Chapter 1

They stood in the front yard in the rain as Draco sighed and looked back at Malfoy Manor once more. His school trunk was in his father's hand, and he held on to his mother's.

"Ready?" his father asked him.

"Ready." he replied.

CRACK!

WOOT – WOOT! They were on platform 9 ¾. 16 year old Draco was not allowed to apparate yet. Side – along apparition was much easier, not to mention faster, than having to run through the barrier back in the muggle train station. Draco took his trunk from his father and walked off to find a compartment. No goodbyes, no backward glances, he just left them. Lucius and Narcissa looked at each other, very worried. He had been like this all summer. He didn't talk to anyone unless they spoke to him first. He never left his room unless he wanted to eat, and he didn't even do that as often as he should have. He didn't practice quidditch anymore, but flew up to a tree and sat there in the middle of the night for hours, looking at the stars. His friends wrote, but he never wrote back. It almost seemed as if he didn't want to be back at Hogwarts this year. He assured his parents that he did. It was his last year and he wanted to have his one last year of fun. He assured his parents that he would be much happier at school, so they let him go back. They didn't know what it was but, as long as he was happy, it really didn't matter.

He found a compartment in the back of the train that already had Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle's things in it. He put his trunk in the overhead compartment and left the train to go find his friends.

~O~O~

Hermione stared out the window of her parents' car. They passed vast meadows full of brightly colored flowers and cows grazing. As they got closer and closer to London, it began to rain. She couldn't stop thinking about him, whoever he was, and what she had gotten from him just three days ago. A four foot long piece of parchment, rolled up into a tight scroll, was brought to her house by a very large, brown owl. She had spent a half an hour sitting on her bed, reading as her secret admirer poured his heart out to her. You'd never expect this from me was how it had started out. She had read and reread as she teared up at some of the more romantic bits. When she finally had finished, the closing line was: I have always loved you. More than you know. I don't know how else I can say it. I just wished that you loved me to. Your secret admirer. She wish she knew who had sent it. She watched the raindrops sliding gently down the window, as if they were tears sliding down someones face. She wondered if this boy had cried while writing his composition. Somehow, she thought so.

They arrived at Kings Cross Station at 10:30. Hermione got a trolley, loaded her trunk, backpack, and carrier that held Crookshanks, and wheeled it to platforms 9 and 10, her parents following behind. She turned to look at them, her eyes glistening. She always got like this before the start of term. She hated saying goodbye to her parents.

"Mum, Dad. I wish you could come with me. You've missed out on a lot the last six years. You've never even seen the Hogwarts Express. I wish, for one time, you could come with me."

"But we cant, sweetheart." her mother replied, sympathetically. "We're muggles. The barrier wont let us through. You know that."

"I know. But still." She paused for a moment, then said, "I'll miss you. I always do."

"We miss you too." Her father reached out and Hermione ran to him, hugging him tightly. "Stay safe this year."

"We love you."

Hermione threw her arms around her mother and gave them one last look before turning and walking confidently through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. A slight whoosh and she was on the other side, the scarlet Hogwarts Express welcoming her home.

~O~O~

"Blaise! Crabbe! Goyle! Over here!" Draco screamed as he spotted them through the crowd of wizards. He met up with them and gave them each a quick, awkward man hug before stepping back.

"Why the fuck weren't you writing over the summer?" Crabbe asked, sounding a little hurt.

Draco sighed. "I'm sorry guys. Its just been … well … its not the same as it is here."

"Well, obviously." Blaise said, rolling his eyes. "This is a school, that is a house."

Draco glared at him. "You know that's not what I mean."

"Are you ever going to tell us WHO she is?" Goyle asked, exasperatedly.

"Maybe..."

At one minute to eleven, the conductor blew his whistle "ALL ABOARD!"

The four boarded the train and leaned out the window, waving goodbye to all those still on the platform.

~O~O~

"Harry! Ginny! Ron!"

"Hey Hermione! How've you been?" Harry turned around and gave her a giant hug. "Do you want help with your trunk?"

"Erm, no thanks! I'm good. Just tell me what compartment you're in."

"3C." Ron answered.

"Okay thanks. I'll be right back." The whole time she was speaking, she was winking at Ginny. As she turned her back, she mouthed "Come follow me" and Ginny nodded.

"I'm going to go with her." she heard Ginny say to her brothers.

"But she said she didn't need help."

"I know, but still."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Go." Then he whispered to Harry "Its not worth fighting her."

Ginny ran off and caught up with Hermione, who hurriedly put her trunk in the overhead compartment and sat down to talk to Ginny.

"What?" Ginny asked. "Why did you need me."

"I have to tell you what happened to me over the summer." She pulled out the scroll and handed it to Ginny. "Read this. Not now, you dont have time now. Once we're on our way."

"Ginny nodded and they went back out to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasly.

At one minute to eleven, the conductor blew his whistle. "ALL ABOARD!"

The four boarded the train and leaned out the window, waving goodbye to those still on the platform.