The Dream

Harry stepped joyfully onto the Hogwarts Express. A smile stretched across his face, and his wildly green eyes had more sparkle in them than usual.

"Hey, Harry!" Hermione waved, racing toward him with her trunk with much difficulty. Harry walked toward his good friend and politely took her trunk and loaded it onto the train.

"How was your summer?" he asked.

"Good, but nothing special," Hermione said. "Hey, where's Ron?"

Ron, who was dressed in new clothes, boarded the train that very instant.

"Hey, Ron," said Hermione. He smiled and said hello back. Ron sat down, and the three of them stared at each other for a while until the sound of a familiar voice came from the next compartment.

"Hey, Potter!" It was Draco Malfoy, but not his usual sneer. He'd become a little nicer ever since both of his parents were thrown into Azkaban for being caught in the service of Voldemort last year.

"Hey," Harry called back, and that was it. He turned his head back to his friends, and they talked a long time. Surprisingly enough, the train raid, though long, was rather uneventful.

Upon reaching the castle, Harry lifted his head to look over the castle. "Well guys, this is our last year here, lets do it right," he said. Ron and Hermione smiled in agreement.

They entered the castle and were seated for the feast. As soon as the old, patchy sorting hat was done torturing the first-years, they started the feast. Dishes upon dishes of food magically appeared on the platters on the tables.

After eating for a very long time, and getting extremely full, Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked up the long staircase.

"Dragon liver," Ron said tiredly to the Fat Lady, who immediately swung forward to reveal a circular hole in the wall. They climbed through to the Gryffindor Common Room and said good night. Harry and Ron headed off toward the boys' dorms, while Hermione tiredly walked to the girls' dorms.

Hermione yawned as she changed into her pajamas. She pulled her bouncy brown hair up into a ponytail and jumped onto her four-poster. The deep crimson hangings swayed in the gentle, warm breeze that was making it's way around the room. It was so peaceful that Hermione fell asleep quickly.

Even as quickly as she fell asleep, the sun was shining in her window again. Her eyes lingered shut for a while and she heard Lavender brown groaning "Night isn't nearly long enough."

Hermione quickly got dressed and walked down to the Great Hall. The enchanted ceiling was pale blue and the puffy clouds were still pink from the sunset. She went and took her seat as Head Girl. She was feeling very tired and was about to fall asleep right there where she was sitting.

"Are you feeling okay, Hermione?" Harry asked. She looked to her left and smiled a little. She loved it when he was worried about her.

"I'll be fine. I'm just a little," she yawned, "tired."

"Okay, just remember to take it easy on the studying. We don't want you collapsing on us during classes," He teased.

"Take it easy on studying??? How can you take it easy ON STUDYING AT A TIME LIKE THIS??? N.E.W.T.s are just at the end of this year!" Hermione half-shouted.

"Okay, okay. Don't," Harry said apologetically.

The day passed very uneventfully. Neville Longbottom even made his healing potion perfectly, without Hermione telling him what to do. After a normal day of classes, everyone was in the common room again already. Hermione had taken it easy on subjects this year, and was working on Arithmancy charts with Harry and Ron.

"Blimey, do they do this to us on purpose??" Ron asked.

"Do what to us?" Harry asked.

"Give us such blooming hard homework on the first day back to school."

"First day, November day, it's all the same," Hermione said.

"Well, I'm done," Harry said, "See you two in the morning."

"Bright and early," Ron said sarcastically.

Harry went to bed and drifted into a fitful sleep.

* *

"Escape, Harry. It's not worth the risk," Hermione said, her voice was weak.

"Don't die on me, Herm. Please don't die!" his own voice said, beginning to crack.

"It's too late, she's already dead, as you will be soon. You can't escape me this time!" The evil, power-hungry voice if Voldermort rang inside his dream.

He looked up from Hermione's lifeless body. Piles of old, worn books littered the floor.

"Your turn. Avada Kedavra . . ."

* *

Harry sat bolt upright in his bed, covered in a cold sweat, his scar burning horribly.