"Goodbye sweet heart. Take care and write to me every tuesday" my mother says with a thick voice and teary eyes. My dad standing by her side, a slight hint of pride on his pale face. My mother pulls me into world's tightest hug as I try to take in her jasmin scent as much as possible while my dad just pats me on my back. I know he is more emotional than my mum but never really shows his other side, especially to me.

"Love you mom-dad, i will write to you" i say, trying hard not to slide off the tears in my eyes.

"Another year without them" my heart sinks at this thought... "Another year with 'them'" A sudden jolt of excitement passes me by.

"I should get in you know seats and all mum and i need to talk to the prefects also ab-"

"Alright, alright my 'lil-miss-know-it-all' we understand" grins my mother and hands me over my water bottle. "Now, off you go."

I wave at them brightly and trudge inside the Hogwart's express. As I pave my way towards the likely-empty compartments, i can see many fresh faces talking animatedly to each other. "First years" i smile to myself.

After few moments of struggle with my luggage, i sigh at the sight of an empty compartment.

"Trunk :: CHECK"

"Handluggage :: CHECK"

"Water bottle :: CHECK"

"Books :: CHECK

A quick glance at the watch says its 10:55. "Come on Hermione, they will be reaching here anytime" I assure myself.

"10:57..! why aren't they here?"

I peer out of the window, not a single hint of their presence. I shrug to myself. "Cheer up Hermione, they will come.. you know Ron, he is always late"

"Was that the whistle?" my heart skips a beat. I can see fumes coming out of the scarlet engine. Those dense black fumes somehow remind me of Harry's unruly hair.

"Oh no! we are moving and they haven't yet arrived!"

"Calm down Hermione may be they have just entered the train, probably they are looking for you right now" a second thought occurs in my mind and i jump off my seat. I sneek out of my compartment just to find Neville in the midst of his 'Trevor Hunt'. "

Have you seen Harry and Ron?" i ask him ignoring the pity look on his face. "Nope" he mutters, too busy to even look at me. My heart is aching. "Thanks" i say and get inside my empty compartment, my heart racing faster than the Hogwart's express.

"What can be the reason?" i ask myself. Many unwanted thoughts surround my mind and i whisper 'NO' to all off them respectively and pick one of the books from the heep. " Arrgghh ... i never thought reading could be so difficult!"

Their faces are flickering in my mind. I know i am being over sentimental but they are my only friends! I had planned so much about this journey. This was going to be our first journey together and both of them ruined it! Irresponsible , immature, completely stupid gits! They missed Hogwarts Express!

A single tear slides down my cheek. Uhh! I hate it when my anger turns into tears!

"Concentrate Hermione!" a voice comes from within my depths. I try to push their thoughts aside.

"In early sixteenth century"...What if its something related to Voldemort?..Can't be.."it was discovered that a Dragon's blood..".. what if one of them has got hurt!...

"Alone here, aren't you mudblood?"