I don't own any rights to Harry Potter, I did not creature any of the characters, place names (cept for London and Yorkshire and Kings Cross, I didn't create those ither, but neither did JK Rowling) or magic spells or any other things, you all know JK Rowling did. Worship her as I do.
Light streamed in the window, specks of dust sparkling infront of the curtains. She had layed awake most of the night, apprehension curled tight and uncomfortable in her stomach. Today would be the last time she ever went to Hogwarts as a student. This probably wouldn't have been so hard on her, if she hadn't been chosen as Head Girl. As pleased as she was, Hermione also felt some sadness lodging in her throat. She wouldn't enjoy her final year, not like the other years. She had so many responsibilities now. Not that she didn't want them, but she still knew this would be the last time she would live what she had become so familiar with, and she wanted every second to spend cramming information into her brain and spending time with Ron and Harry. Even though they had grown up over the years, their friendship had never changed. They would always be best friends. Of course, lately there had been extensions to their group. Harry and Cho had finally gotten over their issues and had become an item. Ron had found other outlets for his interests, after his brothers had left school he had taken up the position of one of the beaters on the Gryffindor team, he'd become a real whiz at wizard's chess and he, Seamus and Dean had become the new prankster team. Hermione only had Crookshanks and her books. But the ginger tabby had slowed down over the years, he preferred to remain in the Gryffindor Tower and the adjacent hallways, his old legs getting weary easily. Two years ago, he and Mrs Norris had had a run in, leaving Filch's cat with a torn ear and Crookshanks with a permanent strained leg.
Speaking of Crookshanks, he was puttering lightly somewhere around Hermione's ankle. Dazed, she pulled herself out of her thoughts and glanced at the clock beside her bed. She should be getting up soon. She could already smell the toast cooking downstairs, and soon her father would be banging on the door with a light-hearted "Are you decent? I'll take your trunk out to the car now." just like every year. The last time he would ever do it. So many things were changing for her. Curling herself into a ball, Hermione rolled onto her side to face the stack of books she couldn't fit into her trunk. What would she do after school ended? She had so many opportunities, so many offers from various departments in the Ministry. But things would be different. Her, Harry and Ron would probably end up going their separate ways. Could she really stand that kind of a change? Too much had changed already.
Soon enough, that familiar knock on her door came, and her father poked his smiling face in. His eyes were still as bright and filled with pride as they had always been, even though there were more lines around them now, a tinge of gray in his hair. He had gotten older. And so had she. Forcing a smile, Hermione gently kicked Crookshanks off of her bed and she sat up. "Yes dad. Is mum downstairs?" she asked absently as she grabbed her clothes, holding the mass of fabric infront of her chest while her father took her luggage from her room. He never used to grunt like that when he lifted the trunk, but now either it was heavier, or he was weaker. She knew which it really was.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione was down in the kitchen munching on her toast, no jam, of course, her parents being dentists and all that, whilst joking lightly with her father on where to pin her Head Girl badge. He wanted her to attach it to her forehead where everyone would see it. She entertained the idea for a while, but finally beat him down by saying it would probably get in the way when she was trying to study, and he finally agreed the front of her robes would be the best place for it.
"Oh, dear, look at the time!" Hermione's mother spurted, quickly shutting off the element on the oven she was just about to cook some bacon over. "We've been joking around for half an hour already. We have to get going!"
