Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, J.K. Rowling owns them all (such a brilliant lady she is), I simply borrow them for great fun.



A/N: This is my first Harry Potter fanfic. (I've written tons of Newsies fanfiction, but this is different.) Please take it easy on me, let me get into the swing of things, and don't flame! Constructive criticism! Thanks so much- happy reading! *hands them all chocolate-covered Dracos*



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One



Hermione waved goodbye to her parents and smiled faintly as her chocolate brown eyes fell apon the barrier separating platforms 9 and 10. She checked her watch, wondering where Harry and the Weasley's were, they weren't usually late. She had left the Burrow two weeks earlier after having spent the entire summer there, she wanted to spend the remaining two weeks with her parents. Well, not only with her parents, her older cousin Emily had come to visit from America before she returned to college. Emily had helped Hermione see what a beautiful 16-year old woman she'd become. Her once bushy hair was sleek and straight, falling a few inches past her shoulders with slight sun-kissed golden highlights. Her smile shone as bright as ever since her teeth had been fixed in her 4th year, and she now possessed a curvy, womanly figure and had grown to around 5'5". Her eyes sparkled with a unique joy as she took in every moment in her life, savoring it all.

"Will you hurry up! We're late! You'd just better not miss that train again!" Molly Weasley's voice appeared behind Hermione and she turned to see seven heads of flaming-red hair and one out of place black-haired boy. "Oh Hermione dear, there you are!" She came and hugged her, though it wasn't an easy task carrying as much luggage as she was.

"C'mon Mum, they're fine, don't worry so much," Fred told her, grinning like he had something up his sleeve. That's how he usually looked, though.

Ron looked up at Hermione and his jaw dropped. Just two weeks ago he could've sworn she didn't look that...that..sexy. He nudged Harry. "Harry, look at Hermione! It's like she transformed!" Harry looked up and nodded.

"Wow...she looks incredible." They walked up to her. "Hermione, you look amazing," he told her, smiling.

"Yeah...amazing..." Ron echoed, still wide-eyed.

She flashed them a charming grin.

"Thank you Harry, thank you Ron. My cousin Emily helped me with my hair. The wizarding world doesn't have the answers to everything, you know, muggle hair products are great."

"I can tell. Well we should be getting on the train," Harry suggested, and they all ran through the barrier.



* * *

Draco Malfoy sat by himself in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, glad to be rid of Crabbe and Goyle for once. Sure they provided good muscle, but after a year of the work his father had made him do and after 4 years as a Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team, he wasn't as without muscle as he had been before. He was around 5'8" by now, and slightly more tan then he had been before. He wasn't as ghostly pale, at least. He ran a hand through his pale blonde hair, no longer gelled back but loose, a few pieces falling into his ice blue eyes, and leaned back. He was almost asleep when the compartment opened and he heard laughter from what had to be Gryffindors.

It turned out that Hermione had been the one who opened the door. Ron peered in and scowled. "Malfoy, what the hell are you doing here?"

Draco kept his eyes closed. "It's a free country, Weasley, and it was an empty compartment," he replied lazily.

Harry and Ron stepped into the compartment, but Hermione stood in the doorway, not wanting to get into a fight so early in the year. "Guys, let's just go somewhere else..." she told them calmly.

"No, we take this compartment every year," Ron said lamely. "So get up and leave Malfoy, go find your goons, I'm sure they have no idea what to do without you."

Draco made no attempt to move. "Look Weasley, I was here first, so just take your girlfriends advice and..." at this point, he opened his eyes and saw Hermione for the first time. Damn, did she look different. She was...well there wasn't another word for it...hot. The way she stood there, leaning against the doorframe, he had to sit up to cover up his hard-on. He definitely had to get out of there. "Fine, whatever, I'll just go. People are probably looking for me anyway." He stood up and left, brushing past Hermione on the way out, feeling a jolt of electricity pass through him as he did. He shook it off and went to find some Slytherins to get rid of the Gryffindor feeling.



* * *

Hermione hadn't spoken in almost 10 minutes, and Ron was still going on about what a jerk Malfoy was. She couldn't stop thinking about him. He looked different...not as cold, even though he acted the same. Something about his eyes...just the way he looked at her made her shiver, and when they touched...she felt something go through her. She shook it off.

"Hermione? Hermione!" Harry waved a hand in front of her face.

"Oh! Sorry guys, I'm a little preoccupied. Or I guess I'm just tired. I've had a busy summer." She smiled a bit.

"We were beginning to wonder about you," he replied, grinning. "Anyway, we're really proud of you, for being a prefect, and although everyone knew it...just..congradulations. Now you get to officially boss us around." He winked.

Hermione gave them a stern look but found herself grinning. "I'm so excited...I can just feel it...this year is going to be amazing, it's going to be the best yet. I can tell something's big is going to happen, but then again, something always does."