Hey guys! Wow, the response to this story has been great so far! All the reviews and alerts for this story really make me want to keep going with this story. Now for this chapter I'm not really sure what I think of it so I would love for some more feedback on this chap. Again thank you and thank you to my beta maddymomo's story.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. She was standing in front of the entrance to platform 9 ¾ trying to calm herself down for the stressful day that lay ahead of her. She didn't really know what about the summer ending made her so nervous, but she just couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change and not in a good way. The burrow had been her safe haven for the past month and now she had to get use to life at Hogwart's after just getting used to the Burrow.

The only positive thing and slightly normal thing she could think of was that Harry, Ron, and Ginny were still gonna be there and she had them to rely on. Especially Ron, she relied on Ron so much since getting to the Burrow and without him she would probably be way worse. He could always calm her down and he just knew exactly what to do around her.

She was going to miss Bill though. I mean Bill kind of felt like the very protective older brother Hermione had never had. She felt safe and protected around him, like a child would around a parent. With him also knowing exactly what happened to her she felt a little easier around him and he understood her more because of that. He even taught her some breathing techniques to stop her panic attacks.

She jumped when she felt someone put their hand on her shoulder only to see Ron standing next to her. He didn't say anything, but she knew he was letting her know she had his support. Hermione had started to feel a little easier around Ron, Harry and Ginny. She really didn't mind as much when they touched her or anything as she did before. It still made her feel uneasy, but it was getting easier for her to handle. If someone else were to approach her though she might not be so calm.

Hermione gave Ron a small smile in thanks and he continued through the entrance.

This is it, she thought.

Before she decided to go through the opening to the platform she turned around to see Bill waiting patiently for them all to board. Without thinking much of it she walked up to Bill and put her arms around him, it took Bill a second to react, but he soon put his arms around her in a bear hug. She held onto him for a few seconds wishing she could take Bill with her. She was just going to miss him so much, he had literally been her savior. He came to the hospital everyday when she was recovering and still helped her on a day to day basis.

"Thank you." She said into his chest.

He chuckled softly and said, "Hermione, don't thank me, you're family and that's what you do for family. You take care of them."

She sighed and squeezed him tighter, "I'm really going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too," and he rubbed the top of her head affectionately as he pulled away to look into her eyes. "Just remember you can always owl me. I'll always be there Hermione."

She smiled and nodded and he added, "And don't forget Ron's there too."

This helped her feel a little better. Ron couldn't replace Bill, but that was only because Ron held a totally different place in her heart than Bill did. Bill was like a brother to Hermione, while Ron was…not.

She took one more deep breathe and walked away from Bill and through the brick wall between Platforms 9 and 10. When she reached the other side Ron, Ginny, and Harry were all waiting for her and they began to board the train.

Hermione forgot how small the aisles were in the train and tried her best to avoid coming in contact with anyone. She looked around trying not to focus on one thing, but she couldn't help but feel like everyone was looking at her. She kept her head down as much as possible. All she kept thinking was that they could see how dirty she was. She felt like she needed a shower.

She began to itch at her scar through her sleeve of her uniform and bite her lip. She really just wanted to find a compartment and get away from all the chaos. She kept walking, but felt like the walls were closing in on her on either side and her breathing became a little labored. She started doing the breathing exercises Bill taught her and it calmed her down, but she only had a little relief and her nerves were still going crazy. She felt Ron put his hand on her back to guide her through the hallways having must have seen her panic. She felt a little better knowing he was close by, but still, she felt like everyone was too close.

Ron was trying to get to a compartment as quickly as possible. He had decided to walk behind Hermione so he could watch for any warning size of a panic attack. She hadn't had one as bad since Harry had arrived, but she had had some little ones and they still worried Ron. He knew that if anyone saw her in one of her attacks it would only cause attention she didn't want or couldn't handle so he put his hand on her back when he saw her start scratching at her scar and her breathing quickened. He knew this would probably do little to relieve her, but he knew it would help her feel a little better to know he was there.

Harry was walking in front trying to find a compartment quickly because he could also see Hermione looking a little panicked. It was wired to be protecting Hermione like this for Harry. Usually she was so strong and kept her head, so to see her so distraught worried him. For some reason though he had a feeling something else went on that she wasn't telling them about, but he didn't feel comfortable bringing it up being too scared to see what her reaction might be.

Harry finally spotted an empty compartment and they all went in. Hermione sat by the window and Ron, of course, sat next to her. Hermione let herself calm down as she looked out the window of the compartment. She was so nervous about this school year thinking about all the things that she would have to endure. She tried to think of something else to get her mind off the days that lay ahead and she was looking out the window of the train with her thoughts wondering when Ron broke her out of her daze, "Hermione, we have to start heading to the Prefects meeting or were going to be late."

