Chapter One- Distraction

Hermione Granger walked through the streets of Diagon Alley alone. Her hands were clutched onto her purchases a little too tightly, her eyes keen and sharp on the other shoppers along the street as if she was waiting for something or someone to jump out at any moment. It was a habit she picked up when joining Harry in the search for Horocruxes last year; and it was a habit that was proving itself not very easily broken.

Although it had been only a couple of months since Voldemort's demise, she still could not shake the feeling of needing to be on guard for anything to happen. All those months of running, chasing, and being hunted was something that could be forgotten. It had left its mark on her, and still those reminders was like a brand on her soul just as much as it was on her arm.

Remembering her arm, she self consciously tucked it in as close as she could to her side, despite the bags and books she was carrying. It was a painful and horrid reminder of all that she had been through, and the nightmares of that day in Malfoy Manor still gave her horrible nightmares.

The sun was shining down hotly upon her, on this unusually sunny day. She had welcomed the normal cloudy and rainy summer days of late, for it greatly added to her moods of late. But today was different as the sun made her feel uncomfortable and burned hotly down on her bare head and through her shirt.

Her purchases were adding every time she walked into a store, but this coming year she didn't want anything less than being overly prepared. She had received her owl a couple weeks ago from Hogwarts inviting her and her fellow classmates back to catch up on the year they had lost when Snape had been Headmaster.

A deep sigh came from her lips as she thought about Professor Snape. He was the only Professor she had had at Hogwarts that had given her a rough time. Looking back now she could only see just how much he had to deceive and protect himself. Harry had told her all of what he had seen in the pensieve of Snape's last thoughts and she could only feel pain and sorrow for her late Professor.

A pinch in the middle of her foot brought her back from her musings. Looking back at her list she realized she had everything she needed, and as she sighed with relief looked for a refuge to set her things down at. Heading towards the shady side of the street she followed the shadows finding some relief from the buildings awnings. She had been shopping for about four hours now, and her books were making things really heavy. Especially the Defense Against the Dark Arts book that was five inches thick at least, but the History and Potions texts weren't much lighter or much thinner.

Spotting some empty tables in front of Flourishes she sat down at an empty table and setting her purchases next to her on one of the empty chairs took a moment to try and relax, but with no avail. Looking around she found herself watching intently to everyone all around, her eyes scrutinizing; and out of habit, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She had to keep herself from continually looking over her shoulder, or reach for the wand that was in her front pocket when children or somebody went running by in the corner of her eye.

It took two witches across the street, discussing the price of some type of ornamental looking thing, which sparked her curiosity enough to finally get her mind to calm down enough. And she found herself intrigued by their conversation.

For a moment she wondered if ever she would be talking just like them, discussing with other witches about the price of something as silly as an ornament.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind she shook her head. She doubted this future, and doubted herself for a moment. Right at that moment, with her sitting by herself in front of the ice cream parlor, that had found Harry years before eating ice cream; her future didn't seem that promising. She still wanted to be included in the magical community, it was just nothing appeased to her.

Her vast knowledge of useless things could be of no help to anyone, and she had had enough of the Ministry of Magic to last a lifetime. So any job that involved them was out of the question. She couldn't help but to remember the few times that she had visited the Saint Mungos Hospital center and felt her heart stir for that.

'Maybe my knowledge of both being Muggle raised and half Witch may help me there.' She mused silently as she leaned back in her seat, watching people pass her by.

She had always had a soft spot in her heart for helping people, and helping people with different ailments was something that had intrigued her, especially with the terrible loss of her grandparents' years ago. Her grandmother's life had tragically ended due to Breast Cancer; her grandfather's life was tragically taken from a heart attack.

After their deaths it had pushed her to strive in her studies to try and find out all that she could. She was naïve as a child thinking that she could to try and come up with some way to end cancer and save those from car accidents; but as she grew older and her understanding of how the world worked she had a new mission, to save those who were suffering and ease their pain. She knew she could not get rid of Cancer or from people having accidents, but she knew that if she could give someone a moment of relief from what they suffered was better than nothing.

That need for knowledge on helping others, had been overcome when she had gotten that letter two years later, stating that she had been accepted to Hogwarts. With the meeting of Harry it had taken her farther and farther away, and more towards her studies for other subjects that she could only dream of!

Did she regret any of it? A firm voice within her answered a firm, 'No.' to her rhetorical question. She wouldn't trade any of the experiences she had with Harry for anything...well...perhaps one.

Her demeanor changed as she squared her shoulders and exhaled sharply forcing her attention away from her thoughts and towards the shop fronts, along with the multiple announcements and advertisements that they held to lure in customers.

It took several minutes for her to try and relax this new emotion within her. Although it had been several weeks, she found that each time her thoughts tried to trail back to that night her heart seemed to break all over again and she became angry at her weakness. Breathing deeply and evenly she held the pool of tears at bay as she tried to look for something to distract herself with. And it wasn't until she looked across the street to a pet store that her attention was captured entirely.

A silver black cat was sitting there in the store and it seemed as if it were gazing at her. Gazing back at it, her thoughts were entirely captivated by the animal, especially at its eyes. Even from where she was sitting she could see its eyes and how they shone brightly like stars in the sky.

