Hermione awoke early as the sun's rays sprawled over the backyard of the Burrow. With effort, she got herself up from the unyielding garden chair and trudged back into the warmth of the house. Opening her trunk, she removed the envelope containing her grades, her booklist, and instructions for her duties as a 6thyear prefect. McGonagall had written that all prefects were to meet in front of the train and help students, especially the 1styears, onto the train. Once onboard, they were to patrol the train at regular intervals and help the students disembark at the other end. Hermione packed a small carry bag with her uniform, a notebook andHogwarts: A History.She always read the book on the way to the castle.

The morning went smoothly, even Crookshanks was compliant when Hermione scooped him up to put him in his carry cage. Stone-faced aurors greeted the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione at King's Cross Station and ushered them through the barrier. Hermione watched Harry shrug off one of the aurors as he attempted to man-handle Harry through the gate. She followed close after. Once through the gate, Harry motioned for Ron and her to follow him up the platform and Ron seemed inclined to follow. Hermione interrupted, already looking towards where the prefects were gathering at the front of the train and apologised, "We can't Harry, we've got to go to the prefect carriage and then patrol the corridors for a while".

"Oh yeah, I forgot", said Harry. By the time she looked back at Harry he was making a beeline for Mr. Weasley.

She and Ron approached the group of prefects congregating on the platform. Hemione greeted Ernie and Hannah, as well as Anthony and Padma. The 7thyear prefects began to devise a quick schedule for patrolling the halls, each prefect paired with their same year, same house counterpart. It was only when the 7thyear Ravenclaw prefect was assigning a time for Pansy Parkinson to patrol the train corridor that Hermione realised a certain blonde Slytherin prefect was missing from their group.

"Where's Malfoy?", asked the Ravenclaw. Pansy shrugged.

"I don't know", she said coolly, though Hermione noticed her eyebrows tug together in the smallest of frowns. Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione, but she looked back towards Pansy.

"Well, let's get on with it", said the Ravenclaw. The prefects split ways and began rounding up confused looking first years who were timidly waiting to get on the train. While they were ushering the students in, Hermione turned to Ron.
"I don't think we should tell Harry", she said. Ron looked at her quizzically.

"I don't think we should tell Harry about Malfoy", she continued. Harry was paranoid enough as it was about Malfoy. Him flaking on his prefect duties would only confirm Harry's suspicions. It seemed wise to her to withhold that information from Harry. Ron seemed to think about it for a moment.

"I'm not sure Hermione, he didn't fare so well when we kept things from him last year", he said. She couldn't argue with that. Harry had been a mess last year and she knew herself and Ron had played a small part in that. It was a reasonable suggestion from Ron to tell Harry. But Hermione just wanted to not talk about Malfoy. Not when Harry had gone on and on about it for the last week, not when Malfoy had seen her half-dressed at Madame Malkins, and given her fashion advice? Not when she'd eventually see him again, even if he was forgoing his prefect duties.

In all her ruminating over the event at Madame Malkins, Hermione hadn't really considered that she would have to face down Malfoy at school again. Her cheeks felt hot at the realisation. Malfoy had seen more of her than she'd ever be comfortable with. What if he'd told the other Slytherins? She supposed it was better than being called a Mudblood, or at least, more run-of-the-mill bullying. Why hadn't she told anyone? Ron and Harry would have been furious. More furious than they were already at him for what they did see at Madam Malkins. Harry certainly didn't need more ammunition. But she couldn't deny that Harry finding out they kept this information from him would be a disaster. Would he be mad at her for not telling him what happened in the dress shop too?

Prefect duties completed for now, Hermione and Ron worked their way down the train trying to find the carriage where Harry was. As they passed into the next car they noticed a first year standing stiffly in the hallway, alone. The young girl looked pale, her hair carefully plated into two braids, already in uniform, and she was staring down the hallway of the car.

"Are you feeling ill?" Hermione asked. Train sickness always afflicted at least one of the first years. The girl looked up at Hermione.

"I'm not supposed to be here", she said timidly. Ron and Hermione glanced at each other.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. The young girl shuffled her feet a bit.

"I'm not a witch", she mumbled. Hermione just looked at her.

"I'm not a witch and I shouldn't be here", the girl repeated.

"Did someone tell you that?" asked Hermione, feeling her anger rise.

"No, but, everyone is talking about all the spells they know, all the magic they know about, I don't know anything! My parents are muggles," She looked at her shoes. Hermione's heart hurt. She remembered how scared she had been on the Hogwarts Express. Sure, she'd read everything she could get her hands on leading up to the beginning of her first year, but she too had worried that she'd never manage to produce magic, that it would all be revealed to be a mistake. Had that feeling really gone away? That's how she felt every summer. She didn't know what to say.

