The next morning Lucias was not seen and according to Dobby he had left for the ministry "At an ungodly hour, Mistress Cissy."
After breakfast Narcissa Apparated the kids to an alley right outside of King's Cross Station, "Alright, Hermione, Draco, you two have fun this year and try not to get into any trouble."
"We'll try, mother." Draco told her, as both he and Hermione gave Narcissa a hug.
"See you at Christmas, Aunt Cissy." Hermione said as they walked to platform 9¾.
The platform was empty since it was nine in the morning. So, Hermione followed Draco to the Slytherin compartment.
"Shouldn't you go wait for Potter and Weasley?" Draco asked her.
"They won't be here until almost eleven. So, I'll head out around ten fifty." Hermione smiled at him.
While they waited for the train to fill up, Hermione filled Draco on what would happen this year at school. They Slytherin compartment filled up first. Most of them only said hello to Draco, not even noticing Hermione. Even though, Hermione was resting her head on Draco's shoulder and they were talking in hushed tones. However, Pansy did notice her and caused a big scene.
"Draco!" Pansy shrieked, "Why is this Mudblood here! And why are you letting her touch you!"
The entire compartment, which was full of Death Eater children, turned to Hermione. She slowly got up and made a point of assessing Pansy, to see if she was a threat.
Circling Pansy and addressing the whole compartment Hermione asked, "Who do I look like?"
Some of the younger Slytherins looked confused, but one of the seventh years said, "You look a lot like Bellatrix Black. But you can't be related to her, you're a Mudblood."
"Well, that is where you are all mistaken. I am Bellatrix's daughter; I am also Lord Voldemort's daughter. The Order of the Phoenix tried to erase my memory and they placed me with Muggles!" Hermione spat, "Now it's nearly eleven, I must go find Potter and Weasley. Must keep the teachers in the dark." She smirked as she sashayed out of the compartment.
Just as she was about to go into a compartment in the Gryffindor section, Ginny ran right into her. Ginny landed on her floor, Hermione, however, remained standing.
Bending down to help her up, Hermione smiled "You alright there, Ginny? You look a little frazzled."
Ginny mumbled, "I'm fine." While avoiding eye contact.
"Ginny, don't lie to me." Hermione said as she grabbed Ginny's arm, dragged her into an empty compartment, and cast a silence and locking charm to the door. As Hermione sat down, she patted the seat next to her and said, "Spill."
"Well, when we came back from Diagon Alley, I found an old beat up diary in my cauldron." Ginny began. "I started writing in it and it writes back to me."
At this she looked up to see if Hermione believed her. Hermione gave her a look that said 'go on.'
"Well, it … um…" Ginny trained off unable to look at Hermione any more.
Hermione, deciding to take pity on her, said "It told you to release the Basilisk and petrify all the Muggle borns."
"Yes! Wait, how do you know that?"
"Come, there are some people I want you to meet." Hermione said with a devious look in her eye, "We are not always who we appear to be."
"Where are we going?" Ginny asked nervously.
Hermione didn't answer, just smirked at her.
"Hermione, did the buffoons not make it?" Draco asked as Hermione led Ginny into the Slytherin compartment. "What is she doing here?" Draco asked, nodding his head toward Ginny.
"Do you remember what I told you this summer about the diaries?" Hermione asked him.
"Yes, that your father's would help change the school." As Draco said this, Ginny gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
Hermione, turning toward her, asked "Does it all make sense now?"
Ginny nodded.
"Well, since Harry and Ron are not here, how would you like to stay with us?" Hermione asked Ginny, as she went to sit by Draco; while sneering at Pansy.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful. Ginny found out that not everyone was disgusted by what her diary wanted her to do. By the time that they made it to Hogwarts, Hermione had that entire compartment ready to do her bidding and a full plan for the chaos that would be this semester.
"I'll catch you later, Hermione." Draco said as left the train.
"Every day in class, have you seen our schedule?" Hermione smiled at him.
