Hermione lay in her bed in the dark, tears streaming down her face. She wished Harry was there to comfort her, and put his arms around her. If Harry were here, you wouldn't need anyone to comfort you, Hermione thought.

Hermione tossed and turned for over an hour before falling asleep.

A dark, dim cave sat over a deep, blue-green sea. A small ledge surrounded the outer perimeter of the cave, and white-foam waves continually crashed against the side of the jagged black rocks.

Hermione stood in front of a small opening in the wall which led into the dark cave. Looking over the tiny ridge she stood on and into the raging sea below, Hermione quickly ducked into the dark cave.

Hermione stood in one spot until her eyes adjusted to the darkness. As soon as she could see, Hermione set off quietly on the only path in the cave. She walked downwards and kept a look-out for any signs of danger.

Soon, Hermione encountered an opening along the path. Again, an orange fire cast an eerie glow around the entire vicinity. Opposite Hermione, a lone, dark figure sat crouched. As she crept further into the room, the figure became clearer. Hermione let out a loud gasp and clasped her hands over her mouth. The figure in the corner was held against the wall with binding ropes. He was thinner and paler than the last time she had seen him, and he bore bloody scars all over his body. His robes were torn, and his hair was untidier and longer than Hermione had ever seen it. This was her best friend, Harry Potter.

Her gasp had awoken the teenage boy from his restless slumber. His emerald eyes met hers, and they widened. "Hermione!" he gasped, struggling to speak; his voice sounded hoarse, as if he hadn't used it in a while.

"Harry, I—I—"Hermione stuttered. "What Happened? Where are we?"

"You have to get out of here, Hermione," Harry rasped, his eyes still wide. "Before they come back—if they find you—"

"But what about you Harry? I have to get you out of here!" Hermione protested. "I'm not leaving you here!"

"Hermione, this isn't real life! You aren't REALLY here, but you can still see what's going on. You can't save me—at least not now. You're in danger here Hermione, and you can't get caught!"

"But, if I'm not really here, then how—"

"I don't know, Hermione! I've heard them talk! They know these things, and if you're caught, there'll be trouble!" Harry cried, although Hermione still had to strain to hear his voice. "I won't have you caught!"

"Harry, who are 'they?'"

"The Death Eaters and Voldemort! I don't want you killed by him! I don't want to give him that satisfaction! You have to go, now!"

"I—but—"

"Hermione! I love you, and I couldn't stand to see you dead! Please, get away from here!" Harry said desperately.

Hermione stared at her best friend silently. He'd only said 'I-love-you' to her a few times before, and only said it when the time was right. In fact, those had been the last words that he'd said to her before disappearing into the maze for the Third Task.

"I love you too, Harry," she replied softly, backing up slowly. "We're trying our best to find you, Harry!"

As Hermione continued to back away, her voice turned into a mumble that no one could understand.

Hermione took one last look at her boyfriend and her best friend before turning away. His beautiful emerald bore into hers. When she at last turned away from Harry, she found herself back in the dark bedroom at Number 12, Grimmauld Place.

Hermione spent the next few hours in Ron and Ginny's comforting arms, sobbing.

"I thought these dreams were over," Hermione moaned over and over, tears streaming down her face again.

Ginny wrapped her arms around her crying friend, hugging her tightly. "It's going to be okay, Hermione," Ginny said reassuringly as she, Hermione and her brother sat in the darkness of the bedroom.

"No, it's not!" Hermione choked out, sitting up and pushing Ginny away. "If I can get hurt in my dreams, everything is not going to be okay, Ginny!"

"But dreams can't hurt you, Hermione!" Ron stated who still looked shocked even though Hermione had finished explaining her dream to him and Ginny half an hour ago.

"I know Ron," Hermione replied, staring at her feet. "That's what I don't understand about it. Dreams aren't real. I can't possibly understand how I could've gotten hurt in that dream. It's just not possible, but Harry was so dead set on me leaving and getting out of danger."

"Well, what if these aren't really dreams?" questioned Ginny.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked, turning to look at his sister questioningly.

"I mean, what if these are more like visions, and not dreams," Ginny explained, looking back and forth between Hermione and Ron; both of them were staring at her. "Because Hermione's right—dreams can't hurt you. But if these weren't dreams, that could explain it. Maybe there's a connection between you and Harry, and You-Know-Who knows it, and can somehow reach you through these visions you're having."

A moment of silence followed Ginny's words while both Ron and Hermione contemplated this theory.

"Do you mean to tell me that Hermione's going to have to have a guard around while she sleeps so that if You-Know-Who does try to take her, they can stop it?" Ron asked sharply.

"No, of course not! I didn't mean that, Hermione," responded Ginny, nodding at Hermione to show her she was telling the truth.

Hermione pulled her knees to her chest on the bed, a few tears still shining on her face; she didn't look happy at the thought of Voldemort attacking her while she slept.

"You could be right, Ginny," Hermione said quietly. "Although I'm not overjoyed that You-Know-Who could appear in my dreams or visions, whatever they are, swoop down and take me away."

Once again, silence filled the entire room. Hermione finally broke the quiet with a query.

"But Ginny, how on Earth would Harry know about this supposed connection between him and me—if there is one?"

Ginny looked puzzled. "I don't know, maybe he can feel a connection or something."

"Or maybe You-Know-Who really does know about this, and Harry overheard him talking about it to somebody," Ron added, looking excited at the idea he'd had.

Hermione shook her head, disbelieving. "I don't think that would happen, Ron. I don't think You-Know-Who would boast about his plans to everyone, even if they are his Death Eaters."

Their discussion steadily declined, until it faded out completely. By then, rays of light had begun creeping into the room, as the three of them had been talking for hours. Hermione had calmed down enough to go downstairs for breakfast; although she was still shook up. After splashing cold water on her face, and trying to lessen the redness in her eyes, Hermione followed Ron and Ginny down to the kitchen.

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