A Forbidden Love

Chapter Three: Beginning with the New

Disclaimer:
I don't own the characters. Only the story.

After having to deal with Ferret-boy again, Hermione could finally see a bathroom close ahead. She passed Malfoy's supposed compartment, glanced over and saw Crabbe, Goyel, Pansy, and Zambini of course. They gave her an ugly look as she walked by, Pansy laughing at something like she always did. Pansy had short dark brown, almost black looking hair that went to just below her chin, short bangs swooped to one side of her face. Her eyes were a light blue color and pale skin like Draco's. Pansy wasn't the most attractive of the girls in school but apparently Draco kept her around for some reason. Hermione didn't want to really know but she could easily figure it out.

She finally made it to the bathroom, thankfully it was empty. She roughly pushed the door open and shut it behind her. Placing her robes gently on the counter she walked over to the seat of the toilet and sat there for a few minutes, taking in a deep breath to let it out in a big sigh. After talking somewhat to herself and venting to no one, she got up and started changing into her school robes.

After this, she would no longer obsess over Harry. She promised herself that.

After leaving the bathroom, having her other clothes neatly folded and tucked away in her arms, she headed back to her compartment. Ron and Neville passed her as they were going to do the same thing she did. They said hey but Hermione just nodded and kept walking.

"What's with her?" Neville asked Ron who just shrugged and looked back at her.

"Harry..." Ron leaned over to whisper. Neville made an "Oooh." with his mouth and left it at that.

Hermione made it back to her compartment without running into anything else to make her upset. She put away her clothes in her trunk and saw Crookshanks laying by himself on the seat she was sitting previously. She smiled and sat where Ron was, by the window. They would be approaching Hogwarts soon. It was getting dark outside and a little rainy. She was just thinking about her first train ride to the school and how she had to get used to everything. She caught on with everything very well, of course. She was so bright after all.

Soon enough, Ron, Harry, and of course Ginny came in a little while later in their robes. Hermione felt a little uneasy in her stomach after what she had saw but didn't show it. She just kept quiet. Which wasn't like her.

"You're not like yourself.." Harry said as he sat down across from her, looking at her with concern. 'Really? Wow, I didn't notice..'

"I've just got a lot on my mind, its fine." She said, waving her hand and shaking her head and finally smiling. A fake smile. Harry just nodded and smile friendly back before turning his attention to Ginny, talking about what classes they had and such.

Ron came to sit by Hermione and just looked at the two like he was about to throw up. That was suddenly interrupted... again.

"Well, well.." said a snide voice. 'Again?... well, I guess this is normal for once.'

"Now you come to bug us!" Ron shouted a bit, making Hermione jump before looking up to see Draco standing in the doorway with Crabbe and Goyel behind him and Pansy off to the side of them, smiling evilly at Hermione.

"Aw, what? You missed me?" Draco asked, acting like he was shocked at he put his pale hand on his chest and made a little 'gasp' as he did so. Ron just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Screw off Malfoy.." Harry said, laughing a bit under his breath. He was so over Malfoy and his old ways. Draco looked over at him, the smirky smile disappearing his face as it turned into a serious frown.

"What are you so happy about, Potter?" He asked in an annoyed tone. "Found yourself a new girl, I see? A weasel?" He asked again, shaking his head a bit. He turned around to walk away, already tired of them. "What a downgrade." Hermione could hear him say under his breath, somewhat mumbling.

Ginny was obviously offended and heard what he said, standing up to charge at Malfoy but Harry caught her arm, not even getting up. "Ginny, its not worth it." He said to her in a calm tone.

All Hermione could do was stare at the group as they walked off, leaving her in a strange shock. 'Downgrade? ...What?!' She didn't know if he was trying to be nice to Hermione or just trying to piss Ginny off and not realizing what he actually said. Before she could think about it anymore, they had arrived.

The "Golden Trio" plus Ginny exited the train while they're trunks and things were getting taken care of. Hermione got her bag and put it inside with her trunk, making sure she had put her note book away as well. She felt stupid for just leaving it alone by itself when she had went to change earlier. It wasn't going to walk off anywhere though, unless someone was bored and wanted it to. She was sure someone had a spell for "sprouting legs". Hermione laughed to herself.

"What's so funny?" Ron asked, looking back to her who was staring at the ground before looking up at him with a smile, shaking her head.