As the returning students came into the Great Hall, Hermione Occluded her mind. She didn't want any of the professors reading her thoughts.
When Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor, Hermione stood up and whistled, "Congrats, Ginny."
"Thanks." Ginny smiled at her, "Do you know where Harry and Ron are?"
"They'll be here, I hope.
The feast went well, and on the way back to the common room Hermione and Ginny ran into the boys.
"There you are! Where the hell have you been! The most ridiculous rumors – someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car –!" Hermione scolded them
"We haven't." Harry assured her.
"You flew here!" She screeched.
"Save us the lecture, we already got on from McGonagall." Ron said impatiently, "Now give us the password."
"I don't think I should." Hermione told them, "Ginny and I were worried sick about you; she got into Gryffindor by the way." Turning to the Fat Lady, she said "Wattlebird."
As soon as they climbed through the portrait hole Harry and Ron were surrounded by people congratulating them. Hermione, however, didn't find the situation amusing; she left them and went to her dormitory.
What would his mother think if I let him die? Hermione thought.
As soon as she walked into the room that she shared with the other second years, Ginny almost bowled her over.
"Hermione, are they alright?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, they are just fine." Hermione assured her.
Ginny looked down at her feet.
"What is It Ginny?"
Before she answered, Ginny cast a Silencing Spell, "When should I start you-know-what?"
"When my dad tells you to, don't fret. You'll do fine." Hermione assured her.
As Ginny left, Hermione thought This is going to be an interesting year.
During breakfast the next morning Ron got a Howler from his mum. Hermione didn't notice at first, she and Ginny were busy talking, well Hermione was listening to Ginny explain her crush on Harry. That was before they were interrupted by Mrs. Weasley yelling. Ron turned a delightful shade of red in Hermione's opinion. Harry looked rather guilty and Ginny tried to hide under the table; that is before Hermione grabbed her by her collar and yanked her back onto the bench. That act did not go unnoticed by the Twins, but before they could say anything McGonagall passed out the class schedules.
They had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs after breakfast. As they were walking to class Hermione noticed that Professor Lockhart was bothering Professor Sprout. However, Harry and Ron saw that the Whomping Willow had some of its branches in slings. When Hermione turned to see what the boys were smirking at she was appalled.
"You did that to the Whoming Willow!" she shrieked loud enough to get everyone's attention and interrupted Lockhart's speech about… something.
Professor Sprout took that opportunity to take charge, "Green House three today!"
Before they could get in Lockhart commandeered Harry, much to Professor Sprout's chagrin. By the time he got back in Professor Sprout had already started her lesson, "Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"
Hermione quickly shot her hand into the air, "Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a very powerful restorative. It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state." She finished rather smugly.
"Very good Mrs. Granger, ten points to Gryffindor." Sprout said, Harry noticed that Hermione clenched her fists when Professor Sprout said her last name, "Mandrakes form an essential part of most antidotes. However, they are dangerous. Can anyone tell me why?" Sprout continued.
Again Hermione shot her hand into the air, "The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it."
The rest of the lesson went rather smoothly, Hermione kept getting points for Gryffindor, Neville fainted when he saw the Mandrake, and everyone was covered in dirt by the time the bell rung.
While most of the class when to go wash up, Hermione used "Scourgify" on herself before she went to Transfiguration. She happened to be the only one to turn a beetle into a button on the first try. Some students, mainly Ron and Neville, were unable to change theirs at all.
When the bell rang for lunch Hermione was the only one displeased. Ron was complaining about his broken wand and when Harry suggested that he write home for another one; Ron responded, "Oh, yeah, and get another Howler back 'It's your own fault your wand got snapped –'"
"What do we have this afternoon?" Harry asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Hermione groaned.
"Why, Hermione, I thought you liked all the teachers." Ron smirked.
Hermione turned to glare at him, "Not this one." She hissed. Ron shrank into back and didn't talk the rest of lunch.