A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I just had an idea that I had to get out of my head. The rights gladly belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.

This will be the first part of a (hopefully) multi chapter update. Will be unable to upload for a couple of days (until Tuesday/Wednesday). Hope you enjoy it.

Hermione stayed in Ginny's room the next day. Ginny had come down at breakfast and announced that Hermione was sleeping in and didn't know when she would be down. Ron gave Harry a quizzical look, but Harry concentrated on his breakfast.

He had spent hours in the garden after Hermione had run into the house. It was past midnight before Harry walked back into the house and went up to bed, but his mind was still buzzing. He was still confused as he ate his breakfast in silence.

After he and Ron had finished, they made their way up to Ginny's room, but were rebuffed by the youngest Weasley child.

'She's still sleeping,' Ginny hissed. 'Leave her alone.'

Ron nodded and left to ascend the staircase towards his room, but Harry stayed put.

'Ginny, she's not sleeping,' Harry said knowingly. 'What's wrong with her?'

'She is sleeping,' Ginny insisted, and she closed the door behind her. 'Also, nothing is wrong with her. Why do you ask?'

'I've never known Hermione to still be asleep this late,' he said reasonably.

'Well, you two have been working pretty hard all summer. Let her sleep, she'll probably come down for lunch,' Ginny said placatingly, and Harry nodded before going up to Ron's room and grabbing a handful of books.

Harry spent the morning at the kitchen table reading up on defensive charm manipulation, and making notes. It seemed to Harry that he wasn't making a lot of headway. Some parts of the book were incredibly complicated, but he was sure that Hermione would be able to translate for him. It also didn't help that his mind kept wandering back to their kiss the night before.

Ginny's assertion that Hermione would join everyone for lunch turned out to be false. She didn't come down, and after eating, Ginny took a plate up for her. Harry caught Ginny's gaze, who merely shrugged and left the kitchen.

Harry tried to keep his mind off Hermione, but it was a futile exercise. Books were picked up, read for a few minutes and discarded, as Harry failed to keep his mind on his task. At dinner that evening, he ate a little, before excusing him and heading up to Ginny's room. He knocked on the door, but there wasn't any answer. He knocked again, but there was still no answer. Sighing angrily, he made his way up to Ron's room, stripped down to his underwear and decided to get an early night.

His dreams that night were filled with Hermione. She kept popping up in his dreams. He never saw her face, as she kept her back to him, but Harry was sure that it was her. He kept waking up periodically throughout the night, and swore that he heard movement on the stairs at about two in the morning.

Harry rose before anyone the next morning. He slipped into the bathroom and washed, before dressing in the semi darkness. The sun was barely above the horizon and there was birdsong in the air. He grabbed his wand and glasses and headed downstairs.

The back door was open, and he immediately pulled out his wand. He cautiously approached the open doorway and peered out into the garden. Hermione was sat on the dewy grass, with Crookshanks in her lap. Harry quietly slipped through the back door, and silently padded over to her.

'You can't ignore and avoid me forever,' he said simply, and Hermione jumped so much that Crookshanks was violently dislodged from her lap.

'Harry!' Hermione breathed heavily, her hand over her heart. 'You scared me.'

'It's true,' Harry continued. 'You can't avoid me forever.'

'I haven't been avoiding you,' she said, as Harry sat down next to her. She avoided looking at him.

'Really?' Harry asked her, a sarcastic tone in his voice. 'Seemed like it yesterday.'

'I was really tired,' she said. 'I just wanted to sleep.'

'So, it had nothing to do with the fact that you kissed me the day before yesterday?'

She still didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed upon Crookshanks, who was exploring the garden in the dim light.

'I didn't mean to do that,' she said plainly. Something pulled at Harry's heart. 'I don't know what happened.'

It was as if she wanted to push him away. Her voice was almost cold.

'Neither do I,' Harry admitted. 'I mean, I never thought...'

'Thought what?' Hermione interrupted.

'That you liked me,' Harry mumbled. 'Friends don't kiss like that.'

'True,' Hermione ceded. 'Friends don't kiss like that.'

There was a prolonged silence. Harry waited for her to speak again.

'I don't think that we should do that again,' she said candidly. 'It would make things... Complicated.'

Harry felt his heart break at her words. He knew, however, that she was right. Now wasn't the right time for things to become complicated.

