Author's Note:

I am sorry. I am a bit late due to some personal issues.

Welcome to The Granger Witch: Goblet of Blood, the second installment in The Granger Witch series. This story is M-rated. If you're uncomfortable with this rating, please proceed with caution.

For those who haven't read the first story, The Granger Witch, I highly recommend starting there to understand the characters and events that lead into this sequel. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the journey ahead.

Hermione stood still, her breath visible in the cold air as she gazed around. Dressed in a long white coat and gray woolen pants, she was surrounded by trees—tall, imposing white woods. Their pale trunks and twisted branches loomed over her, casting strange shadows that swayed with the faint breeze. The place felt eerily familiar, yet she couldn't place it.

She glanced up. The sky was midnight blue, speckled with stars, and hanging in the center was a crescent moon, glowing softly.

Why am I here, alone, in the woods at this hour?

The question barely touched her mind, fleeting and unimportant. Instead, her eyes were drawn back to the moon, as if it was the only thing worth thinking about. It hung so perfectly, shining through the canopy of trees. She could almost believe she would be content spending her whole life staring at its beauty.

But the peace shattered as dark clouds crept over the sky, swallowing the moon's glow. The light filtering through the trees began to fade, and the woods around her dimmed into a shadowy maze.

A sudden caw echoed through the silence. Hermione turned sharply, spotting a raven perched on the ground behind her. It watched her, its head cocked to one side, eyes glinting in the fading light. Before she could react, the raven exploded into a flurry of black shadows, swirling and twisting in the air. The shadows coiled around her legs like smoke, cold and suffocating.

She gasped, but it was too late. The shadows tightened, pulling her downwards, and before she could scream, the ground beneath her gave way. She was dragged into the dark.

Hermione jolted awake. She found herself in the familiar surroundings of the Hogwarts library, surrounded by shelves of books and the muted whispers of students studying. "No!" she exclaimed, her chair teetering dangerously before she managed to right it.

As she looked around, curious glances from her fellow students met her gaze, their expressions a mix of concern and amusement.

Sitting directly across from her, separated by a long wooden table, was Harry.

"What happened?" he asked, a hint of worry lacing his voice.

Hermione rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and embarrassment. "What happened is that you let me sleep," she replied, irritation creeping into her tone.

Harry adjusted himself in his chair, shrugging slightly. "You were reading, and I didn't want to disturb you. You looked…"

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "And I looked?"

He hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "Well… um… pretty."

Hermione shot him a skeptical look, "You never call me pretty. What favor do you want from me, Harry?"

Harry didn't want a favor.

Hermione sighed, her frustration mingling with a sense of nostalgia. "Now you go silent. Ron would have never let me sleep like this. He would have annoyed me to death."

Harry's expression fell, his gaze drifting downwards.

Hermione softened slightly, "We feel just…"

Harry completed her thought, his voice quiet yet heavy with meaning. "Incomplete without him."

A solemn silence enveloped them, the weight of Ron Weasley's absence settling in the air like a thick fog. They both sat in silence, lost in memories of their friend—his laughter, his antics, and the way he had a knack for lightening even the darkest of moments.

Just then, footsteps echoed through the library, drawing their attention. Ginny and Luna stood at the end of the aisle, their presence breaking the somber mood.

Ginny didn't even glance at Hermione. Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that Ginny was still upset with her, despite the fact that she had saved her from Madame Maxime's clutches.

Ginny crossed her arms, her gaze shifting from Hermione to Harry. "Would you announce to everyone sitting here that Dumbledore requested everyone to assemble in the Great Hall within an hour? It's urgent."

Harry blinked, trying to process the information. "Ummm… okay," he replied, though uncertainty lingered in his voice.

Without waiting for a response, Ginny turned on her heel and left the library.

Luna, trailing slightly behind, paused and looked back at Harry with a knowing smile. "Harry, your glasses. They are broken," she said cheerfully before following Ginny out.

Harry took off his glasses and inspected them. "When did it happen?" he asked, perplexed.

Hermione shrugged, her expression sheepish. "How would I know? I was sleeping."

Harry sighed, exasperated. "Brilliant."

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out her Skarwand.

Harry rose from his chair, alarmed. "Hey… hey… hey!"

Hermione swung the wand playfully, smirking. "Relax… Oculus Reparo!"

The wand worked its magic, and with a soft flick, Harry felt a gentle warmth spread across his glasses. They returned to their original state, fully intact.

Harry examined his glasses, relief washing over his features. "Yeah. Normal. Let's gather everyone else and go," he said.