The Approaching Storm

Chapter One: Changes Along The Way, A Fifth Year Beginning

The day was starting to be another hot day. This summer had been abnormally hot and humid. The climate felt more like Brazil than England. People were scurrying along the crowded city streets, as the sun shinned its relentless rays upon them. Many people stopped in shops to be rescued from the heat for a moment by a wonderful Muggle device known as air conditioning. The people entering and exiting shops were causing a massive traffic jam. This was proving to be quite an inconvenience for one particular group, rushing through the crowded area.

"Oh Great! At this rate we're going to miss the train!" said a very worried Hermione Granger, as she dodged around people.

"You are the main reason why we're late! You couldn't leave without your precious new and revised edition of 'Hogwarts, A History'," a highly visible Ronald Weasley piped back, also trying to weave in and out through the crowd.

"Well, pardon me for wanting to learn all I can about my school Ronald!" Hermione snipped back at him.

"Please, you're just hoping you might be in it," Ron snapped right back, glaring at Hermione.

"You know, all you two have done since we arrived in Diagon Alley, three days ago, is bicker and get into your bloody rows. If I didn't know better, I would think you two had hidden feelings for one another. You are releasing pent-up," at this a grin spread across Ginny's face, "frustrations, so to speak," said Ginny Weasley, as she jogged beside Hermione and Ron.

"Ginny! Don't be ridiculous, and where did you learn about frustrations!" Ron said highly appalled.

"Oh please Ron, how many brothers do I have? I'm not deaf, you know. Boys do talk about the most repulsive things sometimes. Plus Young Modern Witch has the most interesting articles," Ginny retorted, grin plastered on her face.

"Ah, Fred. I think I have a tear in my eye. Our little Virginia is all grown up," George Weasley said to his brother Fred, wiping a fake tear from his eye.

"Yes, yes it is true. First little Ronniekins has love quarrels with our clever Mione," Fred said to a red face Ron. "Now Gin picks up on our lingo. It is a fine day for the Weasleys," Fred Weasley said, looking towards George, with a mischievous grin.

"Boys, please. Don't tease your brother and sister. Now hurry along, don't want to miss the train," Molly Weasley said, pushing a cart and sweating.

The group rushed along the street, finally making it inside King's Cross Station.

"Ah, this feels so much better than outside. It was hotter than," Ron was interrupted.

"Ron!" Mrs. Weasley and Hermione said at the same time.

"What? I was going to say a desert. What did you think I was going to say?" Ron said, giving his mother and Hermione an innocent look.

Mrs. Weasley and Hermione both gave him dubious looks.

Today was the first day of the school term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The group was on their way to catch the Hogwarts Express at platform nine and three quarters. They had a few mishaps happen that morning causing them to be running late. Mr. Weasley was still down the street explaining to the police officer that he did not throw a chocolate frog at him. They jump on their own. The officer did not buy the excuse and wrote him a ticket. The group had no time to wait, so they hurried ahead, leaving Mr. Weasley to deal with the officer on his own.

The Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry had spent the end of the summer holiday in Diagon Alley. They had stayed at the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione volunteered to show everyone around downtown London, the group happily accepter her offer.

One of the first places Hermione took them was to the Heathrow Airport. Mr. Weasley was most fascinated. He kept wondering how Muggles had enchanted such large cars to fly. Hermione had to explain what an airplane was.

The next stop was Harret's. The group used an elevator. Mr. Weasley was in shock as the door opened to a different floor.

"Oh my Merlin, Muggles can Apparate," he said in wonder, as he stepped out of the elevator. Hermione had to explain how the elevator worked.

The group had gone on the subway. He had to breath into a bag for hyperventilating at one point.

"Muggle cars underground, Muggle cars underground," was all he kept repeating. Hermione let him believe this. A subway was kind of a Muggle car and it did travel underground.

Hermione took them to Piccadilly Square and looked in some boutiques. Even though they didn't quite catch on to the style of Muggle clothing. Mrs. Weasley was appalled by one store. She quickly tried to cover Ron's and the twin's eyes as they walked past Victoria's Secret.

