Phoenix: Hey! Don't own anything to do with Harry Potter exept for this story!


"Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures class!" the professer droned wearily, obviously tired of saying that over and over again, "Now, let's plunge right into the lesson, shall we? I'd like to introduce to you, the wonderful furry creatures of meece!"

With that, a thousand little fuzzy creatures burst out from every possible hiding place. They jumped and danced, and giggled and laughed, heightening Hermione's spirits. One of the meece jumped straight into her hand, giving her time to look it over.

The main part of the little thing, was simply a fuzzy oval, each coming in a different colour. It's eyes were big and innocent, coming in only the brightest of shades. It's mouth was barely visible, and it's extremely large version of mouse ears stood out the most. Looking closer, Hermione spotted a tail, small and swirly, just like a pig's. She giggled and put it back on the ground, listening as the teacher spoke again.

"These meece are simple little creatures. Unfortunately, they don't live very long, usually, as they are quite defenseless. They eat any kind of plant, and..."

The class's talking became so loud, that Hermione gave up trying to listen. She looked over at Tom, who was leaning against a tree, trying to ignore the ton of fuzzy creatures surrounding him. Huffing, Hermione held one up to his face.

"Aren't they cute?" she cooed, trying to brighten Tom's mood.

He grunted at her and shoved her hand out of his face, "They're pathetic." Surprisingly, he began to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"My duty is over," he spat, looking her straight in the eyes, "I have assisted you to each of your classes today. You are on your own."

"You didn't answer my question." Hermione seethed, her happiness fading away quickly.

Tom turned around, and began walking away again, much to her protest. Anger welling up inside her, she quickly followed after him.

"You can't just skip class!"

Unfortunately, she got no answer. The young dark lord just completely ignored her, and continued walking at a steady pace. Using her last resort, Hermione looked straight into his eyes, no longer grey, but pitch black. As usual, though, Hermione found nothing but a wall.

"What is wrong with you!" she cried, her voice shrill.

Oh, but she knew what was wrong with him, and it all came flooding back in. She had pushed all thoughts of Voldemort's past out of her mind since the last battle, but she found she couldn't keep them out any longer.

This boy in front of her was...dead. Though his body walked and talked and breathed and all that, his emotions, possibly even his very soul, was dead. It was no wonder, though. His earlier ways must of been a side effect to the hangover. He had been drunk the night he found her, even though he hadn't seemed it, but now it was clear. The little voice inside of her head was wrong. This being in front of her was not the boy named Tom Riddle.

He was Voldemort.

He was the man who had undergone seventeen years of pain and misery, not accepted by the world until he had forced a spot in. And even though he fit now, he was unaware of it. Not only that, but he was afraid. He didn't want to get hurt again, so he tried to rid himself of his emotions. When that didn't work, he locked them up in the back of his mind, where he couldn't feel them, because they were so far away.

Hermione felt a prick of pity well up inside her, but she quickly pushed it away. This man in front of her may have been dead, but there were things worse. At least he couldn't feel. He didn't have to deal with grief, pity, helplessness, and loss. In fact, if it weren't for the dark arts, he would have absolutely nothing.

A small slice of respect welled up for the dark arts, in the pit of Hermione's stomach. But she could always feel the emptiness; the emptiness that the dead couldn't feel. Voldemort had darkness.

She had nothing.

Hermione looked at Lord Voldemort one last time, and opened her mouth to say something. But she found nothing to say.

There was nothing there.

With a frown, and a tear rolling down her cheek, Hermione slapped the dead man in front of her. He took advantage of his darkness, and that made her angry. She dropped the meece she was holding onto the ground, and ran as fast as she could. She didn't know where she was going, but that didn't really matter. She just wanted to run.

Eventually, Hermione's tears completely blocked her vision, and she tripped over a root sticking out of the ground. She landed in a puddle of mud, soaking her garments and any bare skin. Her tears just made the substance even more sticky in her eyes, and she found the only thing she could do was breathe, and that wasn't very comforting.

Groping around for something to wipe her eyes on, Hermione found a bunch of leaves. She wiped her eyes off on them, and started to take in her surroundings. Towering trees, strange animal calls, shadows so dark they seemed to almost be voids.

