A/N: Please Read and Review - and all responses to reviews follow the chapter. Happy Reading :)

Everything belongs to JKR.

Chapter One: Welcome to Hogwarts Boys

Ron idly scratched his nose with the quill as he listened to Harry repeat his story. To Ron it sounded like his friends over-active mind was making a mountain out of a mole-hole. After all what did an encounter with a stray dog signify? Ron looked up from his notebook to see the pensive look on his friends face.

"Okay," Ron said slowly, "So what exactly was it about this dog that freaked you out so much?"

Harry glared at him and Ron shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry, mate but it's just a dog right?" Ron said for the hundredth-time.

"Yeah, maybe," Harry replied standing from his seat and began pacing the length of the train compartment.

Ron watched his friend for a moment before speaking.

"Ginny was asking about you again – so the chances of us winning the Quidditch Cup should be pretty good this year, yeah?"

Harry suddenly spun around to stare wide-eyed at him.

"What!"

"It's too bad I can't try out for the team, otherwise you'd probably have won last year," Ron joked.

"Not that you moron, what was that about Ginny," Harry questioned his eyes if possible going even larger.

"Oh, that," Ron said slowly before picking up the book in his lap and perusing it.

He smiled to himself behind the covers as he felt the tension build up.

'One – Two- Th'

"W-what did Ginny want?!" Harry finally exploded collapsing back into the seat opposite him.

"Something about going to the Christmas Ball," Ron said nonchalantly.

"Oh yeah," Harry mused.

"Yeah, told her she couldn't come."

"What! Why! When!" Harry sputtered.

Ron looked up from his book and gave Harry a penetrating look.

"Only third years can come," Ron explained watching his friends face become more agitated by the moment.

Ron chuckled as Harry began to pace the room once more. The first time Ginny and Harry had met last year, Harry had dismissed her as simply another one of his countless fans but during the school year something happened. Ron had noticed a lot of letters being exchanged between them as though they shared some secret – Ron was never one to pry but whatever it was made the two of the close. Close enough that by the time the end of year came and the group were saying their goodbye's the couple had openly hugged each other. Ron had even seen Harry watching Ginny leave with a pensive look on his face. Of course Ron had dismissed it as simply brotherly love and protection following the aftermath of the Tom Riddle's Diary and the Chamber of Secrets but seeing the look on Harry's face now made him wonder.

"Is she okay?" Harry asked slowly.

"She seemed a bit distant this summer but other than that she's fine," Ron replied.

Harry cleared his voice before continuing.

"Your Dad checked that she has all the right books?"

"Yep, no books from Tom Riddle in the lot," Ron answered snapping his book shut, "So, that's what you've been worried about?"

"Well yes!" Harry replied leaning against the head-rest.

"And here I thought -" Ron trailed off and sighed inwardly.

'Guess I was wrong about the two of them, they must have just bonded over their experiences. I can't exactly blame them considering everything they've both been through.'

The door of the train compartment slid open distracting both boys from their thoughts.

"Oh, hello," Ron said standing up to make room.

"Hey Neville," Harry greeted standing up to help Neville with his luggage.

"Did you two hear?" Neville began breathlessly.

"Hear what?" Ron and Harry both said curiously.

"There's a new student in our year, transferred from some private school from the South of England," Neville explained his face flushing.

"Really? A third year?" Harry questioned.

"I never heard of a Wizarding School in the South of England?" Ron questioned his brow furrowing.

"Oh, well," Neville dropped his voice to a low whisper though there was no one else but them in the compartment, "Apparently something horrible happened at the other school – but no one knows what, just that we're not allowed to ask about it."

"So the kid's a trouble maker?" Harry smiled mischievously.

"No, I don't think so, from what I hear it's more family related then school related," Neville explained before crying out, "TREVOR!"

Neville instantly fell to the floor and groped under the seat for his pet toad.

"Wonder what's he's like?" Ron said as they took their seats.

"I just hope he's not a Slytherin," Harry grimaced.

"Ugh – another crony for Malfoy," Ron said with a disgusted look on his face.

"What's that you're reading there, Ron?" Neville asked as he carefully placed his toad back in his pocket and took the seat beside Harry.

"Oh, it's just -" Ron trailed off and gave Harry a significant look.

"Just school stuff, you know Ron, if he didn't do all the studying we'd both be out of Hogwarts by now," Harry answered quickly.

"Shut-up," Ron grumbled, "I'm not exactly thrilled that I am the one who has to do all the work around here – if it were up to me I'd go flying with you guys."

