Chapter 7
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Disclaimer: Come on. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that I don't own this. All rights go to the awsome author, J.K. Rowling :))
Chapter 7
The next day at the Burrow, everyone was running around the house, doing some last minute packing, or in Hermione's case, sitting back and watching everyone fuss around in amusement.
"Where's my wand?"
"Oi! Ron! Pass me my left shoe, will you?"
"Oh God! I LOST MY WAND!"
"It's in your hand, Fred,"
"Give me my shoe, Gin!"
"Harry? Where's Harry?"
"DEAR SWEET MERLIN WE LOST HARRY POTTER!"
"I'm right here guys,"
"Oh…"
"OI! RON GET YOUR FAT ARSE OUT OF MY FACE!"
"Sorry, Gin"
Everything was happening all at once and all Hermione was doing was lying on the couch, smirking at the scene. Ginny noticed this and frowned at Hermione.
"Can you help me pack?" she asked. Hermione nodded and made her way towards Ginny. As she helped Ginny pack, she looked curiously over to Fred and George who were also packing, and arguing.
"Why are you packing? I thought you were done in Hogwarts? I thought you quit?" she asked curiously. Fred and George looked up from their arguement and both gave her identical grins. That's not good, she thought.
"Alas! We did!"
"But our dear sweet mum wanted us back-"
"So of course, we shall-"
"But we still will run the shop-"
"And advertise it at Hogwarts-"
"Just this year only-"
"Then we shall be free men!" Fred finished dramatically. They both said this together, interrupting one another and finishing their sentences as if reading their own minds. Hermione wondered if they could read each other's mind once in awhile. She always found it quite creepy.
"I thought your mum was okay with the shop?" she questioned, helping Ginny fold her robes and stuffing them into the trunk.
"She is okay with it-"
"Especially with all the money we're making-"
"But she wanted us to get a good education-"
"she wanted us to attend Hogwarts again for seventh year-"
"And we figured it would be a great idea-"
"That way we could advertise our items and test them out-"
"Okay, okay! I get it now." Hermione interrupted smiling and continued to help Ginny pack. Even if she was annoyed with their constant breaks in sentences, she had to admitt, she really missed them. After everything was packed and ready to go, everybody went outside and found a ministry car parked out front. When Fred and George saw what car they were taking, their faces broke into mischievious grins.
"Courtsy of the Ministry," Mr. Weasley said. Fred and George both snickered.
"For the Chosen One, I'll bet." George mumbled. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Don't remind me," he mutteted softly, but Hermione heard him. She grinned.
"Trying to keep you happy so you'd be on good terms, eh?" Hermione nudged him in the ribs playfully. Harry looked up and grinned back at her.
"That'll never happen," he said with a laugh, "not after last year." Hermione laughed with him.
"Cmon in, kids," Mr. Weasley said ignoring George's previous statement. They all got into the car. Ron slid in first, followed by Harry, then Hermione. Ginny, Fred, and George got into the back.
"Harry, what did you and Dumbledore do before you came?" Ron asked. Hermione rolled her eyes, trust Ron to invade someone's privacy. Harry immediantly launched into the story of how Dumbledore and him visited Slughorn and persuaded him to work at Hogwarts again. Ron's eyes widened at the story, but Hermione wasn't surprised, she heard this before.
"What I don't get, is what Dumbledore said to me before I came here." Harry mused. Hermione perked up. This was new. "He said, 'keep your friends close, Harry, they need you, don't forget that'" Harry looked over at Ron, who shrugged, but Hermione looked thoughtful. Well, one thing was clear:
Dumbledore knows.
Hermione didn't mention her dream last night to anyone, and she just sat there in the car in complete silence. Harry noticed this and once in awhile, gave her worried glances, but all she did was stare at her lap, her eyebrows furrowed, in deep thought. Harry broke the silence and whispered to her quietly while Ron was in a conversation with Fred and George.
"Hey, you okay?" Hermione's head snapped up and jumped, but soon regretted it as her head bumped the roof of the car. This caused all the occupants of the room to turn their attention to her. She blushed a bright red and muttered a quiet sorry as they all laughed. She turned to Harry, expecting him to be laughing, but he just smiled amusedly, worry still evident in his emerald eyes.
"Yeah, I'm…I'm fine," she spluttered, blushing deep red as she did. She didn't even know why she was blushing, I mean, it was just Harry, right?
"You sure?" Harry said unconvinced. He eyed her suspisiously. Hermione bobbed her head repeatedly.
"Completely sure." Harry gazed worriedly at her. Then he chuckled a bit when she wouldn't stop nodding.
"Hermione, jeez, take it easy with the nodding before you hurt yourself!" he said laughing out loud. Hermione felt heat rise to her cheeks as she stopped and gave him a sheepish grin. She felt nervous, but she assumed it was because just a few days ago he tried to kill her. She frowned at the memory.
After the car ride, where everyone was talking excitedly about the new year (except Hermione who just smiled and nodded her head), they finally arived at King's cross. Hermione got out of the car and took her luggage. She paused in front of the familliar border between platforms 9 and 10.
