Chapter 1: Frequent Socialization
For Hermione Granger, walking onto platform nine-and-three-quarters for the fifth year in a row was nothing special. It seemed almost natural now, running through a cement barrier to take a train to a school that taught witchcraft and wizardry. Her bushy hair was constantly getting into her eyes and she wondered why she skipped out on putting it back this morning. Then she remembered. She would be seeing her best friends for the first time since they left the school last year and she wanted to see them as soon as possible. She also realized that she was having a harder time getting onto the platform and lugging her trunk then ever before. This would be due to the lack of her friends. Where were they? They were usually constantly attached to her hip or in this situation, helping her carry her extremely heavy trunk which was filled to the brim with books.
They were no where in sight. She assumed they'd be as excited to see her as she was to see them. They had owled each other frequently but had decided that trips to the Burrow would have to wait until next summer. They would be there for each other if needed, but, after the horrific events that took place at the Tri-wizard Tournament last year, they agreed that the best place for them to be was at home with their families. They needed to contemplate their new found reality of the Dark Lord's heightened strength.
Although she was excited to see her old friends again she looked at this upcoming year with mixed feelings. She had thought many times about how much she had changed and grown, both inside and out, over the past two months. She was unsure of how Ron and Harry would react. Because of the aforementioned tragedy, Hermione realized that there was more to life then getting good marks in school. She recognized the fact that she needed people, not just books, to happily live her life. Not that Harry and Ron weren't great, it's just that being the only girl in a trio of friends often made her feel like the odd man out. She needed other people, in general and not so in general. She was lonely. Most of the other girls her age, such as her roommates Lavender and Parvati, had more than just two friends, and were often dating. The closest thing she had to a friend other than Harry and Ron was Ginny Weasley, but they didn't talk too often about anything serious. She vowed this year that she would be more sociable. That she would venture out into the world beyond her books, maybe even get a boyfriend. If she could find someone that would want to date bookish, brainy, Hermione Granger.
Finally reaching the Hogwarts Express, Hermione went directly to the back car that had become so familiar to the three friends over the years. No one was there yet. Which was just as well, it wasn't like the boys to be early or anything, and they still had fifteen minutes until the train left the station. Sitting down in the corner next to the window, Hermione did the only thing, not to mention the natural thing, she could think of to pass the time. She got out a book to read. Before she knew it she heard the warning bell that they only has two minutes left before the train left for Hogwarts. There was still no sign of Harry or Ron anywhere.
"I guess they haven't changed that much." Hermione smirked to herself, remembering the time not too long ago when the two mischief makers missed the train and 'flew' themselves to Hogwarts in a stolen car.
She laughed out loud, scaring herself. The quiet in the car hadn't been disrupted since she enter the car a quarter of an hour earlier.
"What are you laughing at, Mudblood?" The slow drawl of Draco Malfoy came slithering in through the crack in the car door.
"Stuff it Malfoy, my business is none of yours." Hermione remarked without thinking. She had quarreled with Malfoy so may times that she didn't have to think to comeback anymore.
"What's the matter, Granger? Your little body guards not here to take care of you? Having a little fight are we?" Draco laughed. The sound made Hermione cringe.
"I said stuff it you git! Get out, you're not wanted. Why don't you and your two goons just go mosey on down to your car and do whatever stupid people do in there free time!"
Without saying a word, Draco and his two goons, following at his heels, turned and walked away.
As much as she hated to admit it, in a way she was sad to see him go. It was getting kind of lonely reading her book. Insulting Draco was better then talking to no one at all. She had promised herself that she would be more social this year and technically she was socializing with Malfoy, even if it was to tell him to bugger off.
She slowly smiled at herself again. This year wasn't going to be so bad if insulting Malfoy was considered socializing. That meant she could insult him as much as possible.
"Hey Hermione! What's so funny?"
She quickly snapped into reality. Apparently the boys had changed over the summer. More so than she expected. She was staring at the two most gorgeous guys at Hogwarts, or that she'd ever seen for that matter. And she was all of a sudden extremely glad that she was Hermione Granger, best friend of Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.
