Although she knew it went against every shred of normalcy that she had fought for, she took the turn anyway. Letting the memories of that night distract her from the taunts that kept ping-ponging around in her head. It was unreal how quickly the anger melted into his whispered confession and the eventual promises for another future meeting.

Her fingers ran along the wood of the closed door as she passed. Behind it was where everything had changed for her. It was the place that she'd had to accept what he told as true. No matter how unbelievable it felt. Just like the passageway under the tapestry, the innocuous room had changed her. Or at the very least, they were the physical representations of moments that had changed her.

She would never be the same person she had been before Christmas. If that refashioning was good or bad, she still did not know…

The sounds of sobbing as she went by made her stop in her tracks. Every wail that reached her ears had her stomach clenching for the mourner's gut wrenching pain. Unsure if it was a student, she carefully cracked the door open so she could peak in as quietly as the old hinges would allow. It took a second for her eyes to permeate the darkness and take in the ghostly form of a female. Her shoulders hunched with the weight of her sobs as she floated in the middle of the room.

Hermione knew she should close the door and leave the grieving woman to herself but something felt wrong about leaving. Especially when there might be a way for her to help... She slipped into the room and let the latch catch to alert the other occupant that she was no longer alone.

A loud huff of frustration came from the apparition before she turned and faced her, asking. "Is there nowhere I can go to be left alone on this dreadful day?"

Her eyebrow rose as she took in the ruffled appearance of the normally serene Gray Lady. The fact that she had even spoken to her signified the anguish the woman must be feeling. She rarely talked and when she did it was only to members of her House. Hermione inclined her head in a show of respect and rushed out. "I apologize, Lady. I did not mean to interrupt..."

"Undoubtedly that is a lie, otherwise you would have left when you saw the room was in use. Granted, I do appreciate the display of politeness. It shows you understand your actions were unmannerly and what the appropriate response to such an affront is. Unlike the two lovebirds who rudely told me to 'Bugger off' when I asked them to leave my garden." The Gray Lady said as she appraised her from a distance.

"Then let me apologize for my fellow students as well. Some of them like to act as if they were raised by the Erymanthian Boar and his mate." She said, shaking her head in disbelief that anyone could have heard the anguish in the ghost's tears and responded so rudely.

The small smile that crossed the silvery-gray lips of the deceased witch at her jibe surprised her. Her next words were even more unexpected. "You must be as clever as they say... To have wit like that at your disposal... Are you sure you were not meant for Ravenclaw my dear?"

She stood there in silence for a moment, letting her mind work over the compliment before answering. "Yes. While it is true I admire and possess many of the qualities that make your house so wonderful... Even at eleven, as I sat there during my sorting, I understood that I needed to push myself into action. In Gryffindor I would be constantly called to be more than what would have been expected of me in Ravenclaw. My presumption turned out to be true, they have helped mold me into a person who can withstand the pressures of an unpredictable future."

"Does that mean you do not think the students in Ravenclaw are ready for what is coming?"

"I do not know Lady... But that wasn't what I meant... Back then I had no idea what the future held. I was a Muggleborn who was petrified of being an outcast. I thought that the other Gryffindors could show me how to be brave and then I would be able to face this place, where everything was brand new. And with all due respect... If I would have been sorted into Ravenclaw I never would have learned how to act first. That the mere act of calculating the risks of a situation can end up getting you killed and sometimes you have to be courageous enough to rely on your instincts. A valuable tool that has kept me alive so far... So yes... To answer your question, I belong in Gryffindor."

"Very self reflective Miss Granger... I am glad you are happy with where you ended up. If becoming a lioness was what it took you to survive these halls and our world then so be it. I cannot fault you for being wise beyond your years and making such a choice at a young age." A quick bow of the shade's head expressed the admiration for the explanation, more than her words ever could.

She finally returned the soft smile that had not left the ghost's lips through her entire commentary. "Thank you. For both the understanding and your time, which I should not take up any more of, Lady."

