Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and a few custom characters. Half-Blood Prince never happened and JK Rowling, the extremely talented and beautiful writer owns everything Harry Potter! XD

Happy reading .

EDIT- PLEASE just bear with me on this chapter. I just recently re-read it and was amazed at how terrible it was! I assure you it gets better, just KEEP READING. I'm not an author that lets others down with crappy writing. (This chapter is an exception, even though a changed a few things!)

Chapter 1: Arrival at Hogwarts

There it stood: The Hogwarts Express. The billowing smoke danced and swirled up into the sky as the driver rang the bell with impatience.

"C'mon, Honey." My mom called from ahead. I, Hermione Granger, tore my gaze away from the gorgeous train and walked behind her, carrying Crookshanks in my arms.

When we stopped in front of the entrance to the train, I sighed and took the handle to my trunk away from my mother and gave her a fake, hearty smile. "Have a nice year, darling." She said, smiling brilliantly. I'd always hoped I'd be as beautiful as she. Her long, rippling walnut colored hair. Her deep, chocolate brown eyes and the most perfect, dazzling smile I'd ever seen.

But I still looked the same no matter what I did. My hair is longer than it was, but as bushy as ever. My eyes only have a smidgeon similarity to my mothers and my smile wasn't any where near as radiant, even though at my father's funeral everybody said I looked just like her.

Yes, you heard me correctly. My father is dead. I sniffed, fighting the quivering, anticipating tears from falling down my cheeks. I shut my eyes tight, the familiar burning sensation in my throat. Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and pushed it far to the back of my mind.

I had Owled Harry, Ron and his family and Viktor, telling them what happened. I felt nauseas at the thought of Viktor Krum, my-so-called-boyfriend from Durmstrang, another wizarding school.

The summer before last, he came to visit me and told me he couldn't "pretend to like me anymore", because he had found someone else. He said we could be friends, and sometime during school last year he sent me a letter apologizing. We became friends after that, but I've always felt bitter towards him for being such a jerk...

The Hogwarts Express' driver blew the horn once more as I came back to reality and realized my mother was trying to usher me onto the train. With a strong feeling of being avoided, I realized I still didn't see Harry or Ron and was hoping I could find them once I got on.

With one last kiss to my mother, I heaved my trunk onto the train and stored it, waving goodbye as the doors magically closed.

Sighing, I made my way through the sea of people trying to find an empty compartment for them and their friends. 'Yeah, keep trying. You'll never find one…' I thought sourly as I remembered all the times Harry, Ron and I had tried to find one yet had to settle with other people when all we wanted was some time alone to catch up.

Clutching Crookshanks to my chest, I paused behind a tall figure that instantly made me shudder for unknown reasons. I looked up at Draco Malfoy, who was laughing at a boy in Ravenclaw who had tripped and had dropped his white, shorthaired cat which clawed its way up a Hufflepuff's back, screeching horribly.

I winced and shoved my way past Malfoy and knocked him into the wall by accident. I kept walking and pretended he wasn't even there, his two cronies Crabbe and Goyle cracking their knuckles in what I assumed was supposed to be a threat.

"Hey! Mudblood! Get back here and apologize!" He snarled as he rubbed his shoulder I knew didn't hurt.

Doesn't 'Mudblood' EVER get old? I mean seriously. It's so damn tiring; he could at least pick something else for a change! Frustrated and frazzled by his endless torments and nuisances; I snorted and flipped him the bird.

All that greeted me was his stunned silence. Ha! That'll teach him!

But, as I squeezed past a 3rd year that raised her eyebrow at me, I looked back into his eyes. Those bright silver orbs that holds such malice, and beauty. My already fast beating heart did a flip. Dread filled my stomach as I unwillingly noticed his newly found muscles. He was muscular before, but he had always been on the lanky side. I can now see he's grown out of that.

When I ran into him, I noticed how warm his body was. Who knew someone so cold-hearted could have body heat. I quickly looked away from him as he was still staring in my direction. If looks could kill, I'd be on my way to the morgue.

Only two words came to mind when I thought of this: "Bloody hell."

I tried to cheer up and think of my father with happy memories while trying to convince myself he's in a much better place, but I had moped around the house for the past two months and received no comfort.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. 'But your mother was there, and so were your friends!' I shake my head, feeling weary. Sure, she was there and all, but she rarely spoke to me. All she did was slump around the house drinking coffee and staring out into the deep blue wander, lost in thought.

And as for Harry, Ron and Ginny, all they did was send me sweets and little notes that said "Hang in there", "You will get through this", and "It will all be ok.". We didn't even make plans to meet in Diagon Alley like usual. And so I shopped for my new school books and supplies alone for the first time in my six previous years at Hogwarts.

