It's me! Back for another chapter! And so soon too! Yay! Anyway here we go! And thanks to Multiple Lilys! I'm glad you like it!

Disclaimer: FOR GOD'S SAKE I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER! However all plots and new characters ARE MINE! Please ask before using!

~*~Chapter 3~*~

The next few days at number 4 Privet Drive went quite normally actually. The usual 'Boy do this' and 'Boy what have you done now' were hanging in the atmosphere. Despite the common occurrences at the Dursley residence, there seemed to be something heavy hanging in the air. As if something was about to happen, but Harry for the likes of him, couldn't figure it out…

Wednesday dawned bright and early on Privet Drive. Hurriedly, Harry got dressed and lugged down the stairs his trunk, which he had packed the previous night. Yesterday, it was decided that Harry, Ron, and Hermione would stay at the inn until the term started. After dragging his trunk to rest by the door he covered up the scrape marks with the throw rug on the floor. ' No need to get yelled at this early,' he thought. Harry walked into the kitchen. Vernon sat reading the paper occasionally grumbling about stock prices going down. Dudley poked and prodded at a low fat cottage cheese/oatmeal substance for his diet.

"Eat up Duddlykins! Wouldn't want to be late now!" cooed Petunia.

"Late for what?" asked Harry while pushing his breakfast away.

"School shopping. Boy's gotten too wide," said Vernon gruffly.

"My little boy is just growing!" cried Petunia in protest. Harry shook his head, cutting through Petunia's protests, was the sharp ring of the doorbell. Harry jumped up and dashed for the door with Dudley waddling as quickly as he could behind him. Harry opened the door to be greeted by a girl, Hermione, yelling at another girl (an older one) leaning on the windshield of a silver convertible. Ron was sitting in the backseat.

"Ya sure! Whatever you say…" called Hermione sarcastically.

"Damn well right whatever I say!" called the girl.

"Whatever," Hermione mumbled and turned around. Harry and Dudley were dumbstruck. There on the doorstep was a completely different Hermione. This one was like the one from the Yule Ball. This Hermione sported soft, black flair jeans with white embroidery on the hems. She wore simple white tennis shoes and a baby blue shirt that said Angel on the front. Her jacket was a black leather trench coat. The type that went down to her knees. Her straight brown hair was elegantly braided and pulled up into a bun. A gold orchid clip delicately held the bun in place with brown curly tendrils framing her delicate face. There was also a pair of black sunglasses perched on top of her head. To top it all off a fine gold chain hung around her neck with a small gryffin charm adorning it.

"Hermione?!" choked out Harry.

"That's me!" she replied grinning. She reached up and pulled Harry into a hug, which he returned then pulled away.

"Girl! Give us a hand here would ya?" asked Hermione. The girl by the car pulled out a slender wand and muttered a spell.

"Thanks!" called Hermione.

"No prob. Now hurry up!" yelled the other girl.

"Coming, coming already, jeez… Ready?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Yeah. Let's go." Harry picked up the trunk (which was now feather weight) and carried it over to the convertible. Harry put his luggage in the trunk while Hermione set Hedwig in the backseat.

"Harry, this is my friend Rachel. Harry, Rachel, Rachel, Harry," introduced Hermione. Surprising Harry, Rachel stuck out her hand which he took and they shook hands. Rachel must have been in her early twenties with an Asian complexion. She was tanned with warm brown eyes and brownish/black hair. Her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail and she wore leather flairs with a crisp, crop tunic top.

"Pleasure," she said smiling.

"Likewise," replied Harry. Pulling her seat forward, she admitted Harry tot the back seat. Harry shook hands in greeting with Ron while Hermione jumped nimbly into the back seat. As soon as Hermione sat down, Rachel pulled out of the drive and they were off.

Well that's it for chapter 3! Look for chapter 4 soon I hope! And kudos to all those who reviewed! Please review some more!