"What's your name?" Ron asked the girl, squatting down to be eye level with her.

"Brittany", she said with a sniff.

"Well Brittany, this is Hermione, my very good friend", he said, gesturing to Hermione.

"She also happens to be the best witch in our class", he went on.

"And like you, both her parents are muggles. You're going to do great". Hermione gave the girl a tentative smile and retrieved something from her bag. She placed her copy ofHogwarts: A historyinto the girl's hands.

"Here", she said, "to get you started". The girl smiled and ran her hand over the cover of the book.

"Thank you!" She said brightly.

"Now, off you go, you don't want to miss the lolly cart", said Ron standing back up. The first year scuttled away giving them a wave. Hermione looked at Ron surprised. He cocked his head to the side.

"What?" He asked.

"I…, that was…, very nice of you", she sputtered. He laughed.

"Always the tone of surprise, besides it's easy to be nice to first years when they're not know-it-alls", he said, giving her a look. She whacked him on the shoulder and took off down the hall. He followed.
"I can't believe you gave away your copy ofHogwarts: A history".

Shortly after, they found the carriage where Harry, Luna, and Neville were. Ron proceeded to tell Harry that Malfoy had been missing from prefect duties. Ron and Hermione had spotted him when they'd walked through the carriage the Syltherin's had taken up residence in. He'd acknowledged Ron only with a rude gesture. He hadn't looked at Hermione at all for which she had been thankful. Harry and Ron discussed this change in behaviour and Hermione suggested that perhaps Malfoy had enjoyed the inquisitorial squad a little too much and being a prefect was boring by comparison. She really didn't want to talk about Malfoy. Sitting in the carriage now, she was almost mad he hadn't acknowledged her, not even to be rude. It was so unusual. Harry was intent on theorising but before he could go on a third year interrupted them with an invitation for Harry and Neville to attend an impromptu meeting with Professor Slughorn. The two departed, Harry taking his invisibility cloak with him much to Hermione's admonishment.

Ron quickly fell asleep against the window of the train and with nothing to read Hermione and Luna were left to talk.

"So…" began Hermione, "what's in this edition of the Quibbler?"

"Well, there's a very good article about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks", she said in a dreamy voice, "I have an extra copy if you'd like". Hermione was about to refuse, but it would be a few hours until Ron and her were to patrol the hallway again, and she was already changed into her robes. With little else to do she accepted the copy of theQuibbler. Hermione had just flicked open the first page when Luna interrupted her.

"Hermione", she said. Hermione looked up and saw Luna's huge silver blue eyes staring at her. Her gaze was piercing and Hermione found herself unable to break it. There was a long pause. It felt like when Professor Trelawney looked at you. Hermione hated it.

"Don't forget to use your spectrespecs!" She said pointing to the detachable cardboard glasses she was wearing.

"Oh! Erm, ok!" Said Hermione and she attempted to remove the cardboard glasses from the copy of the Quibbler Luna had given her. Hermione put them on and opened the Quibbler. To be honest, the effect made her head spin a bit. But she persisted. She tried to make heads and tails of the articles, even the one on Snorkacks. It was only when she saw some 5th years giving her a funny look as they passed by that she took off the glasses and said out loud that perhaps she would practise some ancient runes in her notebook. Luna didn't acknowledge her saying so at all.

The countryside passed them by and the sun slowly began to descend towards the horizon. She nudged Ron awake and he'd groaned at the interruption. Hermione thought that was rude considering she'd been listening to him snoring for the past few hours.

"Is Harry not back yet?" He asked when he'd finally woken up.

"No", said Hermione. She was used to Harry disappearing but thought it was strange that both he and Neville had been gone for so long. Perhaps they'd find them while patrolling. Hermione and Ron made their way to the prefect cart where they found an inpatient Pansy Parkinson tapping her foot.

"There you are", she said as they arrived. Hermione looked around, her patrol had just finished, but she was alone, still no Malfoy.

"What are you gawking at?" Pansy demanded.

"You did your patrol alone?" Asked Hermione.

"Are you that afraid of first years Granger?" she taunted. Rolling her eyes, she shouldered her way past them.

"No need to go into the Slytherin carriage, there's plenty of big, brave, prefects there", she called as she left the carriage. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Delightful as always", he said. Hermione was inclined to agree. Parkinson had always been particularly scathing in her approach.

The two of them wandered the train corridor but found no further upset first years. Instead, they confiscated a fair few Weasley Wizard Wheezes items. Not all of them of course, just the ones that were outright banned. McGonnagall had gone as far to produce a list of prohibited items of which the prefects were instructed to confiscate onsight this year. The twins continued to be a headache for their Head of House even after their departure. However, Hermione thought McGonagall might be secretly proud of the Weasley twins; fireworks, though ostensibly dangerous, were not included on the ban list.

