*.:Train Rides and New Students:.*
Hermione Granger stepped from inside her parents' Audi and looked about her. It was a busy day at Kings' Cross, she noticed, as she smoothed out a few wrinkles that found their way onto her blue blouse. She walked next to the edge of the car and popped the trunk. She grabbed her extremely heavy school trunk and her father, who had just emerged from the drivers' seat, grabbed the second (and equally heavy) trunk. Her mother, who had dashed away to retrieve a trolley, came back pushing the metal contraption and the two Grangers hoisted the heavy trunks onto it.
Once that matter was settled Hermione walked back over to the back seat of the car and grabbed hold of a pet carrier that held her ginger cat, Crookshanks. The obese cat gave an offended yowl as she rose him into the air only to land on top of one of the two trunks. Hermione giggled and scolded her cat as if he were a young child. "Oh Crookshanks, calm down. We do this every year."
Mr. Granger looked menacing at Crookshanks. He and the ginger cat never really got along. He found it odd however, that Crookshanks had been the only animal to dislike him in all of his long 50 years. Mr. Ganger pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose and grabbed hold of the carts' handle. All three of them started walking towards the large train station, Mr. Granger toting the heavy trolley and Hermione chatting animatedly with her mother.
"No mum, you see, Animigus is the ability to change into an animal." For the past half hour Hermione had been trying to explain to her mother what exactly she would be trying to achieve this year, her Sixth Year at Hogwarts. It was an understatement to say that it was not going too well.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear, but I don't think I'll ever be able to understand all of your magic." The elder lady gave a flitted laugh as she placed a hand on her daughters' back to urge her forward into the barrier of nine and three-quarters. Hermione sighed, knowing that she would never get her mother to comprehend all that the Wizarding World had to offer, and ran straight into the concrete barrier. To anyone who didn't know of the Wizarding World would have thought that the young woman would run into the hard wall only to bounce back, feeling all the more sorer.
When Hermione emerged on the other side it seemed as though she had entered a whole other world. And that she did. Wizards and Witches bustled about her in an excited frenzy, some talking enthusiastically to friends and others loading huge, heavy trunks onto a scarlet train. Hermione again pressed away any wrinkles that had yet to disappear and ran her fingers through her long chocolate tresses. She heard her mother gracefully step through the wall and she turned around only to see her father crash through seconds later. She laughed as he father struggled to stop the cart from moving any farther. Even though this was her seventh year boarding the Hogwarts Express, and even though her parents accompanied her each and every year, her father never quite got the hang of passing through the magical barrier.
When Hermione's giggles subsided and she cracked open her eyes to wipe away the tears of pleasure she spotted a mop of flaming red hair not far from where she stood. It was her best friend, Ron Weasley, and judging by the fact that his red head rose above the sea of students to a considerate extent, he had grown at least another four inches over the summer.
Ron caught sight of her and ran towards the threesome. "Hermione!" Ron stopped in front of her and scooped her into a bone-crushing hug. Hermione could not, for the life of her, figure out why Ron seemed to be so happy. It wasn't every day that he grabbed her and squeezed so hard that her eyes might pop out. "It's so great to see you, Hermione!" He let her go and held her at arms-length, observing her as if she were a child he hadn't seen in years.
"Ron, why are you so happy?" She looked up at him with a confused look. At her question Ron's face turned a deep red, a color that almost rivaled his flaming locks, and he looked down at the ground with a small smile playing across his features.
"Well the thing is, you see," he began, "something very interesting happened over the summer." He paused to look up at her face and she gently urged him on with an encouraging look. "Well after the whole thing with You-Know-Who last year the Ministry's been a lot more open-minded. They've actually been taking advice from Dumbledore." All of this Hermione had already known. "Well, over the summer Madame Bones had been over a few times, to discuss tactics and such. And a few times she brought along her niece, Susan Bones, she was in the D.A. last year." Hermione nodded; she knew whom Ron was talking of. "And well, we got to talking and she told me how she thought I was really good in D.A., and... now we're kind of together." He finished his speech lamely and smiled at her, shrugging his shoulders.
Hermione certainly had not expected this. From what she could remember, she had never once seen Ron talking to Susan Bones during the D.A. practices. Despite her confusion she smiled and hugged him. "Ron that's great!"
The whole time Ron had been telling her about his summer they had walked slowly towards the red engine -- her parents trailing behind her. Once they reached the large train Mr. Granger looked at his watch and sighed. "Hermione, your mother and I have to leave or else we're going to be late for the dentists' convention." He began to load the heavy trunks onto the Hogwarts Express with the help of Ron. Both men grunted as they heaved the hefty luggage up.
