Chapter 2 – Hogwarts Express
'Toot Toot'
Hermione stood alone with her huge trunk on platform 934 , waiting for Ginny or Luna or Cho. The 4 girls had become quite close in the summer, at least by owl and the occasional party at Luna's or Cho's. Luna was the first to show up, accompanied by her Uncle Tiberius, an aging wizard who had the look of an even more deranged Xenophelius Lovegood.
'There she is, the best witch of the next generation,' Tiberius basically sang as he pulled her into an embrace, 'we've missed you Hermione.'
'Yeah. Ok Tiberius. Enough.' Little did Tiberius know that Hermione detested him, with his odd thoughts and his creepy attitude toward women. Get off me you weirdo. Luna came to her rescue, apparently reading her mind.
'Come Uncle, you don't want to strangle Hermione to death now would you, the nargles would not like it if you did!' she jittered in her babyish voice that Hermione found quite irritating at times.
'Of course,' Tiberius reluctantly released Hermione to which she quickly suggested that herself and Luna board the train.
'I like that dress Hermione,' said Luna looking curiously at the skin tight black dress that sonly went down to Hermione's upper thigh, 'it suits you, I guess'
'Oh thanks Luna, same to you,' Hermione replied. Luna smiled at that. Hermione knew she was wearing one of her mother's old dresses.
Hermione had made the fatal error of joining Luna and her uncle for dinner one night where Tiberius had been a little over-welcoming. He had drunk a bottle of firewhisky and requested her hand in marriage for his great nephew Jonas as Hermione recalled it, so she had made sure to avoid him for the majority of the summer, even when she met Luna in Diagon Alley.
On the train they found a cosy little compartment and dropped their trunks. No sooner had they sat down than they were joined by Cho and an anxious looking Ginny.
'Cho! Gin!' Hermione called as she pulled them into a warm embrace 'you ok Gin?' Hermione said, noticing the worried look on Ginny's usually smiling face.
'yeah its just…' Ginny started and faltered.
'Oh just spit it out Ginny,' said Cho harshly.
'Its just… Ron doesn't want me to speak to you anymore…I don't know why but he, he…' Ginny broke down in tears, Hermione attempted to give her friend a hug, 'No,' said Ginny firmly 'im sorry 'mione, but we just can't be friends after whats happened.'
'Fine, I have to go to the head boy, head girl carriage anyway, enjoy your trip Luna.' Hermione stormed out of the carriage trying not to cry as she stormed down the train muttering to herself. 'That sleazy scumbag, why did he have to take Ginny away, oh for goodness sake.'
She reached her carriage and had a good look around. The walls were painted in the traditional silver of the Head boy and girl team. There were 6 sofas, with old oak tables and a nice mini-bar. She sat down with her head in her hands. Suddenly she heard the door open behind her and she quickly tried to dry her eyes and clean up her makeup.
'Oh please tell me you are not head girl,' she heard a familiar voice uttered.
She gasped in horror and turned to see the familiar pale figure of Draco Malfoy.
Oh god no, anyone but that monster.
'Do not speak to me you Death Eater filth,' Hermione spat at him.
Draco sauntered in and took a seat opposite Hermione, 'Mud-blood, looks like we'll be spending a whole lot of time together this year, you might want to stop calling me that,' he said cockily.
'And why should I you, you….' Luckily for Hermione, as she had no comeback for his over-confidence, McGonagall apparated into the carriage at that moment.
'Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, I trust we are getting on splendidly?' McGonagall said commandingly 'good, we will soon be joined by the senior prefect team so I expect a good example from the both of you, I just have a few things to…' she was reaching in and out of various pockets searching for something until she pulled out a scrap of parchment, 'ah yes, here it is, as Head boy and Head girl you will share a dormitory together, which is located behind the Veela portrait in the 7th corridor.' Draco smiled slightly at the thought of the beautiful Veela portrait, 'From here you will be expected to… Mr. Malfoy, are you listening?'
'Professor I was thinking if you just gave it to Granger she could just keep me in check?' He looked sweetly at Hermione, 'We all know I'll forget everything you say as soon as you leave the carriage?'
'I'm ok with it Professor,' scowled Hermione 'ill sort him out.'
'ah, ok then, Ernie bring them in.' she beckoned to Ernie Macmillan who led in 3 other young wizards into the carriage. 'I trust you know Mr Zabini, Mr. Macmillan, Miss Brown and Miss MacDougal.'
Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin sat as far away from Ernie (Hufflepuff), Lavender (Gryffindor) and Isobel (Ravenclaw) as possible.
'This is your senior prefect team, please delegate to them their necessary tasks. I am returning to Hogwarts to prepare the castle for the first years.' Said McGonagall, leaving Draco and Hermione in charge.
Draco immediately sat next to Blaise and they began talking.
'This is going to be a long year' thought Hermione.
