Chapter One
The Piano Room
The sun rose over the hill, shattering the darkness and mystery of the night before. Hermione arose from her peaceful slumber. She smiled at the day, and therefore was calmed of all uneasiness from the mysterious dreams she had had in the night. Hermione seemed to have forgotten the dreams themselves, but she knew they were odd, considering the feelings she woke up with.
After breakfast, Hermione went up to her library. She immediately picked up a book and drowned herself in the story. An immense love filled her heart when she finished the book and put it back on the shelf. She just loved to finish books, because then she could look forward to the next one.
Later in the day, Hermione decided to wander about her house, looking for something and nothing at the same time. She felt as though she was looking for her destiny, but she knew in her heart that she wouldn't -
The Piano. Hermione entered the room, and stared at the Piano in the center of it. She began to sob. The Piano was given to her as a gift from Harry, the day before he died. She ran her fingers along the smooth, white keys. She sat on the bench and began to play away her feelings of darkness. She stopped immediately when she heard a knock at the door.
"Hello," Ron said. It was the only word he could utter when Hermione answered the door. She let him in.
"Were you playing the Piano?" he asked. Hermione nodded.
"You know, he took his own life for us," Ron reminded her. He was unwise to say so.
"Yes, Ronald, I know. I know he put himself in front of Voldemort because he cares for us. He died so Voldemort would die too. He didn't want us to live our lives in fear and pain. Do you know what, Ronald? I am living that way! I live with the fear that when I wake up, he won't be there to greet me! It's the fear that one day I'll stop loving books, that I'll stop loving to learn! It's the fear that one day, I'll sit around and do nothing, letting my house collect dust and killing myself with the fear and hunger and cold! I HATE HIM, RONALD! I HATE HIM FOR THAT!"
Hermione collapsed onto the cold, hard floor in her frustrations. Ron grabbed hold of her and sat her on the couch. He held her in his strong arms for a long time. "I miss him too," he finally said. They both fell asleep from their exhaustions.
When Hermione woke up, it was almost midnight. She stared at Ron next to her, shaking her head. She finally arose from the couch, creeping through the house so she wouldn't awaken Ron.
She finally got to the Piano Room. She smiled as she sat on the bench, running her hands along the keys, but resisting the urge to play it. Hermione tried to think of something else, but it all led to Harry.
Hermione spun around, startled because she heard something. She got up and looked back down the hall, but saw nothing but darkness. She turned around, and jumped back when she saw Harry at the Piano bench.