Chapter 3 - The Hogwarts Express

As the summer went by, Harry stayed at The Burrow (the Weasley's house- hold) with Ron. They had already done their school shopping though, so he was all ready for Year 5. They hadn't seen Hermione all summer - 'nor heard from her. It was like she was avoiding them for some reason.

There was a downside about going to Diagon Alley though. Mandi didn't show at The Leaky Cauldron at all. She and Harry had planned it all summer too.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood infront of Platform 9 3/4 waiting their turn to go into the gate. There was a family ahead of them, so they had to wait.

"Hey, Hermione, why havn't we heard from you all summer?" Harry said disgustedly.

Hermione blushed. "I was with, well, my, err, family. I had no time to write. And I was also working on my homework."

Ron gave her a funny look. "Nice try Hermione. But you always had time to write."

Hermione stomped her foot. You could tell she was getting angry. "I told you already Ronald! I was doing my homework, studying, and spending time with my family! Now, lets go into the gate before it closes!" She stormed into the gate leaving Harry and Ron in her dust.

Harry stepped forward and made no facial expression what-so-ever."Whats gotten into her?"

***

The train was full as usual. First years trying to find their way around, second year Slytherin's picking on the First Years, the usual.

In Harry, Ron and Hermione's compartment, Hermione sat far away from them staring out the window, blankly, sighing every now and then.

It was a boring train ride until the lady with the sweets past by - but that was quite a while ago. Harry wondered where Mandi could have gone and if she even made it on the train alright. After a long time of thinking about "stuff", Harry snapped out of his daydream by a scream up ahead of the compartments.

"What was that?!" Ron yelled snapping out of his trance too.

"I don't know, and I don't care. Probably some Damsel in Distress First Year." Hermione said blankly.

"Oh show some respect Hermione! Someones in danger, and we better go find out who it is, and whats going on!" Ron snapped back at her.

Hermione didn't say anything back.

Harry and Ron rushed out and followed the voice of the scream. Heads where poking out from all sides of the hallway. "Let me go! Get off of me! Ahhhh!" A girl voice screamed. Harry and Ron pushed themselfs into the door where they thought the scream was coming from. A girl - blonde hair, green eyes, and a very scared look on her face, was being leaned over by a blonde haired person - Draco Malfoy. He turned at the sound of the door, and smirked a nasty grin.

"I got 100 Galleons off this one." He laughed evily.

The girl got up and pushed him to the side and ran behind Harry. Ron stepped up to Malfoy. "You touch her, or anyone again Malfoy, and your gonna pay. And more than 100 Galleons."

"Ohh! I'm shaking in my Hogwarts Robes!" He said sarcastically. "What are ya gonna do about it Weasley? Huh? Whats ya gonna do?"

"This." Ron swung his fist across Malfoy's left ja w.

"Ahh! You made me bleed Weasl!" Malfoy said holding his jaw and going down on the floor.

Ron shook his head. "Lets go." And closed the compartment door. Once they started walking away, they saw Crabbe and Goyle coming though the hall with about a dozen treats and snacks in their arms.

"Thank you so much! He almost took my whole lot. I only have 10 Galleons, 9 Stickles and 2 Knuts left though." The girl said. You could now see the whole her. She had beautiful green eyes that sparkled visously, and beautiful blonde hair that came down to her arm-pits. Her bangs stopped about a CM under her chin - but that was hardly visable because they had a little curl to them that made them look like they just came to her chin.

"Its no problem. We can lend you money if you need." Harry said. "You a first year?"

The girl shook her head. "Nope. 5th Year - oh! How rude of me! My name is Mandi, Mandi Harnester. I got kicked out of -"

"Beauxbatons." Ron finshed turning a bit red.

"How did you," she stopped and looked up at Harry's forehead. "Oh, hi Harry."

Harry flattened his hair. "Hello."

"Oh, sorry about The Leaky Cauldron thing. I couldn't make it, well, because of, personal reasons."

"We want you to meet our friend Herm-"

They walked into the compartment and no Hermione was in sight.