And then it was a rush to get everything packed into the car and off to London. With her parents in the front seat, Hermione took the silence happily as she stared out the car window, houses and fields rushing by. Sometimes she found it funny how she could slide from one world to the other so easily. But when she graduated, which would she choose to live in? She couldn't keep leading such a double life, a witch all school year, a normal girl for the summer would not be an option anymore. Maybe she would take up Dumbledore's offer of becoming a professor at the school, then she could still pretend it was like old times. ... But it would never be. Harry and Ron, those two who were part of her very soul, would go their own ways. She knew they probably felt just as torn as she did. But when she saw them, she would not bring it up. This pain was personal, this pain would only get in the way of their final days together as students, and she wanted to enjoy it no matter what, no matter who tried to hurt them. And that thought brought her mind around to Malfoy and his goons. At least there was one good thing about being in their final year, she would never have to deal with him again. And maybe now that she was Head Girl he would feel a little more intimidated and wouldn't attack her so much. No, he'd probably go after Ron or Harry instead, and while he only threw words at her, he threw spells at him. She wouldn't take it this year. If he even looked at her funny, she would take off all the points she possibly could, she would send him to detention, she would do everything within her Head Girl powers to make him miserable and to keep her and her best friends happy and safe.
"Hermione dear, we're here. Hermione?" Her father had opened the car door for her and was leaning in, a worried crease on his forehead. "You look so determined. Is everything okay?" She pulled on a bright smile and nodded, which instantly brought a grin to her father's face as he held out his elbow to her. "Here you are my lady, I will be your escort for this morning. Bell girl, please get the bags." he playfully ordered his wife, who settled her hands on her hips and fixed him with a look. She looks so much like me. No, Hermione told herself, I look so much like her.
On Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Hermione threw her arms around her parents together. "I love you mum, dad. I'll miss you." Her mother's hand lightly stroked her hair, her father, suddenly stern, leaned down to her.
"We love you too, Hermione. Whatever decisions you make for your life this year, we will support and love you always. Now, be good, and don't study too much." he planted a kiss on her cheek, and she hugged them both tightly. She was as tall as her mother now, and nearly as tall as her father. When had that happened? She had noticed everyone else growing up, but she never really saw it in herself. Ron had grown so tall she often compared him to Hagrid, though he was still slender. Not skinny, no, he had tight muscles that were hidden well under those silly jumpers he always wore. Harry had grown a bit too, though he had more grown out instead of up. His shoulders and chest had widened and, much to Hermione's annoyance, grown into a very handsome man. She didn't mind him being handsome, no, he would always be her best friend, but she often had to contend with Cho for his attention, and had to listen to the Gryffindor girls rattle on about how cute he was. Especially Ginny. That girl was officially obsessed with Harry now, Especially since the event in their second year when he had saved her life. Things had gotten much more complicated over the years, and their friendship had strained. Hermione's own crush on Ron had dissipated, though she had a feeling he still liked her. He seemed to always turn red when they were close together, and he would not hug her like Harry would. He was an awkward friend. Truthfully, that shyness put her off a bit. She was the shy one. For a while she had wished he would just say something to her, to just kiss her, but he had been too afraid, and she had grown tired of waiting. Her fascination had returned to books.
"There she is! Oi, Hermione!" Harry and Ron were leaning off of the train, waving at her. Rons red hair was clashing with the green in Harrys jumper.
Hermione gave her parents one more squeeze before yelling at them to help her with her trunk already. Looking sheepish, they trotted over and Ron hefted her trunk up into his arms, probably to avoid taking her into them as Harry had just done. Smiling honestly in what felt like the first time that morning, Hermione hugged Harry back tightly and laughed when he spun her around. She always appreciated how he could tell when she needed some cheering up, he'd become much more in tune to her than Ron ever had. Harry had always been like that, though when they were younger he would often find himself feeling out of place. Things had changed. With Cho as his girlfriend, He had found much more confidence. And now that Cho had already finished Hogwarts, he would have much more time to spend with her and Ron. It really would be just like old times, all three of them together. Hopefully not facing any dark disasters this year. They all deserved some peace.
Hermione loosened her grip on Harry and he dropped her lightly back down to the ground. "How was your summer, you two?" she asked lightly, taking Crookshanks' basket herself, as Harry and Ron were always too nervous to carry him when he was in a rotten mood, which was whenever he was cooped up in the basket. She would let him out on the train.
