Flashback:
"Hermione dear, are you ready to go?" Mrs. Granger asked softly knocking on Hermiones bathroom door. There was no answer.
"Hermione?" She slowly pushed the door open and gasped at what she saw.
End flashback.
Hermione stood uncomfortably between her two parents at the entrance to the Hogwarts Express. She silently rubbed her wrist against her body, hoping that the large scar left from her attempt would cause her some pain. She finally turned toward her parents.
"Well I'd better go..." Mrs. Granger nodded.
"Have a good year."
She murmured pulling Hermione into a hug. Hermione stepped back and stared at her father not sure what to expect. Her father simply nodded at her, making no move to give her a hug or a kind word. Hermione slowly turned and pushed the trolley with her luggage through the barrier and let out the breath she had been holding the whole ride to King's Cross. She was relieved to see Harry, Ron and Ginny, standing beside the train.
"Hermione!" Ginny squealed. Hermione nearly stumbled as Ginny threw her arms around her neck.
"Hello to you too." Hermione said laughing as she hugged Ginny back. Ginny finally released her but as soon as she had Ron and Harry ambushed her.
"It's so great to see you 'Mione" Harry said releasing her from his hug.
"Likewise." She said grinning. The train whistle blew.
"Well we'd better be going or all the compartments will be taken." Hermione said getting a grip on her trolley and pushing it towards the train.
"Unbelievable Crabbe, some wizards still find it decent to be seen with mud bloods." A voice drawled behind them. It made Hermiones blood run cold as she slowly turned around.
"Watch your mouth Malfoy." Ron snarled pointing his wand in Malfoys face.
"Ron, leave him alone, he isn't worth it." Hermione insisted.
"Smart move Granger, wouldn't want your boyfriend to have detention the first week." Ron's face turned crimson as Malfoy shoved past them onto the train, chuckling to himself.
"Just ignore him Ron, he's just bitter because his fathers in Azkaban." Ron shook his head and put his wand away. The train whistle blew again as the clock struck eleven o' clock.
"Come on, stop being silly and help 'Mione with her bags" Ginny said grinning as she grabbed Hermiones hand and pulled her onto the train. Hermione suddenly realized that this was the first time she had been happy for the past three months. Smiling, she followed Ginny to find a compartment.