Eventually, the two of them happened upon Neville and Ginny, both of whom were returning from the Slug-club meeting. Harry was suspiciously absent from the group.

"Well, what did Slughorn want?" Asked Ron.

"Just a bunch of prats, pratting it up", replied Ginny and then looked at Neville, "no offence of course", she smiled. Neville grinned.

"He invited people from all different houses, asked them all a bunch of questions, and spoke about all these people he knows", continued Neville.

"Bet Malfoy lapped that up", said Ron.

"Actually, he wasn't there", corrected Ginny.

"What?" Asked Hermione.

"I mean," Ginny grimaced, "his father did just go to Azkaban".

"That's true", agreed Hermione.

"Zabini was there though", said Neville.

"Who?" Asked Ron.

"He's a Slytherin, your year", clarified Ginny.

"Where's Harry?" asked Hermione.

"Dunno, he disappeared under his cloak and went, said he'd catch up with us later", said Neville. Hermione threw Ron a worried look. Ginny caught it.

"Why, what's wrong?" she demanded.

Before Hermione could answer, a passing 7th year prefect let them know they'd be arriving soon.

"Go get dressed," Hermione instructed Ginny and Neville, "Ron we have to go".

"Yes ma'am", said Ginny dramatically, and she began to move down the hallway with Neville.

Hermione kept a keen eye out for Harry in between rounding up nervous first years and haranguing older students into actually getting ready to get off the train. Ron was of little help, of course, often encouraging bad behaviour amongst the students. Once the train rolled to a stop the true chaos began. Hermione ushered terrified looking first year students towards Hagrid. Once all the first years were boarded on boats she made her way quickly to catch a carriage with the older students. As she approached, she caught herself. She could see them. The thestrals. The skeletal horses that pulled the carriages from the train stop to the castle. The very thestrals she's ridden just a few months ago to the Ministry of Magic. She forced herself to step towards the closest carriage carefully observing the beasts.

"Hey Hermione!" As she hoisted herself into the carriage she saw that the 7th Year Ravenclaw Prefect and the Head Girl, who was a Hufflepuff, were seated inside. The three of them made pleasant conversation for the ride over but Hermione could not take her eyes off of the thestrals.

Hermione filed into the Great Hall with the rest of the students. Scanning the Gryffindor table she still saw no sign of Harry. If he'd gone after Malfoy she was going to be so mad at him! Her attention turned to the Slytherin table - no sign of the blonde wizard either. She looked beyond the house tables, Professor Flitwick, Professor Slughorn, Hagrid, Professor Binns were all seated. McGonagall was likely outside with the first years. Professor Snape was absent. Hermione sat down next to Ron and Neville, spying that Ginny was seated next to Dean Thomas just a few seats down.

"Have you seen Harry?" Demanded Hermione.

"No, have you?" Said Ron.

"No", Hermione replied. Before she could worry further the doors to the entrance hall were opened and the new first years were chaperoned in by Professor McGonagall. This congregation of first years was definitely smaller than years past. Reflecting the concerns of wizarding parents that their children would not be safe at Hogwarts. The faces of the first years, however, were just as frightened as usual. The Sorting Hat unfurled and its voice echoed through the hall.

Many turns ago,

When I was fresh and new,

Four founders came together,

To impart what they knew.

Slytherin sought purity's grace,

Ravenclaw, minds of keen,

Gryffindor, valour's embrace,

Hufflepuff, fairness' sheen.

Each quality, disparate,

Searched for in each house,

Together makes a whole,

A witch or wizard, pronounced.

But beware history's call,

Hogwarts stands, or divided, falls,

Unite within, lest ill befall,

Let the Sorting commence, heed the thrall.

Hermione shivered. The warning was not unlike that the Sorting Hat had given out the year before. Darkness seemed to be encroaching from all directions. Hogwarts just didn't feel the same. The sorting began. Hermione let her mind wander. She thought she might try to get to the library before bed, or first thing tomorrow. Perhaps then it would all feel more normal. She considered what she should prioritise first. Ancient runes always required extra reading and the texts at Hogwarts were better than those she could get at Flourish and Bolts. Yes, that would be her first order of business. She nearly jumped out of her seat when the food appeared on the table. Ron began shovelling food onto his plate. Hermione served herself a small portion of roast and began picking at it. Her eyes kept flicking towards the door. Dinner came and went, followed by dessert. The door opened, and Malfoy walked into the hall. What had kept him from the feast? He seated himself next to a relieved looking Pansy Parkinson, but didn't say a word to her. Harry had still not come back. Hermione frowned and turned to see Ron deep in his cobbler.