"Good Lord. Who is this Victoria and why does she have her knickers in a window. I surely do not want to know any of her secrets. Scandalous, I tell you, that is what that is. I have never seen such indecency," she said, as she pushed the gawking boys away from the window. She had to go back and grab Mr. Weasley away from the display window. She gave him a very stern look, which he slightly shrunk under.

The summer beforehand wasn't too exciting for anyone. The Weasleys had stayed at the burrow for most of the summer. With the rise of Voldemort, Mr. Weasley stayed busy with the Ministry, warning and trying to convince people of the Dark Lords return. Most of the Ministry was skeptical and ignored him all together. Percy stayed neutral to both sides, much to Mr. Weasley's dislike.

Harry spent his summer with the Dursleys. The only thing he could think that was remotely entertaining was when Dudley went to sit at the kitchen table. He actual broke the chair from his "Extremely Healthy Boy" problem, as his Aunt Petunia called it. Harry knew Dudley was anything but that. He had more of an "I like to eat lots of food and your food also" problem.

Hermione's summertime activities had been quite the mystery. She would never say what exactly she did. She would just say she traveled with her parents. Ron came up with his own theory. He was sure she went to Bulgaria to see "Vicky". He teased her continuously about it. This was the cause of the majority of his edginess towards Hermione. At least that was what Harry thought was the cause.

Now the group hurried along the walkway of the train station, minus the presence of Mr. Weasley.

Ginny had taken her cart from her mother. They were starting to run much faster. Mrs. Weasley looked quite winded.

"Whew. Well children, I think you can make it from here. I don't want to hold you up. Now run along to the train, no time for hugs and kisses. I love you and behave," she looked directly to the twins, emphasizing behave, "this year," she finished.

"We love you too mum!" the Weasley siblings said in unison, running ahead.

"Take care Harry and Hermione!" she yelled to them, as they ran with the rest of the Weasleys.

Harry and Hermione both turned their heads and said, "Thanks! We will!"

They all began to run in an almost sprint.

"Come on guys! We have to run all out or we aren't going to make it!" Harry said, sprinting along the station walkway heading towards the barrier.

"Look, there's the platform barrier! Hurry! We only have three minutes left!" Hermione breathlessly said, staying along side Harry.

They came upon the barrier, taking it two at a time. First it was George and Fred, then Harry and Ron, finally Hermione and Ginny.

Harry and Ron were waiting by the Hogwarts Express. As the girls ran to them, they all got on board.

"Whew, that was quite exciting," Ron said, as he walked down the isle peering for an empty compartment.

"I'm exhausted, do you see any empty compartments?" Hermione said, trying to see around Ron's shoulder.

"Gee Hermione, after your summer in Bulgaria, I would think you would be more in shape. After all, you are dating a world famous Quidditch player," Ron said snidely back, walking into an empty compartment and sitting down in a seat.

Hermione glared at Ron, taking a seat across from him.

Harry interrupted, "Ok you two, I don't want to have to put you into separate corners. Try to be civil and not argue for at least a minute, please."

Hermione gave a disdainful look to Ron and mumbled, "Fine".

Ron gave an annoyed look and said, "Whatever".

A voice interrupted their glaring match.

"Aw is there a lover's tiff brewing? Tsk, Tsk, such a unique pair. A Weasley and a Mudblo... Oh so sorry, I mean Muggleborn," said a very slimy Draco Malfoy.

"Watch it Malfoy," Ron growled.

Malfoy sniffed twice in the air. "What is that God awful smell?" he looks towards Ron, "Oh, its just a Weasley. I forgot you do sleep with the pigs," he finished, with an evil smirk.

"Why you! I'm going to pound you for that one," Ron yelled, as he stood getting ready to pounce on Malfoy.

"Ron, please. Just ignore him. He just wants attention," Hermione said, trying to stop Ron from fighting.

"Watch it, Mudblood! You shouldn't go and step on people's toes that could squash you with one word," Malfoy retorted icily.

