Disclaimer : All Harry Potter things are copyright of the one and only JK Rowling. I don't own a thing, I'm not making money off of this, and I don't even have any money that anyone could get if they sued me. So, erm, yeah.

The Darkest of Wishes

Chapter 8

Oh, Mandy

Hermione looked up at the Christmas decorations around her. A wreath made of ivy and holly was hanging on the girl's bathroom door and Hermione could smell the slight scent of cinnamon that one of the teachers had dusted over the entire wreath. She smiled at the familiar fragrance and continued walking down the hall. Hermione smiled at a few Slytherins who were walking in her direction and they nodded back. In the far off distance, Hermione could hear some of the ghosts singing Carol of the Bells. It was her favorite Christmas song.

Even though the castle was full of Christmas cheer there was one thing that was clashing with the Christmas spirit: The weather. There was no snow in the forecast for Christmas. Instead they were going to be having a very warm Christmas this year. Every time Hermione stepped outside, she had a hard time believing that it was December, especially with the Autumn-like air. The trees were also confused by the weather, Hermione noticed, and they were just now starting to shed their leaves.

"Quidditch!"

Hermione turned around suddenly. The Slytherins she had just passed had looked onto one of the schools many bulletin boards.

"Yeah - right before holiday too."

Hermione tilted her head slightly to hear them better over the caroling ghosts.

"... Gryffindor and Ravenclaw ..."

"The Gryffindors have no chance on the cup this year. Not after Hufflepuff beat them."

"Ravenclaw is a sure bet... Gryffindor is absolutely rubbish this year."

Hermione could barely contain her excitement. Finally after all her searching... she'd be able to find all of the Gryffindors in one place during the Quidditch game.

Maybe I'll find Ron, she thought with a smile. Perhaps he's still playing... oh, I hope not. If Gryffindor really is that bad... oh. Well, I'm sure I'll find Ginny. Or Neville. Or Dean... Seamus...

x x x x x

Hermione had been doing her homework when she realized how sleepy she was. Especially after all of the thinking she had been doing about what Dumbledore had said. No Harry. No friends. Continue with the Death Eaters. It was hard to handle. Really hard. She looked around the common room and decided that a nap would be a great thing...

... Hermione saw that the carpet was dancing for the fire. She didn't know why, but she joined the carpet and they danced for the fire. When the fire went out; she noticed that in the back of the fireplace a hallway appeared. The dancing carpet pushed her towards the hall so that she would travel to the other side. The darkened hall seem to be deserted until Peeves floated by and asked for her hand in marriage. Hermione cried with joy, but then realized that the Black's would never approve, so she told him to get lost. As she continued to walk down the hall, the lights suddenly came on and she saw Harry sitting in a rocking chair. She crossed over to him and noticed that he was knitting a sock. He told her it was for S.P.E.W. so that all of the house elves could go free. Hermione smiled, but noticed that Harry's eyes had changed from green to red in a split second. Before she could understand what was happening... Voldemort now stared at her from the rocking chair. Hermione fell backwards in surprise and began to scream...

"HERMIONE!"

Hermione's eyes flew open. Millicent Bulstrode stood over her and gave her a bemused look.

"Why am I on the ground?" Hermione pushed herself up and realized that she had fell out of her chair. She mentally scolded herself for taking a nap instead of finishing her work.

"All I know is that I heard you make some funny noise and then I turned and saw you slip out of your chair." Millicent patted Hermione on the shoulder. "You all right?"

"Yes," Hermione felt the weight of Millicent's large hand as it hit her shoulder. She winced slightly. "I am perfectly fine."

"Would you like some water?"

"No," Hermione shook her head and began to gather her books. "I just need to go for a walk."

x x x x x

Hermione had found that her feet were taking her to the library. Not that she minded. Gryffindor Hermione liked the library, even though she knew that Slytherin Hermione should probably be outside throwing first year Hufflepuffs in the lake. As she walked in, she went directly to one of the chairs in the back. She didn't feel like answering questions or talking to anybody.

"Hermione?"

Hermione wanted to scream. She turned around with the intention of dismissing them, but noticed a friendly face.

"Oh, Mandy." Hermione sighed with relief.

"Haven't seen you in a while." Mandy whispered. Hermione could tell that Mandy was still scared of her, but she smiled anyway.

"I know, it's been really hectic with midterms and the holidays coming up." Hermione paused and then leaned forward. She reached out and pulled Mandy into a hug, when she pulled away, she noticed that Mandy seemed confused. Hermione realized that a hug had not been the best way to greet her. At least, not yet. "Sorry."