Hermione looked up at him and said, "Yeah, yeah, we should go.", and stood up. She was surprised at herself because she had completely forgotten about the prefect meeting, in fact she had completely forgot she was a prefect until just then. Of course, she wouldn't tell Ron that since he would probably be only too happy to forget they ever were prefects. Hermione might not be herself right now, but school and becoming head girl were definitely still a priority for her.

Hermione followed close behind Ron to the Prefects compartment and Hermione behind with her head down. She just had a feeling that everyone could see through her and knew what she was th0inking. She just wanted to disappear or borrow Harry's invisibility cloak.

Ron walked into the prefects compartment and sat down next to the window with Hermione sitting down next to him. They were five minutes early to the meeting and only the Ravenclaw Prefects had shown up so far.

Soon the Hufflepuff Prefect's entered with the Head boy and girl behind them.

The head girl looked around and furrowed her brow, "Where is the slytherin prefects? The meetings supposed to start now."

Everyone shrugged their shoulder's and she sighed and looked at the head boy who also shrugged.

"Well I guess we'll just start the meeting without them, then." She said exasperated.

As the meeting began Ron zoned out as he usually did since he saw Hermione who was listening along with taking notes. About half way into the meeting though the prefects for Slytherin did show up,of course that was Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.

Draco walked in with laughing with Pansy only to stop when he came in to notice the Head girl throwing dagger's at him.

"Draco why are you late?" the head girl demanded.

"Sorry, I forgot." Was all he said before he sat down.

Ron being completely disinterested just zoned back out as the Head Girl started lecturing Draco about how important being punctual was and how he wasn't setting a good example for other students.

Hermione sat waiting patiently for the Head girl to stop lecturing Draco. To be honest she was a little peeved, how hard was it to be on time to the first prefect meeting of the year? After a few minutes the Head Girl started going over the patrolling schedule for the prefects and Hermione started taking notes knowing Ron wasn't listening to any of this and she would have to repeat it to him later.

She took a quick glance and Draco to notice him looking at her with a knowing smirk on his face that made her feel very uncomfortable. She felt herself tense up as he winked at her and looked back at the head girl as if nothing happened.

From that point on Hermione couldn't concentrate, Draco's presence was making her feel extremely uncomfortable. There's only one thing he could mean from the look he was giving her and it was that he knew. He must know it was at his house, Hermione thought.

Her whole body was rigid and the hair stood up on the back of her neck as her thoughts raced through her mind. Don't panic. She thought. She needed to keep it together. She closed her eyes and counted to ten and kept telling herself to breath, but it wasn't working. She couldn't open her eyes to look at everyone, but with her eyes closed she felt vulnerable.

THINK. She thought. I'm supposed to be the smartest witch of my age. Think. She tried to recall things that Bill told her to do when the breathing didn't help and she thought of the time Bill told her sometimes you need somebody to anchor you, to know that what you're feeling are just thoughts and there someone there with you, so Bill would talk to her when she felt one coming on, but Bill wasn't here.

She didn't know what to do and the panic was building up so without thinking she grabbed Ron's hand under the table and she began to breathe in and out. She kept telling herself Ron was there and she needed to keep it together during the meeting. Slowly she felt herself relax and started taking notes as if nothing had happened. She kept a death grip on Ron's hand though just to remind herself someone she trusted was there and would keep her safe.

When Hermione grabbed Ron's hand it immediately had him focused back in on the present. He looked at Hermione to see she wasn't even looking at him, but had her head down with her eyes close taking deep breathes. He could tell she was trying to prevent a panic attack, what he didn't know was why. He didn't notice anything that could trigger one. She seemed fine not only a second ago. He looked around the compartment and saw Draco with a smug look on his face and Ron felt anger rise with him.

Ron thought it must have been Draco considering Hermione had been tortured at his house and he lived with a bunch of Death Eater's. He must've done something to set Hermione off and Ron sat there throwing Daggers' at Draco with his eyes which draco never seemed to notice.

Bloody prat.

He sat there fuming for the rest of the meeting and when the meeting was about to be over he looked at Hermione to notice she seemed relaxed and she was able to calm herself down and that she still hadn't let go of his hand.

For some reason Ron was happy Hermione was still holding his hand and did nothing to stop her from the death grip she held on him. He was happy Hermione could take comfort in the fact that he was there and he also just enjoyed holding Hermione's hand in general.

Soon the meeting was over and Ron stood up to leave with Hermione close behind him. She was so happy to be leaving and was about ready to jump out of her seat and run as far away from Draco as possible, but she couldn't possibly do that with all the other prefect's around so she just got as close to Ron as possible and walked behind him.

