AN: Thank you for your continued support, feel free to write me your thoughts!
Read and review please!
Song suggestion: Train wreck, Demi Lovato. Please feel free to suggest songs!
Chapter Eleven: Train wrecks.
"Have you got everything?" Molly asked for the millionth time.
"Yes mum." Ginny sighed.
"Good, have a nice year, I love you." The mother and daughter hugged before Ginny got on the train where Hermione stood in the doorway.
"Love you." Ginny waved once before ushering Hermione into a compartment.
"Hey guys." Hermione smiled as she settled in her seat.
"How was your summer?" Neville asked as he lounged his arm around Luna's shoulders and she smiled dreamily at him.
"Good, thank you." She nodded before looking out of the window.
"Ron!" Lavender hugged him-having finally gotten rid of the stupid nickname and came back to earth. Hermione admitted she liked Ron back ages ago, but realised that Lavender was better suited, now she felt like she could call her a friend which Hermione was happy to do, so she smiled at the couple interaction as she glanced at them before looking back to the window.
"Lavender, hey baby."
"You start kissing and I'll bat-bogey hex you both." Ginny threatened.
"Fine." Ron conceded sitting Lavender on his lap.
"Can I read this?" Hermione asked picking up the Daily Prophet.
"Sure." Harry nodded.
"Thanks." She muttered already reading.
As trucidatorus plague continues to grip the Wizarding World, we start to worry about the effect it is having on the population. It is well known the number of Wizards and Witches is far fewer than Muggles, but are we coming to a time when the Wizarding World will finally succumb and die off? The question is what is the Ministry of Magic doing to stop this from happening?
"It's getting worse. Dad says half of the population might be gone." Ginny whispered.
"It's bad." Hermione frowned.
"Yes, very, never has a disease caused this before."
"What is the Ministry doing about it?"
"Dad doesn't know. It's very hushed up, so it's probably something that's going to be frowned on." Ginny shrugged.
"You're not bothered by this?"
"No, we Weasleys are strong, and anyway, how can a sixteen year old be involved in the Ministry's plans? Not likely, we're fine."
"Has anyone you know had it?"
"Not many, mainly old people, but it's becoming more frequent in younger people."
"Does it affect everyone?"
"Yes."
"Do you always die?"
"Yes."
"Can you test for it?"
"I think so…"
"Why don't they test people?"
"Your guess is better than mine."
"It's so sad with so many people dying…what about the population? Do you think Wizards and Witches will die off?"
"I don't know…"
"Does it affect just us or Muggles too?"
"Just us…we don't know why."
"How come there's no cure?"
"Because it kills quickly, too quickly to try and cure, and really infectious, so people don't go near people with it if they can help it."
"What about the healers?"
"Most people are told to stay home and make your passing comfortable and make the appropriate arrangements."
"That's not right."
"It's all they can do, unless we want no healers."
"True, but it's still not right to leave them to die."
"I'm sorry Hermione, it can't be helped."
"I need some air." Hermione stood up.
"Do you want me to come?"
"No, I'll be fine, I won't go far."
"Okay…be careful."
"I will." She shut the door behind herself and walked slowly away. Glancing around, she was wary of the feeling racing up her back-the same from the bookstore so she spun around with her wand out but couldn't see anyone. Don't be so paranoid. She scolded herself before turning around and running smack into someone. The someone she was trying to avoid.
"Hi Granger."
"Bye Malfoy." She turned her back on him and walked away.
"Come on, that's not very hospitable."
"Give it a rest." She spun around to him and felt herself melt as their eyes connected. She swayed towards him slowly and he smirked and pulled her to him. Her heart fluttered in her chest and smiled at him.
"Hermione!" Ginny hissed rushing up to them.
"Oh my gosh Ginny!" Hermione pulled away from Malfoy as the spell broke again and hurried to Ginny, "Thank gosh you were here."
"Come on, Harry just bought one of everything and I doubt you want to have the gross Bertie beans."
"Okay."
"Good luck Granger." Malfoy said backing away.
"What?" She turned to him-careful not to make eye contact.
"Head girl?"
"Oh yeah. You too for head boy."
"Thanks." And he was gone.
"That was really bad!" Hermione whispered.
"Come on, next time I'm coming with you."
"Thank you for saving me."
"Don't worry about it."
"Let's go." Hermione nodded and they entered their compartment.
"Hey." Ginny smiled sitting with Harry.
"Hey yourself, where've you been?"
"Around." She pressed her lips to his cheek.
"I thought you said no kissing?" Ron grumbled eating a pumpkin pasty.
"It was a peck."
"Same difference."
"Shut up Ron."
"Stop arguing." Harry sighed.
"Hermione, are you okay? You look a little pale." Luna remarked and everyone turned to her.
"I'm fine, I didn't sleep well."
"Oh, I could give you something for that if it's nightmares? Daddy makes it."
"Thank you Luna but I'll be okay." Hermione resisted rolling her eyes-her nightmares couldn't be helped with whatever Xenophilious Lovegood was making.
"Just ask if you want any later." Luna smiled sweetly.
"Thank you Luna." As much as Hermione liked Luna as a friend, she would appreciate it more if she hadn't just come out and said it, drawing attention to her.
"You're welcome." She nodded.
"So Lavender, did you get that new perfume?" Hermione changed the subject in almost desperation.
"Yeah, it came last week. Though I haven't worn it yet."
"New perfume?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, you know the one with Veela blood in it, it's really expensive and I have been saving it forever."
Veela! Hermione sighed internally, why did it have to be Veela! Unable to control her thoughts Hermione's mind wandered to latest encounter with Malfoy. What would have happened if Ginny hadn't interrupted? Oh my gosh! I don't want to think about that! She screamed in her head. Feeling drained Hermione rested her forehead on the window, thinking.
This year is going to be interesting.
AN: Trucidatorus is basically Latin for killer with us added on the end.
I am aware of the terrible Ebola virus plaguing parts of the world, it is a horrific tragedy I pray ends soon. The trucidatorus virus I have created is not related in any shape or form to Ebola, it is a complete coincidence that I wrote about a deadly virus two years ago and I'm posting the storyline now, while a real one is killing thousands, I would have cut it out if it weren't necessary to my later plot. I hope this plotline is not too distressing for any of my readers and I would completely understand if you decided not to continue reading on the basis that it was too much for you. Here's to the end of the Ebola virus.