'Okay,' Harry said levelly. She turned to face him. She had an inscrutable expression on her face. 'We won't.'

He paused and he could almost feel his body being pulled towards hers. To stop himself kissing her, he got up and left her alone in the garden. He spent breakfast with Ron and even went flying. He revised alone in the afternoon. Hermione was sat in the lounge, talking with Ginny and Mrs Weasley.

'What's happened?' Ron asked Harry just as Mrs Weasley bustled into the kitchen to start cooking dinner. 'Why aren't you and Hermione revising together?'

'She's really tired. I'm only carrying on because of...' Harry paused. He didn't want Mrs Weasley to know about the prophecy.

'Ah right,' Ron said, cottoning on quickly. 'Anything help?'

'Not really,' Harry admitted, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. 'I already know this stuff back to front. I can't see anything else.'

'Well, we'll be going back to Hogwarts in a couple of days, so maybe you'll be able to find more stuff in the Library,' Ron paused. 'Blimey, I'd never thought I'd say that.'

Despite his dour mood, Harry laughed. Truthfully, he'd never thought of or heard Ron talk about the Hogwarts' Library as anything other than a punishment. Now, with the prophecy and his own experiences, Harry was sure that the dusty library would be the ideal place to help arm himself and others against Voldemort. He doubted whether anywhere else had such an extensive collection of magical books.

Hermione sat at the far end of the table, and seemingly ignored Harry. Harry focused on his plate and Ron, who noticed nothing out of the ordinary, ate with gusto. Harry volunteered to help clear the table after everyone had finished eating. Ron, who had eaten enough food to last him a week, was laying down on the couch, massaging his full stomach. Hermione was nowhere to be seen and Ginny was with Bill and Mr Weasley discussing her chances for becoming Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year.

Harry strolled out into the garden. Hermione wasn't there. It was starting to get dark, and there was no light coming through Ginny's window. He doubted very much that she would be up there. He walked to the back of the garden and slipped through some foliage and onto the path that led to the paddock, where he and Ron flew. He quickly ran up the path and came to the paddock.

A figure was hovering about ten foot in the air. A broomstick was keeping them aloft, but the figure made no effort to take the broom higher, or even move. Harry could hear the rapid, heavy breathing and could almost feel the terror. He smiled slightly to himself. It was Hermione.

'Y'know, I probably should be annoyed at you for borrowing my Firebolt without permission,' Harry said loudly. Hermione gasped and turned around to face him.

'You scared me,' she hissed.

'Technically that's stealing,' Harry pointed out.

'I just wanted to "get back on the horse" as the Muggles say,' she said.

'I'm more curious as to how you managed to get it past me without me noticing,' Harry grinned.

She smiled embarrassedly back at him.

'I didn't think that you'd mind,' she said sheepishly. 'I just wondered if I could finally get over my fear of flying. I mean, it's been five years.'

'How I about I give you a lesson?' Harry asked her, and she considered him for a minute.

She nodded and leant forward on the broom directing the handle towards the ground, and she lowered slowly. Her feet touched the grass and she clumsily dismounted. Harry chuckled and strode up to her. He grabbed the Firebolt's handle and swung his leg over it.

'Right first lesson,' he said. 'We need to get you over your fear of flying. Climb on behind me.'

Hermione hesitated. She thought that there would a bit of show and tell before actually flying. Deciding to trust Harry, she slowly mounted the broomstick behind him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his chest and held on for dear life.

'Maybe you should loosened your hold Hermione,' Harry winced. 'I can barely breathe already.'

'Sorry,' she muttered.

Her grip loosened enough for Harry to breathe normally, but it was still quite tight. Harry kicked off from the ground and they shot into the air at speed. Harry stopped the broom just high enough for them to graze the tops of the trees surrounding the paddock. Hermione whimpered a little.

'Don't worry Hermione,' Harry whispered. 'You'll be fine. I'm just going to go into a little dive, and start doing some laps of the paddock. Nothing too fast.'

She didn't reply, but nodded against his back. Harry grinned to himself. He dived. The Firebolt reacted impeccably, and after about ten feet, he levelled the broom out and began to lap the paddock. They weren't going particularly fast, but Hermione's grip around him wasn't loosening in the slightest. After about ten minutes of dizzying laps of the paddock, Harry touched down, and helped Hermione climb off.

