Recap: You just had a major bust-up with Harry. Saw Sirius in a dream. Wondering weather to tell Hermione what's up, you just took a deep breath to tell her.

You take a deep breath and begin, as you talk, all the worries and fears seem to gradually ease away from you, not completely- but enough for you to breath again. Hermione sits through all this silently, not showing any emotion, but never relinquishing the hold she has on your hand. When you come to the bit about Sirius in your dream, you choke slightly- trying desperately to hold back the tears. She gazes at you sympathetically. When you tell what Harry said, her eyes burned with fury, she couldn't hold it in any longer and leapt up.

"How dare he be so pig headed!" she exploded, "Why the stupid, arrogant, conniving little g!t, why I should go up there right now and make him-" you cut her off,

"Hermione- it's really sweet of you to care- but it'll only make things worse, he'll just accuse me of 'wrapping you around my little finger', it's best to just leave things as they are. For now, anyway." You said understandingly. Hermione still looked angry and royally p!ssed off, but held her tongue. You smiled sadly at her.

"When you're in my situation, you have to learn to sacrifice your reputation to keep some things secret, and loose a few friends to help the greater cause." She gazed at you, eyes filled with pity.

"Millie, if you don't mind me asking. What does it feel like- being sixteen again?" she said.

"It feels, well, it," you stumble over the words, trying to find the right ones, "Well, my body and everything feels the same as it did at sixteen, and when I learn new spells and stuff in class, it just feels as though I'm revising them. My previous life is like a very close memory, I still feel things I used to feel, like, like…"

"Like your love for Sirius?" she asked softly, you nodded your head slowly. Ever conscious of the dull ache in your chest, a hole, empty and forgotten, which could only ever be filled if Sirius came back. You remembered the dream, with meeting Harry and everything, you hadn't had time to think about it. You yawned suddenly.

"Come on, we'd better get back to bed," said Hermione, "Your first day of, well, sort of first day of school tomorrow. Millie, do you mind if I ask you one more thing?"

"Go ahead," you said, "As long as it isn't as deep as the last one!" You both laughed.

"Well, I'm glad that you did and all, but why did you tell all that stuff? I mean, we've only just met." She said, I bit embarrassed. You looked into her eyes curiously- why did you tell her?

"I guess, it was a lot of reasons. One was that you were so like my old best friend here at Hogwarts- you reminded me of her right off! That sort of triggered the feeling that I could trust you right away, that I already knew you." You said,

"Who was your friend?" she asked, gazing right at you. You met her stare confidently and told her.

"Lilly- Lilly Evans at Hogwarts. Lilly Potter afterwards. Harry's Mum." Hermione's eyes filled with tears for you. You knew what she was thinking. Fiancé, best friend, parents, countless companions- all gone. And without even saying goodbye, or even knowing.

"The other reason," you continued, "was what you called me, Millie. Sirius always called me that. It made me want you to know about me- without me having to pretend around you." You said. She nodded blankly. A look of understanding passed between you and you both went to bed.

"Millie! Wake up! Millie!" You groggily register Hermione, You see her throwing open your curtains and shaking you to wake up. You glance at the clock beside your bed.

"Hermione! It's 6:30 am! Lessons start at 9!" You groan.

"Well, I like to get a head start on the day, thought you might not want to get left behind!" She says briskly, smiling. You moan, swinging your feet to the floor. You hate perky people in the morning. You stumble into the shower, turning it up to full power. Ah! Bliss! Half an hour later you stride into the common room to find an irritated Hermione tapping her foot.

"Ready to go?" you say smiling. She shakes her head glibly at you as you link arms with her and march to the hall. When you reach it there were a few students already there- not no Harry, thank God! You sit down with a group of Gryffindors whom Hermione introduces you to.

"Amilie, this is Neville, Parvati, Lavender, Seamus and Dean. Everyone- this is Amilie!" You smile at everyone, Neville stutters a hello and Seamus winks at you. You feel an instant likeness toward him; he has that sort of friendly nature that puts you at ease straight away!

"So, Amilie. Ou habite tu en France?" he says, showing off.

"Wonderful! Another French speaker!" you say happily, "J'habite a nord-est de France." You say, taking a slice of toast. His grin spreads further across his face.

"I see what Ron meant." He says mysteriously.

"All good, I hope!" you say, "I have an extremely good wand for hexing!" He laughs,

"Oh, well I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of you Mademoiselle!" Hermione stands up, indicating for you to follow, you smile at Seamus,

"See you around, then!" you say

"Oh, I sincerely hope so!" he replies, you jog to catch up with Hermione.

"Looks like you hit it off with someone, then!" She says, grinning.

"Just a friend, besides, I'm engaged- remember?" you say sadly, patting the necklace hidden under your shirt, holding the ring with Sirius had given you all those years ago.

"Millie- I don't mean to be harsh or anything. But, isn't it time to let it go? I mean, why not think of this as another go at life, a chance to start a fresh?" She says, still striding on.

"Hermione- don't you understand? I can't forget Sirius! I could never find anyone like him a second time over. You'll understand that someday." You say, "Besides, my dream last night, it was like a message, like he was telling me that he wasn't truly gone at all. Hermione- where are we going? Classes don't start for another hour!"

"We're going to see Dumbledore- of course! Where did you think we were going?"

You stop suddenly, grabbing her.

"Whoa! Wait a second! When did I ever say I was going to tell Dumbledore?" You say frantically. She frowns at you.

"Well, of course you are! We tell him everything! He'll know exactly what to do. Last time Harry was having strange dreams Voldemort was manipulating his mind!" She says, surprised.

"Last time I looked- I was in charge of my own life. Not Dumbledore. And this is just about Sirius and me; I can solve my own problems. You forget- I'm an adult, I've lived through wars with Voldemort- Hell, I was almost killed by him! I truly appreciate your concern and know that you're trying to do the right thing, but I can handle this. No offence, but what Harry, Ron and you do when you're in a pickle isn't the same as me. I'm independent, I always have been, plus I am 20 years older than you!" You say, Hermione looks as if she is going to argue with you, but then her eyes widen in surprise.

"Hermione- what is it?" you ask. She points over your shoulder, you slowly trun around to find a very surprised, embarrassed Ron Weasly.

"Ron, did you hear all of that?" Hermione exclaims in horror. He coughs nervously.

"Busted, huh?" He says, with an anxious smile…