Amnesia
Chapter 2- Beginning Again
"Okay Mione, do you remember Snape?" asks Ron sleepily.
"No." I reply.
"Well, he's the Potions master, and he's a slimy, greasy, horrible…" Ron starts.
It's around eleven o'clock the next night. After I arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Ron, Harry, and I spent the rest of the evening getting reacquainted. Harry and Ron kept telling me different stories about our school days, but I didn't remember anything. We had finally gone to bed around midnight.
Today Harry and Ron took me to Diagon Alley. It was beautiful, if rather empty. The boys made me rush though. They said it wasn't safe, so we had to hurry, and they would explain later. Well, later was now.
"Guys," I say, interrupting Ron's tirade against Snape, "Why is Diagon Alley unsafe? Why were there so few people?"
They look at me uneasily.
"Well," Harry starts, "do you remember anything about Voldemort?"
"Um, let's see," I say, thinking, "a little. Born Tom Marvolo Riddle, attended Hogwarts, son of-"
"Yes, yes, but do you remember what he's done?" Harry asks.
"She really is like a walking encyclopedia," states Ron, "attended Hogwarts 1950 through 1957, born to Starla and Robert Riddle in November of '40, favorite colour is death black-"
"Actually, that's all wrong. He wasn't born then, he was born in 1928, and attended Hogwarts in nineteen-" I start.
"Mione! Focus," says Harry. "Ron, don't bug her."
"Fine," grumbles Ron, "but you have to admit mate, it's kind of odd."
"Not really. It's Mione, after all. Now, Mione, do you remember anything Voldemort's done?"
"Well, no, unless he's the one that caused all those deaths in the Prophet." I say.
"Yes," Harry says, "that's him. He kills all who oppose him, muggles, and sometimes even his own followers."
"Death Eaters?" I interrupt.
"Yeah, Death Eaters," Harry replies, "that's why there were so few people in Diagon Alley. They're all scared he's going to come and attack, since it's usually full of witches and wizards."
"But soon," Ron interjects, "you'll be able to see Diagon Alley how it was, because Harry is going to kill Voldemort soon, along with you, me, and the Order!" With this, he stands up and shoots his fist into the air.
"I get that Harry's supposed to kill Voldemort, but what is the Order?" I ask.
"Only the best group of people to ever walk the planet!" Ron shouts.
"Okay mate, sit down," says Harry, "and Hermione, you had better get comfortable, because it's going to be a long night."
"Great!" says Ron excitedly, "I'll get some snacks, shall I? It's not a party unless there's snacks."
"C'mon Mione, we're gonna be late!" whines Ron.
"My trunk is packed and in the car," I say scoldingly, "so I am not making us late. I believe the boy who had six muffins for breakfast is." I look at him pointedly.
"Not fair!" he says, poking me as he runs outside.
"Ready Mione?" asks Harry as I reach the car.
"I guess so. Let's go to school." I say nervously.
We clamber into the car, and the driver starts driving. We stop behind a long line of cars, but magically, we find ourselves at the front of the line. Before I can even blink (or so it seems), we're almost at King's Cross.
"I don't see why we couldn't Apperate," grumbles Ron, "it'd be a lot easier. And faster."
I stare at him. It's been maybe four minutes, tops.
"Because Hermione can't remember how. She has amnesia. Or did you forget?" asks Harry, grinning.
"Ha ha, very funny," I say smiling slightly, "I don't think it's very nice to make fun of- oh no! We're here!"
Harry and Ron grin at each other.
"You'll be fine Mione, I promise." says Ron.
"Here, we'll carry your trunk," offers Harry, pulling it out of the boot.
"Okay. Thank you." I reply.
I follow Harry and Ron inside King's Cross.
"Okay, we'll follow each other," says Harry, stopping in between platforms nine and ten.
"But where is the platform?" I ask, looking around. It's too late though, I realize, turning back around. Harry and Ron are gone. Great. Now I'm stuck in Muggle London, by myself, with no memory, and no idea what to do. It's okay Hermione, you can do this, I tell myself. Just find the platform. 9 ¾. Obviously it's a wizarding thing, so asking someone won't help. Maybe I can just wave my wand around and-
"Hermione!"
