AN:

            I barely realized that I had made a mistake. I uploaded the wrong chapter eight. I have rectified my mistake, so I urge you to check out the previous chapter! Sorry about the inconvenience! ^^'

Ch. 9




The station clock read 10:08 am when Hermione, Tony and Eliza arrived at King's Cross. The sky was partially cloudy and the air was cool. There was the usual hustle and bustle of people rushing in and out of the station. Hermione walked on the platform with her belongings on a trolley in the midst of all the commotion, dressed in khaki pants and a soft blue sweater. Tony and Eliza accompanied her.

"You guys don't have to do this you know."

"What, and miss the excitement of our little girl's first day of school?" asked Tony, with an arm around Eliza's waist. Both grinning like madmen.

"Yea, like I believe that," Hermione scoffed.

The trio was slowly but surely approaching platform 9, making one of them a bit nervous. Many possible scenarios ran through a said person's head; ones that would allow the other two become distracted long enough for her to go through the barrier. Alas, their destination was coming up and none of the scenarios seemed plausible.

"It's almost 10:30?" Tony exclaimed looking at his wristwatch, "Fu- uh, I mean damn. I'm going to be late for work!"

Both Eliza and Hermione looked at him with startled expressions on their faces.

"Well, I guess this where we saw goodbye, I guess," said Eliza laughing, "Be good you here? I'll miss you."

"Me, too."

Eliza gave her a light hug, minding her ribs.

"Sorry," Tony said, stepping next to her. He hugged her as well, saying, "I'm gonna miss you."

"So am I," Hermione conceded smiling.

"All right, 'en," Tony said kissing her chastely on the lips like they always did every year at the start of each term.

Once her companions were several meters away, she ran quickly through the barrier. Luckily for her, the platform was surprisingly empty and she didn't inadvertently crash into anyone. Without so much as taking time to enjoy the sight of the scarlet steam engine that was the Hogwarts Express or fellow students, Hermione quickly went to put her things away. Almost instantly, a Hufflepuff prefect informed her that the Heads and prefects were to report to the Head Cabin for a meeting. Nodding her understanding, she grabbed both her carry-on and Crookshanks' carrier.

Entering the train, and walking towards her destination, Hermione saw Ron, Ginny and Harry pass through the barrier consecutively. Though nothing short of a miracle, they were able to avoid crashing into each other. Hermione allowed herself a fleeting smile before opening the door to the cabin. Inside, already sat the prefects and Professor McGonagal.

"Morning," she addressed everyone before taking a seat next to the window. At the same time, the door opened and in stepped the Head Boy. He nodded to everyone present before taking a seat across from her.

"Now that everyone is present," began the esteemed professor, "Let us begin."

The meeting consisted of informing them of upcoming events; how to deal with students; the regulations of awarding and deducting house points; and the expectations for upholding amiable relationships with each other. At some point through the conversation, Hermione took to looking out the window, keeping one ear to the discussion.

"All right," McGonagal said standing up, "I expect that everyone will follow through with these rules. The train leaves in fifteen minutes. Prefects, please go and help any students outside."

In an instant, the cabin was empty, leaving the Heads in silence. Both were doing an excellent job in ignoring on another. Resting her head on the wall, Hermione closed her eyes. Some time later, she heard the quite rustle of clothes and soon after, the opening and closing of the door.

When she finally opened her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of fast moving scenery. Deciding that she'd fallen asleep, Hermione carefully rose and stretched. Realizing that Crookshanks was still in his carrier, she quickly released him, mumbling an apology. She then took the opportunity to change into her pristine black school robes. When the door opened, she was adjusting her badge. The Head Boy stood in the doorway, already dressed. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, and his legs slightly apart. She was slightly surprised that there was no snarky comment but naturally hid it. Both stood there, assessing one another in silence. He finally took several confident steps in and took a seat.

Whatever, she thought. Deciding that she needed to leave the accursed place, she made a move to leave, but stopped in her tracks. At the far end of the train, a compartment door opened and from within could be heard several familiar voices. If she had any doubts as to who the speakers were, they were instantly extinguished as out stepped two people. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.

"We'll be back, Gin," Ron said, looking towards the compartment, "Just going to look for Hermione."

"You did see her, right?" Harry asked quietly when Ron closed the door.

"Yea," came Ron's monosyllabic response. From a little over six years of friendship, Harry could easy tell that there was more to that simple answer than Ron let on. For the moment, Harry decided to let the matter pass, opting in taking a step towards the Head's cabin instead.

Hermione quickly shut the door at Harry's movement, causing the cabin's other occupant to turn to look at her. He raised an eyebrow at her and grinned slightly at her slightly panicked expression.

"What pray tell, has got your knickers in a bunch?" he drawled out.

"Sod off, Malfoy!" she hissed.

"Oh, come on."

"Just mind your own business," she told him coldly.

Raising an eyebrow, he turned to look out the window, but not before giving her a smirk to tell her he wasn't doing it for her. No sooner had he turned when he heard several knocks on the door, followed by an annoyingly familiar voice.

"Oi, Hermione are you inside?" called none other than Harry Potter.

"It's us," chimed in Weasel.

Draco was highly amused at Granger's reaction to the callings of her friends. She was leaning against the door with her eyes closed.

"Are you actually avoiding Potter and Weasel?" he asked in amusement.

"Just-just be quiet will you?" she responded in a dull and resigned voice.

Draco blinked at her unexpected response. Considering their history, he had expected a fiery and sarcastic comeback; but not this. For the second time in their presence, Draco Malfoy was speechless. Taking his silence, regardless as to how it came to be, as a chance to compose herself, Hermione took a deep breath. She then plastered a fake smile, opened the door and stepped outside to join her friends.

"Hey guys, how are you?"

"Fine, and you?" Harry asked, giving her a hug.

"Same here."

"Good to know, Ron said, giving her a hug as well.

"So, how was your summer?" Harry asked.

"Fine," she said a bit to quickly, luckily neither boy noticed, "Hey, I'm famished, what say you we get ourselves some sweets?"

"Um, sure, why not," Ron answered.

The three friends left in search of the sweets cart, chatting idly about this and that. They were never aware of the inquisitive gray eyes coming from the slightly open door from which they'd left. Draco Malfoy took a seat once again, but this time, his mind was filled with what had just transpired. A sudden movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was Granger's cat, flicking its orange tail now and then; its amber-hued eyes fixed on him. He smirked at the creature, returning the stare.

"Just what's wrong with the mudblood?" he voiced some time later.

The cat narrowed its eyes and let out a hiss.