For Hermione Granger, walking onto platform nine-and-three-quarters for the fifth year in a row was nothing special. It seemed almost natural now, running through a cement barrier to take a train to a school that taught witchcraft and wizardry. Her bushy hair was constantly getting into her eyes and she wondered why she skipped out on putting it back this morning. Then she remembered. She would be seeing her best friends for the first time since they left the school last year and she wanted to see them as soon as possible. She also realized that she was having a harder time getting onto the platform and lugging her trunk then ever before. This would be due to the lack of her friends. Where were they? They were usually constantly attached to her hip or in this situation, helping her carry her extremely heavy trunk which was filled to the brim with books.
They were no where in sight. She assumed they'd be as excited to see her as she was to see them. They had owled each other frequently but had decided that trips to the Burrow would have to wait until next summer. They would be there for each other if needed, but, after the horrific events that took place at the Tri-wizard Tournament last year, they agreed that the best place for them to be was at home with their families. They needed to contemplate their new found reality of the Dark Lord's heightened strength.
Although she was excited to see her old friends again she looked at this upcoming year with mixed feelings. She had thought many times about how much she had changed and grown, both inside and out, over the past two months. She was unsure of how Ron and Harry would react. Because of the aforementioned tragedy, Hermione realized that there was more to life then getting good marks in school. She recognized the fact that she needed people, not just books, to happily live her life. Not that Harry and Ron weren't great, it's just that being the only girl in a trio of friends often made her feel like the odd man out. She needed other people, in general and not so in general. She was lonely. Most of the other girls her age, such as her roommates Lavender and Parvati, had more than just two friends, and were often dating. The closest thing she had to a friend other than Harry and Ron was Ginny Weasley, but they didn't talk too often about anything serious. She vowed this year that she would be more sociable. That she would venture out into the world beyond her books, maybe even get a boyfriend. If she could find someone that would want to date bookish, brainy, Hermione Granger.
Finally reaching the Hogwarts Express, Hermione went directly to the back car that had become so familiar to the three friends over the years. No one was there yet. Which was just as well, it wasn't like the boys to be early or anything, and they still had fifteen minutes until the train left the station. Sitting down in the corner next to the window, Hermione did the only thing, not to mention the natural thing, she could think of to pass the time. She got out a book to read. Before she knew it she heard the warning bell that they only has two minutes left before the train left for Hogwarts. There was still no sign of Harry or Ron anywhere.
"I guess they haven't changed that much." Hermione smirked to herself, remembering the time not too long ago when the two mischief makers missed the train and 'flew' themselves to Hogwarts in a stolen car.
She laughed out loud, scaring herself. The quiet in the car hadn't been disrupted since she enter the car a quarter of an hour earlier.
"What are you laughing at, Mudblood?" The slow drawl of Draco Malfoy came slithering in through the crack in the car door.
"Stuff it Malfoy, my business is none of yours." Hermione remarked without thinking. She had quarreled with Malfoy so may times that she didn't have to think to comeback anymore.
"What's the matter, Granger? Your little body guards not here to take care of you? Having a little fight are we?" Draco laughed. The sound made Hermione cringe.
"I said stuff it you git! Get out, you're not wanted. Why don't you and your two goons just go mosey on down to your car and do whatever stupid people do in there free time!"
Without saying a word, Draco and his two goons, following at his heels, turned and walked away.
As much as she hated to admit it, in a way she was sad to see him go. It was getting kind of lonely reading her book. Insulting Draco was better then talking to no one at all. She had promised herself that she would be more social this year and technically she was socializing with Malfoy, even if it was to tell him to bugger off.
She slowly smiled at herself again. This year wasn't going to be so bad if insulting Malfoy was considered socializing. That meant she could insult him as much as possible.
"Hey Hermione! What's so funny?"
She quickly snapped into reality. Apparently the boys had changed over the summer. More so than she expected. She was staring at the two most gorgeous guys at Hogwarts, or that she'd ever seen for that matter. And she was all of a sudden extremely glad that she was Hermione Granger, best friend of Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.