Patrolling the halls was either mind numbingly boring, or so eventful, bordering on dangerous, that she had to crash on the couch in the common room afterwards out of exhaustion.

Today had been nightmarish. George had gone a little crazy on the first Hogsmeade Weekend and had given half off everything to the students. He had made a killing, no doubt, but the castle was completely flooded with prank items. She loved a laugh, just like the rest, but it was getting way out of hand. That, and none of the kids had the same kind of style and creativity like the Weasley twins in their glory days. These kids just bought a product and followed the directions on the box. In the end, it just became boring and predictable, not to mention messy.

She was far too young to be thinking like that. Granted, she was one of the oldest students there, but she was still just nineteen. Aged and hardened from war, but still nineteen. She was supposed to enjoy life! That was just a bit hard, when she saw dead bodies every time she turned a corner. Sometimes she regretted returning for her final year, if someone asked her, why she had returned, she wouldn't be able to answer. Hermione Granger was supposed to be in control, she was supposed to have a plan, but these days she was just drifting.

She was so lost in thought as she went into the next classroom on her route, that she almost walked into a huge wall of golden fluff. Startled, she backpedaled a few steps, realizing that the great wall of fluff was actually a set of six wings in various golden shades. Attached to the wings was a man with light brown hair, in dire need of a trim. He was sucking on a lollipop, looking out of the window with such a gleeful expression, that she was momentarily distracted. He looked so carefree and childish, and she envied him.

She leaned against the doorway, observing him a little.

"Those wings make quite the fashion statement." She told him, with a lifted eyebrow. The deer in the headlights expression on his face was priceless, and she felt her mouth tugging ever so slightly into a smile.

His surprised expression turned into a frown, and he ruffled his wings, unsuccessfully trying to hide them behind his back.

"You aren't supposed to see those!" he hissed at her after taking out the lollipop.

"Why not? Transfiguration accident? If it helps your embarrassment, I was once turned into a cat for about a week." She tried.

He looked at her indignant and confused. "No! These babies are not accidental, or any kind of statement! They are, however, supposed to be invisible, so how in the fiery pits of hell, can you see them?" He continued incredulously in a horribly American accent.

"Well, they are honestly hard to miss. How did you even get through the door, with those?" She wondered, walking closer to him.

The man looked at her like she was an idiot, but answered nonetheless

"They're metaphysical, they don't really exist, so that isn't really a problem."

"They're beautiful." She whispered, reaching out her hand. He shivered, as her fingers ran down one of the large feathers. He suddenly turned around, so the wings were out of her reach. He gave her a very slow once over, that made her feel incredibly naked

"Well, missy. The same thing could be said about you." He said, stalking towards her with the grace of a feline. She gulped, she knew she was in trouble, in more ways than once. He was a very powerful man, if he was even human, which she very much doubted by now. But the way he was smirking at her, as if she were some kind of dessert, waiting to be gobbled up, made butterflies the size of eagles soar around in her stomach.

She looked up, at met his eyes, and they were incredible. She had never seen anything like them, like a kaleidoscope of gold and green, and they confirmed her thoughts; He was most definitely not human.

With the speed of light, he grabbed her, and in less than the blink of an eye, they were somewhere else, that definitely wasn't Hogwarts. It looked like a living room, and a very opulent one of those. She looked around in wonder, at the forest green wallpaper and the furniture, all covered in leaf gold, and cream-colored fabric, that looked impossibly soft.

"Now, what are you, girl." He growled.

"What do you mean, what am I? You're the one with the wings - what are you?"

"What am I? How rude!"

"You just asked me that exact same question!" Hermione shrieked.

"Fine." The man huffed. "Just give me your name."

"Hermione." She said, crossing her arms.

"Now, species?"

Hermione rolled her eyes "Well, I'm a witch, but you ought to know that, since you were at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry."

"Oh no, Honey, you're much more, than just a witch."

Hermione scrunched her eyebrows in bewilderment. "I'm pretty sure I'm just a witch. A pretty powerful one, if I'm being immodest though." She said, blushing.

He smiled at her in a way that could only be described as predatory "I don't mind immodesty at all, Gorgeous" he said with an eyebrow waggle.

Hermione was getting whiplash from this guy's change in moods, and she blushed even more at the innuendo. She cleared her throat

"Your turn."

"Just call me Gabriel" he frowned.

"And species?" She imitated him.

Gabriel pursed his lips "Try to guess - we'll make it a game, every time you get it wrong, you lose some clothes"

"Are you out of your mind?" Hermione hissed scandalized

"Yeah, probably" he shrugged. "But it's the only way you're going to know" He winked at her.

She huffed "Not a chance"

"Aw, come on! What's a guy got to do to get a little action here? Where's the fun in you?"

"I'm plenty of fun" she retorted.

"Oh yeah? Where? In your knee socks?" he smirked, making her stick her tongue out at him. He stared hungrily, as the pink little thing came out between her lips.

"Now, that was immature. I approve."

"I won't ask, then. Either way, you're not a wizard. It's impossible to apparate or disapparate within Hogwarts grounds" Hermione sniffed. "Where are we anyway?"

"Let's just call it my nest, shall we?" Gabriel purred.

Hermione gave him a deadpan look. "Great. I've been captured by a bloody bird" She grumbled. Gabriel snapped his fingers, and suddenly her knee socks were missing.

"That wasn't a guess! Give them back!"

"Nope. Even if it wasn't a guess, I would still keep them because of your cheek."

"Take me back to Hogwarts. Now. I have to finish my rounds anyways" Hermione huffed.

Gabriel rolled his eyes "Rounds, wow. Good times." Hermione just scowled at him.

"Fine" He sighed. He grabbed her around the waist, and she closed her eyes. they reappeared in the same classroom they had left from. She slowly opened her eyes, to find him staring intently at her, with those impossible eyes, and before she knew it, he was kissing her. She sighed as her eyes fluttered closed and she felt his tongue move against her lips. She slowly opened her mouth, letting him in. He tasted like the lollipop he had eaten when she found him – she had always loved cherry.

He broke the kiss and smirked at her dazed expression.

"Laters" He winked at her, and disappeared with a whoosh.

Hermione stomped her foot petulantly. She didn't know what had gotten in to her. That was not the way she was supposed to behave. Hermione Granger was logical, always processing everything before taking a decision. Letting some guy kiss her, not even knowing what bloody species he was, just wasn't even sane.

Even if he was handsome, and charming and a really amazing kisser.

She sighed to herself. She would probably wake up in a moment. Only dreams were that surreal.