Hey all! Here is another chapter for you! I hope you enjoy reading it :) Thanks!

Chapter 3

The following week and a half leading up to the day to leave for Hogwarts had been very irritating for Hermione. Harry wouldn't stop his ranting on his theory of Draco Malfoy being a Death Eater. It was getting rather tedious; there was no solid evidence that proved the theory. And Hermione told him so. But Harry wouldn't listen to her. He would snap at her, spouting some type of insult at her whenever she voiced her dissent. So, after a few choice insults and one slap—from Hermione—later, the light brown haired witch just opted to keep her opinions to herself and learned to just tune him out. She was getting tired of it, and her sleepless nights were not helping the situation either.

Harry was also irritated. He just couldn't understand why Hermione wouldn't just agree with him. Ron agreed, even said that Malfoy's behavior was suspicious, but Hermione just wouldn't give in. She just had to have a reason for why she wasn't siding with him. Harry knew he was right, and he had to prove it to Hermione. Though he does admit that he may have deserved the slap for insinuating that she wasn't loyal to him and had a thing for the blonde git. But he didn't regret what he said; he needed to know just why she couldn't understand that the ferret was now a part of Voldemort's inner circle. Harry was hoping that once they were at Hogwarts she had the chance to witness more of Malfoy's actions, that then she will become convinced that he is a part of Voldemort's inner circle.

While they were on the train, making their journey to Hogwarts, Hermione was once again, growing tired of the boy's ravings. She just opted to ignore him for the rest of the train ride. And at least this time, Harry chose to stop his antics and told the two that he was going to go to the bathroom. He, however, never came back to the compartment. Ron figured that he would just meet up with them at the Great Hall. Hermione reluctantly agreed, despite Harry's behavior over the past two weeks, she was still concerned. It wasn't until right before the feast started that Harry showed himself to the Gryffindor table. He was holding a piece of a bloody cloth up to his face, clearing indicating that he had a broken nose. Hermione didn't even need to ask as to why or how he got it. She turned her attention over the Slytherin table and met the silver eyes of one Draco Malfoy. Instead of his typical sneer that usually sent to her, she we met with a smirk and a knowing nod in acknowledgement of his involvement with Harry's bloody nose.

Hermione just rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the boy with a bloody nose and the boy who was stuffing his face like a pig. However, later throughout the feast, Hermione wasn't paying attention to the people chatting around her. Instead, she was thinking about the violet eyes that kept invading her dreams since her visit to Diagon Alley. Those familiar violet eyes had kept invading her dreams, meeting them again in between those bookshelves in Flourish & Blotts. They were hypnotizing, drawing her in, and what was strange was that she wanted to heed their call. She wanted to be consumed by them, but why? Why did they feel familiar? Why did she want to keep looking into them? Why did she feel this strange connection to them?

"Hermione?"

The light brown haired witch looked up from her half eaten plate to the concerned gaze of Ginny.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she replied, "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I've been trying to get your attention for the past two minutes. The feast is over." Hermione blinked her eyes in confusion. She looked around her and saw the last of the people leaving the Great Hall to go to bed.

"Oh," her mouth formed a perfect 'o', "I guess I wasn't paying attention," she finished slowly.

"Hermione, are you sure you're okay?" Ginny pressed again. The older teen had been acting odd since they returned from their visit to Diagon Alley. She's just seemed off. And tonight, she had been quiet the entire night, which was very unusual for her. Typically, she would engage in some type of way, with any eye roll, a comment here or there, etcetera.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I just have a lot of things on my mind, right now." Hermione said off handedly.

"Well, if you need to talk to anyone, I know those dunderheads fail in this department. But, you can always talk to me, about anything—even if it is something that you would think would be something friendship breaking. I trust you and your judgment, so I'm always here for you." Hermione smiled at the ginger's earnest words. I hope that when that is tested, that is true, Hermione thought. I have a feeling that there will be an opportunity for Red to test that real soon.

"I appreciate that Ginny. You have no idea as to how much that means to me," Hermione told her friend just as they reached the Gryffindor portal entrance.

