She could feel the train beginning to slow. Could almost hear the wheels screeching to a halt and the ever-omnipresent castle loomed over their heads. A dread she had not felt since her first year found itself deep within her abdomen and grabbed ahold as the shadow of the castles highest tower cast their cart into darkness. The stone walls that at one point had comforted her, seeming bright and cheerful and full of new beginnings now left her with a sense of dread so deep it almost took her breath away. No, this year was not going to be what she had thought, it was as if it was in the air around them. Taunting them, daring them to try and prove it wrong.

"You coming Hermione?" Ron said standing in the door way, pulling her away from her thoughts, looking out the window as students in robes filed their ways out the train doors. "Mum said many parents were letting their kids come back this year, after the ministry attack. She had read an article about how it wasn't safe anymore, she almost didn't let Ginny come back but realized how silly that was, I guess I didn't really believe her until now." Hermione followed his gaze and looked through the window, there at the platform only a handful of young students stood looking lost and unsure of themselves. Hagrids voice, no doubt booming over the crowd, came faintly through the glass and the first years made their way towards the giant of a man.

"Could you imagine, getting a letter and being told no. That coming here wouldn't be an option anymore." Hermione said grabbing her things and looking at Ronald. He shook his head.

"Most of them are probably muggle born too, their parents had no knowledge of what our world was going to become, either that or Slytherins. Poor sods." Ron said a scowl on his face as he turned to walk away. The pit in her stomach returned.

"Ron where's Harry?" She said stepping off the train and looking around waiting for their friends' head to appear over those around them.

"He was walking to the loo last I saw him. Maybe he went ahead on? Come on let's get inside before the sorting." Ron said pushing her towards the carriages and to the castle.

With every bite she took she could feel the lead in her stomach settling more and more. Harry still had not come into the room. Draco Malfoy had been walked in with Snape a few minutes ago and placed at the Slytherin table but her friend was still missing.

If he wasn't with him then where was he.

The sorting had begun, and the feast was close to ending when a disgruntled Harry came walking through the doors with Luna Lovegood on his heels. The pit in her stomach relieved itself until he came closer and she noticed the blood on his shirt.

SLYTHERIN

"Harry Potter what have you been doing?" she whispered as he sat down next to them on the benches, grabbing food before it disappeared off the plates. Giving Ron a pointed look.

"Ronald Weasley you knew he was doing something he shouldn't have and now look at him" she said glaring daggers at the red head next to her.

RAVENCLAW

"We missed something, at the shop in Knockturn Alley, he was mumbling about it, but I couldn't hear him before he pulled me down. We have to stop whatever it is he's doing." Harry rushed out between bites of bread ignoring her completely.

"Don't you think that's a little extreme mate, there's nothing here he could possibly do, I think we pretty much have everything covered." Ron said looking at his friend with doubt in his eyes.

HUFFLEPUFF

"I can feel it, something is happening this year. Somehow he is involved with it." Harry turned and shot daggers at the Slytherin table as their name was bellowed out through the crowd again. Hermione's heart raced as she looked over at the table and to the Slytherin in question. He stared holes into the table before him as the rest of the crowd cheered at yet another Slytherin addition. He did not move a muscle as those around him erupted and high fived. Then almost is if he could feel her staring at him he looked up and made eye contact, the familiar smirk he wore on his face as if it was any other day.

A.N Thank you all for reading. Please make sure and let me know what you think with a review. They keep me going. I thank you all for taking the time to read this story!