December 25th 1993

"Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?" Hermione exclaimed as she stared at the shiny broom in Harry's hand

A firebolt. A real firebolt was gripped in Harry's hands. The state-of-the-art racing broom which would be used in the Quidditch world cup next year by both the Bulgarians and the Irish International Quidditch teams. The broom treated with a diamond- hard polish and hand numbered with its own registration number. The broom with Goblin-made ironwork providing power, stability, and a non slip foot grip. The broom that could speed at least one hundred and fifty miles per hour. Who could've sent Harry something like that?

"No idea." Harry said, "There wasn't a card or anything with it."

Hermione's face fell and bit her lip nervously. No note or anything? She knew Ron and herself could've never afforded that, Harry had no other wizard friends or relatives close enough to buy him that...

The greatest broomstick in the world, had been gifted to Harry by an anonymous person on Christmas. It seemed suspicious, so Hermione dived deeper. What if Sirius Black had sent him that? Hermione knew the Black family were a very wealthy family because of their pureblood status, and also nearly everyone in the Black family were on You-Know-Who's side. It was a great probability that the mass murder Sirius Black had sent him a firebolt as a trap.

Ron glanced at her expression and glared, "What is the matter with you?" He said.

Hermione paled and sighed, "I don't know…" She said slowly, "but it's a bit odd isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?"

Ron sighed exasperatedly and shook his head at Hermione's stupidity. "It's the best broom there is Hermione." He said rolling his eyes.

Hermione bit her lip again, a habit she does whenever she was nervous, "So it must've been really expensive…

Ron's face lit up, "Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together." He said happily.

Hermione shook her head at Ron's lack of catching up, "Well… who'd send Harry something as expensive as that," She explained, starting to get impatient, "and not even tell him they'd sent it?"

Ron tutted, "Who cares?" said Ron impatiently, then he turned his back on Hermione and beamed at Harry, "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"

Hermione's heart sank, "I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" She said shrilly.

"What do you think Harry's going to do with it- sweep the floor?" Ron said.

Just then Crookshanks thought it was the greatest time to interuppt and jump onto Scabbers the rat.

As soon as Ron shooed her and her cat away from the boys dormitories rudely, Hermione ran straight down to Professor McGonagall's office on Christmas morning to tell her Professor her suspicions. Hermione was glad her wise mentor had listened carefully and agreed strongly that the broom might have been sent by Black. McGonagall then said that she would inspect the broom while Christmas Dinner and take it away so she and Flitwick could strip it down to check for traces of dark magic.

Feeling pretty proud of herself, but also very nervous in how Harry would react, Hermione had spent the whole day trying to stay on the good side of Harry which seemed to be easy because of his broom.

But then when Harry had gotten the news, he glared at Hermione, sighed, and dragged a raging Ron up to the boys dormitory without another word to his best friend.

January 6th 1994

She was studying for Arithmancy in the corner of the common room when Harry came inside with his firebolt in hand. Behind her stack of books, Hermione flushed pink, she was wrong about Sirius Black sending the broom. Everyone in Gryffindor was awing at Harry's broom as Hermione just tried to ignore the cheers and read through her textbook she had to finish until tomorrow.

After ten minutes or so of Hermione's tired eyes reading through complicated methods, Harry and Ron approached her corner and Hermione finally looked up.

"I got it back." Harry said, grinning at her and holding up his firebolt like nothing happened.

Hermione flushed again as Ron scoffed, "See, Hermione? there wasn't anything wrong with it!"

Hermione, still too ashamed of herself defended, "Well- there might have been!" She said, "I mean, at least you know now it's safe!"

Harry shrugged, his eyes softening, "Yeah, I suppose so," He said, "I'd better put it upstairs-"

"I'll take it!" Ron said on the balls of his feet, "I've got to give Scabbers his Rat Tonic."

Ron then took the firebolt, and much to Hermione's annoyance, grabbed it as it if were made of glass and slowly carried it up the boy's staircase.

Hermione turned back to her work and Harry stared awkwardly, "Can I sit down then?"

"I suppose so," Hermione replied, moving a stack of her notes off a chair.

Hermione brought her eyes back to her book, concentrating on Agrippa's numerology table. Harry looked around her overflowing table in disbelief.

"How are you getting through all this stuff?" He asked Hermione.

