Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. This is a work of fiction.

Chapter 1

Hermione couldn't help but feel excited at seeing a dementor for the first time. Most people saw her as a know-it-all, a teacher's pet, just someone in it for compliments and a good grade. But that wasn't it. She read all the books, studied the most out of all the other wizards, because she had an unquenchable thirst for the unknown. Knowing all the answers in class is just a byproduct of going after what makes her feel excited—things she didn't understand.

"Earth to Hermione! Did the dementor suck the soul out of you too?" Hermione blinked a few times and found Ron's face inches away from her's. "I'm fine!" she said as she pushed Ron away from her. She saw Harry slumped on the seat in their railcar cabin, pale and trembling.

"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked, nudging him gently but frantically, all at once.

"Not really," Harry mumbled as he took a bite of Professor Lupin's chocolate. While his extremities had begun to warm, his heart still felt icy. "Did you blank out like me, Hermione?"

Something in Harry's tone told Hermione that he wanted company in his misery, but feeling her own pounding heart, Hermione knew she was feeling the opposite of Harry about those dementors.

"Those phantoms need to learn some manners," Ron said. "Sucking Harry's soul isn't what I would call a good icebreaker."

Hermione looked away briefly. She was feeling the opposite of Ron too it seems. She thought, it took a long time before the two accepted me as their friend and longer still before they fully understand me—if ever.

Harry still looked pale and Hermione wanted an excuse to leave the cabin so she said, "I'm going to get you more chocolate," as she left her friends and walked down the railcars, searching deeper towards the rear of the Hogwarts Express. Am I searching for the dementor, Hermione thought, or something else?

To her vast disappointment, Hermione found Professor Lupin speaking to an agitated Malfoy, who was complaining loudly. "If my father hears about the state of disrepair of this train and the danger you put us in, you'll all be in for it. And I need not remind you who Lucius Malfoy is." Hermione whispered in Lupin's ear, and he handed her another bit of chocolate.

With the chocolate in her hand, it was time for her to return to Harry and Ron. She walked at a snail's pace. Two railcars before her own, she wrapped her arms around herself, noticing her frosted breath in front of her. Hermione jolted to a stop.

A dementor was floating in front of her, blocking her path. She raised her hand and tried to touch the dementor, but the phantom paid her no heed as it moved toward a boy who wore an eerily calm expression. The boy looked at her, his eyes glinting a beautiful shade of violet, and Hermione felt warmed for just a moment. Another dementor appeared, surrounding the boy. He continued to stare, unmoving, as coldness and depression closed in.

"Leave him alone," Hermione called out to the dementors. One dementor sucked in its rasping, rattling breath as it began to suck out the boy's soul. Hermione pulled out her wand. Which spell, which spell? she thought, as her mind went blank as she couldn't draw upon an answer.

But before any action was required from her, there was a brilliant flash of light coming from behind the dementor that cornered her and she saw the corporeal form of a giant, translucent-blue wolf appeared next to the boy. The boy waved his hand the wolf beared its fangs and dashed in a trail of light that engulfed each dementor in quick succession.

The boy walked over and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said. "I'm Luthor Timecrest."

"Hermione Granger," Hermione said as she shook the boy's hand. "What was that spell you just used?"

"Oh, that was just a spirit summoning spell I know," Luthor replied. "I found it helpful in dealing with these dementors. I never realized I was popular with fiend-types. Though it was a rather exciting encounter, don't you think?"

Hermione didn't notice the smile forming on her lips. "Who did you learn that spell from?"

"I figured it out myself," Luthor replied. "Were you heading somewhere?"

"Oh, right," Hermione said, shaking her head and breaking away her gaze from Luthor. Accio? Expecto Patronum? Confundus? Oppungno? What was the spell he used? she thought. Why can't I figure it out? And how did he do it without saying the words or using a wand?

Oh, he's still staring at me, waiting for my answer. "I was getting chocolate for a friend."

To which Luthor answered, "Is that so?"

Feeling as if he could somehow hear her heart pounding, Hermione added, "I'm not lying. My friend's name is Harry. Harry Potter. I'm sure you've heard of his name. He's recovering from a dementor attack and chocolate made him feel a bit better. Do you know Professor Lupin? He's Hogwart's newest professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts and he told us that chocolate helps erase the depressive effects of dementors." Why am I blabbing on and on about everything I know? Hermione thought. She stopped talking and took a deep breath, before she said, "That spell you used—perhaps you'd consider teaching it to me? I'm top in all my classes and I take a lot of them so I'm sure I'll have information of equal or higher value to exchange for what you know. Since we're friends now, I'll set up a study session together for us when we get to Hogwarts."

"Friends, huh?" Luthor said.

Hermione wanted to slap herself in the head. I was too bossy, she thought. A study session already? What am I thinking? Hermione couldn't help by let out a sigh. A bossy know-it-all. That's what Harry and Ron thought of her when they first met and probably what Luthor is thinking too. But her pride wasn't going to allow her to take back her words. "You heard what I said. Don't make me repeat myself."

Her eyes widened as Luthor leaned in and broke off a piece of the chocolate, putting it in his mouth.

"Hey!" Hermione said. "That's for—."

"Harry, I know, so no need to repeat yourself," Luthor said while arching his brow. Hermione hoped that a dementor would come back and cool her cheeks down. Luthor said, "Though the part you said about us being friends—it's a little too soon to say what we'll be to each other."

Hermione said, "Well, I was just trying to be nice."

Luthor stepped out of her way to let her pass. "By the way, I'm happy to have met a human on my first day here," he said.

Hermione's mouth dropped open. "Are you a muggle too?" she asked.

"Partially," he said. "But I've always been more curious about my human heritage than my other side. I hope you'll tell me more about the human world sometime, an exchange of information as you put it."

Another smile spread across Hermione's face. Maybe, just maybe... this boy wasn't like the others. "Of course," Hermione said. "I'd love to. Oh, welcome to Gryffindor."

"Aren't there four houses?" Luthor asked. "How are you so sure I'm going to be in Gryffindor?"

Because you seem brave, Hermione thought, but what she said was, "I have a feeling about these things." She raised her chin and looked at Luthor over the bridge of her nose. "I said you'll have things to learn from me too and you'll see the truth of that soon enough." After that, she walked away from Luthor, but as she headed back to Harry and Ron, Hermione found herself looking forward to the sorting ceremony tomorrow.

The next day at the sorting ceremony in the Great Hall, Hermione kept her eye on Luthor.

"Is something wrong with Hermione?" Ron quietly whispered to Harry. Harry tossed him a confused sideward glance and shrugged his shoulders.

"I heard that Ron," Hermione said. "Can't I smile for no reason?"

"Umm, not really," Ron replied. "You annoyingly always have reasons."

Luthor's turn came up. "Quiet," Hermione said as she watched him sit in the chair and the sorting hat placed upon his head. The hat paused for a bit and frowned. It went, "Hmmm…hmmm…no…hmmm…oh really? Okay..." before it finally said…

"Slytherin."

Hermione's smile disappeared from her face.