Hermione glanced up and down the table wildly, already knowing that they weren't there. Still her heart sunk slightly further, where were Harry and Ron? The train journey had been uneventful, she had sat with Neville, Dean and Seamus and had tried to comfort Ginny slightly when she had seen her. She'd been completely panic stricken about Ron and Harry not getting on the train and Fred and George's methods of comforting her left a lot to be desired.

As the sorting hat finished it's song, slightly altered from the previous year Professor McGonogall stepped up and began calling the new students names. Hermione noticed behind her that Snape's seat at the staff table was empty. Hermione was pleased to see Professor McGonogall again, she looked just the same as the previous year with her tight bun and thin lips. When only a few students were left McGonogall called out,

"Weasley, Ginevra"

The little red haired figure walked meekly up to the faded hat, letting it slide down over her head. After a few seconds the hat yelled out

"GRYFFINDOR!"

A few seats down Fred and George exploded into raucous cheers which could be heard over the rest of Gryffindors claps. Ginny stumbled down and took a seat next to Percy, opposite Hermione.

"Are Harry and Ron still not here?" She asked, turning her large brown eyes on Hermione

"No sorry, but they'll be fine, it's Harry and Ron. They'll turn up" Hermione reassured her, although there were doubts in her head herself. It was obvious that they'd missed the train but she sincerely hoped they hadn't done anything stupid to get here.

After Dumbledore had started the feast and everyone was tucking into huge plates of food, Hermione saw Snape arrive through the doors into the great hall. He stalked quickly up the staff table, ignoring the Slytherin students who looked up at his as he passed and leaned down to talk to Professor McGonogall. As Hermione watched, McGonogall's mouth drew into a thinner and thinner line until it had almost disappeared. Finally she stood up and followed Snape out of the hall. Hermione had a horrid feeling that the conversation which had made her so angry had something to do with Ron and Harry.

OOO

"I've heard they've been expelled"

"Who?"

"You know Harry Potter and the Weasley kid he hangs round with!"

Hermione's head whipped round as she got buffeted around in the crowd trying to get out of the entrance hall. She spotted a group of fourth year Hufflepuffs a few people behind her chatting excitedly. She slowed down to try to listen.

"Wait what did they get expelled for, arriving late?"

"Don't know but that's where Snape, McGonogall and Dumbledore all were, must be serious"

Hermione narrowed her eyes, hoping what they were saying was just silly rumours although when Dumbledore had too left the feast she had been very worried. She allowed herself to keep being swept along by the crowd until she reached the top of the main staircase where a small knot of Ravenclaws were also chatting loudly as they walked along.

"Derick just told me he'd seen the evening prophet, the two idiots flew here in a car! They were spotted by muggles and everything!"

"They're going to be in so much trouble," A girl with a dark plait running down her back said.

Hermione broke away from her fellow Gryffindors to walk slightly behind the group of Ravenclaws, she had already found the password out from Percy so didn't need to stick to them.

"I heard they'd been expelled. Not surprised - just casually breaking the international statute of secrecy and laws on underage magic in the same afternoon, it's ridiculous!"

"It gets worse, called a slightly older boy a few paces above them who had been in his own conversation with a friend up until now. "They crashed the car in the school grounds, apparently it's damaged something like an old tree,"

"Where did you here that?" Asked the girl with the dark plait.

"One of the prefects heard it when McGonogall told Professor Sprout" He answered.

Hermione rolled her eyes, what everyone was saying were just silly rumours that no one had actually heard themselves. And they were getting more and more ridiculous the more she listened. She turned on her heel and began to trace her steps back to the route to the Gryffindor tower, the corridors were much clearer now and she was quite a few minutes behind from following the Ravenclaws. She walked slowly, hopping she might bump into Harry and Ron and find out what actually happened. Finally she emerged into the passage where the entrance to the tower was. To her immense relief standing in front of the Fat Lady were two familiar figures. One tall and gangly with red hair and the other small and skinny with black hair sticking in all directions. Hermione hurried over to them. They heard her approach and turned to face her, Hermione finally burst out.

"There you are! Where have you been? The most ridiculous rumours – someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car."

She had reached them now just as Harry said,

"Well we haven't been expelled,"

Hermione's brow furrowed, not believing they could be as stupid as the rumours sounded. "You're not telling me you did fly here?"