'That's it?' Hermione asked, and Harry swore that he could heard a touch of disappointment.

'Why did you want to ride my broom?' Harry asked. 'I'm not buying the whole learning to fly stuff either. Your grip didn't loosen a bit while we were in the air.'

His tone wasn't accusatory, rather, it was more curious than anything, but it seemed to humble her a little.

'I just wanted to know how flying made you so...' Hermione paused. 'When you're up there, it looks like you don't have a care in the world. I just wanted to know...'

'If that it would work for you?' Harry deduced and she nodded.

'You look so peaceful in the air. Even in a Quidditch match,' she said. 'I know you're concentrating, but stuff like Voldemort doesn't seem to affect you. You just focus on the task at hand. I saw you the other day, before I nearly fell off Ron's broom. You were so relaxed! I just wanted to feel like that.'

Her voice had tailed off, but Harry frowned at her.

'I always thought books did the same for you that flying does for me?' Harry asked.

'Normally they do,' Hermione said. 'I tried to read when I was really tired. I couldn't sleep, and I thought that reading a book would help clear my head, but it didn't work.'

'What was on your mind?' Harry asked, his heart was suddenly and inexplicably beating faster.

'Our...' Hermione hesitated, and Harry immediately knew what she was trying to get at. Their kiss.

'I don't want anything to change,' she pleaded. 'I don't know what came over me!'

'It doesn't matter,' Harry said quickly, and she threw him a quizzical look. The desire to tell her he loved her tore at his inside, almost ripping him apart. 'You kissed me. It's fine. I've kissed you, remember?'

'That was different,' Hermione said dismissively. 'You kissed me on the forehead. I kissed you on the lips! Friends don't kiss friends on the lips. I just...'

'Hermione, I'm not going to stop being your friend because you kissed me,' he told her calmly. 'I was just surprised, because I never thought that you thought of me like that.'

She hesitated.

'You've changed recently,' she whispered. 'It's not like... I liked the old Harry... As a friend...'

She was shuffling like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar, and it was so endearing and cute, Harry couldn't help but laugh.

'What?' Hermione asked, looking a little hurt. 'Why are you laughing at me?'

'It's not that,' Harry reassured her. 'I know what you're trying to get at.'

She nodded and he closed the small gap between them and pulled her into a hug.

'Don't worry, Hermione,' he said softly.

She couldn't know how much it was hurting him right now to not admit his feelings, but he had a job to do. He had to stop Voldemort before it was too late. Hermione would be in more danger if they became something else. She was in enough danger as it was. The incident in Diagon Alley had proved that.

'What happens now?' Hermione asked softly, her voice slightly muffled by Harry's chest.

'We carry on as we used to. There's some stuff I still want to go over. I tried revising it without you, but it just sounds like nonsense. I can't make head nor tail out of it.'

'Okay,' she said, nodding her head. 'We'll go over it after breakfast tomorrow morning?'

'Sure,' Harry said. 'Just promise me one thing?'

'What?'

'You don't take my broom and try to fly,' he joked and she giggled.

'Okay,' she said.

They broke apart and slowly made their way back to the Burrow. As they entered through the back door, Mrs Weasley shrieked.

'Where have you been?' Molly screamed at them. 'I've had half the Order looking for you two! Everyone is searching for you! You both had us worried sick. We half thought that Death Eaters had taken you!'

'We were in the paddock,' Harry told her calmly. 'Hermione wanted to practice flying.'

'At eleven in the evening?' Mrs Weasley screeched incredulously. At that moment, Ron and Ginny came pelting into the kitchen.

'What?' Harry asked. 'I saw Hermione walking towards the paddock with my Firebolt.'

That wasn't strictly true, but Harry didn't want to admit that he looked for Hermione because he was worried about her.

'How the hell did she manage to get your Firebolt?' Ron asked.

'I crept into your room and borrowed it. I didn't think Harry would mind,' Hermione said meekly.

'I was curious as to why Hermione would want to fly in the first place,' Harry explained. 'Especially after what happened last time.'

Ron gave Harry a knowing look and a nod, Ginny however looked perplexed.

'What happened?'

'Long story,' Ron said shortly. He didn't feel that Harry needed to be shouted at for inadvertently endangering Hermione's life, especially as he was already in trouble.

