THIS STORY WAS STARTED BEFORE THE 6TH BOOK CAME OUT. EVENTS IN THE 6TH BOOK HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. SORRY

I'm trying something different. To convince myself that anti-romances aren't all that I can write. It's not working so far... so be prepared for a lot of arguments in future chapters.

Anyway, this story may be a little slow at first. I mean I'm trying to make it remotely realistic… but hold on; it'll get to the good stuff eventually.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, the books or movies. If I did then they would so not be like they are… There may not even be a Harry Potter in the first place; Hermione would be a Goth and Ron a punk. Malfoy can stay the same though… he's evil enough as it is… Hagrid a pyromaniac. And Professor McGonagall can be a hippy!

Chapter 1: Why second years shouldn't practise duelling in a train.

"Oh, where's Harry…? We're supposed to on the train by now…" Hermione moaned desperately, fiddling with a strand of brown hair that had escaped the loose bun she'd spent ages perfecting in the mirror that morning. She and Ron had been stuck up the back of a crowd of second and first years, trying to get into the carriage, but failing miserably because one first-year girl's over packed trunk had decided to get itself wedged in the doorway, and with the amount of hair-fiddling she'd been doing she was beginning to wonder why she'd bothered to do her hair up in the first place. "Can't we just take a different carriage?"

"No, we'd promised to meet him here." Ron protested. He too was getting pretty fed up with waiting, but he wouldn't budge from where Harry had agreed to meet them.

Hermione groaned loudly, getting a few annoyed glares from the people in front. "We can go to another carriage and walk up if we have to… Come on! I've got to get up the front of the train. I'm head-girl remember. I can't be late!" She wined. Ron began to protest, but Hermione had other ideas. She grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him over to the next carriage and pushed him up the stairs. She put the trunks up before her, a lot more gently, and eventually climbed in herself.

"Ron! Hermione! Over here." The pair turned around, to where Ginny was franticly waving her arms in the air, very nearly poking Harry, who was standing next to her in the eye. "I had to convince Harry to change carriages. He insisted on going on the one where Madeline's trunk got stuck."

"Madeline?" Ron asked as he followed his sister into her compartment. Harry, Hermione and the trunks followed. Once they were all seated the conversation continued.

"Yeah, the girl with the trunk problem… I asked if she wanted any help. I couldn't help her though, that trunk is heavy, even Harry couldn't get it any further than it is now."

"In two minutes the trains leaving, she better get it fixed soon." Hermione said happily. "Our last year… So which teacher didn't we miss?"

Everyone let out a synchronised 'Snape', causing them all to crack up laughing. "Well, I didn't think he'd miss us either…" Harry said with a smile. "But then again, this is Snape we're talking about… who knows how he thinks…"

"Hey. The train's moving." Hermione said suddenly, looking out the window. It was true they were already moving out of the platform. "I've got to go up to the first carriage, to meet the head-boy or something like that, which is kind of stupid; I mean I already know who the head-boy is... Are you coming Harry?" Harry looked startled.

"Me? I'm not head-boy, I wasn't even a prefect. I thought Ron would be." Hermione frowned, startled and very confused, she'd been sure it was him.

"No. I thought you were." She said. Harry shook his head and shrugged. Ron too looked a little bit peeved, he'd been hoping it was either Harry or him; it would make sure Hermione didn't get into trouble.

Ginny rolled her eyes at the others' expressions.

"There are other students in this school; it could be anyone in your year. Don't look so depressed." She said tiredly. "You've got to start thinking outside of the box that is your life. Try something new."

Hermione glared at Ginny, but they both ended up laughing. "Since when did you become such an optimist? Anyway, you're right. It's just a chance to talk to someone else. You never know, I may like them better than Ron…"

Ron shot to attention, that last comment had just convinced him of all his fears, "Harry, what do you mean you're not head-boy! There's got to be a mistake. You should go and fix it." He said quickly. Anything to convince Harry to go with her.

"Relax Ron. I'm not like that. You know that." Hermione said pouting. Pulling a face to Ginny when Ron seemed to relax. "Anyway, I'm not meeting anyone just yet. We still have plenty of time to catch up."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The trip had gone slowly, and the tiny hint of anxiousness that Hermione had had when she found out Harry wasn't head boy had swollen massively and was now the only thing on her mind.

