In the car ride, the butterflies were once again starting to flutter
against the walls of her stomach. It was September 1, and like usual she
was heading for platform 9 ¾ to board the Hogwart's Express. She was
anticipating for her 6th year at Hogwarts and not having to worry about her
prefect duties she was planning on having a good year with less stress. She
also planned on spending more time with Harry. Last year she felt like the
prefect duties were pulling her away from him. She was thankful that this
year she would have more freedom to be there whenever he needed her and she
felt like he might need her and Ron the most this year especially after
loosing Sirius.
"We're here sweetie," her mother announced with very little enthusiasm. Hermione smiled, her mother always hated sending her back to school. Sometimes she would drive Hermione crazy during the last few weeks of summer by trying to spend every waking moment with her.
The car stopped and she stepped out of the car and hugged her mother tightly while her father got her trunk.
"You know we'd try to spend every last minute with you pumpkin, but we can't be late for the meeting," her father said as he placed the trunk at their feet.
"It's ok," Hermione said quietly. Her parents needed to attend a Dental Research Conference but she too wished she could've had a few more minutes but after a few more last goodbyes her parents got back in the car and drove away.
Hermione looked at her trunk that was sitting at her feet. 'How am I going to lift this thing?' she scanned the platform for a trolley.
"Need some help?" asked a familiar voice.
"Oh, Neville! It's so good to see you!" she exclaimed and hugged him. She noticed he had an extra trolley. "Oh, thank you! Actually can you help me lift this trunk, I would really appreciate it," she asked as she grabbed one handle.
Neville grabbed the other and they lifted it onto the spare trolley and he took another look at Hermione. He was definitely surprised at how much his friend had changed.
Hermione noticed Neville staring at her and she suddenly felt very uncomfortable. She zipped up her sweater higher even though she was already dying of heat. "Well, um, let's go through the barrier together shall we?" she asked trying to get his attention.
"Yes...absolutely," he responded a few shades redder and they discreetly rolled their trolleys through the barrier onto platform 9 ¾.
She thanked Neville again and then went in search for her best friends. Just when she thought she had found Harry cleaning his glasses, she heard someone shriek her name and she was soon being suffocated by a head of red flaming hair.
"Ginny! My goodness!" she laughed, "I've missed you too!"
"Come, everyone has been wondering when you'd arrive," she said then grabbed Hermione's hand and led her to where the Weasley family and Harry were standing.
She greeted Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and gave both Harry and Ron big hugs. She then turned to two identical young men with expensive looking sporty sun glasses. She laughed at the way they looked, "Hello Fred...George," she smiled and nodded at both of them and each twin removed their glasses.
"George is that ickle Hermione Granger greeting us?" asked Fred.
"I do believe so Fred," replied George.
"You don't suppose she's changed George?" asked Fred again.
"Definitely improved Fred," George once again replied.
"Would be interested in our Weasley Wonder Hair Cleanser?" asked Fred finally looking at Hermione in the face.
"With conditioner," added George.
"It does wonders to your hair!" continued Fred.
"Revives your hair color!" said George then winked at Hermione.
She laughed, "I'm very tempted, but knowing you two it would probably change my hair color to a bright neon green," she continued giggling.
"Didn't think it was that obvious," said Fred, obviously bummed that Hermione didn't fall for it.
"She has brains that one, with a body to go with it," said George and winked at her again.
"Thank you boys," Hermione laughed again.
"Did you hear that George? 'Thank you boys'" Fred mocked in a girly voice.
"How dominating," responded George. Hermione smacked him playfully in back of the head then headed towards Harry and Ron.
"Having a bit of fun with Fred and George?" asked Harry obviously amused.
Hermione smiled, it looked like Harry was in a much better mood that day.
"Those two never cease to amaze me," she replied suddenly realizing how hot it was. She was boiling under her sweater.
"You can say that again, those two have been driving everyone mad trying to sell their merchandise...Are you okay Hermione?" asked Ron.
"Oh I'm fine, it's just so hot outside," she couldn't take it anymore, "I hope you guys don't mind," she said before unzipping her sweater and placing it neatly on top of her trunk. She heard a couple of whistles and cat calls coming from Fred and George's direction. She shook her head then looked back at Harry and Ron who had their mouths hanging open. "Well, I guess that feels better," she said trying to divert their attention to her face. But just as they were both about to say something the Hogwart's Express blew the whistle beckoning everyone to board the train.
