Authors Note: Just so you guys know, I changed a sentence or two in the last chapter so that Hermione is already 17 and can do magic, but Harry still has to wait for his birthday (July 31st). Thanks for reminding me Moony's Metamorphmagus.

Sorry it took so long guys.

Ok…now with the story

Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me.

Chapter 3: Nothing Lasts Forever.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger left early in the morning, for they had a long drive ahead of them. Mrs. Granger hugged Remus, then Tonks, and then Harry, then Hermione as Mr. Granger followed her with handshakes. He shook Harry's hand as he said, "Now, Harry, you keep my daughter out of trouble. Okay?"

Harry turned slightly pink because it was usually Ron and himself that pulled Hermione into their troublemaking plans. "I will, Sir." Harry smiled sheepishly.

Hermione could hear what they were saying through her mother's hug. "I heard that, Harry Potter. You and Ron are always the ones that get me into trouble. So don't even start acting innocent." Hermione scowled.

Mr. Granger laughed and, before hugging his daughter goodbye, he whispered to Harry. "By the way, Harry, you don't have to call me Sir. I'm not your boss."

"Okay." Harry answered.

The Grangers then got in their Tahoe and, after waving goodbye, pulled out of the driveway and left. Immediately after her parents were out of sight, Hermione pointed one finger to the ceiling and declared, "To the library!"

"What?" Harry asked quickly, shooting his head toward Hermione.

"We have to figure out what spells to learn this year and make a list. I'm sure the library here has plenty of spell books, with no restrictions." Before Harry could say another word, Hermione grabbed his hand and dragged him down the hall to the House of Black Library.

The library was just slightly smaller than the one at Hogwarts. The many shelves contained dusty books about every magical subject possible. In the middle of the library, was a lounge area, complete with six comfy armchairs and three wooden tables. A few bean bag chairs were also scattered around. As soon as Hermione entered the room, she let go of Harry's hand (who was out of breathe) and started thumbing through the books on the nearest shelf. By the time Harry sat down in a big black armchair, Hermione approached him, with about half a dozen thick books on in her arms.

"Hermione?" Harry asked, looking at the books' sizes and guessing they were quite heavy. "How do you manage to carry all of those books?"

She picked up the first book, Famous Spells of Twentieth Century, and sat down in the armchair beside Harry as she answered, "Years of practice, Harry."

Harry laughed as he picked up a book himself and began to look for spells.

H & H

About two hours later, Harry and Hermione were still searching for handy spells. They had already made it through a dozen books and had a list of spells a foot long when Harry stood up from his armchair and stretched. Feeling fully stretched, he collapsed on a bean bag chair. With his eyes shut he ask, "Hermione, what spells do we have so far?"

Hermione glanced up from Defense Against the Odds and noticed Harry's tired form. She closed the leather bound book and picked up their list. "Let's see. There's the Glacius Charm, which freezes any liquid."

"That might useful." Harry said.

"The Carpe Retractum Spell, which pulls things toward you and pulls you toward other things."

"That could get us out of some tight spots."

"Indeed, it could", Hermione agreed, "Um…the Confringo Curse, which makes the target burn."

"Again, useful."

Hermione looked at Harry before reading, "This is a curse I found in Famous Dark Spells of the Ages. It's the Possession Curse, which allows you to temporarily take over another creature's body."

Harry raised his head. "Take over another creature's body?"

"When possessing that creature, human or animal, you control all of its functions as if it were your own body." She stated in a matter of fact tone.

"How long can you possess someone?" Harry's interest began to grow.

"The longest someone's ever possessed someone is 24 hours, but they had practiced that spell for years."

"Hmm….." Harry fantasized.

Hermione released a long yawn and slouched slightly as their list fell to the floor. The parchment made no noise as it landed.

"Let's take a break, Hermione." Harry said as he crawled off of the bean bag chair. "Come on. We'll go take a walk or something."

"I don't know, Harry. We really need to start working on these spells and the faster we learn them, the faster we'll master and then…Harry don't you dare give me that puppy dog face."

Too late. With his bangs covering his eyes, Harry looked to the ground and whispered, "All I want to do is go outside, but I guess if you want to stay in here…I suppose we could." He started to sit down as Hermione sighed.

"Ok Harry. We can take a break."

"Success!" Harry started dancing around the room. "Go Harry! Go Harry! Oh yeah!"

He pulled Hermione into his arms and spun her around in glee. "Harry, calm down!" She couldn't hide her laughter.

Harry put her down and said, "I'm just excited, Hermione."

"Well you should be", she said smoothly, "I don't leave the library for just anyone."

After a quick goodbye to Remus and Tonks, they ventured into the sunlight.

H & H

Harry and Hermione walked side by side down the street, talking about the old days at Hogwarts and the adventures they had. "Remember the first time we saw that three headed dog, Fluffy", Harry chuckled, "and when we got back to the dormitories, you told Ron and I, 'If you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you can come up with another clever idea to get us killed…or worse, expelled.'"

"Yes", Hermione giggled, "That was before you two saved me from the troll and we became friends."

"That was when you told McGonagall you went looking for the troll. We were shocked that you actually lied to a teacher."

"Yeah…that was the beginning of my rebellious stage."

They busted out laughing until they reached a deserted playground. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand. "Come on, let's race."

The two teens climbed up the play set and at the top they reached a double slide. They both sat down and Harry exclaimed, "Loser buys ice cream."

"Ok" Hermione slid down before Harry knew what hit him.

"Not fair!" Harry yelled from the top of the slide.

"I like cookie dough ice cream, Mr. Potter!" She yelled smiling

H & H

Being the gentlemen that Harry was, he knew he was going to buy the ice cream, whether he lost or not. He licked his double chocolate happily and he and Hermione made their way back to HQ. "So what do you want to do after you graduate, Hermione?" Harry asked, taking a break from his ice cream.

"I'm not sure. With my grades, I could do anything, but there are so many options. What about you Harry?"

"I think I'm going to try to be an Auror. Fighting the Dark Arts is something I'm quite good at." He teased.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Potter. You still haven't gotten rid of me."

Out of no where, a cloud of black smog appeared in front of the two teens. From the smoke, emerged a tall man, bald, with white skin. His long black cloak flapped behind him as he approached them. Harry stood in front of Hermione and pulled out his wand. "She doesn't concern me Potter. You're the one I want. Let's see where your priorities lay, boy."

"Legilimens!"

Harry's most recent memories flashed before his eyes. His day with Hermione, going to the playground and eating ice cream, everything reappeared. It wouldn't go away. Harry couldn't stop it and Voldemort dug deeper into his mind. Harry sitting by Hermione in the Hospital Wing during their second year when she was petrified, going back in time to save Sirius in their third year, fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries in their fifth year, during that same year worrying that she might be dead as she lay unconscious on the floor. It all came at once and he couldn't stop it.

Suddenly it did stop. Harry found himself back on the street, in Hermione's arms. Voldemort looked down at them, his smile was conniving. "I know now", he hissed, "what your weakness is, Harry Potter." He then disappeared as quickly as he came.

"Harry. Harry, speak to me." Hermione looked down at him, her eyes were bloodshot.

Harry didn't speak. He just took Hermione in his own arms, held her close, and cried.

H&H

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