"Yeah, sorry about that mate, but hey, I do my fair share in DADA," Harry laughed and scratched his head.

"And I help you guys with Herbology," Neville added.

"Yeah, yeah," Ron said waving his hand dismissively at them.

A gasp was heard before the door slammed shut.

The three boys turned to stare at the door.

"Was someone just standing there?" Ron asked.

Hermione stopped running when there were several train compartments between her and the group of Gryffindor boys.

"Why am I running from him?" Hermione laughed at herself nervously straightening her tie.

"Well suit yourself."

"If you're so desperate to talk to her, owl her yourself as usual."

Hermione jumped and looked over her shoulder when she heard voices behind her and to her horror she saw the three boys she was avoiding walking towards her deep in conversation. She instantly ran into the closest compartment and hid behind the curtain. She watched as the boy who had rescued her from drowning walked past with his friends. Hermione was surprised to see that he was friends with Harry Potter, the boy she had met on the train a few weeks earlier. She waited till the final boy, a somewhat chubby and clueless looking boy past by the door before she stepped away from the curtain.

"Well, well, what have we here?" A voice drawled from behind her.

Hermione instantly stiffened before slowly turning around.

"Sorry," Hermione coughed and tried to deepen her voice before continuing, "Sorry, m-must have gotten in the wrong…"

Hermione trailed off when she saw that the boy and his friends brandish their wands.

"A Gryffindor daring to come into the Slytherin lair?"

"Lair?" Hermione scoffed before she could stop herself.

The boy smiled at her which sent chills up her spine.

She slowly stepped away from the group.

'Great, I guess Slytherin's are the same no matter what their gender,' Hermione thought to herself as she edged towards the door all the while gripping her wand.

"I don't want trouble-" Hermione began but the boy cut her off.

"Bit late for that isn't it," He drawled before pushing her roughly against the door.

Despite herself Hermione screamed in pain when her back collided with the metal leaver of the door.

The group laughed as she got up.

"Are you a guy or aren't you?" one of the boys asked.

"Crying over a little push like that?"

Hermione moved to grip the door and remove herself from these horrible people but instead of feeling the hard metal door behind her she collided with someone.

'Great, I'm completely boxed in,' Hermione realised in horror before looking behind her.

She gasped when she saw that rather than more Slytherin's behind her, it was a group of Gryffindor's and what's more the boy standing behind her was the boy with the intense blue eyes.

"Problem boys?"

Hermione turned to her left to look at the person who had just spoken to see the boy she knew was Harry Pottter standing beside her.

"Potter!" the Slytherin boy seethed.

"Wow! Hear that Ron? He can remember names now, what a clever little Slytherin you are," Harry laughed.

"You're a credit to your House, Malfoy," Ron chuckled.

"Why you! I'd watch your mouth Weasley – or else…"

"Or what? Your Daddy's gonna come and save you again?" Ron laughed before pulling Hermione out the door with him.

"You'll regret that one Weasley!" the boy screamed after them.

"I don't think I will Malfoy!" Ron replied over his shoulder.

Hermione was unceremoniously shoved into the compartment before all the other boys followed.

"Slimy-git isnt he?" Harry said in a disgusted tone.

"Yeah, what else is new though?" a boy whom Hermione didn't recognise spoke.

"So you're the new student?"

Hermione jumped when she realised that someone was talking to her.

All eyes turned towards her and she realised that they had all taken their seats and that she was still standing, the centre of attention.

"I'm glad you're a Gryffindor at least."

Hermione shyly glanced at the boy who had spoken.

"Y-you're Ron? I m-mean you're name is…"

"Yeah, I'm Ron Weasley," he answered moving aside to give her room to sit.

"That's Harry Potter, though you probably already know him," Ron pointed at the boy opposite them.

"Shut-it," Harry grumbled pushing some of his messy black hair in an attempt to hide his scar.

"I'm Neville!" the chubby boy she had noticed before piped up with his hand held up in the air.

The other boys laughed at him.

Hermione frowned at them when she noticed how embarrassed the poor boy looked.

"Nice to meet you Neville," Hermione said when the laughter had died down.

"And, that's Seamus and Dean," Ron finished before lifting his arms and resting them behind his head, "Now - all that's left is for you to introduce yourself."

"Oh, right," Hermione blushed when she realised that she had been staring at him.

"My name is John H. Granger," Hermione cringed when the words left her mouth.

'That sounded way too formal,' Hermione berated herself.

"Nice to meet you John," Ron said before patting her on the back.

