Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

"Hey, Hermy! Wait up!"

Harry Potter was trying to keep up with his best friend, Ron Weasley as he sprinted towards Hermione Granger, the third member of the trio. Ron finally caught up to her and slung an arm around her shoulder.

"Wassup?" he said trying to sound cool while catching his breath at the same time. Harry laughed under his breath and slowed to a walk as he made his way towards the two.

"You're ridiculous, Ron, get off," Hermione said, smiling.

"All right, all right." Ron removed his arm and sighed heavily, looking around. "So, uh…where's Joshy?"

"Don't call him that," Hermione said, losing her smile. "He's waiting for me at dinner. On that note, I have to go. Bye Harry." She turned and walked away as Harry finally came to them.

"See ya Hermione," he said. "Still no luck Ron?" he asked when she was gone.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked him squeakily and started walking to the Great Hall.

Harry raised his eyebrows and followed.

"Oh, so that wasn't a pathetic display of your huge crush on Hermione back there?"

"Uh, ahem, crush on, Hermione? Where did you get that idea?"

Harry snorted.

"No, you're right, you have simply friendly feelings for her. Mhmm."

They soon reached the Great Hall and found Hermione. She was sitting with her boyfriend, Josh Sawyer.

"Hey guys!" he said as Harry and Ron sat down.

"Hey Josh," Harry replied. Ron merely scowled and sat down. As he was scooping mashed potatoes onto his plate he noticed Josh put his hand on Hermione's leg.

"Stupid prick," he mumbled.

"Sorry?" Josh asked.

"Uh, hot chick," Ron said, pointing at a girl passing by.

"Ugh," Hermione groaned. "You're so sick Ron. Harry, stop looking!"

"What? I'm a growing boy! I have needs!"

"You're disgusting."

"This coming from the girl who is getting felt up at the dinner table," Ron said angrily. "Let us do what we want." Hermione looked taken aback

"Um. Sorry," she said as a bit of pink flushed to her cheeks. Josh took his hand off of her leg. A few minutes later Hermione motioned to Harry. "Harry, can I talk to you outside for a moment?"

"Yeah sure," he said. "Oh, wait, it seems like Dumbledore's about to say something. After, ok?"

"All right." Every student in the Hall quieted as Dumbledore stood up.

"What do you think's wrong?" Ron asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Look at his face. He looks really strange."

"You're right," Josh said. "I wonder what's wrong?"

"Dunno," said Harry.

"Students!" Dumbledore began. "Something happened last night that I feel you all should know about. In a corridor on the fourth floor a student was found. She was dead."

"What?" Hermione gasped. Whispers ran throughout the Hall.

"What happened?" someone called out. Harry saw Minerva McGonagall, the deputy headmistress and transfiguration professor, glance nervously at Dumbledore.

"Her throat - " Dumbledore began.

"Albus!" McGonagall shot up. "Do you really think it's appropriate to tell them this?" \

"Minerva, they must know." Dumbledore turned back to the students. "The girl was found with her throat cut."

"Cut throat? It wasn't even magic?" Ron was shocked.

"Who was it?" Seamus Finnigan yelled.

"A fourth year Gryffindor. Melissa Jackson."

"Melissa Jackson? That's my sister's best friend," Josh said.

"I don't get it," Ron said as the students began to whisper. "Why would someone kill a student? And by cutting their throat? If they were going to do it, why not use magic?"

"I don't know. That's really weird," Harry agreed.

"Quiet!" Dumbledore said. The Hall silenced again. "I know this is a very hard time for all of you. Every member of the staff is here for you if any of you ever need to talk. There will be a memorial on Wednesday, for anyone who wishes to attend. Because we don't know who did this or how it happened, we are issuing a new curfew. All students must be back in their common rooms immediately after dinner. I'm sure you all need some time to deal with this news. You may all go to your common rooms."

The students got up solemnly. Most of the school hadn't known Melissa but it was a shock to realize that something like this could be happening at Hogwarts. What was worse was that there were no suspects now, since Harry had defeated Voldemort at the end of the previous year. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Josh were walking together when Josh saw his sister, Amanda.

"I'll see you in the common room," he said to Hermione giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"See you," she said.

"I can't believe this happened," Ron said. "I thought it was all over."

"It was," Harry said. "This is something new."

Well I personally think this chapter is awful. First, I had one review for the last chapter and I haven't written anything to this story for more than a year so I wasn't very inspired. I just thought it'd be fun to write something and this was the story I hadn't updated the longest. Also I was watching TV while writing this so I wasn't putting full concentration into this. Anyway, tell me what you thought and if you review the next chapter will be better, I promise!