Title: Falling for You
Author: Evie DuGrey
Chapter Title: Chapter Two: The Hogwarts Express
Disclaimer: I only own this story line, and Tom Felton. :P I stole the 'shitting me' line from Sweet Home Alabama.
Summary: Hermione and the gang's 7th year at Hogwarts. Stuff's gonna happen. HG/DM.
A/N: Sorry about the whole mum/mom thing. I'm australian so I say mum.
*____*= Hermione thinking
Hermione was startled when her alarm clock went off three hours later. She looked across at her clock. 7 o'clock. She put down her book and went downstairs to have breakfast. As her parents were muggles, and it was against the law for Hermione to use magic, her family did most things the muggle way. In fact, they did just about everything the muggle way.
"Oh Hermione, honey how did you sleep? Would you like some pancakes?" Her mother asked eagerly, looking up from the stove.
"I didn't sleep too well actually," she replied, "and yes please, I would love some pancakes."
Her mother served her some breakfast and put it on the table. "I suppose it was probably just excitement. After all, you are going back to school today."
Hermione felt her stomach tighten. She hadn't told her parents about the dreams she'd been having. *It's probably no big deal, and besides, they probably wouldn't understand it anyway.*
"Yeah, I guess." She said quickly. She looked across the table at her father, who was reading 'The Daily Prophet'. Her family had got a subscription to it at the beginning of the last year, after insisting that they at least know what's going on in the world that their daughter lived in for a good portion of the year. "Anything interesting Dad?" she asked curiously
He looked up from his paper and to Hermione. "No, not really, although that Rita Skeeter woman is still writing vicious things about the Ministry of Magic's work." He replied with a sigh.
"I thought she would have learnt her lesson after our little incident in fourth year." She said, referring to when she had found out that Rita Skeeter was an animagus and caught her.
"Yes well, you know what they say honey, a leopard can't change its stripes." He replied with a wink. Hermione was too tired to bother correcting her dad, and didn't want to embarrass his anyway.
"I suppose." She said and shrugged her fingers. "What time are we leaving for King's Cross?" she asked politely.
"Well, your train leaves at eleven and we want to have some time to see you off, so we figured we'd get there at about 10:30. Sound alright?"
She smiled. "Great." Hermione was looking forward to going home. Home. That's what it felt like for her now. When she was at Hogwarts, it felt so safe, so right. "I think I'll just go get dressed now." She said as she finished her pancakes. She walked upstairs and into her room. She looked through her wardrobe for something nice to wear. She wanted to make an impression today because of her new make over. *ARGH! I have nothing! Oooh that's nice.* She finally decided on a pair of caramel coloured cords, her Birkenstocks and a white mid-drift peasant top that showed her newly pierced belly button. Her hair lay loosely around her shoulders and she had big hoop earrings.
She looked at the clock. It was twenty past ten. She quickly applied some lip gloss, grabbed her trunk and Crookshanks and headed downstairs.
"Mum! Dad!" She hollered from the bottom of the stairs. "We'd better go now!"
"Now, now 'Mione, there's no need to yell." Her father said sternly.
"I'll get the car started shall I?" Her mother quickly cut in before there was an argument. "Have you got everything packed honey?" she asked.
"Everything."
"Good, now lets get a move-on!" Her father said, a little more cheerfully.
The ride to Kings Cross was quiet and uneventful. When they got there, Hermione jumped out of the car and got her trunk from the back of the car and began to walk towards the barrier. As her parents were muggles, they couldn't get through the barrier, so she had to say goodbye to her parents in the muggle world (a/n. I don't know if that's true but it's convenient for my story)
"Make me proud my little Head Girl!" Her father said encouragingly whilst giving her a hug. Hermione looked up at her mother. She had tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong mum?" she asked, worried.
Her mother shook her head. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just, my little girl is all grown up! I'm going to miss you honey!" Hermione smiled at her mother and gave her a hug.
"It's okay Mum." She comforted. She looked at her watch. 10:55. "Well, I'd better hurry! The train will be leaving soon and I wouldn't want to miss it!" She gave her parents one last hug and started to walk away.
"Have a great year 'Mione! Don't let anyone get you down!" Her father called out encouragingly. She turned around to face him, smiled and nodded before casually leaning against the barrier and arriving at Platform 9 ¾.
She was greeted by the chatter of excited new witched and wizards and of course, the Hogwarts Express. Even though she rode on it every year, she was still excited to see the scarlet train, which would not only take them to Hogwarts, but to many new adventures in the year to come.
Hermione searched the crowd for a familiar face, but couldn't find anyone. She was startled when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She swivelled around to see Ron, Lavender and Harry.
"Oh hi!" she cried
Ron extended his hand. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Ron." He said in his most charming voice.
Hermione giggled. "It's me silly! Hermione!"
Ron's jaw dropped. "You're shittin' me"
"Well, I've never quite got that saying but no I'm not shitting you Ron."
He looked her up and down once more before saying, "Wow 'Mione! You look… hot!" Hermione blushed and Ron got a slap from Lavender. He turned to face his girlfriend and gave her a kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "but you're way hotter." Lavender rolled her eyes at his lame remark but kissed him anyway.
"Well I can see that you too are…" Hermione tried to find a word to describe it, "…busy."
"Ahem." Hermione turned to see Harry standing there looking very left out. She gave him a hug and giggled at the expression on his face. It was very similar to Ron's. "Well 'Mione… you've uhhh… changed."
Hermione smiled. "Cho did it. You like?"
Harry smiled too. "I love. That girlfriend of mine has got some talent! And you got Head Girl! Well done!"
"Yeah, well done 'Mione" Ron piped in
"Do you guys know who got Head Boy?" she asked, with her fingers crossed.
