Closing Time
Chapter One- 'One last glance'
"I can't believe this is the last year that we'll be coming back here," Harry said sorrowfully to Ron and Hermione while looking around.
Hermione did the same taking in every aspect of their surroundings. The bright red steam engine that was the Hogwarts express started to billow its loud horn, calling them back for one last year. Hermione squinted through the heavy steam issuing from the train.
"I know what you mean mate, it always just seemed like we'd be here forever. You know, in the safety of school and all" Ron said, standing in between the two and giving Harry a quick pat on the back. Ron turned his head toward Hermione, glancing down at her shiny 'head girl' badge pinned to her robes.
Hermione wasn't sure who was head boy, but she could only guess. When the head boy badge hadn't arrived to Ron, there was no doubt in Hermione's mind that she would be sharing a two person common room with one of the foulest people she knew. Harry had tried to tell her otherwise, but she was sure that her only roommate this year would be Draco Malfoy.
"We better get on then" Harry said looking down at the floor and heaving a sigh before stepping onto the train. Ron entered after him and sent a quick wave over to his parents who were just sending Ginny off.
Hermione clambered last and stood in the doorframe, gazing out onto the platform. It had always been a sign of comfort to her, knowing that she would always have this place to come back to. But now it was just depressing her as she forced a smile on and gave one last wave to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George (who had taken a break from their booming joke shop business to accompany them down here), Lupin, and Tonks (who's hair was a flipped out bright orange and eye's were a piercing blue).
"I've got to go boys, but do stay out of trouble won't you?" Hermione said to them once they had reached a free compartment.
"Don't worry Mione. Oh. and have fun with Malfoy" Ron added with a smile and a 'you know I'm joking' look. Hermione looked at Ron crossly as Harry just shrugged and he stuffed a chocolate frog into his mouth.
'At least they're back to normal' Hermione thought as she departed from the compartment. Hermione remembered the summer before their last' it had been horrid. Remus had disappeared (they ended up finding him a room in the Leaky cauldron about a month later), the order (which was being held at the Weasley's house now) was even busier then ever, Percy was trying to beg forgiveness (which they finally gave him), Serverus (who had been visiting more frequently) had been nasty to everyone then usual, and Harry... well he had just been about to kill himself. Harry had been getting continually thinner, sicker, and more to himself and no one could figure out why. Everyone knew he had been upset about Sirius, they all were, but he had been eating on a normal basis, they all saw him (he came to the Weasley's house after a couple weeks into summer). Ginny had finally figured out that he had been throwing up after almost every meal and would sneak out at night to wonder the street. If everyone hadn't been so relived to be able to help him now, Hermione was sure he would have gotten a 'how could you sneak out when Voldemort's on the loose' talks.
Hermione took a quick glance at the mirrors that hung on the big red oak doors at the end of the train that lead to the head students' compartment. She had to admit, she had finally grew into the figure of a real women. But she was still no beauty queen. He hair was more sleek, but with a good amount of bushiness still in it and her eyes were still that of a teenager not wanting to leave the comfort of home. She sighed as she pushed the doors open preparing herself for the worst.
"uugghh!" she heard a voice complain from inside the compartment. She looked up to see Malfoy with his hands in his face and shaking his head.
"Granger" he said bitterly when she sat next to him, as he started to gain some of his usual composure back.
"Look" Hermione started shooting Malfoy an icy look "this isn't exactly my cup of tea either"
"Oh, this isn't even half as bad for you." Malfoy muttered under his breath, snatching for his black book bag he had set by the side of his seat.
Hermione just gritted her teeth together. She just couldn't stand him. He was just about the only thing she wouldn't miss when she left Hogwarts. Hermione buried herself in a book called 'Bewitching the mind, understanding the dark arts of magical control' and didn't pull her face out the whole time, excluding her frequent walks around the train.
Chapter One- 'One last glance'
"I can't believe this is the last year that we'll be coming back here," Harry said sorrowfully to Ron and Hermione while looking around.
Hermione did the same taking in every aspect of their surroundings. The bright red steam engine that was the Hogwarts express started to billow its loud horn, calling them back for one last year. Hermione squinted through the heavy steam issuing from the train.
"I know what you mean mate, it always just seemed like we'd be here forever. You know, in the safety of school and all" Ron said, standing in between the two and giving Harry a quick pat on the back. Ron turned his head toward Hermione, glancing down at her shiny 'head girl' badge pinned to her robes.
Hermione wasn't sure who was head boy, but she could only guess. When the head boy badge hadn't arrived to Ron, there was no doubt in Hermione's mind that she would be sharing a two person common room with one of the foulest people she knew. Harry had tried to tell her otherwise, but she was sure that her only roommate this year would be Draco Malfoy.
"We better get on then" Harry said looking down at the floor and heaving a sigh before stepping onto the train. Ron entered after him and sent a quick wave over to his parents who were just sending Ginny off.
Hermione clambered last and stood in the doorframe, gazing out onto the platform. It had always been a sign of comfort to her, knowing that she would always have this place to come back to. But now it was just depressing her as she forced a smile on and gave one last wave to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George (who had taken a break from their booming joke shop business to accompany them down here), Lupin, and Tonks (who's hair was a flipped out bright orange and eye's were a piercing blue).
"I've got to go boys, but do stay out of trouble won't you?" Hermione said to them once they had reached a free compartment.
"Don't worry Mione. Oh. and have fun with Malfoy" Ron added with a smile and a 'you know I'm joking' look. Hermione looked at Ron crossly as Harry just shrugged and he stuffed a chocolate frog into his mouth.
'At least they're back to normal' Hermione thought as she departed from the compartment. Hermione remembered the summer before their last' it had been horrid. Remus had disappeared (they ended up finding him a room in the Leaky cauldron about a month later), the order (which was being held at the Weasley's house now) was even busier then ever, Percy was trying to beg forgiveness (which they finally gave him), Serverus (who had been visiting more frequently) had been nasty to everyone then usual, and Harry... well he had just been about to kill himself. Harry had been getting continually thinner, sicker, and more to himself and no one could figure out why. Everyone knew he had been upset about Sirius, they all were, but he had been eating on a normal basis, they all saw him (he came to the Weasley's house after a couple weeks into summer). Ginny had finally figured out that he had been throwing up after almost every meal and would sneak out at night to wonder the street. If everyone hadn't been so relived to be able to help him now, Hermione was sure he would have gotten a 'how could you sneak out when Voldemort's on the loose' talks.
Hermione took a quick glance at the mirrors that hung on the big red oak doors at the end of the train that lead to the head students' compartment. She had to admit, she had finally grew into the figure of a real women. But she was still no beauty queen. He hair was more sleek, but with a good amount of bushiness still in it and her eyes were still that of a teenager not wanting to leave the comfort of home. She sighed as she pushed the doors open preparing herself for the worst.
"uugghh!" she heard a voice complain from inside the compartment. She looked up to see Malfoy with his hands in his face and shaking his head.
"Granger" he said bitterly when she sat next to him, as he started to gain some of his usual composure back.
"Look" Hermione started shooting Malfoy an icy look "this isn't exactly my cup of tea either"
"Oh, this isn't even half as bad for you." Malfoy muttered under his breath, snatching for his black book bag he had set by the side of his seat.
Hermione just gritted her teeth together. She just couldn't stand him. He was just about the only thing she wouldn't miss when she left Hogwarts. Hermione buried herself in a book called 'Bewitching the mind, understanding the dark arts of magical control' and didn't pull her face out the whole time, excluding her frequent walks around the train.