Hermione watched her trunk get loaded onto the train before taking a seat in one of the middle carriages. She waved at Lavender and Pavarti, who had her sister Padma with her. She'd seen Mrs. Weasley earlier, in passing, before she boarded the train. But the two people who she had waited, rather impatiently for, weren't around. Where could they be?
Hermione walked further up the train, seeing compartments filled with other students, including Slytherin Prefects – but not Ron and Harry.
Where were they?
She finished walking the train, checking every compartment, and her friends weren't on the train. Where could they be? Maybe they were home sick? But if they were sick, wouldn't have Percy or the Twins said something to her? What about Mrs. Weasley? Hermione saw Ginny get on the train, but no Ron or Harry.
Hermione walked back to the compartment where Fred and George were sitting. Katie Bell was with them, along with Alicia Spinnett and Angelina Johnson. "Have you seen Ron and Harry?"
The guys looked at her with suspicious eyes. "They were right behind us, coming into the platform. Did you annoy them with your swotty mouth, talking school before we got there?"
Hermione drew herself up taller and gave them a particularly haughty look. "No, I've not. I've not talked with either one of them except via letter all summer." She closed the door and left, intending to sit with other Gryffindors that might have a seat open.
She walked to the next car and saw Neville sitting with Dean and Seamus, playing Exploding Snap. That wouldn't do, not on the trip there. She sighed, knowing the only other place she'd feel reasonably comfortable was in the compartment with Lavender and Pavarti and Padma. "At least I'll be able to read on the trip."
She shifted the bag across her shoulder and walked the last few feet towards the carriage with the girls. They'd talk the entire trip but she could tune them out while reading about Goblin uprisings in the History of Magic book in her satchel.
She opened the door to the compartment and saw three sets of eyes looking back at her. "Mind if I sit in?" she asked quietly.
"Where's your friends?" Padma asked bluntly.
"I dunno." She pulled the book from her bag and sat quietly in the corner. "Maybe they're home sick." She tried to hide the tear that threatened to escape.
"Oh, ok. Alright," Lavender replied. She turned back to Pavarti and they tittered away, droning about fashions. Hermione was already engrossed in her book, reading the various goblin names and trying desperately to not miss her only two friends.