Disclaimer-If you're actually reading this bit, I don't own Harry Potter.
Thanks for reviewing everyone, and I am really sorry about the continued lameness of my chapter titles but they're really hard to make up.
Chapter 8-Back to School
September the 1st arrived and Hermione was all set for her final year of Hogwarts. Dumbledore had taken the liberty of sending her all the books she would need as she had not been able to visit Diagon Alley and collect them herself. The night she had returned home Hermione had opened her Hogwarts letter and found that she had indeed been made head girl. Her badge was currently tucked safely away in her trunk along with her school robes; she would change on the train.
After a quick breakfast with her parents and a last minute check to ensure she'd packed everything, Hermione climbed into the car along with her mum, dad and Crookshanks. They chatted together happily on their journey to London but things were still a little fragmented between them.
It saddened Hermione to realise that her relationship with her parents still wasn't what it had once been but she had begun to accept that things had changed. They loved her just as she loved them and that was enough.
Her father parked the car and Hermione stepped out taking hold of Crookshanks' cage whilst her dad moved round to the boot of the car to take out her luggage.
She linked arms with her mother and they walked up to the train station with Mr. Granger following behind them wheeling Hermione's school trunk.
They made their way to the platform and Hermione hugged them goodbye giving them both a kiss on the cheek before taking her trunk off of her dad and then walking straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
When she passed through the other side she found herself on platform 9 3/4 and the scarlet coloured train, the Hogwarts Express was waiting for her. She looked around for a sight of Harry and the Weasley's but she could find no trace of them. However, a little further down the platform were Snape and Malfoy.
Holding her head high she made her way over to them. Malfoy saw her first and tried to warn her with his eyes that it wasn't a good idea but she ignored him and came to a halt behind Snape.
"Hello professor." She greeted politely.
With a sneer fixed upon his face Snape twisted round to face her.
"Did you have a nice summer?" Hermione asked meekly and Malfoy seemed to wince at her words whilst the vein in Snape's temple began to throb.
He raised his arm and Hermione squinted her eyes shut fearing that he would try to strangle her again. However, he settled his fingers delicately about her throat and she opened her eyes to look at him. On close inspection she saw that there were dark circles under his eyes and his skin looked very sallow. He obviously hadn't been sleeping well since she'd left.
"Forgive me." Snape said and all Hermione could do was swallow and nod.
Snape cocked his head to the side in response and dropped his hand. He then braced a hand on Malfoy's shoulder and told him he'd see him at school before disapparating presumably to somewhere in Hogsmeade so he could then walk up to Hogwarts.
"I'm alive." Hermione breathed with a smile. "Gosh for a moment I really thought he was going to kill me."
"So did I." Malfoy admitted.
"If he had strangled me you'd have stopped him though right?" She asked.
"No, probably not." Malfoy replied bluntly. "All that hero stuff is for Gryffindors."
Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head before loading her things onto the train and finding herself a compartment. Malfoy followed and took a seat opposite her. She smiled at him as she unlocked Crookshanks' cage and let him out. He stretched out his feline limbs before moving over to introduce himself to Malfoy.
The blonde picked him up and stroked his ginger fur.
"Why don't you have a cat of your own?" Hermione asked him. "You obviously like them."
"Father's allergic to them." He answered. "So, you've kept your promise I hope."
"Of course I have." Hermione replied. "Don't you trust me?"
The Slytherin shrugged in response as he continued to fuss over Crookshanks.
"I suppose Harry and Weasley will be here in a minute or so." Malfoy said. "I ought to leave; I know they won't welcome me."
"No, you should stay." Hermione told him. "Let them get to know the real you. I admit Ron's a stubborn idiot and he'll take a lot of persuading but Harry will give you a chance, I know he will. Besides, we're friends now right?"
"Maybe." Malfoy replied. "Although being friends with a Gryffindor will seriously tarnish my reputation."
"What does that matter?" Hermione asked him. "Your reputation is fake anyway. I've seen enough to know that."
"How did you get stuck as a cat anyway?" Malfoy asked changing the subject.
"I honestly don't know." She answered. "I've been reading all about animagi but I couldn't find anything to explain it. I've never had trouble changing back before. I'll have to ask McGonagall when we get to school."
"You made a really cute cat you know." Malfoy told her. "I think I prefer you as a cat but I haven't made up my mind yet."
"Well let me know when you do." Hermione smiled.
"I really should go now." Malfoy sighed. Hermione opened her mouth to argue but he was already leaving the compartment.
