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Hermione Jane Granger woke up in a cold sweat, after having a nightmare. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes, and trying to erase the painful thoughts from her mind. Trembling, she crawled out of bed, slipping on a robe as she padded out to her kitchen. Pointing her wand at the hearth, she muttered something under her breath, and instantly, merry flames danced around the fireplace. She made herself a steaming mug of coca and sat down by the hearth, finally relaxing, and allowing herself remember her dream…

*

She was alone, walking through an old, deserted house. She opened each door, only to find that that room was as empty as the next. Fear mounted in her chest as she neared the end of the hall. She opened the last door, expecting it to be cold and deserted, but to her surprise, and fright, it was not empty.

A slim figure stood over another, the latter writhing on the floor in pain. The standing figure looked up at her through his dark cloak with a malicious smile on his face. It was Lord Voldemort. She then lowered her gaze to the person on the floor, gasping as she recognized a familiar face. It was Draco Malfoy, his white-blond hair a tangled mess and his face pale and sweaty as he gasped for breath when Voldemort took his wand off him.

Draco looked up at her as she gasped, recognition flashing across his face, followed by flickers of hurt, anger and sadness. She watched the play of emotions on his pale face, feeling a stab at her own heart at the sight of the face of the one she had so loved. The one she still loved. Draco glared at her through the tangles of his fair hair, and then proceeded to ignore her.

"Ahhhh, well, well, well, look at who has come to join us," Voldemort sneered at her tauntingly, as the door slammed behind her. Hermione remained quiet, worrying about Draco, and wishing they were anywhere else, away from Voldemort. Suddenly, Hermione felt an invisible force – which she discovered she could not fight- push her down to the ground beside Draco.

"I've been teaching your little friend here, what happens to traitors," Voldemort continued with malice, pointing a long, thin finger at Draco, "And I think I ought to teach you too," He paused, seemingly for effect, and directed his glare down at the crumpled heap on the floor. "What say you?" When Draco didn't answer, he kicked him and sneered "You're a guileless piece of fickle filth, just like your father! But your spineless line will finally be exterminated tonight, and the Mudblood can bear witness!" He laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Hermione's spine. "And then, I'm going to get rid of her too!" He continued, somewhat maniacally. "Avada-"

*

…And that was where she always woke up. She'd been having the reoccurring dream for a while now, she didn't know exactly how long, but lately, she'd been getting it more and more often and it had been bothering her more and more. She didn't know what it meant, but it stirred feelings within her that she'd rather forget. She sighed, shaking her curly head out of her reverie and heading back to bed.

*

It had been a little over five years since they had graduated from Hogwarts, and Harry, Ron and Hermione still remained close friends. Both Harry and Ron had gone on to work for the Ministry as Aurors, and were still members of the Order of the Phoenix. Ron had married Luna Lovegood, and Harry had been seriously dating Ginny Weasley for the past year and a half.

Voldemort was still out there, and was still as powerful as ever. He had evaded their attempts to destroy him thus far, but the Order continued to grow, and both sides were preparing for the inevitable war that was approaching.

Hermione also worked for the Ministry, but she worked only part-time in the Department of Mysteries (and luckily, she hadn't turned all barmy on them, like many of her unfortunate co-workers), and with her remaining time, she held a part-time job as a Healer at St. Mungo's, worked as an agent for the Order, and was still an active advocate for house-elf rights. She lived with Crookshanks, and with the painful memories that she had spent every day for the past five years trying to forget. I'm independent, she told herself over and over again, I can make my own happiness. And so she tried. She was moderately successful - she had created a comfortable life for herself, filled with loved ones and work that she enjoyed. But there was something missing. There was always something missing. She had dated casually, but had never dated the same man more than twice. No one seemed to suit her taste at all. I just haven't found the right person yet, she said to herself as her friends began to pair off and marry. But a small part of her was able to acknowledge that maybe the problem was that she already had found the right person. But she knew she could never go back to him. That chapter in her life had ended. The pain had dulled, but every once in a while, there would be something... something that echoed his cursed name within the locked chambers of her heart once more. Something that evoked his memory. Perhaps it was the smell of lillies, or a flash of platnum blond hair, or his name on someone's lips. Whatever it was, it set her feelings churning in its wake.

So she had tried to put it - him - behind her. She was better than that, she knew. He didn't deserve her. Hermione had buried herself in her work, and had managed to forget (most of the time) about her heart, which still lie with Draco Malfoy.

"The heart never forgets,
No the heart never forgets.
You can find someone,
And live your life,
Put an old memory out of your mind,
But the heart never forgets."
-Leann Rimes
(The story actually wasn't inspired by this song... I found it after I had already written the first few chapters and named it... but it goes very well with it.)

Thanks for reading! Next chapter up soon :)

-Lady Hurricane