Hermione was laying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. After the events of her 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she was not happy. The headmaster was dead, and the school might not even open next year. She had locked the door and pulled the curtains over her windows so that she could be left alone. The thought that she wouldn't be able to continue her schooling and take her N.E.W.T.s sent shivers down her spine. True, she could go to another school, but it wouldn't be the same as Hogwarts. Nowhere was the same as Hogwarts.

After watching Crookshanks wrestle with the floor for quite some time, Hermione heard a tapping at the window. With a sigh, she pulled back the curtains and saw Hedwig, with a piece of parchment in her mouth waiting to be let inside. Of course, Hermione let her in and Hedwig dropped the letter on her desk. Hermione picked it up, but she couldn't read it. As soon as she touched the parchment, the lights had gone out. She knew the envelope was large by feeling it. Much too large for the paper.

Lovely. That really does help when you're trying to read, Hermione thought. With a growl, she felt around her desk for her wand.

"Lumos", she muttered. With a small beam of light shooting for her wand, she went downstairs for a candle. Yes, she was 17 and could use magic whenever she pleased, but it's stupid to use it if you don't need to.

Hermione walked down the stairs, holding on to the wooden railing for support. Why did there have to be a blackout right before she had read her letter? Not very convenient, is it?

"Incendio!", said Hermione when she had finally found a candle. She reached up into the cupboard and took a plate to put the candle on. Hermione then stuck her wand in her pocket and walked back up to her room. When she arrived, Hedwig was still waiting. The candle filled the room with light. She set the candle down on her desk and began to read.

Hermione,

I've done what I said I would do. I left the Dursley's as soon as possible, and have gone to Godric's Hollow. So I'm going after the Horcruxes. I'm keeping my location a secret. I don't want you to get hurt. You've already been hurt because of your involvement with me, and I don't want it to happen again.

If you want ot help, try to find out about the last Horcrux. Dumbledore said it would be an artifact from Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. If you find out, send me an owl.

I've already sent an owl to Ron. So there's no need to worry about that. And if Hogwarts opens again next year, good luck with your N.E.W.T.s.

I hope I'll be able to see you all again.

-----Harry

Hermione leaned back in her chair and wiped her eyes. She was tearing up at the thought of Harry going all alone. She knew that he was capable of doing this on his own. But there was still this little nagging thought in the back of her head telling her that it wasn't a good idea. She loved Harry, and would rather die than see him get hurt.