Harry stared blankly at one of his best friends in the whole world. It was like she had told him she was going to turn him into a toad. Harry thought that might be better than what she had told him. Ron was quite pale and had a puckered twitch to his mouth. Hermione's head was hung as she wiped tears from her face. A train whistled loudly as the three of them stood beside the scarlet train with Hogwarts painted in gold lettering on the side. Harry and Ron had trolleys filled with their personal belongings and their owls. Hermione just had her purse and cell phone.

"I'm so sorry." She wailed as she daintily blew her nose into her handkerchief. "Mom and Dad are having such a rough time. I can't go for this term. They need me."

Harry frowned, "But Hermione that will put you a year behind!"

"I know!" She continued to wail as if in agony.

Ron patted her shoulder, "Sorry Herm. Bit of rough luck there."

A conductor stood on the train and called for boarders. Harry looked at Ron; it was time to go. Hermione's lower lip trembled as bigger tears ran down her cheeks. Her face fell as students began to file into the train cars.

"Well I guess this is where we leave." Harry said quietly. "Sorry Herm."

"We promise we'll write to you." Ron told her as if to soften her predicament. Herm nodded and watched her friends board the train.

"Good bye." She said softly as the last boarding call was announced. The train started rumbling, as it got ready to take out of the station. Harry and Ron were seated near a window and waved to Hermione as they passed. Herm waved a small sad wave as the last of the train cars passed her on the platform. She drew out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears. No need for Headmaster Dumbledore to see her performance. She made her way towards the ticket counter and had the witch behind the window call a cab for her.

Ch2

Ron and Harry were silent as the station was now just a tiny speck in the distance. Neither could believe that the most promising witch at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had not come for their seventh year of school! The cart witch came by with snacks for the journey but both of them refused for now.

"What could her parents been doing?" Ron asked to break the unsettling silence.

"I don't know." Harry said worriedly.

Ron shook his head, "I still can't accept that Herm is actually missing her seventh year." Harry agreed and laid his head on the cool glass of the window. The doors to the car opened suddenly and two of their most hated of people walked in. Crabbe and Goyle glared, as if to dare them to say anything, and took the seat across from Harry and Ron. Crabbe closed the door and stared off in silence. Harry frowned, where was Draco?

Ron beat him to the question, "So where's your master you little puppy dogs?"

Goyle turned red and looked like he was going to hit Ron, "Shut up you little twerp."

"Yeah Malfoy isn't our master." Crabbe smugly said, "Besides he isn't coming to school this term. Something about his father's estate that he has to help him with."

Ron's eyes lit, "You mean he isn't coming this term!" He looked to Harry for a high five but found that Harry was frowning. "What is it Harry?"

"I was just thinking. Hermione is coming this term and neither is Draco." Both the headboy and headgirl were gone!

"Pure coincidence Harry." Ron shook his head at his friend, always thinking Harry was. Harry shook it off as Ron's excitement of not having Malfoy there to torment him was rubbing off on him. Crabbe started to stuff his ugly face with the pies and cakes he had purchased. Goyle rolled his eyes and stared out the window. Harry's mind wandered away from that burning question of why Hermione's parents had kept her from school.