Harry was the first to respond as they dropped off her trunk and began searching for an empty compartment. Hermione mentioned she would go visit the prefects and Head Boy, whomever it was this year in their compartment in a while, but she wanted to spend the trip with Harry and Ron. "I spent two weeks with Cho, her family and I went to Hong Kong. I told you about it in the letter, right Hermione?" she nodded, and he continued cheerfully, always happy to talk about Cho, "and we met her great grandfather. He taught us some new spells they don't teach here, Chinese magic is wicked! And there was a Wizard's Zoo there, we say all kinds of neat things, and even a Chinese Fireball was there. It was great." Though Harry never, ever wanted to get close to a dragon again after the Triwizard Tournament, he had enjoyed how Cho nervously stayed so close to him it was as if they had been spellotaped together.
Ron huffed as he sunk down into a seat, they had finally found an empty compartment around the middle of the train. He hadn't sent nearly as many letters to Hermione over the summer, and the ones he had were more like an itenirary then a real letter. "We didn't do much. Mum and Ginny spent a weekend in London together, a girls getaway they called it, and we went to Percy and Penelope's wedding, but you two were there too. That was all we did." Ron's chin slumped down, he couldn't compare to going to Hong Kong like Harry had, his family was still poor. Though Fred and George had opened their joke shop in Diagon Alley and were a roaring success, they spent most of it on inventing new jokes. They sent a little home every so often, but it was never enough. Percy had moved out, and he and Penelope were now living in Yorkshire. Only Ron and Ginny were left at home, so it did leave a little more money to go around.
"The wedding was very nice." Hermione commented as she released Crookshanks from his basket. He gave them all a contemptuous look before he arduously pulled himself over the edge only to curl up on the seat between Harry and Hermione, carefully eyeing Pigwidgeon fluttering nosily in his cage. Hedwig gave neither of the other animals any attention, she was much too proud to associate herself with them, always had been. Checking her watch, Hermione decided it was time to go meet with the prefects and Head Boy.
"Here, Harry," she said, digging a few sickles out of her pocket, "get me a pumpkin pasty or four when the trolley comes by, okay?" she flashed a grin at him as he laughed, even Ron cracked a smile before she slipped through the sliding doors and headed for the front on the train, trailing her hand along the railing. To her right the fields of green and different shades of yellow were a blur in the cloudy light through the window. It wasn't a dreary day, but it was bordering on gloomy. She hated taking the train now unless it was a sunny day, ever since that time the dementors had boarded in that pounding rainstorm. It had all, in a strange but mostly good way, worked out in the end, but she sometimes still woke up terrified by nightmares of them.
Her attention diverted by the clouds outside, Hermione didn't notice anyone infront of her until they collided. She bounced back somewhat, grabbing the railing to hold herself on her feet.
"Watch where you're going, Granger." a snide voice snapped harshly from above her.
It was Malfoy. How she had missed him, she wasn't sure. He was roughly the same build as Harry, though his presence was much more commanding, his haughty arrogance had grown as steadily as he himself had. "Shove off Malfoy, or Slytherin will have less points than zero." she muttered, forcing herself to raise her chin and glare at him. She wasn't going to let him get away with anything this year, she reminded herself. ... But maybe she had been recalling Draco from when they were younger, when he didn't tower over her and make her feel so small and helpless. No, no he couldn't do anything to her she told herself.
If he was surprised by her threat, he gave no reaction other than to motion for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him. Now those two really did give Hagrid a run for the biggest man at Hogwarts. Quickly enough they had slunk into a compartment not far down, though before Malfoy slammed the door shut, he gave her a piercing look that made her toes curl and her cheeks flush. Oh, he was not happy that she had power over him now, and it did make him feel just a little more inferior. He hadn't made Head Boy, she had noted, and yet she, a mudblood, had. That set a grim smile on her lips and she continued to the front of the train. She could see everyone through the glass when she reached the first compartment, they all had their robes on already. Hermione herself had hers on, the black swept around her ankles, the Head Girl pin was settled just above her Gryffindor crest. She smiled at all the prefects as they greeted her with variations of "Good Morning" and Hermione finally saw who the Head Boy was. Justin Finch-Flecthley grinned at her brightly, his Head Boy badge shining above his Hufflepuff crest.