I'M SAVED! I turn around, trying to see who called my name. I see two girls coming towards me.
"Hi Hermione!" they say, hugging me. "How was your summer?"
"Did you have fun?"
"Where's Harry and Ron?"
"Where's your trunk?"
I just stare. I can hardly understand what they're saying, they talk so fast.
"Um, my trunk," I say slowly, "is with Harry and Ron."
"Aw, how sweet!" they chorus together.
They each grab one of my arms and start pulling me to the wall between platforms nine and ten. They just keep chattering away, apparently not noticing the approaching wall. We get closer and closer, and I close my eyes, waiting to hit the wall, but nothing happens. I slowly open my eyes and see a huge scarlet train labeled Hogwarts Express. I roll my eyes. Duh Hermione. Of course the barrier is hidden in a wall.
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron shout as they both run towards me.
"Hi Harry, hi Ron!" chorus the girls.
"Padma, Parvati." The boys say, nodding their heads.
"We'll see you on the train!" the girls say together, waving as they walk away.
"Alright guys, I'm gonna go find a compartment. Ron, stay with her." Harry says, walking away.
"Okay Mione, do you recognize anyone?" Ron asks.
I look at him stupidly.
"Okay, okay, never mind," he says shaking his head, "well, there's Hannah Abbot, she's in Hufflepuff. There's Justin Finch-Fletchley. I personally think he's gay. Susan Bones, her aunt works in the Ministry, Zacharias Smith, he's a twat, oh! There's Lavender! Do you mind if I go say hi?" he asks, smoothing down his hair.
"No, go ahead," I say, smiling, "I'll go get on the train."
"Thanks Mione!" he says, heading towards a petite brunette.
I smile to myself and turn around towards the train. Hopefully I'll be inconspicuous. It's hard to pretend I know what's happening, when I don't know anyone's names, like with those twins, Padma and Parvati, or whatever.
"Hey Hermione!"
Ugh, not another friend. Why does everyone know me? I turn around to greet whoever is calling me.
"Hi!" I greet the tall young man coming towards me.
"How was your summer?" he asks.
"Well, you know, the usual!" I reply.
"Reading? That's just like you Hermione," joked the stranger, "I bet you spent all summer studying."
"Among other things." Like losing my memory.
"Are you walking to the compartment? I'll walk you there." the boy states.
"Actually, I was going to the Head's compartment." I reply. Where ever that is.
"Well, I'll walk you there then. Just let me…" he replies, running off to speak to a girl a few feet away.
"Luna! Hey!" he says to the girl, "could I have Trevor? Unless you want to watch him for a bit." he says hurriedly.
"No, I'm done with him Neville," replies the girl, Luna. "He's a very nice toad, which is rare, since toads come from the ancient Kabolas, which are known for their animosity towards others."
What total crap. Neville seems to be buying it though.
"Really? That's cool!" says Neville.
"Yes. He's probably so smart because his owner trained him so well. Goodbye Neville!" Luna says, waving.
"Thanks Luna," Neville replies, turning red, "I'll see you later!" They wave goodbye, and Neville jogs back over.
"So, shall we?" Neville asks, offering his arm.
"Lead the way!" I reply.
We board the train and walk down the corridor.
"So," I begin, "are you going to ask her out?"
Neville starts to cough. "What?"
"Luna. Are you going to ask her out?" I restate, "She seems very nice, and you both seem quite taken with each other."
"No," replies Neville, "I could never- I mean-"
"Just give it a shot," I say, "the worst she can do is say no."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," he says, looking hopeful, "then again, you always are."
"Ha ha, yep, that's me." Thankfully I'm saved from having to say anything more.
"Well, here we are!" he says, stopping in front of a compartment. "So, whenever you're done, we're in a compartment down the corridor to the left." He says, indicating with his hand. "You know, the usual crew."
"Right." I say. Who?