Hermione brought her hand up to her chest where her timeturner was hidden beneath her shirt, "Oh, well- you know- working hard." She said, closing her Arithmancy book and moving a pile of parchment for her Rune dictionary.

"Why don't you just drop a couple subjects?" Harry asked.

Hermione's eyes boggled, "I couldn't do that!"

Harry rolled his eyes and picked up a number chart she had constructed herself, "Arithmancy looks terrible." He stated.

Hermione's eyes boggled once again, "Oh, no, it's wonderful!" said Hermione earnestly, "It's actually my favorite subject! It's-"

Before Hermione could tell her friend everything about Arithmancy, there was a strangled yell from the boys dormitory. Where Ron was at the moment.

Hermione panicked, what if the firebolt was really cursed and the professors couldn't find it? What if Ron had been hurt?

Luckily, he was alive and well, but then he came leaping down the stairs dragging what looked like his own bedsheets.

"LOOK!" He bellowed, striding over to Hermione with his long legs. "LOOK!" He yelled louder, shaking the sheets in her face.

Scandalized, Hermione looked up at Ron through the sheets, "Ron what-?"

"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!"

Hermione leaned away from Ron, scared and utterly bewildered. She had just gotten her friends back! There wasn't another reason for them to get mad at her again. Hermione glanced at the bedsheets again and saw something that looked terribly like-

"BLOOD!" Ron yelled into the stunned silence, "HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?"

If she weren't in this situation right now, she would have asked why would she have any idea what was on his floor, but she felt this wasn't the time.

"N-no?" Hermione said, her voice trembling.

Ron trust his hand in the witch's direction and Hermione closed her eyes and flinched. When there wasn't any impact, she relaxed, opened her eyes, and saw several long, ginger cat hairs. She now knew why Ron was angry at her and what this all led to.

"R-Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, her voice still shaking, "C-Crookshanks would never eat Scabbers! I never let him in your dormitory"

Ron fumed as Harry picked up a cat hair and twirled it in his fingers. "THEN EXPLAIN THE CAT HAIRS!

Hermione stammered, trying to grasp a reasonable answer, "It must've been there since Christmas!" She recalled in a steady voice, "Or if you were that dirty, from your head since that day in the Magical Menagerie!"

Ron let out a yell in frustration and stomped back up the stairs, everyone in the common room staring in silence. Hermione glanced to Harry, her eyes starting to tear up. Her friend gazed at her in a mixture of pity and anger. He stood up from his chair and followed suit leaving Hermione staring blankly at the empty chair.

January 11 1994

"Hey Granger!"

Hermione's heart dropped and she almost dropped her timeturner. She quickly stuffed it into her pocket of her robes and started to walk away.

"Hey- hey!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and spun around facing Malfoy who had a smug look on his face.

"What?" She asked icily.

Malfoy grimaced at her tone and sneered, "Keep that tone and I'll be sure to kick you out of this school, you filthy little Mudblood."

Hermione's shoulders shook a little bit, not quite used to the foul nickname. Malfoy noticed and he smirked

The witch regained herself and glared up at Malfoy, "You don't have the power to do that Malfoy." She said with venom dripping from the tip of her tongue. "Don't you realize that I am a witch and I am supposedly the least likely to get expelled from here?"

Malfoy scoffed, "You really think you're a witch Granger?" He said, "Because you're not. You're just a muggle, stealing magic away from us wizards."

Hermione trembled, each syllable impacted her like daggers piercing through her heart.

"Y- you don't know what you're talking about." Hermione stuttered, glaring at Malfoy.

"I know exactly what I'm talking about." Malfoy stated loudly in his annoying, arrogant voice, "You're just a selfish muggle, stealing away OUR powers. You don't belong here."

Out from the corner of Hermione's eyes, she saw Ron and Harry gawk at her from the other side of the corridor. Hermione stared right back at them and Ron hit Harry around the back and the two started to walk away.

January 15 1994

Hermione slouched down the stairs over to the pitch alone to attend the match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. To be completely honest, she didn't want to come, but since Harry was her best friend, even if he was angry at her, she still had to come just to support him. She was pretty sure the match had already started, she could hear Lee Jordan yell into his into his microphone, gushing about Harry's firebolt. Hermione's insides lurched as Lee droned on about the broomstick. She hated that firebolt. She hated how that broomstick had made her fight with her best friend.