"Alright, Fred, George, you first," Mrs. Weasley said. Fred and George, both grinning, broke into a run and disappeared behind the barrier. Ginny and Ron followed after with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. That left Harry and Hermione. Before they went in though, Harry turned to Hermione.
"Ready for another year?" he asked. Hermione smiled.
"Definitely." Harry grinned, "together?"
Hermione nodded smiling, and together they fell through the barrier.
The ride on the Hogwarts Express was great to Hermione. She met up with some old friends she didn't see in a long time and everything was like she remembered it. She was in a daze, walking around trying to find a compartment with Harry when Ron tapped her shoulder.
"Huh?" she said snapping back to reality. Ron looked at her weirdly.
"We're supposed to meet up with the prefects, remember?" he said. Hermione's face dawned in realization.
"Oh yeah…" and she followed Ron to the Prefects compartment. It was the usual, 'you are the school's good example' and 'always do what's right' meeting where they just talked about what the duties are of a prefect. After an incredibly boring prefect meeting in Hermione's oppinion, Ron and Hermione made their way around the train to find where Harry went.
"That was bloody boring!" Ron complained. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Quit acting like a child Ronald," she said. Ron stuck his tongue out at her.
"Stop calling me Ronald!"
"Not gonna happen… Ronald," she added teasingly. Ron huffed and she giggled. Ron and Hermione kept looking. Then they got to the point where they just open up the door and barge in, due to their impatience.
"Ron! It's not polite to barge in!" Hermione scolded. Ron rolled his eyes.
"It won't really matter," he said sliding open another door. The compartment was only filled with two people. Rodger Davis (is that his name? I dnt have the book with me) and his new girlfriend. Apparently Ron and Hermione walked in on a snogging session. Tension filled the air as Hermione and Ron froze.
"Uh… sorry…" Ron apologized awkwardly. The snogging couple took no notice of the newcomers.
"We'll just… go," he said. Still no answer, just more snogging. In Hermione's oppinion, she thought they were trying to suck each other's face out. It was disgusting. Ron closed the door quickly and they resumed their search. After moment of awkward silence, Hermione spoke.
"Doesn't matter, huh?" she smirked. He glared at her.
"Shut up,"
They finally found Harry with Ginny, Luna, and Neville and they joined in on their conversation. The train ride was going well at that point until Draco Malfoy came in, sneering.
'"Chosen One' Potter? Really? You think you're that great?" Hermione forgot what an ass Malfoy was before. She rolled her eyes, unfortunately that didn't go unnoticed by the blond boy.
"What's up with you, Mudblood? Did you scare the new first years with your face? 'Cause you obviously scare me." Malfoy sneered, Crabbe and Goyle snickered. Hermione was pissed, but she knew how to control her emotions. The same thing can't be said about Harry and Ron, though. They leaped up and glared furiously at Malfoy. Hermione calmly snarled at him without looking up.
"Such a shame, Malfoy, you made a great ferret." she paused to look him up and down, "you certainly got the look for one."
Draco glared fiercely at her and said through clenched teeth, "I wouldn't talk so smart-assed, you filthy little Mudblood." Harry and Ron took a step forward.
"Get out Malfoy," Harry growled, "if you know what's good for you."
Malfoy glared back, "Saint Potter is here to save the day? You might be the Chosen One to everyone else, but you'll always be a Mudblood and Blood Traitor's worthless friend." Harry glowered at him and Hermione shivered at the pure hatred etched on his features. That was not a good sign.
"I don't give a damn about what you say or think about me, Malfoy," he snarled, "your oppinion doesn't matter."
"Best be careful with what you say, Potter, the world doesn't want their beloved hero to get hurt," he said as he walked out. Ron sat back down muttering a few suggestions of what to stick up next in Malfoy's arse, but Harry remained standing and glaring at the spot Malfoy once was.
Hermione stood up and placed her hand on Harry's shoulder. She felt him relax at her touch.
"Calm down, Harry," she whispered soothingly to him, "it doesn't matter."
The rest of the ride to Hogwarts was okay, and Harry bought all of them snacks from the trolley. They shared their stories of what they did until Harry asked if he can talk to Hermione and Ron alone. They followed him outside where he began to tell them what Dunbledore told him. Ron's mouth dropped and made an 'O' shape. Hermione found this quite amusing.
"Private lessons? With Dumbledore?" Ron said. Harry nodded. Hermione appeared deep in thought, again. Harry noticed this.
"Mione? Miiiioooonnnneeee?" he said waving his hand in front of her face. She was snapped back into reality. "Yeah, what?" she said. Harry shook his head with a smile on his face and Ron burst out laughing. She huffed.
"Whatever, let's go, it's almost time anyway." she said, walking back to the compartment with an amused Harry and laughing Ron in tow. Even if she was undoubtly annoyed by the amused look on Harry's face and the blown out laughter coming from Ron, she wouldn't have that moment any other way.
A/N: Review!
Reposted 8/2/11