Chapter III

It was September 15th, six days since Hermione had been released from the hospital. She still wouldn't explain to her friends the truth about why she had been placed in the hospital anyway.

Because of her father being in jail now, she stayed at the Burrow for the remainder of time before the term began. Every day she spent time with Harry and Ron and Ginny, ate delicious dinners prepared by Mrs. Weasley, talked about Muggle things with Mr. Weasley ("Just how does this VCR thingy work without magic?"), and was even taught how to play Quidditch by Fred and George. Eventually, though, the night before the return to Hogwarts came.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were making sure they had everything they needed for the next day. Well, technically, Mrs. Weasley was making sure they had everything.

"Ron, do you have all your books?"

"Yes."

"Ginny, you packed enough socks?"

"More than enough, Mum."

"Harry, do…"

"I have everything, Mrs. Weasley," he said before she could finish.

Mrs. Weasley smiled apologetically at the raven-haired boy and the two redheads, and turned her attention to the brunette. "Hermione, are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She was fingering one of the scars on her arm. She had told Mrs. Weasley about her cutting, but not for what reason. She still was not ready to disclose that information.

"You know, if you have any problems while you're at Hogwarts, you send me an owl straight away. And if you want to come here to celebrate Christmas, you can. And you're welcome to spend next summer here as well."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said.

"Oh, by the way, your letter says you've been made Head Girl of Hogwarts. Congratulations," the older woman said, giving the younger one a hug. Hermione smiled.

"Thanks again. Does it say who has been made Head Boy?"

Mrs. Weasley looked over the letter again. "Sorry, dear, no it doesn't," she replied. "But you'll find out tomorrow, won't you? Now, all of you, into bed, it's late."

Four groans were heard from four different teens, but they nevertheless went up the stairs, though quite reluctantly. Hermione went into the room she shared with Ginny, lay down, and slept fitfully through the night.

--The next day, on the Hogwarts Express--

Hermione followed Harry, Ron and Ginny into a compartment already occupied by Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnegan. They talked and laughed for a little while until a second year Gryffindor girl walked into the compartment as well.

"Here you are, Hermione," she said. "You have to go to the Head compartment now."

Hermione nodded, and told the others she would catch up with them at Hogwarts.

She followed the second year out of the compartment and into the next one. There were a few Slytherins in this one, who were all whispering behind their hands and pointing at her. Hermione wondered curiously about this, but didn't say anything about it. That is, until it happened in every compartment she passed through.

'What the bloody hell is going on?' she thought. She made her way into the Head compartment. It was occupied by only one other, and when she saw who it was, it was clear why everyone had been talking about her.

"I trusted you!" she yelled at Malfoy. He looked up at her.

"What?" he said, looking genuinely surprised, though Hermione could not be so sure.

"You told everyone, didn't you?" She got closer to him and pulled him up by the front of his shirt so she could stare him in the eye. "Didn't you?"

"Told everyone what?" he said.

Hermione looked around her suspiciously, as if people in the next compartment had their ears pressed against the glass to hear better. "That I cut and that my father raped me," she whispered.

"Oh, that," he replied. "No, I didn't."

"Then who did?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Then why was everyone just talking about me?"

"How do you know they were talking about you?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again as she realized...maybe they weren't talking about her. But it was a big maybe.

"Good point," she said quietly. She let go of Malfoy's shirt and sat down across from him. Malfoy took out a book and a quill pen and began to write something.

"What are you writing?" Hermione asked curiously.

"None of your business," Malfoy said quickly and nastily.

"Fine," Hermione said, turning her head. They didn't say a word to each other the whole rest of the ride.

--After the Hogwarts Express has stopped, and everyone is just now getting off--

Hermione made her way towards the back of the train. She was searching for Harry and Ron, but couldn't see her way past everyone in the crowd. She settled for just staying where she was and letting them find her.

She didn't have long to wait. About a minute later, Hermione could see a mop of red hair running towards her. Soon in front of her were an out-of-breath Ron, a half-asleep Harry, and an angry Ginny.

"Why did you just leave me there to get all your stuff?" she yelled at Ron. "You have hands too, you know."

"Sod off, Ginny," he said. "Word on the train is Malfoy's Head Boy. So, did you hex him?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't want to be expelled before we even get back."

"She has a point," Harry agreed.

The four, who were soon joined by Neville and Seamus, walked up to the carriages that would take them the rest of the way to the school. Without the crowd of people standing there, Hermione noticed a small black book with a silver snake on the front of it. It looked like someone's journal. (A/N: and like we don't know whose it is already.)

Hermione picked it up and looked on the inside cover. There was no name. She decided if she wanted to find out who the owner was, she'd have to read it, though she knew it was wrong.

--In Gryffindor Tower--

Hermione went into the 7th year girls' dormitory. She sprawled out on the bed and sighed, happy to be back at Hogwarts, back with her friends, back where she could use magic, and happy to be away from the asshole who had made her life a living hell. She remembered the journal and took it out of her bag, rolled over onto her stomach, opened it to a page, and began to read.

September 4th

I visited Granger in the hospital today. I'm not even sure why. I guess it's just because I wanted to see her in pain. But is that really the reason?

I guess I don't know. All I know is, she told me her secret, and not her friends. I sort of feel special, I guess. I told her my secret as well, and she promised not to tell a soul, as did I about hers.

But why shouldn't I tell somebody? I mean, it is a Malfoy's job to keep the Mudblood and half-breeds out of the magical world, so says my father. So why don't I tell, ruin Ms. Perfect's reputation? Because if I tell, she'll tell, that's why.

So for now, I will keep her secret just that—a secret. Until the time comes when she wants to reveal it herself. I wonder what her friends will think of her.

Draco Malfoy