Going back to Hogwarts was difficult for everyone. The Weasleys were understandably anxious about leaving their father. Harry didn't want to go back to school and face Umbridge and her reign of terror. The holidays had been a nice break from her.
Hermione didn't want to say goodbye to her parents. She felt as if she had managed to connect with them more in the past year than she had been since she turned eleven. And she knew that they were doing something they were passionate about. But it was still hard.
And then there was Viktor. Her soulmate. Her boyfriend. And she didn't like leaving him. She knew it was unavoidable, and she wasn't about to suggest that he pick a different career path. But she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
But she wasn't about to give up school. That wouldn't be possible for Hermione to do. And she knew that Viktor supported her getting as much of an education as she was capable of. And that made her appreciate him even more.
She gave him a hug, feeling sad as she boarded the train with the rest of her friends. But once she got to her compartment, she found Neville and Luna sitting with Ron, Harry, and Ginny. She'd seen Padma and Pavarti on the platform, but she was fairly sure they hadn't boarded yet.
She sat down on one of the benches and stared out the window. The station was busy, full of students and parents trying to get everything settled and everyone on the train. It wasn't as bad as it was during the start of the semester, due to the students who stayed at Hogwarts.
By ten o'clock, they were on their way. Padma had squeezed in next to Neville. It was a rather cramped compartment, but the conversation was lively and the company was great. It made her happy to be returning to school.
The countryside flew past them as they talked the afternoon away. They played a few games of exploding snap, and Harry went over his plans for the DA with Hermione. They were so busy that it came time for them to change into their school robes far sooner than they anticipated.
They walked into Hogwarts silently. There was a sense of overbearing doom, and no one could really understand it. But they straightened their shoulders and walked forward with as much confidence as they could muster.
"You think she'll still be here?" Neville asked, referring to Umbridge.
"Yeah," Hermione said. "I doubt she'll leave unless she has to. And she's still got the minister on her side."
They all groaned at that. If there was one thing that was worse than Umbridge, it was her having the backing of the government. It meant that she could get away with almost whatever she wanted to. And that was a scary thought.
She was already "Hogwarts High Inquisitor." That was bad enough. All the ridiculous decrees were getting on everyone's nerves. Even Professor Binns. And that was saying something. Binns hardly cared about anything other than lecturing his students into sleep.
They managed to get through the feast without catching her attention. Well, everyone except Harry. But Harry had essentially been singled out for special punishment due to his inability to keep his mouth shut. The rest of them helped him be civil enough to get back to the common room without trouble.
"That woman has got it out for me," Harry fumed.
"Well you certainly don't make it hard for her to get you into trouble," Neville said.
Everyone knew how Harry had a hard time controlling himself when it came to Umbridge. He kept insisting that Voldemort was back, and he was. But that didn't mean he had to push the issue around Umbridge. Everyone knew that she was going to believe contrary.
Hermione flopped down onto the couch pulling a book out. She opened it, trying to get some reading in before everything started up and it was all she could do to keep up with her work and everything. She had standards that were much higher than that of the rest of her house.
"Missing someone?" Neville asked.
"If you have to ask, you already know the answer," Hermione said.
"Who's Hermione missing?" Lavender asked as she entered the common room.
"Her boyfriend," Harry said.
"Ooh." Lavender plopped down next to Hermione on the couch. "Are we still dating Viktor Krum?"
"The one and only," Ron huffed.
"So what's it like dating the Bulgarian bon-bon?" Fred asked.
"Enlighten us Granger," George said.
Hermione shut her book with a little more force than was strictly necessary.
"The biggest issue I have is that I don't get any privacy," she said. "Now if anyone needs me, I'll be in my room."
She climbed the stairs, and wound up on her bed. She read a chapter before deciding that she had had enough. She pulled out a pen and closed her curtains.
Viktor?
Hermione, came the response.
Are you back in Bulgaria? Hermione asked.
Just got back with your parents. Muggle flying is very different.
Hermione couldn't keep the laugh inside. She had done both. And she really hated flying on a broomstick. It felt so unsteady. But inside a plane, she didn't really have many fears about that.
That it is, she wrote. I imagine if you do it often enough, you'll get used to it.
Not sure I want to get used to it. It takes so long.
Hermione found that she couldn't argue with him on that. It did take a long time. And she was sure that Viktor had things he would rather be doing than spending on hours on an airplane.
I doubt you'll need to spend much time on them, she wrote.
They continued in that vein for at least an hour. They were still discussing the benefits of muggle vs magical transport when Hermione fell asleep, pen dropping to the floor.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I don't even have a reason for that. I just have been feeling very uninspired lately. Hope you enjoy it.