'Well,' Mrs Weasley said hotly. 'Next time, you can wait until morning. Flying at eleven in the evening is totally out of the question. I mean, what if Death Eaters did attack?'

'I'd fight back,' Harry said shortly. 'They'd regret it.'

They all stared at him. They'd never heard the callousness in his voice before. It was as if Harry was prepared to torture the Death Eaters.

'Well,' Mrs Weasley said, clearly flustered. 'Why don't you all go and get ready for bed?'

'Okay,' they all said at once, before leaving Mrs Weasley alone in the kitchen.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny trooped up the stairs in silence. Ginny opened her bedroom door, and went inside while Ron carried on up the stairs. Hermione grabbed Harry's wrist and pulled him into a brief hug before following Ginny. Harry, a little dazedly, followed Ron up the stairs and almost collapsed onto the camp bed.

What am I doing? Harry thought to himself. I can't get involved. She'll be in too much danger!

'Night,' Ron said placidly as he pulled off his shirt and climbed into bed. Within minutes, he was snoring.

Harry was too preoccupied to sleep. Half of him wanted to run away back to his own time, abandoning the plan that he and his Hermione had taken so long to prepare. But, that would mean that she had died in vain, and Harry couldn't stomach the thought of that. If anything, this time around, Hermione would live. He would make sure of that. He didn't care if he died, but Hermione was going to live.

However, the other half wanted to stay and confess his true feelings for Hermione. He wanted to stay and alter time, and live a life that he felt he had been denied. He wanted what he knew he could never really have. Hopefully, if his plan worked then he might be able to go back to a future where he had a life. No matter what it was.

Harry huffed angrily, rolled over on his camp bed and closed his eyes. He must have been more tired than he thought. Sleep washed over him like a wave, bring with it images and visions of Hermione and seemingly happy times. When he awoke the next morning, he had a grin on his face, which was quickly quashed. He couldn't allow himself to continue to think of what might be with Hermione. He had to focus on his mission.

After a hearty breakfast, as was mandatory at the Burrow, Mrs Weasley chided Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny into start their packing for the new Hogwarts year. Term started the next day and Mrs Weasley didn't want anything to be missed.

It turned out to be good advice. Harry had ordered quite a few books via owl order over the summer and it took most of the day to track down all of his possessions and pack them.

'Y'know,' Ron said, midway through the afternoon just as Mrs Weasley was leaving his room, after depositing two large piles of clean washing on their beds. 'I think you've got more books than Hermione, mate.'

'She's got more,' Harry replied, as he tucked his robes into a separate compartment of his trunk that he had dedicated to just his clothes. The last lock remained secure and untouched. 'We were curious about that a week ago and decided to count. She's got five more books than me, but she's taking more subjects isn't she?'

'Not what I meant mate,' Ron chuckled. 'At least your books are full of the good stuff, like curses and jinxes. Hermione's books are about Ancient Runes.'

He wrinkled his nose and Harry frowned.

'She likes that subject Ron,' he chided.

'Yeah,' Ron replied offhandedly, a pair of socks in his hand. 'It must be boring as hel thoughl. I've seen her books.'

'Don't let her hear you say that,' Harry warned and Ron laughed.

'Don't worry, I won't,' Ron assured him. 'Don't tell her this, but I'm kind of scared at how good she is at Transfiguration. I don't want to be turned into a slug of something.'

'Just your luck that we learn about human Transfiguration this year then,' Harry laughed, and Ron paled a little.

'I won't get on her bad side.'

'I wouldn't bet on that,' Harry chuckled and, after a moment, Ron did too.

'Maybe,' he said with a grin. 'Did you read all the books we've been assigned this year?'

'Mostly,' Harry said. 'The Defence Against the Secretly Darkest Arts book got read the most, but there was some interesting stuff in the Transfiguration and Charms books.'

'Huh,' Ron said. 'Maybe I should have checked them out then?'

'Maybe,' Harry said absently. 'Why break tradition though?'

Ron laughed.

'I'm never one to break with tradition, me,' he said. 'Besides, now, I'll have two friends to help me out when I have no clue what is going on.'

'Don't bet on it,' Harry joked. 'I had to have Hermione translate most of it for me.'

They both laughed and continued to pack.

