AN: So yeah, I'm updating while I'm hiding in my room from the family. But that's okay, writing is way better than cousins.

Chapter 4

Dead Leaves and the dirty ground

The summer had passed far too quickly for Hermione's tastes. The weather was turning cold and herself, Harry and the two youngest Weasley's were getting ready to go back to Hogwarts. Fred and George had moved back into their flat since it was finally fixed but Hermione had already been to visit them, with the rest of the Weasleys and Harry. The joke shop looked amazing, and she had grudgingly complimented them on it, hoping that they wouldn't get too big headed.

While they had been in Diagon Alley, Harry had spotted Draco Malfoy sneaking into Knockturn Alley. He had immediately thought that Malfoy was up to something and insisted that he, Hermione and Ron followed him. They had found Malfoy in a dingy little store doing, what sounded like, a business transaction.

They had returned to the Weasley's, hoping to be unnoticed but Hermione saw George watching them out of the corner of his eye as they crept into the shop. Fred had later quietly came up to her and said, "Don't worry, we distracted them while you guys snuck out."

"Thanks," Hermione whispered back. "I hope you didn't do anything too terrible to them."

Fred chuckled. "No," He said, "But Ginny might not forgive us for a while."

"Fred!" Hermione tried to shove him backwards but he stayed leaning against the shelf. "What did you do to your poor sister?"

"Oh, nothing too harsh." Fred grinned but quickly changed the subject when he saw the glint in her eye. "So… You happy to be going back to Hogwarts?"

"No, not really." She said as she turned to study one of the products on the shelf.

Fred looked shocked. "The famous Hermione Granger isn't excited to go back to Hogwarts? The world must be coming to an end!"

She chuckled. "No, it's not…" She said. "It's just not as interesting as it once was. The class just seems to move at a very slow pace. I can't stand it sometimes."

"Well, considering you could be teaching some of those classes, I'm not surprised." Fred said. "But you never know, things might be better this year."

She glanced at him but before he could elaborate, Mrs. Weasley had called them. The rest of the shopping trip had continued without a hitch and Hermione soon found herself packing in Ginny's room, then boarding the Hogwarts Express.

She had not had another chance to see the twins and she rather regretted it. But, there was nothing that she could do now as she was stuck the prefect's compartment, watching the rain fall onto the windows.

The rest of the prefects were eagerly discussing what they would be doing in the coming year. The head boy and girl had stopped in to give them all pointers and suggestions but they hadn't stayed long. The train trip was turning out to be rather boring. Suddenly, she saw a fat owl struggling to make it's way through the rain. It attempted to get a hold of the window of her compartment.

Hermione quickly slid the window up so the bird could enter. Everyone shivered as the cold wind entered the compartment. The owl was the oddest-looking bird that she'd ever seen. It was mostly grey but had electric blue circles around each eye. It hopped over to her and stuck out its leg so that she could take the letter that was attached to it.

"Hey, that's Fred and George's owl!" Said Ron, "Why's it coming to you?"

Hermione quickly skimmed the letter before tucking it away. "Apparently I left a book at their shop. They just wanted to know if I needed it."

"Why's the owl still here?" Asked one of the other prefects.

"Shame," Hermione defended it. "Let it rest while it's raining out there." The prefects all stared at her. She cleared her throat. "I'm just going to go do the rounds to see if everyone's alright."

She left quickly, sliding the door shut behind her. The owl sat perched on her shoulder and people stared at it as she passed them. She quickly found an empty toilet cubicle and locked herself in it.

She withdrew the piece of parchment from the back of her jeans pocket. Her fingers trembled as she read the words again. It was a way of getting past the floo block the school had put up! She had no idea how Fred and George managed to get a hold of such information but evidentially they did. This was going to make the year a whole lot more interesting!

Hermione had managed to scribble a quick thank you note to Fred and George for the passwords before the train began to pull into Hogsmead station. She forced her way through the throngs of students exiting the train, trying to get back to the prefect's compartment. When she got there, she found that most of the prefects had gone, with the exception of Ron who was waiting for her.

"Hermione! Where've you been? All the carriages have nearly gone up to Hogwarts already!" He said. "And you're not even in your school uniform yet!"

Hermione glared at Ron, "Relax Ron," She said, "I'll put my school cloak over my clothes and no one will notice a difference." He sighed but made no comment. The two hurried out of the carriage as Hermione pulled on her cloak and their trunks levitated behind them. When they were off the train, they noticed that there were only two carriages left. "I wonder where Harry is." She said as she looked around.

"He probably went up to the castle with Ginny or Neville or someone. It's okay, we'll meet up with him there. If we don't get that last carriage, we'll have you walk!" Ron sounded shocked at the concept and the two ran to get in the last carriage.

Hermione and Ron shared an awkward carriage ride up to the castle with a couple of second years. She tried to speak to them but received short, one-word answers and soon gave it up. It wasn't long before they reached the school and to their surprise, found Professor Snape waiting on the top step.

"You were very nearly late." He said maliciously. "I hate tardiness."

"I'm sorry, Professor Snape, it was my fault-" began Hermione but she was soon cut off.

"You're fault, Miss Granger? Snape said. "And yet you still didn't have time to change properly? Now that's a shame…"

Hermione and Ron glanced at each other. "I told y-" he began to say but Hermione quickly stomped on his foot before he could continue.

"I'm sorry, Professor," She said, "It won't happen again."

"Of course it won't happen again," said Snape, "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your muggle attire."

Ron and Hermione gasped and even the second years looked shocked. "But Professor, it wasn't even noticeable!" Hermione argued.

"Talking back, Miss Granger? Would you like me to make it fifty?" Professor Snape looked like nothing would make him happier but Hermione snapped her mouth shut so quickly that Ron could hear her teeth click together.

He grabbed her arm and said, "C'mon, Moine. We're missing the opening feast." Ron attempted to drag Hermione away from Snape while ushering the second years before them. When he knew Snape couldn't hear them he asked, "What's gotten into you, Hermione? Since when do you talk back to the teachers?"

Hermione tugged her arm away from Ron's grip. "Get over it, Ron." She said, "He was just really annoying me."

Ron stared open mouthed after Hermione as she stormed into the great hall. "He always annoys me," Ron muttered. "But is that an excuse for my behavior? Nooo."

Harry arrived late for the opening feast. He quietly whispered how Malfoy had stunned him and that Tonks had found him. He concluded the story with, "Then Snape had to let us in and he STILL took forty point from Gryffindor, for being late and because I wasn't in my uniform!"

Ron chuckled, "See Hermione?," He said, "Snape's not out to get you. He was just grumpy because he had to go fetch Harry."

"What do you mean Snape's out to get Hermione?" Harry asked, glancing between the two of them and looking very confused.

"I never said he was out to get me." Said Hermione as she stabbed at a potato on her plate. "I just said that he was annoying me."

Harry looked closely at Hermione. "What exactly happened?" He asked.

When Hermione didn't answer Ron said, "We were some of the last students to arrive. Snape caught us coming in and took twenty points from Gryffindor because Hermione wasn't in her uniform either."

Harry stared at Ron like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Hermione wasn't in her uniform? Why not?"

"Honestly guys," Said Hermione as she stood up and threw her napkin on the table. "It's not that shocking. I just didn't have time." When the two continued to stare at her, she said, "Well I'm going to bed. Perhaps you'll have come to your senses by tomorrow." She stormed off with the guys looking after her.

"She's different this year." Said Harry.

"Blimey, she's just mental." Ron said as he eyed her left overs. "Would you mind passing me her plate?"

Harry passed the plate over but continued to stare after Hermione as if that would help him figure out what was different about his friend.