The Wizard World's Best Kept Secret

It was a cool summer day, the subtle breeze weaving through Harry's hair as he stood under the old Oak tree, looking out at the squid skimming the top of the lake.

He was startled out of daydreaming as a hand was gently placed on his shoulder. He whirled around to come face-to-face with Hermione.

Harry smiled momentarily, then the smile vanished from his face, and he set his gaze back out onto the lake.

"Is everything alright Harry?" Hermione asked, not taking her hand from his shoulder, concern clearly showing in her voice.

Harry continued to look out over the lake as he replied. "Yes everything's fine." His voice sounded distant and emotionless.

Hermione began to become angry; she caught Harry off guard by whirling him around with her hand, which was still placed, firmly on his shoulder. Harry turned around, ready to look angry but was shocked to see tiny fires of anger burning in Hermione's hard-set features.

"These past few weeks you haven't been yourself, both Ron and I have noticed, tell me what is wrong." Hermione's features began to soften as she looked at him, her eyes showing sadness.

Harry was about to reply when he felt as if he had only just truly noticed the change in Hermione's features. It was 6th year and Harry hadn't realised until now how much Hermione Truly had changed. Her normally bushy brown hair was now sleek and smooth, pouring down her back in a sea ringlets, streaks of blond sparkling in her hair in the morning sun. Her dark brown eyes now lined with a dark Emerald green and her skin usually ghost white was a golden brown. Hermione had grown at least a foot during the Christmas holidays because she was now at eye level with Harry.

Harry couldn't help but smile at how much his best friend had changed right under his nose.

He had obviously confused Hermione because she was now looking at him, her arms crossed over her chest and an unamused look on her face. "I don't see what you can find to smile about right now." Hermione fumed, never breaking her eye contact with Harry. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong or are you going to leave me in the dark." Hermione demanded, hurt creeping into her voice.

Harry sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing his face into the palms of his hands wearily. He sat down on the grass under the Oak tree and Hermione sat down next to him, using the Oak tree for support as she slumped her back and hugged her knees to her chest. "I sent an owl to Sirius a couple weeks ago," Harry began. Once more looking out over the lake again, in hopes of finding something that wasn't there. Hermione put her hand on his shoulder, urging him to go on. "Hedwig came back without a reply and I haven't heard from him," Harry broke his gaze from the lake and looked down into his lap. "I'm afraid something has happened to him."

Hermione looked at Harry, biting her lip thoughtfully. "I'm sure he's fine, come with me and we will go and ask Dumbledore if he knows anything." Hermione offered.

Hermione looked at Harry as he thought about this possibility. His black hair untidy as usual, his skin now a dark brown from being outside most of the time, Harry was easily 6 ft Hermione thought, smiling inwardly at the fact that she was catching up to Harry's height.

"Okay, let's go," Harry agreed, bringing Hermione out of thought. Harry got up off of the grass, offering Hermione a hand up from the grass, they both set off for Dumbledore's office.

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Draco lay on the grass near the lake, reading 'For the Love of a Dragon', but was distracted as he saw Hermione and Harry walk off towards the castle together. He snorted in disgust and went back to reading his book.

He hadn't been reading long when he was distracted again, this time by Ginny Weasley. Draco was about to go back to reading his book when he realised there was something different about Ginny. When she first came to Hogwarts he always thought of her as the whinny little redhead, but taking a closer look, he realised she had actually aged beautifully. Her red hair flowing down her back in a river of fire, her curves mesmerised Draco, her bright blue eyes and her tan, which she had come back with after the Christmas holidays. She was easily Draco's height.

He watched her as she cursed herself as she dropped a pile of books and knelt down to pick them up. Draco closed his book and got up from the grass and walked over to help her.

Ginny cursed herself as she scrambled to pick her books up. She froze as she noticed Draco walking in her direction. She studied him, his almost white blond hair, and his grey piercing eyes which were almost painful to look into. His body was more toned than before the Christmas holidays. Everything about him was perfect, Ginny thought to herself grumbling.

Draco walked up to her and to Ginny's surprise stopped and knelt down and began to help her pick her books up.

Once all the books were picked up Ginny stood up and looked timidly into Draco's eyes. "Thank you," Ginny said as Draco put the books he had picked up into her arms.

"No Problem," Draco replied, smiling. Ginny was surprised as she realised this was the first sincere smile that she had ever seen on Draco's face, it made him look even more handsome, Ginny thought to herself.

Draco was surprised as Ginny smiled at him slyly, and with that she walked away, leaving Draco, with an amazed smile on his face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Harry and Hermione reached the statue that led to Dumbledore's office they were shocked to see a shaggy black dog sitting right at the entrance. Harry knew immediately who it was, Harry rushed towards the dog and knelt down and hugged it. "Sirius, you're here!" Harry said, pulling his face away from the dog to look into its human brown eyes as it wagged its tail.

Harry got up and joined Hermione as the dog began to morph into an attractive man with brown hair and a charming smile. Sirius hugged Harry again and then he hugged Hermione. "It is good to see you both again." Sirius beamed.

"Why haven't you been replying to my letters?" Harry asked, worried.

"I'm sorry Harry but I gave Hedwig orders not to bring me anymore letters as there are dark wizards looking for me," Sirius said, his gaze lingering on Hermione in a strange expression, causing Hermione to wonder if his being here had something to do with her. "I came as quickly as I could because I have something to tell you that I'm sure your parents would have wanted you to know, both of you," Sirius said, looking at Hermione once more. "I thought I should wait to tell you on your 16th birthday," Sirius went on, looking at Harry once more. Harry and Hermione both looked at Sirius, identical confusion showing on their faces. "I can not tell you now, but I will be here for a while. I must speak with Dumbledore now so I must go." Sirius said goodbye and make his way up to Dumbledore's office. Harry and Hermione walked slowly down to the great hall for dinner, trying to figure out what Sirius could possibly have to tell them.

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