CHAPTER THREE

At long last it was time to leave the Leaky Cauldron and head off to Hogwarts. Hermione has spent the previous twenty days reading in her room or roaming about Diagon Alley and Muggle London. She had found a grocery store not far from the Wizarding pub and had stocked up on cereal, bread, and meats and cheese for sandwiches. Knowing that those basics would sustain her helped a lot toward preserving her funds for other things, such as those books that were hard to find in her time, while still allowing herself one halfway decent meal per day. Now she was packing her things and readying herself for her journey to Kings Cross, and eventually Hogwarts.

It was a bit odd for her knowing that she was going back to Hogwarts without the comfort and familiarity of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. There was a part of her that was looking at this experience as a fresh start, but deep down she knew that it wouldn't be possible. During one of her many leisurely afternoons spent in her room, she had taken quill to parchment and created a list of anyone she may know as an adult who was currently a student. The list was longer than she liked. Unfortunately for her, that meant that she would most certainly be keeping to herself an awful lot in order to prevent any ramifications from the Vow she took. Hermione decided that she was okay with that though. She would use whatever time she had here in order to further her education and get ahead for what would hopefully be her real sixth year. She would attempt to make as little impact as possible.

With that thought in mind, Hermione dressed in her most basic jeans and tee, threw her simple black robe over her arm, and pulled her hair back into an elastic. She then picked up her bag and left the room she had called home for a little over a fortnight. There was a taxi waiting for her outside which brought her straight to Kings Cross with almost fifteen minutes to spare. Hermione paid the driver and then made her way to Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

Stepping through the archway and onto the platform was almost like coming home for her. The memories came flooding back and she immediately and instinctively looked around for her two best friends. It took only a moment for the thought to leave her head. She knew that they would not be found amongst the crowd and that if she looked hard enough, she was almost certain to find Harry's parents. Ron's parents, if she had done her math correctly, would have already graduated which was perfectly fine by her. They were two less people for her to potentially run into.

She lowered her head and pushed her cart toward the end of the train where the school trunks were kept. Once she ensured her things were safely on board, she picked up her rucksack and stepped on the train to find an empty seat. In years past she would search out an open compartment to share with Harry and Ron and last year, well, last year to her, she found her way into the Prefect's compartment. This time though, she was left alone. No matter. She would just find a place near a window and read for the duration.

It was a few hours later when the door to her compartment opened and interrupted her reading; she had just cracked open a text on Animagi transformations. All thoughts about learning the intricate magic behind it was quickly erased from her mind when she looked up into the most crystalline grey eyes she had ever had the misfortune to know. It took her almost a full five seconds to realize that she was staring up at Lucius Malfoy and not his son, Draco. Her eyes raked over his face, quickly taking in every detail and cataloging the differences and similarities between the two men. Just as she began to peruse his lips, she noticed his smirk and met his eyes once again.

'Good afternoon,' he began. 'I am Lucius Malfoy and I am a school Prefect from Slytherin House. Headmaster Dumbledore sent an owl stating that there would be a new sixth year student on the train and it would appear that I have found you. He has made it clear that we are to make you feel welcome and to help you acclimate to life at Hogwarts. Do you have any questions for me?'

Hermione just shook her head and tried to return her attention to her book. Not only had she and the headmaster already discussed almost everything in great length, but she also feared opening her mouth and saying something that might spark a memory in the man later on in life. Lucius, however, must have taken her silence and seeming lack of interest as a snub because when next he spoke, his voice wasn't nearly as warm and welcoming, if it could have been considered such in the first place. Hermione, for her part, tried her hardest to not roll her eyes or chuckle at the familiarity of his tone.

'Seeing as you appear to be otherwise engaged I will take my leave. However, I remind you that any school Prefect, along with the Head Boy and Head Girl, are always available to assist the students of Hogwarts. Good day to you.'

Just as he turned to leave her compartment, she spoke to him, the words falling from her mouth before she had a chance to censor herself. 'Erm, Mr. Malfoy? Which House will I be placed in?'

'Your House is not for me to decide. If I had to wager a guess, I would think that you will be sorted with the incoming First Years. Fear not, though. It is a painless process and takes virtually no time at all. Now I must bid you a temporary farewell, for I still have rounds to complete.' With a slight bow in her direction, he once again turned and, this time, left the compartment.

Hermione sat dumbfounded for a few minutes, replaying the conversation in her head over and over. When she had initially sat down and made her list of people she may know in this time, not once did the name "Lucius Malfoy" cross her mind. She had been too concerned with all of the adults she had come to know through her friends and through the Order. Last summer spent at Grimmauld Place had introduced her to a number of witches and wizards, but now that she was thinking on it, those were only members of what some referred to as the Light. She had never even considered meeting Death Eaters.

Constant vigilance. The words came to the forefront of her mind and flashed like a beacon in the night. Voldemort was still very much alive in this time, still gathering followers and climbing to power. He had yet to kill her best friend's parents or seemingly die trying to kill the same friend only to be resurrected a year ago…or rather a year ago for her. Then another thought struck her. If Lucius Malfoy was still at Hogwarts, then chances were very good that he had yet to take the Dark Mark himself. If she could only somehow…

No, she told herself. What she was thinking was impossible. These things had already happened in her time, even if they hadn't yet occurred in this. Changing anything, even something minor, could have major repercussions. It was a risk she didn't wish to take.

A few more thoughts occurred to her. She had referred to him as Mr. Malfoy and yet he hadn't corrected her. Most people her age would take offence to being called mister or missus, but then again, he wasn't most people. Was it possible that he already felt himself so superior? Probably. Draco did, that was for sure. She hadn't really thought about it when she addressed him, but then again, he was always "Mr. Malfoy" to her and never "Lucius." It also then occurred to her that she hadn't exactly been nice to him. She wasn't rude, but she also wasn't accommodating. The truth was that she was simply trying not to make an impression on the Slytherin Prefect, as he had introduced himself.

She was going to be sorted again. Thinking about it left her more nervous than she had been back in her own first year when she hadn't really known what was coming. Sure, she had read up on the school and its traditions, but some things just had to be experienced. The Sorting Hat had taken what felt like an eternity to place her, considering both Ravenclaw and Slytherin before ultimately putting her in Gryffindor. Would she have the same outcome this time around? She wasn't sure. Harry had told her that Dumbledore himself thought that the school sorted too early. A good case for that statement was Peter Pettigrew. Knowing what had become of the man and all the atrocities he had been party to was enough to make her even more nervous about the sorting. Would she still be in Gryffindor? Perhaps now she would go to Ravenclaw. She never really thought about Slytherin, but if she was being honest with herself, she knew that she could make a case for that House as well. A stray thought crossed her mind that she never even considered Hufflepuff. Wouldn't that be amusing…?

Diving back into her book on Animagi, she tried to concentrate on the words on the page but found herself reading the same passages over and over again. Her mind wasn't up to the task of reading and her stomach was beginning to protest because of all of the adrenaline running through her system. Her nerves were shot and nothing she did calmed her down. In the end, she simply stared out the window of the train and prayed to whichever deity that would listen that the trip would go quickly.