Chapter One:
A perfectly happy and healthy Hermione stood casually observing the barrier in between platforms nine and ten, waiting for her chance to walk through. As a group of Muggles passed she took a deep breath, hugged her parents, and stepped through the solid wall and onto platform nine and three-quarters.
The Hogwarts Express was swarming with students, and she caught sight of a few of her year mates in the crowd. She looked around for Harry and Ron, not spotting them in the crush around the scarlet steam engine. Suddenly, a wave of familiar faces broke through.
"Hermione!" exclaimed a very excited batch of Weasleys. Molly and her only two children still attending the school rushed up to her, offering to help with her trunk. Hermione smiled as Mrs. Weasley gave her a motherly hug.
"Where's Mr. Weasley?" Hermione inquired.
"Arthur couldn't make it; he had to deal with a nasty outcropping of Snapping Mailboxes," Molly told her loudly, then, in an undertone, "Order business…"
"Thanks," Hermione said as they helped her load the trunk on to the train. She carried a basket containing her grumpy, bow-legged cat Crookshanks. "Have you seen Harry?" she asked Ron, who seemed more relieved than usual to see her. His bright red hair was tousled and he had slight shadows under his eyes; it didn't look as if he'd slept very well.
"Yeah, he stayed at the Burrow with us for the last couple of weeks. He's saving us a couple of seats on the train, he figured to save a compartment of our own before they were all taken."
"Good thinking, it would be awful to get stuck with Malfoy, wouldn't it?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes. "He makes me so angry sometimes, and it's been worse since last year," she said in disgust.
Ron agreed with her, looking uncomfortable as his ears turned slightly red. He stifled a yawn.
"Are you okay, Ron?" Hermione asked in concern. "It doesn't look like you slept very well."
"Yeah, just a bad dream," he replied in a would be carefree voice, but the further reddening of his ears showed how uncomfortable he really was.
"With Malfoy in it?" Hermione prodded, curious as to what kind of dream would affect Ron like this.
"Never mind," Ron said hurriedly. "Oh, we'd better get on the train," he said as the scarlet steam engine whistled a warning at them. "Coming, Ginny?" His younger sister scurried away from a few of her fifth year friends, red hair bouncing behind her, and joined them as they entered the train.
Half an hour later the trio sat happily conversing with friends they hadn't seen since last year, including Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Luna Lovegood. Luna was sitting in the corner, chattering ceaselessly about the Intersplock Bandercoots that her dad had discovered over the summer. Unfortunately they hadn't been able to catch a live specimen, as they were invisible.
Dean, Seamus, and Ron were having a heated argument about a Quidditch match that had been played over the summer; something about a player engaging in sexual acts with a referee.
"It was the Seeker!"
"No, the Beaters-both of them!" Ron said wisely.
Hermione and Neville were discussing a Herbology essay that had been assigned over the summer; Ginny listened to the various conversations alternately, adding a comment here and there.
Only Harry was quiet, he sat in the corner, violently biting the heads off of Chocolate Frogs.
"Harry?" Hermione asked quietly, slightly disturbed by his behavior. "Are you okay?"
"Wonderful," he replied, not looking it at all. Another Frog bit the dust, and Harry looked half-heartedly at the wizard card. It was a barbaric-looking wizard that brandished a club-like wand at him, and then gave him a rude gesture.
"C'mon Harry, lighten up. I know Sirius meant a lot to you, but a whole summer should have been enough time to start getting over it." Hermione decided that all Harry needed was a bit of tough love- everyone kept babying him all the time.
"Do you have any-" Harry began, fuming as Hermione braced herself.
"Fighting with your girlfriend, Potter?" a drawling voice asked. "Didn't just break up with him, did you?" Malfoy asked Hermione, "Because that would explain it."
"No, for your information, it was about Sirius," Hermione retorted. Draco's eyes sparkled maliciously.
"Ah yes, what a shame. My father told me all about that." A look of mocking 'pity' crossed his face.
"Before or after he was sent to Azkaban?" Hermione asked sharply. Malfoy's eyes narrowed.
"Don't you start on my father, Mudblood."
Ron turned around, finally snapping out of his conversation about Quidditch. "What did you just call her, you-"
"Who said I was starting anything?" Hermione asked innocently, cutting Ron off. "I was just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat, Granger." When Malfoy said this Hermione instinctively put her hand on the side of Crookshanks' basket. The cat hissed, yellow eyes glaring at him through the gaps in the wicker.
"Why are you still here, anyway?" Ron asked. "Don't you have better things to do?"
"Better than talking with you? As a matter of fact I do, pardon me as I go talk with Pansy."
"Oooh, that was low," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Malfoy smirked as he sauntered off.
The conversations trailed off as Neville, Seamus, Dean, and Luna left to change into their school robes.
"Harry-" Ron began, but Hermione shook her head.
'Leave him alone,' Hermione mouthed at him. Ron didn't look happy about it, but he didn't say anything else, either.
Harry continued to ignore everyone for the rest of the train ride, amassing a large collection of headless Frogs.
A/N: Review, s'il vous plait? Merci!
