/u iChapter Two/i
Down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express, Hermione Granger sat in silence inside a lively compartment. Harry and Ron were in the compartment with her, but were enjoying a game of Exploding Snap that Hermione had chosen to not participate in. Instead, her thoughts were full of charms, spells, and all that she was looking forward to learning in her seventh year. She could hardly wait to be back in the classroom learning new subjects that she found fascinating. Also, she was looking forward to her seventh year because of a new shiny badge she had just placed on the front of her robes. Only two weeks ago she had received a letter from the Headmaster congratulating her on her selection to be Hogwart's new Head Girl. She also met the new Head Boy on the train ride this morning. Ernie MacMillan was a Hufflepuff, very hardworking and responsible. Hermione thought he deserved the position above the other sixth year prefects.
"Hermione, Hermione?" Ron asked, as if she couldn't hear him.
"Yes Ron, I can hear you." Hermione replied.
"We've only been trying to get your attention for the past 10 minutes. You pay attention in class, why don't you pay attention here?" Harry joked.
"Sorry guys, I guess my mind was elsewhere."
"Who on?" Harry joked.
Hermione felt her cheeks blush slightly, but unnoticeably. She found herself momentarily looking into Harry's emerald eyes. Although she'd never admit it, Hermione had always felt attracted to Harry. Not in a serious way, but enough to make her mind wander.
"Harry! I have much more important things to think about!" Hermione teased back.
"Yeah," Ron chimed in, "Like homework. Who do you suppose the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be?"
Hermione sighed. Yet again, they were having this conversation, for the sixth time. Seven years, and seven different teachers.
The conversation spiraled off again, and this time, Hermione contributed what she thought about the Defense Against the Dark Arts position.
Along the rest of the train ride, the trio conversed. Each of them was looking forward to their final year at Hogwarts, but not necessarily looking forward to leaving. Hermione knew that both Harry and Ron were interested in being aurors, while she herself was interested in a less risky job: teaching.
The cart loaded with sweets and candies came and went, and as usual Harry and Ron bought as much as they could.
Several hours later, the train pulled to a stop in Hogsmeade.
"It's good to be back isn't it?" commented Harry once again.
Hermione and Ron nodded their heads in agreement, but not saying much. They were each lost in their own thoughts.
Slowly, the three friends searched for a carriage to take them up to the castle.
"Harry?" asked Ron, "Are you alright--- wait---oh. Thestrals. Sorry..." Ron looked at the open space in front of the carriage curiously, but obviously couldn't see what was really there. They stepped inside the carriage and headed up towards the castle. Hermione knew Harry could see the threstrals, he had watched both his godfather, Sirius, and a fellow classmate Cedric Diggory die. Although Hermione and Ron were with Harry when Sirius died, they didn't actually witness his death. They were busy trying to fight off the other Death Eaters that had attacked them.
Finally, they arrived in front of the castle doors.
The feast was fantastic. The aromas of every dish wafted throughout the castle, even after the feast was done. Dumbledore's welcoming speech was the same as always, energetic and welcoming, but just as interesting. The sorting came and went flawlessly, the Hat sorting each new student into his or her house. Seeing the younger students wait to try on the Sorting Hat, with their nerves mounting ever higher, Hermione could remember exactly what it was like to be sorted. She also knew that no one, besides herself, knew about her Sorting. She remembered how the Sorting Hat had a bit of difficulty of deciding between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, and that the Hat finally decided on Gryffindor. In her early years at Hogwarts, Hermione could never see why she was placed in Gryffindor. Ravenclaw students were intelligent, while Gryffindor prized students with a touch of bravery. She didn't understand it then, but over the years, Hermione had changed into a different person. The Sorting Hat was right after all.
"Congratulations," Dumbledore said, "to our newly selected Head Boy and Girl, Hermione Granger from Gryffindor, and Ernie MacMillan from Hufflepuff, and our new Prefects as well. Please help the younger students find their dormitories, so they may be well rested for their first day of lessons tomorrow. Good night!"
The Great Hall erupted into many excited whispers as all of the students headed toward their dormitories.
"First years this way!" Hermione called, "Gryffindors! Come on, this way please!"
"Don't you ever get tired of this Hermione?" Ron asked her, "I'll be honest, I do."
Harry laughed, flashing his brilliant smile that always caught Hermione's attention. "I'll see you two when you get back to the common room." Hermione smiled. She had really missed her two best friends this summer. She turned around and looked at a small group of first years looking expectantly at her. She smiled again enjoying her new responsibility.
Hermione and the new Gryffindor first years were nearly up to the common room entrance when Hermione realized she had forgotten a piece of paper that described the Head Girl duties on the dining table. Over come with a sudden feeling of panic, she rushed to the common room, told the new students the new password and fled down the Grand Staircase.
When she reached her place at the Gryffindor dining table, Hermione sighed with relief. The slip of paper was still there on the table where she had left it only moments before. Feeling much better, she took the steps of the Grand Staircase slowly up to the common room.
But she didn't recall getting any farther then the first landing. A bright flash of purple light streaked across her eyes, and the Hermione's world turned deathly black before she hit the floor.
Author's Note: Finally I'm home from vacation, and I can update :). I hope you liked this chapter, it's definatly not the longest of them, and the next ones get longer I promise. I'll update again in a few days. Enjoy! (And review!)