"Oh, Justin! How wonderful!" Hermione burst out, wrapping her arms around him when he rose to his feet. He obviously had never expected to be Head Boy, but there he was, and he was even more delighted he would share responsibilities with Hermione, whom he had always gotten along well with. Not to mention she was hugging him, untouchable, pretty Hermione, her breasts pressing into his chest. His grin widened.
Back in the compartment with Harry and Ron, the two boys were chatting about Qudditch, of course. "So this year Fred and George bought me a Nimbus, so I can actually keep up with you guys finally. We can work on those manoeuvres Pavarti wanted to try last year." Ron was saying, his cheeks somewhat turning red when he mentioned their chaser and captain, Pavarti. Fred and George had gotten Ron the broom for a present, saying they couldn't stand to watch him fly around on their old Shooting Star. He really appreciated it, to say the least. Gryffindor hadn't been winning nearly as much as it had in the past, even with Harry as seeker.
Harry nodded, absently unwrapping another chocolate frog he had bought off of the trolley. Hermione's pumpkin pasties sat beside him and Crookshanks, and were very tempting, but he and Ron refrained from eating those too. Besides, they had the feast to look forward to. "Yea," Harry mumbled as he shoved the squirming candy into his mouth, "I think now you guys can pull off that..." swinging his head around as the door slid open, Harry swallowed the chocolate and was just about to pester Hermione about taking so long, when he and Ron both realized it wasn't Hermione.
"Malfoy!" They both jumped to their feet instantly, grabbing at their wands. Crookshanks feebly hissed at the disruption, and Pig began bouncing and squeaking wildly in his cage. "Malfoy, you git, whatever you have to say we don't want to hear it." Ron said deeply, his knuckles white around the end of his wand. Harry's shoulders were tensed as he eyed the blond boy carefully. The older they had gotten, the more violent their encounters had become. Last year Ron had come out of a fight with a broken arm and bruised ribs, not to mention the broccoli shaped growth that had sprung from his head.
That familiar smirk was spread over his lips as Malfoy casually leaned in the doorway, his two giant shadows behind him, glowering. "I'm not here for a fight, though I do enjoy seeing Weasley here resemble a vegetable. No, I'm here about that filthy mudblood Granger. She seems to think she's special now that she's Head Girl. I'm warning you two, keep her in line, or else." without giving them a chance to react, Malfoy slid the door shut in the and soon the forms of him and his cronies had melted away from the other side of the glass.
Harry and Ron shared dark looks. "What did he mean by that? What's he going to do to Hermione?" Ron's voice shook as he fought his emotions down. If that little prick Malfoy even layed a finger on Hermione, he'd kill him. He would, even if it meant life in Azkaban, he would tear Malfoy limb from limb.
Harry shook his head and slumped his shoulders. "I don't know Ron. But we should tell Hermione to lay off of it, he might try to hurt her too." Harry tugged his hand through his hair, his fingers lingering over his scar. He couldn't bear it if Hermione was hurt, he wouldn't take it. He'd be right along side Ron in Azkaban, he would take his fair turn killing Malfoy. Falling back into his seat, Harry looked at the rest of his treats. He had lost his appetite. Reaching his fingers over, Harry idly scratched Crookshanks behind the ears as he and Ron silently brooded, staring out the window. Though every year started off with a threat from Malfoy, he had never really threatened Hermione before. He always took his anger with her out on the two of them, he had at least enough honour not to attack a girl. But had that changed? Harry and Ron thought Malfoy would sink to any level to just stroke his own ego. And now that they were older, their minds instantly attached to the disgusting ways Draco could hurt her. They would not let it happen.
