Hermione rested her chin against the cold metal bar of the railing meant to keep people away from the train tracks. She listened to the train whistle and the other witches and wizards milling about, waiting to board. She wasn't too sure she could go through with it; Harry and Ron were going to be so upset. Her right hand was nervously playing with the note in her pocket; she had been given it through an owl earlier that week. In the distance she spotted a patch of red hair and freckles heading her direction. Ron had a goofy grin on his face and was being followed by the rest of the Weasley clan. Harry trailed behind, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. Hedgwig, Harry's lovely snow white owl, landed on the railing next to Hermione and hooted softly.
"There she is." Molly Weasley smiled as she wrapped Hermione up in a large hug, "Have a good summer dearie?"
Hermione smiled weakly at the woman, "Yes. May I speak with Harry and Ron privately for a moment?"
"Of course of course…" Mrs. Weasley ushered her group off to the ticket counter, leaving the two boys with her.
"Um, Hermione…where's your things?" Harry glanced around near his friend. "I don't see Crookshanks or any of your trunks…"
Hermione felt her eyes fill with tears, "I'm…uh, well not going this term."
"What?" Harry and Ron exclaimed almost in unison.
"I can't go. My mum and dad fell on hard times and I have to stay back to help them out. If I don't no one else will. They need me." Hermione began to sob softly as she lied to her friends. She despised liars and now she was one.
Ron sat down on the bench behind her with a pained look on his face, "What do you mean? But you won't be in our class anymore…you'll fall a year behind!"
"I know!" Hermione wiped her tears away with the sleeves of her jacket, "Don't you think I know that Ron? But I can't do anything…"
Harry just stared at her, almost analyzing her face for a few minutes before speaking. "Well, you have to help your folks out, no matter the cost."
Hermione knew Harry would be the first to understand, after all his parents died for him. She nodded and sniffled, "I just…wanted to say goodbye here in person. It just seems so unreal…and I'm going to miss you two."
Ron rifled through his pockets and handed her his handkerchief. "We'll all miss you too Hermione. It won't be the same."
One of the conductors called for an all aboard; Harry glanced at Ron, it was time to go. Hermione bit her bottom lip as she watched her friends board the train without her. She hated lying to them so much but Dumbledore's orders were specific, not to tell anyone why she wasn't headed off to Hogwarts this term. She tucked the note from the headmaster deeper into her pocket as the last few students boarded and the train let off a loud whistle, with puffs of steam coming from the stack.
"Goodbye." She said softly as the train began to pull out of the station. Ron and Harry were waving sorrowfully in the window as they passed her. Hermione waved a small, sad wave back and wiped away her tears with the handkerchief; there was no need for anyone else to see her performance. She carefully made her way to the cab call window, avoiding the Weasley family as much as she could; she didn't want to have to explain anything to them. The witch behind the counter called her a cab.
