Once they arrived at Platform 9 and ¾, Hermione began to wake up, she looked dozily out the window on to the platform that the train was pulling into and was completely taken aback when Ron screamed with delight.

"Thank goodness, you're awake! I was so worried, I hate Malfoy and his oafs, why did you do that Mione?" He asked about a million questions at once.

"Whoa, Ron take a break, I'm fine, what…did I get…. What happened?" she asked

"Malfoy told Goyle to hit me and you stepped in his way, you got hit instead of me and you were out cold, I hate him!"

"So…. are you ok? did he hurt you too?" she asked again looking at Ron's face.

"I'm fine, but you weren't, you were just laying there and Malfoy was laughing and I tried to stop you bleeding and then Hagrid came and…and…oooh when I get my hands on him!" he exclaimed.

"What did Hagrid do, did he give Malfoy a whack for me?" Hermione laughed.

"Unfortunately no, but what ever he did say to him it definitely took the smile off his face!"  Ron giggled

The train whistle blew and all the students started getting off the train with their Luggage to meet their parents. Hermione and Ron collected their luggage and made there way off the train on to the platform, the two said goodbye and Ron went over to find his Mother who was waiting by the barrier. Hermione on the other Hand usually met her parents straight off the train (if they hadn't got the platforms mixed up), she sat on her case beside the wall and waited for the crowd to gradually leave so she could find them easier. She waited a longer time than she usually did and soon there was nobody left on the platform. After searching up and down the platform her parents could not be found at all. She decided to look on the muggle platforms to see if they had mistaken them again, she passed through the barrier onto King's Cross Station and began to look up and down each one (she received some strange looks as she was still in her cloak and had an enormous purple eye)

After she had looked for both her parents on every platform in Kings Cross, she still couldn't find them; they were nowhere to be found.

"Where could they be?" she thought to herself  "I hope they haven't forgotten"

She decided to sit down on a bench, pulling her case to her side. She decided she would wait until 3:00PM and then she would try and make her own way home. Minute after minute passed and Hermione just sat there on the bench worrying more and more.

"Everyone's parent's came to pick them up, even Malfoy's, Malfoy's! And I am sitting here waiting at this stupid station!" she thought, "What if something's happened, Oh God, I bet that's it"

Just that moment, a rather tall man wearing a posh black suit and pilot hat with a brief case in his hand approached her.

"Excuse me Madam, but are you Miss. Granger?" he asked politely

"Umm, yes I am, why?" she asked back curiously, stretching up her neck to see his face.

"Oh thank goodness, I've being looking all over for you, your parents sent me to come pick you up"

"My parents? why?" She asked loudly

"They said. They are extremely sorry…. actually they wrote you a letter"

He put his case on the bench got out the letter and handed it to her. Hermione opened it and read

Dear Hermione

            Sorry about all this darling but it seems your Dad and me have to go to France for an emergency Hygiene Convention, its poo. I would have loved for you to come but we needed to set off before you got home from school .I know you must be mad, but we tried to mail you a letter but with out success, I wanted to spend Christmas with you darling but it seems that it could cost us our jobs if we don't attend. Please forgive me/us. The only place you Dad and I could think of where you could stay where you would be happy is at a lovely hotel called "The Sorcerers Palace"; it's in Diagon Alley. I'm sure you'll like it. I'm so sorry Hermione but I promise we will have double Christmas next year. I packed nearly all your things and have sent them to the hotel, I'll write too you and send you your presents

All my Love

            Mum

P.S I sent a courier to collect you and take you there

P.P.S I made sure you have plenty of money stored in the bank

 Hermione was shocked, how could her parent's care more about their stupid jobs than spending Christmas with their only daughter? She crumpled up the note in her hand and stared into space. She couldn't believe it.

"Miss….Miss….Miss.Granger"said the courier trying to get her attention.

"Oh, yes, of course, sorry, what?" she shook her head to get out of her daydream

"Is everything ok? Are you ready to go?" he asked very politely

"Yes, I'm ready" she answered; she stood up ready trying to think straight.

"Very good, Shall I take you bag?"

"Ok, if you want to" she replied

He lifted up her luggage as well as his briefcase with ease and began walking to the exit. Hermione trudged her way through the station behind him. They reached the streets of London and Hermione followed him to a rater large black car, the doors opened to allow both the passenger and the driver, they buckled in and set off.

Hermione was so busy staring out the window she didn't notice she was being talked too.

"So, you go to Hogwarts do you? he asked whilst driving

"What? Oh, yes"

"Good school is that, my boys going there next year"

"That's nice" she replied trying her best to sound interested

"I bet you got loads of friends, haven't you?"

"Why?"

"Because I was wondering if you knew the other Hogwarts student that will be staying at the same hotel as you?" he explained, "He is coming later on today"

"There are lots of people who go to Hogwarts, I don't know everybody" she retorted

"Yes, but, he is in the same year as you, oh, what's his name now?" he asked himself

Hermione tried to think of any of her friends that would be staying at Diagon Alley for Christmas but then she realized that none of her friend's parents would ever be so cruel.

"I can't think of anyone, sorry" she apologized

"It's ok, oh, were here now"

Hermione looked out the window to see the black doors of the Leaky Cauldron. The car doors open and she scrambled out of the back seat on to the pavement; once he had her Luggage they both entered the doors of the pub that is hidden to muggle eyes. They passed through the smell of alcohol, mixed with magic out onto the back terrace, and entered out onto the alley. It was rather quiet for Diagon alley in Hermione's eyes, there were no children, or people her age, only some older men and women who were out shopping for early Christmas presents.

"Its…"

"Quiet, I Know, I will liven up nearer to Christmas but that wont be for about two weeks"

They just past Olivanders when they came to the hotel, it was rather posh, the doors were made of a stained glass with exotic plants surrounding them, the reception walls seemed to be enchanted as there were colored swirls moving around the walls like clouds. The desk was a very large reception area with many files sorting themselves out and moving from folder to folder. All of a sudden to her surprise a little head popped up from behind the desk. The women was quite young with blonde hair in a bun, she was obviosley the receptionist.

"Can I help you?" she asked Hermione kindly, Hermione turned to look for her Courier but he was gone, and had left her luggage by her feet, she turned back to the desk confused.

"Umm yes, I have a booking here for a Miss. Granger, am I booked?'' she asked

"Oh yes, of course you are, let's see" she looked through her papers "well, you're here for a long time aren't you, 3 weeks, well, I'm sure you will enjoy it, your number is 39, your luggage has been delivered, and you have an en-suite room, la Dee da"

"Um, can I ask you one question please?"

"Yes, shoot"

"Um, who is the other person my age that is staying here, I'm just curious?" she asked

"He is called" she rummaged again "Draco Malfoy"