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Arrival at Hogwarts
The three wizards arrived by Knight Bus to platform nine and three quarters. With a pang, Hermione remembered how her parents had always said goodbye to her at this spot. Harry hesitantly put his arm around her. "Come on, it'll be ok," he said, gently leading her through the barrier.
Remus lugged all the suitcases into an empty compartment, and the trio sat down. Remus promptly fell asleep. Harry sat next to Hermione, his arm still around her. He wished he could think of something to say to make her feel better. Hermione stared out the window blankly, wondering what the new school year would bring.
The pair jumped when their compartment door was opened. "Hello Harry, Hermione!" said Ron brightly. His girlfriend Luna followed him in and sat down next to him, across from Harry and Hermione.
"Hello," they answered.
"Who's that?" questioned Ron. He couldn't see the slumbering man's face.
Hermione gave a small smile. "It's Lupin, he's agreed to fill the DADA post again."
"Hey, that's bloody brilliant! Great to have him back," Ron commented. "Hermione, we've got to do our prefect duties. Let's go."
Hermione and Ron left the room and made their rounds. She was displeased to find several Death Eater kids on the train, including Draco and his cronies. Lucius had been the one who murdered her parents. She gave Draco a killer glare and quickly walked on.
When Ron and Hermione returned, Hermione sat down next to Harry and resumed staring out the window, not wishing to talk to anyone. She felt inwardly furious at Dumbledore for not expelling Draco. How could he be so insensitive?
The miles rolled by, and soon enough the train screeched to a stop. Harry shook Lupin awake. The group rode in carriages to Hogwarts castle, and entered the doors, only to be greeted by paintballs thrown by Peeves. He cackled in glee as random students shrieked at being covered in gooey bright paint.
McGonagall arrived at the scene, appearing quite frazzled. "PEEVES!" she roared. The poltergeist had been quite uncontrollable lately. "I'M GETTING THE BLOODY BARON IF YOU DON'T STOP!"
Peeves reluctantly let his last paintball go splat on the floor and floated away. With a few flicks of her wand, the paint disappeared. She walked off in a huff to lead the first years to the Great Hall.
Lupin left them to take up his seat at the teacher's table. Many people noticed that he was back and seemed pleased. Others seemed not so pleased, especially the Slytherins. Snape wore the deepest scowl of all.
When Dumbledore made his usual announcements and the sorting hat did its usual gig, Hermione barely listened. She was too busy glaring at Draco, evil schemes beginning to occur to her. Sure, she couldn't do anything major to him, but that didn't mean that the Weasley twins didn't have products she could use.
Harry noticed her intensely foul look. (I can hardly blame her) he thought, anger beginning to surge through him. He put his arm around her absently as he waited for the food to appear.
Hermione felt Harry wrap his arm around her an give her a reassuring squeeze. She looked at him in the corner of her eye. (He seems to be doing that alot lately. Is he just being friendly, or does it mean something more?)
Meanwhile, Remus observed how close Harry and Hermione were sitting. (I wonder if Harry is going to ask her out) he wondered absently. (Reminds me of how James finally got Lily to go out with him in his sixth year) His own devastating romance flashed through his mind, but he quickly shoved it away. Werewolves had no business being in love.
Snape sat next to Remus, firmly pretending that he didn't exist. That was fine by Remus. He knew how much Snape loathed him, not only as a childhood enemy, but for jipping him out of the DADA position twice. On his other side sat Professor Flitwick, who was a kind person, but not much of a conversationalist. A wave of loneliness swept over him. Being at Hogwarts never failed to bring out his memories of the Marauders and Lily, his best and only friends, who were all dead now. All he had now were a few acquaintances. Harry and Hermione were wonderful, but just not the same as someone his own age.
Dumbledore finished speaking, and dinner appeared. Everyone ate ravenously, except for Hermione and Remus, who were both lost in their own thoughts.
After dinner, Hermione strode straight to the owlry. Harry had given her permission to use Hedwig. She scribbled a note to the Weasley twins, and sent Hedwig off. Hopefully she wouldn't have to wait too long for a reply. As a prefect, she knew she wasn't being a very good example to the other students. However, the image of her dead parents made her think that her responsibility as a prefect was quite silly in comparison.
She marched up to the portrait hole, before realizing she didn't know the password. She sat down by a statue and waited for someone to come by and tell her. She didn't have long to wait. Ginny and Colin Creevy walked up the stairs, hand in hand. "What's the password?" Hermione asked.
"Semper Fidelis," answered Ginny. "By the way, Professor McGonagall wishes to see you."
Hermione hurried down the stairs, wondering what in the world her Professor could want. She arrived at McGonagall's office and knocked on the door. "Come in," she heard her say.
Hermione entered and stood in front of the desk. "Yes Professor McGonagall?"
"I've noticed you're taking quite a load of classes this year. I believe you'll need to use a Time Turner again. Since you used it well last time, I expect the same behavior this time. Do you remember how it works?"
"Yes, Professor," Hermione answered. "Turn it once or twice per class, and I can't let myself be seen, especially by myself."
"Correct, Hermione. Good luck," McGonagall said, handing her the necklace and dismissing her.
As Hermione returned to her dorm, a tempting thought occurred to her. If she turned time back enough, maybe she could save her parents! (I can't do that. Time isn't to be tampered with, I could create a bigger mess than what I started with, and they might die anyway.)
"Semper Fidelis," said Hermione, and she stepped through the portrait hole. Harry looked up as she sat next to him on the couch.
"What took you so long?" wondered Harry.
"I've been to see Professor McGonagall," Hermione explained, quickly showing him the Time Turner before stuffing it under her shirt. The fewer people that knew about it, the better.
"I see," commented Harry. He gazed into the fire, deep in thought. The first Hogsmeade weekend was coming up, and he fiddled around with the idea of asking Hermione out. Maybe he could start with that, and see what her reaction was. It wouldn't be too different than what they usually did.
Hermione looked at the reflection of the fire on Harry's glasses. (He's probably thinking of Sirius, and how he used to pop up in there) she thought sadly. "I'm going to bed," Hermione announced, getting up.
"That sounds like a good idea," mused Harry. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Harry," answered Hermione. She turned and walked up the stairs to her dorm. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Preview of next chapter: Crabbe and Goyle glanced over their shoulders, and, not seeing Malfoy, said, "Hey, where did Malfoy go?"
"I'M DOWN HERE!" Malfoy said, his voice a mere squeak. He was absolutely LIVID.
Peeves floated by, cackling with pure glee. "Mini-mini-Malfoy!" he said in a high pitched voice. He cackled some more. "Mini-mini-Malfoy!"
