A/N: I'm liking that this is sad...that like everyone thinks so...not I'm not crazy, it's just how I wanted to be. But trust me it'll get happier...like in this chapter for instance...

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything connected to it. But it would so much fun if I did....


"Settle down class." Ms. Rankin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, said clapping her hands. Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was the first day of school after holidays, and she expected to tame the Gryffindors and the Slytherins? She would have better luck at trying to make pigs fly. She instead looked over to Harry and Ron. She swore if they didn't stop playing with their wands they were going to blow something up, and she wasn't going to be staying after to help them clean it up. Slowly the class began to quiet down.

"Now, I can teach you all the spells I want, but you may not always have your wand. Which is way we are going to practice sword fighting as a second defense!" Hermione shuddered a bit at the word sword. Remembering the blood on her sword, but bored all the same. She had learned everything about sword fighting. Another review. But she could show off, which she now loved. So she thought maybe that was a reason why she should stay in class instead of exiting out the back door. Ms. Rankin pulled out two long, sharp swords out of their cases.

"Now, these are charmed so there won't be any bloodshed. Who wants to give it a go?" Hermione didn't raise her hand immediately, maybe some fool would try and she would be able to laugh. But no takers. She sighed, stupid non risk takers, and raised her hand to the teacher's relief. The Slytherins scoffed. How could a mudblood bookworm be anything good at fighting? Hermione picked up the sword, testing it's weight. Not to heavy and not too light. Perfect. Before the teacher could instruct a word, Hermione started to battle. Metal clashed and there was a continued round jumps. But in the end, Ms. Rankin's sword was in Hermione's hand and Hermione had her pinned against the wall with the swords at her throat. The class's jaws dropped. The Slytherins couldn't believe it. The mudblood had some skill, due to the fact it all happened within 20 minutes. Ms. Rankin tried to smile and said

"I underestimated Ms. Granger's talent." she said to Hermione. Hermione only frowned and withdrew her swords and carefully put them on the table.

"You should take care of them....they'll rust if you don't." she said quietly, trancing her finger along the blade of the sword. The class, for the first time, had seen the softest side of Hermione that they had seen so far after break. She snapped out of it and her eyes turned to ice again. She stared at the awe struck students, who quickly turned away. Ms. Rankin, quickly fixed herself and gained order.

"Excellent work, Ms. Granger, 50 points to Gryffindor." The Gryffindors smiled, and looked to Hermione. But she was already looking toward to front of the room.


Draco Malfoy hadn't been looking forward to classes. He never did. Even worse when he found out he had to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts with those know it all Gryffindors. And he would be with the biggest know it all of them all Hermione Granger. He knew what would happen, she would come up to him, full of ideas and tasks. She would tell him to do something and in the end he would get someone else to do it. He was liking being Head Boy only because of the name and the nice huge room he got. But as he saw Hermione Granger, he was floored. She wasn't coming over to annoy him. Sure she took her usual place at the front of the class, but it was as if it was manual. Not because she wanted to. He saw, the learning spirit that made him sick to the stomach was gone completely. Not to mention she hadn't talked to Potter or Weasel the whole time. She was decked out in mostly black, with make up to match. The Granger spark he loved the tease was gone. The only spark or gleam about her seemed to be the Head Girl badge she wore on her chest. The worst thing about it was that he knew why she was like this. He couldn't be a man and admit it out loud, but he was ashamed. He was indirectly responsible for why she was like this. He felt his heart go out to her a bit. He stopped himself. He wasn't going to actually care about this girl, feel pity, sure, who wouldn't? But he wasn't going to care about her well being. She had her friends for that. Because Malfoy's didn't care. They acted and killed. They didn't feel. He ignored the teacher but perked up with she mentioned swords. His father had had a full collection of swords. He never got to learn much about them. Much less see them, they were in his father's study and his father had rarely allowed visitors. It was only after his death, Draco had trully seen the swords. He regretted not asking about them, it would a be a treat to show him to know how to use them. Not just because they entranced him but also because they were his worst subject.


