Prologue: The Girl on the train

Hermione heard a loud banging noise before the door of the train compartment slammed open. A thin lady scrutinised her for a moment before speaking.

"All alone?" the lady asked her suspiciously.

Hermione saw the women's eyes widen as she took in her appearance. Hermione didn't wonder at her shock, her frizzy hair and pale skin combined with her tiny figure often surprised on-lookers. But the way that the women openly stared at her as though she were some strange animal in the zoo irked her. Hermione held her head high before responding to the lady's question.

"Yes, actually – but it's alright," she continued without allowing the lady to interrupt, "I travel this way myself every year."

The lady raised an eyebrow before sniffing indignantly and turning back to look at what appeared to be her family standing in the corridor. Hermione could see a rather large man and an almost equally large boy standing in the corridor.

"This one should be alright – although," The women straightened her dress as she spoke and spoke in a loud whisper, "The girl is a little – odd. Travelling alone, well I never heard of such a thing – what parents she must have."

Hermione felt the urge to push the woman out of the compartment to join the rest of her horrible family and slam the door in her face, but instead she simply turned towards the window and focused her attention on the view outside. The train was due to depart any moment now and she just wished that the horrible woman would decide that she was too odd to risk being in the same compartment with her.

"There's no helping it Petunia," the large man spoke, "Everywhere else is full – although I wouldn't mind double checking considering," Here the man paused again and Hermione could see his reflection in the window scrutinising her.

"I would prefer an empty one too," The woman said apparently having understood what her husband had been referring to, " – the boy."

Hermione tried not to turn around but she furrowed her brow in confusion. What on earth were those people talking about? Their conversation made absolutely no sense whatsoever – why would they be afraid of a boy?

"Daddy!" the boy whined, "My feet hurt – can we go in now? Who care's about the stupid little girl."

Hermione frown deepened and her back stiffened.

"Alright, Dudley let's get you a seat shall we," the lady said in a sickingly sweet voice before the group filed in and took their seats.

"You sit there!" The portly man said to another boy who entered the compartment, "And close the door!"

Hermione gasped when she heard the man hissing orders to the boy before practically shoving him towards the seat next to her. What was even more amazing was that the boy didn't even seem to put up a fight – he simply took the abuse.

After a few moments gaping at the large man she caught the young boy's eyes – they were the most startling shade of green. Though the boy beside her looked startlingly thin she could surmise that he was the same age as her, thirteen.

Hermione attempted a smile.

"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger," she held out her hand to him.

The boy with dark messy hair and broken glasses smiled back at her and opened his mouth to reply when –

"You sit there, and you will not speak to anyone," The large man hissed at the boy once more.

Hermione eyes flicked to the man irritably before returning to the boys and it was only when he turned away from the man glaring at him, that she saw the scar on his head. It wasn't an ordinary scar it was oddly shaped, in fact to Hermione it almost looked like a lightening bolt.

"Where'd you get that scar?"

"From a car accident, I was only one at the time," the boy answered quickly and without much detail as though it were simply a reply that had been drummed into him.

"Be quiet!" The woman hissed this time.

Hermione looked over at the woman who was now glaring at her suspiciously.

"You're a weird looking one aren't you," the other boy finally spoke having taken his face out of a tin of chocolate biscuits, "All that frizzy hair and thin arms – she looks like a tree with a birds nest on top!"

The boy laughed and so did his parents – clearly thinking that he had made a rather clever joke.

"Well you're rather rude aren't you, and I'd stop eating those biscuits if I were you – do you know how many kids are overweight these days. The chances of heart disease alone are frightening enough – you're not exactly helping yourself by shoving this and that down your gob!"

Hermione realised that she had fallen into one of her rants again and apparently the family didn't appreciate it – except for the boy beside her who had laughed before covering it up by coughing.

"How dare you!" the woman shrieked standing from her seat, "I think we should find another compartment after all Vernon."

"I agree," Her husband nodded standing from his seat, "we don't want to expose Dudley to – unpleasant children."

"Ha!"

"What did you say boy!" the man bellowed at the boy beside her.

"I didn't say anything," he replied.