Light streamed in the window, specks of dust sparkling infront of the curtains. She had layed awake most of the night, apprehension curled tight and uncomfortable in her stomach. Today would be the last time she ever went to Hogwarts as a student. This probably wouldn't have been so hard on her, if she hadn't been chosen as Head Girl. As pleased as she was, Hermione also felt some sadness lodging in her throat. She wouldn't enjoy her final year, not like the other years. She had so many responsibilities now. Not that she didn't want them, but she still knew this would be the last time she would live what she had become so familiar with, and she wanted every second to spend cramming information into her brain and spending time with Ron and Harry. Even though they had grown up over the years, their friendship had never changed. They would always be best friends. Of course, lately there had been extensions to their group. Harry and Cho had finally gotten over their issues and had become an item. Ron had found other outlets for his interests, after his brothers had left school he had taken up the position of one of the beaters on the Gryffindor team, he'd become a real whiz at wizard's chess and he, Seamus and Dean had become the new prankster team. Hermione only had Crookshanks and her books. But the ginger tabby had slowed down over the years, he preferred to remain in the Gryffindor Tower and the adjacent hallways, his old legs getting weary easily. Two years ago, he and Mrs Norris had had a run in, leaving Filch's cat with a torn ear and Crookshanks with a permanent strained leg.
Speaking of Crookshanks, he was puttering lightly somewhere around Hermione's ankle. Dazed, she pulled herself out of her thoughts and glanced at the clock beside her bed. She should be getting up soon. She could already smell the toast cooking downstairs, and soon her father would be banging on the door with a light-hearted "Are you decent? I'll take your trunk out to the car now." just like every year. The last time he would ever do it. So many things were changing for her. Curling herself into a ball, Hermione rolled onto her side to face the stack of books she couldn't fit into her trunk. What would she do after school ended? She had so many opportunities, so many offers from various departments in the Ministry. But things would be different. Her, Harry and Ron would probably end up going their separate ways. Could she really stand that kind of a change? Too much had changed already.
Soon enough, that familiar knock on her door came, and her father poked his smiling face in. His eyes were still as bright and filled with pride as they had always been, even though there were more lines around them now, a tinge of gray in his hair. He had gotten older. And so had she. Forcing a smile, Hermione gently kicked Crookshanks off of her bed and she sat up. "Yes dad. Is mum downstairs?" she asked absently as she grabbed her clothes, holding the mass of fabric infront of her chest while her father took her luggage from her room. He never used to grunt like that when he lifted the trunk, but now either it was heavier, or he was weaker. She knew which it really was.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione was down in the kitchen munching on her toast, no jam, of course, her parents being dentists and all that, whilst joking lightly with her father on where to pin her Head Girl badge. He wanted her to attach it to her forehead where everyone would see it. She entertained the idea for a while, but finally beat him down by saying it would probably get in the way when she was trying to study, and he finally agreed the front of her robes would be the best place for it.
"Oh, dear, look at the time!" Hermione's mother spurted, quickly shutting off the element on the oven she was just about to cook some bacon over. "We've been joking around for half an hour already. We have to get going!"
And then it was a rush to get everything packed into the car and off to London. With her parents in the front seat, Hermione took the silence happily as she stared out the car window, houses and fields rushing by. Sometimes she found it funny how she could slide from one world to the other so easily. But when she graduated, which would she choose to live in? She couldn't keep leading such a double life, a witch all school year, a normal girl for the summer would not be an option anymore. Maybe she would take up Dumbledore's offer of becoming a professor at the school, then she could still pretend it was like old times. ... But it would never be. Harry and Ron, those two who were part of her very soul, would go their own ways. She knew they probably felt just as torn as she did. But when she saw them, she would not bring it up. This pain was personal, this pain would only get in the way of their final days together as students, and she wanted to enjoy it no matter what, no matter who tried to hurt them. And that thought brought her mind around to Malfoy and his goons. At least there was one good thing about being in their final year, she would never have to deal with him again. And maybe now that she was Head Girl he would feel a little more intimidated and wouldn't attack her so much. No, he'd probably go after Ron or Harry instead, and while he only threw words at her, he threw spells at him. She wouldn't take it this year. If he even looked at her funny, she would take off all the points she possibly could, she would send him to detention, she would do everything within her Head Girl powers to make him miserable and to keep her and her best friends happy and safe.