"Not me." Harry said.
"Neither." Ron replied. They were interrupted by the sound of the Hogwarts Express blowing it's horn.
"Well, we'd better get on."
"Yeah I suppose." They all gave their luggage to the driver and climbed onto the train. They found an empty compartment and sat down.
"So what did you guys get up to on the holidays?" Hermione attempted to start up conversation.
"Well, me and Harry went to the Quidditch World Cup. It was fantastic 'Mione! You should have seen the Chudley Cannons! They're in good form…" Hermione zoned out. Ron and Harry were talking about Quidditch and once they started, there was no way to stop them.
The train bustled along on the tracks. Harry and Ron were still talking about Quidditch and Hermione and Lavender were bored out of their brains. The train ride had been fairly uneventful so far, until Malfoy and his sidekicks decided to pay them a visit.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potty, Weasel and Mudblood. Having a nice little reunion are we?"
"Wow Malfoy, how original. How many times exactly have you called me Mudblood? It's getting pretty old." Hermione retorted quickly and smiled at the shocked look on his face. He hadn't expected them to say anything back. "If you haven't got anything else to say, could you please leave us alone?" Hermione smiled sweetly at him. *Score! Hermione- 1, Malfoy- 0*
"Well actually Granger, I do have something else to say. Professor McGonagall wants to see you in the front compartment. Head business."
"And why were you sent to get me?" she asked, dreading his answer.
"As I said, official Head business." He said, sticking out his chest to make sure Hermione could see his 'Head Boy' badge and smirking.
*AAAAAAHHHHHH! Okay, this isn't happening. I'm dreaming*
Draco noticed Hermione staring at him. "Take a picture, it'll last longer." He said and smirked even more. "Anyway, mustn't keep the professor waiting." He said and winked at her. He had to admit, she did look pretty hot this year.
Hermione stood up and walked out of the compartment and followed Malfoy to the front compartment. When they got there, Hermione was pleasantly surprised.
"CHO!" She cried happily and hugged Cho. (a/n yeh I no they hug a lot in my fic) "What are you doing here?"
"I'm coming back to Hogwarts!"
"Does Harry know?"
"No, I thought I'd leave it as a surprise."
Hermione squealed with excitement. "But-"
"Ahem." Hermione blushed and turned to face the professor.
"Sorry Professor."
"Quite alright." She responded and then looked at all the teens in the compartment.
Hermione noticed another boy in the compartment and she recognised him as the old Head Boy, Tristan Landies: a slytherin. He had dark, black hair and amazing green eyes. She smiled at him, but he didn't return it.
"Now, I guess you two are wondering why you're here." Professor McGonagall started, indicating to Draco and Hermione. "Well, this year, we have decided to bring in the old Heads of the School as well. They won't be Head Boy and Girl of course, but they will be assisting you to do your tasks and helping the other professors. As you will all be needing to do some joined duties, we've arranged for all four of you to have Head common room, with two separate dorms. Now I understand, there has been some conflict between all of your houses, but let me tell you now, if " there are any problems, we can elect new heads in a heart beat." She said sternly, especially looking at Hermione and Malfoy. "Okay?"
Nobody responded.
"Okay?" She replied a little more sternly.
Hermione nodded and so did Malfoy. She could hear him muttering something about his father under his breath. The train come to a halt.
"You shall be missing the feast, as I will have to show you to your new dormitories and explain to you a few of the rules. None of which are to be broken." She said glaring at Malfoy. "Come along."
Hermione went out of the compartment and followed Professor McGonagall past all the excited new first years and into the Hogwarts grounds. Hermione looked up at the castle. It was even more stunning than she'd remembered.
"Now, there are only a few rules. No getting out of bed out of hours, unless on prefect duties. No destructive behaviour. No tardiness on duties. And last and most importantly, no fighting." She explained quite calmly. "As you are heads, you are allowed to go in the corridors other students are not, but only on duties. Understood?"
There was a mumbled 'yes' from the group.
"Good. Now here is your portrait hole and common room. I'll leave it up to you from here. Just say a password to the portrait and it will become yours. Enjoy." She said and turned around and walked off.
Hermione looked at the portrait hole. It was a picture of an couple, dressed in old fashioned clothing. Hermione thought it looked quite romantic.
"Well, well, hello youngsters!" The man in the picture greeted. "I'm Sir Jack and this is my wife Lady Pearl. What is your password to be?"
"MALFOY'S HOT!" Draco yelled into the portrait and it swung open.
"Oh no you don't! Over my dead body am I saying that every time I want to go into my common room. Pick another password!" Hermione cried angrily
"I'm sorry little lady but the password has been chosen and this is it." Lady Pearl said politely. "Maybe you can change it another time. Have a lovely day." She said and smiled.
Hermione scowled and huffed into the common room, but she couldn't stay angry long once she'd seen their common room. It had beautiful timber walls and a fire burning in the hearth. It had couches, all the different colours of the houses. Hermione guessed, that just the common room alone was bigger than her entire house.
"Wow." She whispered. The room had an enormous mirror on top of the mantle piece which made the room look even bigger.
"Come on 'Mione, let's go check out our dorm!" Cho cried and ran in the direction of the door marked 'Girls'. Hermione ran after her. They opened the door and saw it. It had a black four-poster bed on each side of the room and a timber wardrobe. There was a massive window that covered the entire wall on one side and the room had a beautiful white sheepskin carpet.
Hermione gasped. It was beautiful. She jumped up onto her bed and sunk into the beautiful comfort. She breathed in a massive breath and sighed. "It's good to be home."
A/N More soon if u review please!
***Evie DuGrey***