Chapter 1
"Hermione?"
Hermione Granger quickly looked forward to see her mother peering at her from the passenger seat of their car.
"Yes Mum?"
"Are you alright dear? I've called your name at least 5 times."
"Sorry. I was just thinking."
Mrs. Granger smiled fondly at her only daughter. "Well, I just wanted to tell you that we're almost there."
Hermione nodded in acceptance and checked her purse and luggage for the hundredth time to make sure she had everything to begin her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The summer had been relatively uneventful for Hermione (and no, she did not go to Bulgaria to visit Viktor Krum) and she was anxious to begin the new year (but then again, when is Hermione not ready for school to start?). She did, however, go to the Burrow for two weeks to visit her two best friends, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter in the middle of vacation.
They had changed, Hermione realized, from the events in the Triwizard Tournament last year. Those events had forced the three of them to grow up even faster than before and Hermione was praying for a quiet and safe, fifth year.
Hermione was shook out of her reverie as the car came to a stop outside the train station.
"Okay, love, we're here!" chirped Mrs. Granger.
Hermione quickly gathered up her belongings and got out of the car. Hermione, with her, parents walked toward to Platform 9¾ where the Hogwarts Express would take her to school.
"Hermione! Over here!"
Hermione looked up and her face broke into a smile as she spotted the familiar head of red hair that belonged to none other than Ron Weasley. He made his way over to her with Harry in tow.
"Hi guys!" Hermione said as they walked up to her. She gave them each a hug and turned to her parents.
"Bye Mum. I'll owl you when we get there."
Mrs. Granger was looking a little misty as she kissed her daughter goodbye.
"Goodbye Sweetheart. I love you."
"Love you too Mum," Hermione then turned to her father and parted with him too.
"Bye Daddy. I love you."
"I love you too, Angel," Mr. Granger gave his daughter a kiss and turned to the two boys a few feet away.
"I do hope you'll tale care of my little girl. Don't let her get into too much trouble."
Ron and Harry both nodded seriously.
"Yes, sir. We'll watch her." Ron said, while looking at Hermione.
"Ok then, you'd better go before you miss your train," Mr. Granger said, giving them a soft smile.
And on that note, the three teens took off to the Platform and all boarded the Hogwarts Express.
They took their seats in their own cabin and stocked up on all sorts of goodies to snack on.
"So who do you reckon will be the new DADA professor this year?" asked Ron as he popped a Bertie Bott Every Flavor Bean in his mouth. He quickly made a face and spit it out in a napkin.
"Eww! Ron! That's gross!" yelled Hermione.
"Well, I'm sorry Miss I'm-So-Proper-I-Never-Spit-Out-Anything, but it was mashed pea flavored."
Harry rolled his eyes at the pending argument and tried to distract the two of them.
"Well, I heard from Sirius that it's going to be a woman professor but that's all I know," he stated, going back to Ron's original question.
"Well, whoever she is, she'd better not be impersonating anyone or be evil," Hermione said firmly.
Both boys vigorously nodded in agreement as they recalled previous Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers.
Some time later the door opened and Ginny Weasley popped her head in. She spotted Hermione and hurried over to give her a hug.
"Hermione! I missed you when you once you left me alone with all those boys." She said, rolling her eyes.
Hermione laughed. "Well, I missed you too Ginny. I see that you did survive the summer intact though," she said looking her over for any signs of Fred and George Weasley's pranks gone wrong.
"Yes, Fred and George stayed mainly to themselves this summer working on who-knows-what in their room. But back to why I came here- you'd better start getting ready," she advised, "We're almost there."
"Oh, ok, thanks Gin. I'll come with you," Hermione said as she got up to follow Ginny so she could change.
Shortly after, the train came to a stop and they all exited to walk up to Hogwarts to see the sorting ceremony of the First Years.
Hermione felt a pang in her heart as she did not here the familiar voice of Hagrid shouting 'Firs' years!' Hagrid was still trying to get the giants on their side and wasn't expected to return until mid-year.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry all entered, ready to see what troubles lay ahead for them.
There will be more to come! Please read and review! You'll make me smile :)