Hermione arrived at the train station fifteen minutes early. After a tearful goodbye and many assurances that shes didn't need her mother's help inside, Marie Granger drove away. Hermione stood straight, squared her shoulders, and walked into the station.
It was busy, as it always was about this time of year. Muggles were wondering about, trying to find their platform. Hermione walked straight past the ticket taker, pulling her trunk. She always wondered why she was never stopped, no one seemed to even notice her.
After a minute of walking, she found platforms Nine and Ten. Being a fifth year, this did not frighten her. As she glanced around, she saw that, as usual, no one was paying her any attention.
Hermione walked straight toward the barrier between the two platforms. Even though she knew she would get through, just before she reached the barrier she always got the feeling she would hit solid stone. But she never had.
She closed her eyes just as she passed through the gateway for platform Nine and Three Quarters. She quickly opened her eyes and looked around the platform. There were a few older students here and there. A few waved in greeting to her before going back to what they were doing.
Hermione was used to the emptiness. The platform only got crowded about ten minutes before eleven o'clock. She hurried forward onto the train, hoping to get one of the good compartments. She had to pass three carriages before she found one. Storing her trunk in the overhead bin, she grabbed a book and sat down.
She had been reading only a moment when she heard the compartment door slide open and the distinct drawl of Draco Malfoy.
"Well, if it isn't the mudblood. Where's Potty? And Weasel?"