Alive

Seventeen year old Hermione Granger pushed her way through what appeared to be a solid barrier and arrived on platform 9 and 3/4 where the Hogwarts Express would take her to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the last time. She had to fight back tears of nostalgia as she searched for her best friends Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. It saddened her to think she would never see this platform again. She would never again enjoy her friends company on the long train ride. On the plus side though, this year they would not have to worry about Voldemort anymore, as Harry and Ron defeated him while she had laid injured in the dark forest. Another high point, this year she was also elected Head Girl (who else?). She did not know who was made Head Boy, though. She could only pray that it was not a certain Slytherin, whose name was not worth thinking of. She knew Harry turned it down, so he could focus on Quidditch (he had been captain since fifth year) and Ron had never been interested in it ('It would just be old news').

She turned around as she heard Harry's familiar voice. Sure enough, he stood with Ron, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley near the entrance of the platform.

"Harry!" Hermione pushed her cart to where they stood.

"Hey, 'Mione," he smiled

"Hey, Hermione," Ron greeted

"It's good to see you both again!" she let go of her cart and hugged them both tightly. She glanced at her watch and gasped "Oh! It's 10:55! Come on! We have to get on the train!” Hermione grabbed her cart and headed for the train. She could hear Harry, Ron and Ginny following close behind. Mainly, because Hedwig kept screeching, for some reason.

Once boarded Hermione started her Head Girl duties by walking up and down the train and offering help to any first years who needed it. After several minutes she decided to check out the front compartment reserved for prefects and the Head boy and girl. Once she arrived, she found it to be fairly empty, due to the fact that most prefects preferred to sit with their friends. Figuring all Harry and Ron would want to do is talk about Quidditch, she decided to enjoy the peace and quiet, and took a seat beside the window. She started to nod off soon after she sat down but was awaken by the last person on earth she wanted to see. Malfoy.

"Granger!? Shit, they let anyone in here these days,"

"Sod off, Malfoy."

"Where's Potty and Weasel? They usually never leave your side."

"I could say the same about your so-called friends."

"Least they aren't Muggle lovers, you stupid Mudblood!"

"You better show me some respect Malfoy," Hermione tightened her grip around her wand.

"Why should I?"

"Because as head girl, I can -"

"Oh, really? Well, you're looking at Head boy. Gee. And you're supposed to be smart."

Hermione gasped. She could not believe she had not noticed his Head Boy badge pinned to his robes. This is whom they chose instead of Harry? She could not believe she was thinking this, but Dumbledore must have hit his head one too many times over the summer. Without looking back she stormed out of the compartment and headed straight for the one she knew Harry and Ron would be in.

She ran into the compartment where Ginny, Harry and Ron sat. All three stopped talking as soon as she entered.

"Are you okay Hermione?" Harry asked her.

"Am I okay? You know whose head boy!?" She paused but continued when no body answered her. "Malfoy! How can that git be Head Boy?"

"His dad probably bribed all the teachers," Ron muttered angrily.

"Dumbledore is off his rocker," Ginny gasped.

"I feel sorry for you, 'Mione. Having to work with that ass all year," Harry replied, gritting his teeth.

"I don't know how I'm going to do it," she plunked down beside Ginny. "We can barely stand being in the same room together, let alone an office."

"If he gives you trouble, just give me the word and I'll kick his sorry ass!" Ron clenched his fist.

"And I will help him," Harry added.

"And I'll watch," Ginny smiled

Hermione grinned "Thanks, guys!"

The four teenagers spent the rest of the train ride thinking of different ways to hurt Malfoy.

Once the Hogwarts Express arrived at the school, Hermione helped first years by directing them towards Hagrid until she had to catch her own ride. Along with Ginny, Ron and Harry, Hermione rode a horse-less carriage to the school where they made their way to the great hall. Every year a grand feast was held to welcome all the students back. Hermione felt emotional, as this would be her last one. By the look on his face, Harry felt the same way.

The doors to the entrance hall opened and a group of nervous first years followed Professor McGonagall to the front of the room, where the sorting hat was waiting. Hermione remembered her first day like it was yesterday. She was sure she would be sorted into Ravenclaw, because of her love of studying, but was very happy to have been sorted into Gryffindor along with Harry and Ron. Though they weren't exactly friends at first meeting. It took a mountain troll on Halloween to bring them together. All the students burst into applause as the sorting hat let out another song and the official sorting began.

