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Disclaimer: I do not own any thing related to Harry Potter. It all belongs to Ms. J.K Rowling

Chapter Two

Hermione ran through Hogwarts's hallways, paying no attention to the whispering paintings.

She bumped into a ghost; more ran through him, " I say young lady!" he huffed. Hermione ignored him and the now irritated ghost muttered about how in his day, young ladies were polite to their elders.

She ran all the way up the stairs and had reached a painting of a powdered opera Prima-Dona.

" Hah, hah, ho! What is the password?" The diva looked down her noses at the tear-streaked girl. " Hannibal," Hermione snapped, in no mood to tolerate the paintings antics.

" Temper." Sniffed the singer and promptly opened, showing a dark hallway, which immediately lighted once she entered.

At the end of the hallway, a mahogany door stood, with a gold knocker shaped in the head of a Griffin.

" The password please." It asked politely. Hermione preferred the Griffin to the painting that guarded the Head girl rooms. He was more tolerable and was very warm to her.

" Gryfus." It nodded and the door swung open, showing Hermione into her suite of rooms. She smiled; being Head Girl had its perks.

Hermione stepped into the room and quickly landed in one of the leather armchairs in front of the crackling fire. She was confused, emotional, and acting like a five year old.

She looked at the crumpled letter from the Countess De Chagney, then to the music box that she had sent. Hermione sighed and place the gift on the mahogany table in front of her, staring at it as if it would tell her all the answers to her questions.

" Why? Why me?" she asked it, demanding that it answer her. She threw her hands in the air and leaned back into the comforting embrace of the chair. Ron was right she was getting mental. She grimaced at the thought of her friends. She shouldn't have shouted at Harry that harshly. It wasn't his fault anyway. He didn't know any better. He was just worried about her.

She sighed, and looked into the fire. Still, it was wrong of him to try to make her decisions for her.

At that moment, she made her choice. She would go see the Countess Adrienne and she would find out what she wanted.

Smiling at herself, Hermione got up, picked up the music box, and went to her room. Once she was ready for bed, she placed it on her bedside table and wound it up. It started to play making Hermione smile in spite of her self. It really was a beautiful gift.

She rolled up the coverlet and got into bed. Before she went to sleep she stared at the full-length mirror opposite of her. She shivered. For some reason or another, it always made her feel that she was being watched. Hermione rolled to her side and fell into a deep sleep, not noticing the shadow that shifted behind the mirror.

:sings: just looking at that man in the mirror! Okay! Here it is! Please review. They help me.

Goddess bless!

-Mother Goose