September

Steam bellowed from the Hogwarts Express as children and parents ran around giving hugs and saying their goodbyes for the year. The platform eventually cleared as the kids boarded the train, and tried to get a seat in their normal compartment. As usual Harry, Hermione and Ron were the last to board seeing as Ron was still a prefect and Hermione was now made Head Girl. "Going to the perfects compartment for a bit, see ya mate." Harry gazed away from Ron and into the compartment with Neville, Luna and... Ginny. His disposition changed immediately, he knew he told her they should be just friends but it didn't change the way he felt towards her. He slid the compartment open, "Neville, Luna, Ginny." Ginny didn't even glance away from the window.

Ron shook his head as the compartment door shut, "She's been acting like this all summer. I don't know what her bloody problem is." Hermione shook her head, "I don't know, we owled a couple times and she never mentioned anything to me." They walked along the compartment in silence, Ron sneaking glances every once in a while. They stopped in front of the prefects compartment. "You've gotten taller." It wasn't a question more than a statement. "It suits you." She blushed and was going to reply until a cold malice voice cut through their conversation. "Well if it isn't Weaselbe and his mudblood girlfriend." Draco Malfoy sauntered towards them. Ron's hand was immediately in his pocket grabbing for his wand. "Ron no," Hermione's hand reached for his, "don't stoop to his level." Draco openly laughed, "Ha he would have to accumulate wealth, and good looks to ever step up to my level."

Ron lunged forward towards Draco completely forgetting Hermione was in the hallway too. Arms and legs were tangled while fists went flying narrowly missing her. They were all on the ground in a tangled mess and she was squeezed in the middle of both of them trying to breath. Draco gritted his teeth, "get off of me... NOW!" She jumped up scared at the tone he was taking. A sixth year Hermione had never seen before stepped out of the compartment.

"Hey there should be no fighting! This is my first day as a prefect don't mess it up!"

Draco straightened out his robes, "Now I'm going to have to send these off for cleaning to get this mudblood filth off."

"Listen ferret, don't make me hit you again like in third year." Draco narrowed his eyes at the girl, "threats coming from the Head Girl huh? I guess professor Dumbledore let slip his mind to tell the Head Girl who the Head Boy is."

"What?" Hermione scoffed, "like they would make you Head Boy. That's a highly regarded position."

"Well that's exactly why he gave it to me. I was a prefect, I'm second in our year no thanks to you, and I'm popular and influential. Not to mention good looking and wealthy."

"The latter two could be argued."

"Listen Granger I don't expect you to have a valued opinion when it comes to money and good looks", he looked at Ron, "seeing as who you hang out with. But just stay out of my way this year since we'll be sharing a common room." He opened the compartment door and went inside.

"That ferret is going to get the hell hexed out of him if he lays one finger on you." Ron grimaced as he tended to his bloody nose. "and I can't believe you'll be sharing a common room with him."

"Me either Ron, me either."

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The train slowed down into the station. Everyone exited excitedly, getting ready for another year. "First years this way! Hurry now! First years this way!" Hermione's head snapped to the source of the sharp voice, not Hagrid's. She grabbed Harry by the arm and pulled him off to the side. "So Hagrid's gone again. No use asking that bloody woman where he is." Hermione nervously played with her curls. Harry's eyes averted towards her hands, grabbing them. "It's ok, we can ask Dumbledore later." She smiled at him and they walked towards the crowd, still holding hands. Lavender and Parvati giggled behind them, "Ooooh" they said together. Hermione immediately dropped Harry's hand blushing. 'Some people can be so immature' she thought.

Meeting up with Ron, the three headed into a carriage and made their way towards the beautiful castle. Once arriving they all headed into the great hall for the sorting ceremony and the feast.

Ron's stomach growled. "Bloody hell, the sorting hat takes forever with its damn ranting." Hermione gave him a look, "shhhhhh, the sorting hat is really smart. He's telling us some really important stuff."

"Geez, I don't think we'll be tested on it. Keep your panties on." Harry's mouth dropped open at his best mate. Hermione blushed while giving him a offended look. "I don't mean anything by that. I don't know much about your panties, not that I don't want to know about your panties… I'm just going to shut up now." By then half the Gryffindor table had overheard the conversation and were in stitches. "Ronald Weasley, just keep your mouth shut about things you don't know!" Fred spit pumpkin juice all over a bunch of new first years. "You are so right Hermione." Ron looked like he was wanting to fall off the face of the earth. His face and ears were bright red.

Food suddenly appeared at the table. "Thanks a lot Ron, you made me miss Dumbledore's speech." She huffed and began to load her plate up. Harry stopped laughing only to stuff his face.

Soon everyone was stuffed and ready to head to their rooms to pass out. Hermione was still not talking to Ron. He and Harry were talking about the newest brooms that were coming out.

"Miss Granger, may I please have a moment with you?" Professor Dumbledore walked up behind her. She smiled at him and got up. "See you guys tomorrow!"

They walked over towards the entrance to the Great Hall where Malfoy was standing. "I wanted to take you both to the Head dorms and set the rules." After walking for what seemed like miles to Malfoy they reached a 10 foot tall Tapestry of the medical staff. "How appropriate. Snakes." Malfoy gloated. "Correct Mr. Malfoy, this was added when we announced who the new Head Boy and Girl were going to be. Seems like the castle deemed it fit, Ms Granger to my knowledge your ambition is to become a Healer?" She blushed at him. "Hmmm very curious indeed." Dumbledore took out his wand and tapped a brick about 6 feet up from the ground, left of the tapestry. "Gumdrops." The tapestry vanished and a door now stood. "Follow me please." They entered a common room decorated in both scarlet and silver. "This is the common room, it will be shared by both of you. The new password will be unity. This door," he pointed to the left side of the room, "its yours Hermione it opens only to you. No wand required. It will only let people in if you allow it. Anyone you don't want in will not be able to cross the threshold. Now Mr. Malfoy your room is the door to the Right. The same rules apply, if you don't want someone in then they can't come in. We had to put new security measures on the room considering your backgrounds. You are to announce prefect meetings and Hogsmead trips when deemed fit. You may have friends in the common rooms but please keep in mind it is to be shared by you both. I am now off to bed, I have a pair of fluffy purple pajamas with my name on them, if you'll excuse me I'll let myself out. Goodnight"

Draco rolled his eyes, "bloody loony. Stay away from me and I'll do the same, got it?" He strode into his room and slammed the door shut. "This is going to be a horrible year!" Hermione said and strode towards the exit. She had planed on going to the Gryffindor common room to talk with Harry or Ron when she heard a scream coming from a nearby classroom.

Hermione opened the door to find Ginny sitting on the floor next to a desk, hands wrapped around her knees, tears pouring down her face. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes, she looked Ginny over, makeup a mess, her shirt was ripped. She hesitantly walked towards the weeping girl. "Ginny are you alright?" she kneeled down to her level. "What happened"

"I…. I've been raped."