Hermione gave Malfoy a nasty look. "Are you threatening me M.A.L.F.O.Y?" Hermione drug out his name. "Because if you are, as a Prefect for Gryffindor, I would be forced to take away points."

"Pipe down, Granger. It was just a warning. Now if you will excuse me, I have better people to talk to than you bloody dolts. Oh, and Granger, I'll guess we will be seeing a lot more of each other this year. I'm a Prefect also. It will be such a interesting year, don't you think?" Malfoy said, with a big smirk on his face, as he exited the compartment.

"Ahh! I can't stand that bloody git. Oy' Hermione, I feel sorry for you this year," Ron said in an exasperated manner.

Hermione just sat there and seethed. "Interesting year, huh? Yeah, we will see just how interesting," she mumbled to no one in particular.

Ginny looked at Hermione, with a worried expression, "Hermione, you're not planning on doing something foolish, are you?"

Hermione took her glaring eyes away from the compartment door Malfoy just walked out from, "No Ginny, I wouldn't do anything 'foolish', clever girls do clever things," Hermione stated, glaring back at the door Malfoy had exited.

"Ok. So what do you think Professor Dumbledore will make forbidden this year?" Harry spoke up, trying to take the atmosphere to a more friendly level.

"Snape's class. I could do without seeing that bloody idiot for at least one term," Ron answered back, "for once in my lifespan, I would like to see him give any Gryffindor just one point. Is that so much to ask?" he concluded.

"Now Ron, I'm sure Professor Snape is going to be different this year. He might not take any points from us," Hermione said to Ron.

"Yeah, as soon as pigs fly out of his," Ron was interrupted by Hermione.

"Ron!" she said, giving him a disapproving look.

"What? I was going to say cauldron. What did you think I was going to say?" Ron said, with the same innocent look as before.

Hermione just looked at him and rolled her eyes, and then looked out the window.

The rest of the trip flew by as the friends chatted. They wondered what adventures would be in store for them this year. Little did they know what fate truly awaited them in the soon to be future.

The beginning of the semester quickly went by as the hot summer days were starting to fade into cool fall ones. The leaves changed colors as the cooler weather arrived. This signaled that Halloween was close by. The castle was already decorated with festive Halloween décor. Good little witches and goblins filled the school halls as their school day drew to an end. One of these good little witches sat in a tower, looking out of a window, upon the fall colored grounds below.

Hermione starred out of the window, a bleak expression. 'Potions,' she sighed, 'what is Snape's problem anyway,' he thought to herself. 'Pairing me up with Malfoy, I have to deal with that git enough as it is,' she continued her thought. Sighing again, she thought back upon the things that had happened over the last month. The one word that summed up her irritation was, "Malfoy," she grumbled under her breath.

It was a late September day. Hermione finally could relax. Classes were over for the day and she could retreat to the Library. The Library was her one true escape. She could throw herself into a book and get lost in the story, forgetting the days tedious events. For example, Prefect meetings with Malfoy are extremely tedious. He was worse than a ringing in your ear you can't get rid of. She had told Harry and Ron not to meet her after her meetings anymore. Malfoy seemed to be even more obnoxious to her when her friends were around. She had tried her best to ignore him. She tried to convince herself, 'if you ignore it, it will go away.' To bad this theory didn't work with Malfoy.

Walking through the isles of the shelves in the library, Hermione happily hummed to herself, as she pulled her now silkier golden brown hair into a bun. She walked past a group of boys who were in Hufflepuff, giving them a bright smile and brushing a stray piece of hair away that was tickling her aquiline nose. Hermione didn't notice the boys gawking at her 'assets' as she past. A girl at the next table did however notice, and rolled her eyes at the hormone active teenage boys, mumbling "perverted dim wits."

"Granger, trying to turn into a song bird? I don't think you are a registered Animagus," a sly voice spoke behind Hermione.

Hermione's tranquil paradise was broken by that voice. The voice belonged to the person she was at the library trying to forget about. She did what she prayed might make him go away. She ignored him.