"Oh..." Mandy laughed timidly. "Don't be. That... was... refreshing. I dare say."

"Refreshing? A hug?" Hermione motioned for Mandy to follow her. "You don't recieve hugs often?"

"No, I never thought you'd be giving me a hug." Mandy answered truthfully.

Hermione nodded in agreement. "It's like I said, I wasn't myself before."

"You certainly seem to have changed," Mandy picked up a book and flipped through a few of its pages. She then placed it in her bag and continued walking, "In a good way."

"Listen, I was wondering if you could help me." Hermione lowered her voice. "I need help with... with... Transfiguration. I was hoping that you and me could meet up and study together."

Mandy paused. "Um... I'm not all that great at Transfiguration. That and Divination make me cringe."

Hermione sighed and tried again, "Well - what if we help each other? Huh? It could be fun, you know?"

"Really?" Mandy looked skeptical. Hermione really couldn't blame her. "You really want me as a study partner?"

"Yes," Hermione took in a deep breath.

"Won't your... um... friends... make fun of us?" Mandy tried to avoid Hermione's eyes, but failed.

"They are not my friends. I really could care less of what they think." Hermione stated plainly.

"Well, okay." Mandy nodded her head, and Hermione noticed the prefect badge was just as shiny as it had been the last time she had noticed it. Hermione smiled. "When do you want to start?"

"How about right after Christmas holiday?" Hermione suggested. "And maybe every Tuesday and Thursday night we could meet in here and study?"

"Sounds like a plan." Mandy agreed and grabbed another book. "Well, I have to get going. I really only came in here for these two books." She pointed to her bag where the two books were now stashed.

"Some Christmas reading?" Hermione tried to see what kind of books they were to continue with the conversation. She was hoping to keep Mandy for a little longer, because she was sure that the books held some common ground for the two of them to continue conversing.

"Yes," Mandy nodded and shrugged. "Hobby, I guess."

"Well, if I don't see you... Happy Christmas." Hermione placed her hand on Mandy's arm.

"You too, Hermione." Mandy pulled the bag securely onto her shoulders and turned around quickly. "Goodbye."

x x x x x

Hermione grabbed her Potions book before she headed off to the final day of her detention with Snape. After her meeting with Dumbledore, Snape had been more lenient on exactly what went on during her time with him. The first half of her detention was spent cleaning cauldrons and arranging potions in Snape's cabinet. The second half he had let her read or study or pretty much do as she pleased (which was either studying or reading). Hermione thought that today would be a good day to ask about what they would be covering in Potions during the last semester. Hermione sighed at the thought. Her last year at Hogwarts was halfway completed.

As she entered the classroom she noticed that Snape was not at his desk. Usually he was there with some snide remark about how dirty the cabinet was... which was her cue to go ahead and get started.

"Professor?" Hermione crossed the room and placed her book on his desk. "Professor Snape?"

Hermione shrugged and took a seat at one of the front desks. She clasped her hands together and waited for a few minutes. When she realized that he might be a few more minutes late, she grabbed her book from the desk and began to read over some of the potion ingredients for next semester. The next time she looked at the clock, it was 8:43.

Forty-three minutes? Hermione shook her head and decided that she'd just finish this night of detention some other time. She stood up and heard rustling in Snape's office. Hermione began to shake her head at how stupid she was. She hadn't even thought about looking in his office.

"Professor?" The rustling stopped and Hermione slowly pushed the door to Snape's office. The scene before her was not what she expected.

Remus Lupin was standing in the candlelight, looking startled. Hermione looked around Snape's office which seemed to be in complete disarray at the moment. Papers were everywhere, drawers were emptied clean, and even a few potions had been taken down from their rightful spots in the cabinet. Hermione dreaded the thought of having to go back through all of the papers to find exactly where Snape wanted the potions.

Hermione looked back in Lupin's direction. He did, indeed, seem to be the guilty party.

"Remus?" Hermione crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.

"Hermione..."

x x x chapter end x x x

Author's Note : Thanks to Kayti for looking over the chapter for me. This is a shorter chapter than what I would have liked, but I didn't think it was the right time for Quidditch yet.

But... yay! Update! Boo... cliffhanger:)

Thanks to all of my reviewers... and I'm sorry for the delay as well... family vacations are the most horrid thing on this planet.

Chapter 9 Entitled:

Quidditch in December