The Unicorn Ring

Hermione sat in the windowseat in her dormitory at Hogwarts, looking out at the sunshine and clouds mocking her misery. She fingered the ring on her ring finger, remembering the day she had gotten it, the day this had all begun.

It was September of 1995. Voldemort was back again, wreaking havoc on the wizarding world. But today she didn't want to think about that. She was turning fifteen at last, and no stupid git with freaky red eyes could stop her from being happy.

She'd come down the stairs to find Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville looking at her. They were all waiting, apparently, to tell her happy birthday. It was strange, though: they'd never tried to figure out what her birthday was before.

Oh well, she thought, maybe they'll even forget I'm a bookworm for a day and not tease me about it. That made her feel better.

Ron gave her one of his signature goofy grins, then asked, "You know what today is, right?"

"I have no idea," she retorted sarcastically. Usually she wasn't like that, but on occasion, Ron could pretty annoying at times.

"Miss Know-It-All has no idea it's her birthday?" he said in mock surprise. Then again, maybe not, Hermione sighed to herself.

"Anyway," Harry smiled, coming over to her, "it's your birthday, and you're fifteen, like older, wiser, me." She snorted. Wiser? Puh-lease. Harry chose to ignore that, however, and continued, "Ginny, where's her gift?" Ginny gave them a confused look.

"I thought you had it," she confided, looking worried.

"No, I gave it to you."

"Oh, well in that case, I must have given it to Neville. Neville?"

Quiet Neville looked from one to the other, shaking his head. "I think it's up in the dormitory."

Harry dashed up the stairs. After what seemed like an hour, he returned with a small jewelry box-shaped package wrapped in trick wrapping paper from the Weasley twins. Although she didn't trust the paper as far as she could throw Hagrid, she opened the package anyway. A blast of glitter exploded in her face. Laughing, Ron and Harry urged her to open the box. Hoping it wouldn't explode in her face, she did so, and was surprised by what she saw. There on a small piece of cotton lay a sterling silver ring, with the front carved in the shape of a unicorn. The tail went back, wild and free, and since this was a ring bought in the magical community, the unicorn was subject to change positions or neigh at unexpected moments. Hermione was charmed. "Oh, thank you," she whispered, looking at the ring with a softness in her eyes. Maybe they remembered how much she'd loved the unicorn lessons in third year with Professors Grubbly-Plank and with Hagrid. More likely it was a unicorn ring or a dragon ring, and they didn't want her to scorch her fingers wearing it.

"Well, it isn't only pretty," Ginny told her with a smile. "It protects as well."

"She's right," Harry told Hermione. "This ring can be used in protection against dark forces. For example, if you're ever surrounded by dementors, it will automatically give you a Patronus. If it works like it's supposed to, the ring will give not just your natural patronus, but also that of the giver, or givers. In this case, Ron and mine."

"Thank you all," she repeated. She was so touched by Harry and Ron's kindness. Now no matter where she went, they always protected her. She slid the ring on her left hand deftly.

"All right, let's go grab some grub!" Ron yelled. "I'm hungry!" With that, he ran out the portrait hole door. Groaning, Hermione followed him out the door.

From that day on, she'd never removed the unicorn ring from that hand, except for that fateful day three months later when she'd put it in her pocket instead. She doubted that she'd never have to use it for its true purpose. How very wrong she was.