A/N: Hello all! Well, this is my first fanfic (that I'm actually uploading) and I hope you all enjoy it! :D
Disclaimer: All rights to the queen herself – J.K. Rowling
Chapter 1 – Aboard the Hogwart's Express
"Goodbye Mrs. Weasley. I'll be sure to come by the Burrow in the holidays, hopefully."
"Oh, dear, that will be lovely! I hope you all have a wonderful term."
We said our goodbyes to Mrs. Weasley, George and Charlie, who still hadn't gone back to Romania. I watched as Harry fumbled with a strap on Ginny's second hand trunk when out of nowhere, Mrs. Weasley engulfed him into a gigantic hug, taking poor Harry completely off guard.
"Oh, do take care, dear," she wailed. Harry's reply was muffled and inaudible as his face was squished into Mrs. Weasley's shoulder. Ginny and I giggled at the sight.
She fussed over the rest of us for a while until the train's warning signal sent us all into frenzies. We hurried to the train, hoping to get an empty compartment, dragging our trunks along.
We got onto the train in the nick of time, just as it began pulling out of the station. As we trudged our way through the narrow aisle, we watched Mrs. Weasley run along-side the train, tears streaming down her face, as she tried catching as many glimpses of her youngest kids as possible.
We found an empty compartment, just as the train began picking up speed, and settled ourselves in for the six hour journey ahead.
"Bloody hell! It's freezing and all I've got is the old sweater mum's given me for Christmas last year." Ron complained, shivering from the chill.
"Warmadrѐ," I muttered swishing my wand around the room. The temperature instantly increased and Ron gave me a sloppy kiss on the cheek as a way of thanks.
We'd been dating ever since the war passed. Initially, I was happy when Ron asked me to the Leaky Cauldron at the beginning of the summer vacation. I know it's not a very fitting place for a first date but, the mere fact that we were together, made me too happy to scrutinize details.
Two months later, though, and I've got to admit that I'm not too glad about the way things have turned out with Ron. There isn't much we have in common. He just wants to talk about Quidditch all the time or snog, while I would really like to have a few actual conversations once in a while.
I looked over at Harry and Ginny, who were looking at each other so intimately, that I felt like we were intruding. As silently as I could, I grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him out into the corridor with me.
"Bloody hell; let's find another compartment before I die of this cold!" I rolled my eyes at Ron's words and couldn't help but think how selfish he is.
We walked in silence for a while and I chose then to gather my thoughts. Ron and I weren't entirely compatible. I don't even know why I like him sometimes! He can be the most selfish boy ever! We don't really have much of an emotional relationship.
My thoughts were interrupted by Ron jerking my hand quickly and pulling me into the cleaning supplies closet near the washroom. I squealed in surprise but he quickly covered my mouth with his and kissed me. My hands found its way to his chest and I shoved him off me. CRASH!
"Ron!" I exclaimed, breathlessly.
His reply was muffled as he tried extracting himself from the mass of rags and mop heads that had fallen on him. He resurfaced, eyes blazing and ears reddening.
"I'm sorry," I squeaked, helping him up.
"The bloody hell was that for?" he spat, glaring at me through the limited light. I almost balked, but caught my wits and narrowed my eyes at him.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Ron! You think dragging me into a darn supplies closet and slapping your lips on mine is completely romantic, don't you!" I demanded, hands balling into fists. Ron recognized the danger signs and backtracked, immediately.
"But, Hermione," He began in that pleading pathetic tone, "Lavender loved when I surprised her like…" he trailed off at the end and scrambled for the door as my eyes grew wide and I lunged for him. Just as he managed to slam the door open, I flung myself on his back and began clawing at every bare inch of skin I could find.
"HOW. DARE. YOU. ASSOSCIATE. ME. .WITH. THAT. ABSOLUTE. SKANK!" My words were punctured by my attacks.
"AARGH! OW! Oomph. No! Her-"
"WHAT in the BLAZES is going ON here!" screamed Madame Pomfrey as she and Harry grabbed me off Ron. I stood fuming, and glared at the packed corridor. The younger students hurried back into their compartments and a few older ones retreated as well. Madame Pomfrey was tending to the scratches on Ron's face and his bleeding nose.
At the end of the corridor, Draco Malfoy was leaning against the wall and smirking at the mess on Ron's face. Still angry as hell, I was about to scream at him to get lost when he beat me to it.
"You're needed in the prefect's compartment, Granger," he said and walked away.
I took a deep breath trying to calm my nerves and wordlessly marched forward.
The prefect's compartment was already full of all eight prefects and the Head Boy, Malfoy. I inwardly groaned as I realized that I would be sharing a dormitory with the ferret face for the rest of the year.
"Right," he drawled and faced the prefects. "Now that our lovely cool-headed, model Head Girl has decided to grace us with her unfortunate presence, we can commence with the meeting," he announced throwing a smirk at my face.
I glared at him and turned to the prefects, giving them a warming smile. "Congratulations on making the badge," I announced and watched as a few of the tensed shoulders relaxed, just a little bit. "Seeing as how term has not yet officially begun, we haven't received any other instructions from the Headmistress other than that we should be patrolling the train at regular intervals."
I continued giving them instructions and stopped when I heard a loud sigh from the seat next to me. Raising an eyebrow, I turned to see Malfoy with his head propped on his hand and an extremely bored expression on his face.
He flashed me a smirk and stood, lightly pushing me back down on my seat. I fumed as he took over.
"Right, now that your Beaver over here has covered the boring parts, I hope you all abuse your positions and make the most of the privileges of being a prefect. Oh and unless it's Slytherin, feel free to extract as many house points as you'd like, especially from the Gryffindorks. Dismissed!"
By the end of his little 'motivational speech', I wouldn't have been surprised to if my hair was standing on end. The prefects filed out noisily and kept throwing nervous glances back at Malfoy and me.
"Beaver," I whispered dangerously, "creativity lost, Malfoy?" his eyes widened as he recognized the calm before the storm but he recovered quickly, and stood.
"Don't let me hold you up, Granger," he emphasized and before I could respond, swept regally from the compartment, leaving me fuming.
Not wanting to return to the compartment with Harry, Ron and Ginny, I wandered towards the front of the train, which was furthest away from their compartment, and patrolled those areas, while trying to calm myself.
I already had a bad feeling about this year. Even though Voldemort was defeated, life still continued and life was a more difficult battle to get through, than Voldemort ever would be.
After an hour or so of aimless wandering, the growing ache in my legs and stomach over ruled my anger and I made my way back to the compartment.
Ron had his head turned towards the window and refused to acknowledge me when I greeted everyone.
"Hey Mione," Hary called glancing nervously between Ron and me.
"Are you hungry? We saved you some food," Ginny said before handing me the pasties and sweets next to her.
"Yeah Gin, thanks," I mumbled before tucking in.
The rest of the journey was spent in wizard's chess and gobstones, albeit the awkwardness since Ron refused to look at any of us.
Needless to say, it was a blessing to finally reach Hogsmeade and the usual mad scramble to get off, made me momentarily forget about Ron and our edgy relationship.
A/N: Well I know it's a little short but it's more of a prologue so review for more! :D