Hoisting herself onto the stands, away from Ron and the other Gryffindors, Hermione found a pretty deserted area concealed behind red and gold fabric. She sat herself down at a bench and watched as Harry zoomed around the pitch, looking for the golden snitch.

Cho Chang, Ravenclaw's seeker, trailed behind Harry in an equally fast speed. Hermione's eyes never left Harry as she examined him closely.

There was a loud cheer as Harry suddenly dived, hand outstretched, towards the snitch. Hermione gasped as her eyes wandered towards the ground. 3 dementors, 3 very big, hooded, dementors were walking to Harry.

Wait... dementors didn't walk...

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the dementors. She noticed a flash of blonde from underneath the black fabric. Platinum blonde. Hermione slowly put her hand into her pocket and took out her wand.

Harry, who noticed the dementors by Cho's scream, plunged his hand into his own pocket, took out his wand, pointed it at the fake dementors, and yelled out something inaudible and zoomed away without looking back. Something blue and shimmery came bursting out the tip of her best friend's wand, causing the sabotagers to topple over into a heap of human and fabric in surprise.

The patronus charm! Harry had used the patronus charm!

Hermione glared, and aimed her wand at the fake dementors who had happened to be Malfoy and his group of cronies. Aha, just as she suspected. Anger was boiling her blood and she swore her whole body was shaking. Before she could whisper any foul curses under her breath, there was a loud cheer and everybody started to run down to the pitch. Harry had caught the snitch.

Hermione sighed, let her arms hang loose, and slowly walked down to the pitch along with the others. She did want to go to Harry and congratulate him, but Ron was there, whooping and squeezing Harry into his arms. And besides, Harry wouldn't want her to come and ruin everything.

So Hermione stood at the edge of the pitch and watched. She watched as Professor Lupin brought Harry aside quietly and show him the Slytherins, struggling to untangle themselves from the fabric. She watched as Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore march to them and yell at them. She watched as the Gryffindors ran back inside the castle, chanting something about a party. She watched as Harry and his team walked back to the changing rooms.

As Hermione watched everybody else retreat off to the castle, she narrowed her eyes at the Slytherins, who were still on the ground. McGonagall and Dumbledore had left, and everybody else seemed to be gone too. She snickered as the Slytherins finally untangled themselves and stand up, their faces flushed. Marcus Flint yelled at Malfoy, stating that this was a bad idea. He then stomped off the pitch in heavy strides, Goyle and Crabbe looked at Malfoy for instructions.

Malfoy sighed and shooed his sidekicks off with a wave of his hand and Hermione's eyes followed Goyle and Crabbe as they slouched off the pitch

Brilliant.

Hermione emerged from the shadows and speed walked towards Malfoy who hesitantly was standing with his back to Hermione. The Gryffindor raised her arm where her wand was still gripped tightly in her hand and pointed it right at him.

"You complete- arse!"

Malfoy turned around in shock and Hermione jabbed the tip of her wand right into his chest. The boy seemed to be startled by her choice of words. He stood still, frozen, as he stared at the angered girl.

"How could you just sabotage Harry's game like that!" Hermione screeched, jabbing her wand at Malfoy again. "Harry could've been seriously hurt if he hadn't used the Patronus Charm, and you could've hurt other players too!"

Malfoy's pupils constricted, "Granger I-"

Hermione jabbed her wand into his chest for the third time again, but harder. "Don't you Granger me." She said through gritted teeth, "You almost hurt my best friend! You evil-"

"Look- I'm sorry okay?" Malfoy said sheepishly, he reached his hand and removed Hermione's wand away from his chest.

Still gripping her wand, Malfoy stepped backwards, away from Hermione.

Hermione, who had the power to use any curse she wanted, sighed. She dropped her arm and it hung loosely at her side. Unlike the hero she had always wanted to become, she turned and walked away like a coward.

January 19 1994

She had gotten a letter from her parents,

Dear Hermione,

I hope you're year at Hogwarts has been going well!

Your father and I are planning to take a trip to Paris next week, the dentist had gotten busy and we decided we both are in need of a break. We hope you don't mind we are going without you.

Anyways, we'll write to you when we get there and send a lot of pictures for you!

