Chapter 1: Of Schedules and Well-Timed Sweets

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There's a saying - There Are Only Two Certain Things In The World - Death And Taxes. However, if the Muggle who'd come up with that one had been a wizard, it likely would have included a third: that the Hogwarts Express leaves Platform 9 3/4 at 11:00 sharp on September the first, come rain or snow, hail of frogs or skies of blood - any of which the witches and wizards of this particular year would have been not-quite-surprised to see. As Voldemort continued to gain power, 'strange occurrences' began to become less strange and simply more Daily Prophet front page fodder. For the three occupants of Compartment 12, however, it was easier - and more appetizing - to concentrate on the sweets procured from the snack cart that were currently piled on the vacant seat.

"My parents would faint if they could see this." Hermione shook her head doubtfully, eyes narrowing as Ron snatched the last Chocolate Frog from the stash. "You've had six already!" Her consolation came as the frog hopped out of his grasp and into her own hand.

"Honestly, Hermione, you act like we don't do this every year. D'you expect us to skip it on the last trip to Hogwarts we'll ever have?" Harry looked up from sorting his Every Flavor Beans into "Probably All Right", "Suspicious", and "Slip into Malfoy's Bag When He's Not Looking" categories.

Hermione could not retort, as her mouth was full of rapidly melting frog.

***

Some minutes and many, many impending toothaches later, Ron had draped himself over one of the bench seats, long limbs stretched out and hands resting on a comfortably full stomach. Harry and Hermione sat side by side on the other; he, busily revising the new season's Quidditch plays while she examined her schedule and materials list, certainly for the umpteenth time in the last few days. More to stop her fidgeting than anything else, Ron sat up. "Give it here, then."

Hermione handed it over. "Just worried I won't have gotten everything I need for university applications, that's all."

Ron scanned it quickly and looked up with a rather befuddled expression. "Besides the fact that you're taking more classes than anyone in their right mind would try, Hermione, they've got you down for a double period in Charms. That can't be right." Seventh-years at Hogwarts took a double period in one subject to prepare for post-secondary education. Whichever you chose generally pointed towards your concentration in university and eventual career.

Hermione drew herself up in her seat. "Yes, I know. I registered for it."

Harry gaped at her, the playbook forgotten. "But you know that Armusmage prefers a double period in Defense Against The Dark Arts in your last year. Not that they wouldn't jump at the chance to accept the Head Girl even if you were taking Rudimentary Mandrake Maturation, but why risk it?"

"Because, Harry, many of the best universities in the country - world even - would rather see a double period in Charms or Arithmancy or even Potions than Defense."

Ron burst out, "There's no better school for Aurors than Armusmage, though. Mad Eye Moody himself went there!"

"Yes. You're right," Hermione replied. She sat back in her seat and waited for the implications to sink in.

"So... oh." Harry and Ron eyed each other nervously, each waiting for the other to proceed. It was Harry who spoke up finally. "But, 'Mione, we've all three of us always talked about becoming Aurors together. It was what we were meant to do..."

Exasperated, she rolled her eyes. "No, Harry, you and Ron always talked about becoming aurors together. I hadn't made up my mind - I still haven't! And as for that "meant to do" fate and destiny nonsense... well, I didn't know Sybil Trelawney was offering career counseling these days." Folding her arms across her chest, she waited for the inevitable.

"What?!" Harry spluttered. "You know that we're going to need everyone we can possibly get in this fight against Voldemort. I don't see how you can just ignore your obligations like that." Hermione's eyes flashed, but she stayed silent. "Even Neville is planning to go through Auror training, for God's sake. And you're going to waste your talent in some stuck-up university learning arcane magic that hasn't been used in centuries? Well done, Hermione. Very well done." He practically spat out the last words.

She was silent for a long moment, eyes fixed on the horizon outside the window. When she finally spoke it was in a low, flat voice, gaze never wavering. "You're right, Harry. I've been an unforgivable prat. My most sincere apologies." Her shoulders turned away from him, looking for all the world as if she'd like to escape through the wall of the train.

Harry shifted in his seat. Somehow, that conversation had gone pretty terribly wrong. "Hermione, I..." He took to studying the hem of his school robe very intently.

Ron looked between the two of them for the space of several minutes, somewhat surprised frost wasn't forming on the seat between them. The tension in the air was nearly suffocating. Finally, he poked Harry in the knee with his wand and offered him a candy fished from among the empty wrappers. Harry took it gratefully, casting a bewildered look in Hermione's direction. Ron shrugged. Taking a bite out of the sweet, Harry shook his head in a gesture that clearly said "Women."

A few seconds later, he squawked loudly and burst out in yellow feathers.

Ron grinned broadly at Hermione as CanaryHarry chirped indignantly. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't keep the corner of her mouth from twitching into a smile.

By the time the feathers had settled to the floor of the compartment, the trio was giggling over the latest inventions of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. None of them mentioned the previous discussion, and Harry and Ron thought it forgotten. Hermione, however, retained the guarded look in her eyes long after they left the train behind.

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AN: Thanks for reading the beginning of my first foray into HP fanfic. There are many more chapters to come, I hope. We're only barely getting started. Fair warning, there will be eventual SS/HG content; thanks to the lovely members of WIKTT I've absolutely fallen in love with the pairing. Anyway, read, review if you liked it, and especially if you didn't, and I'll see you again soon!