Belle of the Year

Hey! I'm back! Here's Chapter 1, just for you!

Italics are people's thoughts.

Chapter 1: Return to Hogwarts

Hermione Granger walked into King's Cross Station, wondering where Harry and Ron were. They had made plans to meet at the train station. Oh well, she thought. Maybe they've already gone through and are waiting for me. She looked at her outfit: a short denim skirt and a red halter top. She had tried to look as normal as possible, but the Muggles were still giving her weird looks. She checked herself in her compact and smiled. Her hair had calmed down a lot over the summer, and was now no longer bushy and frizzy; rather, it was now perfectly smooth. She looked at the time. She had 5 minutes till the train left so she went through the barrio.

As she emerged into Platform 9 ¾, she suddenly bumped into someone and fell over. She could tell from the "Oof!" that whoever she had bumped into had fallen over, too. As she sat up, dazed, a hand suddenly reached down to help her up. A warm, friendly voice said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't see you." As he helped her up, he said, "Do I know you? You look really familiar. Oh where are my manners? I'm Cedric. Cedric Diggory." Hermione laughed and said, "I would hope you knew who I am. It's me, Hermione Granger." As she said this, she looked him up and down. His brown hair just reached the bottom of his neck, and he was wearing a tight black sweater that showed off his muscles. Damn, he looks freakin' hot! She thought. They talked for a bit longer before she realized that she still had to find Harry and Ron.

"Well, Cedric, much as I wish I could continue talking to you, I have to go find Harry and Ron. But it was good talking to you." She said. As they shook hands, something happened that had never happened to Hermione before. Cedric took her right hand and kissed it lightly. "I've always wanted to do that." He said, laughing. Hermione blushed. Then Cedric turned towards the train and said, "Well, I guess I'll see you at Hogwarts."

She walked through the train, looking in all the compartments until she found Harry and Ron. But the whole time she was looking, she couldn't help wondering why Cedric had kissed her hand. She had felt a tingle go thru her when he shook her hand, and her heart had strangely enough skipped a beat when his lips had touched her hand. But, as she came across Harry and Ron's compartment, she pushed the thought out of her head.

Harry and Ron both looked up when they heard the door open. They looked even more confused when a beautiful girl sat down next to them. "Um…don't mean to be rude, but…who the bloody hell are you?" Ron asked. Hermione pretended to be shocked. "Of all the people, I thought that you would've recognized me! It's me, Hermione!" Harry, who had been eating a cauldron cake, suddenly appeared to be choking. In between coughs, he said, "Her-her-Hermione?" Hermione looked at Harry. "I think I've already stated that fact, Harry." Harry seemed unable to finish his sentence, so Ron finished it for him.

"What he means is, you look so bloody different…I barely recognized you!" She laughed and said, "Oh, come on, I can't look that different!" Harry finally managed to stop choking, thanks, in part, to Hermione slapping him on the back. He said, "No, really, Hermione. Look in a mirror. You look great!" Hermione blushed and smiled, then said, "Thanks."

Ron decided to change the subject. "So, you almost missed the train. Why? Just wondering." Hermione laughed and said, "Oh, that. I ran into someone on Platform 9 ¾. And before you ask, Ron, it was Cedric Diggory, and yes, we talked about Quidditch. And how our summers went, he was scared about the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup. He almost got stunned! And after that, we talked about our families, and whether anyone knew who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher professor is, and…" Harry cut her off. "Hermione, you're babbling." She stopped, and then said, "Oh, sorry! I didn't realize I was. But we had such a nice conversation."

At that moment, a voice came over the intercom. "10 minutes to Hogwarts." "We'd better get changed." Ron said. After changing into their robes, Hermione said, "What do you think the deal was with all those Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup, anyway? You don't think that this means that You-Know-Who is back, do you?" Harry looked at them grimly and said, "Who knows? Maybe he's planning something for this year." "Or maybe those Death Eaters just wanted to get their kicks." Ron suggested. "That's possible." Harry said. Suddenly, Hermione said, "Maybe they wanted the whole wizarding world to know that they're still out there, and that no one should ever feel truly safe. I mean, look at Hogwarts! Everyone thought that we'd be safe here, but Quirrel was possessed by You-Know-Who! And, now that I think about it…maybe they know something we don't know…"

At that moment, they arrived at Hogwarts. They got out of the carriages and walked off to the Great Hall to watch the sorting. But Hermione couldn't help wondering, What if You-Know-Who is coming back? Then what will we do?

TBC…

Please read and review! NO FLAMES, UNLESS THEY ARE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM! No saying, "Your story sucks!" or anything like that. I'll try to have Chapter 2 up as soon as possible.

chrispaigelover