[D/C: I own nothing except the plot and the new characters. Although, I wish I owned the whole series. J.K. is an excellent writer, I hope I could have at least a tenth of that talent.]
[A/N: This is my first fanfic, so be nice when reviewing, but I do accept any constructive criticism. So…I hope you enjoy my first attempt at fanfic.]
Chapter 1- New Beginnings
Hermione Granger woke to see sun streaming through her window. Today she would be leaving once more for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and begin her sixth year. Although she would miss her home and her parents, she was eager to see Harry and Ron again. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had been her best friends since their first year at Hogwarts. They had gotten together only once over the summer. They had planned on doing more together, except whenever Ron wasn't busy Hermione was and vice versa.
Nevertheless, they frequently wrote each other, and a few times Uncle Vernon allowed Harry to call her. During their conversations, each time she mentioned the previous year or the Ministry, Harry quickly changed the subject, even when she was updating him on how Mr. Weasley's job was going. Ever since Sirius's death, the conversation around Harry was carefully thought out. Neither Hermione nor Ron wanted to push Harry into talking about it. They knew he blamed himself and constantly told him otherwise, but he would not believe them.
Hermione didn't know how Harry would react to the new school year. Would he act as though it were just another year? Or would he isolate himself and not let anyone speak to him about what had happened?
Harry had been through so much in the sixteen years of his life. Losing his parents to the darkest wizard of all when he was still an infant and watching one of his friends being murdered by that same wizard. No one wanted to believe him that Voldemort had murdered Cedric Diggory; they didn't want to accept the fact that He was back and more powerful than before. Now Harry had to deal with the death of another person he loved, who died because of Voldemort. Ron and Hermione had been with him this time, although they could not help him. Ron had a spell cast on him where he thought everything funny and could not think reasonably. Hermione couldn't even remember what had happened all that clearly. All that was clear to her was a purple flame shooting out from a Death Eater's wand and everything going black. She hadn't even been conscious when Sirius had died.
A shiver shook Hermione's body, as she couldn't stop herself from thinking that Harry could have also died that night. They all could have died.
She shook her head, trying to rid her thoughts of Voldemort and his followers. This was a new year. Things would be different.
Hermione left her home hoping it was true.
----
Bloody hell! Where is Hermione? It's almost eleven o'clock!
Ron paced back and forth on Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross waiting for Hermione to arrive. "Where is she? She's never late! She's going to miss the train!"
Harry looked at his friend's lanky figure, fiery red hair covering his face whenever he turned and freckles becoming more visible through the exertion Ron was putting his body through.
"Hermione won't miss the train. Maybe they ran into heavy traffic," Harry suggested, trying to calm Ron the best he could.
Worrying even more about where Hermione was, Ron looked around himself. A thin girl was walking toward them dressed in Muggle clothing. She stopped and took a second look. A smile spread across her face, and she ran towards them. She wrapped her arms around Harry in a big embrace.
Ron looked at the girl hugging Harry. It took him a moment to realize that it was Hermione. Her bushy brown hair had become more controlled and she had grown in height as they all had. Her subtle curves were now filling out to that of any sixteen-year-old girl. Ron couldn't help thinking how attractive she looked in her Muggle clothing.
Hermione let go of Harry and moved to hug Ron when he held out his hand. She took it with a questioning look on her face. They were best friends after all, but he waited for the handshake.
"Nice to see you, Hermione." Ron said.
Ron noticed that Harry was looking at them peculiarly, especially him.
----
He has spoken so much about Hermione and how much he had missed her, and all he can offer is a handshake. Harry thought. Ron was acting very strange. That morning he had even tried to make himself presentable by putting a comb through his hair. He usually didn't care about his appearance. Maybe it was because of a certain Muggle-born that they hadn't seen since the beginning of summer break. That's ridiculous, Harry told himself at the thought. We haven't really talked to her all summer, maybe it'll just take a little time to get used to each other again.
A horn kept Harry from thinking any further about Ron's strange actions, and the three friends hurried onto the train.
----
The trolley had passed by their compartment, leaving plenty of goodies behind. Ron and Hermione had taken some into the next compartment where Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood were sitting along with a few first years. Harry was left by himself, alone with the thoughts that still haunted him daily. It was because him that five of his friends were sent to the hospital wing upon arriving back at Hogwarts from the Ministry; he was the reason that his godfather was now dead.