Since making his deal with Hermione, Harry had taken the time to talk to Ron, and he was starting to feel the warmth he felt for him before Voldemort turned him. It was a nice feeling. It felt like he had finally gotten his friend back.

That night, Mrs Weasley cooked up a sumptuous feast for them to devour. Harry, Hermione and the Weasley's were joined by members of the Order and, as such, ate outside. It was a nice feeling. Harry was sat between Ron and Hermione and was joking and laughing with everyone. Fred and George were showing off the latest line of merchandise that they had developed, Shrieking Sherbet Lemons, which caused the unsuspecting target to shriek like a banshee every time they opened their mouth.

Ron had been caught out, and everyone, with the exception of Mrs Weasley, howled with laughter as Ron tried to talk, but continued to shriek. Fred assured him that the effects would wear off within the hour, and Ron spent the rest of the hour in forced silence. Harry vowed never to take anything off anyone, and briefly considered adopting Moody's approach to food and water.

Hermione was chatting with Ginny when her hand slipped off her leg and brushed Harry's. Unconsciously, he took it in his own and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. It wasn't until she squeezed his hand slightly that he realised that he was holding hers.

He delicately extracted his hand, and stood up to collect the empty plates. He carried them into the kitchen and placed them in the sink. Unbeknownst to him, Hermione had followed him.

'You can hold my hand if you want to Harry,' she said softly.

'Huh,' Harry replied, his concentration on the plates.

'I said you can hold my hand if you want to,' she repeated clearly.

'To be honest I didn't realise that I'd done it,' Harry admitted, and something flitted over her face.

'Like I said, you can hold my hand if you want to,' she grinned at him, and went back outside.

Harry sighed and leant against the sink. He needed to be more careful. It seemed that Hermione was ready to push for a relationship and although Harry really wanted that, he wanted to be sure of her safety first. If he kept holding her hand, like he had become accustomed to with his own Hermione, she might take that as a sign that he was ready to change the nature of their relationship, from friendship into something more.

She was not to be put in danger, he told himself. At all costs, she is to survive.

Harry rejoined the group outside and sat himself down for dessert. Hermione's hand "innocuously" brushed his hand, but he mastered the urge and impulse to automatically take it. After a moment or two, Hermione's hand returned to her leg.

Harry inwardly sighed. He wanted to give in so much, but too much was at stake. He needed to protect her. He ate his dessert in silence, and left the table before anyone else, and made his way up to Ron's room. He undressed and climbed into bed. There was a small knock at the door, and Hermione poked her head inside.

'What's wrong?' Hermione asked softly.

'I can't,' Harry said shortly. 'I don't want to...'

'Don't want to what?' Her voice had hardened slightly. He could hear the hurt in her voice.

'I don't want to get you hurt,' he admitted.

'Harry, that's not your call,' she said simply.

'It is,' he said stiffly. 'If we start something, then Voldemort might find out and I don't want you in any more danger than you're already in.'

'I want to take the risk,' she told him. 'I don't care.'

'I can't have you in danger,' Harry said shortly.

'I don't...' Hermione started, but something in Harry snapped.

'No!' Harry shouted. 'No! I will NOT have you in danger!'

She looked a little taken aback. It had taken every last bit of restraint on Harry's part to stop himself accidentally blurting out information that he didn't want her to hear. Silently, she withdrew her head and closed the door. Harry groaned and flopped back onto the camp bed.

'Brilliant,' he muttered to himself. 'Now, she's going to hate me.'

Harry's night was restless, and disturbed. Hermione kept popping in and out of his dreams, and it was with ill grace that he got up the next morning. He showered and dressed in a jeans and tee. He'd change on the train, as was his custom.

Harry didn't have a chance to talk to Hermione all morning. There was a lot of hubbub in the Burrow. Two Ministry cars arrived at nine to take them to King's Cross. One was full of Aurors and the other was reserved for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Mr and Mrs Weasley, and the trunks and familiars.

Even along the journey, Ron kept Harry occupied with a whispered discussion about DA lessons, and Hermione seemed to be deliberately keeping herself immersed in conversation with Ginny. They got to King's Cross station at half past ten. Mr Weasley and the Aurors got trolleys for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, and helped stack the heavy trunks onto them.

As they approached the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, an Auror appeared either side of Harry.