"Will you stop eating?!" She exclaimed, whacking him with her notebook, "Your best friend is missing!"

"Turn around you lunatic", Ron said looking over her shoulder. She turned her head to see Harry walking in, his face smeared with blood. What on earth had happened to Harry between the train and here? He sat down next to them. Hermione was able to clean away the blood with a quicktergeo. She'd tried to ask him about it but he'd rebuffed her insisting they talk about it later. Instead they talked of the Slug-club. They waited for Dumbledore's address, and Hermione's stomach turned when she saw the headmaster's blackened hand. She rolled her eyes at Filch's supposed "blanket ban" on Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Products, and recoiled when Professor Snape was announced as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, and she wasn't the only one. The announcement set the Great Hall awash with whispers. As the feast drew to a close students began to move to their dormitories. Professor McGonagall announced over the masses that the Prefects were to return later, after they had escorted the first years to their new rooms.

The first years proved a rowdy bunch. It had taken Hermione and the new 5th year prefects half an hour just to get them to go up to their dormitories and settle in. They were peppered with questions non-stop. Hermione sent the new prefects on to the meeting as the time approached. When she'd finally finished consoling the last young Gryffindor who had misplaced her favourite jumper somewhere on the train or in the castle Hermione was in a rush to get to the meeting. She didn't see Ron in the common room, presumably he had headed to the meeting without her.

Candlelight flickered against stone floors illuminating the way to the Transfiguration classroom. She nudged the door open and slipped inside.

"Ah, Miss Granger, please come in", said Professor McGonagall. She stood at the front of the classroom in her tartan robes. Hermione took a seat towards the back of the class. She could see Ron sitting amongst the other Gryffindor prefects. On the opposite site of the classroom the Slytherin prefects looked bored. Amongst them, white blonde hair caught her attention. Malfoy was here. Seemed he was interested in reprising his duties after all.

McGonagall explained that security at Hogwarts had been increased over the summer. Whilst magical wards had been applied to various boundaries of the school part of the continuing safety measures would involve further student surveillance - especially at night. Prefect's historically patrolled for a few hours in the evening. Typically prefects of the same house would walk the halls of the castle. Prefects still only had the passwords for their own dormitories so the house dormitories went unchecked. However, McGonagall went on to explain that she would like prefects to include this in their rounds now and so this year prefects of different houses would be paired together. Each evening a student from each house would be providing patrol. There were numerous groans at this announcement, especially from the Gryffindor corner of the room. McGonagall shushed them and continued. She told them she would devise a roster over the next few days and if anyone had any special requests to put them in writing to her. Until then, patrols would be assigned on the volunteer basis. McGonagall turned to face the Slytherin group.

"Mr Malfoy, since you enjoyed a relaxing morning on the train today you might I assume you are our volunteer from House Slytherin for this evening?" Hermione could barely contain her snigger. Other Gryffindors openly laughed. To her credit, McGonagall shot them a stern look. Hermione watched Malfoy, expecting him to protest, or attempt to weasel his way out of it but when he opened his mouth he simply said "yes professor". Next McGonagall turned to the Ravenclaw group and a 7th year volunteered to take tonight's shift, this was immediately followed by a Hufflepuff 7th year shooting her hand up and saying she'd be happy to accompany the Ravenclaw prefect. Hermione knew the two of them to be friends, but thought it was an awfully cunning move from a Hufflepuff. She grimaced, this meant some poor Gryffindor sod would be paired with Malfoy. McGonagall turned to her own house. All the Gryffindor's seemed to shrink away. Hermione too was attempting to disaparate on the spot when McGonagall's eyes flicked to the back of the room.

"Miss Granger, if you would?" Asked McGonagall. This was low of her, Hermione thought, she knew Hermione would never say no to a teacher, especially not to Professor McGonagall. Hermione cleared her throat.

"Uh, of course", she agreed.

"Thank you", she went on to give the prefects the current password to the prefect bathroom before dismissing them. Once the other prefects had filed out of the classroom she gave the remaining four students specific instructions about which areas to monitor, who the professor on duty would be, and how to best find Filch if they needed assistance. Malfoy stood arms crossed, looking reproachfully at McGonagall. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff 7th years were already deep in conversation as the four of them left the classroom. They proceeded to stroll off before Hermione could get a word in to them. She walked after them a bit but they were gone too fast. Slowly, she turned back around to face the classroom door where Malfoy was lent next to it, arms folded, ankle crossed. His eyes bore into her and he gave a little sigh. He spoke before she did.

"Well, just my luck".