Hermione laughed nervously and tried not to let the fact that he had patted her a bit too hard become too obvious.

"So where are you from?" Neville asked.

"Oh, well my family moves around a lot, we lived in France for a while – you know, here and there," Hermione swallowed and hoped that the boys would believe the lie that she had made up on the way to the train station.

"Oh, were you Home-schooled then?"

Hermione felt relief wash over her and she looked at Ron gratefully.

"Yes, exactly – I mean, yeah I was, it was just easier that way with us moving around so much."

Hermione turned away from Ron and saw that Harry Potter was now looking at her curiously.

"Sorry if this is too personal but, you don't like guys do you?"

"Harry!" Ron said before kicking his friend in the leg.

"What!" Harry replied before looking at her again, "I mean, you know, it's cool if you are, but you know…are you?"

"Umm," Hermione chose her words carefully before answering, "I'm not – Gay if that's what you're asking."

"Oh, okay," Harry replied and shrugged his shoulders as though he could have cared less.

"Tactless as ever, this one," Seamus commented before he and Dean stood up.

"Well guess we'll see you guys later, Seamus here is still agonising over who to ask to the Christmas ball," Dean said as the boys left.

"Yeah, tell it to the world why don't you," The boy who Hermione could only assume was Seamus replied.

"Later," Ron said half-heartedly as the door closed.

"Well now that our annual meet-and-greet with the Slytherin's is over, how bout we get some food!" Ron said happily reaching in his pocket for his money, "Food cart should be here any-"

"Anything from the Trolley, dears?"

"How did you…" Hermione began to ask but her eyes widened when she saw the lady pushing the food cart was the same as the one on the girls train.

Hermione quickly turned to the window and tried to hide her face from the woman, it was only when she saw her reflection in the window that she realised how stupid she was being.

The potion McGonagall had given her meant the she looked nothing like her normal self, in fact other than brown hair and eyes she was a completely different person – although even as a boy she looked too thin.

Harry sat back down with his pile of food and hastily chomped down on a pumpkin pasty. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw John eyeing Ron – or possibly Ron's pile of food.

Ron dropped onto the floor before piling one chocolate frog after another into his mouth.

Harry noticed with concern that John was watching Ron's progress while becoming increasingly pale.

"You alright?" Harry questioned, "Ron give him a chocolate frog he looks like he might pass out."

Ron handed John a frog but he grimaced and backed away from Ron.

"Its okay, I don't like sweets," John replied hastily.

"Don't like sweets!" Ron said in astonishment, "How could you not like sweets!"

Harry rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Calm down would you – the rest of us aren't addicted to chocolate like you."

"Yes, I am an addict I admit it," Ron replied before un-wrapping another chocolate and shoving it whole in his mouth despite it croaks of protest.

"So, you're not hungry?" Harry asked, "Here, try a cauldron cake."

"Oh," was the all the boy managed to say before he dashed from the room.

Ron laughed as he disappeared.

"He's a funny one."

Harry instead of laughing narrowed his eyes.

'Something about him seems familiar.'

Hermione splashed some cold water on her face and calmed herself.

'They're so disgusting! Do all guys eat like that?' Hermione wondered to herself before wiping the water from her face.

'Not only that but they were practically all sweets and cakes – I could puke just thinking about it,' Hermione closed her eyes and tried to shake the images of baking cakes and sweets last year.

'Not only did they force you to learn to cook those over-sweetened desserts but they also forced you to taste them,' Hermione felt sick at the thought – she had had enough sweets and cakes at Hogwarts Girls to last her a lifetime.

Hermione sighed and looked at her reflection.

"Get yourself together, you're being stupid," Hermione told herself, "You're a guy! Guy's don't get weak in the knees at the sight of chocolate."

Hermione nodded to herself in determination and turned to leave the small restroom. Just as she opened the door she saw the person outside raise their hand to knock on the door.

"It's all yours," Hermione said cheerfully before stepping aside to let the man, a teacher apparently into the toilet.

He stepped forward but then turned and looked at her with a curious expression.

'Uh-oh, did he hear me?' Hermione wondered nervously.

After what seemed like an eternity the man finally spoke.

"New student?" he questioned his eyes not wavering from her face.

She nodded mutely unable to speak.

"I'll be your new DADA teacher this year, Professor R. J. Lupin," he continued extending his hand towards her.

"Oh, well, nice to meet you Professor Lupin," Hermione smiled, mentally wiping the sweat from her brow.

The Professor looked her up and down before turning away.

Hermione quickly made her exit lest the Professor decided to grill her some more.