When Draco had seen Hermione raise her hand, he wasn't surprised. She was every teacher's pet, except of course Snape, of which he held that title. But still he watched his mudblood classmate, hoping she would trip up or something, he did need something to talk about at lunch. He was a bit surprised at Hermione's boldness to strike without the teacher's consent. He was even more impressed that she seemed to be winning. He couldn't figure it out. This was the girl who created S.P.E.W. This was the girl who was anti violence but here she was, sword fighting the crap out of the teacher. Even more impressed when she did a flip and still continued to fight flawlessly. Where had she learned to fight like that? He looked in wonder. And she still managed to capture the teacher's sword and the look of terror on the teacher's face was priceless. It was the only moment in his life he wanted that Colin stalker of Harry Potter's to be around. He knew he could get a pretty penny for a photo like that. Even stranger, Hermione had put the swords back. But she looked so sad when she looked at them. Like for a moment, the ice or her heart had cracked and she was letting them in. He was for some reason entranced by her at that exact moment. But as quickly as the moment happened it went, her eyes again, dull and plain. He was about to shout a protest about Gryffindors getting 50 points for one sword fight, but he caught sight of her. She wasn't smiling in victory. She was just sitting there, her parchment book open, her quill ready. Emotionless.


Confusion filled Hermione's mind as the Ms. Rankin called her over as the class filed out. She almost groaned. Was this about the fight? It wasn't her fault that she had been trained. She needed to be in order to save the wizarding world. Surely that would a good enough excuse.

"Yes?" she asked politely.

"First off, Ms. Granger I commend your sword fighting skills. I've rarely seen a student who could defeat me." Ms. Rankin smiled. "And because of your skills, I have a favor to ask." Hermione nodded for her to continue. "I have a student who is a bit behind and I'm worried about him in this subject. Would you be willing to tutor him? You would get extra credit of course." Hermione didn't react to the words "Extra Credit". She really didn't want to do it, but she could tell Harry and Ron would be on her case and it gave her a reason to be out and around the castle. Away from the questions. She just hoped this kid would be half descent.

"Sure." she tried to say excitedly. Ms. Rankin smiled and started to fill in her in on her new job.


Luna was bored. After reading the Quibber, she had nothing to do. And she hadn't brought her journal so she was stuck. That was when she spotted Harry Potter. She smiled, she did had a bit of a thing for him. Maybe she could talk to him. Getting off the ground, without disturbing any grass, she walked over to where Harry was sitting. He seemed very focused at whatever he was looking at. She sat down next to him, Indian style, just as he was, and waited. After about 10 minutes he stirred.

"Luna!" he exclaimed.

"Hello Harry." she said softly, smiling, at her victory at getting him to notice her. She turned to face him. "How are you?"

"Uh, fine thanks. How about you?"

"Okay, I saw you looking at something, care to share what it was?" Harry was a bit amazed at the girl before him. Sure he had seen her at the train station, but here he really saw her. Dirty blonde hair and her voice was almost like the wind. It flowed and was soft, yet it felt like it had an unmeasurable meaning. She was welcome to Harry who had spent the whole day with Ron, worrying about Hermione.

"Well I was thinking about Hermione." he said. Luna turned her head away sadly. So he didn't like her. She hadn't excepted him to like her, everyone else thought of her as crazy but still she thought.... Harry noticed.

"Not THAT way. But have you seen her lately?" Luna's hopes were lifted and then she remembered seeing Hermione sometime yesterday. She had looked a bit of a fright.

"Yes, she seems to not be herself." she said simply.

"But why is the question?" Harry murmured.

"She did go through the final battle, you never know what she saw exactly."

"True." he admitted.

"Did she kill anyone?" she asked.

"She had to."

"Murdering a person is like murdering a unicorn." Luna started. Harry gave her a questioning look, a person and a unicorn.... But he didn't interrupt her. "It doesn't matter who it is exactly or if they are good or bad, but there's only one of the person EVER. Once that person is killed that's it. No one will ever be like them. That person was so perfect, as a unicorn is, that is deserved one shot at life. That can be a burden on a girl. I mean she killed some of these people's parents. She has to look at them everyday." Harry never thought of it that way.

"How did you become so wise?" he asked her.

"Since people don't talk to me, I watch them. How they react, move, talk, that sorta stuff. You can learn a lot about a person by simply watching them."

"Maybe that's why you got into Ravenclaw." he mentioned. She had a small smile.

