INTRODUCTION

Before you push the 'next' button and start reading the story, you ought to read a brief introduction, which is divided in two parts. The first part is needed if you want to understand the story. The second is not necessary, but recommendable.

PART 1:

This story is sort of an AU to Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. As its name suggests, it happens entirely during four days in the month of January in 1998, but some parts of the story, of course, happens before then. The most important ones are explained through conversations or even flashbacks.

However, something is not explained, hence the necessity of this introduction: everything is just like in the books until Ron and Ginny's argument in Half-Blood Prince. That never happens in my story, and so Ron and Hermione got to go to Slughorn's Party together. From that point on, even though the 'background' of the story remains the same, what happens to the main characters changes, of course. By 'background', I mean Voldemort's plans, Draco's mission, Dumbledore's death, the fall of the Ministry and all that.

Another important thing, before you begin to read, is that, though this story is under the Ron/Hermione category, it doesn't start that way. In fact, some of you, as R/Hr shippers (like myself) might find the second chapter even disgusting. I just ask you to read the first three or four chapters before judging the story too badly. I can promise everything will make sense in the end. But this is a sad story, and it may not have a 'classical' happy ending. Of course, I won't tell you; that would ruin it completely. However, I can assure you that the ending is exactly the one the story needs.

The story is already finished, because I would never publish something if I'm not sure I can finish it. It has 26 chapters and an epilogue, and it's told from Hermione's POV except for two chapters (one of them, the first). I have to say that, even the first chapters are a bit short, they get longer towards the end. In fact, chapter 22 will be published in two parts due to its length.

As a last thing, just mention that I'm Spanish, and this is the first time I write a story in English. In fact, when the idea for this one struck me, last Christmas, I wasn't sure if I would be able to write it. In the end, I was, and it was entertaining and very instructing. Just forgive me if you find grammatical mistakes or words misused. I've read the story dozens of times and I think I did a pretty good job, but surely you'll find errors. I would love it if you point them out to me, that way I can learn and get better.

Ah, of course, this is written in British English, so please, don't tell me that 'realise', 'colour' and other words such as these are misspelled.

Now, if you want, you can press the 'next button', but I would appreciate if you read part 2 of this introduction.

PART 2:

As I told you, the idea of this story hit me during last Christmas. It took shape just in a few days, and even though it's not the typical story I would write, I had to, and I've been writing it ever since. Some parts were really tough to write, especially chapter 16, and, if you read the story, you'll understand why. But, in the end, I finished it. I also wrote a lot of notes and even some background to the story, stories of events that happened prior the main story. I might publish them someday, I don't know.

I love Ron and Hermione. I really do. And this story is about them. Truly, it's about a lot of things, but it's mainly about them. It gave me the opportunity to write and express my views on what Hermione thought during the Yule Ball, for example, or what she thought about the times she and Ron were not speaking. So have faith, because, despite the ending, that may or may not be what you expect, you'll love Hermione and Ron even more once the story is completed.

Apart from that, this story let me explore what would have happened had something changed in DH. What if Harry had never seen the symbol of the Deathly Hallows round Xenophilius Lovegood's neck? What if they had not carried with them Phineas Nigellus' portrait? How would have Snape found them to give them the sword?

If you decide to read the story, I recommend you to do it carefully. As in the HP books, little details are very, very important.

Now, about updates. There is nothing I hate more than an unfinished story. It is horribly frustrating, and that's why I didn't start publishing this until I had it finished and well revised, because another thing I hate are plot holes. I even find fitting that I finished it this weekend, just after seeing HP and DH2. I also hate when a story I like is updated once every two months, or things like that, because you end up forgetting things. Well, that won't happen here. I'll publish every few days. At the very least (and I mean if I am very busy or in holiday) once a week.

And to finish, just a reminder: I'm not English, so, be patient if I make mistakes or use words in the wrong context. And to all of you that are British, forgive me if I made mistakes with your traditions. I did a lot of research on customs, traditions, slang ... The things I got right are due to the people that helped me and the websites I visited; the mistakes are only my fault.

Enjoy the journey.