They were just out of the compartment when Draco came up behind her and whispered in her ear, "Had fun this summer, Mudblood? 'Cause I know someone who had a hell of a time with you.", and walked away toward the Slytherin compartment like it didn't even happen.

Hermione's blood ran cold and her eyes were filled of images of Greyback on top of her grunting and touching her. She felt her throat close up and her palms go sweaty.

No,no,no,no,no. Not here. Please not here.

She tried to say Ron's name, but nothing came out and she felt blackness slowly approaching her. She felt a strong hand grab her hand and guide her somewhere, but she couldn't focus and continued trying to figure out how to breathe properly.

Ron had turned around when he felt Hermione wasn't behind him anymore to see Hermione eye's brimmed with tears and filled with panic and had a hand clutch her stomach like she was trying to breathe. He looked around to see what must've caused it or if anyone was around, but the only thing he saw was Draco walking away down the aisle of the train. He wanted to run after him and kill him, but he knew now was not the time.

Shit. Shit. SHIT. Was all he thought as he quickly came up to her.

He heard her try to say something, but nothing intelligible came out and he grabbed her hand and pulled her into an empty compartment. He sat down on the floor with his back to the wall of the train and his legs out in front of him with Hermione hunched up with her back to his chest and his arms holding her around her stomach.

He pulled out the book Bill had given him that he promised he would keep with him at all times, which he was now thankful he did. He used his wand to enlarge it and fumbling he opened it up to a page that Bill had marked for him.

"….if the breathing exercises fail to work take them to a quiet place and talk to them letting them know of your presence and coach them with the breathing exercises. When having a panic attack it is sometimes hard to focus and having someone there coaching you can help the person see through their panic and slowly come out of it…."

Ron grabbed hold of Hermione's hand and soothingly talked to her.

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay. Come on Hermione. Remember what Bill taught you. Breathe, come one. In, out." He started breathing in and out heavily so Hermione could hear and copy him and he could see her start to breathe a little more evenly.

"At a girl. Come on, you're okay, Hermione. We're almost to school. You gotta get it together." Her eye's slowly started to focus and she looked up at him and her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper said, "Ron."

"Yeah, you're okay. I'm here remember." he soothed

She looked up at him and nodded her head as tears began to brim her eyes again. Without a word she slowly curled into him and started crying heart wrenching sobs. Ron tightened his hold on her and put his cheek on her head and let her cry.

Hermione felt so overwhelmed and scared after Ron had helped her out of her panic attack, but even now with the panic attack over she still had those images stuck in her head of that night and they wouldn't leave her. All she kept thinking about was about that night and what Draco had said. She slowly felt a sob build up within her and without a second thought she curled herself into Ron's chest and started crying.

She wished so much she could tell Ron right now, but something kept her from telling him. She didn't want him to be upset that she didn't tell him and she was still scared of what Ron would think of her if she did. She was still scared he would be disgusted or disappointed with her and would never want to be with her. She decided she would continue to keep it to herself for now and continued to cry.

Ron's heart constricted with every sob Hermione had. It hurt him so much to see her cry and know he couldn't do anything about it but be there. All he wanted to do was go find Draco and bloody well kill the wanker. Whatever he said to cause Hermione to have a panic attack like the one in his room must have been bad. If he ever saw Draco alone he was really going to make him regret whatever he did. He knew right now he couldn't though because Hermione needed him and if he did Hermione would kill him. If Hermione knew what he planned to do to Draco she would probably get really hacked off and tell him how irresponsible it was.

Hermione soon stopped crying, but felt she didn't have the energy to get up so she just continued to lay there on his chest and every once in a while would sniffle as Ron rubbed her back. As much as Ron wanted to stay there though he knew he they couldn't because Harry and Ginny would get suspicious if they didn't come back to the compartment.

"Hermione, we should probably go back. Harry and Gin will notice if were gone to long, yeah?" he said gently.

She sniffed one last time and nodded her head in agreement and Ron helped her stand up. She gave him a hug and said thank you before they both left the compartment with Ron quickly shrinking and putting the book back in his robes before Hermione noticed.

When they got back to the compartment Ginny was sleeping and harry was staring resutly out the window. He turned to look at them when he heard them come in and noticed hermione's eye's were rimmed red, "Hey, what took you guys so long?"

"The meeting ran longer than we thought." Ron answered, but looked at Harry to communicate I'll tell you later. Harry nodded his head and looked back out the window.

Hermione leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes, but not before reaching for Ron's hand. She felt him squeeze her hand before she felt herself drift off to sleep.

