-CASE 1 : HERMIONE GRANGER-

I walked into Granger's home, and the first thing that struck me was her eyes. They no longer gazed upon me with hatred or distrust. Instead, they were filled with sad curiosity. Granger was bloody curious to see why I was at her door. I almost laughed, only because I had expected a completely different reaction. I grinned at Granger, flashing my teeth at her.

"Hello, Ms. Granger." I said, in what I hoped was a pleasant tone. She smiled back, but it didn't quite reach her ears.

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy." She responded, her voice quavering. "To what do I owe this… pleasure?" she continued. I was almost astounded, because I thought I detected a hint of sarcasm in her voice, but of course a Malfoy never loses his composure. My grin now turned sad, as I proceeded to describe the nature of my visit. I watched as her chocolate eyes first widened, then filled with tears, and were finally devoid of any emotion.

"Go ahead Malfoy. Ask me anything you need to know."

--Enclosed is the interview with Ms. Hermione Granger

Question: What was your first impression of Harry?

Answer: My first impression of Harry. That's a hard first question, Malfoy. I really first saw him on the Hogwarts Express. He was sitting with Ron, and they were talking animatedly about something (undoubtedly Quidditch.) Ron was about to perform a spell when I finally entered their compartment to say hi, so of course, I had to see if it would work. When it didn't, I showed them that I could do spells, even though I was muggle-born, and I cast a spell upon Harry's broken glasses. Right after I cast the spell, I met Harry's eyes for a second, a split second, and I was startled by what I saw. I saw a lonely little boy who had finally found a friend. I saw a boy, excited by a chance at a new life, a new start. Of course, I would realize later why he hated the Dursleys so much, but that's not related to the question. So I guess you could say that my first impression of Harry Potter was not one of a famous celebrity, but of someone who had finally been given the chance that he deserved. Of course I didn't realize all of this at the time, that would have been a little profound of me. (Granger laughs sadly)

Q: I know that at first you weren't friendly with Harry and Ron. How exactly did you overcome your differences and form a bond of friendship so strong it rivaled the founders?

A: It was on Halloween, the night that the troll was let into the castle. Do you remember that? Well I do. That day Ron was telling Harry, after Charms, that I was insufferable, and that it was no surprise to him that I had no friends. For some reason this hurt me more than if anyone else had said it, and I ran to the bathroom. That was where I was for the rest of the day, and that was where the troll headed. I thought I was going to die that day, alone and friendless. But then, the two people I least expected (and least wanted to see) showed up and saved my life. Harry and Ron fought the troll to save me. That was the night I found my first, and best, friends.

Q: What was the extent of your relationship with Harry?

A: We were best friends, nothing more. He and Ron were the brothers I never had. They became my only family.

Q: What was the extent of your relationship with Ron?

A: I don't see how this is relevant, but Ron and I… well it's complicated. I always loved him; as a brother, and more. We dated at one point, but it didn't really work out.

Q: Everything is relevant, Ms. Granger. What were your feelings about Voldemort during the war?

A: Do you even have to ask, Malfoy? I despised him. He was after my best friend, for a reason incomprehensible to any wizard. He kept on coming after Harry, after my Harry, who had just someplace he felt accepted and safe. What was wrong with that man? Sure, we killed his deatheaters, so some may say we are no better then him, but they hurt us first. They killed our families before we ever touched them. Before we ever knew Harry existed. Don't look at me like that Malfoy, it's the truth. They really are the bad guys.

Q: Back to your relationship with Mr. Weasley. Why exactly didn't your relationship work out?

A: Well Malfoy, you are doing a bloody fine job of prying into my personal life. And to answer your question, I'm not exactly sure why it didn't work out. At first it was great. We had each other and Harry was fine with it. In fact, Ron and I talked many times about how it seemed Harry had found somebody. And even though we didn't know who it was, he was happy. That was all that mattered. Ron and I broke up… after the battle. You know how it got. It was just too much to bear. We've remained friendly, but a lot of times I wish.. I wish we were still seeing each other. I miss him.

Q: Why did you and Mr. Weasley believe that Harry had found someone? And did you have any speculations as to who it was?

A: Of course we had speculations of whom it was with Malfoy. At one point we were even thinking it might be you. And maybe it was (Granger smiles fondly, as if remembering something.) We came to the conclusion that Harry had to be seeing someone after a lot of little signs began to build up. First, Harry started staying out later. This was after… after it was admitted that Voldemort had indeed returned to power. So I guess, the middle of sixth year, maybe? Well he started staying out till ridiculous hours, saying he was in the library but then coming back a lot happier than if he had been doing homework for hours on end. And then one time we found someone elses cloak on his bed, and he seemed to whisper to somebody sometimes, as if they were invisible. And he just seemed a lot happier, you know? He had that glow.

Q: Did Harry ever seem distant from you and Mr. Weasley? More so then when you first?

A: Of course he was distant. Who wouldn't be, having gone through everything that he had. He saw his godfather die, Malfoy. I don't know if you understand what losing someone is like, but it hurts. It hurts in a way that can't be fixed by any amount of time. Maybe you understand, maybe you don't. At first me and Ron were worried that there was something wrong, but we realized, eventually, that Harry had changed. Not willingly, but inevitably. There's no way a person can't change. We left him alone to his thoughts, and talked to him when he wanted to talk.

Q: What was your initial reaction when you found out that Harry had disappeared?

A: Well at first I couldn't believe it, of course. I really just couldn't grasp the fact that Harry was either… dead… or that he; well that he just up and left us. To this day I still wonder what really happened to Harry. I believe that Dumbledore may know, but he won't give us anything but, "Everything is for the best." Sometimes that man is too vague for his own good. I miss Harry, there's a hollowness inside me that came after his disappeared, and I'm not sure whether that will ever go away. A part of me was lost that day, and I'm afraid to go look for it.

Q: Last question, Ms. Granger. Do you believe Harry is still alive?

A: silence for a few moments Yes, and no. Some days I lie in bed, thinking that all hope is lost, that there's no possible way in heaven or hell that he's still alive. And then there are other days when I can swear Harry's standing there beside me, trying to reach me. Things moved, little things, but things that Harry would have had one way, so he changed it to be that way. This one time I had a picture that had been Harry's hanging up on my fridge. When he was still here, he had it on a table by this big armchair in his house. One day I came home from work to find that the picture was gone, and I flipped out. I thought that someone had stolen it. But when Ron came over to help me look for it, and call the police to report a break-in, we found it. On a table next to my armchair. Right where it would have been in Harry's own house. I don't know if I'm hallucinating; sometimes I really hope I might be. But there are things that happen that make everything seem so… surreal. Like I've suddenly been thrown into a universe alternate to this one. Everything that had previously been black and white turns into magnificent colors; it made everything clear. Those are the times when I believe that Harry is still alive.

--End interview

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I closed my notebook and looked at Granger. She was wiping tears from her eyes; at various points she had choked up, but who could blame her? I respected her for that. I'm not sure whether I would have been able to keep it in while being asked questions about Harry like I just had. How ironic. "Thank you Ms. Granger. I really appreciate the time you've sacrificed for this interview. You don't know how much it means." I told her, my voice kept even only by years of training. "You should read this when I'm finished. Some things might become clearer for you, and make it easier for you to deal with the situation."

"Whatever Malfoy. You have what you want, now please leave. You don't understand anything." She said, still unsuccessfully trying to wipe away the tears. I nodded, and then stood up. When I reached the door, I heard a noise. I paused, and listened. I was barely able to make out her voice, but what she said lifted my spirits up into the air. She said, "Thanks, Malfoy."

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-END CASE I-

revised: 07/09/05