Chapter 5
Traveling on the
Hogwarts Express


Hermione and Ron were racing down the platform of Kings Cross station. Hermione had been dropped at the station by Ron's parents, who against better judgment dropped all of the kids off at the entrance of the station. George, Fred, and Ginny had headed directly to the train, but Ron and Hermione had lagged behind in the gift shop.

"This is totally your fault Ron if we miss the train!" Hermione panted, as they whipped around a corner. A hiss could be heard from Crookshanks' basket as they went around the turn.

"This is as much your fault as it is mine. You're the one who just had to get that muggle magazine!" Ron said sounding hurt.

Hermione scowled as she plowed through the barrier, which separated the muggle world from platform nine and three quarters.

Ron merely sighed and also headed through the wall, appearing on the other side.

In the few seconds she'd had Hermione had already managed to pull her trunk off of her trolley and start lugging it toward the train. This amused Ron, because her trunk was way to heavy for her and she was having a hell of a time trying to pull it up the stairs.

Hermione looked quickly over at the clock; they had about 3 minutes to get on the train. She tried to pull her trunk into the train, but it seemed to be wedged in the doorway. She gave a cry of anger and kicked the trunk.

"Move." A cold voice said from behind her.

She whipped around glaring as a strange girl which she'd seen in passing maybe once, pushed past her and grabbed the handle of her trunk and easily pulled it into the car. The girl had medium length hair, to Hermione's surprise one side of it was purple and the other was a dirty blond. She seemed about her age, maybe a little older. Hermione struggled to remember what house she was in, her best guess was Slytherin.

"You're welcome." The girl said winking as she disappeared again into the car.

Hermione was unsure whether to be ruffled or thankful, but Ron's sharp remarks about wasting time and in her own world brought her back.

"Sorry" She said squeezing past him as he lugged his trunk on board to collect the hissing basket, which was Crookshanks.

Moments after both Ron and Hermione had managed to climb into the train car, they felt the jolt of the train starting. Hermione tumbled over rolling several feet down the aisle. Ron tututed and he walked over to her. He extended his hand out to her, but she merely slapped it away and got up on her own.

"Damn it you're stubborn." He said rolling his eyes and walking back to his trunk.

"Let's find Harry." She said simply.

They both pushed their trunks along peering into the compartments as they passed. This was a long process, because they kept running into people they knew and ended up talking to them.

Finally they reached the last compartment in the train and slid the door back. Inside Harry suddenly appeared he had a worried look and was staring outside. He turned as he heard the door open and relief flooded his face.

"Where the hell have you two been?" He asked glaringly.

"Miss Hermione wished to stop and get a magazine." Ron said rolling his eyes.

Hermione glared and slapped him in the back of the head. She moved past them both dragging her trunk into the compartment.

"You wanted to look at the swim suite models on that Sports magazine, YOU dragged me in there!" She said dropping her trunk louder as she flopped down onto the bench.

Ron's ears turned red as he glared at Hermione.

"Bitch…" He whispered under his breath.

Harry took in an in breath as he saw the rage enter Hermione's face. He closed the door to their compartment in an attempt to keep the fight contained.

"You look here Ronald Weasley!" Hermione shouted, as she stood up getting toe to toe to Ron.

"We're on the stupid train okay? We found Harry! And yes I know you've got the bathing suite model magazine in your trunk!" She said as he made a quick look to his trunk.

"Forget it!" She yelled shrilly as she grabbed her trunk, which had Crookshanks basket on top.

She flung the door open and dragged her trunk out into the hall, throwing the door shut behind her. Her footsteps could be heard stomping down the aisle.

"Oh so switch Mr. Weasley." Harry said dryly sitting back down.

Ron rolled his eyes and flopped down next to Harry, mumbling. The air seemed to have changed since they had first entered the train; the air was thick and sticky almost like it was slowly turning to Jell-O.

"Look if she's going to make a big deal over nothing let her, I'm not going after her. She'll be back in five minutes when she realizes that there's no one else on this train she's really close friends with." Ron said sneering.

"I don't know, you never know with Hermione…"Harry said looking at the floor.



Hermione was almost up at the end of the car. After about the 2nd compartment she'd looked into she realized that everyone she and Ron had been talking to before were really Ron's friends. That it was the beginning of her 5th year and yet she was very limited to whom she was a friend with.

She was looking at the floor walking slowly, when suddenly she collided with another body.

"Just isn't your day is it Gryffindor?" The voice was of the girl who'd helped her with her trunk earlier. To Hermione's surprise the girl's hair was now completely purple

"What did you call me?" Hermione asked timidly.

"Gryffindor, that's your house right? Thought I'd seen you with Golden Potter." She said leaning over slightly to come down to Hermione's height.

"Oh uhh yeah sorry." She said looking down at the floor.

"Well, my name's Alexia. I'm in Ravenclaw." She said smiling and extending her hand.

"Hermione, and as you said Gryffindor." Hermione said weakly.

A clamor could be heard several compartments behind them, and suddenly the door was flung open and Draco Malfoy was tossed out, he was cursing madly. His normally neat hair was ruffled and the neck of his robe was twisted slightly. He began walking towards them, and Alexia started giggling.

"Awww, did poor Draco get caught looking up the Hufflepuff's skirts?" Alexia said with an evil grin.

Hermione was impressed with her courage to insult Draco like that. She was confused as Draco continued to approach, and he actually smiled at the girls comment.

"Well, it took them long enough to find me, I thought I was actually going to get away with it." He said snickering.

Though as his eyes turned to Hermione they darkened slightly. A certain stiffness came over him. His eyes traveled Hermione, which made anger rush through her.

"Alexia, I know you're a muggle lover, but don't stoop this low." He said coldly as he headed back down the car of the train.

As he left he could feel the freezing stare of Hermione on his back. Almost like a cold wind had swept through his robes. 'She's powerful for what she is.' He thought as he entered the compartment where Crabbe and Goyle were waiting for him.