"Now you promise to write every week right?"

"Yes Mum don't worry, I promise." Hermione Granger replied to her mother. It was the seventh time this conversation had taken place and though she would never admit , sadly, the last time it would take place. However, Hermione had made a promise to herself to make this last year at Hogwarts better then the rest. Which might be a little difficult given the past years she ahd actually had but , she was determined.

Hermione gave a big smile to her parents and hugged them both. She said her goodbyes and turned around to see her two best friends waiting for her. She gave an excited squeal and rushed over beside them.

Harry stood to her right. He reached his arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick little squeeze.

"We missed you 'Mione." Hermione laughed.

"You saw me last week Harry !"

"Well yes I suppose your right again." Harry smiled and rolled his eyes.

He had certainly gotten taller this summer. His shoulders were broad and he had developed some muscle but only about as much as his spindly little body could handle. Thankfully, in Hermione's opinion, he had decided to give his hair a cut. His shaggy black mop had started to get in his eyes and such a dedicated Seeker could simply not allow such a thing.

To her left however was much the opposite. Ronald Weasly had not grown a single inch but still towered over herself and Harry. He was most certainly not a thin as Harry and seemed to be made of only muscle, which was a bit odd to her seeing as he still stuffed his face at every instance. But Hermione still adored him through his gluttony. As most everyone had predicted, Ron and Hermione and gotten together. On the train ride home after their sixth year, red as a tomato Ron asked her nervously if she would like to be his girlfriend. She had evidently accepted and the two of them were together most of the summer at the Burrow.

Hermione gave a laugh as she was hoisted up into the train. Flanked on both sides by her best friends they made their way through the train. They found an empty compartment with some difficulty. Hermione smiled and flopped down beside Ron. It wasn't long before conversation was made.

"I'm telling you Harry! Winning the House Cup will be a breeze this year!" He said with a grin as he put his legs up on the opposite seat. They chatted a while about Qudditch. Well it was more Harry and Ron then her. But she was perfectly content just sitting with Ron reading her book. Their conversation progressed and had eventually turned to the fact that Hermione had gotten Head Girl. Deep down, she wasn't surprised when the letter had been sent to her however she certainly wouldn't let anyone know. Harry had received a Prefect position and for that Hermione was quite content. She hadn't really any idea who else had been chosen or who had made Head Boy for that matter. Excitement fluttered in her stomach as she remembered the meeting that they were to attended later in the ride. She couldn't wait to see who she would be working with during the year. But a train ride conversation, or any conversation for that matter, would never really be a conversation if it wasn't about Quidditch. Well, at least to Ron so Hermione rolled her eyes and stared out the window as the conversation switched back to Qudditch. However, to Hermione's pleasure, somehow through Ron's constant talk about Qudditch, he found a way to casually snake his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer.

She let a smile grace her face and her cheeks started flush. She quickly buried herself back into her book, hoping neither would notice. Hermione really did like Ron. h it was love or not she wasn't sure but she was quite quite fond of him. A few more hours passed without disturbence however that certainly wouldn't last too long. Hermione looked up when she heard the compartment door click open to reveal Draco Malfoy and a very sour but handsome looking boy standing there. She had never seen or heard of him before but she would later find out that his name was Dominic Declan, a transfer from an all boys wizarding school in Ireland. His marks apparently were so exceptional that he had snagged Head Boy position right away. He had been sorted into Slytherin.

"Hermione Granger and Harry Potter." He read off the paper with an irish accent. She nodded and looked at Harry a little confused.

"Heads and Prefects meeting in thirty seconds in the last compartment down the hall." he said flatly then slammed the door shut.

"Oh dear." said Hermione.

"I suppose we should hurry then." Harry added. They quickly gathered their things. Hermione leaned over and kissed Ron softly and they rushed out the door down the hall were the meeting would be conducted. Ron sighed and sat by his lonesome picking up the book that Hermione had forgotten.

It didn't take them that long to get to the compartment. They were the last to arrive as Hermione slid the door open. Hermione gave a small smile as she looked around her.

They were all sitting in a larger compartment than the others. All eight prefects and the two Heads crammed into it. Hermione and Dominic sat at the back on the floor. She didn't mind sitting on the floor, and surprisingly neither did Dom. Hermione took the list and called out the names of the Prefects to make sure they were all there.

"Griffindor: Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley; Ravenclaw: Charlie McGregor, Kari Cohen; Hufflepuff: Ernie Macmillan, Lisette Badeau and Slytherin: Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zambini..." Hermione sighed and nodded to let Dom know to start the 'Meeting'.

Back in the compartment Ron had very quickly become disinterested in the book. He didnt much like reading and this particular one was a bit out of his reading level comprehension. Letting out a sigh he tossed it to the other bench and put his feet back up on it. Just as he was getting more comfortable the compartment door opened. Hoping it was someone he knew perked up a little. However, surprisingly, it was Pansy Parkinson. What in the world would Pansy be doing there? She hated him.

"Oh…uh…Hey Pansy..." he said a little awkwardly. Pansy smirked and walked a little closer and sat on the bench beside his.

"Hello Ronald..." she whispered in his ear. Ron's face flushed red and his body froze not knowing really what to do as Pansy pressed hher body against his.

The meeting so far had gone quite well. Everyone spoke a little about themselves and hermione and Dom went over exactly what was expected of them throughout the year. She didnt feel there would be too much trouble with this group with the exception of Draco Malfoy of course. He had done his usual worst at the meeting which annoyed her even more because she was supposed to be higher then him.

"Did you see his face when you told him off!" Harry laughed as he remebered Hermione taking 5 points from Slytherin when a certain Slytherin Prefect had called her a mudblood. The two made their way to their compartment. Hermione couldn't help but laugh too as she opened the compartment door. But her laughter soon ended when she didn't see Ron in the compartment.

"Ron?" she said. He wasn't there. Confused at where he might be Harry and Hermione began to search the train for him. She peeked into another compartment to see Lavender Brown and Ginny a long with Pavarti and Padma.

"Hey have you seen Ron?" Asked Hermione. They just shook their heads.

"Haven't seen him since we had breakfeast this morning. But I'll help you look." said Ginny joining them in the hall. They walked around the train looking for Ron but were mostly talking. Apparently Ginny thought that having too much Potions would be 'bad' for your health and that they should petition to only get half a class of potions. Hermione laughed but didn't think it was possible.

"We might aswell go back to the compartment..."

Harry nodded and the three headed back. Ginny opened the compartment door to find Ron laying across the bench reading! Ginny looked at her brother strangely. When did he ever start to like reading? Wait, when did he actually learn how to read?

"Ron are you ok?" asked Hermione as she checked if he had some kind of fever. Or something of that sort. It was extreamly strange that Ron would be reading. Ron looked up at her and smiled.

"I'm fine." he said plainly and closed the book giving it back to her. The three sat down still giving Ron weird and confused looks. Hermione was the first to speak.

"Okay...Hey Ron where did you go anyways?" she asked as she put her book back. Ron got a bit nervous and was that sweat on his forehead?

"Uh...I...went to the bathroom..." he said then acted as if it was the truth. Though it was convincing he hoped they didn't notice his hesitation. Hermione had a feeling he was lieing but she brushed it off.

Just then the great train came to a halt. The four stood and made their way to the carriges where they were brought slowly to Hogwarts.