Hey all! Here is another update for ya!
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Chapter 17
Finally, today was the day to go back to Hogwarts. Hermione knew that she shouldn't be too excited about going back, but she highly valued her education and it would be a way to easily avoid the now overbearing presence of Ronald. Though she did feel bad for Harry, she was happy that she didn't have to deal with an arm leeching Ginny. However, despite her excitement of getting away from the Weasleys, going back to Hogwarts meant having to spend the next nine months living in the same school as the man who ordered the assassinations of her family. Hopefully, the old man wouldn't be aware of who she really is or that she knew of her true identity, but, nevertheless, she needs to be extremely cautious around him.
Slowly, with her trunk and purple beaded bag, Hermione made her way down to the kitchen. She left her truck in the hallway before entering, already smelling the hearty food of Molly Weasley. Looking around, she found that Harry, Sirius, and Tonks, along with Mrs. Weasley were the only ones down there. She wasn't surprised in the slightest at the absence of the two youngest Weasleys. "Good morning," she said to everyone.
"Good morning," the three sitting wizards and witch chorused.
"Good morning, dear," Mrs. Weasley warmly hugged the girl before guiding her to sit next to Tonks, obviously steering her away from Harry. The witch shuffled away to the counter before coming back with a plate full of heavy breakfast items that made Hermione's stomach quench with anxiousness. "Here you go, luv. It's a long way to Hogwarts. It's best to make sure you don't have to suffer too much before the welcome feast."
Smiling, with much struggle, "thank you, Mrs. Weasley." The older witch smiled and went back to the stove.
"Hi, Mione, sleep well," Harry asked.
"Yeah," Hermione said after swallowing her first bite. "Pretty well," she wanted to say more, but Molly was still in the room. "And you?"
"Same," he replied, knowing the witch's true response.
"Tonks, dear," Molly called over, "can you be a lamb and fetch Ron and Ginny?"
Sharing a look with Sirius, Tonks acquiesced. A few moments later, a somewhat annoyed Tonks came back into the kitchen with two sleepy, lackadaisical redhead teens following her.
"Finally," their mother exasperated, "I swear, if you were responsible for getting yourselves to the train, you would never make it." She said before shooing them to the table, Ron sitting next to Hermione and Ginny sitting next to Harry. As soon as Molly placed their plates in front of them, they immediately started eating without any ceremony. While Ginny ate sedately like Hermione and Harry, Ron, unsurprising, crammed as much food into his mouth as he possibly could.
"Mumfinh, Mifie," The ginger wizard muffled moly said, spraying food all over the people sitting in front of him.
Crinkling her nose, "honestly Ron, don't speak while your eating."
Face going red, Ron struggled as he swallowed the large load of food in his mouth. Coughing slightly, he blushed. "Sorry Mione. I said, 'morning, Mione."
Rolling her eyes, "Good morning, Ron," she nodded with a slight smile. "Ginny," she nodded her head in the witch's direction.
Nodding, "good morning, Hermione," Ginny said before turning her gaze to Harry. "Good morning, Harry," she greeted demurely and shyly.
Inwardly grimacing at the girl's attempt of subtle flirting, "Good morning, Ginny," he smiled at the girl. "How did you sleep?"
The girl grinned at her crush's question. "Oh, I slept splendidly," her eyes glazed over slightly at remembering her dream of the night before. Harry in her bed, over top of her, in between her legs thrusting passionately into her. Her grin turned feral as she gazed at Harry, immediately making him lean away from her, very uncomfortable.
Noticing her friend's discomfort, Hermione cleared her throat. "So, Harry are you excited for this coming school year."
The boy deadpanned, sending her a side eye. "As excited as I am about going back, unlike you, I'm not entirely excited about the homework." This caused Hermione's eyebrow to twitch as her lip curled slightly.
"I, for one," Ron suddenly said as he finished his third helping, "am excited to go back." The boy leaned back and draped his arm over the back of Hermione's chair. "We got Quidditch and I finally don't have to take Snape's stupid potions class again."
Shaking her head and ignoring his arm, "Harry, you are going to have to focus on your studies a lot more this year if you want to become an Auror." Hermione implored the boy. "Especially potions." With her assistance, Harry barely got an Exceeds Expectations on his OWL potions exam. This year is when they are taking NEWT level classes. Which means that they are going to be much harder than the previous year.
"I know," he replied, "I think I'm going to spend more time with you, Neville, and Luna in the library this year."
"What about Quidditch practice," Ron quickly interjected, causing Hermione to scowl at the boy who believes that quidditch was more important than their education.
"I was thinking of not joining this year," Harry replied simply.
"WHAT?!" screamed Ginny and Ron.
