A/N: I know Cho Chang is supposed to be 1 year older than Harry, but lets
just pretend they're the same age.
As Harry stepped onto Platform 9 ½, he couldn't help but look around for any sign of Hermione, one of his best friends in the past six years that he had been attending Hogwart School of Witshcraft and Wizardry. Although he had known that she wouldn't be here, he was disappointing when he couldn't find her.
Just this summer, a lot has happened. Voldemort had started to gain more and more power and most of his old supporters have gone back to him. He and his group of dark wizards have caused much destruction in both the magic and nonmagic communities.
On Harry's seventeenth birthday, he had received very unexpected and dreadful letter from Hermione. She had explained in her letter that Voldemort's circle had attacked a crowded shopping center in downtown London. She and her parents just happened to be in that very place when the attacks occurred. Her parents were among the forty-three dead. She, somehow, had managed to escape. Now she was an orphan, just like Harry himself. Now, she was going to live in and orphanage, which meant that she won't be able come to Hogwarts and will be attending a muggle school.
Harry hadn't heard from her since and still doesn't know how she's handling it. He had tried to contact her several times, but had no clue about her whereabouts.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry located Ron, his other best friend. He walked over to Ron and his family and greeted them warmly. After a couple of minutes, they got on the train to find an empty compartment. Pushing and shoving their way through the crowded corridor, they came face-to-face with Cho-Chang, a popular Ravenclaw.
She smiled and said, "Hi Harry! Did you have a good summer?"
"Eh, just the usual. Nothing special." Harry replied, stuttering a couple of time.
"That's nice. So you're the Head Boy this year? That's awesome!"
"Ummm…Thanks." Harry said, turning a very bright shade of red.
"Well, it was nice chatting with you but we really have to go find a compartment." Ron butted in, shoving Harry slightly.
"Bye, Harry! I'll see you in school!" Cho chimed just as they started moving down the corridor.
"Bye!"
Once she was out of earshot, Harry turned to Ron and muttered, "I made I total arse out of myself, didn't I?"
"I guess you can say that." Ron said slyly.
Harry gave Ron a withering look.
"Hey! You're the one that said it…" Ron replied, defensively.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When they finally got settled in their small compartment, Harry and Ron said their farewells to Mrs. Weasley.
After just a few minutes, the Howgart's Express started moving and pulled out of the station.
"You know…"
Before Harry finished his sentence, a very tired looking Hermione barged into their compartment.
"Hey Guys!"
Both Ron and Harry's mouths fell open as they stared at Hermione with an astonished look.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Well…?"
"Hermione! How in the world did you get here?!"
"Great Welcome…"
"Oh, sorry. It's just that…we didn't think you were gonna be able to come this year."
"I ran away from the orphanage and took a ride on the Knight Bus. I couldn't stand that dreadful orphanage! I just hope that Dumbledore will let me stay…"
"Well, we're glad you're here."
"Yeah…so am I."
After all the excitement died down, everyone became tired and settled down or a few hours of rest.
In a few minutes, Ron was fast asleep. Harry, however, couldn't bring himself to take a nap. He glanced at Hermione and noticed that she wasn't sleeping either.
"Can't sleep. Huh?"
"I was just thinking about the last time I was on this train. Just a few months ago, we were going home after our sixth year. I still remember how excited I was to see my parents again…" Harry winced at the mention of Hermione's parents. His searched Hermione's eyes, but perceive anything. "Things were so different then… I just wish…I just wish that this summer hadn't taken place…"
"That must be harsh. But I know how you feel."
Hermione forced a smile, "No, you don't know how I feel. But thanks anyway."
Harry didn't have a chance to pursue this topic because at this time, they had arrived at Hogwarts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Just as they were about to enter the Great Hall, the threesome heard Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Harry and Hermione, come with me."
