Summary:

The Harry Potter 7th years are returning for their last year at school, with a little more than magic on their minds, such as the tremendous war between The Dark Lord and the Order. So it would strike the HP7Y's as odd when one of the Dark Lord's most faithful supporter's son shows up, pretending to have changed. Especially since Draco Malfoy had been expelled the year before, and had very narrowly murdered Albus Dumbledore. Even more surprising is the fact that Malfoy had seemed to take an odd interest in one of the biggest members of the Order. Hermione Granger.

Chapter Rating: T, language, mostly from everyone's favourite ferret/

Summary of chapter: Draco does a surprising thing, small D/Hr scene, Hogwarts train, anything else I've forgotten…Oh yeah, another crap cliffhanger.

Disclaimer: Are you ready kids? Aye aye Captain! I can't hear you, Aye aye captain! Disclaimed! (You almost missed it! Ha!)

Last Chapter:

'Ok, first you rush off at breakfast, as if you'd been blasted, then you hide away for hours, mum almost died, and now you pop down out of the damn attic, spilling dust all over my floor! Honestly, you are mental, but I'd probably love to hear all about it.' Ron said.

'Ok, sure. But first, do you have any idea who ahm, Belladonna Bones is?' Harry asked, checking the book for reference.

'No, but what does that have to do with you?' Ron gestured to the grime on Harry's face.

'Ok, it all started when…' Harry began to speak, only to be cut off from a loud bang on the door.

'You are frightful, you know that?' Pansy said indignantly. Draco had hardly been listening to her, instead focusing on the fact that he was supposed to apparate to Platform 9 ¾.

'Oh sorry.' Draco said, although not quite knowing what he was apologising for. It was ten o'clock, and if he didn't apparate soon, both he and Pansy were going to miss the train.

'You had better hurry. You don't want a repeat of Potter and Weasley's 2nd year, now do you, Draco.' Pansy said mockingly, voicing his fears.

'Alright, let's say we can't apparate. Mother is gone, and Father's left for work. What do we do, floo? The apparition chambers are being, ahem, serviced. You know that Pansy.' Draco pointed out unhelpfully.

'Then we do it the hard way. Obviously. Let me go first.' Pansy took a deep breath, shook her bob and turned around; her eyes squeezed shut.

With a loud crack! Pansy was gone. Draco looked around nervously, his slick white-blond hair moving slightly as he did.

He thought ferociously of King's Cross, trying his hardest to remember the three apparition Ds. Unfortunately, the only ones he could think of were the ones he made up, or Dumbfking, Dcksucking, Dyke. Not exactly helpful, but it did rhyme. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to dwell on the fact that he was trying to walk into thin air, and took a huge jump, odd pictures whirling through his brain.

Draco Malfoy had just successfully and unsuspectingly Proverbated.

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It was ten twenty-one. Hermione had just driven with the Weasley's and Harry all the way to King's Cross.

She felt extremely happy, having forgotten all about the book she'd bought (without complete control of herself!), about Malfoy, and about the Muggle article.

She was Hermione Jane Granger, Head Girl.

She could practically do a little jig.

Fortunately, her common sense had kicked in and told her that this would look stupid.

Her parents had exchanged heartfelt goodbyes (her handkerchief would never be the same again), and Crookshanks was fast asleep in his carrying case. It would be the most fantastic year later excepting the little nuisances that plagued her Hogwarts enjoyment-- namely the Slytherins—but she was determined to not let that disturb her. Her fellow Head was reasonably nice, and Professor McGonagall would make a good headmistress, at least, better than Umbridge.

'It's going to be great this year, isn't it, Ron?' Hermione asked, aiming a grin in Ron's direction.

'I suppose so. You haven't got to try out for the Quidditch Team, to endure taunts of Weasley Is Our King.' Ron said grumpily, hunching his shoulders.

'Don't worry Ron. Harry'll let you back on anyway.' Hermione was determined not to let Ron spoil her mood.

'Besides, even if you let in all five goals, Hermione can always use the Confundus charm on anyone who could do the slightest bit better than you.' Harry smirked. Hermione sighed. Confound someone once, you're marked for life.

'You won't let me get over that, will you?' Hermione said, not as a question, but more as a statement.

'Um, no.' Harry and Ron said simultaneously.

Hermione sighed contentedly, admiring the happy, easy looks on her friend's faces. Her friends. Her boys. Hermione unexpectedly grabbed the both of them in a tight one-armed hug, much to Ron's embarrassment.

'You guys really are a bunch of bastards, you know that?' Hermione let go of the two frazzled boys abruptly, walking briskly to the train.

'Ouch!'

'Merlin, Granger, is it that hard to watch where you're going! Surely by now you know how to walk.' A familiar voice suddenly cut through Hermione's head pain.

'Oh. It's you. I thought you'd have better things to do than torture poor innocent passers-by.' Hermione replied hotly.

'I thought mudbloods spent more time crying than knocking over honest wizards.' Malfoy said slowly, looking down at Hermione's crumpled form without remorse.

She stood up quickly, straightening her hooded sweatshirt and her cotton pants. Her muggle clothes. He of course, looked completely unaffected, black robes wrinkle free (how did he change so quickly?), hair gelled to absolute perfection. As a matter of fact, you could scarcely tell that he'd just been banged into but for the slight pink tinge that appeared high on his cheekbones.

'Yes well, sometimes it's always nice to have a change from the norm.' Hermione said, trying her best to ignore the foul language he always seemed full of.

Maybe Hermione simply imagined the slight smile that appeared on his face, or maybe it—if it indeed was—was meant for someone else. She stood there stupidly for a moment, watching him board the train, before blinking six times and boarding it herself.

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'What are you thinking about, Hermione?' Asked Harry patiently, trying to ignore the knowing smirk on Ron's face.

'She's thinking about her torrid love affair with her new books.' Ron said, smug look still on her face.

Harry gave a scoff and turned his attention back to Hermione.

'I don't know. I mean, it's our last year, and—Harry, what's the matter?' Hermione focused on Harry's pained look.

'It's my scar. It's been hurting ever since I saw you bowl into Malfoy.' Harry furtively looked at Hermione.

'He hit me, more like.' Hermione's expression turned sour. 'It doesn't matter anyway, we know he's a death eater, Harry, that's probably what triggered your scar pain.'

'I don't know what Dumbledore's playing at, anyway, letting him come back.' Ron said.

A sharp rap on the compartment glass snapped the Gryffindors out of their reverie.

'Aren't you prefects supposed to be patrolling the train?' It was Ginny.

'Actually, we already did. Why do you ask?' This came from Ron, standing up so he towered over his little sister's head.

'I've got to talk to Harry privately. Now bugger off.' Ginny rolled her eyes, and Hermione impatiently waved Ron her way. As the two left, Ginny sat opposite Harry.

'Dumbledore sent me an owl for you. Wait until you're alone to read it, he said. Oh and Harry—' Ginny paused, 'Don't be a bastard.' Ginny kissed his cheek and walked out, undoubtedly to call Hermione and Ron back.

Harry watched her go, his hand absentmindedly fingering his scar.

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Another glorious chapter up (LOL), with a teeny-tiny so quick you might miss it D/Hr scene. Not much after two months but hey, it's not shorter than average, at least. Check out my new story, Confessions of A Broken Heart (Please don't send Lindsay Lohan's lawsuit on me). Thanks to all my loverly reviewers!

Peaches,

Anya