"Come along Dudley dear, I think the food cart will be along shortly," the woman cooed leading her still dumbstruck son out of the compartment.

"You boy, carry your aunts bag!"

The man said fiercely poking the boy in the ribs before following his wife out of the compartment.

Hermione hopped off the seat.

"Want some help with that?" she asked the boy – because honestly he didn't look like he had the strength to drag it from the luggage rack.

"Nah I got it," he said quickly.

"They're an interesting lot," Hermione continued smiling.

"That's one way of putting it," the boy replied though he didn't smile back.

"What's taking so long!" the large man had returned and was leaning around the door – an amazing feat considering his size.

"Coming Uncle Vernon," the boy replied dragging the bag along with him.

The man disappeared as the boy stepped out the door.

"I never got your name," Hermione said hastily, sad to see the only person close to her age leaving.

"Oh," he looked down the corridor before hastily saying, "It's Harry – Harry Potter."

With those words he slid the door closed and disappeared from view.

"Harry Potter?" Hermione mused.

After a moment she gasped and rushed out into the corridor but the boy was already gone.

"It couldn't be! Not 'The Harry Potter'!"

Hermione pushed her luggage cart slowly down the platform of the train station. She surveyed the crowd for her parents but couldn't find them. With a long sigh she began to weave her way through the crowd. After almost twenty minutes Hermione felt her arms ache from the weight of the luggage cart. She stopped and moved her cart to a seat bench before shaking her arms to get some circulation back into them. She never knew why her Aunt always insisted on sending her back with so much luggage.

What exactly were her parents supposed to do with so many knitted scarves and jumpers?

Hermione let her arms rest and looked up and down the platform. She looked up at the clock and laughed at herself for being so nervous. The train had been early – she was worrying over nothing. She turned around and walked back towards her luggage when –

"OW!"

"Sorry, you okay?"

Hermione rubbed her forehead and blushed at her clumsiness for walking straight into someone. She would have fallen rather ungraciously on the ground had it not been for the boys strong arms gripping hers.

"Yeah fine," she replied standing up properly and the boy released her from his grip.

"I wasn't watching where I was going," she continued quickly becoming increasingly embarrassed as she stared at her feet.

"It's okay."

"Oi! Ron, when you're done talking to your Muggle girlfriend," another voice spoke near her and Hermione almost jumped when she saw the family beside them all with blazing red hair.

"Yes, if you're quite done - we'd all like to go home now," another boy spoke stepping forward and Hermione could see that the two boys were twins.

"Watch your mouth you two," a woman – apparently their mother spoke, "Are you alright my dear?"

She looked at Hermione with in concern, "Have you lost your parents?"

"No, no, they should be here any-"

"Hermione!"

Hermione turned to see her parent rushing towards her.

"Mom, Dad," Hermione ran towards them and hugged them.

"Oh I've missed you guys!"

"Come along, Arthur."

Hermione looked over her shoulder to see the family leaving, though the man who the woman had called Arthur was resisting.

"But dear – Muggles!"

"Honestly Arthur!" she replied pulling him along.

Hermione couldn't help but smile at them, she caught the eye of the boy she had been bumped into. She hadn't the opportunity to look at him before – she had been too embarrassed to look him in the eye. Hermione gasped when he looked back at her with hauntingly beautiful blue eyes – that stood out even more than his tall figure, pale skin or even his bright red hair.

He gave her a lop-sided grin before following his family.

"Ready, Hermione?" her Dad called her.

"Huh? Oh yeah," Hermione turned away and followed her parents out of the train station.

"Alright Ron, you've been very quiet," His mother asked, brushing the ash from her dress.

"He's probably thinking about his girlfriend," Fred said before making smooching noises.

"Ah Amore," George added looking wistfully into the distance.

"Shut-up!" Ron blushed before stomping off into the corner of the living area to pick up one of his school books he hadn't had time to finish reading yet.

"Where you going?" George laughed.

"Secret rendezvous perhaps?" Fred joined in.

"Quiet you two," their mother scolded.

"Just a bit of fun mum – don't have to,"

"Yes?!" She questioned raising an eyebrow.