It royally sucks.

I ignored Malfoy's overly delayed and last minute threats of hexes as he was lost in the string of first years that entered the corridor that we were in as they shoved their way in behind him. But I knew that that was not the last I had heard of this. Especially when I could still feel his icy, cold stare burning a freezing, blistering stinging sensation on the back of my neck. (Yes, that was a very descriptive observation, but when Malfoy decided to hate you. He hates you. And it isn't easy to ignore the death glares he gives you, either.)

I finally found Harry and Ron in a compartment that they had literally taken over. There were Quidditch books, sweets, magazines and tiny little do-dads. I swear it looked like they were moving in! So that's what I said.

"Looks like you two are moving in. Should I stay or go find my own little corner to take claim?" They looked at me with their eyebrows raised but didn't comment on what I said.

They finally gave me a small smile, stood and gave me a much needed hug that I had been looking forward to all summer.

I smiled a tight lipped smile and pretended to look happy. "How was your summer?" I asked as I shoved aside some empty candy wrappers and what appeared to be a photograph of Ginny Weasley, who was waving, beaming and blushing up at me from the photograph. I was extremely surprised to see little hearts drawn all around it.

Raising my eyebrow, the death of my father off my mind for the moment, I looked knowingly at Harry and waved it in the air, smirking.

Harry's face turned a deep shade of scarlet and he immediately looked down at his feet. I smirked, and sat down, putting Crookshanks beside me who sat down and stared at Ron with his big, bright eyes. Ever since Scabbers left, (or more accurately ran away to Lord Voldemort,) he would every now and then stare at Ron, as if another rat would pop out of his pocket for him to chase. It made me inwardly giggle.

"So, how long have you fancied Ginny, Harry?" I asked, Ron keeping an eye on Crookshanks, and the other on Harry, smirking. (Obviously he approved or Harry would be on the floor dead by a death glare that would chill even Malfoys blood.

Harry hesitated for a moment and finally looked up, grinning like a madman and muttered, "Since last year."

I smiled for the first time in ages. Not a fake, uneasy smile, but a true, radiant glowing smile. I was extremely happy for Harry for finally realizing how beautiful Ginny had become, inside and out, and for Ginny who had developed an even more thorough crush since her boyfriend from our 5th year broke up with her the on-coming summer from our 5th. (Although I think she still had feelings for Harry all this time!)

But even though I was happy, I still felt deflated, left out…And completely and utterly miserable. I have only had one "boyfriend" and that was Viktor, but I'm not sure he counted at all. 'Horrible…He was utterly horrible…' I thought to myself. He lied to me so many times and we never even kissed! Yep, 17 and I've never been kissed. Although I'm glad Viktor never kissed me. Yuck!

Sighing, I looked out of the window at the luscious, green trees, the tall, monstrous hills and all of the other gorgeous scenery that whizzed by as we continued to the Hogwarts castle for my dreaded last year at Hogwarts.

I'm dreading it all because I have become more lenient on myself with my reading. Which, I have a feeling, will damper my perfect grades. My point in the end…? Neglected reading means lower grades. Lower grades mean no chance at becoming an Auror!

Plus, I'm still the same. In my 4th year I realized what an impact I had on the guys at the Yule ball. I remember the feeling on having control of guy's feelings. Viktor treated me like an angel, and I even admitted to myself then that I was beautiful. Even if it was just for one night, I was on top of the world.

Looking back over at Harry and Ron, I envied their lives. I also, for a second, wished my father would have died when I was a baby, like Harry's. But I pushed aside that thought. Without a doubt in my mind, I most definitely wouldn't be the girl I've become. And I'd rather have known my father through my life than without him at all.

Still, I'd like to have an impact on the school my last year. Maybe Ginny could give me a make-over?

My lip trembling, although I had something to look forward to, I turned back to the window and huffed. If she did give me a make-over…Would I become pretty at all? Or will I still be the same plain Jane girl who's been known for perfection her entire life?

------

Malfoy never showed up on the train, which surprised me beyond belief. And surprisingly Harry and Ron pretty much ignored me, which I was grateful for although it gave me plenty of time to mull over my thoughts (Even though my thoughts weren't ones I chose my self.).

I was thinking about my father and the memories we shared. I'm glad I didn't start crying because Harry and Ron were there and I didn't want to show weakness. (Not like they paid attention to me anyway…)

Then, all of a sudden, laughing to myself, I mulled over the changes that had consumed me. Have I changed more that much? I mean, I all of a sudden don't care that Ron and Harry don't care. I mean, they're practically ignoring me! I sighed. 'I don't care,' I thought, 'I don't care…'

At least, that's what I told myself.