Something inside her in that instant just clicked, and instantly she was captured like a fish on a hook. She didn't know why but she felt captured and drawn to this animal like none other, and in a way it was as though she and the animal were connected. She had never felt drawn to any animal besides Crookshanks, but her friend and loyal companion died just not but a month ago from a stroke and was gone forever.

She wondered if she dared get up and see how much the beautiful creature was when a hand touched her shoulder. Jumping at the touch she immediately reached for her wand in her front pocket before her eyes adjusted to who she was looking at and saw...

"Harry!"

Jumping straight out of her seat, she stood up and hugged him, laughing when they broke apart.

"Hello Hermione." He said hugging her again.

"Harry it's so good to see you! How long have you been standing there?"

Smiling Harry sat down in the seat next to her that wasn't occupied by purchases and said, "It's good to see you too Hermione. I was wondering when I would get your attention! I have been standing here for five minutes trying to see if you would notice me. It might have been better to have just said something though with how you jumped and went for your wand."

Embarrassed she looked away and said, "I'm sorry Harry."

"Don't mention it. I've noticed I am doing the same thing."

Nodding they sat in silence for a moment both reflecting fleetingly the past year and a half before either said anything.

"I see you got your books." His voice was the first to break the silence.

"Yeah." She looked at the new books sitting on the table. An old part of her wished to just touch the covers and open them immediately, inhaling the smell of paper and ink and being lost in the wonder that she was actually learning about these subjects. But her heart was too heavy and the thought of reaching out to them made her feel tired.

Harry picked up the conversation, not noticing her change in mood, "It's mad to think we will be returning this year."

Nodding she remained silent; she didn't really know what to say. She knew she was excited about going back, but too she felt such an uneasiness and sinking feeling that it overtook her excitement. In a small way she didn't really want to return. To be honest she wanted to go back home to her parents, remain someplace familiar and safe, and forget about everything having to do with the wizarding world.

"I'm sorry Hermione."

Hermione's head spun to look at Harry, her brow furled wondering as to what he was sorry for when it hit her.

"Oh." She replied softly. Looking down at her lap she hadn't noticed how her hands had naturally clasped her thumbs fidgeting.

Feeling angry with herself again that she was starting to feel upset, she took a deep breath trying to recollect herself and replied in a soft tone, "It's not your fault Harry."

They sat there silently for a few minutes, and like she had before, they watched people walk by them, with the occasional few who recognized Harry and quaked at him. Both quite used to this type of behavior ignored it, and remained sitting there silent, making the curious onlookers walk on leaving them alone.

After five minutes had passed she heard him clear his throat and say softly, "I guess it's going to be hard when we see him next week on the train."

Looking down at the table she played with the centerpiece. Harry was one of her best friends, but at the moment, she wasn't sure if she wanted to talk about this especially in a somewhat public place.

Remembering about the school list and she cleared her throat, hoping he wouldn't mind her changing the subject, asking, "So what do you think Professor-I mean-Headmistress McGonagall intends for us getting dress robes again? I mean, we've already had the Yule Ball with the Triwizard Tournament. What else is there?"

"I don't know. I heard from Tom that there is going to be a dance of some sort for the entire school. Mostly for us returning seventh years, saying goodbye I guess."

Nodding with what he said, the whole thing made more sense when it was put that way, "Are you staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"No, I had stopped by there to eat earlier and Tom had stopped me and talked for awhile."

Nodding she knew all too well how much Tom loved talking to his patrons, especially to Harry. But as they sat there quietly again, she needed to make some type of conversation, "Are you still staying at the Grinwald place?"

"Yeah. Been there for about a month and a half now by myself. Well," he paused and looking over at her added, "besides Kreacher."

Smiling she remembered when they had stayed at the Grinwald house and Kreacher mumbling about them. "I'm sure he has been great company."

He laughed, "Oh yeah." Shaking his head he looked back out towards the street where some kids where playing and said, "It's getting to be a bit much though. Apparently the cover has disappeared on Mrs. Blacks portrait last week and of course Kreacher knows nothing about it. So this today feels like a holiday."

She giggled, "From escaping Mrs. Black?"

Smiling sheepishly he asked looking around, "Was that too obvious?"

Laughing loudly to where people were looking at them, they chuckled over their 'fond' memories of Mrs. Black, and before she knew it, they were talking and laughing when an hour had passed and they were beginning to feel hungry that they decided to go back to the Leaky Cauldron. It wasn't until a squawk from across the street made her look that up that she remembered about the cat.

Her eyes were quick to find those of the cats, and as their stares met she couldn't help but to feel once again captivated by its eyes. Looking back at Harry who was looking at the broom shop across the street she looked back at the cat and silently promised it, 'I will come to get you.'

He watched as she left with him and they headed towards the Leaky Cauldron together. His heart hammered and his mind followed her when his eyes could no longer do so. It was when the cat next to him purred that he smiled and stroking it fondly.

'She seems nice.' A purring voice called out.

Looking out he could almost see them still sitting there at the table in front of Flourish and Bolts.

He responded to the purring voice, 'Be good to her.'

He received a deep purr in return before he apparated away, leaving the cat alone. Suddenly the store owner appeared, oblivious to whatever happened, as he walked by to feed the cat. The man was met with a hiss and a scratch on his hand, on top of the twenty he had accumulated from the past two days with the animal.

"Silly animal." The pet store owner remarked going back to his business.