She needed to sit down. Her head was spinning and her legs felt like jelly. Slowly she walked to the nearest couch, not noticing his hand still held hers. After she sat and he was sure she was ok he let go and pulled over the nearest chair.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me -" he shook his head to her not caring.

"It's fine. You're new here." Hermione nodded. "Where are you from?"

"Mongolia. Plexion School." Albus whistled awestruck.

"Mongolia wow." He stared at her for a moment. The twinkle in his eye was gone and replaced with admiration. "That must have been amazing." he said more to himself. She nodded once more. Again Hermione took the time to look over the man in front of her. His outer robes were similar to those that Harry and Ron had worn. Actually they were almost identical to the robes all the boys at Hogwarts wore. Underneath, though, it was quite different. He had shiny black shoes with golden buckles. What looked similar to stockings came up and disappeared underneath crisp black pants. 'Reminds me of Professor Snape.' She thought as she noticed the black shirt he wore with a leather belt. Next to the Head Boy badge he worse was a Gryffindor emblem. It looked odd to have such a bright colored emblem against all of the black in the uniform.

Hermione didn't like this. This man, who was talking about something, (she wasn't listening to what), was her headmaster. This was a man she admired and glorified. He was thought to be invincible in her mind. How could she sit here and meet him all over again.

"Are you ok, Hermione?"

"What? Oh I'm sorry. I was just looking around the room." she gestured quickly hoping he hadn't noticed her looking him over. Blushing she stood up. "I umm. I have to go to my room. I need to unpack… and umm, change into my uniform." He nodded understandingly. "Right then." she quickly headed for the stairs, knowing that he was watching her as she sprinted away.

She sat on her bed. Somehow it was the same bed she had left. Everything in the dormitory seemed to be the same, like she hadn't actually left. In the back of her mind she imagined Ginny strolling in and telling her Ron and Harry were waiting for her. But that wasn't going to happen. Slight tears welled up in Hermione's eyes.

The beds looked freshly made, almost as thought they had never been slept in. Of course the house elves always did a wonderful job. While everything from the bedspreads to the curtains looked like what she had just left, they looked newer. Everything was a more vibrant red or gold. The furniture around the room was in the same places. Again, the polished furniture looked newer. Only her trunk seemed out of place. The others girls chests were all the same, plain and unattractive. But Hermione's had been painted in bright, energetic colors. A rainbow of every color created. And thanks to a little spell she had found, the colors moved and swirled, making an ever changing pattern or mess.

Quickly she changed into her uniform. It had felt strange to walk through the halls in her muggle clothes. Especially since they weren't of the time period. But once she put her uniform on everything felt better. She moved some of her things around. Put her clothes away and her lavatory articles together for when they were needed. Lastly she enlarged her favorite pillow from home to make everything complete.

She wouldn't have gone back downstairs if her stomach hadn't voiced its protest. Her watch said 1:25. Maybe she could still get something, if not from the Great Hall then the kitchen. As she walked back down the stairs she pushed her watch a little higher up her wrist to keep it from being seen.

He was waiting for her.

It was again his turn to look her over as she neared him. He nodded once a smile playing on his lips and the twinkle back in his eyes. "I though maybe I could show you around the castle. Wouldn't want you to get lost before you even get your class schedule, now would we?"

Nodding she said, "That would be very nice thank you." Her stomach growled. She let out a nervous giggle and blushed brightly. "Maybe you could show me where to get some food?"

"Sure that wouldn't be a problem." He walked to the entrance and opened the portrait for her. Once they were both outside he extended his arm for hers.

When Hermione looked at him questioningly, he tried to explain. "Usually a woman would take the mans arm when they walk together."

"Oh. Well we never did that at my school unless it was a formal function." She started walking ahead. Albus just gave her a look of bewilderment and walked behind her.

When they neared the Great Hall he said, "I thought I was supposed to be showing you around. But you seem to know exactly where you're going." Hermione turned to face him, anxiousness written all over her face.

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"Hmm? What did you say?" She tried to stay clam. There was no way she could tell him. There was no way he could find out! Trying her hardest to keep her breath even and steady she looked him in the eyes and waited for him to repeat himself. All the time thinking of how she would answer.

"I said, it seems like you know where you are going." He looked at her expectantly waiting for an answer.

"Well, I know why. When Professor Noddle was taking me to the dormitory she showed me around. In case. in case I wasn't able to get anyone to show me… show me to the Great Hall later. Yeah. that's it." She mumbles the last part. "So let's go! I'm starving." She turned back around away from him. If she didn't look at him then he wouldn't say anything else. He wouldn't ask her another question. He wouldn't be able to see that she was lying. 'If he doesn't already know,' she thought bitterly.

Albus stood there a moment watching her walk on ahead. He was almost sure she was lying. She wasn't walking like she had been showed around once. She was acting as though she had been at Hogwarts for all 7 school years. 'What is she hiding?' he thought as she turned the corner. Shaking his head he hurried after her.

When he caught up to her, he touched her arm to make her stop. "You could wait for me you know." She blushed and nodded. "So. tell me about Mongolia. How was going to school there?"

"Oh, it was nice." She nodded again. "I loved my teachers and all of my classes. I was doing really well there."

'Please don't be interested!' her mind screamed.

They walked in silence until they reached the Great Hall. There was still food left on the student's tables and some students speckled the tables. Even a few teachers were still at their table in the head of the room. They walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Hermione immediately started putting food on her plate while Albus tried starting another conversation.

"So tell me about your favorite Professors? How were the classes? What did you take?"

'Bloody hell!'

"Well my favorite Professor was." what could tell him? She couldn't mention anyone she really had! "Umm. I'd have to say my Herbology teacher, Professor Meyer. She was a doll. My classes? They were all good. In my opinion, really easy as well. Though I'm sure if you asked some of my friends there, they would definitely not agree." She then took a bite of the turkey sandwich she made to keep from having to talk more.

"Are you usually very quiet?"

She quickly shook her head yes, then slowly shook her head no, she shoulders falling in a sigh. It took her a moment to finish her sandwich but when she did she turned to face him. "No. I am what one would call a bookworm, but I am not a quiet person, usually. I enjoy talking with my friends. It's just hard to talk now. I mean, I'm in a new place and I have to meet new people. I haven't even been away that long. but I miss my friends Harry and Ron terribly. I'm sorry if I'm short. I just don't really want to talk about my life in Mongolia. Unless I get to go back after graduation, I will probably never make it there." She gave him a bit of a half smile.

"I understand. No more questions."

She hadn't been lying, completely. She did miss Ron and Harry. Right now they would be in Potions listening to Snape yell at Neville. He'd take house points away and they would leave muttering curses under their breaths about how unfair he was. Suddenly more then a little wave of emotion hit Hermione and she could feel her eyes welling up with tears. She blinked several times to keep them at bay but she couldn't quiet the sniffle she made.

"There, there. Don't cry. You're going to make new friends here. Everyone is very nice, with the exception of the Slytherins. And if you stick with me I can introduce you to everyone. So there's no reason to be upset. It can be hard to leave people you care about. Every year that I come back I get homesick. I miss my parents something dreadful. But I have my brother here and we get through it together. And then when I leave for the summer. I am unhappy all over again. For then, I have to leave all of my friends. Friends that you are going to meet the second class gets out." The twinkle in his eyes made her feel better. She sniffled again but this time with a full smile gracing her face.

"Thanks."