A Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure

Hermione woke with a start. Sitting up in bed she frantically looked around trying to gain her bearings. Shakily, she lay back against her cool pillows, gathering her thoughts and trying to calm her racing heart. It had been a week since she and her two best friends had arrived at King's Cross and made the passage into the muggle world.

Sadly Hermione smiled, remembering the hasty plans they had made before splitting up at the train station. Harry had returned to the Dursley's one last time per Dumbledore's wishes and Hermione had decided to spend the two weeks until the wedding of Fleur and Bill at her father's house--just in case something happened to her or him during her journey.

Although she had been home for some time in her the peaceful muggle house, she was having recurring nightmares because of an event that took place as she was exiting the Hogwarts Express.

Hermione was gathering her trunk and belongings, readying herself to join Harry and Ron, who were already down on the platform, when a hand softly rested on her shoulder. Startled, Hermione looked up into the cold eyes of Blaise Zabini.

"Excuse you!" she huffed indignantly.

Blaise didn't falter in the least. He looked over his shoulder at the students hurrying past with their trunks, as if making sure no one was listening. Leaning close, he whispered to Hermione, "I can't tell you how I know this, but Voldemort is planning something for you. You need to watch your back. Things aren't always what they seem." After a moments pause he added, "Be careful, Hermione."

At a loss for words, Hermione shrugged away from his hand that still rested on her shoulder and turned to her compartment. She sensed a warm hand gently grab her wrist and felt a piece of folded parchment enter her fist. Carefully, she clutched it. "I can look after myself, Zabini."

He smiled cockily as Hermione noticed Pansy Parkinson making her way towards them. "Sod off, mudblood!" he exclaimed in a loud voice. "Don't forget what I told you." With his back turned towards Pansy, he gave Hermione one last fleeting look before turning around and embracing the blonde Slytherin.

"Come on, Blaise," the ugly girl purred grabbing his muscular arm with her pudgy hand.

Hermione watched the two of them saunter off, both whispering madly. Making sure she was alone, Hermione unfolded the parchment and read the letter.

"Oi, Hermione," Ron yelled from the platform, snapping her out of her shock, "What are you doing up there?"

"I'm coming," Hermione shot back, quickly stuffing the note into a pocket in her jeans before grabbing her belongings.

Hermione snapped out of her memory, shuddering at the recollection of her nightmare. Her dreams were projections in her mind of what the note had read. She slowly got out of her bed and made her way towards her dresser. Opening a secret compartment in her third drawer revealed the crumpled message.

She opened it and read for the thousandth time the warning that Blaise Zabini had given her.

Hermione Granger,
I know that we have never gotten on, but you must understand that circumstances were beyond my control. "Ferret Boy" too has been under the same pressures. I hope that you will find it in you to forget our past treatment of you and take this message seriously. You are in danger. Voldemort is going to use you to get Harry Potter. Don't go anywhere alone. If they succeed in capturing you they will try to get information out of you about Potter's progress. Do not let him tell you anything of importance. You are a strong witch, but they have powers beyond your imagination. If you know important things about Potter's plans, they will get them from you and the wizarding community will be in danger. Potter will loose the upper hand; Voldemort will be able to circumvent his plans and kill him. We cannot let Voldemort win. Make sure you let Potter know that if you are taken, he is not to come after you- he will surely be killed by Voldemort. I'm sorry. "Ferret Boy" and I have had to take the Dark Mark. We are not loyal followers to Voldemort though. Please, keep this in mind.
-Z.-

Hermione remembered how she had marveled at his avoidance of using his or Malfoy's name and the fact that he had said Voldemort instead of the Dark Lord. She had not shared the letter with Ron or Harry; she didn't want them to worry. Before joining her father at King's Cross, she had pulled Harry aside and told him that because of a tip off she had received, she could not hear any of his plans regarding Voldemort for it would endanger their chance of victory. Also she told him to tell Ron that they should each be expecting an owl from her in two days time containing a very important object. Harry had seemed puzzled but his uncle was tapping his foot impatiently and he did not have time to further question her.

After being at home for a day, Hermione felt she had finally perfected her creations. The table before her was littered with three silver rings. Her spell was finally complete. Each of her two friends and her would wear one of the rings. When they were in danger, a simple nonverbal incantation would activate the rings. If the ring one wore pulsed, it meant that one of their number was in trouble and needed rescuing. If the ring one wore turned cold, it too meant that one of their number was in trouble, however returning to them meant certain death. Hermione smiled to herself- it was perfect. If she was captured by the Death Eaters, she would be able to warn away Harry and Ron.

That was days ago, and each night Hermione had been visited by nightmares that included Voldemort and a number of Death Eaters attacking her. She knew that she was being silly. She was safe at the moment and not in immediate danger, but she still feared what might happen if she was brought before Voldemort.

Twirling her silver ring about her petite finger she returned to her bed and tried to fall back asleep.