The Hogwarts express hoots loudly as Hermione thinks back over what happened this past year.
She had intentionally ran into fluffy's room behind the boys - Harry, Neville, and Ron while running from Filch and Peeves so Harry could have the idea the philosopher's stone was hidden there, after her mentioning of the trap door.
She had spent time in between events and lessons studying protection spells that could hide the Horcruxes she would collect - she didn't risk going for the diadem then in case Quirrell checked on it, he would have only recently put it there.
Harry had first started suspecting Snape of being bad when he lost control of his broom at the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match and Ron the narrow-minded boy had said Snape was muttering curses - she had begrudgingly agreed as she had the first time around, it was Harry's hatred of Snape that led them to Quirrell the last time.
They had saved Norbert by sneaking him through the castle and delivering him to some dragon tamers, Hermione was sure Charlie Weasley was part of the bunch, they had then received detention for being out after hours, Malfoy had told on them like last time.
Serving detention in the forbidden forest again, but this time she volunteered to go with Harry, Fang had run off as soon as the area grew cold, she remembers how angry she's had felt at the cloaked figure of Voldemort, the only thing that stopped her from attacking was her fragile plans, and Firenze had then scared him off before she could do anything.
Thinking of the way he spoke Hermione could have sworn he knew of her 'coming back'. It makes sense, he could see the future - at least better than Trelawney could.
Harry had been shaken up but determined to protect the philosopher's stone. Hermione rolls her eyes as she remembers the way Harry insisted Snape was behind it, but then again the first time round she believed he was too.
Collectively coming to the decision that they must stop 'Snape' from getting the stone, led them again to fluffy's room, and now knowing they had to be quick before fluffy woke up, Hermione ushered them through the door.
The devil's snare was easy after studying the spell while going over what exactly happened, Ron still screamed like a girl though.
The buzzing of the winged keys fluttering was easily remembered, both Harry and Ron rode on the brooms to get the large silver key.
Then the chess game where Ron was left behind, passing the knocked out troll to Snape's potions test and having to leave Harry to face Voldemort alone while she took Ron back and to the hospital wing.
The dread of waiting was dulled this time around, of course, she knew Harry would defeat Voldemort but worry for her best friend was still prominent.
Now she sat opposite Harry and Ron, on their way to King's Cross.
Summer had been wonderful, her family had gone to Greece over the holidays, she forgot how much she missed the little things like this, during the last time she had barely been able to spend time with her parents, too caught up in the magical world, but now she was determined to equal out her time.
Her parents had died in her future, and Hermione refused to allow that to happen again.
She sits in the Leaky Cauldron with her parents, they were waiting on the Weasley's so they could start their back to school shop.
Hermione on the other hand was planning her first major change to the timeline, when running into the elder Malfoy the diary would be slipped into Ginny's cauldron - Hermione would need to be both sneaky and aware of every possible detail to successfully obtain the Horcrux.
The roaring of the fireplace drew their attention, Fred and George stepped out, followed by Mr Weasley Percy, Ron, Ginny, and Mrs Weasley.
Hermione's parents stood as she led them forwards, "Ah, Hermione lovely to see you again" Mr Weasley exclaims, he was always such an eclectic but sweet man, "Nice to see you again too Mr Weasley" is her reply, as they greet the other Weasley's - "You haven't by any chance seen Harry, he came through after Fred and George" Mr Weasley address both Hermione and her parents.
Recalling when Harry told her he got lost at Borgin and Burke's and saw Malfoy on Knockturn alley instead of arriving at the Leaky Cauldron on Diagon alley, and how he had run into Hagrid who took him back to the safety of Diagon alley.
Her mother and Mrs Weasley chatted about children outgrowing robes as they make their way out of the Leaky Cauldron towards the shops, thinking Harry had simply wondered off.
They stopped by Zonko's, simply looking in in case Harry was there, then Madam Malkin's to be measured.
Finally making their way to Flourish and Blotts for their books, Harry came running up to them, Hagrid's towering form behind him and his glasses cracked, Hermione fixed them and started speaking of how she missed him, going on to complain about no letters - of coarse now she knew Dobby had hidden the letters but Harry didn't know that she knew yet - and prattling on about Lockhart, who she somehow found dreamy her original second year.
Books in hand they stood mulling around the entrance of the shop, Hermione's parents were looking at some other books while Mrs Weasley was getting Harry's signed.
Waiting for the familiar drawl of Malfoy's voice was torture, time seemed to slow down as she became more and more anxious.
"- can't even go to a bookshop without making the front page" Hermione hears Malfoy snarl.
"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" said Ginny glaring at Malfoy.
"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Malfoy drawled. Ginny blushed going scarlet, poor girl had a huge crush on Harry and the way Ron spoke about him did her crush no favours.
Malfoy hurls insults at Ron and Harry, the former almost tackling him before Mr Weasley speaks up, trying to usher the children outside until a cold voice sneers
"Well, well, well—Arthur Weasley."
It was Lucius Malfoy, he stood with his hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Lucius," said Mr. Weasley, nodding coldly.
"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," said Lucius. "All those raids… I hope they're paying you overtime?"
He reached into Ginny's cauldron and took out a very old, very battered book.
"Obviously not," Lucius remarks, "Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"
"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he says frostily.
It's now, the diary is going to be slipped into the cauldron now.
"Clearly," said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Hermione's parents, who were talking about a book. "The company you keep, Weasley… and I thought your family could sink no lower—"
Forget Mr Weasley almost attacking him, Hermione was going to maim the bastard herself, she rushed forward and aimed a very power-driven kick to his shin, Mr Weasley not seeing Hermione also dived pushing Malfoy back, he howled in pain, books went tumbling, Ginny's book and the diary fell from his grasp.
Mind made up Hermione collected the books slipping Tom Riddle's diary into the waistband of her skirt - under her blue jumper, everyone too busy focusing on the two men standing off against each other, she passes Ginny the books, double-checking the diary is not in the pile.
Almost hysterical at this point she strode towards her parents after the 'fight' was broken up by Hagrid. Slipping the diary into the bag her mother carried.
She had done it, one down six to go.