'Note to self – no more talking aloud to yourself,' Hermione thought before stepping back into the compartment.

"You okay?" Harry asked when he noticed her return.

"Yeah fine, sorry must be a just travel-sickness," Hermione answered before sitting back down.

Hermione saw as she made herself more comfortable that amazingly the boys had already finished eating their mountain of food.

Harry was now perusing a Quidditch magazine, Neville was looking at a strange plant he had in a jar and Ron was still sitting on the floor his back against the seat, his attention on the notebook in his lap. Hermione leaned over his shoulder to see what he was so interested in and gasped aloud.

"What?" Harry questioned looking up from his magazine.

Neville had also lost interest in his plant and was now watching her expectantly, Ron on the other hand had dropped his quill at the sound of her gasp and was now watching her too.

She met his eyes and blushed before looking away.

"You're a very good artist is all," Hermione said hurriedly trying desperately to keep her voice from squeaking.

"Is that all?" Harry replied laughing, "Well Ron's rather obsessed with his 'Mystery-Lady'."

The next moment Harry had taken the notebook from Ron's lap with what could only be described as 'Quidditch Reflexes' and began flipping through the pages.

"Do you mind!" Ron said indignantly as he attempted to retrieve his book.

Harry whistled when he reached a certain page.

"Wow, I don't blame you for fantasising about her – look here."

Harry held the page open for all the boys to see.

Hermione eyes widened when she saw the small oval faced woman with curly tendrils flowing across her face.

'I don't look like that,' Hermione thought to herself.

And yet she couldn't deny that he had captured every feature of her face, down to the light freckles on her cheeks.

Hermione bit her lip nervously.

'Don't be stupid, it must be some other girl.'

"Where'd you meet her again?" Neville questioned moving close to get a better look.

"At the Train-Station a few weeks ago," Ron sighed.

'Or maybe not,' Hermione thought to herself.

"I think she goes to Hogwarts Girls." Ron said before successfully snatching the book from Harry's hands,

"Why do you say that?" Hermione questioned trying not to sound too nervous.

"Just a hunch," Ron replied before carefully closing the book and returning it to his book bag.

"Maybe you'll see her this year," Neville commented.

"Yeah, maybe," Hermione agreed, laughing nervously under her breath.

"If only we cold figure out how to get past the magical barrier in the school," Harry mused.

"What are you on about?" Ron questioned flipping through the pages of the notebook himself.

"Well we all know that girls and boys go the same place – Hogwarts, but the magic placed on the school prevents either sex from seeing or realising the other is there," Harry explained.

"I'm surprised you don't know this Ron," Neville said sounding genuinly surprised.

"Why would I know something like that?" Ron replied after returning his book to his bag, "I'm not a book-worm, I only read books that are necessary for all of us to pass our subjects."

Harry and Neville laughed while Hermione wa left wondering what was so funny about what he had just said.

"So, are you saying that none of you have ever read Hogwarts: A History?" Hermione questioned somewhat hopefully.

Ron turned and stared at her wide-eyed.

"I would never read that fat-slab of a book even if my life depended on it," He answered laughing.

"Oh," was all Hermione said as she narrowed her eyes and turned to stare out the window.

'Did he have to say it like that?' she wondered to herself, 'I can't stand people who insult books I like.'

Hermione turned to see that the three boys were now discussing Quidditch.

'But I still feel grateful towards him for rescuing me,' Hermione thought to herself as she moved closer to the boys and tried to seem interested in their conversation.

'Merlin help me, how on earth am I supposed to keep this charade up for a whole year?'

A/N: Generally, thanks for all those who read and reviewed - Although this story is very fun to write there is another story I'm focused on so unless you read and review I probably won't be that encouraged to continue. So please do. And remember that constructive criticism is the only way I can improve.

Avanell: I'm sorry you found the first chapter confusing. I will work hard to improve my writing :) I don't have a beta so it's quite a lot of work. But thanks for reading and reviewing.

Angelo Del Ghiaccio: Thanks! I thought the idea was interesting and as far as I know no one in the fandom has written about this.

Kate: Thanks so much! I'm excited too - be prepared for lots of comedy lol.

Emerald's gurl: Oh sorry about the mom/mum thing, I'm aussie but I read alot of American stories so that was just a little slip up. Please tell me if there are more mistakes. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.

SeasonVelvet: 'Attention-Snatching Fic' wow I think I love you! LOL thanks so much for the great words of encouragement.

Laura: LOL I'm sorry it's been more than a minute since I've updated. I hope you still read and review. :)