A/N:Hey there, hope you all are totally enjoying the story! Just a quick shout-out to a few reviewers (and anyone else who's wondering):

BuckNC: Well, I can't really say right now who died, but I promise you will find out before the end of the story! I thought I was including a lot of clues, but maybe not...

fireinthenight: WOW!!! Thank you sooooo much! I'm really flattered. : )

Liza:Like I said before, I'm not saying who died, but you(and everyone else) can keep guessing...it lets me know if I'm getting too predictable!

Oh, wow, enough talk, on with the story!

Chapter 6: Catching Up on Platform 9 and ¾

On the morning of the Hogwarts Express departure, emotions flew through the air, both at the Burrow and at Hermione's house. Ron's consuming emotion was nervousness. Would Hermione be embarrassed to be seen with him, after the last episode at Platform 9 and ¾? Would Fred and George return to "see them off"? Heck, yeah, he was nervous.

Harry, on the other hand, was content. He had spent the ride up to King's Cross next to Ginny. For some odd reason, Mr. Weasley couldn't enlarge the backseat, so the three kids crunched into the back seat. Harry was sandwiched rather tightly between the left-side door and Ginny.

Not that he was uncomfortable with that setup.

On the ride to King's Cross, Hermione gave herself a little pep talk. Smile, act normal, laugh a lot, she told herself, watching her home disappear behind her. Pretend everything is okay.

Ha! Fat chance of that ever happening, her heart scolded.

Tears began pooling in her eyes.

DON'T CRY! she screamed in her head. That would definitely not qualify as acting as if everything was peachy keen.

She leaned her head against the window. She was going to school to learn, not to cry. She was going to write, not to mope. She was going to make something of herself.

Her dad stopped the car. "Let's go, love," he said cheerfully.

Hermione wanted to close her eyes and dream of nothing. She knew she needed to go, though, so she opened the car door and got out slowly. Chin up, she reminded herself. You can do this. This is the first day of the rest of your life.

"Where is she?" grumbled Ron anxiously, glancing at his watch. "She should be here by now."

Harry didn't bother to ask who "she" was; he knew already. Ron had gone the whole summer without seeing Hermione; couldn't he wait ten or fifteen minutes more? Then again, the poor bloke was in love with her. What else could he do?

Harry didn't quite understand. He had never truly loved a girl. True, he had had that crush on Cho Chang for three years, but that didn't really count. He wasn't sure what true love, love for one special woman, the one, felt like yet.

And, truth be told, he was a bit scared to love someone again. All his life, it seemed that everyone he had been close to had been swept away: his parents, Sirius. Harry was reluctant to put his trust in anyone at the moment, except his best friends.

"Harry!" a girl's voice shouted in the distance. Harry turned, surprised. Hermione waved at him.

Wait, that couldn't really be Hermione…the Hermione he knew had fluffy, out-of-control brown hair, not sleek, straight, smooth brown hair.

She walked over to the two boys. Harry leaned over toward Ron and muttered, "Be calm, be cool, it's okay." For he had noticed Ron's face went slack at the sight of Hermione, and his jaw fell open. He, too, was shocked.

"Hello, you two," she said pleasantly, placing her trunk down next to her. "Had a good summer?"

She smiled as she spoke to them, but Harry could detect a shadow, some sort of hollowness, in Hermione's eyes, as if she hadn't slept for days.

"Harry, it's so good to see you!" she exclaimed, reaching out and hugging him warmly. "And Ron-"she reached out to him, too, but noticing Mrs. Weasley watching the three of them like a hawk, stopped abruptly. She smiled warmly at him, though. Her smile reached up to her eyes and lit them up with happiness. Harry relaxed a bit. Her eyes didn't look so dead anymore.

"Oh, Hermione, you look wonderful," sighed Mrs. Weasley, squeezing her in a tight embrace. "I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. I appreciate it. Really."

A warning whistle sounded from the train, causing some bystanders nearby to jump.

"Oh, I had better let you all leave…Here, you two," referring to Ron and Ginny, who had just finished greeting Hermione, "take your sandwiches. I never forget-don't look so excited, Ron," she said, her voice taking on a frosty tone. "At least you have food. Ever considered that?"

"Yes, Mum…well, we'd better get going if we want to get seats together," Ron replied, disgruntled.

After exchanging the usual, "Love you"s, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all boarded the Hogwarts Express together.

A/N:Okay, I know it's short, but I have the next 2 chapters written in my notebook, so hang on to your hats! They're coming soon! Please read/review as usual...