Disclaimer: I own nothing except for any new characters. Those I claim as my own.

I hope you liked the prologue!

Chapter 1:

The Nightmare and the Missing

It was a quiet night. The only sound was an occasional car motor. Everything was peaceful. Everyone on Privet Drive slept soundly, dreaming pleasant dreams. Everyone, that is, except for two boys with the same nightmare.

Harry Potter awoke to find himself tangled up in sweat-soaked sheets. Sweat covered his entire body and poured down his forehead and back.

He searched his memory for what had awoken him, but he could remember nothing. He cursed under his breath and tried to sleep, but couldn't. Instead he lay on his back and, because he was bored, started to study his ceiling.

On the other side of Privet Drive another boy had awoken with the same nightmare. Neville Longbottom had awoken terrified, but he couldn't remember why. When he realized that it was 10 'til midnight, he decided to go back to sleep instead of worrying. Sleep wouldn't overcome him, though, and he became immensely interested in the material on his canopy above his head.

Ron Weasley awoke to find tears running down his face. He had no idea what he had been dreaming about. All he knew was that it was something horrible. He laid down in his bed, lost in thought.

These three boys had dreamt the same thing along with Draco Malfoy. None of them had any recollection of what the dream was about.

'What was that all about?'

'Why did it feel so real?'

'I have a strange feeling I wasn't the only one with that dream, but why?'

'Who else could have had that dream at the same time?'

Millions of questions swam through their heads as they drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow was a big day for all of them. No one could miss the train. Hogwarts awaited!

"She's not here!"

"Really, I hadn't noticed. We've only searched the whole train and haven't found her!"

"Harry, this isn't the time. Why do she's not here?"

Harry and Ron sat in the very last compartment of the Hogwarts Express. They had just searched the whole train looking for their best friend, Hermione Granger, to no prevail.

"How should I know why she's not here?" asked Harry, "Besides don't you have a prefect's meeting to attend? If Hermione is on this train, she won't miss the meeting."

"Oh no!" exclaimed Ron, "I'm gonna be late!"

He ran out the compartment and down the walkway.

The meeting had already started by the time he arrived.

"You're late!" snapped the Head Girl, Jeroldina.

"Sorry, Jer," panted Ron, "Won't happen again."

"It better not…and don't call me Jer."

"Relax, D. Ron was just a few minutes late. It's not like he missed anything and besides, he said it wouldn't happen again," said Jake, the Head Boy.

"Fine!" D spit, "As I was saying before we were interrupted, one of our prefects has transferred schools. Hermione Granger will not be attending Hogwarts anymore. Professor Dumbledore has put it up to us to decide her replacement. He as left us with a few suggestions: Harry Potter, Clea Waterfly, Laurea Issilamor, or Jennifer Abalion."

"Are these all Gryffindor?" one lone voice drifted forward. Ron turned around to come face to face with Draco Malfoy.

"Yes, they are. We are in no need of prefects from the other houses." D said, failing to keep hatred out of her voice.

"Well," Malfoy drawled on," Harry Potter should be crossed of the list. We have one girl and on boy from every house and year. If Potter gets chosen it will be uneven."

"Point taken, but Professor said that we need to choose from the personality, not from silly traditions such as that one." D pointed out angrily.

"But still. Potter has a habit of getting in trouble. He seems to think that the rules don't apply to him, only everybody else."

"Yes, but everything he does when getting into trouble turns out for the better. And people listen and look up to him. We could really benefit with him as a prefect!"

"Hold it you two," said Jake, pushing them apart since they had come offal close in their debate, "Why don't we just take a vote. Who wants Harry Potter as Hermione's replacement? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12… Alright majority wins. Harry Potter is our new prefect.

"I'm a prefect?"

As soon as the meeting was over, Ron rushed back to the compartment, interrupting the conversation about quiditch Harry was having with Neville, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas, to tell Harry the good and bad news.

"Yep!"

"But how?"

"I told you! We needed another prefect and everyone except the Slytherins voted for you. Majority won. Isn't this great!"

"Yeah… great, but why did you need another prefect and what about Hermione?"

"Wait!" interrupted Neville, "What do you mean 'What happened to Hermione'? Where is she?"

"Well," started Ron, "When Harry and I arrived today, we didn't see Hermione. We waited until the train left for Hogwarts and then started looking for her, thinking that she probably was taking care of some things before we left. Only Harry and I couldn't find her anywhere! We searched everywhere except Malfoy's compartment. I peeked in to check if she was in there for some reason, though. But she wasn't. Nobody's seen her. When I went to the prefect's meeting, Jer announced that we were short one prefect because someone had transferred schools. Hermione wasn't at the meeting. Apparently, she has left! Harry, you're taking her place as a prefect!"

Ron looked up from the spot on the floor he had suddenly found so interesting into four shocked faces with bulging eyes and dropped to the floor jaws.

"S-s-s-so H-hermione's g-gone!" stuttered Neville, breaking the awkward silence. Everyone looked close to tears.

"I guess so."

A/N: Finally! Please don't kill me. I got really busy and then I couldn't find the disc I had saved the chapter on. But I've finished and I'm almost done with the second chapter as well. It shouldn't take as long for me to post the next chapter. Here are to all my 6 reviewers:

ssdiablo: Well now you know who the girl is, or do you? Dun-dun-dun! Yeah, I'm not going to tell you who the girl that was 'taking care of' is until they find out in the story. Sorry I haven't up-dated soon. Next won't take as long.

PrinstonGirl1: Thanks for the explanation! It was greatly needed. I'm glad you like the story. It took me a few tries before I got this one started.

Oasis Blackmore: Well I posted more. Ya happy? Glad you think it was creepy, that was what I was going for! So many questions and still coming up with more. Hopefully some will be answered.

Eliot Z. Wheatherbee: Good guesses! I think they are all right. I'm not quite sure though. There are so many different ways to go with this story that I'm not quite sure what I'm going to write. It just all comes.

tiffyblack: I'm so proud of you. You finally found my story. I hope you enjoyed this next edition.

slyswn28: I'm glad you think it's wicked! You just got more, and you have more, more, and more left.

Thanks so much!