Chapter 1
Hermione Granger wore an expression of satisfaction as she studied her appearance in the full length mirror in her bedroom. Turning from side to side to get a better look at her new figure which had finally arrived during the summer holidays, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, gone was the frizzy mess of hair that used to plague her, her skin was clear, and she had learned how to use make-up to her advantage.
Smiling to herself as a wave of confidence washed over her, she arranged her long brown loose curls into a relaxed style that framed her face and set it with a touch of hairspray. Satisfied with that, she added a touch of lilac eyeshadow and a stroke of mascara to bring out her hazel eyes. This was followed by a slick of tinted lip gloss and a gentle brush of blush.
Her outfit for the trip to Hogwarts consisted of a light floral patterned skirt by Laura Ashley that came down to just below her knees and a white vest top covered by a white cardigan, which she left open. All very feminine and delicate.
"Hermione, dear!" called her mother from downstairs, "You are going to miss the train!"
"Coming Mum!" Hermione called back.
She quickly spritzed on some light floral perfume and did a double check of her belongings to make sure she had everything she would need for the coming term at Hogwarts.
Content with everything, she grabbed her trunk and made her way down the stairs where her parents waited in the hall beside the front door.
"Got everything?" Her father asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, lets get going." Her mother urged, opening the door.
Once Hermione's things were loaded into the car, the Grangers made their way to Kings Cross.
It was a quiet journey, it always was. Her parents hated to send their little girl away for so long every term. Hermione always missed them, but she also loved being at Hogwarts and was anxious to get there.
When they arrived and passed through the barrier to access platform 9 ¾, the usual sight greeted them, the big red Hogwarts Express was stationary with smoke billowing from its funnel, waiting for the students to board. Students were saying goodbye to anxious and occasionally sobbing parents.
Hermione turned to her parents. "Well, I guess this is where I leave you." She said hugging her mother who had begun to cry.
"take care sweetheart, we'll see you next summer." Her father said giving his daughter a crushing hug.
Hermione wheeled her trunk to the train where a man took it and loaded it.
She smiled and waved to her parents and boarded the train and began her search for a compartment.
"Mione!" a familiar voice called.
She turned to see a red faced Ron walking quickly towards her.
Ron, it appeared, had grown a lot during the summer, his red hair was long and flopped over his face, but other than that, he was the same old Ron.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed happily, engulfing Ron in a hug. "It's so good to see you!" then she noticed somebody was missing.
"Where's Harry?" she asked furrowing her brow.
"He'll be along in a minute, mum won't let him go, I barely managed to escape her!" Ron replied. "Lets go find a compartment." He added.
They passed five that were full, and finally found one that was empty and went in and sat down. They were soon joined by Harry, who was followed by Ginny and Neville. The Hogwarts Express pulled out of Kings Cross and began it's long journey.
Harry hugged Hermione. "Hey you!" he said happily. He stood back to allow Ginny and Neville to greet Hermione too.
"Wow Hermione, you look great!" Ginny said enthusiastically, stepping back to check out her friend's new look.
"Thanks, Gin." Hermione replied, smiling. "You look great too. I love your new hair style!"
Ginny grinned. "So do I!"
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes. "Women!" the commented in unison.
"How was everyone's summer?" Hermione asked as she sat down next to Neville.
Harry looked glum. "Same as always. Dudley tried to lock me in the cupboard underneath the stairs but the door 'mysteriously' disappeared, so he freaked and ran away. Of course I got the blame. Aunt Petunia kept yelling and I was banished to my room for the rest of the summer."
Hermione gave her friend a sympathetic look.
"Mine went well, I think. We got to visit Fred and George in their joke shop." Ron said happily. "They've got all kinds of cool stuff now, but mum wouldn't let me buy any." He added in a miffed tone. "She says she doesn't trust me not to use them! Honestly, what else am I supposed to do with them, decorate my dorm?!"
"Me and Gran went to my aunts house for the summer, we didn't do much, mostly sightseeing." Neville piped up. " I seen lots of interesting plants though!"
Hermione smiled. She had missed her friends a lot.
A few hours later, they had settled down for the journey. Harry and Ron were playing a nail biting game of Wizards chess, watched by Neville, Ginny was giving herself a manicure and Hermione was curled up in her seat absorbed in "Hogwarts, A History".
Just then, their compartment door opened.
They all looked up and a resounding groan erupted.
There, in all his glory, stood none other than Draco Malfoy, flanked as usual by Crabbe and Goyle.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked icily.
"It's funny you should ask, Potter" Malfoy replied in a voice just as cold as Harry's had been. "I want Granger, as it happens!"
The chess game was forgotten as Ron and Harry both moved to stand in front of Hermione.
"What do you want her for?" Ron demanded.
Malfoy sported an amused expression at their sudden protectiveness of their mudblood friend. "She's wanted in the Prefects compartment." He finally revealed.
The sound of a hand making contact with a forehead came from behind Harry and Ron.
"Oh my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed. "I completely forgot to tell you guys!"