As they were led to Professor Dumbledor's office, Harry caught Hermione's eyes. This was probably about Hermione's presence here at Hogwart's, but why on earth did the Professor call for Harry? Harry gave a little shrug
As Harry stepped onto Platform 9 ½, he couldn't help but look around for any sign of Hermione, one of his best friends in the past six years that he had been attending Hogwart School of Witshcraft and Wizardry. Although he had known that she wouldn't be here, he was disappointing when he couldn't find her.
Just this summer, a lot has happened. Voldemort had started to gain more and more power and most of his old supporters have gone back to him. He and his group of dark wizards have caused much destruction in both the magic and nonmagic communities.
On Harry's seventeenth birthday, he had received very unexpected and dreadful letter from Hermione. She had explained in her letter that Voldemort's circle had attacked a crowded shopping center in downtown London. She and her parents just happened to be in that very place when the attacks occurred. Her parents were among the forty-three dead. She, somehow, had managed to escape. Now she was an orphan, just like Harry himself. Now, she was going to live in and orphanage, which meant that she won't be able come to Hogwarts and will be attending a muggle school.
Harry hadn't heard from her since and still doesn't know how she's handling it. He had tried to contact her several times, but had no clue about her whereabouts.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry located Ron, his other best friend. He walked over to Ron and his family and greeted them warmly. After a couple of minutes, they got on the train to find an empty compartment. Pushing and shoving their way through the crowded corridor, they came face-to-face with Cho-Chang, a popular Ravenclaw.
She smiled and said, "Hi Harry! Did you have a good summer?"
"Eh, just the usual. Nothing special." Harry replied, stuttering a couple of time.
"That's nice. So you're the Head Boy this year? That's awesome!"
"Ummm…Thanks." Harry said, turning a very bright shade of red.
"Well, it was nice chatting with you but we really have to go find a compartment." Ron butted in, shoving Harry slightly.
"Bye, Harry! I'll see you in school!" Cho chimed just as they started moving down the corridor.
"Bye!"
Once she was out of earshot, Harry turned to Ron and muttered, "I made I total arse out of myself, didn't I?"
"I guess you can say that." Ron said slyly.
Harry gave Ron a withering look.
"Hey! You're the one that said it…" Ron replied, defensively.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When they finally got settled in their small compartment, Harry and Ron said their farewells to Mrs. Weasley.
After just a few minutes, the Howgart's Express started moving and pulled out of the station.
"You know…"
Before Harry finished his sentence, a very tired looking Hermione barged into their compartment.
"Hey Guys!"
Both Ron and Harry's mouths fell open as they stared at Hermione with an astonished look.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Well…?"
"Hermione! How in the world did you get here?!"
"Great Welcome…"
"Oh, sorry. It's just that…we didn't think you were gonna be able to come this year."
"I ran away from the orphanage and took a ride on the Knight Bus. I couldn't stand that dreadful orphanage! I just hope that Dumbledore will let me stay…"
"Well, we're glad you're here."
"Yeah…so am I."
After all the excitement died down, everyone became tired and settled down or a few hours of rest.
In a few minutes, Ron was fast asleep. Harry, however, couldn't bring himself to take a nap. He glanced at Hermione and noticed that she wasn't sleeping either.
"Can't sleep. Huh?"
"I was just thinking about the last time I was on this train. Just a few months ago, we were going home after our sixth year. I still remember how excited I was to see my parents again…" Harry winced at the mention of Hermione's parents. His searched Hermione's eyes, but perceive anything. "Things were so different then… I just wish…I just wish that this summer hadn't taken place…"
"That must be harsh. But I know how you feel."
Hermione forced a smile, "No, you don't know how I feel. But thanks anyway."
Harry didn't have a chance to pursue this topic because at this time, they had arrived at Hogwarts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Just as they were about to enter the Great Hall, the threesome heard Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Harry and Hermione, come with me."
As they were led to Professor Dumbledor's office, Harry caught Hermione's eyes. This was probably about Hermione's presence here at Hogwart's, but why on earth did the Professor call for Harry? Harry gave a little shrug