When Harry saw Hermione's breathing even out and concluded she was asleep he said to Ron in a low voice, "So, what happened? Why does Hermione look like she's been crying?"

"That's because she has." Ron said.

Harry looked at him waiting for him to continue, "It was Draco." Ron said with anger laced in his voice.

Harry looked at him questioningly, "What?"

"During the meeting draco came in late and not long after I noticed Hermione was starting to have one of her attacks, but she managed to get a hold of it." Ron said.

"So you think it was Draco?" Harry questioned.

"Yeah. When we were leaving I was walking back here right, and I turned around to see Hermione looking panicked and Draco walking away from her." Ron finished.

Harry didn't say anything for a second as he tried to think of how Draco could possibly cause Hermione to have one of her attacks, but couldn't think of anything.

"What do you think he did?" harry asked

"Well it was at his house wasn't it? I'm sure he knows what happened from his dad or something. I'm sure he said something to her." Ron finished his eyes blazing with anger.

"Well how bad was it?" Harry questioned.

Ron looked at him grimly and said, "Bad."

Harry kept looking at him waiting for him to continue, "I dragged her into a compartment and it took me ten minutes with Bill's book and then she cried for half an hour." Ron elaborated.

Harry eyes bugged our in surprise with raised eyebrow, "Shit.", was all Harry said.

"Yeah."

After that they didn't speak for the rest of the ride both wondering what Draco had said to Hermione to cause such an attack and during the whole rest of the trip Ron continued to hold Hermione's hand.

Soon the train came lurching to a stop and Hermione eyes slowly opened up as she got up as everyone slowly shuffled out of the train.

oOo

Dinner was very quiet as they watched the sorting and Dumbledore spoke of the hard times ahead of them. Ron kept looking over at the Slytherin table to glare at Draco as Hermione kept staring intently down at her plate that had not been touched while Harry glared down at the table thinking of many different ways to kill or maim Draco.

When dinner was over Ron and Hermione led the first years to their dorms and headed back to the common room. Ron sat next to Harry on the couch and Hermione mumbled, "I think I'm just gonna head up to bed." And without a word she ran up to her dorm.

Ron looked to the direction of the girl's staircase with worry etched in his face.

"She'll be okay Ron." Harry said.

Ron looked over at Harry, "How do you know? She's definitely going to have a nightmare tonight and we're not at the Burrow. Anyone could here her, I'm not able to check on her, Ginny's not in the same room and Bill isn't here." Ron said quickly.

"Ron I understand you're worried, but as weak as Hermione seems right now, she's not. She'll figure out a way to handle it."

Ron sighed and put his head in his hands as he tried to calm down. He really did hope she was going to be okay because so far it didn't seem that way.

Hermione laid in her bed trying to get to sleep, but she just kept hearing noises and even with her curtains closed she felt like her eyes were playing tricks on her. She wished she was at the burrow in Ginny's room- Somewhere familiar. If she were at the Burrow she would be able to walk downstairs and sit on the couch or go outside under the oak tree. Here she couldn't even see Bill, Ron, Harry, or Ginny.

Soon she realized there was no point in trying to sleep and got out of bed to go sit in the common room until she felt tired again. When walking towards the couch she saw Ron and Harry asleep in their favorite plushy chairs right next to the couch. She smiled seeing them there thinking that she should maybe wake them up, but instead she curled up onto the couch and found sleep come to her much more easily.

Ron woke up to feel his neck cramping and to realize he was not lying down. He tried to move his neck and reached up to rub the back of it as he leaned forward. He opened his eyes to see Harry sitting across from him also asleep. They must have fallen asleep last night sitting down here talking. He was about to get up and wake up Harry when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.

With some difficulty he turned his head to see Hermione curled up on the couch fast asleep. He walked over and got on his knees beside her to wake her up. He shook her lightly and whispered, "Hermione, Hermione, wake up."

He shook her shoulder again and her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him with momentary confusion and looked around. She looked back to Ron and said, "What time is it?"

"It's almost time for Breakfast so you better go get ready." Ron said and she nodded her head and wondered up to the girl's dormitory.

Ron walked over to Harry and threw a pillow at him and said, "OI! Get up!" and smacked him on the side of the head. Harry jumped in his seat startled as his glasses fell down his nose and his eyes bugged out in shock at the not to gentle awakening.

Ron chuckled at his friend as Harry started to get up and mumbled "Wanker.", as he stumbled up to the boys dormitory with Ron close behind.

"Now is that anyway to thank a friend who was nice enough to wake you up?" Ron said sarcastically.

"Shut up you ginger prick." Harry replied.

"Now, now midget. We both know I'm not a morning person." Ron replied.

"Whatever." Harry answered moodily as Ron continued to chuckle.