'We will go through with Potter first,' one of the Aurors told Mr Weasley, who nodded.

'I'm perfectly capable of going through on my own,' Harry snapped testily. He was in a very bad mood, his outburst at Hermione still playing on his mind.

The Aurors ignored him and escorted him through the barrier and almost frogmarched him to the train. They heaved his trunk onto the train and one went to deal with the trolley while the other waited with Harry, who was waiting for the others. Ron and Hermione came through the barrier after Harry, while Mr and Mrs Weasley came through with Ginny. Two more Aurors came through the barrier after them, and as a large group, they made their way over to the train.

Once all their trunks and things were aboard the Hogwarts Express, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny said their last goodbyes to Mr and Mrs Weasley.

'Thanks for having me over Mrs Weasley,' Harry said, as Mrs Weasley crushed him in a tight hug.

'Any time dear. You're welcome to come over for Christmas as always, just let us know.' She let go of him and beamed at him.

They stepped onto the train, and heard a whistle sound. Hermione turned on her heel and started to walk towards the prefect's carriages. Ron flashed a confused look at Harry, who shook his head, before following. Harry and Ginny grabbed their trunks and began to look for an empty carriage. They eventually found the compartment where Luna and Neville were sitting. Harry opened the door and stepped inside.

'Hiya Harry,' Neville said happily. 'Had a good summer?'

Something pulled at Harry's insides. Harry decided on a broad version of the truth.

'It was okay,' Harry said. 'You?'

'Really good actually. I got a new wand, look.' Neville pulled a wand out of his jeans pocket. 'Thirteen inches, made of cherry, with a unicorn hair core. Good, eh?'

Yeah,' Harry said, vaguely remembering Neville's old wand snapping in the Department of Mysteries. 'Didn't your Gran mind Neville?'

'Well, she was annoyed that Dad's wand got broken, but she was proud that I'd fought at the Ministry. She said that it was something that my Dad would have done, and that she was proud of me.'

'Cool,' Harry said, grinning at Neville who grinned back. 'What about you Luna? Have a good summer?'

'Oh yes,' she said breathily. 'Me and father went to Sweden to try and find a Crumple-Horned Snorkack. We didn't actually see one, but there were some really encouraging signs.'

Harry looked at Neville and they both had to fight back laughs. Luna was obsessed with her father's outlandish thoughts and ideas. The compartment door opened and a group of giggling girls stared at Harry.

'Hi Harry,' one of them said.

'Err, hello,' Harry replied awkwardly.

'Would you like to join us,' the girl asked, fluttering her eyelashes a little.

'I'm fine thanks,' Harry replied coldly. 'I'm with my friends.'

If she was taken aback, she didn't show it or miss a beat.

'These are your friends?' Her tone was incredulous.

'Yeah,' Harry replied angrily. 'Got a problem with that?'

'Err, no,' she said abashedly and she quickly left with her friends.

'Friends,' Luna repeated dreamily. 'I like that I'm your friend, Harry.'

'Well,' Harry said embarrassedly. 'You are.'

'People will think that you should have cooler friends than us,' Neville said baldly.

'You are cool,' Harry said crisply. 'They wouldn't have gone to the Ministry with me.'

Or died fighting Voldemort to protect me, Harry added in his head.

'Thanks,' Neville said quietly. 'I'm just sorry that I destroyed that prophecy.'

'Don't worry about it,' Harry told him quickly. 'The main thing is that we all got out of there alive.'

Ginny and Neville nodded. Luna, however, pulled a copy of the Quibbler out of her bag and began to read it, while humming slightly tunelessly to herself. Harry fought back a laugh, and began talking about Quiddtich with Neville and Ginny. About an hour later, the witch who pushed the lunch trolley opened their compartment door.

'Anything off the trolley dears?'

Harry jumped up and bought a little of everything. He knew that Ron and Hermione would turn up soon.

After paying the witch nine sickles and three knuts, he poured the sweets onto a free chair and grabbed a chocolate frog before sitting back down. As he knew they would, Ron and Hermione entered the compartment not long after. Harry threw a chocolate frog into the air and Ron caught it as he passed. Hermione completely ignored him and his proffered chocolate cauldron and sat between Luna and Ginny.

'What have you done?' Ron asked Harry quietly.

