Disclaimer:  All characters and other emblems related to Harry Potter are owned by JK Rowling herself… btw, this is pretty unnecessary to say but I am not JK Rowling, for all those who…thought I was? LOL

*~.~* Chapter 2:  The Rendez-vous at Diagon Alley *~.~*

Harry was still being pulled slightly by Ron until they reached their destination, which was Flourish and Blotts, but he could care less.  They met up with Hermione who had just gotten done paying for her books.  There were quite a few new ones this term than last, and most of them were Defense Against the Dark Arts related.

"Harry…how have you been?" she asked quite cautiously.  She didn't want to make a wrong move and get him upset in anyway.

"I'm fine, blimey; don't treat me any different than you would have last year, alright?" Although Harry was far from fine.  He was overwhelmed with pain and suffering, but it seemed that the way everyone was treating him only made it worse.

"So have you gotten your books yet?  I'm really excited for Defense Against the Dark Arts.  I wonder who the new professor is.  Have you two heard anything about it yet?"  Hermione said trying to change the subject and acting as normal as possible.

"I heard Dumbledore couldn't find anyone and Snape is going to teach both Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts," spoke an eavesdropping Neville Longbottom, who looked rather frightened at his own statement.

"Well Fred told me that Dumbledore himself was going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Ron.  "But I wouldn't count on it.  Fred has a tendency to make things up to make me look stupid."

"You're both wrong," came a drawling voice from behind them that unmistakingly belonged to Draco Malfoy.  "My father told me that they had found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.  Of course it's top secret news and it's not to be revealed until Hogwarts."  Malfoy turned and eyed Hermione suspiciously.  "Hmm…you're looking well, mudblood…unfortunately."  With that, Malfoy turned on his heel and walked away, as a smirk grew on his face.

As he walked out, Draco couldn't help but think there was something different with Granger this year.  He knew she was pretty, and smart, and there was always that fatal attraction he had felt towards her, but this year was different.  It was…more.  -Get a hold of yourself, man…goddamn mudblood Granger…- He thought to himself.  He finally started to control his thoughts again and went next door to pick out a new broom for the year.

"Don't let him get to you, Hermione," Ron chimed in after Malfoy was out the door.

"Oh I won't.  Not this year.  I'm not going to put up with his crap this year."

Harry was very quiet, and his friends had taken notice.  Already they were seeing the effects last year's tragedy had on him. 

"Hey Harry, why don't we go sneak a peak at this year's new brooms, mate?"  Ron said thinking of ways to cheer him up a bit.  Harry nodded to Ron, and they headed out. 

They unfortunately ran back into Malfoy as they were examining the new Shockstick F160.

"Where's your girlfriend, Potter?" He sneered.

"Excuse me? Who's that, Malfoy?"

"That filthy mudblood Granger, Potter.  Or is she still seeing that blockhead Krum?"  Draco tried not to look too interested in the subject, though he really was dying to know if she was available.  Maybe not available to him, but still, available is good.

"Malfoy…Hermione's like my sister.  That means I'm like her brother, and if you do anything to her this term, I'll kick your ass all the way to Egypt."  That was the most Harry had spoken since he got to Diagon Alley.

"…Yeah…so clear off!"  Ron said after a pause.  He was a little surprised, but excitement took over at the chance to tell Malfoy off.

"I wouldn't get within 500 feet of that mudblood on my own freewill," Draco replied and walked out of the shop.

"We sure told him off, eh Harry?!?" Ron said excitedly.

"Yeah…sure," Harry replied weakly. "He's up to something, Ron.  I just don't know what it is yet."

Meanwhile, Hermione was chatting happily to Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

"Well Seamus and I have been seeing eachother since the beginning of the summer.  Who new both of our families had booked the same tour of the lost city of Atlantis? The place is quite charming," explained Lavender.

"Personally, I think a Mr. Draco Malfoy is the catch of our year.  But he's so damn hard to get," said Parvati.

"You know he would only date another Slytherin.  But I doubt anyone at Hogwarts is good enough for him," Hermione stated sarcastically.

"Well, if you don't think he's gorgeous, I don't know who you think is," Parvati said as she put her hands on her hips and scowled.

"Fine…I don't deny the fact that he's drop dead sexy and smart, but he has the personality of a mop." Hermione said, giving into the girl-talk.  Parvati and Lavender had a sudden uncontrollable case of the giggles from that statement.  Hermione gave them an "are-you-completely-crazy?" look and stalked off to find the rest of her trio.

She finally caught up with Ron and Harry and they made their way to the King's Cross Station.

*-;-*  ~*~*~*~  *-;-*

The Golden Trio found themselves a private compartment within the Hogwarts express, and before they knew it they were on their way.  Ron and Hermione were both prefects once again this term.  They attended the prefects meeting about half way through the train ride to Hogwarts.  Harry sat alone in the compartment and was completely lost in thought.  He bought a few Chocolate Frogs and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans from the trolley lady passing by, but that was the only time throughout the good forty-five minutes he was alone that he was actually aware of his surroundings.  It was a fairly nice day out; partly cloudy, highs around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and a slight chance of a drizzle in the evening hours.  Anyone who came into the compartment would have thought Harry was simply examining the weather.  He was staring out the large window on the left side of the compartment and occasionally placing a handful of jelly beans in his mouth.

"What's with you, Potter? Girlfriend left you for Weasel already, did she?" sneered Malfoy.  Apparently he had left the meeting before the others because Hermione and Ron both weren't back yet.

"Shove it up your ass, Malfoy." Harry turned from the window slowly to look Malfoy in the eyes. "And I told you…Hermione is NOT my girlfriend." Harry gave Malfoy a death glare and turned back to his window.

Malfoy just stood there for a second or two, contemplating what to say next.  Instead, he just let out a small snort, signaling he didn't care and stomped obnoxiously out of the compartment.  He gave Hermione and Ron a little bump on the shoulder as he stormed by them while they headed toward the compartment door.

"Was Malfoy in here giving you more grief, Harry?" asked Hermione as she sat across from him and Ron.  She immediately extracted a book from her suitcase titled Wonderful Ways to Wart Off Werewolves.  It was unmistakingly one of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts required reading books.

"Nah, it's fine.." Harry said, not wanting to bring up more stuff to talk about.  He went back to staring out his window once again.  He could only slightly hear Ron and Hermione talk about the new material they'd be learning in Defense Against the Dark Arts because he was so absorbed in his thoughts.  He didn't take anything they were saying in, it was just a jumble of words being spoken some distance off, even though they were sitting right beside him.

Harry must have dozed off, for it seemed like all he did was simply blink and he was being shaken gently awake by Hermione.

"Harry…Harry…You need to change into your robes, Harry.  We're almost here," Hermione spoke in a soothing tone that only made him want to fall back asleep.  But he did as he was told and changed into his robes.

A/N : Sorry it took SOOO long to update.. every time I had time to do it, ff.n wouldn't let me.. but no worries now !  Chapter 3 coming soon! Jippie !