The first Gryffindor of the year was a young girl with her brown hair in pigtails. She seemed more excited by the fact she got to sit beside Harry, then just being sorted into her new home.

"So, what's your name?" Harry asked her

"Me? I...I'm Tiffany...I know who you are of course..."

"Nice to meet you, Tiffany," Harry smiled.

"And...And you're Ron, aren't you? Ron Weasley? You helped banish the dark lord..."

"Yup!" Ron beamed

"Wow!"

"I'm Hermione Granger" Hermione reached across the table and shook her hand.

"Hi," Tiffany smiled politely, and then turned back to Harry and Ron.

Hermione turned her attention back to the sorting. She sort of wished she hadn't been injured that fateful evening. That way she wouldn't be in the way of the famous duo all the time. Her mind wandered back to that night.

It happened in the dark forest. She, Harry and Ron had heard rumors of a port key that is used by Snape to get to Voldemort. They were not about to ignore these, so using Harry's invisibility cloak, the three of them headed for the forest. Once inside, Harry discarded the cloak and they started searching. A half hour later, just as Harry found the actual port key, Hermione tripped on an over-grown treen root and twisted her ankle badly. She remembered herself, insisting they go on without her. She watched them both grab the port key and disappear not knowing if she would see them again.

Once the sorting ended Dumbledore stood up to give his start of the year speech.

"I have some start-of-term notices I wish to announce. First years, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students," he smiled. "But on a lighter note, if you have any questions feel free to ask any of the teachers you see up here, or our new Head boy and girl. Hermione Granger of Gryffindor, and Draco Malfoy of Slytherin."

Everyone started to clap.

"Now. As you know Professor Moody (the real one) has decided to retire, so I'm pleased to introduce our new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Professor Turner."

A young woman around the age of twenty stood up from her spot beside Snape and waved. Her long black hair flowed freely around her face. If she were a Muggle, she could be a model. By the look on all the guys’ faces, they agreed. Even Harry and Ron stared opened mouthed at her.

"Now I don't know about you, but I'm starving so, let the feast begin," he waved his hands and plates of food appeared in front of them. Hermione couldn't help but think of all the house elves who probably slaved to make all this food but she felt too hungry to protest.

Hermione glanced at the Slytherin table. Draco seemed to be flirting with each of the girls sitting around him. It seemed he had become a bit of a player. Rumors went around that each week he screwed around with a different girl. She would not at all be suprised if they turned out to be true. The youngest 'victim' (in her eyes) has been said to have been a fifteen-year-old Ravenclaw. It may only be a two-year difference, but in Hermione's eyes, no girl that age should be sleeping around. Especially with him.

As the feast went on her glance kept drifting back to Malfoy. She had no idea what. But something seemed to be drawing her to him. She could not understand why either. After all, she hated him with a passion. So why was she drawn to him all of a sudden? Before Hermione could contemplate any further, Harry nudged her shoulder to tell her that the feast had ended. It was now her duty as prefect, to show the first years around and take them to the dormitories.

The first year girl Tiffany asked her questions about Harry and Ron the whole way up to the common room. She pretty much asked her every question imaginable.

"Do they have girlfriends? Have you ever dated them? How did they defeat you-know-who? Did you see Harry win the tri-wizard tournament? Does he really cry?"

'This must be how Harry feels with Colin' Hermione thought.

"Ron has a girlfriend, Harry doesn't. No, I have not. Yes, but I do not like talking about it. Yes. No he does not cry..."

"Ron does? Really?"

"Yes. Alyssa, she is a seventh year Ravenclaw."

"Wow. Why doesn't Harry have one?"

"Uh. He's still sore over his last breakup."

"What happened?"

"He and this girl, Cho, dated all of last year, but broke up when she graduated and I don't know why. He refuses to tell me."

"Oh."

Before she could ask any more questions they arrived at the portrait of the fat lady.

"Password?"

"Ab absurdo." Hermione spoke up.

The fat lady paused, and then swung open. She was pleased to see Ron and Harry waiting for her by the fire. After showing the first years where they would be sleeping, she went back down stairs and joined them.

"How'd it go?" Harry yawned.

"Pretty good, except...."

"Except what?" Ron asked her.

"That new girl Tiffany, she is like a female Colin. Couldn't stop asking me questions about you two."

"Like what?"

"Well, the tri-wizard tournament, the famous battle between you two and you-know-who, your dating status. Then she wanted to know why you’re single, Harry."

"What did you tell her?" he quietly asked.