Ginny seemed to sense Hermione's nervousness. "Hermione, if you're so nervous, just go now and get it over and done with. You're always early anyway, what's the shame in a few more minutes…"

"But I'm not even changed into my robes yet." Hermione protested. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Every excuse in the book… It's just a guy, you probably know him already anyway; for God's sake, it could be Nevil!" Hermione cheered up at these words. She waited a few moments and finally decided to go. She promised to meet up with everyone later and walked down to the end carriage.

Hermione walked up to the end carriage, her jeans and top clashing horribly with the wooden accents on the carriage walls. She reached out and turned the doorknob slowly, thinking over who could possibly be the head-boy, finding the list impossibly long. Doing so, it took her almost five minutes to open the door.

"Could you open the door any slower?" Asked someone in the carriage impatiently, the person was already changed into their school robes and was sitting in the furthest, darkest corner of the carriage, thoroughly engrossed in a small purple-covered book.

"I was thinking…" Hermione protested, looking around. The person reading tensed suddenly. Hermione paused too, as the purple book was lowered.

"Shit!" They swore simultaneously. The pair glared at each other. If looks could kill, everyone for a thirteen kilometre radius would be very dead indeed.

"It can't be you! That's impossible! Anyone but you!" Hermione moaned, collapsing into the seat. Anyone would be better than Malfoy, anyone, and she meant it. "I had it all worked out, and you're going to ruin it!"

"You were planing something horribly romantic with your boyfriend I presume…" Malfoy smirked. He hadn't changed at all. The same almost bleach-blonde hair, steel grey eyes and thoroughly pissed off expression. Unfortunately all he'd said was true. Hermione resisted the temptation of cursing him on the spot.

"Get lost." Hermione growled.

"You know, I'd love to, but I'm supposed to stay here for the next…" He paused to look at a piece of paper he pulled from his pocket, "…fifteen minutes. And I really can't be bothered to move." He sneered. Hermione groaned and crossed her arms. Malfoy went back to his book.

Hermione groaned and sagged into the seats at her end of the carriage, and pulled out her own massive book from her bag, Technical Transfiguration, and new book assigned to her only as she'd all ready knew all her other books by heart. The silence lasted about twenty seconds.

"Has your boyfriend won the lottery or are you only dating him because you feel sorry for him?" Malfoy put down his book and waited patiently for Hermione's response.

"Has your girlfriend realised you're an asshole yet or is she still too retarded to notice?" Hermione's comeback cut through the air like knives. Malfoy paused lost for words. Luckily for him Hermione hadn't seemed to have noticed, as she was still buried in the text book. He finished the argument with a discreet 'humph' and picked up his book again.

The pair fell into an icy silence. Neither even looking in the others direction. The only sounds that could be heard were the frequent turning of pages and the rough rumbling of the train.

There was a loud crack and bang coming from outside. Hermione looked up. Malfoy hadn't moved from where he was reading. "In case you didn't notice, something happened and we should find out what." Hermione said dryly. Malfoy shrugged

"If it matters so much to you, you do it. I'm making a point of doing as little about it as possible," replied Malfoy calmly. Hermione groaned. If she had to put up with him for the next year; she may as well try not to get too pissed off with him this early, but look how well that plan was going. She walked to the next carriage and found the right compartment. She nocked and opened the door.

Just as she opened it a bright blue blast of light his her square in the face.

"You killed her!" Someone squealed. Malfoy looked up from his book. "Oh my God! She's like… dead!" This was followed by many squeaks and frightened moans. Malfoy swore loudly. What's that stupid mudblood done now? He thought to himself. If she's gone and killed herself I'm going to get the blame.

"She's not dead! She's still breathing… I think…" Came another voice from outside. "Does anyone have anything to poke her with?" Malfoy pondered over wether to do anything about it.

He decided not to.

First chapter up, and is officially odd and pointless. Hermione had to get knocked out some way. Why not a duelling accident where she wasn't even duelling.

Also, anyone who has read 'A Stone in the Shoe', my other story, the swearing won't get as bad as that. Not for a long shot…

Anyway…

Review… Or else I'll send chicken out to bite your nose. (Which is painful, I assure you.)