Chapter 1

He was a most peculiar man. He had this aloofness about him like a mist of mysteriousness was surrounding him. The dream was the same every time Hermione went to sleep. There she would be standing in the middle of the Great Hall. A ball would be in session with everyone dancing but herself. All of a sudden out of the shadows a tall handsome figure would sneak up behind her, take her hand gently, and begin twirling her around the dance floor with such ease you would think that he had been doing it all his life. Just as the last song begins to end, he leans in for a kiss, but before their lips touch Hermione wakes up and the handsome figure is lost forever. This dream had been a recurring one for almost a week now, and Hermione couldn't seem to figure out what would be causing it. It was true that her recent feelings for her boyfriend Ron had been dissipating more and more. Whenever they saw each other nowadays all they seemed to do was argue about little things. Hermione had decided to concentrate a little more on her school work this year since it would be her very last at Hogwarts. She saw nothing wrong with this, but Ron was constantly nagging her about how she always spends most of her time in the library and not with him. She was so sick of it she wanted to scream! How could he be so insensitive? Oh wait…he's a man! Hermione had to constantly remind herself that. Still, she was just so tired of him lately that she had even been contemplating calling the whole thing off. She had decided that if his attitude hadn't changed in a week's time, she would have to call it quits. She didn't have time for this kind of nonsense. She had to concentrate on her last year and preparing for what she would be doing in the future. By the time she had cleared her mind of all these thoughts, she realized that she would be late to class if she didn't hurry up and dress. After a rushed meal in the Great Hall she met up with Harry outside the door to the potions room.

"Hermione, what took you so long? You weren't at breakfast." Harry was always so sweet when it came to stuff like that. You could tell that he cared greatly for his friends and their wellbeing.

"I'm so sorry Harry. I woke up a bit later than I had expected, and I had to rush in order to get here on time."

"That's alright. I was just a bit worried. You never miss breakfast. Oh, by the way, Ron was looking for you." Hermione let out a quite sigh (or so she thought) and drooped her head down. When she looked up, Harry was staring at her quizzically.

"What's been going on with you two? All you seem to do now is argue. I'm sorry Hermione, but you just don't seem happy anymore."

"I'm not Harry. I just don't think that now is a good time to be with someone. I need all my concentration on my studies. Not only that, but I just don't feel the same about him anymore." Ron and Hermione had begun dating this past summer and everything was great until school started. It wasn't that Hermione didn't like Ron because she did, but she began realizing that she missed having him as a friend because that's how she truly felt about him; he was like a little brother to her.

"I think you need to tell him that. I think it would be best. Things have been a bit awkward between everyone lately and maybe you telling him the truth about how you feel will clear the air a bit."

"You're right. I probably should. It would be for the best. Thanks Harry." Just then, the door opened and Professor Snape stood in the doorway. Everyone began walking into the room and seating themselves at their desk. Just as class was about to begin, Ron stormed into the room with his bags flailing behind him as he rushed to his seat right beside Hermione. Hermione turned the other way so she wouldn't have to look him in the eye. The tension between them was thick, and the situation a little awkward.

After a severe yelling from Snape, Ron turned to look at Hermione and then looked away. Everyone received their assignments and got to work. Hermione and Ron did not speak at all during the assignment. Once class was over, Ron rushed out the door before Harry and Hermione could even mutter a word to him.

Later that day during lunch a rumor began to surface about a new quidditch teacher that had arrived for this year. Everyone seemed to be in a hype about it, but Hermione couldn't hear who it was. When she asked Ginny, who had become a very good friend of hers, all she could tell her was that he was a man and he used to attend Hogwarts. That was all she knew. A sprout of excitement rushed through her, but was soon pushed back down at the sight of Ron glaring at her from the other end of the table.

"Why are you so excited about it? He's probably no one we know, and besides you don't take quidditch lessons anymore, so you probably won't even see him."

"I'm not all excited about it Ron. I'm just curious as to who it is. Don't be such a downer. We might know him. And yes, I don't take quidditch anymore, but I do pass the field two or three times a day during classes and I do see the teachers." Hermione was tired of Ron raining on her parade and making her good mood take a turn for the worst. Ron gave her an evil look and continued to play with his food. Harry looked at the both of them and made an effort to lighten the mood by changing the subject. When it was time to go to class Ron hastily picked up his stuff and rushed through the door before everyone else. Harry looked a Hermione and shrugged.

"I'll meet up with you in the corridor. I forgot something in the common room."

"Alright."

Hermione set of on her own towards the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom. She reached the corridor that ran right by the Quidditch field. Remembering all the buzz about the new teacher, she slowed her pace and tried to get a good look. It was hard at first because too many heads were in the way but she eventually caught a slight glimpse of who it was and couldn't believe her eyes! Not only was he a former student, but he was a former Gryffindor, and a very handsome one at that. Suddenly, Harry ran up beside her.

"I got it."

"Harry, look at who the new quidditch teacher is. Can you believe it?"

"Bloody hell it's Oliver Wood!"