In due course Hermione went off to Hogwarts, the two friends vowing to keep in contact via Hermione's owl that she got on her trip to Diagon Ally when went to get her school supplies. Seth had gone with her and had a marvellous time looking at all the strange sights and sounds with Hermione. He couldn't wait till he went as well.

Dear Seth,

Well I'm here at Hogwarts finally, a five hour train ride can you imagine it, I would have thought magic could speed it up a bit. Its the most beautiful castle you have ever seen, like something out off a Disney movie only a thousand times better. The other kids are ok, some nice some horrible. I met this boy on the train who was really nasty, remember Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, well he started this year, and him and a couple of his henchmen were really nasty to me on the train, kicking me out of the compartment I was in because they wanted it for themselves. He seems like a complete prat actually, like a male Paris Hilton. After that I met some others who were ok, one boy Neville was quite nice in a quiet sort of way, but I am really missing having you around. I was sorted into Ravenclaw (yes I know you aren't surprised) all you do is wear an old hat and it talks to you, I really dont know why I got so worked up. The hat offered me Gryffindor as well, but that Harry Potter boy went into Gryffindor (he insisted in being sorted first, it took forever and it looked like the hat was arguing with him because it said "fine Gryffindor then!" in a cross tone. There was no way I wanted to be in the same house as him. Well I better go and find my classes, I've told Hedwig to wait long enough to get a return letter, so write me ok?

Love

Hermione

--

Dear Hermy,

I'm sorry you seem to be having mixed experiences there, but don't worry only one year and then I'll be there to back you up. Hogwarts wont know what hit them when the two of us get together again. I must say having a male Paris Hilton in the school doesn't sound like much fun, she seems horrible on tv so I can't imagine what it must be like having something similar in person.

Things have been really quite without you here, so I have mainly been catching up on my tv and reading. Oh yeah, Sister Alice took me and some of the older kids to see the new Star Wars movie the other day, seriously cool! I think I wanna be a Jedi when I grow up, hey I wonder if magic can work like that. Do you think I could get a real lightsaber through magic?

Luv

Seth

--

Dear Seth,

It's horrible I don't know who else to talk to, I can't tell my folks or they'll stop me from coming to Hogwarts, and mostly I love it here. I was nearly killed by a troll the other day. And before you start freaking I am fine, just a few small cut from the bits of broken porcelain. Mmm maybe I should start at the beginning, Potter and some of his friends said some really nasty things to me, and I went and sat in the bathroom crying and trying to pull myself together. Just as I was about to go back to the Great Hall for dinner this massive troll wander's in and starts smashing everything in sight trying to squash me. I've never been so terrified in my life. Fortunately Neville Longbottom had noticed I was missing and told Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick and they arrived just in time to save me. He's been a really good friend to me this year, the other Gryffindor tease him allot because he is quiet and doesn't get good marks in most subjects, but he's really kind to people, me especially, and knows almost everything about plants. We usually study together in the library in the evenings, I think I would have gone mad with out him here to talk to. Well I've got go I'll see you at Christmass.

Love

Hermy (Yes I have finally given up you not using that unauthorised nickname - even Neville is using it now after seeing one of your letters!)

--

Dear Mr Longbottom,

I would just like to thank you for being there for my friend Hermione and looking out for her. I feel deeply relieved that she has someone at Hogwarts like you, who will support her with their friendship. Although we have yet to meet I feel like I already know you through Hermione's letters, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for being instrumental in saving her life on Halloween. I consider myself in your debt.

Sincerely

Seth Darkmayne.

--

Dear Mr Darkmayne,

No thanks are necessary because Hermione has likewise been a good friend to me. I would never hesitate help her. I look forward to introducing myself properly next year when you come to Hogwarts.

Sincerely

Neville Longbottom

--

Seth was pacing the entryway anxiously awaiting the arrival of Hermione, it had been ages since he had last seen her in the flesh, and he had really missed his friend. And he now had a rather lot to tell her, things he couldn't put in his letters, too risky, after all they had no assurance that Wizarding mail wasn't monitored. Lost in his thoughts he nearly didn't hear the approach of his bushy haired friend.

"Seth!!" Hermione cried as she enveloped him in a massive hug, made more constrictive than usual due to her large winter parker.

"Hermy! I'm so glad to see you, I have heaps to tell you."

"What? I mean it's only been a week since your last letter after all." she said looking puzzled.

"Well there been some stuff happening that I didn't want to put in a letter, come on lets go out to the playground, I'll tell you there."