"Hermione dear, we're here. Hermione?" Her father had opened the car door for her and was leaning in, a worried crease on his forehead. "You look so determined. Is everything okay?" She pulled on a bright smile and nodded, which instantly brought a grin to her father's face as he held out his elbow to her. "Here you are my lady, I will be your escort for this morning. Bell girl, please get the bags." he playfully ordered his wife, who settled her hands on her hips and fixed him with a look. She looks so much like me. No, Hermione told herself, I look so much like her.
On Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Hermione threw her arms around her parents together. "I love you mum, dad. I'll miss you." Her mother's hand lightly stroked her hair, her father, suddenly stern, leaned down to her.
"We love you too, Hermione. Whatever decisions you make for your life this year, we will support and love you always. Now, be good, and don't study too much." he planted a kiss on her cheek, and she hugged them both tightly. She was as tall as her mother now, and nearly as tall as her father. When had that happened? She had noticed everyone else growing up, but she never really saw it in herself. Ron had grown so tall she often compared him to Hagrid, though he was still slender. Not skinny, no, he had tight muscles that were hidden well under those silly jumpers he always wore. Harry had grown a bit too, though he had more grown out instead of up. His shoulders and chest had widened and, much to Hermione's annoyance, grown into a very handsome man. She didn't mind him being handsome, no, he would always be her best friend, but she often had to contend with Cho for his attention, and had to listen to the Gryffindor girls rattle on about how cute he was. Especially Ginny. That girl was officially obsessed with Harry now, Especially since the event in their second year when he had saved her life. Things had gotten much more complicated over the years, and their friendship had strained. Hermione's own crush on Ron had dissipated, though she had a feeling he still liked her. He seemed to always turn red when they were close together, and he would not hug her like Harry would. He was an awkward friend. Truthfully, that shyness put her off a bit. She was the shy one. For a while she had wished he would just say something to her, to just kiss her, but he had been too afraid, and she had grown tired of waiting. Her fascination had returned to books.
"There she is! Oi, Hermione!" Harry and Ron were leaning off of the train, waving at her. Rons red hair was clashing with the green in Harrys jumper.
Hermione gave her parents one more squeeze before yelling at them to help her with her trunk already. Looking sheepish, they trotted over and Ron hefted her trunk up into his arms, probably to avoid taking her into them as Harry had just done. Smiling honestly in what felt like the first time that morning, Hermione hugged Harry back tightly and laughed when he spun her around. She always appreciated how he could tell when she needed some cheering up, he'd become much more in tune to her than Ron ever had. Harry had always been like that, though when they were younger he would often find himself feeling out of place. Things had changed. With Cho as his girlfriend, He had found much more confidence. And now that Cho had already finished Hogwarts, he would have much more time to spend with her and Ron. It really would be just like old times, all three of them together. Hopefully not facing any dark disasters this year. They all deserved some peace.
Hermione loosened her grip on Harry and he dropped her lightly back down to the ground. "How was your summer, you two?" she asked lightly, taking Crookshanks' basket herself, as Harry and Ron were always too nervous to carry him when he was in a rotten mood, which was whenever he was cooped up in the basket. She would let him out on the train.