Ron looked annoyed and folded his arms, "Skip the lecture, and tell us the new password"

"It's wattlebird, but that's not the point…"

Her words were cut off as when the portrait swung open an eruption of cheering and clapping began. Harry and Ron were pulled into the Gryffindor common room and Hermione, scowling deeply, scrambled up through the hole by herself. Everyone it seemed was still awake and wanted to hear about Harry and Ron's adventure. After only a few seconds though they began to push their way over to the door to the dormitories.

"Night," Harry called back to Hermione, she did not reply.

Around her everyone began to chatter about the flying car. Hermione could feel tiredness from the long day creeping into her and she too began to push her way over to the dormitories. Once upstairs it was blessedly quiet so Hermione changed into her Pyjamas and sat down in bed just as the dormitory door flew open. Through it walked Parvati, Lavender, Lucy and Julie all laughing.

"Hey Hermione!" Called Lucy as she crossed the room to her own bed.

"Hi" Hermione answered back, hoping no one would talk to her about Harry, Ron and the car.

"How was your summer?" Parvati asked as she sat down hard on her own bed and began to pull off her shoes.

"Not bad, nothing too exciting, you guys?"

All the girls began to answer with stories of their summer and Hermione let their voices wash over her until a little while later she fell asleep.

OOO

"Is it just me, or has Malfoy turned into more of a stinking rats arse this year?" Ron asked her as they walked down the corridor towards their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.

Hermione murmured something in the affirmative but was too busy thinking about Professor Lockhart. She was unbelievably excited for this first lesson, he must have so many fascinating stories and he just seemed so charismatic and … Hermione stopped herself, she was getting silly. As she and Ron entered the classroom, Hermione's heart sank as she saw Harry (who had walked to the lesson with Professor Lockhart to sort out the whole autographing business) had chosen to sit himself right at the back of the classroom. Hermione had really hoped she could sit at the front; however it would seem odd I she left the boys now so she slid into her seat on Harry's right as Ron said.

"You could've fried an egg on your face. You'd better hope Creevey doesn't meet Ginny, they'll be starting a Harry Potter fan club,"

Harry snapped "Shut up" back at Ron whilst Hermione gave a tiny snort, imaging Harry being mobbed down corridors by Colin Creevey and Ginny. However her attention was soon wholly at the front of the room as Professor Lockhart cleared his throat.

"Me," He said as he held up a copy of Travelling with Trolls. He really did have the most beautiful smile as he winked roguishly at the class. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League and five times winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming smile award – but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee just by smiling at her!"

Hermione smiled slightly at the joke and idly she thought about what an amazing shade of blue Professor Lockhart's eyes were.

"I see you've all bought a complete set of my books – well done. I thought we'd start today with a little quiz. Nothing to worry about – just to check how well you've read them, how much you taken in …"

Hermione sat up a little straighter. Now here was a real chance to prove how much she had enjoyed Lockhart's books over the last couple of weeks. She had read all of them cover to cover at least once. She had to do well on this test. Hermione looked down at the piece of paper in front of her and felt a smile curl at the corners of her lips as she set her quill onto the paper. She was in her element here.

Half an hour later Professor Lockhart collected in the papers and, Hermione's stomach gave a funny jilt in her stomach in a way it had never done before, started to read through them quickly in front of the class. She crossed her fingers underneath her desk. As he talked about some of the questions a lot of people had got wrong Hermione sat up straighter and straighter, knowing she had those answers right.

"…but Miss Hermione Granger-" Hermione actually jumped slightly in her seat as he said her name " –knew my secret ambition is to rid the world of evil and market my own range of hair-care potions – good girl! In fact … full marks! Where is Miss Hermione Granger?"

Hermione's stomach now seemed to be doing small backflips and her face grew hot with pride and embarrassment, she raised a shaking hand.

"Excellent! " Lockhart exclaimed beaming at her. "Quite excellent! Take ten points to Gryffindor!" And so, to business…"

So as the class continued and pixies flew around the room, causing utter havoc, Hermione could only think of Professor Lockhart beaming at her. She'd impressed him, he knew who she was and thought she was 'excellent'. Hermione couldn't stop smiling for most of the day.

AN: Not the longest of chapters but hopefully it was okay? I just love her crush on Lockhart hehe :) I know that a few people read the last chapter so if you're reading would you pretty please review? I really want feedback on how I'm doing - still feels odd coming back to writing/posting all this.