Thank you for the kind reviews, I'm sorry for the lack of update, I had to finish my homework before I started writing today. I wrote a chapter for 'Periwinkle Eyes' before this, to work myself into the mood I need to be for this story. Tired & depressed. I'm usually not like this, but this is my best writing mode. I write best when I'm in this mood, though the story is usually depressing.

Please R&R if you want.

Chapter 3 – Behind the Tapestry

As the sun filtered through the blinds in her room, Hermione opened her eyes and stretched, rubbing her tear-streaked face.

Looking at the clock on the wall, she sighed sadly. 3 more hours until classes started, and she could ignore everything while burying herself in work. Slowly, she got out of bed. Flinging back the curtains, she blinked as the rays of sunshine burst into her room like a sunbeam, warming everything it touched, except for Hermione's heart.

Turning to the bed, she pulled the sheets up and plumped up the pillows, pulling the covers over them to make her bed. Task done, she marched into her private bathroom, where her toiletries and make-up had been laid out carefully.

Hermione washed her face with a grimace, scrubbing hard, but even still, the tear marks on her cheeks would not come off, as a tribute to her pain. Deciding to ignore them for now, she brushed her teeth and brushed her hair, not bothering to do anything with it.

She walked over to her closet and pulled it open. What a surprise. Hogwarts robes and uniform and… more Hogwarts robes and uniform. Hermione grinned for the first time that morning. She had an idea. Pulling on the knee-length skirt, she rolled up the hem and tucked it down, making the skirt shorter. Pulling the blazer on, she adjusted it so it hid what she had done. Next came the robes. She slid her arms into the designated holes and she was done.

Returning to the bathroom, she examined her outfit from all sides. It looked better than last year. Instead of being like wearing sacks, it was actually form fitting, though not tight. She unzipped the make-up bag and pulled out a white powder, muttering a spell so the powder turned the color of her skin. She brushed it onto her cheeks to cover the tears-marks, snapped the lid closed on the powder, applied a bit of blush from her blush-stick, and slid some light gold eye shadow on her eyelids.

Her morning activities done, she closed her door, locked it, and walked down the stairs, her brown hair swinging slightly. From down in the common room, she could hear Draco taking a shower.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the portrait hole, to reveal Harry and Ron. Shoving past them, she ignored their shouts and pleas for her to listen. As she slipped behind a tapestry to hide, she felt her bag hit something soft and heard a slight yelp.

Ignoring this for the moment, she watched as Ron and Harry raced down the corridor, obviously trying to find her. She gave a silent chuckle, then turned and froze.

She was staring into deep blue eyes the color of star sapphires. Backing up slightly, she noticed the girl had cinnamon-brown hair, which was drawn up into baos (two round buns of hair on each side of your head). The girl with the baos was wearing the Hogwarts school uniform.

As Hermione gaped at her, the girl stuck out her hand.

"My name's Miaka." she said with an American accent. "You hiding as well?"

I just had the idea to add Miaka, since I don't want the story to be sad all the time. You'll find out more about Miaka in the next chapter. I have plans. For once. :rubs hand together evily: It involves a good amount of Rosmerta's mead, which is extremely alcoholic, and a black eye. I hope I've give you enough to dwell on, sorry it's so short, I'm really tired and I haven't finished my homework. 'Till tomorrow!