Crookshanks let out a meow of disappointment and moved to settle on Hermione's lap clearly wanting her attention.
A few minutes later the compartment door slid open and Hermione looked up to see Neville struggling to get inside whilst dragging his trunk and keeping a tight hold on his toad Trevor.
"Hi Neville." Hermione smiled as she stood up to help the clumsy boy inside.
"Hi." He replied as he sat down. "I'm glad nothing bad happened to you whilst you were missing. Me and my Gran put up posters of you in our neighbourhood so people could call us in case anybody knew where you were."
"Thank you, that's sweet but I was ok really." She told him. "I had a run in with some death eaters but I managed to get away and professor Snape took care of me."
"Snape?" Neville squeaked. "That must have been so frightening. It scares me to have one potion lesson with him or see him at meal times. I'd die of fear if I had to live with him."
"He's not that bad really." Hermione defended. "And you wouldn't die of fright. You're a lot braver than you think you are. And about me staying with Snape, you can't tell anybody ok."
"Right, don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Neville assured her. "So, are you head girl? I bet you're head girl, you're the best witch in the entire school."
"Thanks Neville." Hermione beamed. "And yes, I am head girl."
"What about Harry? Is he head boy?" Neville asked.
"No, actually Draco Malfoy is." Hermione answered.
"Oh." Neville replied his face falling in obvious disappointment.
A few minutes later Harry and Ron bumbled in laughing heartily at something.
"Hi guys." Hermione said as Ron dropped into the seat beside Neville and Harry sat down beside her. "Where's Ginny?"
"She's talking to some of her friends." Harry answered. "She might be along later. So how was your summer Neville?"
The golden trio listened as Neville talked about his fairly quiet summer and then Ron launched into a series of complaints about Fred and George, his mum nagging him to help tidy up as well as homework and other things.
Ron's ramblings of complaint only came to a stop when Luna glided into their compartment looking as though she'd wandered in by accident.
"Hello everyone." Luna greeted in her mysterious dreamy voice as she gazed around at her companions.
The Ravenclaw girl was already dressed in her school uniform and upon her head she wore a wreath of daises, daffodils and red and pink roses.
"I heard you had gone missing." She stated as she sat beside Ron and across from Hermione. "I wasn't worried though. My father told me you were fine. He was confident that you'd merely taken a holiday with the long lost lizards of Lisbon."
"Lizards of Lisbon?" Ron asked obviously trying not to laugh.
"Why yes." Luna answered. "They are very mysterious but powerful creatures. They're an advanced species of the common lizard. It is rumoured that they can even speak Japanese and their tongues have the power to both cause hurt and to heal."
"That's amazing Luna." Harry said politely feigning interest.
"Yes they are quite extraordinary." Luna commented. "I've never had the chance to meet one but my father is sure he spotted one hiding in a rabbit hole one time."
Throughout the train journey, Malfoy kept walking past their compartment. Sometimes he'd pause as though about to enter but ultimately he always carried on by. Hermione was the first to notice followed closely by Neville then Harry. Luna was now reading a copy of the quibbler and seemed unaware of all that was going on around her and Ron was just inobservant.
"What is he doing?" Harry asked when the blonde passed by again.
"He's probably just making sure nobody on the train is causing any trouble." Hermione told him.
"What?" Ron asked in confusion not knowing what they were talking about.
"Malfoy." Harry said. "He keeps walking past and staring in at us. Look, there he is again."
"Stupid ferret." Ron muttered. "I swear if he says anything about me or my family this year I'm going to punch him smack in the face."
"No you will not Ronald Weasley." Hermione told him.
"Yeah mate, he's not worth it." Harry said. "He's just an immature brat who needs to grow up."
"You don't even know him." Hermione defended.
"Oh and you do?" Ron challenged.
"Yes." Hermione answered. "If you must know he was staying at Snape's this summer and I got to see a different side to him, the real him. And it just so happens that I think he's a lovely boy at heart."
"Are we talking about the same Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"Shut up Ronald." Hermione sighed. "We're almost there; I'm going to get changed."
She gathered her school clothes out of her trunk and made her way to the girls' toilets to change. On her way back she came across Malfoy.
"Are you going to talk to him or just pace back and forth staring at him?" Hermione asked.
"Most likely the second." Malfoy answered.
"Boys." Hermione muttered before returning to her compartment.
Harry, Ron and Neville were no longer there. It was only Luna. She supposed the other three had gone to change into their uniforms. Hermione retook her seat and pulled out a book to occupy herself whilst Crookshanks wrapped himself around her ankles to take a short nap.
