It was a little while later and they were again strolling through the halls. Hermione tried hard to act lost but she didn't do that good of a job. Many times Albus stopped to watch her wander into classrooms where she would murmur things to herself. He was sure that he hear her mention a Professor Vector or McGonagall but he didn't bother asking any questions. Thoughts were running through his head but he was afraid of jumping to the wrong conclusion. He wanted to know more about the woman in front of him.

Albus was not what many would call a ladies man. He had the looks and the charm but almost all of the girls in his year just looked at him as a friend, nothing more. He was the pal, the confidant, the person you could always talk to and be assured that it was never going to leak out. He wanted to change his image but he could never betray the trust that had been put on him. He had good friends as well. He did not want to hurt them if he could help it.

But this girl was different. She didn't know anything about him. He could act differently around her and she wouldn't know that it wasn't his usual character. And she was certainly pretty enough. And interesting. And smart. All of these qualities were drawing him in. And he had only known her for a couple of hours.

He had wanted her to meet his friends but when the final bell rang he had persuaded her to stay away from the classroom and dormitories. He had lead her down the farthest hallways wanting to keep her to himself just a little longer. But even down the hallways that few students and teachers went, she knew her surroundings. She didn't seem fazed about anything not even by the resident ghost that floated along with them.

Nearly Headless Nick chatted happily with Hermione as they walked along the third floor corridor.

Hermione had laughed out loud when Albus had taken her that way. But remembering that there was no three-headed dog, named Fluffy, awaiting her, had then made her somewhat solemn. That was until Nick had been able to get a laugh out of her.

"What are the two of you talking about?" he questioned as they neared the end of the hall.

"Hmm? What?" Hermione stopped and turned to face him.

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just wondering why I wasn't part of the conversation."

She smiled to him. "Nick and I are just talking about the Professors here. And he was telling me some amusing stories of what has happened here."

Albus nodded, smiling to himself. He too remembered some interesting stories of his time here. He could tell her some later on the way back to the dorm.

After they continued down the end of the hall they turned into what used to be an empty classroom. They walked inside and towards the windows at the back wall. To their left Hermione noticed something familiar. It was the mirror of Erised that Dumbledore had showed her before she left.

Albus walked over to it. "Have you ever seen anything like this? A mirror that shows our deepest desire. It's amazing."

"It is amazing." Hermione was in awe. Who would have thought that the mirror that was shown to her just a few days ago would be here and now? To be shown to her by the same person, to boot.

She turned away from the mirror. She didn't want to look at it again. She had seen her heart's desire and now she was afraid that she would never find the man she had seen. This fear racked her mind and it was endless pain that hadn't left her for days.

"Have you looked in the mirror?" she asked as she backed away from the mirror, her voice quivering only slightly.

"Umm. well yeah, I have a few times. No one else comes down here so I don't think they know about it. And I don't want to share my discovery either."

"Then why show me?"

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"Why show me?"

She replayed what happened next in her mind. He had become so flustered he hadn't even answered her. There was a blush to his cheeks that made him cute and sincere. She had chuckled lightly at his embarrassment, not to torment him but to relieve the awkward silence that had followed the question. He had smiled nervously and quickly began to talk about his friends.

"The friends I have yet to meet..." she had answered when he first began. He nodded curtly and headed back for the door.

Hermione mentally slapped herself. She was doing a wonderful job of messing everything up! She was forced to sprint after him. For while she had been berating herself, he had disappeared behind the door. Catching up to him she tried to smile. While there was still a twinkle in his eyes, there seemed to been an angry haze settled over them. She didn't want him angry with her. Her smile became weak with her own frustration. Then hoping to appease him some-what, she laced her arm with his while they walked back towards the dormitories. He had nodded slowly in response.

They didn't talk while they walked. But while Hermione was beating herself up over what had just happened, Albus was basking in silent comfort. He was enjoying their walk, overly pleased with her decision to take his arm. Yes, even though it had only been a few hours, he was smitten.

The dormitory was a hive of busy bees. No one was sitting down and relaxing, but racing around the common room, or jogging up and down the stairs.

Stop!

Every head turned to look at Hermione and Albus. The boys gawked while the girls giggled and whispered.

Hermione took a step forward, gathering her Gryffindor courage. "Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. I just transferred here from Plexion School in Mongolia."

Most everyone nodded and smiled to her. The gossiping stopping for a moment so the new information could sink in. Hermione looked around the room, trying to take in all the new faces. These were her new housemates.

'Goodness, I hope we all get along.'

That thought was broken quickly when a high-pitched voice to her left sounded, "No wonder her outfit is so terrifying."

Hermione turned and saw her.

She was everything Hermione wanted to be. Tall and slender with sleek mahogany hair. It was pulled into a tight bun that made her look elegant and many years older. Her green eyes looked like the ocean after a storm. Her uniform made her look proper and refined. Though, it just added to the air she carried. She raised her eyebrow carefully as she looked Hermione over.

It wasn't fair! Why did she already have to have an enemy, one in her own house, at that?

Hoping to not let the other girl get the best of her, Hermione retorted, "I thought it was just Slytherins that were supposed to be snobs?"

The other girl glared at her.

Albus' mind raced. 'When did I tell her anything about Slytherins?' he thought as the two girls stared at the other.

The other girl walked over to Hermione. Tension hung in the air and Hermione was sure the other girl was going to hex her, or at the very least slap her. But to her surprise, and to the surprise of everyone in the common room, the other girl offered her hand.

"Nicola Allsprand." A small smile graced her face. Hermione reached out and shook her hand. Quickly, almost two quick for Hermione's eyes, Nicola gestured to another girl. She had similar to features, though her hair was more of a reddish color. "That's my sister. Valloriey." Letting go of Hermione's hand, Nicola backed away. Murmuring she said, "You're right, it is the Slytherins who are snobs."

Hermione nodded once then watched as the common room turned back into the hive. People moved past her in every which way. She nearly jumped when Albus reached her and touched her shoulder. Whispering he said, "Be careful of Nicola. Gryffindor or not, she's not a force to be reckoned with. Her sister's nice enough. But don't get her upset or Nicola will be on you in a flash." Hermione nodded again and watched Nicola walk towards the stairs to the dorm rooms, a flock of girls following robotically.