Hermione Granger and Gringotts

Disclaimer::people shouting "Hell No, we won't go: Sorry about the noise. Just some stupid boycotters that I had absolutely nothing to do with :wink wink nudge nudge: I don't own… Hp… yet…

"Hey Harry. Be careful with those," Ron told him warningly, "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor. George swears he had a booger-flavored one once," He picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully and bit into a corner, "Bleaaargh! Sprouts!" Harry laughed.

They had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, sardine and was even brave enough to nibble the end off a funny gray one that Ron wouldn't touch. It turned out to be pepper.

The country side now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers and dark green hills. There was a knock on the door of their compartment and a round-faced boy came in. He looked tearful.

"Sorry," He said, quietly, "but have you seen a toad at all," When they shook their heads he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up." Harry smiled, consolingly.

"Yes," The boy answered, miserably," Well, if you see him…" He turned and left.

"Don't know why he's so bothered. If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk." The rat was still snoozing in his lap.

"You know, he might have died and we wouldn't know the difference." Harry grinned.

"I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you…" He rummaged in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end. He raised the wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one." She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.

"We already told him we haven't seen it." Ron told her but she wasn't listening. She was looking at the wand in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it then." She sat down. Ron looked slightly taken aback.

"Er… alright," He cleared his throat, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow. Turn this stupid fat rat yellow." He waved his wand but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not a very good one, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard… I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way." She said all this very fast. Harry looked at Ron, trying not to laugh at his stunned face. He'd skimmed the books, once, on Remus' insistence but to memorize them. He could tell Ron hadn't even picked them up since Diagon Alley.

"I'm Ron Weasley." Ron muttered, picking up another frog.

"Harry Potter." Harry hoped she wouldn't make a big thing about it.

"Are you really? I know all about you, of course. I got a few extra books for background reading and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century." Hermione smiled.

"Am I really in The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts? I didn't get time to read that one…" Harry smiled back.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," Hermione began.

"I've only known for two days. That's not enough time to read them all, you know." Harry interrupted, slightly annoyed by this girl.

"Oh, of course not. I'm sorry, I just assumed, " She quickly changed the subject, "Do either of you know what House you'll be in? I've been asking around and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best. I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad. Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon." She stood and left, the toadless boy, Neville, with her.

"Whatever House I'm in, I hope she's not in it," Ron stared after her. Then he turned and threw his wand back into his trunk, "Stupid spell. George gave it to me. I should have known it was a dud."

"You're brothers are in Gryffindor, right?" Harry asked, fishing around in the pile of sweets for a caldron cake.

"Yeah. Mom and Dad were in it too," Gloom seemed to be settling on him again, "I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."

"You know, I think the ends of Scabbers whiskers are a bit lighter," Harry offered, trying to draw Ron's mind away from Houses, "I forgot to ask. What did Bill and Charlie decide to do?"

"Charlie's in Romania, studying dragons." Ron answered.

"No surprise there." Harry grinned.

"Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts. Oh, did you hear what happened at Gringotts. It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't reckon Remus gives it up very often. Someone tried to rob a high security vault." Ron pulled a clipping out of his pocket.

"Really? What happened to them?" Harry stared.

"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. Dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything. That's what's odd. Everyone's scared because they think You-Know-Who might behind it." Ron grabbed the box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Harry turned this bit of information over in his mind. He thought that Ron meant Voldemort when he said You-Know-Who. Sirius had said that a lot of people didn't like to say the name. He thought it would be much easier if people just said Voldemort without worrying so much.

Had a bit of trouble ending that one. Either it ended here or went of forever. I choose to end it. Sorry all who want them longer. I like 'em short.