She had barely finished reading the first paragraph when Malfoy stepped inside.
"I don't suppose it would hurt to sit in here for the rest of the journey." He said. "We are head boy and girl after all; we need to talk about school…things. It's a reasonable excuse."
"Indeed it is." Hermione commended as she placed her book away.
They made small talk as they waited for Harry and the other's to come back, Luna seemingly oblivious to their presence. The Slytherin boy was obviously nervous and was currently stamping his feet on the floor whilst simultaneously slapping his hands on his knees.
When the door opened and Ginny stepped inside Malfoy ceased his movements and sat up straight with his trademark smirk forming onto his features.
"Weaslette." He acknowledged.
"Malfoy." She replied before looking to Hermione quizzically.
"Draco's sitting with us for the remainder of the journey." Hermione told the redhead. "Are you joining us too?"
"Actually, I think I'll go back and sit with my friends." Ginny replied. "Would you like to come too Luna? Um, Luna, hello can you hear me?"
"Oh, hi Ginny. You look very nice today." Luna complimented before standing up and following Ginny down to another part of the train.
"So, I'm Draco now am I?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yes." Hermione confirmed. "You're Draco."
"I suppose that means I ought to call you Hermione then." Draco said.
"You should, that's what friends do." Hermione told him.
"I don't have a choice in this friendship thing do I?" Draco asked.
"Nope." Hermione answered with a grin. "I always get my own way."
The blonde laughed lightly before schooling his face into a mask of indifference.
"Draco, relax." Hermione said gently. "I'll protect you from the big bad Gryffindors."
"I am relaxed." Draco lied.
A few seconds later Harry led the way into the compartment with Ron and Neville behind him. His eyes narrowed at Draco but he didn't say anything. Ron on the other hand did.
"What the bloody hell is he doing in here?" Ron demanded to know as he stared down at the blonde.
"Sit down Ronald." Hermione snapped. "You too Neville, Harry."
Neville instantly did as she requested and sat back in his seat clutching Trevor the toad in his sweaty hand. Looking very grumpy, Ron sat beside Neville and glared mutinously at Draco.
Harry remained standing for a few moments before sitting on the other side of Draco.
An uncomfortable silence fell upon the train compartment and everybody seemed to be avoiding eye-contact. Letting out an annoyed huff Hermione nudged Draco with her foot trying to encourage him to say something.
"Hermione spent part of her summer eating cat food." Draco blurted out.
"So?" Ron asked. "What did you do? Go to death eater meeting with your father and torture muggles."
"Ronald." Hermione said warningly.
"Look Weasley, just because I'm a Slytherin doesn't mean I'm a death eater." Draco told him.
"Whatever ferret-face." Ron retorted. "You're as evil as they come. You were probably born with the dark mark on your arm."
Draco sneered at the redhead before pulling back his sleeve to expose his unblemished ivory skin.
"See." Draco said as he pulled his sleeves down again. "No dark mark. Satisfied?"
Ron just grumbled something to himself and took to staring out the window.
"Harry, why don't you tell Draco about your chocolate frog card selection?" Hermione suggested and both Harry and Draco cast her an incredulous look. "Ok, why don't you talk about quidditch then? Draco what team do you support?"
Letting out a sigh Draco said who his favourite team were. As it happened his favourite team was also Harry's favourite team. They talked briefly about quidditch but the conversation fizzled out rather quickly. Still, it was a conversation and that was something.
The train came to a stop at Hogsmeade station and Hermione stowed Crookshanks back into his cage as everybody gathered their pets and made their way off the train. Their luggage would be delivered to their dorm rooms.
"Would you like me to carry him?" Draco offered and Hermione thanked him and handed the boy the cage Crookshanks was currently residing in.
She walked alongside the blonde with Harry beside her carrying Hedwig. The three of them climbed into a carriage together but Ron opted to take another. Before the carriage left they were joined by Blaise Zabini. The chocolate skinned boy nodded to them all but otherwise remained silent.
On the short trip up to the castle Hermione tried encouraging Harry and Draco to talk but she didn't have much success. They exchanged a sentence or two but that was all.
As they made their way out of the carriages and up to the castle, Draco handed Crookshanks back to Hermione then he and Blaise disappeared amongst the crowd.
Together, Hermione and Harry made their way up the castle steps reuniting with Ron and Neville on the way. They entered the great hall and took their seats at the Gryffindor table. As she sat down, Hermione turned her head in the direction of the teachers' table and found Snape's charcoal eyes boring into her.
To Be Continued
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