Love, Mum

January 22 1994

Hermione Granger breathed in the cold, January air. Her throat itched as the chilly air went in and out of her lungs. It was a beautiful night. Trees in the forbidden forest shook violently as the wind grew stronger, through the darkness, raindrops fell to the ground with calming sounds that made Hermione's spine shiver. Or maybe it was just she was cold, her hair was soaked with rain water anyway.

Standing beside a pillar, which was particularly close to the ledge of the Astronomy tower, Hermione sucked in another breath and closed her eyes shut.

"Life." Hermione muttered under her foggy breath. How did her life twist like this? Into this- mess?!

First, Harry Potter, whom Hermione thought would be the most loyal human being in the whole entire universe, destroyed her expectations in having a friend like him. Hermione remembered how Harry looked at her when she had peeped over her book she was using as a shield.

Icy. Cold. Full of hatred.

She had paled when she saw him like that. Of course she had seen him give other people like Draco Malfoy a hard glare, but never she had imagined she would receive one from Harry. All because of a broomstick.

Hermione opened her eyes and unnoticed tears welled up into her eyes. She blinked them away and the salty liquid combined with the raindrops on her face.

She was worthless. Apparently a broomstick was worth more than her.

Hermione pressed her lips together, "At least it was a firebolt." She assured herself, in a hushed voice. "It is the best broom in the world…"

For a minute Hermione was glad, well sort of. At least it was a firebolt. The most fastest, newest, best broomstick of all time. Of course she couldn't meet up to those standards! Of course Harry would choose his firebolt over herself. She shouldn't be sad in any way.

But then again, she had been tossed away, this time, because of a manky rat.

Ronald. Sure they had daily squabbles and sure, Ron had some issues in controlling his anger. But then they were friends, best friends.

Hermione always knew Ron liked Harry more than her, and she was perfectly fine with it. She agreed that Harry was much more of an enjoyable friend to Ron more than herself. Harry enjoyed Quidditch, breaking rules, and had a sense of humor. Hermione on the other hand liked to study, she patronized them with questions about the great witch beheading, and was highly logical and did not know how to take a joke. It was a miracle how they became Hermione's friend.

But how could she had been so stupid?! It was obvious that she, their best friend for two years from now, was actually worth less than a stupid broomstick and a dirty old rat. It seemed like they were only being her friend because of pity. They saved her from the troll in first year because they pitied her. They hung out with her because they had pitied her. Hermione laughed, raindrops falling into her mouth. Worthless. That's what she was.

Hermione left her pillar that she had been leaning on for almost an hour now, walking away from the rain and under the roof of the tower. She crouched down into a ball, making sure not to make any noise. Professors Snape, Lupin, and Flitwick were on hallway duty tonight. Hermione had memorized the teacher's timetables in first year just in case it was needed in the future.

Hermione grinned despite herself, it was only Flitwick patrolling tonight, and he was stationed all the way at the other end of the castle. She was safe, unless Professor Sinistra decides to check up here.

Malfoy the git was another reason she had come up here. He made her feel guilty about her special abilities. About being a muggle-born, about existing. Or maybe he isn't really a git, maybe he was acting like a git to her because she had deserved it.

Her enemy definitely thought she was a selfish mudblood, her friends thought she was worthless, and she bet the rest of the wizarding world hated her for taking away their magic.

Pain rippled through her body. It hurt. It was more than a fourteen year-old girl could handle

I'm a waste of magic. A dumb mudblood. Hermione thought bitterly. She didn't deserve to live and ruin everybody's lives. She didn't have the right to call herself a witch and hold a wand in her hand. She was worthless to her friends, how worthless was she to people who weren't her friends? Her parents, enjoying their time together without their daughter. She shouldn't be alive, then maybe her parents would have a better, a more fun life.

Hermione stood up and slipped off her outer robe and stepped up right on the ledge and stood there feeling the rain and wind against her skin. It certainly did not take long for her to start shaking in cold. She felt tears in her eyes again and she angrily wiped them away with her arm. She didn't want to cry, she had nothing to cry for and she didn't want to be selfish and cry for herself. Hermione could feel all the pain, self-hate, and hurt all fade away with what she was about to do.

