Disclaimer: Regrettably, I do not own Harry Potter, though I would be thrilled to do so.

Chapter 1

A New Beginning

Hermione

Hermione sat, arms crossed heavily on her chest, sitting on the small hope chest she'd gotten from her father staring at the window rather than out it, watching the drops of water hammer onto the glass. She was furious and it was by far the maddest she has ever been. Not even Harry or Ron could have made her this mad. There was a light tap on her door, a pause, then she heard the light steps of her mother's feet enter into her room. Her mother sat next to her, looking down as if she had something to be ashamed of. Hermione was furiously gnawing on the insde of her cheek, waiting for the words she didn't want to hear. These words were going to change her life for the worse, she knew it. Her mother sighed a deep and regrettable sigh.

"Hon, I don't know what to say...--" Hermione snapped her head around to look at her mother.

"Then don't." The look on her mother's face would have been the same if Hermione had slapped her. She instantly regretted the harshness in her tone. Her face softened and her eyes fell to the pink cover on her chest. She took a deep breath and waited. Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but instead came out a sob. Hermione instantly forgot everything and wrapped her arms tightly around her mom. Her mom melted into her, burying her face in her daughter's neck, openly letting the hard and thick tears fall shamefully from her eyes. Hermione held her mother there for what seemed like hours. It wasn't her fault, Hermione knew, but she was still mad. Not at her exactly, but the situation. Her family was supposed to be functional, happy. They were supposed to stick together...but now? After all this? Hermione shook her head as she finally allowed tears to roll down her cheeks. Nothing was going to be the same.

Hermione stared worriedly out the train's window, thinking about the day before. She faintly remembered getting a letter from the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, that she had been chosen to be Head Girl during her seventh and final year at Hogwarts. The year before she had had suspicions adn she'd been excited, but after the recent occurences she didn't even feel a thrill. She bent her legs up to her chest and hugged her knees. She refused to cry about this. She refused to be weak like her mother. She heard the compartment door slide open and felt the movement in the cushion as someone sat next to her. She could feel the stare of two familiar hazel eyes that bore into the side of her face. She turned slowly to look upon the face of none other than Ron Weasley, who was looking back at her, worry filling his eyes.

"Are you okay?" he whispered gently. Though she felt grateful that he cared and was gentle, Hermione was sick of people asking her that. She rolled her eyes.

"Yes. I'm fine Ron. How many times do I have to tell you that?" She sighed deeply and looked down. "I'm sorry, I just...I've got a lot on my mind."

"Oh," was all he said. He half held her hand, half rubbed it in a comforting way. Hermione had said yes to the awaited question she'd thought she'd always wanted him to ask, but yet she felt he wasn't exactly what she needed, not now anyway, but she didn't have the heart to tell him,so for now, it would remain the same. Besides, she thought, maybe it was just from the chaos that she felt this way. Slowly, she felt the heaviness on her eyelids win the battle she was having and she fell into a light sleep.

Hermione slowly woke to the sound of quiet communication around her. Eyes closed, she listened to what was being said.

"She's sleeping. Can't you see that?" came the impatient voice from one of her best friends, Harry Potter.

"She's been through a lot. Leave her alone!" was the angry voice of Ron. She heard a scoff and could practically see the person rolling their eyes at the two boys.

"Well, she needs to wake up. She is Head Girl after all. It's her job...and she has a meeting with Professor McGonagall and the Head Boy in fifteen minutes. And she is going to be there." Hermione peeked open her eyes wide enough to see the face of a sixth year prefect leave their compartment. Stubborn Ravenclaws, she thought to herself. It was quiet in the compartment, or she though until she heard the two boys whispering.

"I guess we wake her..." Harry said. She felt Ron get up from his spot and kneel down in front of her. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

"I'm awake. Don't bother," she felt him jump slightly and couldn't help but laugh as she opened her eyes and saw the look on his face.

