CHAPTER 1

She was walking down the corridors in Hogwarts, she felt that there was something missing, some bitter sorrow was eating at her insides... rounding the corner she bumped into someone... surprisingly it was the last person she wished to see, Malfoy. Oh, how despising he was... wait, no. She thought that she was suppose to feel hatred but all she felt was... longing for him to get closer to her, to touch her skin, kiss her... and he did, he got closer and started to kiss her on the neck, gently nibbling her skin, leaving moisture of his mouth on her neck... he looked into her eyes and whispered, "I love you…"

Hermione woke up with a start, sweating heavily although it was quite a cool night...yes, night, it was 2 am as she looked at her electronic clock he felt that she can't go to sleep so she decided to write to Harry, hoping that her owl will get to him till the morning.

He wasn't too talkative this summer and she wondered why. Ron said the same thing about his letters from Harry. And Ron, he was somehow secretive as well, but in a different manner. It was as if he wanted to tell her something but couldn't bring himself to it that's why talking to him was a little difficult these days.

Her parents bought her an owl at the end of the year. It was a brown coloured creature with beige and black highlights and luminous blue eyes. Hermione named her Ally...

Harry was turning 16 this year and she still didn't know what to give him. She decided to owl him because she wanted to say something about the absence of the gift. She knew that Harry wouldn't mind her not giving him something but she still wanted to. After all, he was her best friend. She thought of giving him something muggle-like but then again what would it be?

Tomorrow mom and dad promised to take her shopping to the Diagon Alley and she decided that she is going to get him something there and send it later. The other reason for her deciding to mail him was to keep her off the thoughts about her dream, she remembered it too vividly and detailed.

And she wrote precisely that,

Dear Harry,

A very happy birthday to you. I feel really ashamed about not getting you anything but I really do not know what to give you. You'll really make it easier for me if you have some particular request or something. Oh, and I wish you to be more talkative (hint).

Your faithful friend,

Hermione

In about 20 minutes Hermione finished her letter. She reread it a couple of times and was quite satisfied with it so she tied it to Ally's leg. She stood in front of the window for sometime watching the beautiful creature sore away into the darkness and disappear after awhile. Stars were twinkling somewhere far. How she wanted to forget everything and just sore away into the freedom, into life itself but… there was always a but… too much responsibility… she closed the window. Then she went to her bed and lied down with a sigh. Just as Hermione closed her eyes, the dream again was there vivid with details. After awhile she was able to fall into an uneasy sleep.