A/N: A lot of your questions will be answered in this chapter. I haven't decided how much to hate Ron yet- I simply despise his character, but haven't made a complete decision for this story.

Her life force was flickering and she was nearly frozen to death when Jin found her. "You stupid girl." He admonished lightly, though he truly afraid for her life. Bending down he picked up her small body and clutched her to his chest. "Koenma! I need you!" It wasn't often that Jin called on the prince of spirit world, but Koenma conceded that he owed Jin a few things for fighting for the good of humanity in the Makai Tournament.

"Koenma!" This time there was a bit of frantic panic in his voice. A void in the storm appeared and Jin all but ran through it, careful not to jostle his precious bundle.

"Yes, Jin. What is it you want? You don't usually call on me." Koenma hadn't even looked up from his stamping.

"Help her." His voice broke. Something in his heart called to the stubborn human in his arms. She came after him, even after finding out what he was. Sure, she was angry at first but she went looking for him and was going to die for it.

Koenma looked up startled at the unusual tone in the wind demon's voice. His eyes widened marginally upon seeing the body in his arms. "Give her to me." At once Koenma stood in teenage form, and held out his arms for the girl. Jin handed over his Bonnie with trepidation and kept his eyes locked on her. "Ogre!"

George entered through a side door and bowed low to Koenma, "Sir, I really would like it better if you called me by my name-"

"No time for that ogre, I need everything we know about this girl."

"For when sir?"

"Yesterday!" George ran from the room at the tone of his master's voice.

"Jin, I need her file in order to do anything. I don't know if this is her time to die or not, I'll not stem the natural order of things."

"Koenma." Koenma looked up. "Koenma I don't think I'll be wanting to live in a world without her- Urameshi be damned. She's my new number one goal."

Koenma internally whistled and shot a look down at the more than half frozen girl, that kind of loyalty- from Jin? He was choosing this girl over Yusuke, which meant she had to be important, but why?

George came back with a thick stack of papers and handed them to the prince of spirit world, who looked them over carefully. Speaking softly to the girl in front of him he said, "You've led quite a life Miss Granger. And it appears it is not yet time for you to die- you have much left to do. And I know a certain wind demon who would miss you terribly." Taking out his mafukan Koenma held it over the body of Hermione Jane Granger and spoke a healing spell.

"Jin, she will be weak, for a while. I want you to look over her. I feel as though this girl is going to be important in the future." Jin nodded with a serious expression on his face. "Here." Koenma picked up the now warm body and placed her gently into Jin's arms.

"Thank you Koenma." Koenma nodded thoughtfully and stopped Jin before he could exit the room.

"Jin, tell me why this girl is so important to you?"

Jin turned and smiled toothily at the prince. "Cause, I've been watching this here girly for a long time. She's created quite a fond space in my heart she has.

"And you're so sure she feels the same?"

Jin's grin widened, "She came after me didn't she? I don't know if she loves me, or just hates the bloke she used to be with. Either way she nearly killed herself to find me- that's good enough for an old demon like me. She's my duty now."

"She? Or her kind?"

Jin's eyes flashed, "Both I would think. She'd be dreadfully sad if they perished, and I can't let such a beautiful girl be sad." Koenma looked at the body in Jin's arms. Beauty? She was average sized, maybe a bit on the pudgy end with a slightly large nose and hair that made it seem like she stuck her finger in an electrical socket. In all honesty, the girl was built stocky like an ox or a cow. Taking a look at that face however, because the nose she would never be a true and classic beauty but there was something there. She probably didn't know how to smile pretty for cameras, but no one could deny that even in her near death state there was a spark. Koenma nodded in satisfaction to himself.

"Yes, she is beautiful."

"Aye, now if only I can get her to see it." Grinning cheekily once more at the ruler Jin left out the door. Once the door closed behind him they were back out in the storm. He could smell her kind out looking for her, that wouldn't do- the two of them needed a talk.

Finding a small out of the way area that was semi protected from the elements he deftly placed her still unconscious form on the ground. Using his speed and power Jin was quick to create a little snow and ice mound. Hollowing out the inside he once again returned to the body and took her in. The next was a fire, that wasn't his deal but he was sure he could find enough materials and dry them. Standing crouched in the hollow he grasped her tiny hand in his large one and gave it a soft squeeze. "I'll be back my sweet bonnie lass. Don't you be going no where without old Jin."

