Disclaimer: Nothing has changed since the first chapter; we still don't own Harry Potter. We're just borrowing all the characters and we will put them back after we are done, except Draco, we're keeping him.

Thank you, Faeris Narlyle, our first reviewer! The next chapter should be up by no later than Friday. -Sarah & Kim

Chapter 2- Silver Storm

Hermione watched as Draco continued to stare at her until he finally seemed to realize what he was doing. He glanced at Hermione one last time before he exited the compartment. "What was that all about?" she wondered.

She sat down in a seat opposite Harry and Ron. They were talking non-stop about quidditch. Hermione knew it was pointless to try and change the topic and she found quidditch to be quite a bore. She sighed as she looked out the window, watching the English countryside roll by. Her mind started to wander until all she could think about was Draco. "Since when has Malfoy been so damn hot?" she asked herself silently.

Draco had indeed changed a lot over the summer. He was tall, maybe an inch or two over six feet. He no longer jelled his hair, so it fell across his face, giving Hermione the strange urge to reach out and brush it away. He had obviously been working out, most likely practicing quidditch, for he had gained a lot of muscle and had developed a slight tan. His eyes were by far his most interesting and puzzling feature. She wondered how his eyes could stand out so much and not even show a shred of emotion, just a constant icy coldness. Hermione suddenly recalled the look Draco gave her before he left the compartment. His eyes showed emotion, but was it lust, it couldn't be? She decided to stop thinking about it because the thought was just confusing her further. "I shouldn't even be thinking about Malfoy this way," she mentally scolded herself, "He's just an arrogant, spoiled Slytherin git."

"Hermione...um, Mione?" "Huh, what Ron?" "You were just staring out the window, like you were in a daze or something." "We're going to arrive at Hogwarts in fifteen minutes," Harry explained, "We thought you might want to get ready." "Oh. Can you two please leave for a couple of minutes so I can change?" "Sure," they both replied and left the compartment.

Hermione quickly changed into her Hogwarts uniform and robes, repinning her head girl badge on her cloak, which she put on, since she heard the weather would be poor. She felt the train come to a stop, so she she stepped out onto the platform. The weather was definetly malevolent. There was a high wind and freezing rain. Hermione was very thankful that she had her warm cloak. She soon found an empy horse-less carriage and got in, Harry and Ron joined her moments later. Strangely a very ruffled looking Draco soon followed. As soon as he sat down he glanced up looking quite surprised to see the 'golden trio' all staring at him. There was no explaination until hermione heard him mutter "I thought this carriage was empy." He made a movement to get up and leave, but before he could the carriage jolted into motion.

He sat back down looking thoughly pissed off. Harry and Ron just stared, Hermione was deep in thought. She was trying to figure out why the usually meticulous Malfoy was acting like he was oblivious to everything. She eventually decided that it was just from being blown about in the storm outside. They spent the rest of the ride in silence, for which Hermione was thankful. She didn't want a fight breaking out between Harry, Ron, and Draco. She didn't know why, but she felt bad for Draco, something was definitly bothering him. She wished she knew what it was, but she also knew it was pointless to ask him.

The silence grew increasingly intense with every second that ticked by. Hermione was growing slighty nervious, Harry and Ron were staring unblinkingly at Draco who was staring back just as spitefully. Hermione felt as though a fight was about to start when the carriage abruptly stopped, breaking their intense stares. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She was glad that was over, the door opened and she stepped out to get her first view of the school.

It was her final year at Hogwarts, but she still looked up in awe at the enchantingly beautiful castle. The windows were all lit, surrounding the school in a soft yellow glow, as moonlight reflected off the lake where she could just make out the first year's boats sailing toward the castle.

Hermione walked up the steps toward the huge doors, ready to begin a new year at her school. She entered the great hall through another large set of doors, and sat down at the Griffindor table next to Harry and Ron, just as Dumbledore stood up to make his annual 'start-of-school' annnouncement.



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