"What? Please continue with your song. I have had many women do many things for me," the voice said in a suggestive tone, "but I must say you are the first to serenade me," the voice finished in the same tone, as the person continued to follow Hermione.

'Don't give in to him. He just wants to get you all flustered and angry. Don't give him the satisfaction,' she thought, trying to reassure herself. She still didn't respond to him.

"Where are the Weasel and Potter? Have they abandoned you? Did they have their fun with you and then leave. Are you 'damaged goods' now Granger? Or was it the Bulgarian Quidditch star to de-flower you and then leave?" the voice continued in an irritating manner.

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Hermione said back, harshly pronouncing his name. She couldn't take it anymore. 'How dare he accuse me of such disgraceful acts! He is disgusting to the point of vomit,' she thought with venom.

"Come now Her-mione," he said, dragging out her name. "I'm just trying to learn about my fellow Prefects," he said, with a degrading look. "I'm just attempting to be civil? Such hostility can not be healthy," Malfoy said, with a sly grin plastered on his face.

"Civil?" Hermione said flabbergasted. "Civil?" she repeated again. "That is funny coming from you. I didn't know you could even speak that word. I will certainly have to write this day down," she said sarcastically.

The two glared at each other, Draco was first to speak.

"Tsk, tsk, Granger, we are really going to have to work on that attitude of yours. You're such an angry girl. Well, I guess I would be to if I had your lineage. You actually have a pretty face, to bad its wasted on such muddy blood." Draco stated, with an evil gleam in his eyes.

Hermione was outraged. She wanted to strangle him. Just as she was ready to bludgeon the idiot, she had a thought. 'Wait, did he just say I was pretty?' she eyed Malfoy.

"You just said I was pretty," she stated more than questioned.

"Don't be stupid, Mudblood! Did you miss the rest of that statement? The muddy blood part," he retorted.

Hermione completely ignored his comment. "God Lord, I have to sit down now. Granger and pretty in the same sentence. Will wonders never cease?" Hermione said back to an agitated Draco Malfoy, as she sat down in a seat.

"It wasn't the same sentence you dolt! I thought you were clever. Only a idiot would take that as a compliment," Malfoy said, giving an irritated look.

"Well, I'll make sure I keep looking for your Freudian slips in our next conversation," Hermione said with sarcasm.

"A what...ian?" Draco asked.

"Oh never mind. He's a Muggle. I forgot your limited education," Hermione said, in a superior tone.

Draco starred at her, with a withering gaze. He turned and started to walk away, but stopped.

"My limited education, as you put it, involves many things you surely do not know anything about, Her-mione," he stretched out her name again. "See you later," with that he turned a left.

Hermione starred at where Draco was just standing. "Darn, and here I thought I would be the first to witness a Malfoy walking away without the last word," she said in an irritated fashion.

The week following the library incident did not deter Malfoy from constantly teasing Hermione. Malfoy's annoyances became a daily routine in her life. Now he had added action with his words. Besides the antagonizing comments and snickering, he had added some more things. The first couple of days he would bump into her, usually either making her fall or spilling her books. All of which he would snicker at. She got quick on her feet after the third day and was able to avoid the incident.

He didn't give up.

In their next class together, Potions, he slipped things into her potion during class. Snape took off points from her, so called, messes. Snape of course believed Malfoy had no part in any of her incompetence. Hermione moved far away from Malfoy so he couldn't mess her work up anymore.

He still didn't give up.

The next day in Runes, Arithmancy, and Charms classes he put invisible charms on her quills. She was lectured by all three professors on how disappointed they were in her for her lack of preparation for class. To solve this problem she loaded her back-back full of quills.

Malfoy still did not give up.

Finally he had pushed her too far. It had been a very long week for Hermione. She finally had it when he charmed a grade on a Transfiguration test. The grade said she had received a D. She went hysterical when she saw the grade and made a huge scene in class. She realized after a few moments what was going on. She gave him a very menacing look.

Ginny called it the war of Malfoy vs. Granger.

Hermione was usually the calm one, but when it came to Malfoy, he just pushed all her buttons the wrong way. She was usually the mature one out of the group, but she was tired of his pranks. Ignoring him was not working. Not now that he knows how to get a response out of her. Plus he never gave up! She had to do something.

