Disclaimer: I still don't own anything... hmm... maybe the plot I s'pose

A/N: Once again I would like to thank the following reviewers Nubia/BlazeofHeart1/RafcliffeRox24/parcheezie. I will try to make the next few chapters long, but please forgive me if I don't. I can't help it but I promise I will try!

The Hogwarts Express

The rest of summer holidays had continued as if nothing happened. To everyone but Hermione, it was as if the loss of her parents had never happened, however, little did they know that she was still anguished about the bereavement of them. Each day she managed to cope perfectly fine, on the outside she had managed to plaster a smile and talk contentedly with Ron, but on the inside, it was like it everything had shut down and had lost anticipated hope in life. Harry had also stayed at the Burrow for the last two weeks; he too felt sympathy towards her but she knew that the wounds that were made inside her were probably never going to heal again.

The next few days past and they had received their letters. The golden trio were about to start the 7th and final year at Hogwarts and were excited about this. Even Hermione's sadness managed to evaporate into thin air when she remembered this. She couldn't wait to return to school and to forget and leave her troubles for another year. (Although she didn't think it was possible.) She was going to go back, but this time it, was like she was a different person altogether, it was like she was starting a new life. A life that people wouldn't notice exists.

They had arrived at platform nine and three quarters, Hermione filled with anticipation about learning something new. On the last few days, she had grown further and further apart from her "two boys" whilst Ron and Harry had gotten closer and closer. It was like she didn't exist to them anymore, instead it was like she was there because she just was.

Hermione de-attached herself from Harry and the Weasley clan making her way towards Head girl compartment (she had been made head girl.) On the way there she had attracted many stares which did not surprise her one bit. This was because her attire had been changed completely. Instead of her wearing her normal clothes which consisted of jeans and a woolly jumper, she was now wearing black jeans, a black top with the word 'inconsolable' on it and a long black jacket that went down to her knees like the one on the matrix. She hadn't gotten around to changing her looks yet due to the fact that she had been doing some before school studying as well.

She slumped onto the chair in the compartment sighing to herself then thought about who the head boy could be. It was perceptibly going to be Malfoy so she quickly contemplated things she could do to occupy herself whilst in his presence. She opened her billabong backpack and took out a silver Sony disc man. It had been a gift from her mum and dad when she had turned sixteen. On the back it had engraved on it, with love from mum and dad. Once again she felt teary, so she attempted to try and find a CD to put in her disc man to overlook about her qualms. She pulled out her lose yourself single by Eminem and began to vibe to the music trying her hardest not to rap out loud.

Look... if you had... one shot, or one opportunity
to seize everything you ever wanted... in one moment
would you capture it... or just let it slip? Yo...

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
to drops bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
what he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth but the words won't come out
He's chokin, how? Everybody's jokin now
the clock's run out, time's up, over - BLAOW!
Snap back to reality, OHH - there goes gravity
OHH - there goes Rabbit, he choked
He's so mad, but he won't
Give up that easy nope, he won't have it
He knows, his whole back's to these ropes
It don't matter, he's dope
He knows that, but he's broke
He's so sad that he knows
when he goes back to this mobile home, that's when it's
back to the lab again, yo, this whole rap shit
He better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him

You better - lose yourself in the music, the moment
you own it, you better never let it go (go)


You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
You better - lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
You better..

About two minutes of the song had passed and Hermione still hadn't realised that the head boy had arrived and was looking inquisitively at her. His piercing gaze caught her eyes which she had snapped suddenly open, (her eyes were closed,) for a moment she didn't recognise who the human being sitting opposite of her was then it hit her. It was Malfoy. He too was decked out in different clothes, not that she ever noticed what he was wearing, and in fact she never used to notice him at all. He was wearing black cargo pants with silver chains hanging from it, a black shirt that said (although you couldn't see it) Bring Back the Biff and a black hoody jumper with his hands in the front pocket. The hood was currently over his head but Hermione could tell by looking at his silver eyes something was wrong. She didn't know what and she really didn't care either way so back on went the music.

They were half way there already when the lady with the trolley of food came to their compartment. Malfoy had been staring out the window for the past hour and Hermione had been reading the standard book of spells grade seven. Standing up, Hermione made her ways towards the lady, she ended up buying a stack of cauldron cakes, chocolate frog, pumpkin pasties and pumpkin juice. Returning to her seat, arms filled with food, she sat down and dumped it all on the seat next to her. Malfoy stared at her then at the food then at her again, first her looks now her appetite? He couldn't stand it any longer, so he broke the silence that had been triumphing over them for the past hours.

"You got enough food there, or are you saving it for your beloved parents when you get home next year. Or did you just buy it to bribe the minister for magic so that when you leave this school you'll have somewhere to work!" he said in a flat voice which Hermione found bizarre. This comment hurt her as she had no parents left to go home to and she was without doubt to old to be adopted judging that she was in her last year at Hogwarts. Continuing like she hadn't heard this comment, she said,

"For your information I only bought this much food because this is how much I usually buy when I'm with Harry and Ron, but I sort of forgot that they weren't in this compartment and I got a little bit carried away. And plus what's it to you if I have a little bit more food than a normal person?" While she was saying this, Malfoy had tuned out and had gone back to staring out the window. New thoughts were swirling around his head, why had she transformed so much? He knew individuals had their reasons for changing but why her, he after all had changed himself. Another thing that struck him curious was the fact that the Potty and Weasel wasn't there.

Hermione had begun to listen to her music again when Harry and Ron came into the compartment, seating themselves on either side of her. Questioning her about where she had been for the past few hours, she gave them short answers yet she knew that they were only there for the food. Sure enough, once all the edibles had been eaten they had departed instantly saying that they were going to look for Neville, or they were going to find Ginny, or something alone those lines. Sighing she turned and looked at Malfoy, he just sat there with a blank look on his face as if he had no cares in the world, no troubles at all. There was a different aura in the air and it wasn't a high spirited one, it was more like a miserable one.

The train pulled up at Hogsmeade station in the evening. Hermione and Malfoy disembarked, already changed into their school robes, were expected to go straight to the horseless carriage. Walking in silence they got to the carriage and once they got in, they were heading closer to Hogwarts. Midway through the 10 minute journey, the carriage stopped abruptly causing the carriages behind to follow suit. A piercing scream could be heard in the distance then everything was silent. Malfoy, suddenly alert, got out of their refuge place and made walked around outside. Hermione followed casually behind carefully pinning on her head girl badge. They walked a few metres ahead, not saying a word. The sight ahead of them caused them to stop in their tracks.

"What the fuck happened here?" Malfoy said this in barely whisper, not being able to control his actions. Even Hermione had her hand up to her mouth in shock.

Well that was the third chapter. Hope you enjoyed. The story should get better if you think it's boring. As well as that if you think that chapter was too short please tell me and I will try and make my chapters longer in the future. Once again, I will only post another chapter if I get a decent amount reviews. Please review!

Michelle.