This was it. She waited for this day. No more killing rats, stripping down broomsticks, writing abnormally long essays, and taking away magic from the Wizarding World. She was prepared. Hermione wrote notes and placed it on Harry and Ron's bedside table, placed one in front of Professor Dumbledore's office, and placed one on the ground in front of the door the Slytherin common room.

"Harry, Ron, Mum, Dad…" Hermione whispered, aware there wasn't anyone listening, "Thank you."

Raising her right leg and closing her eyes, she leaned forward as if she were welcoming death into her own arms. Her life rushed past her eyes quickly, not letting her concentrate on anything. A pair of strong arms encircled around her waist and pulled backwards. Hermione let out a sharp breath, and opened her eyes wide. She, and someone else, smashed onto the floor back on the Astronomy tower, landing on their sides. Hermione struggled, and tried to break free of this someone's grasp and fling herself back off the tower.

"Potter- POTTER!" The person who was holding her yelled, "Weasel-"

There were footsteps and more arms tightened around Hermione, frustrating her.

"LET ME GO!" Hermione screeched, still struggling. "You-"

Still not clear of who these people were, but roughly having an idea, she kicked the nearest leg surrounding her with the heel of her foot. There was a grunt and the arms which were around her waist were off Hermione. She broke free of the rest, using this time as an advantage and rushed to the ledge again, and without hesitation, she jumped.

Wind rushed in her ears, it was thrilling, she felt free, like she could fly. Hermione heard yelling from the tower and while she thought this was the end, she stopped in mid air. Trapped in the levitating charm, Hermione struggled again, but she was brought back up to the tower once again.

Three people were there. Ron, Harry, and Malfoy. All staring at her while Hermione still didn't give up in breaking free. Malfoy had his wand up, controlling Hermione with the levitating spell. Stupid git. He always ruins everything.

"Let me go!" Hermione screamed, "Let me go, let me go!"

Hermione felt magic wear off her and her feet went back in contact with the ground. Harry immediately rushed over her and wrapped his arm around her, securing her like as if she were a pet. Hermione looked down, refusing to look at anyone in their eyes.

"Just what on EARTH do you think you were doing?" Malfoy spoke up, stilling Hermione's movements.

"Let me go." Hermione pleaded, the words directing to Harry, "Please let me go!" The arms around her didn't move.

"Not until you tell us what you were doing!" Malfoy said again. Hermione scoffed, Malfoy, he was only doing this just so he wouldn't get framed if she did die.

"'Mione you're soaked," Ron sputtered, "You-" The rest of his words were cut off by Malfoy.

"Granger." He snapped at his rival, "Granger!" Hermione still refused to look at anyone, "Oh for Merlin's sake- Hermione!"

The use of her name stopped Hermione. She raised her head to look at Malfoy. He wore nothing but a glare, piercing straight into her eyes.

"What?!"

"What in Merlin's sake were you doing up here?"

"Well wasn't it obvious Draco?" Hermione said, returning the glare straight back at her enemy. She felt Harry's arms tighter around her shoulders, "I was trying to kill myself. I didn't think it would take Dumbledore to figure that one out."

Ron flinched at her tone, "Hermione, don't-"

"Or what?" Hermione said, snapping her head towards Ron, who stood beside Malfoy, "Going to tell a Professor? Going- going to ignore me for another month?" Ron looked away, "I don't care!"

Malfoy sneered at Ron and turned to Hermione, "Granger, look at me." Hermione reluctantly looked up into her rival's eyes, "What happened to drive you to this?"

Hermione laughed out loud, she didn't mean to, but that made her laugh, "Yeah, like you don't have any idea why I might do this Malfoy." Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Hermione, please just tell us." Harry said from right above her head.

"Like you would care Harry." Hermione retorted with as much venom she could muster.

"I do care!" He exclaimed, " We care Hermione," Liar! He was a liar! "Just please tell us why you tried to do this!"

"BECAUSE I'M WORTHLESS!" Hermione shrieked. Letting those words out of her own mouth felt like her tongue was on fire. A dam broke from inside of her and Hermione broke down into sobs. Harry let go of Hermione in pure shock, "You- Harry and Ron hates me because of that s-stupid broom and Scabbers! Malfoy- you think I'm just a waste of space in the wizarding world, just a selfish muggle stealing your magic, the rest of the world doesn't want me because I yield these abilities! And I bet m-my parents are glad I'm gone for the whole year, and I bet that the P-professors hate to read my long essays and to read t-through all my notes!"