"Later Hermione! Oh, and congratulations on making Head. You'll do great." he says, starting to walk away. Then he turns around. "Be careful in there Mione." he says.
"Sure Neville." I say, smiling to comfort him. Why?
He smiles and walks away. I turn around and face the door labeled Heads. I turn the handle and walk inside. I see a few people sitting inside, who I'm guessing are prefects. A few of them mumble hello as I walk in and take a seat. I take a mental head count: nineteen people here, which means that we're waiting for seven more, plus the Head Boy. I sit and look at everyone. There are six kids here from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, respectfully, and four from Gryffindor, plus me. I'm just looking over the two from Slytherin when Ron and Lavender come in, along with four more Slytherins.
"Hey Mione!" Ron says, sitting down next to Lavender. I smile at him.
"Well, it looks like everyone's here, except the Head Boy, so I guess we'll get started. Hopefully he'll show up." I frown. Dumbledore can't have picked a very good Head Boy if he isn't even here on his first day. "Well, I'm sure we all know each other, but just in case we don't, let's introduce ourselves. I'm Hermione, and I'm Head Girl. Who's next?"
"Ron, 7th year prefect."
"Lavender Brown, 7th year prefect."
"Hannah Abbot."
"Ernie Macmillan."
"Padma Patil."
It goes on. I try to remember everyone's face to their name, knowing I'm expected to know them already. The last prefect is finishing up when a tall blonde bursts through the door.
"Thought you could start without me Granger?" he sneers at me.
"Ah," I say, "you must be Head Boy." I wonder why he's so cranky. "Could you introduce yourself to the new prefects?"
He glares at me. "They know who I am, Granger."
"Oh, um, okay. Well, could you please just, refresh their memories? They might not-"
No, Granger," he snaps at me, "you are obviously in a rush to get this meeting started, since you couldn't be bothered to wait for me. Let's not waste anymore of your precious time." He huffs and sits down next to a pug-faced girl, who I remember to be Pansy Parkinson.
"Um, alright then," I say, "as a prefect, it is your duty to be on your best behaviour and make sure that everyone is following the rules. You are allowed to dock house points, but keep in mind that this is a privilege, in order to enforce the rules, not a way to bully students. Now, there will be a longer meeting at the end of the week. As for now, each pair of seventh year prefects needs to patrol the train at the top of the hour, with Gryffindor first, then Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. That should bring us up until we get to Hogwarts. If, for some reason, we're delayed, the Head Boy and I will patrol. So, um, if there are no questions…"
"Excuse me," the pug faced girl says rudely, "I want to patrol with Draco." She whines, grabbing the blonde boys arm.
Ah, so that must be his name. "Well Pansy, seeing as Draco is Head Boy, and Blaise is the other Slytherin prefect, you're going to have to go with Blaise."
"Fine," she says, sticking her tongue out at me. "Let's go Blaise." She grabs his arm and pulls him out of the compartment.
"Well, I guess you can go," I say, 'except you Draco. Stay here."
I wait until everyone leaves, then turn to the sulking blonde in the corner.
"What exactly is your problem, Draco?" I ask.
He glares at me. "Oh, so it's Draco now, is it? Since we're Heads, now we have to be friends? Well, that sounds fantastic, Hermione. Hey, what are you doing tomorrow? We can have a tea party, maybe, and then we can sleepover in the common room and gossip over old issues of Witch Weekly." He smirks. "Somehow, I don't see that happening." He stands up and starts to leave, but stops at the door. "Later, Hermione." He says, turning around and slamming the door behind him.
Well. If that's how mean most of the Slytherins are, I'd hate to meet Malfoy. Harry and Ron told me he's the biggest git of all. I leave the compartment and head down the corridor to hang with "the usual crew." Great. More people I don't know. Ugh, I have no idea how I can pull this off.
So, chapter two, longer, as promised.
Thank you so much to my first two reviewers on chapter one. You guys know who you are. It means a lot to me that you reviewed. I hope you like this chapter as much as the last one! Opening Feast next…