Chapter Two:

Hermione was sitting in her room. Her mind was in deep thought. She was thinking over all the past month's events.

Harry had always told her Draco was a death eater, but she didn't believe him, more likely, she didn't want to believe him. She couldn't believe he actually tried to kill Dumbledore. Why would he ever agree to such a thing?

Hermione knew he was a prat and an arrogant prick, but she never thought he was evil. Yeah, he came from a long line of death eaters, but for some strange reason, she always had a feeling he was different. It was very weird and unexplainable, but she always felt like he would soon realize he's been wrong and change.

'I guess I should never follow my feelings again' she thought to herself. 'as they are obviously fooling me'. She hated the fact that she was wrong.

Deep in her heart she always wished things would be different. But when did she ever get what she wished for. 'Life is hard, and we all have to live with it'.

Harry was away, fighting evil, looking for horcruxes. He wouldn't let her and Ron come and help. He said they were in enough danger already, and that he would be better off knowing they're safer.

She knew why he turned down they're help. He felt guilty for three dead people already, he didn't want the guilt of their death on top of it all.

Hogwarts closed down, they said it would only re-open when the war would be finished. Students wanted to be with their families at such critical times.

Besides one could never imagine Hogwarts without Dumbledore. It would never be the same. Hermione used to consider Hogwarts the safest place to be at, that went down the drain as well.

She didn't think of Dumbledore's death often, it was too painful. The first week she would sit and reminisce past events. His death, his funeral, hearing Harry's tale of how the events occurred.

From what he said it sounded like Draco was giving in.

'That damn Snape' she thought, 'there, another person I was totally wrong about'. She never, in a million years thought he was evil.

'Mean, yes, unfair, most definitely, but evil, no way!'

'He just killed him, no feelings of remorse what so ever. After all Dumbledore was the only person that believed him, he took him under his wing. Protected him, gave him a job, made him respected and trusted by all. Snape just came out, said Avada Kadevra, and boom, that was a thank you very much for everything'.

Hermione was mad at herself for not believing Harry. Mad at Snape for being such an ungrateful git. And mostly mad at Dumbledore for his bad judgment, and for trusting Snape.

But most of all for dying. She knew that without Dumbledore, the war against Voldemort will be all the more difficult, even impossible. Dumbledore was the only person Voldemort had ever feared, and now he was out of his way.

Who would defeat him? Harry was too young. Even though she knew Harry was a great wizard for his age, he was no competition to Voldemort.

That feeling made her fear for her friend's life everyday. Every time she received an owl from him, telling her he's ok, or asking for a bit of advice or a favor (looking up a certain location in a book, or a certain spell) she felt a strong relief, that he made it this far.

Hermione stayed in touch with Ron and Ginny, but didn't see them so often. It was too dangerous. She stayed with her family in the muggle world, and they stayed with theirs at the wizard world.

'Dumbledore' she thought, 'why did you, of all people have to die?'

The thought that she'll never see his twinkling eyes, or hear his calm voice again, brought tears to her eyes.

In the six years she's been at Hogwarts she learned to love and respect the Head Master like no other teacher. She always thought that when times would get rough, he'll always be there to make it better. Times couldn't get worse, and he was gone.

A tear trickled down her cheek when she thought about the day he died. 'Poor Harry', she thought, 'having to witness it all: Cedric's death, Sirius' death, and worse of all Dumbledore's death'.

She remembered the funeral, how Hagrid was crying uncontrollably, how Harry had no words to say, and everyone were crying silently, crying for the greatest wizard of their time. Crying for their loss, the greatest loss, a loss no one had ever expected, or could have ever predicted.

A loss, she feared she'll never get over.

"Sweetie, are you sure you don't want to join us?" Hermione's mother walked into her room, she saw Hermione sitting on the edge of her bed.

"No, Mom, go, I don't really have time for a vacation right now" she lied.

"N.E.W.T's are due this year, and I have a lot of reviewing to do, besides I got this intern job at the ministry of magic, and I have to start in less than a week"

she lied again, Hermione hated lying to her parents, but she couldn't get herself to tell them the truth.

How could she tell them Dumbledore died, how could she tell them there was no more Hogwarts.

Her parents were going on vacation. Two months spent in the United States of America. She was in no mood to go on no vacation, besides, Harry can owl post her any day, she had to be here for him.

She got up, hugged and kissed her parents,

"have a fabulous time, don't forget to take a lot of pictures and write to me" she said with a smile, waving at them as they were walking towards the door.

"we won't, please be careful honey, if you are in any sort of danger do call us, we'll be back right away. Oh, and feel free to visit your friends Ronald and Harry if you get too lonely around here" said her father waving back.

He was very fond of Ron and Harry, that's why he didn't mind her spending so much time at the burrow.

She locked the door when they left. She got into her room, and lay on the bed, she had to rest after all of those sleepless nights.