There was silence and Hermione went on her knees and cried, she felt humiliated. Three boys, whom just HAPPENED to be the three boys she wouldn't want to see at the moment, were standing and watching her. She didn't want to look so vulnerable in front of them, yet alone Malfoy.

"No- Granger," Malfoy stepped close to Hermione. She was surprised that he was the first person to speak up. And why was he even here anyway? "You're not worthless. Professor Snape told me once that I should look up at you and try to write essays like you. He was impressed. And your… muggle parents surely can't be that glad you're gone. St Potter and Weasel-bee will come to realize that you're a good friend and you didn't mean to do… whatever you did." Malfoy crouched down, "And… I don't hate you. I never hated you." Hermione sniffed, she didn't know if she could believe that, "I-I just said those mean things because I was, and I won't repeat this, jealous of you. But I have come to realize that you are a decent witch, and definitely not worthless."

Hermione lowered her head deeper so it could be impossible for Malfoy to see her eyes. She wondered why no Professors had come up to the tower yet, they were making such a loud racket.

Harry sighed, "Hermione I'm sorry," He breathed, also crouching down, "I was selfish… I know you were concerned for me because of the broom, but I chose to stay angry at you because I didn't realize that at the time. And we don't hate you…"

There was a shuffle of feet and Ron sat down too, "Yeah, sorry Hermione." He said sheepishly, "I don't hate you for anything… I shouldn't have stayed angry at you for Scabbers, even though it was partly your fault-" Malfoy hissed at Ron and the redhead coughed, "Uh- never mind that…"

Hermione sniffed, and didn't say anything. Their words sunk deep into her heart, but she didn't know how to accept them. Especially Malfoy's. She still… was hurt, and their words didn't get rid of that hurt.

Suddenly, she felt arms on her again and Hermione flinched, but this time, they weren't around her to keep her in place. Harry was hugging her tight as if he was hugging his own sister. Hermione sniffled and relaxed a tiny bit. Ron then joined in the hug and tightened his long arms around her and Harry. Malfoy, who didn't seem to know what to do, stood up, and hesitantly pat Hermione's head.

"There! In the Astronomy tower!"

A voice yelled from down the stairs of the tower and Hermione broke out of the hug. She stood up quickly, and knocked Malfoy's hand off her head. There were loud footsteps and Professor Lupin showed up, quickly followed by Professor Dumbledore and Professor Vector. Hermione gasped, when she saw a note in Dumbledore's hand. He read it.

He read it now he's going to cart me off to a mental ward in St Mungos. Hermione thought as she started to panic. More professors were coming up the stairs, and the adults already up, were advancing slowly towards her. Harry and Ron stared, still on the ground with their mouths open. Malfoy darted his eyes between Hermione and the professors.

Panic. Fear. That was all Hermione felt at the moment. Without thinking even for a second, Hermione spun around and flung herself gracefully off the tower.

"NO!"

"Hermione!"

"Granger!"

Wind rushed in her ears loudly as she fell towards the grassy ground. She was free now. No more fear, no more hurt. And she had gotten to hug her best friends and make up with her rival before she made this choice. She was free to die in peace.

There was a hard impact on the right side of her ribs, knocking her breath away. Blood formed inside Hermione's mouth and she spat it out impatiently. Then everything went pitch black.

January 25 1994

She was in heaven. Probably.

"Are you sure she's alive?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I'm sure she is alive. You don't need to repeat the question."

"When will she be waking up?"

"Probably in a while now."

"She's been laying there all useless for days now for Merlin's sake!"

"Wait until she finds out she missed the Charms test."

"Weasel!"

"Ron!"

"Okay, okay I was just joking. She'd probably faint though."

"Yeah Ron, but you can't say something like-"

"Oh shut up Potter! Look!"

It took her whole strength to open her eyes. Hermione couldn't wait to see what heaven looked like. Maybe she could say hello to Harry's mum and dad.

"She's awake!"

"What?"

Hermione blinked. Looking into the eyes of Ron, Harry, and Malfoy.

The Gryffindor girl opened her mouth painfully to speak, "What did you say about the Charms test?"