Nobody Knows My Heart Like You

Chapter 1

The ground in the village of Hogsmeade was covered in a fresh sheet of white snow. Most people were snuggled up warm in their homes, drinking hot chocolate with little marshmallows and sitting by their hearths telling stories of warmer days. This was not the case for Jace Stones, who trudged through the white powdery marsh against the bitter wind. He had just gotten into Britain an hour ago (about three hours ahead of schedule, which pleased Jace greatly) and had been told to go directly to a small tavern called The Three Broomsticks where he was to get a room. At 8:00, he would meet with a man named Kingsley Shacklebolt. Unfortunately, he was unable to come on a nicer day, and so instead of freezing himself to death by flying there via broomstick, he walked.

When he arrived at the rustic tavern, he looked inside the window. The place was absolutely packed with people. In fact, there seemed to be only one seat open beside a girl who appeared to be his age. He walked in anyway; he would at least go and get his room. It wasn't like he would be sitting here for too long after all... right?

Wrong.

When he asked Madame Rosmerta about a room, she said the next room available was being cleaned and would take about two hours. This inconvenience scored him a free drink and a request to "find somewhere to sit down and I'll come tell you when your room is ready." And so, Jace Stones walked over to the only open booth in the house where a girl with frizzy hair and bright intelligent eyes sat alone. "Pardon me, ma'am," he asked, his deep voice quiet and slightly shy. He waited until she looked up and made eye contact with his deep blue eyes. "I hate to bother you, but I just came for a room and they're a bit backed up right now. Would you mind terribly if I joined you for a moment?"

It had been a long day of studying for Hermione, cooped up inside to hide from the bitter winds and the icy blanket covering the ground. Though the sun shone faintly, it offered little to no heat and seemed to just taunt those who desired to go outside and breathe the fresh air.

Hermione Granger didn't usually dislike the winter weather but today she wasn't particularly fond of it. Perhaps that was simply due to a redheaded Gryffindor, or perhaps it really was the weather. Either way, the curly haired witch had arrived to the Three Broomsticks in a rather unpleasant mood. This had changed once she had got a mug of steaming butterbeer and a book so good she had lost herself in it within minutes of reading. By the time the small shop was overrun with people Hermione was quite content and about half way through her novel. She intended to complete it before the day was out and the obnoxious, cold sun sunk over the hill.

Her plans were derailed when a boy who looked to be about her age came by, pulling her eyes from the page to look up. The face was unfamiliar, which at the beginning of the year wouldn't have been unexpected, but they were already a couple months in and almost every student at Hogwarts was, at least, recognizable. He looked almost nervous upon approaching her. A smile came to carve her eyes and grace her lips as he spoke.

"Of course, please do," she responded, gesturing with a nod toward the seat across from her. "I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger." She introduced herself as if her name was familiar and he would know it. "I don't believe I've seen you around before."

Jace smiled gratefully and sat at the table across from her, setting his drink down opposite hers.

"Thank you, I really appreciate it," he said with a shy smile. "And it makes sense that you haven't really seen me before; I just moved up around here. My name is Jace. I'm transferring to Hogwarts starting Monday.." The more that he talked, the more it became apparent to Hermione that his voice was thick with an American accent -- not a Deep Southern or Bostonian one, but certainly just as obvious. He appeared to be the same age as her, though he was actually seventeen years old and and wouldn't be eighteen until exactly four months and two weeks later on February twenty-eighth.