AUTHOR'SNOTE:J.K. Rowling is the ownerof all characters of the Harry Potter Series.

Come one, Comeall!All critiques arewelcome!

CHAPTER ONE

Her breathe caught in her throat, lodge as if it had turned to stone as soon as she inhaled. The pain began slowly, increasing

and spreading until she thought her throat would burst or she would die. Intermingled with the hard knot in her throat was the

searing heat she felt slowly work its way over her body. Her skin was flushed with a heat that was hot and yet cool at the same

time.

She turned, not knowing if it were him turning her to face him or her body moving toward him with traitorous intent. As his

arms reached for her, bringing her in contact with his heated masculine torso, she gasped.

She'd been holding her breathe and didn't seem to notice nor bothered by the lack of air filling her lungs. The heat was so

strong, she didn't know if it were him, her or both of them. As he lowered his head towards hers, her heart began to beat

uncontrollably fast. She feared she may combust or worse, awaken and find this all a dream. She couldn't think, couldn't

speak, couldn't move. All she wanted was his lips on hers. Ever closer, he came, yet seeming never close enough to capture her

lips with his.

She couldn't see his face; all she could see were his eyes. As he was about to kiss her, she turned her head to the right, fearing

the train might overtake them and then she would never feel those lips. All she could see was the light and hear the horn. It

would be too late.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP…….

"NO!" Hermione screamed as she was torn from her sleep, drenched in sweat.

"If I were going to start having these blasted dreams over my summer vacation, you'd think I'd at least get to finish it!" She ranted to

Crookshanks while she turned off her alarm clock.

Crookshanks had been curled up at the foot of the bed while Hermione slept but with the startling exclamations from his owner, he

merely cocked his head then began to stretch, disinterested in ramblings, he was hungry.

As her cat stretched, Hermione flung herself back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. She'd been having this dream since she'd

returned home from Hogwarts and it was getting a bit frustrating, awake and asleep. Why was she dreaming about some dream lover?

With the most beautiful gray eyes she'd ever seen. They were almost silver.

With a heavy sigh, she got out of bed and went into her bathroom. She began brushing her teeth and thinking about the day ahead. The

second week of summer at home had come and gone without anything exceptional happening. Normally, Hermione would spend a few

weeks at home and then be off to Ron's for the remainder of the summer until classes resumed at Hogwarts. But this was no ordinary

summer. It was the summer before their final year at Hogwarts and Dumbledore was dead. As the thought stole into her head, a sob

escaped from her mouth and tears began to fall down her cheeks. She couldn't stop the tears from falling and gave up trying. She turned

the shower on and began shedding her night clothes. Hermione stepped into her shower and lifted her face to the falling water and cried.

She allowed the falling water to wash the salted tears down the drain and her exhaustion along with it. She would not do this, could not

do this any longer.

Weakness was not an option. Emotion was not an option. Fear was not an option. It was all eventual but she had to reign herself in. If

she couldn't master her feelings, couldn't control herself, she would certainly not need to cry about the loss of Albus Dumbledore for

she would surely see him in the great here after! And she certainly did not want that. Dumbledore would be avenged. Harry would see

to that and if he couldn't….then someone in the Order of the Phoenix would. Finishing her morning shower, Hermione got dressed and

made her way downstairs to feed her increasingly loud cat.

"Rarrrrrr, Rarrrrrrrpss, Rarrrrggghss" Crookshanks sang as he followed Hermione down the stairs into the kitchen.

Hermione led Crookshanks into the laundry room and poured "Kitty Delight" into his bowl along with some cream. "There you go

Shanks. Kitty a la Crème!"

As Crookshanks began to lap up his morning breakfast, Hermione went back into the kitchen and poured herself a huge steaming cup

of tea. As she began spooning sugar and cream into her Black Tea, Hermione's mum stuck her head into the kitchen door.

"Going to the store dear, want to come?" Mrs. Grainger asked her daughter with hope in her eyes.

She was so proud of her daughter. She had always been an exceptionally bright child. Always learning so fast and so much! Hermione

never found a subject she couldn't learn. She and her husband were so proud when they learned Hermione would be going to Hogwarts

School of Witchcraft & Wizardry! Who knew such a thing existed? She and ----- always had an open mind about such things, magical,

but they never thought it went so far, so deep, so real. It was due to their pride that they hadn't fussed too much each summer after her

first year at Hogwarts when Hermione pleaded to go to the Weasley's for the remaining summer days. She read all she could on magic

but allowing her to dwell around magical people, well that would be her real lessons. She wouldn't be living around Muggles. She and

her husband made sure to read everything they could, that Hermione left behind, about the world their daughter would be a part of.

They wanted to fit in to her life, for her sake.

"Soundths goo, when are yu goong?" Hermione tried to say while trying to finish chewing on her toast and orange marmalade.

"In about fifteen minutes. So you do have time to actually chew and swallow your food and THEN speak dear. It's very unbecoming

for a lady to speak while having bits of food stuffed into her mouth. Especially when the food begins to come out with each hard syllable

you TRY to pronounce." Hermione's mother lightly scolded.