With that he was out in the night grabbing sticks and other elements to make a fire. In no time he was back in his ice cave and lighting a fire. Crumpling up some old news paper that he had found along with a bit of steel wool from the town nearby he lit it gently with his power- even the weakest demon baby could create a spark. As the pile lit he fed it small kindling and finally larger sticks that would take some time to burn. Closing the passage to the outside blocked out the final feelings of cold, they didn't have to worry about such things as air or ventilation- he was a wind manipulator after all.

It was sometime later when he heard her heart beat increase and the pick up in her breath. Turning ever so slowly towards her a fear gripped his heart. He frantically remembered the horn on his head and the slightly taller than average height. His teeth! She would be afraid of his teeth; dammit he should have left her in here and slept outside.

"Jin, please turn around." He stiffened and refused to turn until she laid a hand ever so gently on his arm.

"Unless your flesh looks rotten I promise to hear you out." It didn't help his trepidation, but he could not deny this young girl anything. He turned and held completely still as her roaming eyes took in his appearance. Finally she smiled, "Not half bad. Though I could do with more of a shirt as we're just meeting."

"Not half bad!" He couldn't believe his ears she didn't find him appalling! "You should be scared out of your wee little mind and running for Hadrian's wall or something. Not sitting here right as rain with a demon with a horn-"

"Yes, a demon with a horn." She inched closer around the fire and he found himself trapped, "And very blue eyes." She reached out tenderly for his hand and grabbed the appendage. "I'm sorry for my reaction." Jin deflated and was without words for once in his life.

"Do you eat humans?" He shook his head.

"Fruits maybe? Fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat?" He nodded at every item mentioned. She crawled forward even more, though her kneecaps were red and chapped from the snow floor. "That's good enough for me." She rested her forehead against his shoulder meekly as if almost afraid he would push her away.

"Ice cream."

"Hm?" She picked her head up to look at him.

"I like ice cream." Their eyes met.

"I do too." His tense shoulders relaxed and they shared their first smile face to face.

"How's that ankle of yours?"

'His voice is more pure now,' she thought, 'before it was as though he was talking against the wind.'

"It's fine" Hermione answered absently still enraptured by his appearance.

"You sure? Did you take that medicine I left on your bed?"

Hermione nodded thoughtfully, and reflected on the memory.

A page turned almost silently one night, though you wouldn't have been able to hear it over the din of the common room anyway. 'Mythology from Untruths to Truths' was a truly fascinating book about the wizarding world past, and Hermione was eating it up.

Her right leg was spread out along the length of the couch while the other rested nicely on the floor. If it weren't for the pain in her ankle, she would have to say that this was incredibly nice- you almost never got a full couch to yourself at this time of evening.

There was movement over the top of her book, but she ignored it until Ron sat down on her ankle as though he hadn't seen it. A sound of pain left her mouth and she smacked Ron as hard as she could with her book.

"Bloody hell Hermione! What was that for!" He rubbed his should experimentally as if checking for anything broken.

"My ankle Ron, you know that I hurt it and yet you sat down on it as though it didn't exist." She admonished with a glare and he shifted slightly and his butt thumped as it fell off of her leg and landed on the couch.

"I thought it had gone away by now- anyway Hermione you can't just be taking up and entire couch like this. There are other people who want to use it."

"And other people should understand that I'm injured." Tabbing her page lightly, Hermione closed the book with an internal sigh- she wasn't going to get any more reading done now.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway I just wanted to say sorry for last night." She stiffened. Last night, the night she met Jin, the night Ron stood her up on their date.

"It's no problem." It really wasn't a problem. She didn't know how but even thinking about Jin kept her on a very high cloud. She should probably be thanking him- not that she ever would.

"No, listen I know you're really angry and sad and like, but you gotta understand that Lavender and I, we got a-" He scanned the common room and found her, Hermione could almost see him licking his lips mentally, "connection. And you're a nice girl, you're my best friend after all after Harry of course."

"Of course" She felt sick to her stomach.

"But I just can't ignore that connection. You wouldn't want me to, would you?"

"Of course not," She grabbed his hand, even if he was an asshole when it came to girls and relationships, most of the time he was a really great friend- a really great one. And if this girl was what he needed right now she would support him. "Ron listen, I was meeting up with you the other night to tell you I'm not interested." That wasn't the entire truth, she was still interested then, but she sure as hell wasn't now.

She could tell that he didn't believe her and that angered her slightly, but on the other hand if they switched placed she wouldn't have believed either. "I'm seeing someone." Where the hell did that come from? Stupid mouth! Stupid slip!