The twins looked at each other before simultaneously turning to looking towards the stairs.

"What's that Ginny?" Fred called up the staircase.

"That Ghoul giving you trouble again," George added as they hurried up the stairs and away from their mom.

"Leave it to us mom!" they called down the stairs before disappearing completely.

"Everything alright Ron," his dad asked taking a seat in an armchair.

"Dad, that girl," Ron began slowly as he idly flipped through the pages of his book, "Haven't we seen her before?"

"I don't think so," Arthur replied scratching his head thoughtfully, "I thought they were Muggles though."

"Yeah…maybe," Ron said quietly, "I just can't shake the feeling that I've seen her somewhere before."

"Well maybe you'll see her at Hogwarts," Arthur replied absent-mindedly.

"Well unless she somehow turns out to be a boy – I don't think that's going to happen," Ron said dropping down onto the sofa, "In case you forgot, I'm going to Hogwarts Boys. If she is a witch she'll go to Hogwarts Girls"

"I know, but you might meet each other at the Christmas balls," Arthur said a reminiscent glimmer in his eyes, "Third years get to go you know – that's where I first meet your Mother."

"Oh dad, please don't! We've all heard this story a million times already," Ron cried falling face first into the sofa pillows just as his dad began reciting the story.

Hermione frantically grasped towards the surface, her lungs were burning and her legs felt like lead. She gasped and coughed as the water filled her lungs.

Then suddenly, she felt herself breathing the crisp night air and her burning lungs were soothed by the cool air. She looked up and saw a boy floating above her – her head was still hazy and she couldn't see clearly.

She felt herself lifted up towards him then the next moment she was standing on the ground.

"Thank you" she said through gasps and coughs.

He didn't reply but just smiled at her. Hermione felt warmth spread through her as she looked into his deep blue eyes.

Hermione gasped and sat up straight on her bed.

"The Boy from the lake!" Hermione cried, "I knew I'd seen him somewhere, he'd saved me from drowning."

"Hermione, come down for breakfast – there's a letter here for you!" Her mother's voice called from the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione hurriedly threw on her robe and rushed down the corridor and down the flight of stairs to the breakfast room.

Hermione took a seat beside her dad and pulled some toast towards her.

"Here, this came for you this morning," her dad said handing her a letter.

"Thanks dad," she said taking a bite from her jam and bread before taking the letter from him.

"Who's it from?" her mother asked curiously after Hermione had pursued it.

"Professor Albus Dumbledore, he's the headmaster of Hogwarts Boy's."

"Hogwarts Boy's? Why on earth would he want to talk to our Hermione?" her father questioned over his morning paper.

"It says," Hermione continued as her mother filled her plate with eggs, "That he wishes to speak to me, well actually to us, around noon tomorrow."

"He's coming here?"

"It appears so," Hermione replied handing the letter to her parents to look over.

"How odd, well there's no harm talking to him," Hermione's mother said as she took her seat.

Hermione nodded her head in agreement before returning to her breakfast.

Ron perused his Transfiguration essay for the final time before carefully rolling it up and placing it inside his book bag. Letting the quill drop to the table he stretched his arms and legs before getting up from his desk.

Ron walked over to his trunk and checked that he had all his things for school. A faint knock on his door interrupted him.

"Come in," Ron replied clicking the trunk closed.

"Ron?" Ginny said tentatively as she opened the door to his room.

Ron arched a suspicious eyebrow at her, he knew that tone.

"What do you want?"

She smiled sheepishly at him before walking into his room.

"Well I was just wondering whether you, that is, either you or Harry could take me to the Christmas ball this year."

Ron frowned at his sister.

"Sorry Ginny, only third years can go," but seeing the crestfallen expression on his sister's face he hurriedly added, "But next year, I'm sure Harry would love to invite you to Hogwarts Boys."

Ginny blushed and nodded then hurriedly stepped forward and hugged him before running out the room.

Ron chuckled at his sister before following her downstairs.

"Oh Professor McGonagall I didn't know you'd be here too," Hermione said in surprise when she stepped into the sitting room and saw both the headmistress of Hogwarts Girls and the Headmaster of Hogwarts Boys sitting with her parents.