'Don't want to talk about it,' Harry replied shortly, and he busied himself with handing Neville a pack of liquorice wands.

The rest of the journey passed by in a tense silence. Hermione was determinedly avoiding all eye contact and conversation with Harry, preferring to talk to just Luna and Ginny.

Mid way through the afternoon, the unappealing sight of Draco Malfoy and his henchman, Crabbe and Goyle appeared in the doorway.

'Well well,' Malfoy drawled. 'If it isn't the Boy Who.. whatever.'

He grinned maliciously at them.

'Oh and his faithful sidekicks, the blood traitor Weasley and the Mud...'

BANG!

Malfoy was thrown across the corridor, and landed in a crumpled heap. The glass door which he had been blasted into was cracked. Crabbe and Goyle looked shocked. Harry was on his feet, his wand raised, pointing it at Malfoy.

Crabbe and Goyle moved towards Harry's their fists raised, but he turned his wand on them.

'Move one more step and I'll hex you,' he growled so menacingly that they stopped dead. Harry retrained his wand on Malfoy who was stirring feebly.

'You will not call Hermione or any other Muggle-Born a Mudblood,' Harry hissed.

Blood was pumping violently around his body, and he could hear the blood pounding in his ears. His rage had propelled him to his feet faster than anything, and he didn't even care about the stunned audience around him.

'If I EVER hear you call a Muggle-Born a Mudblood, I will curse you so badly that your mother won't be able to recognise you. Oh, one more thing, if your father still in Azkaban? I mean, I might have fought him again in Diagon Alley. I didn't exactly stop for a chat...'

Harry stepped back into the compartment and closed the door on Crabbe and Goyle's still stunned faces.

'You shouldn't have done that Harry,' Hermione said quietly.

'I don't care. He shouldn't have tried to call you a Mudblood,' Harry said testily. 'I'm sick of him calling you, or anyone else, that foul word. I've had enough. I'm not going to stand for any crap this year.'

'Blimey Harry,' Ron saw, clearly awed. He grabbed another chocolate frog and stuffed it into his mouth. 'You'll probably get detention.'

'Who cares?' Harry asked savagely. 'It's worth it.'

The rest of the journey passed by in near silence. Neville was concentrating on his new plant, a present from his uncle, and Luna was reading the Quibbler. Hermione and Ginny were quietly talking about O.W.L's, while Ron and Harry discussed Gryffindor's chances for the Quidditch cup, now that Katie Bell was, presumably, captain. Neither had been sent the Captain's badge.

As the sky darkened, they all changed into their school robes, and made sure that their possessions were ready to be taken off the train. The train slowly entered Hogsmede station and as a group they all disembarked. Harry carried his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the platform and left it to the side. Hogwarts' house elves would presumably take the luggage up to the castle, while all the students were at the feast.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna all made their way through the crowds and to the carriages which were tethered to the school's Thestrals. Managing to get a carriage to themselves, they all piled inside and, at once, the carriage took off towards the castle.

As the sight of the castle came into view, Harry looked up at the familiar turrets and towers and felt a warmth spread over him. He was home. Even after all these years, Hogwarts always gave him a sense of security.

The carriage trundled up the path and stopped outside the doors leading to the entrance hall. As they clambered out and stepped up the stairs, Harry heard his name called out over the sea of heads.

'Potter!' It was Professor McGonagall.

'Told you,' Ron said. 'Good luck.'

Harry nodded and disentangled himself from the crowd and followed McGonagall into the nearest classroom.

'I heard that there was an altercation on the train,' she said firmly. 'You and Mister Malfoy.'

'I hexed him. Medium to low level Blasting hex. He was thrown across the corridor. He tried to call Hermione a Mudblood,' Harry's tone was flat, almost bored.

McGonagall's face blanched for a moment. It was clear that she didn't expect Harry to be so aloof.

'That may be Potter,' she said. 'But, Malfoy is a Prefect.'

'I don't care,' Harry said flatly. 'If anyone calls my friend a Mudblood, I'll hex them too.'

'Potter,' she warned. 'The use of magic outside classrooms is strictly prohibited. As it is, you are facing a detention for use of magic outside a classroom. As you attacked Mister Malfoy, I have to give you a punishment, despite your very valid reasons for using magic. You will serve a detention for this. Saturday night, with Hagrid. Also, ten points will be deducted from Gryffindor.'

