Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, or places in this story. I am a poor college student. If I did own it I would not be in the current state that I am in. So again, JK Rowling owns everything and me nothing, hence my being poor.

Chapter 1: The Long Train Ride Home

Hermione's POV:

Hermione looked out the window of her train compartment. So many things had happened; such sadness had created a void in her that she felt could never be whole again. This seemed like the longest and most uncomfortable train ride Hermione Granger had ever been on. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore was gone. She knew it was true, especially when Fawkes took his final flight, but she just didn't want to.

She looked down at her hands. What she saw there gave her a feint smile. Ron was holding her hand gently. No words were being said, as none were needed. Hermione looked across the compartment at Harry, whose green eyes were shaded by his loss.

Harry's POV:

There was a blank stare on Harry's face, as if he were in a dream remembering something. Indeed he was remembering, back to the past few days, and everything that happened. He had been so happy a mere week ago, why did things have to change.

Harry knew one thing; he didn't want to go back to Hogwarts, his home, which had been soiled by death and destruction. Those two things seemed to follow him like the plague. That is why he knew he had to end it with Ginny, otherwise he would see her dead soon, and it would be his fault.

Harry looked over at his two friends, Ron and Hermione. He was happy that they could finally be open with each other, and he wondered whether Ron had finally told Hermione how long he has cared about her. When he looked at them though his heart fluttered, knowing that they would be following him to his Uncle's house, and where ever he went. Would they too end up like Dumbledore had?

If only Sirius were there, Harry knew he could have poured his heart out and Sirius would have understood his loss. But…alas, he couldn't. As Harry thought of Sirius a tear streaked from his eye, in anger. He wasn't going to let Voldemort take anyone else from him.

Ron's POV:

Ron looked at Harry, was that really a tear rolling down his best friends cheek? Ron knew that Harry would try to push everyone away to protect them. Ron had to admit that he was scared, not knowing what he was getting into. He was more scared though that he might lose, in the way that Harry has lost so many times.

Ron grabbed Hermione's hand a bit tighter, and held on like she was being taken from him. He couldn't believe that it took so much sorrow in his life, for him to let Hermione know how he felt.

Ron knew when Dumbledore died that no one was safe anymore. He had to live his life to the fullest, and let everyone around him know how much he cared. He would rather die than see any harm come to his Hermione. His Hermione, how marvelous that sounds….

Hermione's POV:

The trained crawled slower and slower, and finally came to a halt in King's Cross Station. Hermione gathered her things and followed Ron and Harry onto the platform. She knew that by stepping off of that train she was crossing over the threshold of her youth. Hermione bravely walked forward into the oncoming world, and what it had to hold for her.

Author's Notes: Sorry for the switching between different points of view. I promise this will be a Harry, Hermione fanfic. I wanted to set it up though to follow the previous book as much as possible. Please let me know what you think, all reviews are welcome! I will post more soon if you guys like it. Much longer chapters to come!