"Sure, Hermione." He squeezed her hand and stood up. The fire lit his face and he smiled at her as if she was a silly child. "Just remember Hermione it's okay to be sad, and you don't need to lie to your dear old Ron."

Her blood boiled at his arrogance, but he was gone before she could respond. There was no point in yelling across the common room and making a scene.

She only just met Jin, there was no way she was even considering seeing him romantically. No matter how romantic like feelings she had for him- he wasn't even human! 'Does that really count?' Her thoughts countered.

"Et tu, Brutus?" She whispered to herself high sarcastic at her betraying thoughts. It would do her no good to continue on that train of thought. Picking up her book, she tucked it into her messenger back that lay open at the side of the couch. Wincing she swung her leg down and she grabbed for the crutches that Madame Pomfrey had given her. Hoisting herself up she made her way easily to the stairs.

Never had Hermione been so happy to have broken her leg before, if she hadn't this experience would be a lot more embarrassing. With practiced ease Hermione got herself up the staircase and up more until she reached her sixth year dorm. Taking a hand off its crutch she turned the knob and opened the door. Entering the large room she used one of the crutches to close the door behind her.

Thankfully the room was empty of its usual giggling inhabitants and Hermione sent a thankful prayer to someone for not making her deal with that tonight. Steadily she made her way to her bed and was surprised to see a small jar on her bed with a letter enclosed on top of it.

Standing on one foot, she put both crutches into one hand and lowered herself onto the bed, that finished she leaned them against the bedpost and shook out her hands and arms. She stretched her arms and wrists to loosen them and then picked up the letter.

The letter itself was on rough tarnished paper and was folded in half. Opening it she found uneasy scrawl as if not used to writing English letters.

'Bonnie,

I heard what you said to that rat downstairs. What a putz that boy is, no wonder you chose a dashing young man as myself. Now, I know that you said that most likely to get to him, or something like that but I can't help but hope that someday it will be true and I'll have for myself a bonnie lass. Still, it was nice hearing you say such words, it gave my ears a wiggle and made my heart sing a thousand songs for you. As for the jar, I put in it some mighty good bruise balm that I hope will ease your aches in that ankle of yours. You really are a dainty little girly aren't ya? Anywho the balm will have you up and off those metal things soon enough, and then we'll play.

All the affection in my crooked heart,

Jin'

She blushed hotly- he had heard her! But how! The wind…

"Thank you very much Jin, I was able to get off he crutches soon after." He smiled widely at her before rapidly closing his mouth to hide his teeth.

"Jin I told you I didn't care, and now I'm gonna pound it into you." She rapped him hard on the head. "Every time you do something like that I'm going to hit you. I've made up my mind to accept you as you are, as you have been, and as you will be in the future. I would not have run out into the storm on some sort of death wish otherwise- now don't make me regret it." She huffed and crossed her arms, every image of a disgruntled girl.

Jin once again grinned widely. "You're cute."

"And about that." He could feel that this relationship might just be the death of him, with her having that fiery temper. "We're not dating yet, we're not in a relationship yet. I don't rush into relationships and I don't plan on starting now. If you're to do that be a gentleman-" His lips met hers softly and in a second they were gone.

"Lass, Hermione, I don't plan on pressuring you or moving to fast for your likin'. But just know that you're mine until the day that you tell me otherwise. I care for you deeply and I don't plan on letting go. In my eyes we are courting, and I'll see fit to do what a please within the limits you set for us." Hermione averted her eyes and opened her mouth to argue, "-No. I almost lost you today fair one." He used his hand to tilt her face up towards his. "I don't plan on letting that happen again. It scared me truth be told. It scared me enough to realize that you are what I want, and you are who I'll be loyal to." Their eyes met and held, "Don't ever worry about me stepping out or anything else that could hurt you. I know that you're not ready for such a great commitment, but I am and I'll wait until you're ready." Jin's ears perked up.

"I hear your friends coming this way, so I'll be going now." He placed another gentle kiss upon her lips. "Until then." With that he was gone and in his wake was a small door that led to the outside and in the distance she heard Professor McGonagall's frantic calls for her. Scrambling to exit her safe haven, Hermione spared one look back before sticking her head and arms outside and sent out sparks with her wand.

"I found her! I found her!" There was her professor screaming into a glowing orb into her hands and running towards her.

"Hermione, you're safe now."

Hermione smiled, "I know," She gestured to the shelter, "I have been."