Trapped in thoughts of death and loss, Harry didn't notice the noise of heavy footsteps moving closer to his compartment.
"POTTER!" Someone screamed his name.
Harry looked up to see Draco Malfoy holding his wand tightly in his hand. His friends Crabbe and Goyle were behind him looking as clumsy as usual.
"Stand and fight, Potter!" Malfoy spat out.
Harry could feel anger creeping into his veins. Why did Malfoy have to come and pester him the first open moment he had?
Deciding to make Malfoy and angry as he had made him he said, "You really think you can beat me? I am the 'Boy Who Lived' after all." Harry quoted all the newspaper articles he had read about himself.
"You should be dead! No one has ever defeated the Dark Lord! No one except YOU!" Malfoy screamed.
"Voldemort should have been dead long ago, but it was because of people like your father who kept him strong. All his supporters should be rotting in Azkaban."
"How dare you speak of the Dark Lord like that! How dare you even speak his name!" Malfoy said, coming toward Harry with his wand out and ready. "I should kill you right now and do every one a favor." Malfoy walked up to Harry, close enough that their noses were barely touching. "Plus, you put my father in prison! I'd be helping myself out if you were gone." He whispered harshly.
"Back off Malfoy," Harry said.
"Harry!"
He and Malfoy turned toward the opening of the compartment to see Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Luna standing there
"I'll get you next time, Potter." Malfoy said, retreating to his compartment.
They watched Malfoy sulk down the corridor. A strong urge to strangle him ran through them, but they wouldn't have to since Hermione looked like she wanted to kill him. Her knuckles were turning white from clutching her wand so tightly. She was trying so hard to regain control. Seeing her like this was rare, but Harry and Ron still remembered when she had lost control of her feelings during their third year. She had gotten so mad at Malfoy that she had actually hit him. Now she looked like she would have done it again if she had the chance. Luckily for Malfoy, Hermione had been surrounded by Ginny and Luna and never had an open swing.
"What's going on?" They heard behind Ron. Neville Longbottom was standing directly behind them.
"Nothing, Neville. Just a little visit from Malfoy." Ron replied.
"Ooh! I can't stand him!" Hermione said, letting all her feelings rush out of her like a fright train. "He's been making our lives miserable since our first year. Why can't he just go to Azkaban with his father?"
"Because he deserves far worse." Harry said. "Besides, he doesn't have a soul; the dementors would have no effect on him."
The group laughed at Harry's sarcastic humor, but inside they all shuddered in fear. They all remembered what Hogwarts had been like with the dementors lurking here and there. The worst was when they had appeared at a Quidditch match. They had had such an effect on Harry that he fell fifty feet from his broomstick. The fall could have killed him, except Dumbledore had been at the match and slowed his fast descent.
"Harry, you know that Malfoy'll have it in for you now." Ron cautioned. His best friend had nearly been killed at least five times during his five years at Hogwarts; he didn't want Malfoy to be the next to attempt it.
"Dumbledore already has every keeping a close watch on me now that Voldemort is stronger than ever." Harry watched everyone cringe as he said His name. "He won't have a chance to do anything, you should know that."
"Malfoy's whole family is full of Dark Magic; he'll find a way to get to you, even if he has to follow you into the lavat'ry." Neville murmured.
"Neville's right, you know?" Ron commented.
"Not if he has all of us watching over him. Right, Harry?" Hermione said.
"I already have all the teachers watching over me. I don't need you to guard me too." Harry said.
"But, Harry," Hermione said in a panicky voice. "Voldemort wants you dead, and now Malfoy does too. The teachers won't be able to protect you all the time. Just let one of us be with you at all times. Please Harry," Hermione pleaded, tears starting to form in her big brown eyes.
"Fine," Harry gave in.
"You won't be sorry," Hermione said, hugging him.
I hope not, Harry thought.
Around them the sun was setting, and candles in various places were lighting the train. Soon enough they would be at Hogwarts and their sixth year would begin. Harry was waiting for something to go wrong, but the train sped along as smoothly as before.
"Harry," Hermione said, taking his attention back inside the train. "You'd better change into your robes. We'll be arriving soon."
As always, Hermione was right. Not just a few moments before had he thought of how close they were getting to the school.
Harry changed into his robes, just as Hermione had suggested and not soon after was the train slowly to a halt. They had reached Hogwarts; home.
[Well, that's it for now. Thanks y'all for reading it. I sure hope you like it. Well…You know what to do now…read and review. Caty Jean]