"Right Dad." She walked up towards her mother and wrapped her arms around her waist. She had done this for the past five years but it never got any easier; it was hard to leave your parents, to only see them during the holidays. She breathed in her mothers' scent, committing it to memory. She pulled away then and her mother held her at arms-length, much like Ron had.
"Oh, my baby girl." Hermione knew what this meant. She watched her mothers' eyes cloud with tear and she repeated, "Oh, my baby." Mrs. Granger then kissed her daughter on the forehead. Hermione sighed, smiled, and turned to her father.
"Well kiddo..." he dwindled off and he looked at her, highly similar to the look his wife had just given her. "Jeez, how you kids grow." He smiled at her and Hermione walked into his open arms. This went as it did with Mrs. Granger, only Mr. Granger did not cry.
When they had finally separated Mr. Granger pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose again and turned to face Ron. "Well, good-bye Ronald, I hope you have a good year at school." Ron smiled at Mr. Granger and nodded his head. Mr. Granger looked down to the pet carrier that was in Ron's hands and bent a bit to peer in. "Good-bye Crookshanks." The cat hissed loudly and Mr. Granger jumped back in surprise while the cage rattled violently and Ron fought to keep hold of it. "Yes, well." Mr. Granger pushed his glasses up once more and straightened up. "Good-bye Hermione, have a nice time a school. Come on dear." He motioned for his wife and she started walking towards the barrier that led to the Muggle World as she wiped away tears and her laughs at her husbands' antics subsided.
"Well," said Ron, as they watched Hermione's parents walk through the wall, "best go looking for Harry." Hermione nodded and turned towards the red train to head on.
They must have looked through every compartment, start to finish, before they found Harry in one near the rear. "Hello," he said looking up at them with sparkling eyes, smiling.
"Harry!" Hermione flung herself at him, not merely because they had found him, but that she didn't have to walk through the cramped little hall anymore. "Oh Harry, how was your summer? Those people didn't treat you too cruelly, did they?" Her face scrunched up at the thought of the Dursleys, as if she had just smelt something horrible.
Harry laughed at the face she made, "No, just the usual," he answered. He cleared his throat and imitated his Aunt Petunia in a high, squeaky voice, "Potter do this. Boy do that." Ron laughed as he placed the carrier Crookshanks inhabited onto an empty seat, but Hermione scowled.
"I don't see why you have to go back there every year! Dumbledore knows how you hate it." She crossed her arms in indignation as she sat down next to Harry. "I guess it doesn't really matter though, seeing as how we only have about two years left, then you never have to go back there again!" Harry just smiled at her.
They spent a good hour talking about their holiday after every trunk, owl and cat carrier had been situated. The train had left the station and now all they could see was rolling green hills all around them. Ron was right in the middle of explaining the events of the first weekend he had met with Susan when none other than 'Loony' Luna Lovegood peeked her head in through the car door.
"Hello," she said sitting down. "How was your summer?"
"Mine was fine Luna," replied Harry. "Thanks for asking, how was yours?" Hermione knew well that she was in for a longwinded tail of the safari Luna had taken with her father. Sure enough she jumped right in.
"Oh, it was very good!" She said animatedly, "as you know, my father and I went on a magical safari this summer in the search for Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. And although we didn't have any luck getting a good glimpse at them, I'm quite certain that a whole herd of them..." Hermione had blocked her out; she knew there was no such thing as a Crumple-Horned Snorkack.
Hermione proceeded to read the large and ancient tomb of 'Hogwarts: A History', only stopping when there was a loud exclamation to be heard coming from her friends. Only when the witch with the food cart came by did she put down her book. Harry bought them all every kind of sweet the lady had to offer, handing her a Galleon. He placed the goods down in an empty seat for his friends to take freely and, surely, they all reached at the same time.
Hermione chewed on a Chocolate Frog thoughtfully as she talked gleefully with all of her friends. People came and went, passing by the door and waving hello. Last year at this time, Hermione thought bitterly, no one would even come near us for their fear of Harry. She took a chance at glancing sadly at her best friend. She couldn't believe that so much had changed in such a short time. She turned away from Harry only to see Neville and Ginny stride through the doorway.
Hermione smiled, she hadn't realized how much she had missed her friends. But soon the smiled disappeared from her face as she realized who exactly was in the cart.