Last night was a blur for Hermione. After her conversation with Ginny, she doesn't really remember much besides falling into bed and succumbing to the depths of slumber. What she does remember is her dream were of the same violet eyes, except this time, instead of just dreaming of her eyes, there was a scene attached to it. But, instead of the face that she was met with at Diagon Alley, it was younger…more childlike. But, Hermione was smaller too—younger. She was walking through a vast and majestic garden with the girl who possessed those violet eyes. They were smiling broadly and laughing, skipping through the garden without a care in the world.

When Hermione awoke, she couldn't help but smile at the dream. The older girl had made herself—the little girl—feel happy, loved, and safe. She felt as if she could spend the rest of her life with that girl. But, this shocked the witch. I don't even know this woman—or girl for that matter—how could that be possible? Hermione thought. How could I feel that way about someone I have barely met? Instead of dwelling on these thoughts while lying in bed, Hermione decided to get up and get ready for the day. Today was the first day of school, and Hermione wanted to start the term off well.

After finishing her morning routine, and finally being satisfied with her smooth light brown curls, Hermione made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The witch was always an early riser, but the boys weren't. So, Hermione decided that she would just meet up with them at breakfast before their morning class. It was during this time that Hermione planned to have a good relaxing day, nothing too much to stress about since it was only the first day. Stress free…but, the fates were not on her side today.

As she was enjoying her breakfast—toast, eggs, sausage—and reading through her potions book, an owl landed in front of her with one foot on her potions book. Startled, Hermione looked up from her food and book and found the most beautiful owl she had ever seen. The creature was an albino barn owl with distinct striking and vibrant purple eyes—where have I seen those before—and it had a package that was softly placed on the table. The girl was shocked, but she gazed, curiously, at the beautiful owl with a slight head tilt. Hermione cooed at the creature, "aren't you a beautiful one," as she softly caressed the owl's feathers. She offered it a bit of her toast, which was happily received. As the owl munched on the toast, Hermione opened the package before her. It was a dark brown leather bound book that was lacking a title. Filled with curiosity, she opened the cover to see if there was something more identifying in the inside of the cover. Instead of the title, she found a note waiting to be read.

Little witch,

I'm sure this tome will be of great assistance to your little pet project. Use it well. You never know who might be lurking.

Also, my dear, we didn't get to finish our conversation the other day. I look forward to speaking with you again.

Until next time,

BB

P.S. She is my gift to you. Her name is Elara. She will be an excellent familiar for you, as I'm sure you have already bonded with her.

Hermione blushed at the note, though she didn't appreciate her new project being called 'little'. It also didn't take a genius to know who wrote the note. And there was a part of her was elated that the mysterious witch did this for her and contacted her. But, there was a small part of her that told her to be wary of this woman—though that part was extremely small. However, her heart soared at the gracious gift of Elara from Beckett, and the book, too. She was right. She had already felt a connection with the bird. Hermione, also, didn't need to skim the pages to figure out its contents, it was right there in the note. Along with a warning that she had never received from anyone in the Order. Though, however, the curly haired witch couldn't help but wonder why she would get such a thoughtful, wonderful...intimate, even, gift from a person she had barely just met. How did a five minute conversation lead her gaining a present in the form of an owl with distinctive, similar purple eyes?

She looked up from her gift as she felt eyes looking at her. Elara was softly hooting at her before she took off for the owlery. She looked over to the Slytherin table and was met with another amused smirk from the blonde ferret. However, this smirk was different. The wizard seemed to be holding a secret that Hermione knew not of. This off-putted Hermione. But, soon, Draco's expression changed to one that was undetectable. He flickered his eyes over to the front table with the professors. Taking that as a cue, Hermione shifted her gaze over to the head table and found a curious look from her Head of House, there was a even a glint of amusement as she had witnessed the teen witch's adoring exchange with the new owl. Hermione, then, found herself under the unusually stoic and cold stare of the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore has always had a twinkling light within his eyes, but, now, as he looked upon her in that moment, there were no twinkling lights. They were cold and dark, and Hermione realized that there was something off. Maybe he's the person, Beckett was warning me of? She concluded that she needed to begin her pet project sooner than she thought.

Shortly after coming to her conclusion, she pulled her attention from the bearded wizard to the approaching Harry and Ron. She quickly placed her gift and note in her rucksack bag before either boy noticed the items. They had a knack for being obnoxiously nosey, and when they saw something they didn't like, they were automatically up in arms. Upon approach, the wizards greeted Hermione and the trip comfortably and jovially ate their breakfast.

Thank you for reading!