"Maybe it was."


Ron still had questions of his own, as he stared at his latest Potions essay grade. It was a failing grade as always, but Ron had actually researched this time. Which made him feel like a failure instead of just blaming Snape on picking house favorites. As he entered his muggle studies class he knew this wasn't going to be good. Neither Harry or Hermione had this class this period. He silently cursed the option of free choice of classes. But Malfoy wasn't in this class so he breathed a sigh of relief. He took a seat toward the front but near the middle. There, to show the teacher he was all about learning but showed his classmates he wasn't a teacher's pet. He was a bit surprised when a pretty, red-blonde girl sat next to him.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked him. Ron, not being very experienced with girls, only shook his head no. The girl smiled and Ron tried his hardest not to blush. He snuck glances at the girl as she pull out her parchment and books. She was a bit short, Ron envied her for that. Ron was so tall he thought it funny that the trees on the grounds didn't start talking to him. But she had light purple, thin rimed, glasses that framed a pair of chestnut brown eyes. He felt a type of pull toward her. A kind of the heart. One that he didn't understand....

When she caught him she smiled. Ron quickly turned 5 shades of red and turned away. Mrs. Fiji quickly explained that who ever they were sitting with would be their partners as they tried to label different muggle objects. Ron hoped this girl would know her stuff, Ron was starting to fail.....When the class was allowed to talk he turned to her.

"So, um, which object do you wanna do first?" Ron said.

"How about the pen?" she asked. Ron stared at her in shock, she laughed. "Yea, I'm a muggle born. Don't tell anyone, but I took this class because it would be an easy grade." she winked at him. Ron couldn't a believe a girl had winked at him. "I'm Marie Frienda." she said, holding out her hand. Ron shook it.

"Ron Weasley." he looked at the objects. "Could you please help me? I don't know a bloody thing about any of these things." Maire laughed.

"Don't worry. It'll be second nature soon enough." she assured him. By that time, the teacher had to announce something else. To Ron's horror, he and a partner had to make a muggle contraption that would do an action like bring in the mail or something. Ron was in an almost panic...the only person he knew was Maire....but a pretty girl like her must have loads of friends. Ron was afraid of who he would be stuck with when Marie asked him.

"Wanna be partners?" He must have looked half shocked, half relieved. She laughed a bit. "I'll take that as a yes." He nodded and smiled.

"Ok, Ron, since the time is almost over, I propose then we meet after dinner? To discuss ideas?" But the faster the project is done, the less time he would have with her, Ron thought sadly. But the thought of seeing her again, excited him.

"Okay." he said as the class was let out. As she packed her things and swung her bag onto her shoulder she said.

"Great! So I'll meet you outside the Great Hall, k?" He was so caught up in her eyes, he forgot to answer.

"Ron." she said, waving a hand in front of his face. He blushed.

"Yea, outside the Great Hall, sounds great." he said quickly. She smiled again.

"I'll be seeing you then." and with a wink she was off. Ron found himself a bit sad at her departure. But then smiled at the fact she would meet him again. He was smiling like an idiot. He couldn't help himself or stop it. He was in love.


She waited in the Trophy Room, Moonlight pouring into the room. She had her swords all layed out. Short, long, sharp, and some used for practicing. They were all there. She picked up one and turned toward the glass trophy case. The glass sparkle and almost blinded Hermione as she looked at her reflection. She also held up the sword also. Instead of staring at herself, she stared at the blade. How it reflected the moon's light. How the silver gleamed. It was such a beautiful creation yet it was meant for harm. Cutting, slicing, and pain. All it was made for. She turned the blade over and over. It was perfect. But it was used for all the wrong reasons. She felt it was a lot like her. She was in many ways perfect, but for all the wrong reasons. She was perfect at books, fighting, killing, swords. But she wasn't a perfect friend, perfect daughter....she wasn't perfect in the things she should've been.Maybe this was why she loved sword fighting so much... The spell of her thoughts were broken when her student came in.

Her student was Draco Malfoy.


Didn't see that one coming did ya? But I said say Sword fighting wasn't his best subject! But as you can guess, the romance I promised is coming into play....but what will happen exactly?

If you want the drama to ensue, REVIEW!! :)