[Disclaimer: I do not, and unfortunately never will, own any of the Harry Potter characters or the contents.

[A/N: This is my first fan fiction and I'm a bit apprehensive. I've got so many ideas but I find it difficult to write down. Please review and let me know what you think.

Chapter One: Aboard the Hogwarts Express

Hermione Granger walked through Kings cross station, her body filled with a mixture of emotions. Part of her was feeling excitement and anticipation to reach the grand castle and begin her final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Two weeks earlier as she was opening her usual letter reminding her that the school term starts on September 1st, a small golden badge with a red 'H' encrusted on the front fell out of the envelope into the palm of her hand. She had been made Head Girl.

She couldn't wait to get started on her duties and prove to Professor McGonagall that she had made a very good decision by making her head girl over the other candidates.

The other part of her was dreading returning, as one of her closest friends would not be returning for his final year. Hermione had spent all summer dwelling on how strange life was going to be not having him around. He would no longer be there to nag her about spending too much time in the library. He would no longer be there to comfort her when she was down. He would just not be there. There were so many things she was going to miss and it was definitely going to be a lot quieter this year without Harry Potter.

She had been so busy thinking about what her finally year was going to hold that she hadn't realised that she had already reached the wall between platforms nine and ten and it was only the voice of her friend that had brought her back from her thoughts.

"Hermione!"

At the mention of her name, the brunette turned around to see Ron Weasley running towards her.

"Looking forward to getting back to Hog…."

CRASH! Ron was now lying in a pile at Hermione's feet after tripping on his untied shoe laces.

"Honestly Ronald, did you get dressed in the dark this morning?" Hermione asked after helping her friend up off the floor, whose face was now scarlet with embarrassment.

"Actually," he said as he tried to regain a bit of dignity. "It was a bit of a rush this morning. Ginny was still refusing to come back to school up until about an hour ago".

After Harry had told Ginny, at Dumbledore's funeral, that he couldn't be with her any more because it was too dangerous, Ginny hadn't been her usual self at all. Rather than being bright, bubbly and full of life, she had spent the majority of the holidays in her bedroom sobbing into her pillow. She totally understood Harry's decision and she respected him so much more for it but the thought of returning to Hogwarts and not seeing him sitting in front of the fire in his usual chair or playing on the Gryffindor Quidditch team made her feel as though her heart had split in two.

"I'm so sorry Ron; I hadn't even considered how poor Ginny must be feeling, bless her. I'm sorry for being so selfish"

Ron looked genuinely concerned. "Oh don't worry at all Mione, I know she doesn't want to come back but I think it will be a relief for her to see you. Maybe she will open up to you."

Hermione smiled. She had missed Ron a lot this summer; even if Harry wasn't going to be around, she still had Ron to make her laugh as he always did, although he didn't always do it intentionally.

"We'd better get going onto the station, the train leaves in ten minutes" Hermione stated as she leaned onto the wall between the two platforms and vanished through the wall.

Once Ron had joined her on the station they made their way onto the train, found an empty compartment and stored their two trunks, Pig's cage and Crookshanks's carry box into the luggage rack.

Ron stuck his head out of the compartment and looked to see if Ginny had got on the train yet, "She shouldn't be long; she wasn't that far behind me. Do you think she will want to sit in here with us?" Ron asked as he made his way to the seat by the window.

"I think she should sit in here even if she doesn't want to. You know what people are like, and you don't want her to get upset when the questions start, which no doubt they will. Well I have to go up to the head compartment now to see Professor McGonagall and the Head Boy and I am not sure how long I'll be."

"Yeah, good point. See you later"

Hermione made her way up to the front of the train, which proved to be a bit of a struggle as she weaved her way through the students and trunks that filled the corridor. She reached the door, which just like her badge had a large 'H' on it. She slowly opened the door to reveal an empty compartment; the Head Boy wasn't here yet.

She took a seat and was suddenly lost in her thoughts.