Harry was the first to respond as they dropped off her trunk and began searching for an empty compartment. Hermione mentioned she would go visit the prefects and Head Boy, whomever it was this year in their compartment in a while, but she wanted to spend the trip with Harry and Ron. "I spent two weeks with Cho, her family and I went to Hong Kong. I told you about it in the letter, right Hermione?" she nodded, and he continued cheerfully, always happy to talk about Cho, "and we met her great grandfather. He taught us some new spells they don't teach here, Chinese magic is wicked! And there was a Wizard's Zoo there, we say all kinds of neat things, and even a Chinese Fireball was there. It was great." Though Harry never, ever wanted to get close to a dragon again after the Triwizard Tournament, he had enjoyed how Cho nervously stayed so close to him it was as if they had been spellotaped together.
Ron huffed as he sunk down into a seat, they had finally found an empty compartment around the middle of the train. He hadn't sent nearly as many letters to Hermione over the summer, and the ones he had were more like an itenirary then a real letter. "We didn't do much. Mum and Ginny spent a weekend in London together, a girls getaway they called it, and we went to Percy and Penelope's wedding, but you two were there too. That was all we did." Ron's chin slumped down, he couldn't compare to going to Hong Kong like Harry had, his family was still poor. Though Fred and George had opened their joke shop in Diagon Alley and were a roaring success, they spent most of it on inventing new jokes. They sent a little home every so often, but it was never enough. Percy had moved out, and he and Penelope were now living in Yorkshire. Only Ron and Ginny were left at home, so it did leave a little more money to go around.
"The wedding was very nice." Hermione commented as she released Crookshanks from his basket. He gave them all a contemptuous look before he arduously pulled himself over the edge only to curl up on the seat between Harry and Hermione, carefully eyeing Pigwidgeon fluttering nosily in his cage. Hedwig gave neither of the other animals any attention, she was much too proud to associate herself with them, always had been. Checking her watch, Hermione decided it was time to go meet with the prefects and Head Boy.
"Here, Harry," she said, digging a few sickles out of her pocket, "get me a pumpkin pasty or four when the trolley comes by, okay?" she flashed a grin at him as he laughed, even Ron cracked a smile before she slipped through the sliding doors and headed for the front on the train, trailing her hand along the railing. To her right the fields of green and different shades of yellow were a blur in the cloudy light through the window. It wasn't a dreary day, but it was bordering on gloomy. She hated taking the train now unless it was a sunny day, ever since that time the dementors had boarded in that pounding rainstorm. It had all, in a strange but mostly good way, worked out in the end, but she sometimes still woke up terrified by nightmares of them.
Her attention diverted by the clouds outside, Hermione didn't notice anyone infront of her until they collided. She bounced back somewhat, grabbing the railing to hold herself on her feet.
"Watch where you're going, Granger." a snide voice snapped harshly from above her.
It was Malfoy. How she had missed him, she wasn't sure. He was roughly the same build as Harry, though his presence was much more commanding, his haughty arrogance had grown as steadily as he himself had. "Shove off Malfoy, or Slytherin will have less points than zero." she muttered, forcing herself to raise her chin and glare at him. She wasn't going to let him get away with anything this year, she reminded herself. ... But maybe she had been recalling Draco from when they were younger, when he didn't tower over her and make her feel so small and helpless. No, no he couldn't do anything to her she told herself.
If he was surprised by her threat, he gave no reaction other than to motion for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him. Now those two really did give Hagrid a run for the biggest man at Hogwarts. Quickly enough they had slunk into a compartment not far down, though before Malfoy slammed the door shut, he gave her a piercing look that made her toes curl and her cheeks flush. Oh, he was not happy that she had power over him now, and it did make him feel just a little more inferior. He hadn't made Head Boy, she had noted, and yet she, a mudblood, had. That set a grim smile on her lips and she continued to the front of the train. She could see everyone through the glass when she reached the first compartment, they all had their robes on already. Hermione herself had hers on, the black swept around her ankles, the Head Girl pin was settled just above her Gryffindor crest. She smiled at all the prefects as they greeted her with variations of "Good Morning" and Hermione finally saw who the Head Boy was. Justin Finch-Flecthley grinned at her brightly, his Head Boy badge shining above his Hufflepuff crest.
