I don't own Harry Potter. Hermione wouldn't have ended up with someone she constantly argued with. Clearly, JK Rowling does.

Hermione's vision was clouded by smoke and as it cleared she realised she was pushing a trolley with some trunks on it. A train whistle was heard and as she looked around she found 11-year-old Harry grinning at her.

"It worked!"

Hermione looked around. She saw a large clock showing that it was 10:00, an hour before the Hogwarts Express that was stationary in front of her, would leave. She was wearing muggle clothing as was Harry in front of her, his unruly hair covering his scar. On his trolley, he too had trunks, and a very much alive Hedwig. Thinking back to her first day at this station she realised that her parents, the parents she hadn't seen in years, were just on the other side of the wall.

She realised that being back here could mean so many things. Sirius didn't have to die. Wormtail might not make it to Voldemort. She and Harry didn't have to fall for the Weasley's tricks. She felt her heart swell with joy and tears began pricking her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and followed Harry along the platform.

She and Harry headed to the train and found an empty compartment. They changed into their robes, even though they knew the train wasn't yet moving. Harry explained the reason behind him living in such an extravagant, apparently, the Potter's was one of the richest magical families in Britain, and owned many properties across the world. They were also investors in huge Muggle companies, many of which Hermione recognised.

Hermione also spoke about her previous life with Ron. The beatings, the arguments, everything. With the more things she vented about, Harry showed more outrage on his face, which looked rather comical considering he was now an eleven-year-old child. As she spoke, Hermione felt a lump in her throat. Though her time with Ron was foggy, and she really wasn't too sure of what had happened - she'd left in such a rush - she still remembered the pain, the longing for freedom, her enslavement to Ron. She hadn't really thought when she ran through whatever the small box was with Harry she just did. She thought she should've cared a bit more considering she had left her children behind, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. In her mind they were smoky shadows, small creatures that further bound her to Ron. In a strange way, she slightly resented them. Should she feel guilty for that? She didn't know; now they would never exist, never be tormented by their father or neglected by their mother, maybe it was better for them to never exist to begin with.

It finally hit Hermione that they had travelled back to do things 'properly' so they needed a plan. She voiced this to Harry.

"Well," he began, "Let's cut Voldemort off from the start, let's get Pettigrew at some point this year."

"I guess that means getting in Gryffindor again. That way we can get close to him."

"You know.. I hadn't even considered housing arrangements... I probably would have chosen Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw just to distance myself from Ron" Harry laughed, "Glad you came with me Hermione, or I would have no idea what I'm doing."

Hermione's heart missed a beat. She had really missed her best friend and even though she had more or less ignored him for so long, he seemed to have forgiven her incredibly quickly.

"It'll also probably be nice to have something familiar, no matter what happened after our years here, I always loved Gryffindor house," Harry said.

"Yeah, McGonagall was right when she said they would become like a family," Hermione agreed, "And it'll be good for your reputation."

"I don't really care about that though, Hermione."

"So? Other people do. You don't want to get yourself sorted into Slytherin because people will immediately dub you the next Dark Lord; sure, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw aren't all that bad but if we're trying to fix things, it's probably best that the rest of the wizarding world thinks that you are their Golden Hero Saviour who lived, you know?"

Before Harry could reply, the sound of the door of their compartment opening was heard and in stepped the one person Hermione had dreaded seeing. Ronald Weasley.

"Hey. I heard Harry Potter's on the train. Have you seen him? It'd be so cool to be his friend."

Hermione bowed her head as though trying to hide away from Ronald. Though he was only 11, and though her physical scars would never even exist, he had hurt her emotionally and that would stick with her. Harry stepped in noticing some fear in Hermione's eyes, "Yeah, I know what you mean mate. Let me know if you see him."

"Yeah right," he replied rudely, "if I find him he's mine." With that, he marched off.

"Wow!" Harry laughed. "You'd think I'm some sort of collectable item."

The next 2 hours were more or less uneventful, they spoke and ate and laughed, until 3 people Hermione and Harry had totally forgotten about charged into the compartment.

"You're Harry Potter aren't you?" It didn't seem that Draco needed a scar to recognise people.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. Have you considered the house you'll be going into?"

"Well we were both considering Gryffindor," Hermione said; she was treading cautiously, Draco had been rather awful in the previous time-line. Even though he tried to redeem himself, at the end of the day he had been the reason that Death Eaters were able to take over Hogwarts, he had nearly killed Katie Bell and Dumbledore and least of all he had been terribly cruel to Hermione. Considering his case though, Hermione was sure they could prevent that happening again, he was essentially just a boy and the guy stood in front of them hadn't done anything wrong. Yet.

"And you are?" He turned to face Hermione. He wasn't sneering as such, clearly sizing her up, if she was with the Boy-Who-Lived then perhaps she too was worth something.

"Hermione Granger"

"I don't recognise the name. No matter, consider Slytherin. It's the best house in Hogwarts."

"It's also down in the dungeons," Hermione pointed out.

"It's the people that make a house, not the room," Draco replied, "All I'm saying is think about it, it'd do you some good."

"Alright then," Harry said, "Thanks."

With that the boys stepped out of the compartment leaving Harry and Hermione alone. Draco wasn't all bad, he was just a little arrogant, perhaps to cover up anxieties of being alone at Hogwarts, he almost seemed eager to make friends with Harry and Hermione. Of course he wasn't aware of Hermione's blood status, but maybe he could be convinced that it didn't matter.

A couple of hours later and they had arrived at Hogwarts. Hagrid was outside shouting for the "Firs' Years". Harry and Hermione headed over and got into a boat with Neville, who Harry had seen killed by Bellatrix - so he was pleased to see, and someone else called Terry Boot. They headed over to the castle and once again listened to Professor McGonagall's 'your house is your family' speech'. Then they prepared to enter the Great Hall and prepare for The Sorting.

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