"Nothing, its nothing." She said before walking a bit faster to be next to Ron while Harry and Ginny were in front of them. Hermione saw her other friends and said hello to them as they walked by. She also Malfoy and his "group" far up ahead. Of course he was at the front, leading the way, strutting while Pansy was somewhat by his side and the two body guards behind them. Zambini was shortly following them, minding his own business.

Draco was wearing his school robes which Hermione thought looked better on him than his normal black attire he wore. He looked important in his robes, intimidating. He was just scary looking in his other clothes. Pansy now had her arm wrapped around his right which was stuffed in his pocket. He looked over and gave her a soft smile. Hermione could see Pansy's left hand reaching up his arm, somewhat stroking it. She saw a sparkle on her ring finger. 'A ring?... Oh-!' Hermione was somewhat shocked. Malfoy proposed to her? Really? Now that was really weird. If she could remember right, both their families were rich, duh. Most likely it was arranged but from what she could see, Draco wasn't complaining.

Hermione just shrugged and didn't bother to find out any time soon. She just kept walking with Ron before getting into a carriage with "invisible horses" that took them to the school. She couldn't wait to see Hogwarts again. It was a home away from home. It was Ron, herself, Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna Lovegood sitting in the carriage. It was nice to see warm friendly faces again.

Once they were all inside, they took their seats in the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table. Harry sat in front of Hermione and Ron sat on her right side. Ginny had to sit further down the table since she was younger. Hermione could see Harry staring at Ginny and smiled at her. Ginny smiled back and blew him a cheesy kiss and turned around to talk with her friends. Ron was blabbing about how this year would be somewhat boring with Fred and George around. They were always trouble makers. Also, without Dumbledore was going to be a weird change too. Snape had killed him the year before Draco and him escaped. She wondered how Draco could show his face around the school now and act like nothing happened. She knew he was a Death Eater now and oh so hated him for it. She couldn't understand why or how it happened.

Hermione could see Draco at his Slytherin table next theres, she was facing them as Draco was facing their table, having Pansy on his left side while Crabbe was on her other side and Goyel was on Draco's right. They were smiling and laughing, having a good time like always. It made Hermione's stomach turn. She just glared at all of them, not caring it they could see her. Pansy finally caught her gaze and cocked an eye-brow of hers and nudged Draco who looked at Pansy then finally at Hermione, who looked away quickly, turning red. Both with embarrassment and fury.

She saw Snape rise from the headmaster's chair. Everyone turned to look at him, all with mixed emotions. Snape had been chosen to be headmaster after he killed Dumbledore and ran away. She really didn't know why he was headmaster but knew it probably wouldn't be a good year with him around. Hopefully she would be proven wrong. It would be a shame it her last year was a total disaster. She only hoped for the best out of everything, that was how she was. Very positive... with most things.

Snape gave a short and somewhat hurried speech. He seemed nervous for once. It wasn't like him, always bossing people around, making the students lives hell in his class. He talked about the coming school year and it would be "Oh so different" from the rest. 'Well, of course...' Hermione thought to herself, staring at Snape with no expression on her face. She could hear Ron mumbling something under his breath, how he hated Snape. Nothing new. Basically every Gryffindor hated Snape. All everyone else besides the Slytherins. Especially Draco.

She took her gaze over to Malfoy who had his head down, arms crossed, not looking at Snape or giving off any kind of sign that he cared what he had to say. He looked almost sad or ashamed of something. Hermione knew Malfoy was the one who "should have" killed Dumbledore... but couldn't. Maybe he did have a heart after all. Maybe. She stared at him secretly with her eyes but keeping her head towards the front where Snape was, now sitting back down and finally sorting out the new first years.

Hermione talked quietly with Ron while the sorting ceremony was going on. She didn't care about the new students. All she cared about was her school work and making good grades. As well as worrying about other things even if she knew she shouldn't be.

"So, Malfoy proposed to Pansy?" Ron asked, looking over at the Slytherin table.

"I guess.." Hermione responded somewhat rolling her eyes and shaking her head, strumming her fingers on the table.

Ron shrugged his shoulders, "Good luck with that. Stupid idea." Ron stated.

"How so?" She asked, turning her head to look at him with a questionable expression.

"Engaged while in school? That's so... stupid! You'll probably end up fighting because you're so bloody stressed with work and stuff.. I believe you should wait really." He said, folding his arms in and looking down at the table.

