Another day and another year at school. Hermoione couldn't be described as the happiest person as she waited for the train. The fact that she was the only one there was completely irrelevant. She glanced at her watch impatiently, mentally bashing ever person that came to her mind. She was still in shock over the fact she had been abandoned by her parents in their joy to have a child that was of their blood.

Adopted. Orphan. Those were never words that she would have imagined being classified under. Now she was under both cruel terms. Hermione swallowed harshly and blinked back the tears. She pointlessly paced until her legs felt covered in cement. She looked at her watch again. Still at least another three hours before even the possibility of seeing other students.

Three hours. Hermoine groaned aloud. She plopped onto the floor and unzipped her bag, sifting through it. Slowly, she pulled a long manila envelope out. Hermione bit her lip hard enough to cause a trickle of blood to fill her mouth. She ignored the metallic taste and opened the folder.

"My whole life," she whispered. "A lie. All of it." The anger rushed to her head and she swore under her breath. Not pausing in case she changed her mind, Hermione yanked out the contents and began to read her birth. Hours passed and she noticed no of it, intent on what she was reading.

Hermione read to herself, "'Mariane and Jack Sanguisga.' My parents. Hermione Sanguisga." She snorted. Her rightful name sounded ridiculous, even to her, but she was going to keep it; to be a Granger was a disgrace. She felt sorry for the poor child that would be joining their family tree.

"Well, that's a mouthful," a voice drawled. Hermione jumped to her feet with a snarl.

"Mafoy," she hissed. "Why are you here?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she regreted it. Obviously she was losing her touch with sharp retorts for the Rat of the Era.

"Why, Granger," he smirked and Hermione grimaced at both the name and his tone. "Just because you think you are better than eveyone doesn't mean you will be the only person going to school. We purebloods deserve the right, don't you think?"

Hermione seethed and made a huge mistake. She took a step toward him and shot back, "for your information, I am a pureblood." At Draco's snort, she snatched her papers, shoving them before his face. "There is my proof." As her lifelong enemy read the sheets of paper, Hermione watched his face. For some reason, she did not want him to think worse of her than he usually did. She bit her bottom lip nervously. Draco finished scanning and emotionlessly handed it back to her. Hermione studied his face warily.

Draco felt something like pity for the girl before him. It was not an emotion he had on a regular basis so he didn't show it. Crabbie showed up and he called out, "Hey! Turns out the mudblood is a pureblood! Now you can actually touch her if you want to! Hopefully you won't have to, though. She was raised as a mudblood and will always be one; not even the end of the world will be changing that." Hermione shot a nasty look at him, but wasn't surprised by his comment just as he wasn't particularly astonished by her glare that wished him to jump off a plane without a parachute. Hopefully, there were lots of large, sharp rocks at the bottom to land gently upon.

"I hope like hell you rot," she muttered while he continued to shout out the truth of her birth as more people crowded the platform. "Come now, you don't mean that." Draco smiled and slung an arm over her shoulders. Hermoine immediately shrugged it off. "Oh, yes I do, so just go harrass someone else for once, please." He grinned. "Now why would I leave you to the company of these other people, pet? They might ravage you. Hell, with that new hairstyle and those clothes, you're the image of innocence and no one likes an innocent."

Hermione childishly stuck her tongue out at him, startled he had noticed the change. No doubt it was because he had grown use to the girl with bush hair and outdated clothes. Her hair had been rebonded straightened and the shirts fit snugly for once as did the jeans she bought with money saved from her old job. At that moment, she was attired in pinstiped charcoal pants and a light pink buttoned blouse. She had gone to a job interview after quitting her last job, determined to sever all ties to her old life. Subsequently, Hermione came to the train station.

"I suppose you care about my innocence," she said dryly. "Malfoys always were a caring bunch and I see you have their charm." Draco had slipped an arm around her tiny waist and was oblivious to her persisting attempts to discard his limb.

"Come on, Granger. They are loading us cattle on the train." Draco tugged her onto the school transportation. When they boarded the train, he released her waist but encircled her wrist. "Let's find Potter and Weasel."

Hermione helplessly was pulled down the isle after her worst enemy. She hoped that her luggage would be placed in the storage car. Mentally, she ticked off the items that were required this year, from the books to the dragon scale to the desire potion that became what you wished when mixed and poured on an animal or item. Hermione ran into a solid body as Draco braced himself against the moving train.

She scowled at his hard back. "Oww..." She stumbled back as Draco whirled around to face her.

"Somethings wrong, Hermione," he whispered. "Something is wrong with the train." Hermione frowned at the use of her first name on his lips. She opened her mouth...and screamed as the train went black. The air froze and she felt Draco's arms surround her. His warmth was welcome to her shivering.

"Draco?" she said softly. It seemed inappropriate to use Malfoy when he was practically hugging her. "What happened?" When he didn't answer, Hermione shuddered and rested her head on his shoulder, shifting her body closer.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she breathed quietly. The air heated up so fast it scorched her back. Holding back a cry, Hermione whimpered. Draco whispered in her ear, comforting her, probably to make sure she didn't scream again and attract unwanted attention from whatever was on teh train or affectingit by magic. Silence surrounded them like a burning fog.

Then someone shrieked.

And the train fell off the tracks.