Harry nodded and left the classroom, McGonagall right behind him. Harry entered the Great Hall and sat on Ron's left. Hermione was sat on Ron's right. The Sorting Hat had just finished it's song.

Professor McGonagall started to read out the names of the new first years and one by one they stepped forward and tried on the Sorting Hat, with each student Sorted into a house. It seemed to take a long time to Harry, he was starving. Ron's stomach growled rather audibly, and Harry knew he was hungry too. Hermione's face was turned to the Sorting and Harry couldn't see her expression.

He knew that Hermione had every right to be angry with him. If he was being honest, he was annoyed at himself for snapping at her. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel that she was better off not in a relationship with him. He was too dangerous.

The Sorting finally finished, and Ron grabbed his cutlery and looked expectantly at his plate. Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands.

'Begin!'

Immediately, food appeared on the golden platters, and Harry immediately busied himself with loading his plate with lamb chops, roast potatoes and a few greens. He tucked in and turned his head to glance at Ron. Harry snorted so violently, he nearly spat his food back onto his plate.

Ron's cheeks had turned a little pink at the strain they were under. He had evidently tried to consume a whole plate of mashed potato all at once, but he was having a hard time chewing and swallowing. Harry slowly chewed his own food and swallowed, before letting out a shout of laughter. After a moment or two, Ron swallowed and sighed.

'Disgusting,' Hermione muttered as she elegantly ate her own meal. Ron, who clearly hadn't learnt his lesson, started to fill his mouth with beef.

The feast passed by in a haze of laughter, and the scraping of cutlery on plates and goblets hitting the wooden tables. Eventually, when the level of noise had perceptibly risen, Dumbledore rose to his feet, and the student body became quiet and watchful.

'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!' Dumbledore beamed at them all. 'I hope you're all well fed and watered after that sumptuous feast. Now, a few things before bed. Ah yes...'

He cleared his throat.

'Any and all Weasley Wizarding Wheezes products have been banned by Mr Filch. I believe that takes the number of restricted items up to five hundred and forty eight. As always, the Forbidden Forest is off limits for all students! Also we, like so many previous years, have a couple of staffing changes. Firstly, I would like to welcome Professor Slughorn, who has kindly consented to return to the school to teach Potions...'

A portly man with a thick, bushy moustache stood up, gave a small wave and sat back down, but there was an outbreak of muttering. Why was this man teaching Potions? Snape was sat at the teacher's table, a smug expression on his face.

'Meanwhile,' Dumbledore called over the humming chatter. 'Professor Snape has agreed to teach Defence Against The Dark Arts this year...'

There was an eruption of cheers from the Slytherin table, and Snape smiled in a self-satisfied manner. Just looking at him made want Harry to punch or curse him. Eventually the Slytherin's cheers died down.

'Now, I think it's time you all got off to bed,' Dumbledore continued. 'You all need to be rested for your lessons in the morning. Good night.'

Immediately, the students pushed away from the tables and Hermione jumped to her feet and called down the table.

'First years, this way,' she called down the table.

The group of Gryffindor first years unconfidently stepped towards her, and none of them seemed to want to lead the pack. Hermione kindly chivvied them forward, while Ron and Harry took their well travelled shortcuts up to Gryffindor tower. They quickly found themselves in front of the Fat Lady.

'Password,' she asked, her voice unemotional.

'Aegis,' Ron said and the Fat Lady's portrait swung forward to reveal the Gryffindor portrait hole. Harry and Ron scrambled through it, crossed the cosy-as-always Gryffindor common room, and up the stairs to their dormitory, which had a plaque on it ,which now read "sixth years."

Harry and Ron were the first ones to reach their dormitory. They quickly changed into their pyjamas and climbed into their four poster beds.

'Going to tell me why Hermione is pissed off at you?' Ron asked quietly as Dean and Seamus had just entered the room.

'No,' Harry said flatly. 'It's personal.'

Ron looked taken aback.

'Why can't you tell me?'

'Because, it's complicated, and I don't really want to go into it right now,' Harry hissed. Ron looked slightly mollified and he bade everyone good night before closing his four poster's hangings with a wave of his wand.

Harry did the same, but lay awake for at least an hour. Sleep eventually took him but, yet again, Hermione intruded in his dreams.