Thanks for the Support

Harry and Ron went off to the Astronomy Tower for class while Ginny went to Charms. Hermione didn't have class for another half an hour.

"I'm off to Transfiguration," Malfoy mumbled as he stepped out of his bedroom, his silver and green tie lying loosely around his neck. She smiled and walked up to him, tying his tie gently.
He smiled down at her as she did so.

"Don't you look handsome?" she asked with a giggle.

"Just irresistible... I can't help it," Draco shrugged and Hermione giggled. She took a firm grasp on the tie and pulled him down into a sweet, lingering kiss. "How's your head?" he asked and gently ran his fingers across the white bandage. She sighed.

"It's a bit sore, but nothing you wouldn't expect from toppling down a flight of stairs," she shrugged. He laughed and gave her an extra hard squeeze. Then he reached into his robes and pulled out a manila envelope.

"An owl delivered this to my window this morning... it's addressed to you. I knew you, Potty and his pet Weasels were all bonding...

"Malfoy!"

"Sorry... that Harry, Ron, and Ginny were all here so I held onto it. Don't worry... I know not to open your mail anymore," he laughed and handed the envelope to Hermione. She smirked and gave him a peck on the lips before he left for class.

She looked at the envelope and didn't recognize the handwriting that had her name scrawled messily. She sighed and opened it up quietly.
She pulled out the folded paper and began to read.

Hermione (I hope I spelled that right),

It's Billy from St. Mungo's. Remember me? You told me to keep in touch so I figured it'd be best if I sent the first letter. I mean you don't exactly know where I live. Anyways, how are you? How are you feeling? Fallen down any staircases lately?

Sorry if my sense of humor offends you.

Nathan came out of treatment looking better than he has in weeks. It's so great to see him this way. I really think that there's a high chance he'll recover. According to the Healers all signs are pointing to that the cancer is dead. You don't know how relieved that makes me. If they can help my brother, who says they still can't help you? I know that you don't want to hear this, but I mean maybe there's something that the Healers haven't thought of, or they have thought of and haven't risked it. I mean you can't just give up so willingly!

I'll stop talking about that depressing subject. How is Ginny? I still feel really guilty about breaking up with her. Maybe she'll even consider taking me back. If Nathan gets well I hope to continue seeing her. She was really something special to me.

Have you found anyone special? If these really are your last two weeks then you should try to find that one person and hold onto them with all your might. Don't let anything get in the way of the way your heart feels. I did that and I've never regretted anything more in my entire life. Then again, I am only sixteen.

I've always wanted to try Quidditch. I think it'd be bloody incredible to soar about on a broom for hours on end, playing sports, using your actual brain for strategic skills, and so on and so forth. Do you enjoy Quidditch? Of course you do! Its the best bloody sport in the world, and I'm just a muggle!

By the way, you aren't one of those types who hate all Muggles and everyone who has muggle parents, now are you?

I don't think you are. You seem too nice to be one of those god-awful characters.

I suppose I should stop boring you now. It's just I can't believe that the chances of Nathan's survival have tripled! Im just so happy. Everything would be perfect if you could get well too. I'll stop bringing up bad topics.

I hope you write soon.

Your hopeful friend,

Billy Harris

Hermione smiled down at the letter and sighed. She pulled out a parchment and quill, dipping the tip in the ink before she began to write.

Billy,

This is Hermione. Yes you did spell my name correctly, and I thank you for writing to me.

It's such great news that Nathan is better. And no, for your information, I have NOT fallen down any staircases lately. I've only tripped over my own feet lately, thank you very much.
Ginny is doing very well. I hope this doesn't hurt, but she seems to have moved on. After you broke up with her you couldn't have expected her to wait for you to come around. I wish that you had just told her the truth instead of trying to protect you and her from the pain involved. There will always be the same amount of pain, but how it is distributed is up to you. I hate to say this, but I doubt that there will be anything between you two again. I don't want to be mean, just honest.

I have found someone special, actually. Well, I think he's special. Things are really confusing between he and I. He isn't my boyfriend and we aren't dating, but still I think I might love him. He was cruel to me for six years straight and now for some reason I can't stop thinking about him. I really care about him. The hard part is that we can't tell a soul about us because no one would approve.
It's hard to keep it a secret.

I do enjoy watching the game, but only when it's my house playing. Mostly because my best friends are captain/seeker of the house team, keeper, and a chaser. Also the boy that I'm technically not seeing is a Seeker for one of the other House Teams. By the way, it would be most appreciated if you didn't mention this boy to anyone. As I said, it's direly important that it remains a secret.
Also, I really don't enjoy flying very much. Actually I'm quite frightened of it.

No, I'm not one of those types who discriminate against mixed blood witches and wizards. In fact, I'm a muggle-born; or a "mudblood" in vulgar terms.

You didn't bore me in the least. I'm so happy that Nathan will be getting better. I hope you write back soon and keep me updated on everything that is happening. It's nice hearing about someone with a condition similar to mine getting better.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

She read over the letter approvingly. She tucked it into her pocket as she looked at her watch, realizing she was about to be late for class. She swore that she'd send it as soon as it was over.
With that she picked up her books and ran from the room and through the portrait, not paying attention to where she was going as she quickened her pace and strapped her pack shut.
She ran head-on into a body, stumbling backwards and falling on the floor. By the loud thump from the other person, she assumed that they too had fallen backwards.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Hermione exclaimed and stood quickly. The young woman she had bumped into was lying on the floor, her eyes closed. She obviously did not attend the school. She wore long jogging pants and a white sweatshirt. She was tall and thin, cinnamon colour hair falling thick and messily about her shoulders.
She was a very pretty girl.
She sat up, keeping her eyes closed at first. She rubbed her head and mumbled something. Hermione helped the girl stand up.
She was a very tall girl, nearly the same height as Harry.
She knelt down to the floor and picked a cane up. Hermione had not seen that before. She held it out and slid it across the ground and the end came into contact with Hermione's foot.

The girl opened her eyes slowly and Hermione cried out in shock and horror.

The girl had no pigments in her eyes. No pupils were there. Her eyes were simply unflawed and milky, no other colour at all. They were just pure voids of white. She did not look directly at Hermione, yet right by her.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Harry Potter."