy ravings of someone who had come close to death too many times. And, by the Christmas Eve, all anyone could possibly think about was choosing the right dress for the dance. Perhaps it was better this way, for a life spent thinking about death, is a half-life. The students had accepted that the Dark Lord had gained power… this was nothing new to them.
Ron cringed deeply as Lavender waved lovingly at him from across the common room; she had been acting like this ever since he asked her to the dance. Hermione smiled from behind her book as Ron tried to hide his face, which was turning redder by the second. Harry, who had finally mustered up the courage to ask Ginny to go with him to the dance, had been off in a little world of his own ever since she accepted.
The head girl had decided to spend the morning with her friends in the Gryffindor common room, and within minutes things were as they were before. Almost. She still had something hanging over her shoulder… something, which she could not shrug off.
That girl. The one in her dream. She couldn't let her die… she must have had the dream for a reason, and she wasn't about to let another life slip through her fingers.
Hermione jumped up from her seat and ran to the window, peering down upon the Hogwarts grounds. Not a single sign of snow, and that was something to be thankful for, for the girl would be safe as long as the sky did not open up shower them with snowflakes.
She turned and looked over at her friends, "I have to go," she smiled, "Head girl duties and all that, I have to make sure everything is ready for the dance tomorrow. I need to give a list of things to the house elves that they need to do. Of course I think it's disgraceful how I am expected to allow these poor little creatures to do all that work… I would have done it myself but McGonagall insists…"
"Okay Hermione," interrupted Ron, "we'll see you later".
"Hmm?" she looked up mid-lecture, "oh right yes… bye", and with a small wave she walked out of the Gryffindor common room and back to her own one, stopping only to tell the password to the mermaid who sat gracefully in the picture.
She took a further step into the red and silver room, making as little noise as possible so as not to wake the blonde boy who was sleeping in front of the fire. His body was stretched across the sofa, his head propped up with a small square cushion. He looked so peaceful. Hermione stood at the edge of the sofa, looking at his perfect features, so innocent in his slumber.
"Hermione stop staring at me," he mumbled, making her jump.
"Okay," she whispered, not moving from where she was standing.
"Stop it," he muttered, finally opening his eyes and pulling her down on top of him, gently brushing his lips against hers. "So, did wonder boy and his sidekick stop sulking?" he teased.
"They were not sulking" Hermione corrected, "They were deeply upset, but I think they've gotten over it now".
"I am so relieved (!)," Draco joked.
"Come with me to the dance tomorrow," he whispered into her ear, tickling her gently.
"I'm not going," she replied.
Draco sat up carefully, regarding her closely, he could see she was being deadly serious, "why not?" he questioned, trying to mask the hurt look on his face.
She shrugged, "too much is going on. I would feel insensitive to go, when an innocent girls life is at risk. Plus I have to be here in case it starts to snow".
He nodded. "You're a good person," a small smile played upon his lips as she once again snuggled down into his arms.
Lucius Malfoy bowed in the presence of his master, "My Lord," he smirked, "the potion is ready".
"Excellent," hissed the Dark Lord, stroking his wand dangerously.
"The time has come, for little miss Granger to die at the hands of evil," he sneered, "I was her to suffer, and I want him to watch. I want to see the look of pain form across his face as he sees her die before his eyes".
The older Malfoy smiled to himself, his mind ablaze with thoughts, and what dark thoughts they were. He had the potion now, everything would fall into place, and the Gryffindor filth would play right into his hands. Draco would pay for his disobedience. And Lucius, planned to enjoy every second of it.