The last time the six of them had been together they had been in the hospital wing, recovering from their injuries from the Department of Mysteries. She twisted her head around to see if Harry had noticed and she knew that he most certainly had, for his head was bowed slightly and he wasn't chatting as much as he had been before the last two had walked in. Was this how it was to be for the remainder of time? For Harry to completely shut down every time something reminded him of the Department of Mysteries? Hermione stayed silent as well. She didn't take notice to the conversation that was going on between the others until Luna's dreamy voice drifted over the clatter.
"Oh, I must really be going!" She said hurried as she rose from her seat. " Don't tell anyone," she whispered, "but I have a Minkle stowed away in my trunk! I don't think we're allowed to have animals other than owls, cats or toads at school, so I'm sneaking him in." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"What's a Minkle?" Harry asked.
"It's about as real as her Crumple-Horned Snorkacks that's what it is!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Both species, I assure you Hermione, are real," Luna said coldly. "Well I really must be going; Sheldon needs to be fed!" With that she ran out of the door and down the hallway.
The remaining people in the cart sat in silence for a few moments, Luna's wispy voice rolled around in their heads. Finally Ginny spoke up. "Well I really should be getting along to the Fifth Years' Prefects meeting."
"Yea, and I've lost Trevor again," added Neville. They both waved good-bye and hastily exited the cabin. It might have been her imagination, but it seemed to Hermione that there was urgency in both their eyes' to get away from the three of them.
Hermione sighed as she watched them leave and then turned back to her book; it was no use talking to Harry and Ron now, they would both be very glum for the rest of the trip and she'd rather not be the recipient of their bad moods. Her guess was completely right. Ron sat silently across from them chewing forlornly on a Pumpkin Pasty and Harry put all his energy to staring out of the window next to her, his chin resting on the palm of his hand.
Hermione's eyes were glued to the thick book but she didn't read a word. If only last year hadn't happened! If only that horrible Umbridge woman hadn't come to Hogwarts! If only Dumbledore had stayed; how dare he leave us alone knowing that woman would ruin everything! If only Sirius had stayed at Grimmauld Place! If only Harry had listened to her!
Yes! She had told Harry to stay at Hogwarts; that Voldemort was playing on his weaknesses to trick him. But had he listened? No! Hermione looked sadly over at her best friend. If only... she sighed and turned back to the book in her lap. Then he wouldn't be so miserable.
The three friends stayed silent until they finally pulled up to Hogmeade station. Hermione looked out the window and peer through the darkness that had fallen over them. She saw the large castle loom not far from them and she smiled. She was home.
They grabbed all their trunks and animal carriers. Crookshanks, who had been taken out of the imposing cage sometime during the trip, was shoved back in with a great yowl. "Shush, Crookshanks!" Hermione said. With that she grabbed a hold of her things and walked out of the cabin.
The cool September air assaulted her senses when Hermione stepped out of the train and she gasped quickly as she wrapped her cloak tightly around her shoulders. "First Years, First Years over here!" She could hear Hagrid the giant behind her and she turned to see him. Sure enough he was standing about five yards from her, swinging a lamp glowing with warm light. She could see his tangled beard shudder as he spoken and his beetle black eyes shown in the light. "'Ello 'Arry, Ron, 'Ermione."
"Hello Hagrid," they all exclaimed, waving as they started walking towards the horseless carriages. But they weren't horseless, Hermione remembered. Thresals carried the black coached up to the school. The only reason Hermione couldn't see the skeletal-like horses was because she had never been a witness to death.
Ron pushed her forward and she stumbled into one of the many coaches. He came up from behind her and she gave him a reproachful look. "Sorry but you wouldn't move!" He exclaimed. Hermione rolled her eyes and the carriage gave a jolt.
The ride up to the castle was relatively short and in no time they were being seating in the Great Hall. Hermione craned her head upwards once she had sat down at the Griffindor table. The enchanted ceiling twinkled ethereally with many stars and the moon shone silver. She looked back down when she heard a clamor at the front of the Hall; the First Years had just entered.
Professor McGonagall told the frightened looking First Years how the sorting worked and one by one they all sat down and had the tattered old hat placed atop their heads. A number of children were placed in Griffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw. Only a select few were sorted into Hufflepuff. Each house cheered respectively as the sorting house called out their placement.
