EDIT: I had some discrepancies with characters in this chapter and chapter 8, so I went back and changed the Head Boy and Girl in chapter 8.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic.
September 1, 1976 London, England - Platform 9 ¾
Hermione stood next to Sirius and James on the platform, checking her list for the fifth time to make sure she had everything. She felt silly, but she was as nervous as a first year all over again. She knew she would see some familiar faces, and that for the most part, her teachers would be the same, but most of the people she'd be sharing the castle with she had no point of reference for. She hadn't grown up with them, like she had the children in her own sixth year; in fact, quite a few of the people she would meet in the next few days would be dead before she was even born. She knew she was likely to be the Harry Potter of this train ride; she'd known that since she'd given her name to three Slytherins and a Gryffindor. With a last name like Potter, it seemed, Hermione couldn't stay out of the spotlight even for a moment. And she was beginning to see what Harry had hated it so much.
Hermione had tried, in the days leading up to their departure, to tell herself that this would be no different than going back to school with Harry and Ron, but she knew it was for naught. Everything was different.
James looked over at Hermione and raised an eyebrow, looking her over.
"You okay, 'Mione?" he asked, handing his trunk up to Sirius on the train. Hermione took a deep breath before replying.
"Yeah. Just nervous." She said to him, forcing a smile. He reached out for her trunk, handing it up to Sirius for him to stow it away with theirs, then smiled at Hermione.
"It won't be too bad. You'll have me and Sirius if things get out of hand. Then there's Remus and Peter. Peter really seemed to like you, you know. And you looked like you got on well with Evans when you talked to her in Diagon Alley. I'm sure you'll have loads of friends." James said. Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just being silly." She said. She looked around, spotting Aunt Euphemia and Uncle Fleamont talking to an older witch she didn't recognize. Aunt Effie caught her eye and waved her over, noticing the time. Hermione hurried over.
"Hermione, this is Josephine Prewett. Her sons, Gideon and Fabien, are seventh years. Gideon was just made Head Boy, as well. Josephine, this is my niece, Hermione Potter." Hermione nodded at the older woman.
"Pleased to meet you, ma'am." Hermione said, the name ringing a bell.
"So well mannered," Mrs. Prewett praised, her face lighting up. "Not a bit like your Sirius, is she?" she laughed.
"Mum brought me up right. Her family was very proper and she wouldn't have me making a mess of it." Hermione grinned, a note of sadness. The train whistle sounded then, prompting Hermione to give her aunt a brief hug and promising to write before hurrying back to the train.
She found the compartment that she'd left the boys in with relative ease and joined them, smiling when she saw that Remus had joined them, as well.
"Have you seen Peter?" Sirius asked Hermione as she sat down. She shook her head.
"Not yet, no." Hermione told him as the train began moving.
"He's probably just getting some sweets from the trolley." James chuckled. "You know that's a tradition with him." Sirius nodded, sitting back in his seat. Remus had already pulled out a book, and Hermione settled herself deeper into her seat by the window, watching as the train sped away from the city and towards Hogwarts, the one place that she knew would be exactly as she remembered.
Hermione was awoken by Remus a few hours later. She knew by how low the sun hung in the sky that she really needed to change into her robes, and as she stretched, looking around, she saw that the boys had, already. Peter had found their compartment while Hermione had been asleep, and she looked up at him and smiled.
"Hi, Peter. How were the rest of your hols?" Hermione asked, sleepily.
"They were alright. My birthday party was the highlight though." He smiled. "I still can't get over Remus slapping Sirius when he accidentally played Pin the Tale on the Werewolf with a live subject."
"I'm still not convinced it was an accident." Remus said, crossing his arms over his chest and throwing a glare at Sirius.
"You stick a pin in one bloke's arse and suddenly you're the bad guy." Sirius said, grinning.
"If it'd just been the one, I would have let it slide. But five times? Are you serious?" Remus asked.
"Well, I'm sure as hell not Severus." Sirius chortled. Hermione expected James to burst out in a fit of laughter at that, but as she looked about, she noticed he was missing.
"Where's James got to?"She asked. Remus shrugged.
"Went to change into his robes and hasn't been back yet. I suspect he's bumped into Evans and is attempting to woo her again." Remus said, smirking.
"That definitely sounds like James." Hermione grinned, standing and stretching before reaching up to her truck and extracting her uniform. "I'll be back in a minute." She said, slipping out of the made her way down the train to the bathroom, glad for the fresh air.
She changed without incident, then began heading back towards her compartment when she heard her name being called.
"Oi, Potter!" She groaned. She knew that voice. She turned to see Snape striding towards her. "It's rather early in the year to begin making enemies, don't you think? Being new around here, I suppose someone will have to teach you which sort of people are the kind you want to associate with. Here's a tip: your cousins aren't them." he said.
"Thanks, Snape, but I rather think I know how to tell the good sort from the bad." Hermione said, making to turn away.
"So it's true then? You are a blood traitor?" Snape said, clearly trying to get a rise from Hermione. She took a deep breath before rounding on him.