"Merlin, 'Mione, you scared the hell outta me..." Ron pretended to clutch hus heart and Hermione laughed. She supposed that's why she liked him, he made her laugh. She sat up and stretched, pullin on the bottom on her tank top as it rose past her belly button. She stood and looked at Ron, who got up from the floor, his eyes lingering on the bare spot her stomach had shown. She smiled and gave him a teasing look. He siled back and gave her a hug as she kissed his cheek.

"I'll be back soon, I guess." she said as a yawn took over her vocals. "Besides, I have been wanting to know who Head Boy is."

"Be back soon," Ron said, kissing her forehead. Hermione exited the compartment and slowly made her way down the small aisle and found herself standing outside the Head Boy and Girl compartment. There was a gold sign on the door that said Heads Only which Hermione was sure was enchanted with a curse in case the latter decided to enter. She took a deep breath and tried to smooth out her hair. She wanted to at least make a good impression. She took another breath, suddenly excited to be back and opened the door.

The first person she saw was Professor McGonagall who was obviosuly talking to someone. She quietly closed the door behind her which ironically made a louder noise shutting. McGonagall turned to see Hermione walk in.

"I hope I'm not late," Hermione apologized politely. McGonagall smiled.

"Of course not, but maybe you'd like to meet the new Head Boy," as she said this she moved revealing the last person Hermione wanted to see. Before she could help it, a look of disgust made it's way onto her face. She received the infamous sneer in return.

"This isn't going to be a problem, is it Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall said with a smug look as if this was done on purpose. Hermione bit her tongue,changed her attitude and smiled a fake smile.

"Of course not, Professor. Our duties then?" she asked to get started.

Hermione huffed as soon as the Heads' compartment door closed. She flopped herself onto the couch, diliberately keeping her eyes on the floor.

Malfoy scoffed and sat opposite of her, crossing his arms acrossed his chest. She could almost feel his smug smile boring into her. She glanced up at him expecting to see the sneer he often wore in her presence, but he wasn't looking at her, well not exactly at her. She looked down at herself and back up to him. She stared at him, her mouth hung open in shock, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. A small smile played at the corner of his mouth until he shook his head like he snapped out of a hypnotism. He looked up at her face, shaking his head again.

"Can I help you?" Hermione asked, bemused. He sneered at her.

"Yea, Granger. Get lost." he replied with the oh-so familiar sneer.

She rolled her eyes and stood up. She walked toward the door, more angry than she was when she entered. This year was going to be horrible, she thought. She heard a shuffle behind her and she turned. A shocked "Oh" escaped her lips as she felt Malfoy's body slam against hers as they hit the wall. Hermione froze, uncertain to what just happened, as he held both of her wrists on either side of her head. She gasped as she felt the warmth of his body molding against hers. Her back straightened as she felt his breath on her neck, a short breath escaping her lips. Her stomach produced butterflies as she felt Malfoy's lips graze against her neck. She closed her eyes, trying to control her heart. She heard him chuckle softly as he let her go and with a 'click', she knew he was gone. She opened her eyes and let her arms hang loosely at her side. What was that all about, she thougth. She rolled her eyes, it was probably just a joke.

Suddenly Hermione felt stupid and embarassed. She'd actually thought he was going to do something. It's not like she wanted him to, but still the thought that he might have wanted to made her blush. She sat on the far end of the couch and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Despite the horrible things that had happened to her during the summer, she did develop some. She looked at herself harder into her reflection. She'd purposely been working out, though her wieght was never the problem, she had just wanted the flat stomach, which she got. Her hairs was shorter and not curly. She wore more makeup than she ever had. She looked at the new her for awhile more, finally coming to the conclusion she' gone insane. Even if Malfoy did seem interested, it was probably just a joke. She sighed, well who cares anyway? She's got Ron, who's enough for now. She walked back down to the compartment with her friend and newly appreciated boyfriend. As Hermione opened the door she found the two boys asleep on either couch, both layed out. She gently shook Ron, who woke up startled. As he saw Hermione, he scooted as far back as he could and held up his arm invitingly. Hermione smiled and layed down with him, smiling as him arm tightened around her waist. She sighed happily and eventually fell asleep.

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A/N Hope you enjoyed. Reveiws, comments, or messages are greatly appreciated!!

With Love 3,

K.