Soon enough all the First Years had been sorted, but instead of Dumbledore standing to welcome old and new students he sat pensively, as if waiting for something. Sure enough there was a soft tapping and Hermione looked back towards the front of the Hall. A girl who looked to be about her own age was walking up to the stool in the front. McGonagall stood waiting for her, holding the Sorting Hat by the tip. The girl silently sat down on the wooden bench and the Professor placed the hat atop her head. The whole Hall stay quiet. Who could this girl be? Surely she was not a First Year; she was definitely too old. And Hogwarts had never had an exchange student... Hermione looked on with a confused gaze.
The Sorting Hat stayed on the girls' head for quite some time. It had been at least ten minutes before the Hat gave its' decision. In those ten minutes Hermione took the time to look over the mysterious girl. She had long blonde hair that curled slightly, which seemed to be strategically placed to look perfect around her mane. Hermione couldn't quite be sure from here, but it seemed as though the girl had sparkling blue eyes; the color of the Atlantic. She was thin but not disgustingly so, and her form was perfect. Hermione found herself slightly jealousy. She wasn't nearly as pretty as the girl being sorted was and she knew soon that all the boys, her boys included, would be drooling all over her.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Sorting Hat shouted. The Hufflepuff table clapped and cheered enthusiastically and both Ron and Harry, Hermione noticed, looked a bit put off. The girl walked towards the applauding table and sat down. The whole Hall erupted in chatter, the topic on all their lips being the new girl.
"Yes, yes, very well!," cried Dumbledore. "Please students of Hogwarts, join me in welcoming all of our new first years and the new Sixth Year addition to Hufflepuff, Miss Ave Hart." All four tables again erupted in noise (Slytherin a little less enthused than the other three).
"As most of you know, the Forbidden Forest is just that -- Forbidden. Any student who enters will be expelled I'm afraid, so please, do not try your luck." He smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Mr. Filch has again posted on his office door the rules and regulations for student when passing in the halls, it might do you well to stop by." Many students rolled their eyes, remembering when last year, Filch had posted the same list and in less than a week had been torn down. "Now, Tuck In!"
An abundance of food appeared on all four tables and students sprung into action as if it had been the first timed they'd eaten in a week. "Thank Merlin!" Ron exclaimed, "I thought we were never going to get to eat!" He grabbed a pork chop and viciously bit into it. Hermione rolled her eyes and took her time scooping a helping of mashed potatoes onto her plate.
She had just started eating when Ron spoke, spewing rice pudding all over the table "Ish tat all yur gunna eat 'Ermione?"
Hermione made a disgusted face. "Ron! How many times do I have to tell you to swallow first!" His face glowed red as he swallowed. "And yes, this is what I'm going to eat -- not all of us have a bottomless abyss for a stomach!" Ron stuck his tongue out at her and went back to eating.
Hermione turned to Harry who had been completely silently the whole time. He was staring off blankly in the direction of the Hufflepuff table. "What are you looking at Harry?" She too turned to face the neighboring table and before he could look away she found where his eyes had been contently gazing at; Ave Hart.
Hermione looked back to him and smiled "She's very pretty, isn't she?" Harry shrugged and looked down at his plate, scrapping the porcelain enamel with his fork.
"She's okay," he mumbled.
Soon it was time for the students to head up to their Common Rooms. "Griffindor First Years over here!" Hermione called. Ron stood beside her, looking forlornly towards Harry as he disappear around the corner.
"Oi! Griffindor First Years! Get over here!" He yelled over the commotion of the Great Hall.
"Ron!" Hermione berated.
"What? I don't want to spend all night rounding them up!"
"Yes Mr. Weasley. Playing Wizards Chess with dear friends is much more enjoyable than babysitting children, I know."
"Exactly my point... Professor Dumbledore!" Yes, for when they both turned around they found the old Headmaster smiling at them.
"Hello Mr. Weasley. It's good to see you, I hope you had a lovely summer." He said looking over to where a group of Hufflepuff girls were chatting; Susan Bones was among them.
"Err, yea," said Ron, burning scarlet.
The old Professor smiled and turned to Hermione. "Miss. Granger, would you be so kind as to come to my office tomorrow after your classes?"
"Err... sure Headmaster." He smiled at her.
"The password is 'Snickers', they are a very enjoyable candy bar, but I'm sure you know that." His eyes sparkled as he smiled again and walked away from the two Prefects.
Once the Professor was out of hearing distance Ron turned to her. "Why does Dumbledore want to see you?"
"I don't know," she replied. She gave him a confused look before returning to her Prefects duties. Just before she lead all of the small Griffindor First Years out of the Hall she caught, out of the corner of her eye, the image of Dumbledore talking to Miss. Ave Hart.