"Seth, It's freezing outside, you know the white stuff, snow? Can't you tell me in here?"

"Nah, besides, I'll need some room to demonstrate some things, and there'll be no-one out there now so we'll have complete privacy."

Intrigued despite herself, Hermione acquiesced and followed Seth out into the cold, round the back of the Orphanage to the playground at the back of the property. She was grumbling the whole way that it had better be worth freezing to death over, as it wasn't like she was allowed to do warming charms now she was back home.

Seth grinned when they arrived.

"So what so important we have to freeze so you can tell me."

"Maybe I should show you, instead," he replied with a smirk holding his left arm across his chest like a Roman salute he said "SHIELD!"

Instantly Seth was encased in a glowing golden sheath of energy, Hermione's jaw dropping open wide in surprise.

"What.. How.. That's impossible!, most third year's can't even do the shield spell! And yours, it looks so strong, most of theirs are barely even visible. Hang on! You didn't even say the spell, and you don't have a wand! Seth... How... How did you do that?"

"I had a dream about two month ago, and several more since then. In the first dream a boy who looked just like me appeared and said he was me from my future, and that in the future I had sent some of my memories back to the me now so I could learn some stuff about who and what I am, stuff no-one else could teach me. He said he came back, because in his memories that is how he learned, he kind of went on a bit about time being circular or something, and how this didn't contract the paradox of something rule, anyway I kind of tuned out for a bit till he got to the interesting stuff." Hermione was standing there like someone just paralysed by the gaze of a Sphinx, eye's wide, mouth open, he had never seen her look so amazed.

"Anyway he, or me I guess, went on to say I am something called a Rune Mage, I can do normal magic just like a regular Wizard, but I can also do Rune Magic which is less versatile but more powerful. Rune magic works through having magical runes tattooed onto your body, and they act as a focus for the magic within us much like a wand does. You wouldn't believe how bad his first explanation was, talk about overcomplicated." Seth rolled his eyes. "Now unlike magic, you don't just go and learn a new spell and away you go, you have to grow into the rune magic. When you are magically ready for the next level of ability the Runes relevant to that level of power will magically appear on your body in the appropriate places. I have six runes at the moment, the heart and mind glyphs, which form the basic connection to my magic, without them it doesn't work. I also have shield as you just saw, mage missile, stealth, and mage sight. As I get older and more powerful I will get more and more."

"Wow! So what do they do?, the other glyphs?"

"Well Mage sight gives me the ability to see magic, and analyse what I am looking at, from what he said I'll be able to tell what spells are directed at me by their colour and shape in time, as well as being able to see though most magical disguises and wards, should be dead useful at Hogwarts from what you have said, not much use around here though the only magic I have been able to look at is my Mum's locket which has a low level protection charm on it, and your owl, which has some funky colours in it, but I'm not sure what they mean."

"As for stealth..." Seth faded from view till only the faintest outline was visible on the surrounding playground. He then faded back into view with a smirk.

"He say's as I get stronger and practice more I'll get batter at it and eventually I'll even more invisible than if I was using an invisibility cloak. I've already used this quite a bit to sneak into the kitchen to get ice cream, but I think Sister Alice is starting to suspect me, she knows I'm the only magical kid here after all."

Hermione laughed at that, "Yes I am sure she be watching you like a hawk, nothing get's past her. So what about the Mage Missile?"

"Well..." Seth quickly looked around to make sure no-one was watching, and then took aim, with his right palm pointed at a large snowman on the other side of the playground. Without a sound or any warning a ball of while light about the size of a grapefruit formed in front of his hand in in an instant blasted towards the snow man. With a muffled crrrummp! The snowman exploded into a shower of melted snow and chunks of ice. Hermione turned to Seth aghast.

"Seth! That!... that's!... r..r..really d..dangerous you could really hurt someone with that!"

"Don't worry Hermy, that was my current maximum burst, I can also do much more gentle one that wouldn't do anything more than stun a person." and so saying he summoned another one about the size of a golf ball, and sent speeding to the bedraggled remains of the snowman. This one just seemed to give a small sizzle of sparks on contact and that was it, no crump.

"I see, well it's still dangerous, so don't go practicing on people." she said looking a little more relived after his demonstration of control.

"Of course I wont, Hermy, since when have I ever been one to hurt people by choice?" asked Seth a little insulted.

"Sorry Seth I know you wouldn't, you just surprised me that's all. So can we go inside now I'm freezing!"