Hermione somewhat chuckled and saw that the ceremony was over, everyone clapping and such. Finally, Snape did a little flicker with his hands and the feast was underway.

After eating, Hermione walked to the Gryffindor Common Room with Harry and Ron. Ginny showed up shortly behind Harry before coming beside him to hold his hand. Hermione ignored them and saw Draco and everyone else around him head down to the Slytherin Common Room. Pansy was obviously with him, holding onto his arm with a death grip. It didn't seem to annoy Malfoy all that much, only until Pansy started whining and complaining.

She had wondered, 'Why Pansy?' she treats Draco horribly. Pansy is known for sleeping with all these random guys and getting her way all the time. Draco did the same with girls but, she thought it might be for some other reason. To try and get over Pansy in a way. However, they seem to always find each other and go back together. All "happy". Hermione just shook her head and continued to walk with Ron by her side, finally making it to their Common Room.

She said good-night to Harry and Ron and headed upstairs to the girl's dorms. Ginny followed slowly behind her, acting scared of Hermione. Ginny didn't seem to say one word to her now that Harry was with her. Ginny used to be to so bubbly and happy towards Hermione. Now she acted like a coward. Because she knew deep down, Hermione truly hated her for doing what she did.

Hermione went inside her room when Parvati and some other girls were staying. She somewhat slammed the door behind her, not knowing Ginny was staying in there as well. Ginny coming in a second after Hermione did, 'Oops..'

"Hey Hermione!" Parvati said, walking over to give her a hug. Parvati saw Ginny and became less enthused to see her. "Ginny.." she said before walking back over to her bed.

"Hey Parvati.." Hermione said calmly, seeing that her trunk was in front of her bed beside Parvati's. "How's Padma?"

"Oh, she's fine.." Parvati said, giggling. "She's got a new boyfriend."

"Oh, how nice.." Hermione responded, smiling and laughing. "Like always?"

"Of course!" Parvati said happily. "Oh, I'm sorry about you and Harry.."

"Its alright.." Hermione replied back quickly. "Sorry, I just don't want to talk about it." not mentioning Ginny was in the same room as them. Parvati looked over at Ginny and went wide eyed and went back to what she was going, sorting out her clothes in her dresser. Thankfully Ginny was turned around, doing the same. She didn't seem to hear what was said. There was many other girls in the room, talking and giggling. Hermione just sat down on her bed, reached over and grabbed her shoulder bag that was laying on the side table and dumped out the contents in it.

"Well, anyways... I'm sure there's plenty of guys out there... Even if they're not Harry Potter." Parvati said in a low whisper, coming beside Hermione as she went inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Hermione smiled and thought about what she said. 'Yeah, but they're either crazy or dumb.'

The next morning, Hermione got up bright and early. She had potions for her first class. 'Won't this be fun!' she told herself... sarcastically. She quickly took a shower, the other girls had gotten up shortly after she did. After her shower, coming out with a pink towel wrapped around her, Hermione got out her robes from her trunk and put them on. She was all by herself, two girls had entered the bathroom and the others had gone downstairs before washing up. Hermione was an early person and never really rushed to do anything. She took her time but was always on time.

After getting ready and gathering her books for the day, stuffing them in her shoulder bag, after emptying it to make room, she headed down to see that quiet a few people were in the Common Room waiting around to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. She saw Harry and Ron on a couch by the fire and decided to walk over and say good-morning.

"Is Ginny coming down?" was the first thing Harry had asked her.

"She's probably in the shower.. I don't know." She responded, waving her hand around, looking annoyed. Like she would know or care?

"Oh, okay..." Harry said, nodding a bit, looking back upstairs to see if Ginny was coming.

"Ready for potions?" Ron asked, looking enthused but of course it was sarcastic but it scared Hermione for a bit. She looked taken back for a minute and gave Ron a crazy look. Ron laughed, "Kidding..."

Hermione smacked his arm playfully, "I hate that class!" She said. Ron looked at her shocked. Hermione hating class? "I mean.. Snape is stupid.." She said quickly, holding her potions book in both arms. "I'm going to the Great Hall.. I'll see you."

"I'll come with!" Ron said, getting up and grabbed his books and things. Leaving Harry alone on the couch. "See ya, Harry.." He said, looking back and waved. Harry waved back before looking back up the stairs again. Seeing that Ginny still wasn't coming, her pouted and put one elbow on his knee and rested his head on his palm, sighing.

This was going to be an interesting day.