The whistle on the train blew warning the students to say their goodbyes. It was time to board. Hermione hugged Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. The older woman insisting that they all go to bed at decent hours. She then followed Ron and Harry on the train, squeezing through the abundance of younger students.

As the train rolled out of Kings Cross station so did all of Hermione's year she wasn't going to be the quite bookworm Hermione Granger, because there was more to her than that. She was going to show them who Hermione Granger really is. This year was going to be different.

Hermione had spent the summer in Grimmrald Place, along with the Weasley's and Harry. The pathetic excuse for a home. It was gorgeous at one time, sure. But now it had more cons than pros. It was so dirty, and old Hermione felt she was going to fall through the roof the first few weeks. It was rickety and just sad. Though that had been her home over the summer, and it was while she was there that she had made the decision to change. Not change HER, not really anyways. But change what people thought of her.

She had also made changes in her wardrobe. Following Harry and Ron throughout Diagon Ally, Hermione had also picked some extra things up for herself. She bought new robes, these ones nicer than her last, and considerably much more mature. She liked them. Along with her robes she bought some makeup. Not much, only some powder and a bit of mascara. Though she picked up some liner as an after thought. Figuring she'd keep that around for special occasions.

She didn't think the boys would even notice. But she was wrong. They had been acting slightly awkward around her all morning. Maybe she should have started with the makeup during the summer. Though it was too late to think of that now.

"Hermione?"Harry began, producing more of an awkward atmosphere."We're almost to Hogwarts. We should change into our school robes."

"Right, of course." Hermione said, closing her book and standing. She reached into a bag she had set aside just for her school clothes and began pulling out her robes.

They were almost finished changing when the compartment door opened, and in walked Fred and George. They said they were here checking how everyone was settling in. But Hermione knew they had come to talk to Harry, she knew Harry was the reason their joke shop was as successful as it was. Sure, Fred and George are brilliant, but they wouldn't have gotten this far, without financial help.

"Harry we need your opinion on our latest creation." Fred was sitting close to Harry showing him a piece of paper. Hermione ignored them. It wasn't her business. She finished dressing and sat down with her book. Fred may or may not have checked her out in her new school robes. She wasn't sure.

Fred and George appeared to be finished with their conversation with Harry and started towards the compartment door.

"Oh. Ronny did you forget something?" Fred and George asked in unison. Ron looked around him trying to figure out what he could possibly have forgotten. The twins just laughed.

"Well, Ginny already has a list of what she's forgotten. We thought we may as well collect yours."

After Ron assured them he couldn't think of anything, the twins left the compartment. Leaving the awkward trio alone again.

Hermione sighed, and picked up that years charm book. She began reading, her eyes traveling back and forth across the book. That is, until she noticed Ron's eyes in her direction.

Hermione didn't really like the attention from Ron. She didn't understand why makeup and new robes was all it took to make her suddenly interesting.

"Yes?" She asked. Daring him to express himself. He did not. After a few moments he acted as if nothing had happened. And so did she. Things were a lot easier between the three after that. It was as if challenging them to voice an issue was all it took. Of course they'd run from it. They were boys.

"Look, I can see Hogsmede from here" Ron said after some time of train slowed and pulled into the station. There was the usual buzz as the students made their way to their appropriate destinations. Hagrid's voice booming above the rest of the noise.

"First years! This way!" He would , Hermione and Harry, being 5th years, traveled toward the carriges which would pull them up to the castle.

They had already been in the castle for some time when the feast had started. Hermione sat drinking pumpkin juice, explaining to Ron and Harry what Professor Umbridge's speech meant, when her eyes drifted towards the Ravenclaw table. Luna, the girl from the carriages was in Ravenclaw, Hermione recalled. She was sitting next to Cho Chang.A popular girl with silky black hair,and dark brown liked Cho, everyone knew on the other hand had been very closed off since Cedric's all the time, Hermione understood she was sad. She understood it must be hard. But seeing her cry all the time, well it was a bit ridiculous.

Cho looked up and her eyes met Hermione's. The brunette frowned and looked away, confused by the eye contact and the intensity of it. More than anything else though, Hermione didn't understand why she was looking at Cho, and why Cho was looking back at her. Hermione brushed it aside and finished her conversation with the boys.

Everyone started standing, which signaled to Hermione dinner was over and it was time to head to the Common Rooms for some much needed sleep.

Hermione all but crawled up the stairs,fell on the bed and drifted off to of things she would forget by morning.

The next morning Hermione woke before anyone else in her dorm, and made her way down to the common room. In her opinion it is always best to start the day off with a book.

After about an hour or so, students stared to trickle down the stairs. Hermione waited for the boys, who came down a good 20 minutes after the early risers, and the three of them shuffled down to the Great Hall to feed Ron who was complaining of starvation.

Breakfast had ended long ago, as had several of the day's classes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in the school hallways, headed towards Transfiguration class with Professor McGonagall. They had emerged from the safety of the hallways and were immediately soaked by the downfall of rain. The trio found a secluded area and huddled underneath it. Hermione had just cast a warmth charm on her robes when she saw Cho enter the court yard as well. Slightly startled with the fact she had again noticed Cho Hermione forgot to offer the charm to the boys, both of whom hadn't thought to use it.

They were discussing Snape's class and his learning tactics when Cho had come over to them.

Cho engaged in conversation with Harry, and Hermione stood there awkwardly. She wanted to speak to Cho, she had an urge to, but didn't have the slightest idea of what to say.

Ron then started drilling Cho on the badge she was wearing and Hermione stood mortified at Ron's audacity. She waited until Cho left before yelling at Ron.

"You're so tactless!" She shouted at him. He on the other hand was oblivious to his crimes. So Hermione had to explain them to him, she made it seem like Cho just wanted to talk to Harry, which probably was the case. But Hermione was simply upset with Ron for how he treated Cho. Hermione was surprised she even cared. That was the 3rd time in 24 hours that Hermione had surprised herself, and each time involved Cho Chang