A/N: This story ignores some parts of HBP and complete DH. Hope you like it. :))

Chapter 2

Hermione was having a massive headache. She survived through it during breakfast, the forty-five minute trip to the station, the hustle of Platform Nine and Three quarters but she simply couldn't bear it now in the enclosed space of a compartment with one disfigured and babbling Ronald Weasley.

"Yes, I used to think that Slytherins were luckier..I still do you know? I mean just look at that Malfoy. That bloke will never go cold or hungry for the rest of his life...and...and that Flint, he graduated right into his daddy's winemaking business and now he probably just dips one goblet into a barrel and there! All problems gone! Daddy being too busy what with all that death eating to do...and have you seen Crabbe these days? Met him in the Alley last week. Took up half the alleyway with his size and purchases and his chummy bud Goyle..he is one crazy motherfu-"

"Ron." She pleaded.

"...but I've never gotten any brooms as gifts you know? Like Harry..and that ferret. That's just gotta...a bloke like me...being a Keeper an' all. My old Cleansweep..I still take care of it...I've been secretly borrowing your servicing kit Harry, hope you don't mind, huh? Would've got one myself if I had any galleons to spare... I can just kiss my badge goodbye this year. I don't think we have a shot at the House Cup anyway..not with those Horcruxes lying around an-"

"Ron!"

"Wha-?"

"Silencio." Harry was the one to silence him but Ron didn't mind it one bit. His mouth was still off spewing out his insecurities for all to hear.

His hair was dyed a hot pink and his eyelashes were covered in blue mascara. His fingertips were painted black.

Homosexuality was apparently a novel concept in the magical world and the Weasley twins were determined to milk it.

"I warned him. You know I did.." she sighed and rummaged inside the small beaded handbag that she had gotten from her cousin during summer. She gave up the search for some aspirin, seeing as muggle drugs were known to function erratically when exposed to the magical environment.

"I have to talk to Dumbledore as soon as we get there. I just can't wait anymore. What are we even doing still going back to Hogwarts? Voldemort's not waiting! And Dumbledore hasn't answered to a single letter I've sent. Why doesn't he trust me enough to help him with this?"

Great. This again.

"Harry, he trusts you enough, but you are not trained and you're a hopeless Occulumens." She ignored his huff of displeasure and continued, "You saw the pamphlet that came out last week. The Ministry is at it again. By the looks of it, segregation is going to be their tactic once again, and its got You-Know-Who's hand behind it, I'm sure. I mean, why would they import all those innocent muggles for 'research purposes'? It's happening again, and Dumbledore knows it. He probably has something in store for you too."

"But what about the horcruxes? We've got to destroy them first!"

"Horcruxes are not the priority Harry! Why can't you see it?", she exclaimed, losing her patience. "They're dormant objects and you will get to them eventually. But we have to stop You-Know-Who first. We can't let him control the Ministry again. We can't let him terrorize the innocent. There's a war coming on, Harry. That should be our priority. You-Know-"

"Will you stop with that You-Know-Who crap anyway? What happened to calling him Voldemort?"

She looked up at him, stunned.

"Right. I'll see you in a bit." She stood up and walked out the door.

Fine. He wanted to pick a fight of all things. Ignoring him when he was in one of his moods was about the best thing she could do right now.

So she had a habit of reverting back to calling him You-Know-Who when she wasn't paying attention. And she was scared about her muggle parents. What did Harry know about family anyway? Her thoughts made her feel simultaneously guilty and annoyed. The Ministry was now bringing in muggles for their experiments, probably treating them like animals. As if they didn't have a life, a job or a family to go back to. And what possible use could they have for them?

Her mind spun with ideas. Muggles were far more advanced as far as technology and warfare was concerned. They also held strength by numbers. Surely Voldemort had figured out that a single curse couldn't do them all in. Were they looking for information that could help him overthrow the muggle civilization once and for all? Were they planting thoughts that could make them destroy their own kind? It was both smooth and efficient. Why create a bloody massacre when you could sabotage the minds of a selected few and make them all work against themselves? Or were they simply looking for a way to turn them into slaves?

Her stomach tightened at the thought of her parents, both dazed and ignorant of the racism against them. They lived in perpetual danger of their lives just because they happened to be born as muggles.

And as my parents.

She sighed and turned to face the door of the compartment, leaning her forehead against the cool glass. Harry held his head in his hands. His fingers were threaded into his thick hair. Ron was off in his own world and not even the sight of him in mascara could serve to amuse her.

Why did things appear so bleak with them now? What was it going to take for them to have a decent friendship without the threat of a sadistic maniac and the weight of a single prophecy hanging over their heads?

"Still can't decide Granger?"

She about jumped a mile.

Then she slowly turned to face him.

Draco Malfoy stood a few feet away from her, minus his entourage. This just gets better and better.

"Excuse me?"

He was taller than she remembered. His voice had changed too, which had been why she started in the first place. He was twirling his wand between his fingers with careless precision. Must be a pureblood thing.

He smirked in that rotten ferret manner of his.

"I said, still can't decide between those two numbskulls?"

"I can't even pretend to know what you're on about, Malfoy. Why don't you do us both a favour and march straight back to where you came from?"

"Hit a nerve, I see."

He moved forward to get a better look at the occupants and gave a surprised bark of laughter at the sight. Ron with his comical expressions, pink hair and mascara. Harry staring out the window with a glum expression.

"Well, well. I can fully understand your dilemma now-"

She did not have time for this.

"What. Do. You. Want?"

He ignored her.

"-but you have to look at it this way, Granger. These two are probably the best chance you're going to have...what with you being a Mudblood and I'm afraid you can't do anything about that face either..."

She clenched her teeth. What could he possibly gain by throwing the word in her face at every chance he got? She turned to walk away from him.

He surprised her by pushing an arm out to halt her. Then he rolled his eyes as if she were being dramatic.

"You and Weasel are needed in the Prefects' carriage." He pointed in Ron's general direction with his thumb. "Don't bother with him."

He turned on his heel and walked away with quick, long strides.

She waited till he was out of sight. Then shook her head and followed him.

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