Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters, etc…
AN: The story takes place during the trio's sixth year at Hogwarts. The beginning is when the war is on and Hermione Granger begins to look back on the year. The italics the end of the year and Hermione reminiscing. Normal print is the beginning of the year. Please Review.
It was a late Wednesday night and the sky above Hogwarts was filled with stars. It was a relatively warm night, as it always was at the end of the school year. Hermione Granger stood by the open window of the Astronomy Tower. She tilted her head back slightly as a large gust of wind came through the window and blew through her hair. Once the wind died down, she fixed her gaze on the beautiful starlit sky. Such a sight used to bring her a sense of peace and serenity, but she couldn't find anything peaceful about this night.
She absent mindedly ran her fingers through her soft curls. She used to be known as a "bushy haired know-it-all." No one looked at her that way anymore. Not even Draco Malfoy. She had also been commonly known as "Harry Potter's best friend." She was known for far greater things now. And for that she was truly sorry. She hadn't asked for any of it… Now she knew how Harry felt…
She had changed a great deal over the last few months; and not just her hair. She had become more focused. The focus, she realized, had made her harder or less personable. She would have to work on that once the war was over... But not now... Emotions were far too frivolous a concern for the present time. She had her priorities. It was these priorities that brought her so far out of bed after hours. She could get caught, but she didn't care… She had her priorities.
Far beneath her, she could hear the laughter of a group of third year students who had snuck out of their dormitories. They had no idea what was going on around them; what great danger they were in. Ignorance is bliss. Ignorance made them happy. Hermione smirked at the irony. She used to be happy. She was happy at the beginning of her sixth year. It seemed like a life time ago…
"Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's joyous voice filled the room as students from all different years poured into the Great Hall.
"Isn't it exciting?" Hermione exclaimed. "I can't wait for classes to start!"
"Hermione!" Ronald Weasley complained as the pair sat at the Gryffindor table opposite Harry Potter. "You promised you wouldn't talk about schoolwork anymore!"
"I wasn't." Hermione stated simply. "I was talking about classes! I said nothing about the work we would be doing in the classes." She wrinkled her nose at Ron before Harry finally spoke up.
"Work that you have already mastered, I assume." Hermione gave him teasing smile and shrugged.
"I guess you'll have to wait and see!"
After dinner, Hermione, Ron and Harry gathered around the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room to work on their schedules. Since it was their sixth year, students got to plan out their own class schedule so as to fit with their desired career.
"I guess I should take a more advanced Herbology class if I want to go into healing." Hermione said as she glanced over her schedule for the hundredth time.
"You should be Auror." Harry said in a sing-song voice under his breath.
"Harry!" Hermione quickly replied. "We've gone over this before!"
"Come on! You would make a brilliant Auror."
"A brilliant Auror or a brilliant partner for you?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. Harry seemed to have this idea that he and Hermione (and Ron, if he ever began to think about his future) should become Aurors together. They all had such great experience battling the dark arts after all.
"Well, yeah that too." Harry said, almost defeated. "Tell you what! You take an advanced defense against the dark arts class with me- just in case!" He added quickly before Hermione could object. "And I'll take an advanced Herbology class with you."
"Really?" Hermione was extremely surprised. "Well alright then. Only because you must really want me to if you're going to take advanced Herbology." Harry grinned victoriously.
"I'm done!" Ron said, sounding extremely pleased with himself.
"What field did you base your schedule around?" Hermione asked, as she took Ron's schedule in her hands. She was anxious to know what direction Ron was heading in.
"Field?" He asked incredulously. "Who said anything about a field? I just planned it so I had as little time with Snape as absolutely necessary!" Harry laughed as Hermione shook her head at him disapprovingly. "What?" Ron asked, not realizing what he did.
Later on that night, Harry and Hermione were reading in the common room after Ron had gone to bed. Hermione placed her book down on the coffee table and moved from her spot on the chair next to Harry on the couch.
"You want to talk about it yet?" Hermione spoke softly and nervously. She didn't face Harry, but was instead looking at the ground. Harry knew this question was coming. There had to be some reason Hermione was up late on a school night when she didn't have homework.
"I miss him." He told her without hesitation. "Sirius did what he needed to do. And whereas that kills me, it also makes whatever battle that lies ahead that much more crucial. Now I have to win."
"We have to win." She corrected him in a soft whisper. Harry smirked.
"We have to win." He repeated.
-->