"I told her that your still sore over...you know."

"I am not sore over her!" Harry replied defensively.

Both Ron and Hermione gave him a knowing look.

"Okay, maybe I am but you would be too if..."

"If?" both repeated.

"Ugh fine, but before I tell you guys, you, Hermione have to swear on your books that you won't tell."

"I promise."

"Ron. Swear on Alyssa's life."

"You want me to swear on my girlfriends life?"

"Yes."

"But all Hermione had to swear on was books!"

"Okay I won't tell you. I know you guys have been dying to know why we broke up -"

"Okay I swear!"

Harry took a deep breath "Ron. You remember me talking about how me and Cho were thinking of going all the way?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the night before we broke up, we met in the astronomy tower and we did."

"You slept with her?" Hermione whispered, shocked.

"Way to go, man,” Ron said happily.

"Wait a minute, the night before you broke up? She broke up with you the day after she slept with you? That is kind of mean," Hermione said.

"The reason she broke up with me is because she said my performance needed work."

"She is, sure, shallow."

"What a terrible reason to break up."

Ron patted Harry on the back

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Hermione frowned.

"It is really embarrassing!"

"I don't blame you for not telling us," Ron said sympathetically. "If Alyssa broke up with me because of that -"

"Hold up. You're not a virgin either?" Hermione started feeling a little embarrassed herself.

"I've been dating her for two years, 'Mione."

"Oh. Of course, like a guy could wait for long."

"What about you and that Hufflepuff guy?"

"Rick? That only lasted two months! What kind of girl do you take me for?"

She had dated Rick shortly before school ended, in their sixth year.

Harry was happy to have the topic off of him and Cho. "You can be pretty crazy at times."

"Yeah, well. The last thing I need, is to be a pregnant teenager," she produced a fake yawn. "I'm getting tired. I'll see you two at breakfast tomorrow."

Hermione walked as fast as she could up to her private dorm and quickly shut the door behind her. She never knew that both Ron and Harry had gone all the way with their girlfriends, or in Harry's case, ex-girlfriend. She had a feeling about Ron, but Harry's story was a complete shock. She never liked Cho much to begin with, but finding out she would break up with a guy for a shallow reason like that; she never knew she could be such a bitch. Poor Harry. That would hurt any guy, but Harry has already been through more than any teenager should. Hermione put on her pajamas and climbed into bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow she fell into a dream.

"I've been waiting for you."

Hermione looked around for the source of the voice, but could not see anyone or even tell where she was. White fog floated all around her, while a soft wind hit her face.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"All that matters is that you came."

"Answer my questions!"

"Don't worry love, they'll be answered soon," the voice seemed to be coming closer to her.

"When?"

"Your full of questions today aren't you?" the voice laughed. "Come here."

Hermione felt herself floating towards where the voice had been coming from.

"Don't worry," the voice assured her. "Soon we'll be together, and no one can stop us."

Next thing she knew, she was being kissed. It was like no kiss she had ever felt before. It was passionate yet loving and caring. She felt like she could do this forever -

"Hermione!!"

"Hermione!"

Hermione jumped awake. The sound of Ron yelling her name from the other side of the door had woken her up. She glanced at her watch.

8:40 A.M.

"Shit!"

She jumped out of bed and ran to her door where she poked her head out.

"Ron! I know I'm late for breakfast. Give me five, okay?"

Before Ron could answer, she shut the door and started getting dressed as fast as she could. She could not remember the last time she slept in like this. She was usually the first one up in the morning, and the last one to go to bed. The only reason she could think of, was that dream. It was almost erotic. Whoever was kissing her, was amazing. But she could not see this person. She could only feel and hear him. Though the voice did sound pretty familiar.

Their first class of the year turned out to be Defense Against Dark Arts, with the new Professor Turner. That, followed by Potions and an afternoon of Care Of Magical Creatures. All the male students from Gryffindor and Slytherin sat as close to the front as they could, while the female students stuck to the back of the class room.

Minutes after the bell rang, the new teacher walked in.

Today, she wore a tight pair of dress pants, a sleek blouse and a set of black robes.

"Hello, Class," she spoke not in an English accent, but a strong American one, "Allow me to tell you a little about my self. Yes, I came from America, more specifically, San Francisco. Don't worry, though, I am more than qualified to teach this class. I've fought more demons and other monsters than I can count."

All the boys clung on to her every word.

