-1Hello everybody! This is my latest works, illustrating a hypothesis for the 7th Harry Potter book. The chapters work like this: Hermione, Ron, Draco, Harry, and round again. This is Hermione; so afterwards it'll be Ron, then Draco, then Harry… etc. Please give it a chance, due to the fact there are some great chapters and others are less exciting. This is a Humour/Angst/Adventure.

I've had to replace the first chapter because the changing of tense was absolutely appalling. I'm extremely used to 3rd Person, past tense, so this was a new thing for me to do… but hopefully this won't change tense!

Disclaimer: (to Humpty Dumpty) Harry Potter isn't mine! Wish it was, but I can dream. One day JK might sign it over to me, but till then I'll just squee.

(SQUEE: REJOICE! Lots of people use it, but I'm not sure if its in the dictionary.)

I'm re-rating this T, just for language. And a reference in this chapter, but it's very mild.

Chapter One

It's September the first all ready - and time hasn't just flown by, it's like it doesn't exist. Fleur's wedding, Harry escaping the eager clutches of the Weasley family; it's all been whisked up in time like nothing. I guess maybe it's because I've been enjoying myself, but I haven't. Fleur and Bill's wedding was the highlight of it, and even that lost its wonder when I started to hear them call each other pet names. With the weight of Sirius and Dumbledore's deaths in our minds, there hasn't been much reason to smile. And with Harry's flight to I don't know where. Of course, there've been happy moments: but they're like the flowery adornments you add to a piece of clothing to cover up a huge stain. They… don't feel like they have much meaning anymore.

And apart from that? No letters from Viktor this year, but I can't say I'm bothered. Ron was pleased when I told him this, but I can't think why. He just gets jealous around anyone who has something he hasn't - but that's Ron for you.

The Hogwarts Express pulls away from the station almost sluggishly, and I wave to my parents, turning round only to find there are no empty compartments. Grumbling to myself, I begin my epic journey to the Prefects carriage…

"No consideration for prefects…"

I stop abruptly outside the prefects carriage, and I open the door slowly. I can smell the hostility even from outside the compartment. Ron, Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, are looking at each other with fires burning in their eyes. Well, I'd better step in…

I flump down on a seat after cautiously, still sensing the suffocating silence, putting my luggage on the rack. Ron looks up, and gives me a huge, fake smile. Well, I did see him a week ago, but it'd be nice to have a proper welcome.

"Well, hi there, Hermione."

"Hello, Ronald," I say icily; "having trouble pronouncing words?" If he treats me as an… object to agitate Malfoy, he can only expect the same manner in return.

There's cynical laughter from Malfoy's side of the compartment. I look up at him, and I can't help but feel a bit puzzled. And confused. He seems to be… laughing with me.

"See? Even the Mudblood has a sense of humour, Weasley."

What do I say to that? I hate Malfoy; and siding with Ron doesn't have much appeal either, but I'd rather that than suggest that I like the fact that Malfoy's on my side…

"Shut up, Malfoy, before we find a new and interesting way to make you sprout tentacles again." I say, in the exact way that I chided Ron. Good; that should put them both in their place.

Malfoy opens his mouth like some kind of wide mouthed frog, but he chokes on words that don't seem to exist. "Typical," he mutters finally; "I should have guessed that a Mudblood like yourself would throw away a chance to insult your blood-traitor friend… If I ever complimented you, you'd just go throw it right back, wouldn't you? Pathetic."

Ron stands up and thrusts his wand in Malfoy's face, and I sink in my seat. They're so dumb. Why can't they just be subtle, instead of throwing punches whenever they can?"

"Maybe it's 'cause any compliment you give someone normally also involves the word 'Mudblood', Malfoy!"

"Will you two just shut up?" I say angrily. "If you think it's big to go name calling, Malfoy, then you need someone to look at your head; and Ron, if you think your feeble skills even begin to threaten our little Death Eater, then you're sadly mistaken, too!"

Oh… looks like the word 'Death Eater' touched a nerve for Malfoy. A vein pulses above his eye.

"What are you even doing here?" I lecture him, only just realising how disconcerting it feels to be sitting across the table from one. Its funny… because as much as I detest him, I don't consider Malfoy as… one of those.

Malfoy smiles smugly. "With Dumbledore gone, Granger, what are you going to do about it? Hogwarts don't know I'm coming back, but that just means if I pull a Snape on them, they'll welcome me back…"

I grunt. "Malfoy, have you hurt your head? Last term you -"

"-Didn't do anything," he finishes. "I never killed Dumbledore, they never saw the mark. They just know Snape killed him. Sure, Potter might have told them a tale… but whoever they believe, I'm entitled to my story, too."

It's disgusting. How can he even think of returning? How can he even begin to believe that they'll accept him back?

Pansy smirks over at me. "Draco was the first Slytherin to join up. I think that deserves applause, don't you?"

I can't believe my ears, even though it's Pansy and Malfoy I'm talking about…

"I think you're both pathetic! And repulsive!"

But there's absolutely nothing I can do without Harry. Ron and I… we're not right without the third member of our group. Where is Harry? What is he doing?

I hope he's alright…

He just took off. Overnight, he disappeared. At Bill and Fleur's wedding he was there, joining in with everything, blowing up balloons… (and I have a funny feeling some of them weren't balloons)… and then the next day, gone. I guess he apparated even without his test…

On the other side of the compartment, Pansy begins to snog Draco. Ronald and I exchange a glance, and I take out one of my school books.

When is the train going to stop?

A/N: Hope you like. It's only a short first chapter, but it was only a short one to copy. Yes, Harry, Ron and Hermione do meet up. I guess you just have to read on for the showdown where they do meet up (MEETING: COMPLETE)