Stepping off of the Hogwarts Express, I glanced about the waiting area where I watched Hogwarts students of all ages bid farewell to their friends and greeted their families. I nodded to a few of my fellow sixth years and rushed into the muggle platform, leaving behind a saddened Harry and Ginny and fuming Ron. I rushed to find a train that headed to my town, stowed my trunk, and cried I started moving away from King's Cross Railway. Breaking up with Ron was one of the hardest things I had to do, even if it's what I had wanted. We had finally begun dating over the Christmas holidays but the whole spring term ended up being miserable for me. I had realized that I did not love Ron the way I thought I had but tried to make the best of it. The best of it resulted in lots of fighting among the two of us and it was on the Hogwarts Express where everything had fallen apart. Ron had wanted me to come to the Burrow for most of the summer holidays and physically advance our relationship and when I declined, a row had started. It ended with me with shouting (with the whole train probably hearing) "Why would I sleep with a buffoon like you? I'm not yours to will, Ronald, and I never want to be. It's not worth my energy to pretend to try to love you anymore. If you want someone to feel up, go back to Lavender." Ron's face had darkened to a shade of rotten tomato, but Harry and Ginny, sadly looking at the two of us, pulled him back while I stormed out of the train…
The memory flooded back as I passed back onto Platform 9 and ¾. I heard the whispers immediately start as I calmly walked through the station and boarded the Heads Quarters on the train. It was no surprise that I, Hermione Granger, was Head Girl this year. What was surprising was that I was not wearing my standard Gryffindor uniform. Instead, I wore a nice form-fitting Ravenclaw uniform.
It was a stroke of good luck to me that Headmaster Dumbledore had written to all of the Hogwarts saying that our years' sorting was rigged by a copy of the Sorting Hat and that all seventh years would need to be resorted to ensure they were in the proper house. When I was visited by Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, I was informed that four of my fellow future-seventh years were already resorted into different houses. The Sorting Hat barely graced the top of my head when it shouted "RAVENCLAW." I was disheartened to see McGonagall upset of losing me as her house pupil but elated at my chance to change my life. It would allow me to be with people who could hold intellectually stimulating conversations, and have a new reputation that did not attach me to the Golden Trio. Ron had sent me letters 2 to 3 times a day; some begging for me back, others wishing me to sink to the bottom of Black Lake. Ginny couldn't understand why I wasn't in love with Ron and insisted that I should try to date him again. Harry was the only one with a logical mind. He understood that you couldn't pretend to love someone if you didn't and used his time at the Burrow to convince Ron and Ginny of that.
Entering a new house made me look at myself externally. My bushy curly chestnut hair, medium complexion, and hazel eyes matched my relatively plain body. A small bust, and wide hips were not the most desirable figure but I was determined to start my most important year at Hogwarts feeling and looking my best. That's when I took up running. By the time I went to Diagon Alley to do my back to school shopping, I was nice and toned, and to show it off, I bought robes to fit my figure better. I felt better about my appearance and was determined to keep this good mood throughout the train ride. The compartment door opened up and in stepped the sensual blond, Draco Malfoy, and his equally charming Mediterranean best friend, Blaise Zabini. Blaise stopped short and spoke to Draco,
"Well, well, well- looks like you've got the Gryffindor Princess-"
"I'd change that Ravenclaw if I were you." Hermione interrupted, flashing her new uniform. Draco took one look and said with a smirk, "Ravenclaw, huh? I guess that changes a lot of things."
The rest of the train ride passed without much chatter; Hermione reading a book (the most current History of Magic) on one side and Draco and Blaise talking in hushed tones on the other. Hermione kept rewinding Draco's statement, replaying his face expression and that look of fire in his eyes. He was right- it was going to change a lot of things.