Dislcaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Boarding the Hogwarts Express

Hermione clutched the door, panting heavily as she attempted to catch her breath. She felt alive, awake, and aware of everything. The ground beneath her shook as the train rumbled from the station. The sound of the horn pierced through the air. It had been awhile since she had a good, fast-paced, energizing run like the one she had just experienced. The train had started to leave suddenly just as they were about to board.

As Hermione's lungs heaved, her heart raced at the aftermath of the run. Her hair smelled of the cool autumn air. Suddenly, a new smell enveloped her senses. Hermione closed her eyes. It was a distinct smell of a light pine with an ever-so-faint scent of sweat. A rapid wave of hot air swarmed about her hair, tickling her neck.

"Some run, hey?" came a deep male voice. Hermione smiled.

"Yeah. Some run," Hermione said as she turned to face Harry. He looked flushed, and small beads of sweat had formed along his brow.

"You don't look beat," Harry said, grinning.

Hermione smiled at Harry. "Yeah, I guess I'm not."

"Well, its no surprise," Harry said with a shrug. Hermione beamed inside. She could never remember a time he had ever been cruel to her or poked fun at her like anyone else might. He was always so nice.

"Listen, Hermione," Harry said awkwardly through his gasping breath. He ran a hand nervously over his tangled black hair. Tangled? Hermione touched her hand to her hair. Sure enough, her own hair was a tangled mess, left from running into the breeze. Hermione sighed.

"Yeah, Harry?" Hermione said as she moved to the bag sitting next to Crockshanks's basket. After shifting around her thick pass-time books, Hermione found a feeble brush with bits of hair entwined in it. Beside it was her mom's hand-mirror.

"Could we go over those D.A. idea's again?"

Hermione started. In the mirror, she could see Harry shifting nervously from foot to foot. Hermione gave a gentle giggle. She turned to Harry, would was watching her intently.

"You mean the ones you didn't want to hear?" Hermione asked, a sneer of friendly pleasure on her face. Harry was never really good at admitting he was wrong.

"Eh, actually, I already have ideas, I just need some more-"

"So basically you're completely lost as to where to start?" Hermione asked. She felt a bubble of pleasure rise up in her as Harry nodded his head.

Shaking her head, Hermione put her brush and mirror back in her bag while pulling out her Dark Spells Book. She fell to the seat, her hair bouncing poetically on her shoulders. Harry slumped over to her side, peering over her shoulder.

They were able to enjoy the calmness of the compartment before Ron came bursting in.

"There you are!" Ron called in an exasperated tone. He tripped into the room, his trunk right behind him. "I thought you had missed the train."

Ron stuck his head out of the compartment, dropping in by the door. "Ginny, Neville, Luna, they're right here!"

Ron came back into the room, flopping on the seat across from Harry and Hermione. Ginny, Ron's sister, Neville, a fellow classmate, and Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw closely followed him in Ginny's year.

"So," said Luna energetically. "Anyone see a Whofsnart Banglsmen? I've been looking for one all summer. I suppose they traveled north during May. They really don't like the cold, do they?"

Hermione glanced at Harry, who gave her a shrug. Sighing, Hermione put the book away. It would be rather hard to study with Loony Luna Lovegood trying to explain how the Whofsnart Banglsmen mates.

A few hours later, the train pulled up to the station. The red lights flickered a warning as the train came to a stop. Sighing, Hermione got off the train, lugging Crockshanks and his basket behind her.

Although Hermione had been coming here for years, she was always in awe when it came to the castle. Its lights shone invitingly to her, winking a chorus of light. It was quite a sight. Just imagine the beautiful Hogwarts castle in the distance, the horseless carriages gliding towards you. The lakes water was in view, the boats docked and ready to carry the new first years across to their first year in the magical walls of Hogwarts.

"Hermione, coming?" Ron called. Ron ran up to her. "What's the matter?" He asked softly.

"Nothing, Ron," Hermione said calmly, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "I'm just glad to be back."

Ron smiled kindly at her, taking Crockshanks from under her arm. Taking her by the elbow, Ron steered Hermione towards the nearest carriage. Harry held the door open as Hermione ran in, followed by Ron and Ginny. They all smiled happily. The person ho appeared to be most happy was Harry. His face shone with a radiant happiness. Hermione could never match herself to that. Harry was so, so happy to be back. And Hermione was glad.