"I thought it best I be here to explain how things will work this year," McGonagall explained as Hermione sat down between her parents.

"How things will work?" Hermione repeated in confusion.

"Yes, as you are well aware" Dumbledore began giving her a knowing look, "Hogwarts was not always separated by genders."

Hermione nodded, she had done some research in her first year when she tried to find out where the boys went to learn magic.

"It changed a few centuries ago, when the Headmaster of the time believed that boys and girls would work better in separate environments," Professor McGonagall explained to Hermione's parent who looked puzzled.

"But what does this have to do with Hermione?" her father asked looking between Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore.

The two looked at each other before Dumbledore spoke.

"Well, we both agree that perhaps its time to change that tradition, perhaps its time to let both boys and girls study together – after all interacting with the opposite sex is something that they will all face when they leave Hogwarts. It's rather naïve of us to keep the students in their separate little bubbles."

Hermione stared at Dumbledore for a moment before it finally dawned on her.

"Oh, no, you can't possibly mean…" Hermione felt her heart sink when she saw the looks on both their faces.

Hermione held her head in her hands as the situation sunk in.

"I didn't think you were serious," Hermione mumbled.

"What are you talking about, what is she talking about?" Her mother questioned in a panicked voice.

"No need for alarm," Dumbledore said in a soothing voice, "We have not been able to convince our colleagues or the School Board the Hogwarts should be a co-education school."

"And so, at the end of last term we discussed with Hermione how she would feel about studying at Hogwarts Boys for a year."

The silence instantly descended on the room.

Hermione removed her hands from her face and looked at her parent for a reaction her father frowned and glared at Dumbledore.

"Do you mean to say that Hermione will be the only girl attending Hogwarts Boys?!"

"Yes," Dumbledore answered in a startlingly calm voice.

Professor McGonagall who looked less than thrilled tried to calm her father down.

"It will all be done properly, Hermione will have her own dorm room which would include a private bathroom and what's more, the other boys won't be aware that she is a girl."

This had been the part that Hermione had been dreading, when the two teachers had discussed the idea with her last year she had thought it would be an interesting challenge – to study at a boy's school where the teachers obviously thought women were not as intelligent as men would be exhilarating. She had even fantasised about the horrified expressions on their faces when they discovered how easily a girl had passed all their classes. It was only when she had sat on the train going home that she realised how idiotic the idea was, and how there was no way that they would actually go through with it. Oh, how wrong she was.

"How will they not notice she's a girl?" Her mother asked curiously and Hermione was shocked to hear a hint of excitement in them.

"Mom! You can't seriously be considering letting me go?" Hermione cried standing up beside her father.

"Well, you're always saying how dull the classes are at Hogwarts Girls," her mother said as she passed McGonagall an apologetic look.

Professor McGonagall instead of looking affronted actually smiled.

"It's true, there are some ridiculous classes that I have been trying to remove from the girl's curriculum but the Board insists that Magical Culinary Skills is essential to a young women's education – you don't even want to know what I think about Divination."

Hermione cringed as images of frilly aprons and the sickening smell of sugar crossed her mind. She was sure she would get diabetes simply by standing in that room.

"And if we can show that a girl is perfectly capable of studying at the boy's level then we may be able to convince them that the schools should be joined."

Hermione looked at the excited expression on her mother's face and the fire in both of the teachers.

"You'd change history, wouldn't that be exciting!" Her mother jumped up and clasped her hands around Hermione's.

"B-but Mom! It's a Boy's school!" Hermione sputtered.

"Can we get back to how the boys won't be able to realise she's a girl?" Her father asked from beside her.

Hermione head spun around to stare at him.

"No, not you too!"

"Well, you know your mother and I never liked the idea of an all Girl's school – we don't want you to become one of those doey-eyed women that men will prey on."

Hermione rolled her eyes at her father.

"Isn't there a greater chance of that happening at an all Boy's school?" Hermione questioned indignantly.

"Well, not if you change your appearance," Dumbledore explained.

Hermione watched her parent's sit back down before she followed them.

"So how will this work?" Hermione asked in resignation.

A/N: Please read and review!