Chapter One: A New Year, A New Start
Hermione couldn't stop laughing; she was almost choking on her watermelon bean from Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans box. She couldn't help but chuckle with delight as she saw Harry and Ron's facial expression of absolute disgust, obviously picking one of the various disgusting flavours from the box.
Hermione was so happy; she was at her final year at Hogwarts and felt as though as if she couldn't wait to leave. Yes, she loved school and she was going to miss the old place, it was like a second home to her, to all of them for that matter, but still all the amount of pressure they had from the worries about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would hopefully soon be over. What Hermione learnt from all of this is enjoy everything while you can no matter what is happening.
"Hermione!"
Hermione jolted from her seat, realising that she went off into a daze, looking outside of the window. She was beginning to feel slightly ill from all of the beans she has been eating and the fact that she was constricted of fresh air didn't helped either.
"Are you alright, Mione?" Asked Ron. She looked over to see Harry and Ron with concerned expressions on their faces.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just-" She breathed deeply before continuing "I just feel a bit sick"
"Do you want me to open the window?" Ron suggested. Ron was showing clear signs of absolute concern, but no in a brotherly way. He has been making up more excuses to touch her in some way or another, like at the platform at Hogsmeade Station where as soon as he saw her he rushed to hug her, unlike what he usually did in the past, where he would awkwardly say hi to her and ask her how her summer was, when really he wasn't listening. But this time, he seemed more attentive and interested about every emotion she felt and every word than came out of her mouth. It was clear to Hermione that Ron was in love... with her. Hermione felt even more sick thinking about it. I know it sounds mean, but she felt her relationship with Ron was more brother and sister, not boyfriend and girlfriend.
"Its fine, Ronald. Thank you, I just need to go outside. I think there is a little opening at the back of the train" She smiled. "Isn't that where the entire luggage is? You won't be able to get through properly" Harry pointed out.
"I'll be fine; I'll probably be back before the train stops anyway. Don't eat my Chocolate Frog!" Hermione grinned. Harry smiled back; whilst Ron blushed so much he went pink.
Hermione then went on her journey to the back of the train. As she past the cabins, she absorbed all she saw because this would be the last journey to Hogwarts for the first time after the summer. She looked around and smiled at the First Years running around in excitement to go to Hogwarts for the first time, remembering that she was the same and met her two best friends for the first time. How she was going to miss it all. She eventually got to the back of the train, as she entered through the door; she was surrounded, by luggage and animals in cages everywhere. She sighed, for once Harry was right; it was going to be hard. Then her eyes widened, and she smiled humbly remembering back to her First Year where she remembered her spell she used and done way better than Ron. Hermione swished and flicked her wand as she said.
"Wingardium Leviosa"
Pieces of luggage both large and small fly in the air above her head as she walked to the back of the cabin to the door to a little opening. She carefully guided her wand to make the flying luggage touch the ground softly so that she couldn't scare the animals.
Hermione went through the door, and became filled with delight as she breathed in fresh country air. She leant on the railing as she observed the beautiful country side around the train tracks. The mountains of lush green grass, made a sort of valley between the tracks, the light from the sunshine shone through into the valley. She looked across to her right to find an adorable family of deer, walking along and sometimes eating the grass. There were two fawns, playing together as their mother walked alongside their father, who seemed the most powerful deer Hermione has ever saw due to his large white antlers and large muscles. She giggled softly, and felt calm, as though it was for the first time.
"Oh" A voice came from the back of Hermione. She turned round, and her feelings of relaxation had sucked out of her body and turned into utter annoyance. Draco Malfoy stood before Hermione; his almost white, blond hair was sort of a messy, yet neat, side parting. He was wearing a more casual outfit than what he usually wears, his muscular pecks was obviously shown through his tight black V-neck t-shirt, he wore a grey hooded jacket and a pair of skinny jeans, also wearing a pair of white high tops. Hermione almost didn't recognise him.
"I didn't know anyone would know about this place" Malfoy stammered. It was strange he seemed almost nervous, or upset, Hermione noticed but she wasn't going to fall for it, any second she knew he was going to say something offensive either about her or her friends.
"Well, I'm sorry. I must be such an insult to your presence" Hermione sassed "I'll go then" Hermione strutted towards the door, before Malfoy smoothly stopped her with his arm against the door frame.
"No, I didn't mean that" Malfoy almost seemed apologetic. Hermione was close to his face now, she looked into his eyes and saw that it was no trick, he was actually being nice. They made eye-contact for quite a long time, both their hearts started to quicken a little. They broke eye-contact when Malfoy looked to his feet and exhaled deeply. He replaced his arm back to his side, and then walked over to the railing whilst saying
"Or just go, I'd understand I'm a monster". Malfoy leant on the railing resting both his elbows on it; he then bowed his head and put his hands on the back of his head. Hermione was in utter shock, this was a completely different Malfoy she saw before her eyes, this wasn't the one she loathed and hated deeply. Hermione's hand abruptly was on the door handle, but stopped before turning it. She looked behind her and saw that this may be her only chance where she can be nice to him and he would hopefully return the favour.
Hermione turned around and walked towards the railings, also leaning against it resting her arms next to Malfoy.
"What's wrong, Malfoy?" she asked. He looked up ahead of him before turning his head to look at Hermione
"I'm... an idiot, I'm a fool. A ridiculous, idiotic fool"
"Well, I could have told you that" Hermione smiled
"I think you have" He smirked "Probably more than one occasion".
They both chuckled briefly. Malfoy turned and leaned his back against the railing crossing his arms.
"Why are you such a fool then, Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"Because of all the time I've wasted... Seven Years of being embarrassed because of me acting like a complete an utter ass. I don't think I've ever said anything nice about anyone besides myself, or you. Which I regret"
Hermione was just being hit with one surprise after another, was Draco having an epiphany and trying to turn over a new leaf?
"Why would you regret not saying anything nice about me?"
"Because you're a nice girl, smart one too. Probably would have helped me with Astronomy- which I'm still struggling on" Nope, he wasn't having an epiphany- he just needed a tutor, how 'shocking'. Hermione leant her back on the railing as she said
"Oh, I see now. You're being all nice and sweet to me now, just so you can have a tutor" She sarcastically responded.
"No, I was actually being nice, but now come to think of it that isn't a bad idea either" Malfoy smirked. She playfully punched him lightly on his arm, while he nudged her back. Hermione looked up at Draco's face, he also looked across and both smiled at each other.
"I like this side of you, Draco" Hermione grinned.
"Draco, now is it? I think you're starting to warm up to me, Granger"
"Well it would be even better, if you actually called me by my first name"
"Oh, but Granger suits you so well" Hermione frowned but still couldn't help but smile. "But Hermione makes you sound even prettier than you are"
Hermione blushed bashfully.
"So Gra- Hermione, will you?"
"Will I what, Draco?"
"Tutor me?" Draco smiled.
"I'll think about it, Draco… I've got to get back to Harry and Ron; they'll think I fell off the train" Hermione walked towards the door
"Wait"
Hermione turned, Draco walked up to her closely. He leant down and kissed her on the cheek. Hermione's jaw slammed down. She looked up at Draco, who started smile a little. "What-what was that for?" Hermione stuttered.
"It's a thank you, for being so nice to me. As well as a sorry, for putting up with me for all these years" Hermione smiled and then left the carriage, back to her cabin where Ron and Harry were.
As she went back, she couldn't stop smiling. Hermione looked behind her to see Draco quite far behind her, smiling at her. He then went into one of the cabins, where it seemed there was no one else in there. He must be separating himself from his usual crowd.
Well it is a new year, why not have a new start.
