Hermione was woken by her bedside alarm clock roaring at her to get up so that she could shower and pack the last of her things before leaving to start her fifth year at Hogwarts. Groaning for a moment, she swiped her arm over to the drawers where the alarm clock was and knocked it off to stop it from making any more noise, without opening her eyes, then dug her arm underneath her pillow and told herself 'just five more minutes'. It was only half past 5, but by the time she'd showered and got her hair to look as less frizzy as she could be bothered, there wouldn't be much time left at all. Right now she didn't care, she was far too tired and never was a morning person, her body clock was still in holiday mood and she wasn't going to be moving any time soon. She'd just managed to settle back down and started a peaceful dream about her passing all of her NEWT's when her bedroom door slammed open. Her whole body jolted in shock and her eyes opened immediately, she sat up and stared at her furious looking mother who stood there against the wall, arms folded and looking directly at her. Without saying a word, Hermione got up and brushed past her into the bathroom as she started to get ready for the busy morning that she had ahead of her.
The clock had just turned eight when Hermione was stood in the living room checking through her suitcase making sure that she had everything that she needed whilst her parents stood with their arms around each other, thinking of how much they were going to miss their only child. "Take care 'Mione" her dad said to her, "I've got to leave for work now, but I want you to return our letters please, and do go careful with those two friends of yours. Chosen one or not, he is not getting my daughter killed by some snake-faced crazed wizard man" he said sternly, thinking about ways he'd punish her friends if they let anything happen to her, he was the protective dad kind but her mother was just as protective, Hermione was their only child. Hermione nodded avoiding to roll her eyes at them both as she looked up "I'll be fine, I'm safe at Hogwarts" she said trying to sound reassuring, "besides, I've got a lot of work to do this year" she smiled. Her mum let out a soft laugh and her dad smiled, "that's our girl, you focus on your work" he said before walking over to her and kissing her head "Goodbye love" he said again as he turned to the door and left before she could say anything back. She knew it was hard for her parents, not knowing the full story about Voldemort or knowing if she was safe or not, she'd told them bits but not everything, she couldn't do that, they'd stop her from going if she did. "He'll be fine, he's just worried about you that's all... we both are" her mum said, as if she knew exactly what Hermione had thought. 'How does she do that?' Hermione picked up her suitcase and followed her mum to their Black BMW outside, the journey was silent but not awkward, Hermione liked to listen to the radio when she was in the car and her mum wasn't much of a conversationist, she occasionally made small talk but not now, Hermione guessed that she was over-worrying everything in her head but decided to stay quiet and not attempt to reassure her.
They arrived at the train station and hugged, shedding a few tears on each other's shoulder before Hermione boarded her train to Hogwarts. She was nervous about seeing Harry and Ron but also a little angry too; they hadn't written to her to invite them to either the Burrow or the Order's headquarters. 'I'm going to kill them both'. She couldn't be bothered to find them on the train and just entered a cabin that had Luna, Neville and Seamus in. It was close to the exit and the bathroom where she could change into her robes and she didn't mind these people as such, better than sitting with Lavender Brown who non-stop talked about Ron, she really did despise that girl. Hermione settled down beside Luna and listened to Seamus who as trying to impress them all with some spell that he'd 'overheard' where he tried to turn his water into rum... resulting in nothing more than a load of smoke and Seamus being left red-faced in embarrassment. They all shared a laugh and then talked about the usual stuff that young teenage wizards and witches talked about, Hermione just listened and nodded a few times not paying much attention, she was far too mature for her age but enjoyed the company and not sitting in a cabin on her own and it was nice to not be around Harry and Ron for a change with Harry moaning all the time and Ron saying something ridiculously stupid to try to cheer him up, it was nice to listen to something a bit different for a change.
When Hermione had got back from putting on her robes the three of them looked at her with a 'you're never going to believe this' look on their faces. She moved her eyes on each one of them and nervously sat down to where she had sat before. "What is it?" she asked as Neville gulped and looked at Seamus who shifted awkwardly and looked at Hermione. "Luna's just told us that there's going to be another defence against the dark arts teacher". Hermione relaxed a little, she had obviously been expecting the worst, it was what she always did. "That's not that bad. By the look on your faces I thought someone had been let out of Azkaban" she laughed. Neville shook his head "Luna's dad says that it's someone from the ministry" he said before adding; "And you know what the ministry are like, they're going to want to take over the school... and well... if it's true about... you-know-who returning... then how are we supposed to defe-" Seamus cut him off "That's all a load of bullshit Longbottom, he can't come back, Dumbledore told us all that ages ago". Neville still looked uncertain and Hermione just about managed to avoid arguing with Seamus. "Well it's not all that bad, come on that job is cursed. No one has ever lasted, who's to say this one will" Hermione said, quite impressed with how well she had reacted to Seamus basically calling Harry a liar. "I suppose you're right..." Neville said. The train finally came to a stop and they all headed out as they were greeted by Hagrid who guided them all up to the castle.
Hermione squeeled as she was poked in the ribs from behind, she turned around with her fist clenched in full force where a rather scared Ron looked "Whoa, it's only me, bloody hell" he said as Harry stood beside him laughing. She lowered her fist, not sure whether to hug them both or hex them. "And where have you two been!?" she yelled at them, looking at both of them annoyed. Harry's smile faded, "Sorry Hermione, I was going to return your letter but I've had a nightmare of a summer" he said looking rather tired and sighing as he scratched his head. She turned to look at Ron, 'I'm not even going to ask you' She turned back around and carried on walking to the castle, Harry and Ron both exchanged glances and shrugged, following behind her as they entered the great hall and sat in their houses on the benches.