Catching my lower lip in my two front teeth, I noticed that Hogwarts had come into view. I grabbed Crookshanks and got ready to stand and get off the train. With Harry and Ron doing the same, I almost didn't realize that Neville had come into our compartment, extremely excited.

I was in mid thought with my memories of my father and mother. And then it changed to the night I found out he died.

'I woke with a start from my mother's screams. Panicked, I walked in and there was my father on the floor. A blank expression on his face; he was dead.'

"- on Halloween! Isn't that exciting, Hermione!"

I shook myself out of my horrifying memories that give me nightmares every night, and smiled at Neville. "Yeah, that's great!" I said enthusiastically.

After a beaming Neville left our compartment and down the now stopped train's corridor, I turned to Harry and Ron. "Err…What was he saying? I must've spaced out."

They looked at me, their eyebrows raised. I sighed, looking down, waiting for them to speak.

"He said that his cousin from a wizarding school in the United States is coming to Hogwarts funded by an exchange program that Dumbledore will be having, and he'll be arriving on Halloween." Said Harry, very slowly, as if I just learned English and was having trouble hearing.

I smiled sheepishly at my two best friends. "I'm sorry guys. I'm just not myself these days." I apologized, sighing and shuffling my feet. Ron put a hand on my shoulder and gave it an awkward pat, all the while blushing furiously as if he'd never come in contact with a girl before. He had a girlfriend last year! Goodness! (Even though it only lasted two months, Ron became extremely smitten with Luna Lovegood, who dumped him for a fellow Ravenclaw.)

After we got off of the train, we made our way up the Hogsmeade train station and up the hill to the Threstral pulled carriages, all the while realizing I didn't get a letter saying who had been announced Head Boy and Head Girl. Perhaps I didn't get the position? I shrugged, again not caring. If I were my old self, I would have been tearing out my hair and asking every living girl on the train if they were the Head Girl. But the motivation to do so was punctured by the miserable dread that had permanently settled itself to the pit of my stomach.

And just when I thought the feeling couldn't get worse, guess who, of all people I had to bump into getting out my carriage with Harry and Ron? Yeah, if you guessed Draco Malfoy, you guessed right.

He gave me that knowing smirk and, setting my jaw, I pretended not to notice him and kept on walking as Harry and Ron were shooting death glares in his direction, as if daring him to hex me behind my back.

"C'mon guys." I muttered, "He's not worth our time." But unfortunately, he heard me.

"Not worth your time? I beg to differ, Mudblood. You see, you are the one who bumped into me. So it would most definitely be the other way around. And I choose to ignore filth like you, so run along to the feast and get a good meal. I'm pretty sure it's been the most decent meal you've had all summer, by the looks of how skinny you are. Doesn't your father know how to feed his family?" He smirked, his arms crossed. Ouch. That hurt like a million bee stings. And how could he not know about my father's death? If Harry had not found his common sense, Ron would have beaten Malfoy down to the ground and made sure he didn't wake for a good week or two.

But, to my satisfaction, I had lost part of my common sense, and was on Malfoy before I could stop myself. I tackled him and punched him over and over, his nose already bloody. He screamed, begging for mercy no doubt, but I was unstoppable. All the pain he had caused me, all of the insecurities and self esteem he had broken of me since I was 11 gushed through a barrier I have held up and flowed through my veins like hot fire.

All the students that were getting out of their carriages were standing, open-mouthed, watching me beat Malfoy to a bloody pulp. That's when the best day of my life ended.

"Oy! 'Ermione!" called Hagrid, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me off of a bloody Malfoy as my fists continued to punch at the air out of pure rage.

Hagrid set me down and scowled at me, or at least I think so. His entire face is still covered in that black, shaggy beard and mustache.

Breathing heavy, I smiled triumphantly at the balled up figure that was Malfoy, enjoying the moment at realizing he'll be tormented for the whole year by whoever was daring enough to bring it up and let it reach his ears. 'Cause if he was the new Head Boy he could take points away and put anyone he wanted in detention.

"Alrigh', Alrigh', shows over. Everyone up to tha castle!" roared Hagrid, apparently disappointed in me for my behavior. I laughed inwardly. What a strange feeling. But I found I didn't care what anyone thought of me now that Malfoy's handsome face was red, bloody and swollen.

And as we marched up to the castle, I was beaming like a mad-woman. Maybe I will be remembered by everyone this year. Not by being a bully, or by being a trouble-maker, but because I was seriously considering that make-over from Ginny. I'll have to ask her…

Hagrid opened the door to the castle and everyone else followed behind us, Harry and Ron not too far behind, completely speechless. We walked into the castle with me still beaming and a bloody Malfoy behind me, and I was so happy and full of adrenaline that I couldn't help thinking: 'Maybe this year won't be so bad after all…'