Puzzle to a Frozen Heart

Hermione entered into the place that was to be her home for the next summer and school year. Sure, she loved Hogwarts, but not that much. She would have preferred to stay home with her parents... if she had them.

But no such luck; that idiot, that poor excuse for a wizard, Voldemort, had killed them two days ago, burning her house as well to finish the job. If it hadn't been for Fleur, her best friend, Crookshanks would have died as well. Thank God she was there to get him out of the burning house in time. Hermione sighed in sadness. She felt so vulnerable, so alone... Sometimes she even wished that Voldemort would have killed her as well... but no. He wanted her to suffer and in attacking her loved ones, he was accomplishing his wish. She wanted to kill him, but nooo; first she had to find the Heir of Slytherin which, according to the legend, had the same blood that Voldemort and together they would kill him. But, as she said, it was a legend.

" 'Ermione, are you okay?" asked Fleur, her part-Veela French best friend, getting her out of her trance. She wouldn't let Hermione come to Hogwarts alone so she had opted for spending the summer with her at Hogwarts.

"What? Oh, yes, fit as a fiddle. I was just thinking," Hermione responded, giving her best friend a weak smile while continuing her way to Dumbledore's office.

If he hadn't made her the offer to stay at Hogwarts over the summer, she didn't know what she would have done. Fleur's house would have been nice and all, if she could stand her brother and sister or, as Fleur called them, 'adopted retards'.

Suddenly someone tapped her from behind. Hermione turned quicker than a bullet as she aimed her fist at the person's face. The person, who had quick reflexes, ducked just in time to avoid Hermione's smack.

"Oliver! I could have punched you! What do you think you're doing sneaking around like that?"

"I'm terribly sorry 'Mione'. Forgive me?" her best male friend, Oliver Wood, asked giving her a pouting puppy look. Hermione laughed. The two of them had been friends since their first year.

"Just this once," she teased, giving him a hug. "I missed you."

"Missed you too."

"Do I get a 'ug too?" Fleur asked. Oliver tore away from Hermione and glanced at the blond French girl in a puzzled expression. As far as he knew, Hermione was coming alone.

"Who're you?" Oliver asked. Hermione became aware that she had missed the courtesy of introduction.

"Oh, I'm sorry Oliver. This is Fleur Delacour, my best friend from France. Fleur, this is Oliver Wood," she introduced them. Oliver looked at Fleur from top to bottom. She was beautiful. She had sapphire colored eyes, rose red lips, and curves that any woman would kill for.

"Pleasure Wood," Fleur said seductively, but Oliver didn't take the hint.

"Ditto. So, 'Mione' here's your room key. Why don't you make your way to it while I take Fleur to her room?" Oliver suggested.

"Oh, you don't have to. I mean, I have my own room since I'm Head Girl, so she can stay with me," Hermione smiled.

"Well, there might be a tiny problem wit that. See, the thing is that the Head Boy and the Head Girl will share a room this year," Oliver squeaked. He was sure that Hermione wouldn't like that, let alone the Head Boy that she was to be paired with.

"What? Why?!" Hermione's voice was rising by now.

"Because Dumbledore's giving the Head Boy's room to a Ministry worker, who's coming to inspect Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament," Oliver blurted.

"But, the tournament is next year." Hermione was trying very hard to maintain her patience. A room with a male simply did not compute.

"Yes, but since Cedric died in the last one, they have to make sure that Hogwarts is safe enough," Oliver contradicted.

"And they need an entire year to do that?"

"Well, the ministry worker requested it, so it looks like you'll bunk with the Head Boy. Now, I'm taking Fleur to her room. See you later." Oliver quickly grabbed Fleur's wrist and got out of sight before Hermione could say anything else. He wasn't in the mood to start the argument that was certainly coming later.

Hermione sighed and glanced at Crookshanks's cage, seeing that he was up and trying to get out.

"Hey sweetie. Here, I'll let you out. Now, you behave, just because there isn't anyone else around here doesn't mean you can party," she warned her cat. Crookshanks meowed as if he had understood her. She opened the cage and he got out lazily. But, as he began sniffing, he tracked down an owl's scent. Then he disappeared faster than lighting from Hermione.

"Crookshanks?! Where do you think you're going? Come here!" She dropped her trunk and stormed after him.

When she finally got to him, she saw that he was on top of a very good and familiar guy, attaching his paws on his sweater while the guy was trying in vane to get he cat off him, but the feline simply refused to move.

"Crookshanks! What are you doing?!! Get off him!" she screeched. Simultaneously, the guy looked up and she was instantly hypnotized by his emerald green gaze.