"Why not?" Ginny demanded. Harry was supposed to be captain this year, and she was going to be his co-captain. And how were they supposed to win this year if their best seeker was no longer on the team?
"Just as Hermione said," Harry shrugged. "I have to really focus on my studies this year. I'm serious about being an Auror, and I need to have good grades to be one."
Ron opened his mouth to respond but he was cut off by Sirius. "Sorry to interrupt the conversation, but if we are to get you lot on the train on time then we best be leaving now." Harry smiled gratefully at his godfather, in return smiled back.
Hermione couldn't help but release a sigh of relief as they got onto Platform 9 ¾. They were cutting it a little close with the time. They had left later than Hermione or Harry would have liked due to the Weasley siblings sleeping in longer than they should have on the day they were leaving for school. After entering, it didn't take long before the teens were able to haul their luggage onto the train.
"Alright, Hermione, Harry," Sirius called the two over to him. Clasping a shoulder of each teen, "Now," he flickered his gaze over to the hugging family of redheads before he continued speaking, "I want you both to be careful this year. With the conflict growing between Dumbledore and the Dark Lord, you two especially need to steer clear of it all. Now Harry," Sirius looked directly at his godson, "I'm sure Dumbledore will greatly try to work with you, especially after everything he has already forced you to endure, but, do try your best to keep away from him." Harry gave his godfather a firm nod. "Hermione," Sirius turned to the girl, "Be careful," he said sternly. "Dumbledore must not know that you know. Keep your walls up around him. And like Harry, he might try to use you this year." His face softened, "please, dear girl. I don't want anything to happen to you."
He hugged the girl, dearly. Looking over her head, Sirius noticed the Weasleys are now making their way over to them. Pulling out of the hug, he pulled something out of his pocket. "Here," he placed a letter in Hermione's hand. "She wishes she could be here to see you off, but since she can't, she wanted me to give this to you." Hermione gave him a grateful smile before crushing the man into another hug before stepping away, pocketing the letter.
Turning back to Harry, Sirius pulled him into a hug. Pulling back, he looked into green eyes. "Have a safe trip, Prongslet. And watch out for your sister."
"Of course, Padfoot," Harry hugged him once more.
"Come on, Harry," Ron bellowed in the boy's ear, jumping on his back. "Hermione already went onto the train."
Sighing, "Alright, Ron," Harry turned to face the boy. "Let's go."
Hermione let out a sigh as she finally found an empty compartment to settle in. She quickly made herself comfortable by the window before she pulled out Bella's letter.
Little Dove,
I really wish I could have been there to see you off to Hogwarts. But since I couldn't, I had Siri give you this letter from me.
Hermione, aside from dealing with the Order and Dumbledore, please try to have a good year. I know you value your education more than anything. I don't want your schooling to be jeopardized due to his recklessness. But, also, have fun. Or at least try. Knowing you, you'll spend all of your time in the library. You've got get out at some point. Seriously though, enjoy your year. You only have two more years. Try to value them.
Little dove, if you wish to write to me (which I hope you do), send through either my cousin or niece; they'll get it to me. And don't forget, I'm always with you. That ring on your finger is proof enough that I am.
I love you,
Your Bella
Hermione smiled to herself at her witch's words. She looked down longingly at the stone resting on her finger.
The compartment door opened, startling Hermione. It opened softly, but to the curly-haired witch, it seemed to have been slammed open with a thunderclap. Looking up at the intruder, she adorned a sheepish expression upon noticing that it was Luna. "Hi, Luna."
"Hello, Hermione," Luna smiled back. "I'm glad to see those wrackspurts have left you, less fuzzy-ness to cloud the mind. I trust you were able to get the answers that you sought from last spring?" Luna asked knowingly, flickering her eyes to the letter and then the ring.
Blushing, "Yes, I—" she paused noticing another standing right behind her. "Yes, I was able to," she smiled sweetly at the blonde who chose to sit beside her on their bench and the other person, who happened to be Neville, sat directly in front of Luna on the other bench. "Hello, Neville," she smiled at her brother.
"Hi, Hermione, have a nice summer," the boy asked as he settled into his seat.
"Yes, it was great," she smiled.
Soon enough, Harry walked in, settling in between Neville and the window. Hermione fought the urge to frown as Ron and Ginny quickly followed in behind him.
"Hey, Luna," Ron stood in front of the witch, "can you move over. I would like to sit next to my girlfriend." He had asked simply, already expecting the witch to move.
Hermione reared back at the statement while Luna simply blinked. "No," Luna said simply, shocking even Hermione. This silenced the whole compartment. The blonde witch was typically quiet, wistful, and at times, blunt, but never this forceful with such calm strength.
