Disclaimer: I own nothing, as usual.

Message in a Bottle

Chapter 7

August thirty-first came and Hermione was a bundle of nerves. She had yet to ask HIM if she could go back and she decided not to. She crept down the stairs. She had shrunken her trunk and it was in her pocket. Dragon had sent her all the books and her money back but he had not gotten her a dress robe. Oh well. She stepped out the door and began to run.

She decided it was best just to leave and run as fast as she could. She would be safe at school and she would never go 'home' again.

She soon remembered after running for about fifteen minutes that she had gotten her apparating license and there was no need to be running. She hid behind a tree and apparated to Kings Cross. She closed her eyes real tight and opened them again after hearing a POP sound. The sight of people made her smile as she had been cooped up all summer in her room. She began walking through the crowded area and was about to run between platforms nine and ten when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Thought you'd escaped, didn't you?" a voice drawled from behind her. He led her into the back of the station where no one could see them.

"Please let me go," she pleaded. "Let me go back to school. I won't be a hassle to you any longer. I'll be out of your hair and I promise I'll never come back. Please. I even promise not to tell anyone."

He smacked her across the face and she let out a yelp of pain. "I'm going to put you in your place, you little whore." He was about to begin his torture once more and she closed her eyes tight, hoping it would be over soon but nothing ever happened. She opened her eyes to find him lying on the ground unconscious.

"Excuse me, miss. Are you okay?" A man asked. He had just saved her from her stepfather and she was grateful. She looked up at him and was shocked at who it was. His dark brown raven hair, deep green eyes, out of style glasses, and lightning shaped scar gave him away.

"H...H...Harry?" she asked.

He looked at her and suddenly realization dawned upon his face. "Hermione? Are you okay? Who is that man? What's going on?"

He took her into an embrace. "Harry, thank you," she cried into his shoulder. She began shuddering involuntarily and he held her closer, trying to get her to calm down and forget all her problems but it wasn't working. The train was leaving in five minutes and he knew he had to get them on it so they could go to school and sort everything out so he scooped her up in his arms and walked through the barrier between the two platforms. He carried her onto the train and she fell asleep in his arms.

A/N... Sorry. No letters this chapter. From here, everything is probably going to go a lot faster paced. They'll still be writing letters but not so much anymore because school will be keeping them busy. Hope you liked this. Thanks everyone for your great reviews. Review for this one too please.