My So Called Perfect Life

Thank – you very much to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it, seeing as this is my first HP fanfic and I'll take all the help I can get. I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Disclaimer: Same as last chapter

Recap

"Way to go Hermione. We knew it had to be you. Who else could possibly get it?" asked Harry as he let her go.

Hermione smiled. Was it any wonder they were her best friends? Her smile grew wider as she heard Mrs. Weasley tell them to hurry up so they could buy everything they needed. She hooked each of her arms with Ron and Harry and walked towards the book store.

Today may have started bad, but it had improved. And who knows? Maybe tomorrow would be even better.

Chapter 3

'Finally I'm free!' This was Hermione Granger's first thought as she woke up the next morning. This thought was also the reason why she was smiling as she got dressed for the day. Today she had chosen to wear a baby blue sweater with dark navy blue jeans. Her hair was tied up in a French braid with soft strands framing her face giving her an innocent and youthful look. She hummed to herself as she packed her bags to leave. Today was the day that she was returning to Hogwarts. She wouldn't have to see HIM for a whole year. And if she had her way, she wouldn't have to see him forever. After all, she would be eighteen by the time the school year was done. She would finally be liberated from her bondage.

Hermione had another reason to smile. Her mother was coming back today to see her off. Katherine Granger may not have had the best taste in men, but she had been good to Hermione. Unfortunately, she also had the tendency to leave for long periods of time. This was the reason that Katherine didn't know what happened to her only daughter almost every night.

Hermione pushed these dark thoughts away as she heard the door bell ring. 'She's here!'

Hermione tore down the stairs in her haste to see her mother again. She ran as fast as she could to the door and yanked it open. It wasn't her. Hermione's welcoming smile faded as she realized it was him.

"Thanks for opening the door. I just went out to get some groceries and forgot to take the keys," he explained as he walked past her and made his way to the kitchen. Hermione glumly closed the door as she wished that she hadn't opened it. If only she had pretended to be asleep, he would have been locked out.

"Did you eat yet?" he yelled from the kitchen. She hadn't, but she wasn't going to tell him so. If she said yes, he would make her eat something in front of him. Normally Hermione wouldn't have minded so much, but because this was the last time he would be seeing her for a year, she knew that he would look for any reason to beat her to a bloody pulp again. It was better not to risk it.

"Yes I had some waffles earlier," she lied. ""I'm going upstairs to pack."

She had started to walk up the stairs when the door bell rang again. She smiled. This time it had to be her mother. She quickly walked to the door, watching her stepfather emerge from the kitchen from the corner of her eyes. She pulled the door open.

Standing before was a breathtaking woman who looked so much like Hermione that it was eerie. She was wearing a black business suit with a hand bag in one hand and a suitcase in the other. It was almost like looking into the future. This was what Hermione would look like when she was older.

Katherine Granger promptly dropped her hand bag and suitcase as soon as she saw her daughter. "Hermione!" she yelled enthusiastically.

"Mother!" Hermione yelled back with just as much enthusiasm. The two women immediately hugged each other. Hermione attempted not to show any pain as her mother squeezed her back. It was worth the pain just to be close to her mother again.

"Jimmy!" Katherine said warmly as she released her daughter and walked towards her husband.

"It's good to see you again Kathy. I missed you," he said enveloping her in a hug.

"I hope everything was okay while I was gone?"

"Oh yeah. Hermione and I had a great time together. Didn't we Hermione?" Jim asked looking directly at her.

Hermione forced herself to agree. She didn't want to do anything to upset her mother. The doctor had told Katherine to go easy on herself after she had fallen into a state of depression after her first husband's death. Jimmy Galloway was the person who had lifted her out of it. Normally Katherine was a terrific judge of character, but the death of her husband had left her desperately craving something to fill the hole in her heart. Hermione had tried to fill it, but she just wasn't enough. Katherine fell for the charming Jimmy Galloway almost immediately and they were married three months later. At first, Hermione had been ecstatic to have a new father. It was great seeing her mother happy again. She had truly believed that they could all live happily ever after. But that was before the beatings had begun. Before her innocence was stolen from her, forcing her to grow up sooner than she wanted to.

"I hope I'm not too late. You still have some time before you need to get on the train right dear?" asked Katherine as she gathered her things and went to the living room.

"Actually mother I need to leave in a few minutes," said Hermione.

"Okay then, why don't you get your things and we'll leave," suggested Katherine.

"Alright." Hermione went to her bedroom and packed a few last minute things. She came downstairs in a few minutes and saw that her mother and stepfather were ready to go.

"Let's go."

At the train

"Good – bye dear. Have a great year. Don't forget to write," said Katherine as she hugged Hermione.

"Bye sweetheart. Have fun," said Jimmy, also hugging her. Hermione tried not to hex him. It took a LOT of self – control.

"Bye!" yelled Hermione as she turned around and ran to the barrier that would take her to the platform 9¾.

She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the other side. She immediately spotted her best friends when she opened her eyes. She half ran half walked towards them.

"Hey 'Moine," greeted Harry.

"Hey you two. Ready to go back?"

"Yep. Can't wait to start Quidditch again!" exclaimed Ron.

Hermione laughed. Ron was physically incapable of talking about anything except Quidditch since he had become a chaser the year before.

"Hello Hermione dear!" said Mrs. Weasley when she spotted Hermione. "Have a good summer?"

"Yes I did Mrs. Weasley. How was yours?"

Mrs. Weasley didn't answer because she had become distracted. She had spotted a dirt mark on Ron's nose and was attempting to take it off using a napkin.

"Honestly Ronald, you've got to be careful. How do you get so dirty constantly? You were fine a few minutes ago and …"

Hermione didn't hear the rest because she was too busy doubling over with laughter when she saw Ron's horrified face.

"Mother! Get away!" he yelled trying to shake his mother off. But Molly Weasley was a woman on a mission. Nothing was going to stop her.

Hermione was still smiling when she boarded the train. Harry had got on right after her and they were joined by a red – faced Ron a few seconds later. Harry and Hermione valiantly tried to hold back laughter when they saw the red mark on Ron's nose. Regrettably, it was a battle they were losing.

Ron quickly turned around and started walking down the hallway to find an empty cabin. Harry started to follow, but stopped when he noticed that Hermione wasn't following.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked.

"You go ahead. I have to go to the Head's cabin to take care of some stuff. I'll join you later," she answered.

Harry nodded and walked away. Hermione turned around and walked in the opposite direction to go to the Head's cabin. For the first time she allowed herself to wonder who the Head Boy was.

'Maybe it's Justin or Charlie (AN: I just made up a name),' she speculated. 'Oh well, I'll find out soon enough,' she thought as she faced the door of the Head's cabin. She took a deep breath, opened the door and froze.

"YOU!"

Well that's it. That wasn't much of a cliff hanger was it? You can probably guess whot is.

Was this chapter too boring? Cause I kind of think it was. Anyways please review and tell me what you think. Remember no reviews no updates. So just press the little button and review please.