"And why not," Ron's eyes narrowed.
"Several reasons actually." She shrugged simply. "Firstly, you're not her boyfriend. If it was otherwise, she would have saved you this seat, as well as she wouldn't have reacted so if she was." Ron's face turned bright red. "Secondly, she is my friend, I wish to catch up with her."
"But-" Ron tried to cut her off.
"And lastly, I was here first," Luna said with a childish smirk.
Everyone gave the girl an incredulous look at the final reason, but everyone aside from Ron, even Ginny, seemed to be holding back their laughter at Luna's words and Ron's expression. He was starting to do a brilliant impression of a fish. The boy then looked over to Hermione for what the girl was assuming for some help.
"No, Ron," she shook her head, "don't look at me." The boy closed his mouth. "You are not my boyfriend, and I have no idea what gave you that impression in the slightest. And if you have a problem with the seating arrangements, then you don't have to stay here. And besides, you aren't even my type." She stared expectantly at him, waiting for him to say or do something.
The boy sputtered at the last declaration. "I'm not your type? What is that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
"It's just as I said," she replied simply.
Narrowing his eyes, "Would you do me the courtesy of telling what you type is exactly. I believe I have the right to now."
Rolling her eyes in irritation, "I don't have to deign you with that sort of information. I'm just giving you the courtesy of telling you to not get your hopes up. And like I said, two weeks ago, my personal life is none of your business. You even said it. We are not even close friends. Your closer friends with Harry than you are me. You barely even hang out with during the school year."
"Well, maybe if you haven't kept your nose stuck in your books and dish out condescending comments and demands to me, we could be closer. Honestly, you don't even try to hang out me." He raised his voice.
"We have nothing in common, Ronald. All you talk about is Quidditch, and you care very little about your academics. Frankly, I'm surprised that you are barely even passing your classes with how rarely you attend to your studies and coursework. And we barely even get along. And I don't want to hang out with you due to your horrid personality and absolutely disgusting manners."
"You-" he started, pointing a strong figure at the witch in front of him but he was quickly cut off by Harry.
"You need to back off and calm down, Ron. She is clearly annoyed with you and how you are acting right now. Maybe you should go to another compartment. This argument is going nowhere."
"Harry, you don't-" again, he was cut off; this time by a hand placed on his shoulder. Turning around, he found his sister with an imploring look.
"Just go and calm down," Ginny said simply.
Huffing, Ron glared at Luna, Hermione, and Harry before storming out to probably find Seamus and Dean. Hermione then turned her gaze to his sister with a perfectly raised eyebrow.
Ginny immediately put her hands up. "Whoa, easy. I'm not as idiotic as he is to believe anything he just said. And he was stupid to assume he was your boyfriend." Hermione firmly nodded before turning her attention back to Luna. Harry and Neville had already started having their own conversation.
After a while, Ginny, however, decided to leave. She wasn't getting the attention she wanted from Harry, who wasn't in the mood to discuss quidditch, and she didn't give any care for Hermione and Luna's discussion on magical creatures. And after that, the rest of the trip was peaceful, the four friends at perfect ease.
The students were arriving today and Headmaster Dumbledore didn't know how he felt about that. It was a new school which meant new challenges. While the bearded wizard oh so loved the challenges-in fact, he savored them-but like the previous year, this year would revolve around the golden trio. Well, more specifically, it revolved around Hermione Granger. Yes, he did have to worry about Tom Riddle and his connection to Harry and figure out various ways to destroy the disturbed and dark wizard. But, he also now put his plans into effect with the young witch. She was less than a year away from reaching maturity, and when she does, he wants to ensure that she firmly sided with him and the Order. It is essential for the girl to be the light. Her power alone will decide the war, if not the entire wizarding world-which requires bringing to light the massacre of her family all those years ago.
The leader of the light has to be very strategic with her; any wrong move on his part can lead to the destruction of him and his goals. And with the understanding that, he would need to be wary of the situation between Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. The pair frequently argued with one another; more so than any altercation they have had with members of the Slytherin house. And besides, if he understood the prophecy correctly, the young heiress would highly detest any sort of courtship with any male. She was destined to be with a witch, not a wizard. Yes, he would greatly need to reconsider the idea of forcing a relationship between the two and find a witch willing to court Miss Granger. Maybe Miss Weasley would be interested. No, he thought, she's too enamored with Harry Potter.
Sighing, Albus cast a quick tempus charm, noting that it was time to head down to the Great Hall as the students were now making their way up to the castle. With one last sigh, the Headmaster made his way down to join the rest of his staff to watch the student flood into the grand room for the first feast of the year.
