Hey everyone!
I only got one review and that makes me kinda sad, but oh well. I did only write like 1800 words so I understand. Hopefully I'll make up for it today! On with the show!

Disclaimer: I still own nothing related to Harry Potter (except a pretty snazzy lunchbox)

Hermione leaned back against the plush burgundy seat of her compartment on the Hogwarts' Express. The sun shone brightly through the window, warming the exposed skin of her face and throat. The Standard Book of Spells: Grade 6 lay open across her legs, her hand resting lightly on the page, a finger marking her place. Her other hand was drawn, as it usually was, to the fine silver chain around her neck. Ever since she had found it in the destroyed fountain at the ministry, she had worn it. More and more often throughout the summer, she would find her small hand unconsciously fluttering upwards and stroking the opal or toying with the chain. Once or twice, she had even awoken from strange dreams with the pendant clutched desperately in her hand. Still, no matter what happened, she could not take the necklace off.
Hermione sighed and looked around her empty compartment. Harry had run off to find Cho Chan, the pretty Ravenclaw seeker that he was sweet on and Ron had traipsed off after a short, blonde Hufflepuff he liked. The end result of these hopelessly awkward boys' love escapades was an empty compartment for Hermione. Not that it really mattered to her, she had wanted to finish her book and it was impossible with the endless Quidditch babble she had been subjected to. Now the only sound that accosted her ears was the rumbling of the bright red steam engine along the tracks. Hermione leaned her head back against the seat and let her eyes flutter shut.
Just when she started to really enjoy her bit of peace, her compartment door slid open with a bang. Hermione looked up to see which one of her guy friends had been shot down this quickly, but to her dismay, standing in the compartment doorway with an unpleasant scowl on his face was Draco Malfoy. Well if there was ever a horrible way to start out a school year, this was it. Hermione rolled her eyes up towards the ceiling, mouthing "why me?"

"What are you doing, Granger? Reading up on the history of Mudbloods?" Malfoy asked, the ever present smirk returning to his face.

"Actually it's a volume of the Greatest Wizard Jerk-offs. I just finished the third chapter about your family alone." Hermione smiled sweetly and batted her eyelashes. Thank God she had been hanging out with her friends more this summer; that got her sarcasm and wit up to speed. Draco glared pointedly at her and she could see his jaw clench. Hmmm, seems she struck a nerve...1 point for Hermione.

"Let's see your little muggle family end up in ANY books. At least my pureblood family is worth writing about." Draco spat back, his steely eyes shooting daggers at Hermione. She just smiled to herself and leaned towards the door, stroking her necklace and speaking in confidential tones.

"I'm not quite sure that's such a good thing Malfoy." Her fingers reflexively tightened on the chain when Malfoy took a few steps toward her. He reached her quickly and leaned down over her.

"Looks like my little mudblood has got a mouth on her." Malfoy sneered, raising one of his white-blonde eyebrows at her. Hermione sank a little more into her seat, eyeing the door to her left, hoping Harry or Ron would come back. When no help emerged from the open doorway, Hermione turned her brown eyes back to his silver ones. Her eyes narrowed and acid dripped from her voice.

"Why don't you just get the hell out of here Malfoy," she spit out his name like it tasted foul. Try as she might, she still couldn't keep the tremor out of her voice. Malfoy smirked at the little waver her voice held.

"Why don't you try and make me?" As he said this, Malfoy leaned even farther over her, their faces only inches apart. Hermione could see the faint blue hints in his eyes and smell the fresh, clean scent of his hair. She sank down a little more to put some distance between them. Her right hand flew to her throat to meet the other and stroke the necklace. Malfoy obviously noticed the sudden movement of his prey, for his hand flew to hers and tried to pull them apart. "Well, what's all this you have then?" If asked to explain what happened next, Hermione would never have been able to. Hermione saw red, like flames had shot out from the corners of her eyes. All she knew was that she couldn't let go of that necklace, couldn't let Malfoy have it. All of her fear of him was forgotten. She straightened up in her seat so quickly that Malfoy seemed to back off a little and dropped his hand from hers.

"Get off!" Hermione screamed. Both her small hands flew to Malfoy's taut chest and laid flat. He had only a split second to look down at her hands in surprise before she shoved him as hard as she could. Malfoy tumbled backwards into the seat across from Hermione. He looked up just in time to see her slip the necklace inside her t-shirt. Her book had fallen out of her lap onto the floor, where she made no move to recover it. She was kneeling on the seat, her chest heaving. She just glared at Draco Malfoy, her fingers balled into fists at her side. Malfoy sat in mute shock for a moment, the last seconds' events not quite registering. It had seemed like he finally had the upper hand with Granger, and he apparently couldn't have been more mistaken. Most people just cowered in under his gaze. Malfoy's shocked expression was quickly replaced by a scowl as he gracefully, but forcefully, stood up.