Harry and Ron turned to their friend.
Forgot to tell us what, Mione?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"I was chosen to be a prefect this year. I can't believe I forgot!" Hermione replied standing up.
"Congrats Mione!" Ginny chirruped.
"Thanks Gin!" Hermione replied.
"Well, come on 'Mione', we don't want to keep McGonnagall waiting" Malfoy interrupted.
Hermione bristled when Malfoy had called her by the name only her friends used.
"Don't you call me that!" she snapped at him. "Only my friends call me 'Mione'!" Malfoy feigned a hurt look, putting a hand to where his heart would be if he had one.
"Aww that's cold, Granger. You don't consider me a friend?"
"I wouldn't consider you a friend of mine, if we were the last two people on earth!" she retorted as she squeezed past him.
"I'll be back soon, guys." She assured her friends as she flounced out of the compartment followed by a swaggering Malfoy.
Crabbe and Goyle followed Malfoy, imitating his Swagger.
Ginny shook her head. "Idiots, the lot of them!"
"Who?" Neville asked, confused.
"The Slytherins." She replied.
Harry and Ron went back to playing their previously abandoned game of chess.
Meanwhile, Hermione followed Malfoy and his henchmen towards the front of the train where the prefect's compartment was located.
"Umm, Malfoy?" Hermione piped.
Without looking at her, Malfoy gave a grunt in response.
"Are Crabbe and Goyle prefects too this year?" She asked.
Malfoy snorted and came to an abrupt halt, causing Hermione to bump into him and Crabbe and Goyle, in turn, bumped into Hermione.
Malfoy didn't appear to have noticed the four student pile-up he had caused by his sudden stop. "These two? Prefects? Are you really that stupid, Granger?" he snorted indignantly. "They don't have the brains to breathe on their own, let alone to be prefects!"
"I was just wondering, if they aren't Prefects, why are they coming with us?" Hermione pressed, pushing Crabbe away from her.
Malfoy shrugged. "they come with me everywhere." He replied simply and turned and started walking again.
Goyle shoved Hermione forward so he could follow Malfoy.
"Hey, watch it!" She snapped. She didn't appreciate their rough treatment of her.
When they arrived at the Prefect's compartment, Malfoy ordered Crabbe and Goyle to leave and slid the compartment door open before stepping inside.
Hermione followed him in.
Proffessor McGonnagall stood up to greet them.
"Sorry to take you away from your friends, Miss Granger, however, we do need a small meeting to discuss your duties as a prefect." McGonnagall said sincerely.
Hermione nodded and looked at the other prefects.
They were other students she recognized from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff but couldn't put a name to a face.
Proffessor McGonnagall went over their duties, and the rules ect and all in all, the whole thing took about half and hour.
"One last thing before you all go," she added. "There will be no abusing of your positions!" She said firmly, looking meaningfully at Malfoy.
Malfoy put on an innocent face. "Of course not, Proffessor! I am hurt that you would suggest that I would do such a thing!"
With that, everyone got up and headed toward the door of the compartment.
Hermione was on her way back to the compartment where her friends were located when Malfoy caught up with her.
"Hey, Granger!" he said as he fell into step with her.
"What is it now, Malfoy?!" she spat.
"Well, If you are going to be like that, I won't give it to you!" He snapped back.
Hermione sighed and stopped walking. "Give me what?" she demanded.
"This." Came his reply. He held up a silver prefects badge with the Griffindor Lion on the background.
Hermione held out her hand. "Give it here Malfoy!"
Malfoy faked a thoughtful look. "No, I don't think I will."
Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it at him. "Give it here, or I swear to all that is good and holy that I will hex you into the middle of next week!" she snarled.
Malfoy merely smirked and shook his head, tutting at her. "Patience is a virtue, Granger!"
Hermione ignored him. "Give it to me!"
"Say the magic word!" Malfoy teased, as if talking to a child.
She suddenly stepped closer to him and gold sparks flew from the tip of her wand. "Please." She snarled through her teeth in a low voice.
Malfoy handed her the badge. "There, that wasn't so hard, was it?"
Hermione ignored him and walked away.
"Ah me! Parting is such sweet sorrow! Malfoy called dramatically.
Hermione stormed into her compartment and slammed the door shut, startling her friends.
"Have fun?" Ron ventured to ask.
"Ooooh, that Malfoy! I could just wring his scrawny little neck!" Hermione growled making strangling gestures with her hands.
Ginny laughed. "You'll have to get in line for that 'Mione!"
"Yeah," agreed Harry, "behind me and Ron!"
Hermione looked at her watch. "We'll be arriving in 15 minutes, we'd better change into our robes."
Hermione transfigured Nevilles suitcase into a screen so that she and Ginny could change into their school uniform in privacy.
Soon after, the Hogwarts Express puffed into the station and the Students disembarked from the train.
They could hear Hagrid calling the first years over to him so he could take them across the lake to the castle.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville all jumped into one carriage and it took them to the front doors of Hogwarts.
"I can't wait for the feast!" said Ron. "I'm starving!".