Chapter 2 – Disbelief

Harry and Ron were busy stuffing their trunks into a place where they wouldn't get in the way. After they finally finished, both of the boys turned to look at Hermione, who was sitting peacefully on the other side, looking out the window. When they looked at her eyes, they were troublesome and icy. She turned her gaze to them, but said nothing. Harry sat down and looked at her while Ron shuffled uncomfortably for a while, before Harry pulled him down too.

"So Mione...what happened?" asked Harry. She sighed and looked at Ron who was eager to hear her answer. She thought to herself briefly. Should I tell them about my parents? Gods, would they even understand? Well, they are my friends so...what the hell. She took a deep breath before beginning.

"Well, this summer..." she began, "my parents were killed by a clan of Goblins. They're called the Gorthians. Luckily they didn't kill me because dawn was already approaching. After that, the Ministry had to work on the case because they couldn't tell the Muggles about Goblins and such. They moved me into a Muggle hotel to stay for the time being. Around the city I started hanging out with some other Muggles at night and I guess they sort of changed me. The death of my parents really shocked me. I've been having nightmares ever since..." she trailed off. Throughout the whole explanation, she didn't even sound sad. It just sounded like she couldn't care less about the whole ordeal. Hermione continued to look at the window, until she turned her gaze back to the boys. Surprise and shock was clearly written on both their faces.

"Oh 'Mione I'm so sorry..." said Harry as he reached out and squeezed her hands. Hermione took her hands back as quick as possible. This took Harry by surprise and he just looked up and stared at her, his mouth slightly parted.

"Look Harry, I don't need pity. If I was pitied when my parents had died I wouldn't even be here," she spat. She didn't want pity. She was independent and alone. No one understood how she felt. They just pitied her. Never did they share the pain or the loneliness.

"We do not pity you Herms; we just want to share the pain with you. We just want you to know that we're here for you," said Ron, managing a weak smile. Hermione returned another smile. Before Harry could speak again Hermione cut him off.

"Look, guys, I'm over it. I really don't to talk about it anymore. I'm happy the way I am and nothing's going to change it," she smiled, before continuing, "By the way, I made Head Girl this year." Harry and Ron exchanged glances, as if not sure if they could believe what she had just said. There was a silent pause between them before Ron decided to speak up.

"That's great Hermione! Too bad I didn't make Head Boy..." he trailed off thoughtfully, but was brought back to reality from Harry's laughter. He narrowed his eyes and looked at his best friend.

"I think I'll be dead before I see YOU make Head Boy!" Harry joked. Ron frowned for a second, before laughing as well. After that, they didn't even notice Hermione and just started to talk about Quidditch, again. Hermione let out an inaudible sigh, as she continued to gaze out the window. Her train of thoughts were stopped when the compartment door was forced open rudely. In stepped Draco Malfoy. Over the years he had grown quite a bit and was no longer the pitiful stick boy who could do nothing but throw childish insults their way. His shoulders had broadened and he was now over 6 feet tall. He stopped gelling his hair so it fell lazily around his alluring eyes, making him look even more intimidating.

"Well isn't this sweet? A little reunion between Wonder Boy, Weasel and...what the fuck!" yelled Malfoy which caused both Harry and Ron to jump. Draco set his gaze towards Hermione, or, whoever it was. Slowly, she craned her neck around to stare at him. Although her eyes were a warm chocolate brown colour, they were cold as ice. She didn't say anything, she didn't frown, and she didn't even seem to acknowledge his presence! What's gotten into her? he thought, but quickly dismissed it. No matter, I'll still make fun of her for being the pathetic filth that she is.

"So Mudblood, it seems you've finally gotten enough sense to change your appearance," he paused for a second, but not long enough for Harry or Ron to snap back at him, "Congratulations, you are now allowed to bow before me and grovel at my feet." He smiled triumphantly; waiting to see her yell in fury, but all she did was blink and turned to continue looking out the window. Draco was appalled! Granger was usually the easiest to snap, but now it seemed like she couldn't even care less. Out of frustration, Draco lunged forward grabbed her neck, but not too hard since he didn't exactly want to kill anyone.

"Back off Malfoy," to others, it would sound like a calm soothing voice, but if you looked into her eyes, you could see the coldness in it. Draco growled and pulled her closer to him, looking her square in the eye.

"And why should I?" he sneered. There was suddenly a dangerous glint in her eyes, as he saw her right hand fingering something in her jacket, but he couldn't quite tell what it was. Probably her wand, he thought to himself, so he too prepared to pull out his wand.

"I said BACK OFF!" she roared, pulling out a Musashi Miyamoto Daito (A/N: To all those people who know about Paul Chen's stuff, I know it's a sword...I KNOW I KNOW! If I said Hermione pulled out a 'Black Dragon Ninja Sword' wouldn't that sound gay? Lol...yes it would. SO DEAL WITH IT! IT'S MY STORY! . ) katana from its slick black sheath at the same time, then bringing the sharpened edge up to his throat as she stared icily into his own gray orbs. She could feel him stiffen, so she put her katana down, suddenly aware what she had done in public.

"I am sorry, please leave now," she said, her free hand gesturing to the compartment door. Draco scrambled out as fast as he could and slid the door close. Hermione pulled the katana back into its sheath and hid it behind her long black wind jacket. Settling back down again, she noticed the looks on her friends' faces. They were surprised at what she did to Malfoy, shocked at the katana she hid, and humoured all the while at how scared Malfoy was.

"I have to go, Head's meeting starts soon," she stated, and walked swiftly out the compartment door before her friends could protest. As she walked down the aisle, she was a little anxious to see who the Head Boy was. At first she had hoped that Harry was Head Boy, but quickly thought otherwise due to Harry's lack of intelligence and his ability to get into trouble all the time. Finally arriving at the front of the train, she slid open the door of the Head compartment. Inside, she found Professor McGonagall sitting on one side of the large compartment. Hermione was the first to get there, so she sat herself on one side of the pearl white couch, (A/N: Yes, they have a couch in a compartment. Extravagant eh?) waiting to see who Head Boy was. Suddenly, the compartment door opened again, and in walked the Head Boy.

A/N: Not much of a cliff hanger, I know, but this was the only way I could stop myself from writing 80 pages =P! Anyways, YOU GUYS BETTER REVIEW!!!! I'm changing it to R due to violence and explicit scenes in later chapters. Ohh and much love to my first review, Molly! Merci beaucoup mon ami! =D