"Oh, Justin! How wonderful!" Hermione burst out, wrapping her arms around him when he rose to his feet. He obviously had never expected to be Head Boy, but there he was, and he was even more delighted he would share responsibilities with Hermione, whom he had always gotten along well with. Not to mention she was hugging him, untouchable, pretty Hermione, her breasts pressing into his chest. His grin widened.
Back in the compartment with Harry and Ron, the two boys were chatting about Qudditch, of course. "So this year Fred and George bought me a Nimbus, so I can actually keep up with you guys finally. We can work on those manoeuvres Pavarti wanted to try last year." Ron was saying, his cheeks somewhat turning red when he mentioned their chaser and captain, Pavarti. Fred and George had gotten Ron the broom for a present, saying they couldn't stand to watch him fly around on their old Shooting Star. He really appreciated it, to say the least. Gryffindor hadn't been winning nearly as much as it had in the past, even with Harry as seeker.
Harry nodded, absently unwrapping another chocolate frog he had bought off of the trolley. Hermione's pumpkin pasties sat beside him and Crookshanks, and were very tempting, but he and Ron refrained from eating those too. Besides, they had the feast to look forward to. "Yea," Harry mumbled as he shoved the squirming candy into his mouth, "I think now you guys can pull off that..." swinging his head around as the door slid open, Harry swallowed the chocolate and was just about to pester Hermione about taking so long, when he and Ron both realized it wasn't Hermione.
"Malfoy!" They both jumped to their feet instantly, grabbing at their wands. Crookshanks feebly hissed at the disruption, and Pig began bouncing and squeaking wildly in his cage. "Malfoy, you git, whatever you have to say we don't want to hear it." Ron said deeply, his knuckles white around the end of his wand. Harry's shoulders were tensed as he eyed the blond boy carefully. The older they had gotten, the more violent their encounters had become. Last year Ron had come out of a fight with a broken arm and bruised ribs, not to mention the broccoli shaped growth that had sprung from his head.
That familiar smirk was spread over his lips as Malfoy casually leaned in the doorway, his two giant shadows behind him, glowering. "I'm not here for a fight, though I do enjoy seeing Weasley here resemble a vegetable. No, I'm here about that filthy mudblood Granger. She seems to think she's special now that she's Head Girl. I'm warning you two, keep her in line, or else." without giving them a chance to react, Malfoy slid the door shut in the and soon the forms of him and his cronies had melted away from the other side of the glass.
Harry and Ron shared dark looks. "What did he mean by that? What's he going to do to Hermione?" Ron's voice shook as he fought his emotions down. If that little prick Malfoy even layed a finger on Hermione, he'd kill him. He would, even if it meant life in Azkaban, he would tear Malfoy limb from limb.
Harry shook his head and slumped his shoulders. "I don't know Ron. But we should tell Hermione to lay off of it, he might try to hurt her too." Harry tugged his hand through his hair, his fingers lingering over his scar. He couldn't bear it if Hermione was hurt, he wouldn't take it. He'd be right along side Ron in Azkaban, he would take his fair turn killing Malfoy. Falling back into his seat, Harry looked at the rest of his treats. He had lost his appetite. Reaching his fingers over, Harry idly scratched Crookshanks behind the ears as he and Ron silently brooded, staring out the window. Though every year started off with a threat from Malfoy, he had never really threatened Hermione before. He always took his anger with her out on the two of them, he had at least enough honour not to attack a girl. But had that changed? Harry and Ron thought Malfoy would sink to any level to just stroke his own ego. And now that they were older, their minds instantly attached to the disgusting ways Draco could hurt her. They would not let it happen.