Okay, so I'm rather aware that I'm posting quickly. Three chapters in 12 hours or so is quite a lot, but I want to get as much of this story possible out so that you don't have to wait too long. I have a few more chapters to post before tomorrow, but they will have a few spelling mistakes in as, rather than fussing about that, I'm getting the story out of my brain and into a document as quickly as possible.

Please, be open-minded as I let my imagination run away with me quite a lot. I present to you, the conversation between Harry and Hermione. (ONLY A FEW HUNDRED WORDS BUT THE NEXT CHAPTER IS HUGE)

Enjoy,

Jade.

Chapter Three

"Hermione?" He called again. I leant over and spoke again.

"I'm here." I said a little louder. Apparently he couldn't see me, but this was a rather impressive little trick he hand under his sleeve.

"Hermione, you need to come back to Hogwarts this year." He said, sounding panicked.

"Why?" I demanded.

The last time I had spoken to Harry Potter, he was telling me that he couldn't tell me where he was going or where he got that mark from and that I couldn't heal it for him. He had rejected any form of care or interest I showed in his day-to-day life, so had Ginny. Ron had been the worst and completely ignored me. When she could, Ginny spoke to me about everyday things, and we had a firm rule never to bring up Death Eaters or the Order, but that meant there was very little to talk about besides school work, and I was oh so very sick of all of that. I'd get out of lessons and go to the library, I'd finish dinner and go to my dorm and do my homework and study, I'd go to sleep. I'd wake up and go to lesson and work, I'd eat lunch and study at the same time and then I'd go to lessons and work twice as hard before getting out and going to the library again, it was a vicious circle, and that was when I decided that I needed to get out of Hogwarts, out of the magical world if it was possible. I was seventeen, I was perfectly at liberty to be out of education and it would take very little to fake some documents with my GCSE's and A-Level's on…add a few courses they couldn't check like Drama and Art. Once I'd had the plan to leave Hogwarts, everything had fallen into place. Yes, I was aware I was a coward, I was aware that I was too fragile and too feminine to be any use to anyone, to even stand up for myself if the time ever came. Yes, I needed to do something that would toughen me up, and there was no going lightly about it. I grit my teeth and posted my application to the army and never looked back.

Until now.

"The situation is getting difficult to maintain here at Hogwarts. Ron, Ginny and I can't keep the peace alone. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff have even began to fight as they have to choose sides in this War…" He explained, trailing off. "You do remember, don't you?" He asked.

I would have rolled my eyes if he had seen it. How could I forget something I had nightmares about so frequently? Yes, I had hated my friends when I left, but they were my friends. I thought about where the War would be in progress now, but I entertained the idea that it had been under control since the Muggle world had noticed nothing amiss. I watched the new regularly and looked for upsets, but I found very few.

"Of course I do." I snapped at him.

"We need you." He admitted, sounded more defeated than I had ever expected. It shook me slightly. Were they really in that much trouble?

"What could you possibly need a coward for?" I spat when I remembered Ronald's nasty words from one of my final few nights at Hogwarts.

"We don't need action, we need numbers. You've been Merlin knows where for nearly two years and the Death Eaters of Hogwarts are caring less and less about keeping under the nose of the teachers. McGonagall can't get hold of Dumbledore, even by owl, and more teachers are losing their authority with no threat of going to see the Headmaster. Plus…Malfoy's waiting for something." He explained. His final addition to his speech stirred something in me.

"He is a Death Eater, Harry." I said dryly.

"No, something big. He's getting more and more antsy everyday. I don't know what he's planning or who he's doing it for, but he's changed, 'Mione." He whispered.

I nodded, even though he couldn't see it. It was possible for people to change over the course of two years…and Malfoy under the influence of the Dark Lord for such a long time wouldn't be a good thing.

"I'll come back on one condition. You actually use me." I offered him.

There was a pause where I saw his face, formed from the glowing cinders, put on a look of thought. During this, I took the time to study parts of his face I hadn't managed to yet and could see. Sure, he was made out of fire pieces, but he looked wholly different than he had two years ago – his skin looked worn and tired, his eyes looked much the same, older and more experienced, as though he had seen horrors he never meant to face. It was unnerving.

"Alright." He answered finally. "Come to the meeting place before the beginning of term. We live there now." He said quickly before the fire collapsed and Harry's face was gone.

What have I agreed to?

The next day was spent thinking only about what life I would be walking back to. Sure, I wouldn't need to return until September and it was May. I had a good four months before I was under any pressure to go back. I'd have time to sail back with the army and my friends and be given a honourable discharge through request. It still pained me to think of it, though.

"What's up with you, short stuff?" Miles asked as I walked over to them, my face not as good of a mask as I had thought. Then again, these guys knew me better than my own parents…well, the new me, anyway.

"Long story." I shrugged, squinting into the sun and slipping my shades on my hat already placed backward to keep the back of my neck cool. "C'mon, we've got three laps before breakfast." I urged them.

They didn't look like they were going to let it go, but nodded and set off with me, keeping a good pace as we made our way around the track over and over again. Once we hit three, I stopped and picked up a towel, tossing it over my shoulder and taking a sip from my bottle.

"I am hungry." Miles said in an American accent, picking up his own towel and picking up a slight jog as he headed to the mess hall, Matilda in tow.

"Those two better fuck quick." Sian said bluntly. I rolled my eyes and laughed, her bluntness was crude and humorous, but always right.

"Tell me about it, they're walking sacks of hormones." I added, taking another drink.

"Talking of walking sacks of hormones…" Sian began, ignoring my glare, "I can't usually tell when you're on your reds, babe, but you're pretty much throwin' a sign out there today." She admitted, letting down her shades and looking at me, her gum chewing a trait I'd always remember. Sian didn't look right if she wasn't chewing gum openly.

"I can assure you I am not on my reds." I smirked; she had such a way with words. "I'm just a little worried about going home." I admitted.

"It's for a few weeks, then we'll be off again. Another year, a new adventure." She smirked, patting my arm and setting off on her own jog to the mess hall.

I slowed and eventually stopped, watching after her. She met up with Matilda and Miles, serving them breakfast from the mess hall and laughing. In my time here, I had learned to deal and even use some of Sian's bluntness, reject all of Matilda's attempts to make me pretty and girly, yet allowed her experiment on me when we went out, and I'd absorbed Miles' strength, endurance and all-round laidback demeanour. Sure, I was still Hermione; I was just the Navy Hermione that didn't quiver under a table when it came to a fight.

Yes, Hogwarts would be a very strange experience now.

The remaining time I had with Miles, Matilda and Sian was, by far, the best part of the two and a half years I had spent in the army. I hadn't told them I was leaving, I simply wrote them letters and left them under each of their pillows, along with a photograph of all of us together that very same day.

Sure, I felt like a coward and a scumbag, but I just couldn't face them on the day they were leaving for Italy and tell them that I wouldn't be there for any of their plans, I wouldn't be there for any of the new training tasks that Miles had thought of. I just wouldn't be there. It pained me to think of it and I kissed each letter lightly as I set it down, watching the paper settle before I turned and lifted my bag. It was heavy, but nothing compared to the emotions I was carrying.

And with that, I left the camp out the front gates and caught a taxi to where I needed to be; home.