Hermione needed a plan. She was a Prefect, she didn't want to get caught and have her badge taken away. She was a clever girl and she lived with the two biggest pranksters at Hogwarts, Fred and George Weasley. Not to mention her best friends also had their share of needed abilities and items. Harry had his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map. These items always came in handy. Ron was very good at strategies, with their help, she was sure she would get Malfoy to leave her alone.

With the help of her new accomplices, a plan was formulated. Harry and Ron loved the idea of revenge on Malfoy. Ron had come up with some rather vicious ideas for dealing with Malfoy, neutering being one of them. Hermione told him she wasn't that comfortable with his ideas and she was going nowhere near Malfoy's privates. She got Ron to tone done his suggestions slightly. Fred and George gave Hermione some of their new inventions and showed a few prank charms. They figured out a plan of action and put it into effect.

The plan took place Sunday night. This was to make sure Malfoy had to wear and use all of her pranks on Monday, in front of everyone. Hermione waited for everyone to go to the Great Hall for dinner. She said she had a headache and didn't want to go to dinner. Harry and Ron said they would bring some food back for her. On the way to the Great Hall, Harry acted like he forgot his wand. Harry, Ron, and Hermione each had a magical earpiece where they could hear and talk to one another. Ron was the scout for the Great Hall. He would keep them posted of what Slytherins were there for dinner and who was leaving. Harry was the Slytherins corridor scout. He hid and kept everyone posted from that position. He also was to play a distraction incase someone came back to the Slytherin Dungeon. Hermione waited for the Gryffindors to leave and then snuck into Harry's room. She opened his trunk at took out his invisibility cloak and the map. She put on the cloak, looked at the map seeing the coast was clear, and headed to the Slytherin Dungeon. Hermione wanted to be the one who actually did the pranks to Malfoy's possessions. She was the infiltrator. She met up with Harry behind a statue near the Slytherin Dungeon. She waited for a student to open the portrait and snuck in after they exited. She wondered where Malfoy's room was. Luckily, the lay out of rooms were the same as in Gryffindor Tower. She snuck into the fifth year boy's room. She looked around for Draco's bed. Of course he had green satin sheets and lush coverings, all of his things screamed rich, spoilt, brat. Hermione went over to his chest and opened it. She proceeded in turning all his robes pink.

"Red Fox One to Nightingale and Lightening Phoenix, the Ferret has left the hall, repeat, the Ferret has left the hall," Ron's voice said into Hermione's and Harry's ear.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron had been adamant about having code names. He even came up with the ridiculous names.

She did need to be fast if Malfoy was on his way back. He would not be happy to see her in his room.

"Did you hear that, Hermione, Malfoy is heading back to the dungeon," she heard Harry say in her earpiece.

"Codenames! Stick to the codenames!" Ron screeched into the earpiece.

Harry and Hermione both had to rub their ears from his loud voice.

"Who are you talking to, Ron," came another voice from Ron's end.

"Nobody, Ginny, mind your own business," Ron replied.

"What's this?" Ginny said, as grabbing and fighting noises could be heard.

"Hey! Don't touch that; give me that, Ginny!" Ron yelled, as his voice started to fade slightly.

"Hello?" Ginny said, into both Harry and Hermione's earpiece

"Hello, Ginny," both of them said.

"Harry? Hermione? Can you hear me? I can hear you," Ginny said.

"We can hear you," Harry and Hermione said.

"Cool! Stop Ron, can't you see I'm talking! Give it back!" Ginny yelled, as her voice began to fade slightly.

"Jerk!" Ginny said, at a distance.

"Red Fox One back online, I was attacked by a Banshee, but all is fine now," Ron said, out of breath.

"I'll show you a Banshee," Ginny said, as more fighting noises could be heard.

"Cut Ron Weasley's connection," both Harry and Hermione said at the same time.

Ron's end went silent, now it was just Harry and Hermione.