"You had better watch yourself Mudblood." With those parting words, Malfoy turned swiftly and strode from the compartment. Hermione's breath came to her in harsh, painful gasps. The whole room seemed to spin, threatening to throw her off her seat. Hermione sat down and closed her eyes. "What is wrong with me?" she thought. "What in the hell made me do that?" It was only then Hermione realized that her left hand had risen to her collar, and was stroking the pendant through her shirt.

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Draco leaned against the door of the compartment he just left. He could still feel Granger's hands on his chest as she shoved him across the room. What just happened absolutely confounded him. Granger was usually pretty in control, choosing to use her words rather than attack someone physically. There had been the one time she slapped him, but that had been three years ago when they were children then. "What in the hell made her do that?" He thought to himself. Draco pushed off from the door and made his way to the next compartment over. There he was not surprised to find Crabbe and Goyle lounging about and eating everything in sight. Pumpkin Pasty and Cauldron Cake wrappers littered the floor of the compartment, crinkling slightly as Draco marched over them. Draco looked at them, amazed that one of them hadn't mistakenly eaten the other in the feeding frenzy that no doubt took place. The silver- haired wolf ordered his bungling gorillas to clean up their horrid mess before sinking down into his own seat. He couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened with Granger. If she knew what was good for her she would never mention what happened to anybody. "Or else I may have to take care of her." But as soon as he had thought the words, he knew it was an empty threat. What could he really do anyways? Once he reached Hogwarts, he would be incapable of doing anything without risking punishment. Draco Malfoy leaned back in his seat, looking out the window as his lackey's followed his orders and cleaned up the compartment.

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After her surprising encounter with Malfoy, Hermione tried to settle down and read her book again. The words kept swimming together and switching around, trying to trick her or something. "Stupid book," Hermione muttered to herself, placing the book aside on the floor. Cat-like, she stretched her arms above her head and arched her spine. Quietly, she curled up on the soft red bench seat and drifted off to sleep.

Hermione was suddenly standing in a field. It was warm and the sun was shining from the crystal clear blue sky. White fluffy clouds danced along the sky, scraping against the trees on the horizon. The soft petals of yellow and purple flowers brushed against Hermione's hands as a lazy breeze blew softly through. Despite all the endearing scenery and pleasant atmosphere, something felt wrong. The place gave Hermione the creeps and she quickly crossed her arms protectively across her chest.
To the left, a small brook meandered through the grass on the outskirts of the field. Just past the brook was a large mountain face, with a small cave in it. Hermione made her way through the field towards the cave entrance. She hopped across the brook easily and started her short walk to the cave. Every step she took, Hermione felt colder, and the sun seemed to dim. When she finally stepped inside the little opening, her teeth were practically chattering and her hands shook. Hermione wrapped her arms tighter around herself and continued her journey into the cave. The cave was damp and musty; the air was heavy and difficult to breathe.
Suddenly Hermione could see a light up ahead. The light flickered along the cave walls, making them glow. She continued on, but a sound stopped her just short of the light. The sound was a hauntingly familiar one that sent chills running up her spine. She had only heard Harry speak parseltounge a few times, but that did not mean she would ever forget what it sounded like. The man's voice now was much deeper, and much more sinister than Harry's. Hermione began to panic as she thought of the only other person she had heard of that could speak parseltounge. She began to back away from the light and was preparing to run back to the warm, happy field, when the silky language started to sound like something she recognized. "Hermione..Hermione." In the darkness, a hand grabbed her shoulder and she cried out.

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"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron called to her as he tried to shake his friend awake. Suddenly, Hermione gave a little squeak and sat up so quickly she neared cracked heads with Ron and Harry. The two of them jumped back a bit before settling down onto the bench next to a groggy and disoriented Hermione. She looked around at her surroundings and realized she must have been dreaming. She was still on the train, safe and sound in her little compartment. Hermione felt a stab of pain in her palm and looked down to find her hand clutched tightly around the sharp little pendant. Luckily, Harry and Ron couldn't see because Ron had tucked his coat around her.

"You seemed really cold when we came in. You were shivering and your teeth were chattering." Ron told her, mistaking her reason for looking down. Hermione smiled weakly at him and returned his coat. "What in the bloody hell were you dreaming about Hermione? You kept whimpering and shaking your head." Ron asked her, concern for his friend etched across his face.