After several quick goodbyes to the Weasleys everyone hurried onto the train and went searching for an empty compartment.
"We're here sweetie," her mother announced with very little enthusiasm. Hermione smiled, her mother always hated sending her back to school. Sometimes she would drive Hermione crazy during the last few weeks of summer by trying to spend every waking moment with her.
The car stopped and she stepped out of the car and hugged her mother tightly while her father got her trunk.
"You know we'd try to spend every last minute with you pumpkin, but we can't be late for the meeting," her father said as he placed the trunk at their feet.
"It's ok," Hermione said quietly. Her parents needed to attend a Dental Research Conference but she too wished she could've had a few more minutes but after a few more last goodbyes her parents got back in the car and drove away.
Hermione looked at her trunk that was sitting at her feet. 'How am I going to lift this thing?' she scanned the platform for a trolley.
"Need some help?" asked a familiar voice.
"Oh, Neville! It's so good to see you!" she exclaimed and hugged him. She noticed he had an extra trolley. "Oh, thank you! Actually can you help me lift this trunk, I would really appreciate it," she asked as she grabbed one handle.
Neville grabbed the other and they lifted it onto the spare trolley and he took another look at Hermione. He was definitely surprised at how much his friend had changed.
Hermione noticed Neville staring at her and she suddenly felt very uncomfortable. She zipped up her sweater higher even though she was already dying of heat. "Well, um, let's go through the barrier together shall we?" she asked trying to get his attention.
"Yes...absolutely," he responded a few shades redder and they discreetly rolled their trolleys through the barrier onto platform 9 ¾.
She thanked Neville again and then went in search for her best friends. Just when she thought she had found Harry cleaning his glasses, she heard someone shriek her name and she was soon being suffocated by a head of red flaming hair.
"Ginny! My goodness!" she laughed, "I've missed you too!"
"Come, everyone has been wondering when you'd arrive," she said then grabbed Hermione's hand and led her to where the Weasley family and Harry were standing.
She greeted Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and gave both Harry and Ron big hugs. She then turned to two identical young men with expensive looking sporty sun glasses. She laughed at the way they looked, "Hello Fred...George," she smiled and nodded at both of them and each twin removed their glasses.
"George is that ickle Hermione Granger greeting us?" asked Fred.
"I do believe so Fred," replied George.
"You don't suppose she's changed George?" asked Fred again.
"Definitely improved Fred," George once again replied.
"Would be interested in our Weasley Wonder Hair Cleanser?" asked Fred finally looking at Hermione in the face.
"With conditioner," added George.
"It does wonders to your hair!" continued Fred.
"Revives your hair color!" said George then winked at Hermione.
She laughed, "I'm very tempted, but knowing you two it would probably change my hair color to a bright neon green," she continued giggling.
"Didn't think it was that obvious," said Fred, obviously bummed that Hermione didn't fall for it.
"She has brains that one, with a body to go with it," said George and winked at her again.
"Thank you boys," Hermione laughed again.
"Did you hear that George? 'Thank you boys'" Fred mocked in a girly voice.
"How dominating," responded George. Hermione smacked him playfully in back of the head then headed towards Harry and Ron.
"Having a bit of fun with Fred and George?" asked Harry obviously amused.
Hermione smiled, it looked like Harry was in a much better mood that day.
"Those two never cease to amaze me," she replied suddenly realizing how hot it was. She was boiling under her sweater.
"You can say that again, those two have been driving everyone mad trying to sell their merchandise...Are you okay Hermione?" asked Ron.
"Oh I'm fine, it's just so hot outside," she couldn't take it anymore, "I hope you guys don't mind," she said before unzipping her sweater and placing it neatly on top of her trunk. She heard a couple of whistles and cat calls coming from Fred and George's direction. She shook her head then looked back at Harry and Ron who had their mouths hanging open. "Well, I guess that feels better," she said trying to divert their attention to her face. But just as they were both about to say something the Hogwart's Express blew the whistle beckoning everyone to board the train.
After several quick goodbyes to the Weasleys everyone hurried onto the train and went searching for an empty compartment.