Damn. Hermione was in the Forbidden Forest. And at this time at night, too! Wait a second...Wasn't it still before dinner, the last time I checked? I couldn't have been running for THAT long! I wouldn't even be at Hogwarts anymore!

Looking within herself for fear, hope, or anxiety, Hermione was greeted with hollowness. She scoffed and rolled onto her back. She was greeted by the face of a nymph. Hermione, who had never seen a nymph before, jumped onto her feet and whipped her wand out.

"What the bloody hell are you?" she tried to put as much emotion as she could into the words.

The creature laughed and twirled in a circle, "I'm a nymph!"

It was obvious that this thing was harmless, so Hermione lowered her wand, though she wouldn't yet pocket it.

"I feel the sorrow within you..." said the nymph, "You would be so much happier in a carefree form, where you could do as you please..."

Hermione considered this for a moment, then replied, "Yes...yes, I would."

The giddy creature twirled around again, "Something fun and happy, where you can dance, and laugh, and sing..."

It was all true, but should she trust this thing?

"Yes..." she found herself whispering.

"Where you can use your magic, and make your world a better place for you..."

"Yes..." she couldn't control her words!

Suddenly, the creature distorted, and began to grow talons, and long, black wings. Her flowing dress turned into a tight leather suit, and she no longer giggled happily, but sneered menacingly.

"Then you should become a harpy!" the creature's voice was rough and deadly now, causing Hermione to cringe at the sound of it.

"NO!" she yelled forcingly, pointing her wand to the harpy's neck, "Harpys are dark creatures!"

The harpy started to fade away, "But they are carefree, and can do whatever they want, and...that's exactly what you want!"


Hermione's eyes shot open, but shut just as fast. She was lying on the Forest floor, all covered in mud. Hadn't she just gone through this already?

Wiping her face off with a leaf, the witch stood up and looked to the sky. The sun was setting now, and, if she didn't hurry, she'd be locked out of the school for the rest of the night.

But she couldn't go in like this!

Summoning up a cleaning spell, Hermione got rid of the mud that had settled on her. Luckily, she could still see the entry to the forest, and so she began walking at a steady pace back to the school.

That's when thoughts of her previous dream flooded back in...

Now, Hermione was a bright witch and, because of this, she always seemed to want to find a reason to everything. That dream was no different. But what could it possibly be?

Maybe it meant she would see a harpy in the forest? Grunting, Hermione began to try and tie every possible corny saying to the sleeping vision. Only one stood out, though: Things aren't always what they seem.

But did it go for just the beast? Hermione couldn't really want everything a dark creature had! That was just stupid! She was pretty much in charge of a bloody school that was against dark magic! Why the hell would she think like that, even in a DREAM!

Attempting to calm down, Hermione reminded herself that it was just that...a dream. Maybe that wasn't even her in it. It could have been some fake copy from the other side of the world that was born to look like her, for just this reason!

Calm...she told herself, stop thinking stupidly, calm down, and open the front gates. Slowly now...that's it...

Sighing, Hermione followed her own orders, and began to make her way through the halls. She found her stomach was growling an awful lot, but she'd just have to wait until the next morning. She wouldn't want to wake up the house elves. They deserved their rest.

Arriving at the portrait, Hermione said the password and took a deep breath. She wasn't exactly fully calm, yet, and she would truly hate to run into him. She could just imagine him holding his wand up to her face and uttering those to words...

Avada Keda-

But there was no one there. The entire common room was without life, exept for the fire, of course, which danced gleefully in the burning hot cinders. Normally, this would cheer the young witch up, but it seemed today was just one of those days...

Hermione sighed, and walked up to her room. Maybe she should keep her distance from Riddle for the time being.

Taking one last look at the lifeless common room, the young witch closed her door, and flopped down onto her bed. Studying could wait until tomorrow...


Phoenix: I know, I know. EXTREMELY short, but I'm working on the beginning of the 6th chapter as you read this (unless its already up, of course, then I'd be working on the 7th chapter, but, if that was up...well, you know the deal!). Thanks again to all my reviewers! You guys are what keeps the story moving!