"Yeah, you were freaking us out." Harry said as he took Hermione's hand and helped her off the seat. It was then that Hermione realized that the train had stopped moving, and that could only mean they had arrived at Hogsmeade station.

"It was nothing, you know, just a nightmare. You know what; I don't even remember what it was." She said swiftly, throwing her boys a dazzling white I-Have-Dentists-For-Parents smile. The smile, however, did not extend up to her eyes. For once, out of the whole summer, she did remember the dream. She remembered it, and she didn't like it.

The boys took her at her word and smiled back at her. She told them to run along ahead of her because she had been sleeping and never changed into her robes. Hermione picked her book up off the floor and headed out of her compartment and off the train. The familiar Hogsmeade station was a welcome sight after the cold, dank nightmare. Hermione found the bounce returning to her step as she made her way through the bustling station towards the horseless carriages that stood ready to take them to Hogwarts.
Hermione should have been paying more attention to where she was going because, as she had her eyes glued to the carriages, she slammed right into a solid wall of a chest. Strong, long-fingered hands reached out and grabbed both her upper-arms before she fell, and then let her go as if she had burned them. She knew before looking up that it was Malfoy. Silver- gray eyes glared down at her for the second time today, and that mouth curled into a smirk again.

"I thought I told you to watch yourself, Granger. You don't seem to be doing a very good job." Malfoy said silkily while his two buffoons chuckled gruffly as if they knew what he was talking about. Hermione steadied herself and clutched her book to her chest. She glared sharply at each one of them in turn.

"Eat dirt and choke Malfoy. And your stooges too." She said, raising her chin up just a little bit. Crabbe and Goyle immediately stopped chuckling. They didn't know a lot of things but they knew what stooge meant. They both started to flex their bulky muscles and crack their meaty knuckles. Hermione rolled her eyes at them. "They wouldn't dare do anything out in the open like this." She thought assuredly to herself.
"You know Granger, I'm still curious to know what this is." Malfoy said as he closed the distance between them and snatched up the silver chain around her neck in his fist. Luckily, the pendant itself was covered by her robes, but that didn't stop the rage from boiling up in Hermione. Her hand shot out as if of its own will and connected hard with Malfoy's chest.

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Draco had been expecting her to try and shove him again and he was ready for it. He only took a half-step back when her hand connected with his chest. What he hadn't been prepared for was Crabbe's large, meaty hand shooting out and catching Granger on the shoulder. The force of Crabbe's blow sent Granger reeling around. The chain of the necklace cut into her neck before snapping. Granger hit the ground hard, her hand instantly flying to her throat.

"What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing. She's just a girl!" Draco screamed at Crabbe. "Do you really think I need your protection from a GIRL?" Draco gave Crabbe a sharp jab in the shoulder before turning away from him. It was then he noticed Goyle's eyes following the pendant as it swung back and forth from his fist. Granger's eyes followed from the ground also, her hand on the back of her neck.

"Blimey, that's it." Goyle said under his breath. It was so quiet that Draco almost didn't hear him. Draco knew one thing however; he didn't like the look of excited greed that stole over the oaf's countenance. Draco had known enough of the wrong people to know that expression only meant trouble. Draco's eyes turned back to Granger who looked as if she would make a mad dash for the necklace, despite what Crabbe and Goyle might do.

"What are you staring at you miserable, stupid git?" Draco yelled, turning back to Goyle. "Both of you go ahead and get me a seat in the carriage. Now!" With one last fleeting look at the swinging pendant, Goyle stalked off towards the carriages, closely followed by Crabbe. Without thinking about it, Draco reached out a hand to Granger. She took it and he helped her up off the ground. He then tossed the pendant up and caught it in the palm of his hand; Granger gave out a small squeak of protest. Draco looked down at the silver and opal pendant nestled in his pale hand. He wanted to make sure he remembered exactly what it looked like. He had a funny feeling it would come in handy.
When he was sure he had memorized its appearance, he reached out and grabbed Granger's hand. He carefully pressed the pendant into her palm and closed her fingers around it.

"Keep a close eye on that mudblood." He said dropping her hand like a snake. He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving a shaken girl behind him. As he approached the carriages, he looked down at his hand. Two small red smears marred his perfect pale skin. It was then he realized that he had pressed the pendant into the hand Granger was keeping on the back of her neck. When his henchman had shoved her, the chain had bitten into her skin, drawing blood before breaking. Draco could never explain why, but he felt like doing nothing but punching Crabbe in his fat face for the rest of the day.

A/N Well there you have it folks. I hope I can get some reviews before I write another chapter. I know it's a little slow going, but I'm one of those crazy people who try to keep a plot going. Anyways.Read and Review please! It's 2 am and I'm off to bed!