NOTE TO REVIEWERS: Thank you so much for your kind reviews. I am so glad that you enjoyed the first chapter. I hope you enjoy the rest. ;-)
NOTE TO READERS: Thank you for even taking time our of your schedule to just read my little story, and as promised, here is the next chapter for the week. :-D
Chapter Two
Maybe it was the rain, or maybe it was the traffic. Or it could've been that she was kept up all night with nightmares. Whatever the reason, Hermione was in a bad mood on the way to the station to go back to school. Actually, she knew the reason for the bad mood, but she was trying to forget it. She was trying to forget the fact that she would see Harry on the Hogwarts Express.
Pansy Parkinson…Of all people, it was Pansy Parkinson. He had told her it was all part of the plan…"part of the plan"…bullocks.
"You don't seem very excited to be going back to school," Mr. Granger commented from the driver's seat.
"It's her last year, of course she's going to be a little down," Mrs. Granger answered.
Hermione leaned forward. "Actually, now that you mention it, I am a little excited. I mean, this is my last year and all, which means I'll get to see more of the wizarding world outside of Hogwarts, and I'll get more experiences." As if I need more experiences.
"That's the spirit!" her father announced with excitement.
She sat back in her seat. After spending six years with Harry and Ron at Hogwarts, lying had become effortless. She didn't tell them about what Harry had done…She hadn't even told them that she and Harry had been together.
The witch looked through the window of the car. The moving buildings and people melted into images of the past. She walked the dark, empty corridors of Hogwarts. She rounded a corner and saw them.
There was the one she believed loved her with one she knew hated her. With her back against the wall, Pansy stood. Harry had one hand massaging the thigh of the leg wrapped around his waist and the other hand holding Pansy's wrists against the stones behind her. Their lips were wrapped around each other's, and Hermione watched in silent horror as the two lustily kissed.
When the tears had begun to fall, Hermione had turned and run.
That moment no longer brought tears to her eyes. Now, the memory brought anger and fire to her blood. If only there was a way to make Harry realize what he was doing, how he was hurting everyone, how he was making a huge mistake.
The dark, cold corridors of Hogwarts melted away and back into the streets of London. She adjusted her eyes to see the train station coming into view.
"Okay, have a good time, and for God's sake, try to stay out of trouble," Mrs. Granger said as she gave her oldest daughter a hug.
"I will."
"Alright, kiddo. Be good, and come back," Mr. Granger instructed.
"Of course, I will, Dad."
"Ignore the last thing he said," her sister said jokingly.
Hermione chuckled. "Whatever…Well, I'll see you at Christmas, unless something comes up."
"Okay. Love you," her mother said.
"Love you, too."
Hermione jumped as Ron fell into the cabin.
"Jesus, Weasley, after seventeen years, you still can't walk!" Malfoy smirked.
"Jesus, Malfoy, after seventeen years, your mum still dresses you?" Hermione mocked.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle just scowled at Hermione before walking away.
"Come on, Ron. You know you're smarter than he is, so why do you always end up down?" she commented as she pulled her best friend from the floor.
"Because he's bigger and has two…goons that follow his every command."
Hermione just shook her head.
"When do you think he'll get here?" Ron whispered, taking a seat.
The witch shrugged. "I don't know. Will he even sit with us?"
"Well…I don't know…Now that I think about it…"
Before they could continue, Harry ran into the cabin and locked the door behind him. "Hey, guys."
"Harry!" the other two exclaimed.
"We—uh—we weren't expecting you to sit with us," Ron stumbled.
"Do you think I'd be able to go to school without seeing you two first?" Harry said, giving Ron a hug and Hermione a kiss on the cheek before sitting next to her.
"How was the summer?" Ron asked uneasily.
"Pretty dead."
"Did you find out anything?" Hermione questioned, taking the hand he offered and sending a look at Ron who nodded reassuringly back.
Harry ran his free hand through his hair. "Nah. I'm almost his right-hand man, though."
"I don't understand why you had to start from the bottom," Ron commented.
Harry shrugged. "Something about complaints from other Death Eaters and not wanting it to look so simple. I don't know; I just do as I'm told."
Hermione tentatively snuggled closer. "I don't know why Dumbledore let you do this. You shouldn't have suggested it."
"But they need all the help they can get to defeat Voldemort, 'Mione. I'll do whatever I can."
"But you're ruining yourself, and all Ron and I do is worry about you."
"Well, don't, 'cause I'm fine!" Harry stood. "Look, I better go…before they start thinking."
Hermione turned away. "Alright. See you at school."
"'Mione, don't be like that." He wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her cheek.
"Just go."
"Fine. See you, Ron."
"Right," Ron said softly.
The two sat in silence until Harry closed the door after leaving.
Ron rushed to Hermione's side and took her in his arms just as she began to cry. "Sh…Hush…It's okay; he's gone."
He was sitting there, holding her, consoling her, and running his fingers through her hair when there was a knock at the door.
Hermione sniffed and cleaned her face.
"Who is it?" Ron called, standing up.
The door opened, and a boy with platinum blond hair walked in.
"Get out, Malfoy."
"Oh, shut your trap, Weasley, and listen to me." Malfoy glanced at Hermione who was still hastily wiping tears from her eyes. "Let me guess…Potter paid you a nice little visit."
"What's it to you?"
"Look, we all know what's going on with good ol' Potter."
"Yeah, and I bet you Slytherins are just all excited about it—just…jumping for joy."
"What the Hell would you know, Weasley?"
"Malfoy, get out," Hermione commanded wearily.
"You have to listen to me…I can't stand Potter, and you want him back, so we need to change him," Malfoy tried to explain.
"Nice try, Malfoy. You just want us to take him back so he can spy for you. Well, guess what, Malfoy. We don't want him back; he has chosen your side, the dark magic, so he is now our enemy." Hermione was now standing, and she drew her wand. "Now—get—out!"
Malfoy went to make a remark, but he seemed to think differently about it, for he simply turned sharply and stormed out the compartment, leaving the door open.
A few seconds later, a frightened Neville popped his head into the room. "Is it safe for you to have another passenger in here?"
Hermione relaxed and smiled. "Of course, Neville."
