A/N: I would really like to thank my betas, Sebin, Kali, and Mellyone. I would also like to thank you guys for following my attempts at writing this story.
Harry sat on his scarlet and gold-embroidered bedspread, staring solemnly out the window. The sun's light was rapidly fading behind the mountains, and a chink of red light was passing through the window. He had still not packed all of his things and he heard Hermione voice in his head: Harry, you need to pack, the train will be leaving soon. He caved in to the voice and slid off of his bed. He was the only one is the dormitory; Neville, Dean, Seamus, and Ron were all down at the end-of-year feast. He gathered up his Invisibility cloak, Marauder's Map, Firebolt, Hedwig's cage. He searched under his bed and found three old pairs of socks and a dirty shirt. He threw the dirty laundry unceremoniously into his trunk and laced up his sneakers. He walked down the stairs slowly, but sure-footedly; his gaze rested on his sneakers all the way down. He plopped down on the couch furthest from the hearth. He lay across it so he could see the tips of the trees in the Forbidden Forest. The guests from Dumbledore's funeral had departed and returned to their normal (well, as normal as they could be with Voldemort) lives. Harry let hid mind wander: he thought of Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Hagrid, Ginny, Sirius, Dumbledore, Ginny….; he stopped himself abruptly. I can't keep thinking about Ginny, we can't be together because of damn Voldemort. He let his eyes droop, his mind drifting once more over his friends before the warm summer air pulled him into a comfortable, dreamless sleep.
He woke to the not-so-gentle prod in his side. "Potter-scum must wake up now! The train will be departing soon." Harry's eyelids shot open; he bolted off of the couch and dashed towards the portrait hole, not noticing Kreacher's form at the side of the couch. He pushed through the portrait hole and ran full-force into someone. He tripped and slid and across the floor. He looked to see who had run into him, ready to tell the person off. He then saw the crumpled form of bushy haired, Hermione Granger. He sprang up and stuck out his hand to help Hermione up.
"Thanks, Harry," she said, taking his hand, her eyes meeting his. She stood up and brushed the dust off of her robes with her free hand. "I was coming to tell you that the train's going to leave soon, but obviously Kreacher beat me to it," she stated coolly, peering into the common room just in time to see Kreacher vanish. Harry glanced at his watch to see that they had only five minutes to descend seven stairs and cross the grounds. He relayed this information to Hermione and darted down the stairs with her. Moments later, they were in the deserted Entrance Hall. The Entrance Hall was spotlessly clean and the Gryffindor rubies had been replaced in their hourglass. Harry pushed open the front door with his free hand and together they sprinted across the trodden grounds towards the gates. Hogsmeade station loomed in the distance and the pair heard a low train whistle. Harry gave Hermione a significant look and Harry pulled Hermione even faster along.
"Harry, we're not going to make it," cried Hermione between gasps.
"We will make it," he responded. Sweat was pouring from both teenagers' foreheads. Harry stopped at the gate and pushed at the large gate. It creaked open and Harry and Hermione ran through the small opening. They scrambled into Hogsmeade and saw the station at the end of the lane. Harry checked his watch and saw that they had 45 seconds left until the train left. Suddenly, an idea popped into Harry's head; without waiting for Hermione's consent, he squeezed her hand tightly and visualized the steam pouring from the scarlet Hogwart's Express. Hermione was staring at him, pondering why he had stopped running. She pulled at his hand to get his attention, but soon felt as if she was being squeezed through a very thin tube; Harry felt the same way, but since he had been the one to Apparate, he was prepared for the sensation. They vanished from High Street and appeared second later on the platform with a faint "pop."
"Harry, you Apparated all by yourself!" she beamed proudly and gave him a quick hug and he beamed back. They were alerted to the present by the shrill warning whistle from the Hogwart's Express. They boarded quickly and then gasped for breath in the corridor. After they caught their respective breath, the train was chugging along rapidly.
Harry looked around wildly, and then swore loudly, "Bugger! I left all of my luggage in my dorm."
"It's fine Harry, I summoned it before Kreacher woke you up and shrunk it," she reached into her pocket and pulled out three trunks. She pulled out her wand and began to mutter, "Engor-"
"Hey, 'Mione, maybe we should just keep them that way for a while, it'll be easier to carry. Oh, and thanks for remembering my stuff."
They both smiled and Hermione said, "Don't call me 'Mione', I told you and Ron I hate that."
"Fine, Ms. Granger…" he stated sulkily. They both smiled sheepishly and Harry looked away. That was when he noticed that he was still grasping her hand. He let go of it swiftly and a red tinge of embarrassment briefly fell on Harry's cheeks. A flash of some emotion glinted behind Hermione's chocolate brown eyes, but it vanished.
"I guess we should find the others," suggested Hermione to replace the awkward silence.
"Yea," he simply replied. He and Hermione walked down the corridor to the compartment where Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna were sitting, no one talking. Hermione opened the door and the pair walked into the silent compartment.
A/N: Hey, I really want to thank all my fans who have stuck with me throughout changing fics. I really will try my best to stick with this because now I have betas. Thanks to them and to you. Please Read and Review; they are really motivating.