Harry saw Malfoy walking down the corridor coming towards the Slytherin Dungeon.

"Hermione! Malfoy is coming! Hurry up and get out of there!" Harry said.

"I'm almost through," she replied.

Hermione worked quickly. She saw Malfoy's Wizard Stay Straight Gel on his nightstand. She said a spell and turned his ridiculous hair gel into glue. She grabbed his wand and hid it under his bed. She replaced the wand on the table with one of the twins joke wands. This wand in particular shot out cute little kittens. She looked at her handy work and smiled. She put back on the invisibility cloak over her head as she heard someone coming up the stairs.

Malfoy entered the room. Hermione backed up against the wall, hidden beneath the cloak. He grew a suspicious look as soon as he entered the room. His eyes wandered the whole room. Hermione was holding her breath. It was almost like he could sense her presence. After a moment Malfoy shook his head and walked to the opposite end of the room. Hermione tip toed to the open door and snuck out into the hallway. She quickly went down the stairs, careful not to make noise, and out of the portrait into the corridor. She went to Harry's hiding place and she was breathing heavy. Harry sighed a breath of relief. The pair headed back to Gryffindor Tower, both underneath the cloak.

Monday morning came bright and early. Breakfast was being served in the Great Hall. Hermione pushed her eggs around on her plate. She wasn't hungry, but she was a little nervous. Harry and Ron were talking about a new Quidditch move. Hermione got up to leave. Harry and Ron stood up also, following her out of the Great Hall. They were still enthralled in their Quidditch discussion.

A strong arm grabbed Hermione's shoulder and turned her forcefully around. Stormy gray eyes starred into her rich chocolate colored ones, screaming that she was in for it. The eyes belonged to Malfoy whose hair was sticking straight up in the air. You could sit a vase atop his head. It would surely stay. His robes still held a pink tint. Hermione thought he must not be that good in coloring charms. She couldn't help but snicker at him, which turned into a full fledge laugh. Ron and Harry turned around to see what was so funny. Ron fell on the floor, rolling around, laughing hard at Malfoy, whom just glared hatefully at them all.

"You think this is funny do you? You're rolling around like a pig, yet you think I'm funny," Malfoy said harshly to Ron.

Ron jumped to his feet immediately and pulled out his wand. Malfoy pulled his wand out also and pointed at Ron. Harry added to the tension by pulling out his wand. Hermione just backed away. She knew Malfoy had the trick wand in his hand. She actually had a quick thought that she should warn him. She erased this thought away quickly when she remembered how mean he has been to her.

"Two against one. Figures you two would like the tag team action. Tell me Weasley, do you like getting up the," Draco never finished his sentence as spells flew in the air.

Draco ducked the first two, avoiding any harm. He saw a weakness in Ron's stance. As he shouted out a spell, a cute, fluffy, gray, kitten appeared in front of him. It meowed and then ran down the hall. His eyes widened and he turned his head to look at Hermione. He had a look of shock on his face. Then his face hardened and turned to a look of utter loathing. Hermione made a slight noise at the nasty glare he was giving her. The next thing that happened was two spells being shouted. Malfoy was distracted with glaring at Hermione.

The spells hit him.

First his spiky hair turned into a pair of fluffy bunny ears. When the next spell hit, he turned a marvelous blueberry color.

He was still glaring at Hermione the whole time. Hermione came to one conclusion on what to do.

Run.

She ran as fast as she could out of the castle and unto the grounds. When she got to the lake she stopped, out of breath. She was sure Malfoy hadn't followed her. She was sure until two cold hands grasped her around her throat and tightened slightly. She felt a warm breath by her ear. She had involuntary shivers from this.

This voice whispered huskily into her ear, "Just remember, I could really hurt you, if I saw fit too. Next time you visit my room Granger, inform me of your presence, that way your visit wouldn't be wasted," the voice finished.

Hermione felt the cool fall air on her ear again instead of the warm breath. She turned to look at the person who grabbed her. She saw him walking back to the castle. She saw blueberry colored skin with fluffy bunny ears and pinkish tint cloak, flowing with the breeze.