"Today we will review the Wendigo. It is a beast that tears out its victim’s heart and eats it on a full moon. The only way to get rid of it is by fire, which can melt, it's icy heart. And if you get scratched by one, you will turn into a Wendigo your self, as my sister learned the hard way."

Lavender Brown raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"If you get turned into one, how would you get turned back?"

"Well, in my sisters case, we had to kill the one that turned her by using a flare gun. Which is a Muggle thing that shoots fire."

The rest of the period she discussed her many adventures and then, managed to assign a three scroll assignment on what you would do if confronted by a Wendigo.

Potions was normal considering, they were again stuck with the Slytherins. Neville managed to burn his first cauldron, and Hermione got points taken away for being a know-it-all. He also, was able to assign an essay for them to write. This time about Polyjuice potion. Hermione, Harry and Ron, all had a good laugh together afterwards about that. They had a little experience with it in their second year. Hermione's wasn't as pleasant as Harry or Ron's though, she managed to turn her self into a cat, accidentally of course, and got to stay in the hospital wing for several weeks. She giggled. Between her, Ron and Harry, they had more hospital visits then any student in the school. Though, that is not something to be proud of. In fact, it made them sound pretty bad. Of course, it was not their fault. As Harry once said, trouble seems to find them, not the other way around.

After Care Of Magical Creatures, which they pretty much used to catch up with Hagrid, Hermione headed straight for the library to work on her essays. Harry joined her and Ron went to find his girlfriend. Hermione choose her usual table near the back of the library, and immediately went looking for any books that would help her. She ended up making three different trips; the library held many interesting books that could help her write her essay.

She was already half way through her essay for Defense Against The Dark Arts, when Ron showed up with Alyssa. She had the usual blue eyes and blonde hair with perfect skin. Hermione had to admit for the first half of their relationship she was a little jealous. Okay, a lot, but after seeing how happy Alyssa made him, she learned to like her. And a little fling with Harry helped. No one but them knows about it and no one else will ever know. Being that he was dating Cho at the time and no feelings came out of it. They both decided that their snogging session would be kept a secret forever.

"Hey Hermione!" Alyssa beamed.

"Hi Alyssa."

"You got homework on the first day?"

"That new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher is hot!" Ron grinned.

"Excuse me?" Alyssa glared at him.

"But not as hot as you," Ron kissed her on the cheek.

"Better," she smiled.

"She is pretty hot," Harry smirked. "And young, too."

"Do you two mind?" Hermione looked up from her essay. "I'm trying to work here"

"What else is new?" Ron said sarcastically.

"Um, why don't we check out the court yard?" Alyssa suggested.

"Sure. Harry?"

"Yeah okay," he started packing up his stuff. "You okay 'Mione?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. You guys go ahead."

The three of them said good-bye and quickly left.

It didn't take long for her to finish up the assignment for Professor Turner. She, in fact, had written four scrolls before stopping her self. Now all she had to do was find the right books to help her with Snape's essay. She shouldn't need too much, though, being she already had experienced it.

Hermione soon found her self in the very back of the large library, where books she had never heard of, were kept. Amazing. She's been looking through this library for the past seven years, and yet, still managed to find books she had not read.

A rather large book caught her eye. Bending down to inspect it she saw the title, Amor Liber Libri, written in gold letters in loopy writing.

"Wow," she whispered to her self.

She dragged it off the bottom shelf, onto the floor. It was far too heavy to carry, so she took a seat on the floor and started flipping the pages. Each page was faded and brown. Some seemed ready to tear if handled too much. She continued flipping the pages, until one particular passage caught her eye attention.

Finding True Love

Once said you will have found the true love you seek at your knees.

Hermione laughed. Like speaking in Latin was going to bring you your soul mate. Well, it could be good for a laugh. She slowly spoke the text half-expecting her true love to show up behind her. After reading it, she paused to see if something would happen. As she thought, nothing did. She glanced at her watch.

"Great," she muttered to no one. "I'm late for dinner."

Once she put the book back, she gathered all her stuff and bolted for the great hall.

Not paying attention as to where she was going, she slammed into some one. And that some one just happened to be Malfoy.

"You stupid Mudblood! Why don't you watch where you're going!?"

Hermione stood up. She was about to start gathering her books when she noticed something. Normally, she wouldn't give it a second glance but after reading that book; Malfoy was on his knees. In front of her. It has to be a coincidence. After all, Draco Malfoy, her soul mate? He can't be. She shook her head. The day she and Draco fall in love, is the day that Snape and Neville become friends.