"Why did you truly come in here? I know you gawked at me for some time before you made the choice to enter. Was it morbid curiosity or was there another reason?"

"I did not know that it was you. If I had, I never would have imposed, knowing how you prefer your solitude... But the misery in the tone of your sobs... Spoke to me... I guess? I thought there might be a way that I could help." She hesitated before continuing. "There was also the hope that I would be distracted from my own troubles... Sometimes it is easier to concentrate on others when you are hurting."

"That is very true, child... How is it that you have learned lessons that it took me hundreds of years to learn?"

Her eyes widened at the admission of ignorance but she swallowed down the natural inquiry that wanted to tumble out of her mouth. What had been the catalyst for the woman to suddenly decide she was worthy of her attention? It couldn't have been her reputation... She had always been known for her intelligence. Nor was it convenience. There were many times that she had drifted right on by her in the common room or halls. Was she... Was she lonely?

She shook the errant questions from her head and lifted a shoulder in response, giving the impression she was stumped by the question. Silence seemed like the best course of action…

"Differences in perspectives of the world, I would wager... I suppose I am holding you up from finding your own beau on this horrid night? Or... Are those the troubles you speak of?"

Hermione's brilliant response was to stutter, unsure of how to proceed. The sharp shift into the direction of extremely personal information was abrupt and set her off balance. The way the apparition's eyes narrowed and bore into hers told her that she had already given an unintended answer.

A soft sigh fell from the woman as she hovered there in silence for a moment before stating simply. "I see... That is too bad."

Once again she fled to the safety of silence which didn't appear to bother The Gray Lady in the slightest. She hovered there with her head tilted to the side, the same tranquil look that usually sat on her face in place. It did not take long for the long stretch to start to get to Hermione though. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and her gaze flickered around the room before settling back on the eidolon.

"I would rather not speak of it..." She told her honestly. Proud of herself when her voice stayed even through the whole sentence.

"Naturally. The wisest witches know not to go blabbing all of their business to strangers. Especially if the answers are painful..." The smirk that flashed on her lips made Hermione wonder if the woman's words were partly a jab at her earlier loose tongue, but before she could give it much thought the Lady started again. "Now, you have been more than forthcoming with me on other matters... So I think you have earned yourself an answer to one question, if you would like."

"Is this some kind of test? Like should I hold on to my answer for a later date?" She asked, raising her eyebrow at the unanticipated offer.

"I do not know... Should you?" Was the ghost's counter followed by another flash of a smirk.

It wasn't out of the realm of possibilities for the Ravenclaw ghost to be playing a game with her, seeing if she would fall for a bait of sorts. On the other hand she couldn't see herself needing any information in the future. There were numerous other sources to be able to go to before the reclusive being in front of her.

She took the gamble and asked the question that had been burning in the back of her mind since the first wail had hit her ears. "Why do you cry when you are alone, Lady?"

"Regrets..."

"Well... Obviously..." Hermione returned the ghost's smirk, she should have figured she would get a vague one word answer. She had not been specific enough in her request for information…

"I regret many things from my life and afterlife. When I take the time to reflect on all of the mistakes I have made over the last one thousand years or so... It can become overwhelming." She clarified before leaning forward in the space between them. "My answer will also come with a bit of advice... Do not live your life afraid of what others think of you. That only leads to hastily excused decisions which turn into regrets. As much as it pains me to say this... Overthinking things can cloud your judgment. Keep listening to those Gryffindor instincts first and you will make the correct choices."

"I... I will remember that. Thank you..." She found herself tripping over her words at the unexpected message.

The Gray Lady inclined her head once more before she turned and drifted over to the wall that had another classroom on the other side. She said nothing else as she phased through the stone. Leaving Hermione to think on the last couple sentences of heavy counsel as she finally felt the chill on her skin from having been in a spirit's presence for so long. Now that the room had returned to normal temperature she could feel how she had become a human popsicle, but she didn't do anything to warm herself.

Instead for the second time that night she turned and ran from the words that she didn't want bombarding her brain...