After saying a heartfelt goodbye to my father, and receiving a rather cold hug from my mother, they left for work in their little red car. I waved until they'd gone around the corner, smiling sadly. I knew i'd never get back what I'd had with my mother, now. She'd lost faith in me. She thought i'd gone off the rails and ruined my life. It hurt a lot, I cried myself to sleep the evening i'd taken the pregnancy test. Knowing she'd never hug me, kiss my cheek, or praise me again. Not, for a while anyway. Maybe she'd come around, if I married Fred, got a good job, and a home of my home. I desperately hoped so.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a loud hoot from behind me. A small blonde first year was struggling to push along a luggage trolley, his tawny barn owl perched on top. His mother was trotting along behind him, begging him to slow down, and wait for his father to arrive.

I nodded to the woman, before pushing my cart forcefully into the wall between platform nine and ten.

I stumbled out the other side, and tried to weave my way through the many students and parents on the platform. I craned my neck looking for either the Weasleys or Harry, and almost immediately spotted a sea of bright red hair. You could have seen it from a mile away.

I made my way over, dodging excited first years. As soon as Mrs Wealsey had seen me, she bustled over to me and engulfed me in a warm hug. I hugged her back tightly, feeling tears stinging my eyes. Why couldn't my mother have been as understanding as Mrs Wealsey?

She pulled away, and looked me up and down. Deciding I was to visit her for the Christmas holidays, and that I also needed a little fattening up. Fred was trying to stop his mother's ramblings but was failing miserably, whilst George and Ginny sniggered at his attempts. Percy had disappeared a few minutes before, presumably to see his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater. But, in his absence Harry had arrived, with Ron in tow.

Ron's face had remained expressionless as he looked at me, and I tried to smile at him, but he turned away.

'Have you got everything?' Mrs Weasley asked everyone.

There was a chorus of 'yes' , just as the bell rung signalling five minutes until the train left.

Mrs Weasley hurried to give us all one last hug and kiss, and in Fred and Georges case, a severe warning.

When she was done, she left to speak to Neville's grandmother, and we all parted ways.

'Hermione do you want me to take your suitcase onto the train?' Fred offered, geustering to my trunk.

'Yes please, Fred.' I grinened. 'That would be great.'

He smiled at me, as I lifted Crookshanks' basket off the trolley. He'd been asleep until then, but the sound of the bell had awoken him. I bundled him into my arms, and Fred lifted the case off the trolley, and made his way towards the train. I shoved the trolley back, and followed the path he had taken.

As I climbed on board, a few more late arrivals clambered on behind me, and suddenly the train doors all shut. The whistle blew, and the train began moving slowly. I walked along the narrow corridor between the compartments, looking out for Fred, Harry or Ginny.

Harry and Ginny were sitting with Ron, Neville and Luna in a compartment near the front of the train.

I slid the door open and slipped in. Everyone turned their heads to look up at me. Harry and Ginny smiled welcomingly, and Neville and Luna greeted me warmly, but Ron merely scowled and muttered something inaudible under his breath. He then turned to look out of the window.

Ginny gave me a sympathetic smile, and Harry just rolled his eyes. I could tell they were both annoyed with him too. I felt bad for Neville and Luna, they had to sit in this atmosphere. I considered leaving, but that would jsut look even more suspicious. Fred had told his family to keep it a secret, and I'd told Harry, so no-one else needed to know, for a while at least. If I left Neville and Luna would wonder why.

So instead, I slid into the seat next to Harry, and started a conversation with Ginny.

Neville and Harry were deep in conversation about Qudditch. Whilst Luna was sitting on the compartment floor reading the Quibbler upside down. Ron, just continued to galre out of the window.

It was about half an hour into the journey when Fred walked into the compartment.

'Hey Hermione.' He greeted as he stepped through the door.

'Hey Fred.' I smiled, standing up to hug him. When we broke apart he sat in my now vacant seat and pulled me onto his lap. I leant back against his chest and closed my eyes.

I slowly blinked my eyes open. I looked around, filed and trees were passing the window in a blur of green.

Neville was sitting on the floor reading, and Luna was sitting in his seat, playing with his hair absentmindedly, while gazing out of the window. Harry and Ginny were playing exploding snap, and Ron was watching sulkily, from his seat. I looked up to see Fred smiling down at me. He leant over and kissed me softly, giving me butterflies.

Ron jumped up suddenly, and ran out of the compartment. Neville looked up from his book in confusion. Ginny just rolled her eyes and went back to her game. Harry got up, to go after him but Ginny pulled him back down.

'I'll go.' She said. 'I promised I'd meet Dean anyway. So, I'll go speak to Ron, then go see Dean later.'

Harry nodded in thanks, and we all said goodbye to Ginny.

'I wonder what Ron's problem was.' Neville thought out loud.

I could tell it was going to be a very long nine months.