"I detest that word. There is nothing traitorous about embracing one's heritage, and there's nothing demeaning about having Muggle blood. The fact of the matter is, there are far more Muggles on this planet than there are witches and wizards and simple science dictates that in order to survive, we must breed with them. I'm actually rather disgusted that wizard-kind would rather wallow in their own shallow gene pool than be considered a traitor for marrying one of the millions of Muggles we must hide from." Hermione huffed. She relished the stunned look on Snape's pale face as she spun away from him, heading back to her compartment.
"Why you little- Levi-"
"I wouldn't, Snape." Hermione heard a voice from behind Snape call. She turned yet again to see a tall redhead, arms crossed over his chest, behind Snape. She could just make out the Head Boy badge gleaming upon his chest. So this was Gideon Prewett.
"Oh sod off, Prewett." Snape spat.
"I'd say the same to you. Let her alone. I'd hate to give you a detention before the feast even begins." He said, a stern look.
"You wouldn't." Snape accused.
"Wouldn't I? Try me." He said, drawing himself up to his full height.
"Whatever, Prewett." He said, turning and storming off past the the older boy. Gideon shook his head as he watched him go, then returned his attention to Hermione.
"You must be Hermione Potter, then." he said, a grin on his face. "I'm Gideon Prewett, Head Boy. Dumbledore told me a bit about you in an addendum to my Head Boy letter. I'm rather surprised Daisy hasn't been round to check on you. She's Head Girl. Hufflepuff, sweetest thing. Anywho, I hear you're in Gryffindor. Any interest in the Quidditch team?" Gideon seemed to skip from one topic to another with an ease that suggested he was used to people either not listening to him, or not caring what he said.
"No, actually I'd prefer to focus on my studies." Hermione said. His face fell a bit.
"Ah, right. Understandable, new curriculum and all. I expect James will try out again this year. That boy has serious skill as a chaser." He said.
"You bet I am." James' voice called from behind Hermione. She's never been so glad to hear his boastful voice. He wrapped an arm over Hermione's shoulder and leaned on her, which had a very comical effect, given she was several inches shorter than him.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear, as it were." Gideon smiled at the boy.
"Of course, Gideon. Isn't that always the way with me?" he asked, mischief in his eyes.
"Quite." Gideon snorted. "Do try to stay out of trouble this year, won't you? I'd rather not repeat the exploding cauldron debacle of '74." Gideon said, shuddering. Hermione arched a brow at that, then decided she probably didn't want to know. James laughed a little.
"No promises, but we don't have anything huge planned yet, at least not right off." He told the older boy. Gideon nodded. "Well, we're expected back at the compartment." James said.
"Lupin with you? He's supposed to help Hermione here get around the castle." He asked. James chuckled.
"And since when have you known me not to ride with Sirius and Remus, Gideon?" he asked. The other boy allowed that.
"Alright, get along, then. I expect we'll arrive shortly." He said to the two. He looked to Hermione once more. "It was a pleasure meeting you." He said with a smile.
"Likewise." Hermione said, smiling. She wasn't entirely sure she liked him, but she surely didn't dislike him, either.
James lead her away and back to their compartment. As soon as she was inside she sank into her seat with a long sigh. Remus looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Rough time of it?" He chuckled.
"Ran into Snape." she muttered. That caught the attention of Sirius, Peter, and James, too.
"Really? I just saw Gideon Prewett floundering over you and thought I'd step in." James said. Hermione nodded.
"Yes, I ran into Snape, he and I exchanged some words. He called me a blood traitor, I gave him up the road, turned my back on him to leave and Prewett called him out before he could curse me." she relayed.
"So Prewett saved you from Snape, and James saved you from Prewett." Sirius said, a laugh in his tone.
"Something like that." She said, standing again to store her street clothes in her trunk.
"You need to slow down on the adventures. At this rate, your year will be more interesting than ours." James said. "And I don't know if you've heard, but we've had some pretty interesting years."
"Between Remus's erm, furry little problem and what I could deduce about the 'exploding cauldron debacle of '74', I think you can leave me out of your version of an interesting year." Hermione said.
"How'd you hear about '74? Man, that was a good year. So many pranks." Sirius said.
"Prewett brought it up." Hermione said. Sirius giggled.
"Ah, yes, he would know. He was the welp that landed us in detention. Pour timing on our part." Sirius shook his head.
"The train is slowing, we must be arriving." Remus said. Hermione got butterflies in her stomach again. "Stick with me, Hermione. Leave your trunk, it'll be sent up to your room." Hermione nodded, ensuring she had her wand, and straightening her robes once more before she filed out of the compartment with the boys.
She could see Hogwarts on the hill in the distance, her home away from home seeming more welcoming than ever. Remus led her to the thestral-driven carriages, where he helped her in and the Peter, James, and Sirius piled in after them, closing the door. Hermione's nerves eased a bit as James and Sirius began casually talking about Quidditch and ideas for pranks, while Remus briefed her on all the first-year knowledge she'd need to know. Hermione wasn't paying attention to Remus's words, just his voice, and the quiet chatter in the carriage. She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she looked out the window, towards the looming shape of the Hogwarts Castle.
She was home. The rest would come in time.