Hermione finished her breakfast and then darted to the front door to see if the morning post had been delivered. She was hoping to hear

from Ron and Harry. She hadn't spoken to either since Dumbledore's funeral. It had only been a week, so she probably wouldn't hear

from either. Boys were so thoughtless sometimes really. They all had decided that they would study all they could about potions,

charms, defense incantations etc over the Summer Holiday to face what was coming with Voldemort. Harry was determined to face the

coming trials alone but she and Ron had decided that they too would learn all they could and aide Harry whether he liked it or not. They

had begun this journey together and together they would face it. Even if their paths were different. The war was raging and there was

more than one battle to be fought.

Disappointed that she hadn't received a letter through the post, Hermione sat down on the curb outside her house and lifted her fat cat

onto her lap. As she scratched behind the cantankerous feline's ears, Hermione instructed her cat to stay close to the house and to

behave himself while she was out with her mum. She promised him a Chocolate covered Mouse treat if he behaved. She'd purchased

enough of the treats from The Apetthocary in Diagone Alley prior to leaving for the summer break. Understanding and not appreciating

being told what to do, Crookshanks hopped off Hermione's lap and sauntered slowly toward the side of the house toward the

backyard, pausing long enough to spray a bush and swish his tail in discontent.

Hermione watched as Crookshanks defaced the bush with a foul smelling spray and rolled her eyes. She was just glad that her mother

hadn't witnessed the cat's decidedly pompous attitude. She would never allow Crookshanks to roam free in the house again! It was

such a foul smell. Just as Hermione stood and dusted herself off, her mother exited the house, carrying her purse and jingling her car

keys.

"What is that SMELL?" Her mother grimaced and held her hand over her nose.

"What smell?" Hermione asked quizzically as she steered her mother away from the bush and toward the car.

"Well, that odor, it, well, it's gone now." Her mother said while arching her eyes.

"You didn't attempt some sort of potion did you? Went bad..tried to hide it? I thought magic was banned when outside Hogwarts?" her

mother queried.

Happy for the distraction, Hermione launched into a long description about the rules of Hogwarts ban on the use of magic by underage

wizards outside Hogwarts, to which her mother happily listened. The trip to the store was uneventful but Hermione was glad to spend

the time with her mother. She had missed her terribly without really realizing it until she spent the day with her, doing ordinary mother-

daughter activities. She knew it would be the same if she had gone to some fancy Boarding School or when she went off to University

but it just seemed different. The world of magic was so far removed from her ordinary muggle life that she sometimes forgot it existed.

She felt a pang of guilt and hugged her mother so suddenly, she almost knocked them both into the street and into the passing cab.

"What's this…"Her mother began then hugged her daughter fiercely and kissed the top of her head.

"Let's get some lunch. There's a new tea room on Abbey Lane and I just know you'll love it!" Her mother said into Hermione's hair

while giving her a final squeeze.

"Sounds good" Hermione agreed.

Over lunch Hermione and her mother reminisced about family, friends and the strange new events occurring in Hermione's life. There

was so much to tell and to ask, they stumbled over each other's dialogue, fitting right in with the constant buzz of chatter permeating the

restaurant's cozy dim lit setting. The time flew by quickly and Mrs. Grainger looked up and shrieked, "OH LORD! Look at the time!

We've got to go!"

"Why, it's only…half past.."Hermione began but was cut short when her mother continued.

"I've got to finish straightening the house, begin cooking supper and get ready, we've company coming!" She beamed.

"Who? I didn't know about any visitors..is it Aunt Eidne?" Hermione said with hopeful anticipation.

"No dear, you'll have to wait for your special….uh, I mean, you'll just have to see. So, come now, let's be on our way! We've a lot to

do and I certainly will require your help." She said as her face flushed. She'd almost ruined the surprise. She paid the bill and left the

restaurant hurriedly to avoid the questions that might ensue. Knowing Hermione and her thoroughness, Mrs. Grainger decided the drive

home was a good time to listen to the new CD she'd purchased for Hermione.

As they drove home, Hermione knew something unusual was happening. Her mother NEVER let her listen to rock music in the car and

certainly never at an ear splitting decibels! Deciding her mother did not want to speak about the mystery guest and knowing she

wouldn't if she'd made her mind up (obviously a trait she inherited), Hermione decided to let the subject go. She'd ferret out the truth

sooner or later. Or she'd simply see the guest when they arrived. Either way, she was going to enjoy her summer and not see trouble

where it wasn't, allow fear to creep in with every unexpected event, and lose a moment of precious time with her family. She knew it

could all be gone, taken from her in a heartbeat. The years at Hogwarts, helping Harry thwart Voldemort had taught her that much. She

was going to live, really live. Enjoying every moment she was given and she wouldn't feel ashamed. She wouldn't. She could be care-

free. She just knew it! Plus she'd picked up that book on how to be carefree after all. What couldn't you get from books?

As the car pulled into the drive, a gray blur flew through the air and landed with a thud on the hood of the car, sliding off the other side,

leaving six long claw marks embedded into the new, shiny red paint.

"BLOODY SODDING CAT!" Mrs. Grainger yelled. She had just received a new shiny red sports car for her birthday. She'd always

wanted one.

As she sputtered and fumed while trying to exit the car, she was pulled back into the car with a jerk by the seatbelt that hadn't been

removed. As her mother attempted to control her temper and fumbled with her safety belt, Hermione made a break for it and ran after

Crookshanks.