The next day, Hermione stood on Platform 9 with her two best friends, and for the first time since their second year, they wouldn't be boarding the train with her. "I don't know how I'm going to do this without you both," Hermione sighed as they both surrounded her with a hug.

"It will probably be much easier without us around to cause you trouble," Ron joked as he released her.

"He has a point," Harry agreed. "You'll only have your own homework to do this year."

Hermione rolled her eyes at them and tried to fight back the tears that were welling up, "Whatever will I do with all my free time?"

Ron nudged her playfully with his elbow, "Maybe you'll meet good looking girl who will take up all your free time in empty corridors."

"Is that my fantasy or yours?" Hermione chastised.

"Shh," Ron said holding up a finger and closing his eyes, "I'm trying to picture it."

"Trying to picture what?" Ginny asked as she joined them.

Hermione shoved Ron and quickly added, "Nothing!"

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley saved them from further awkwardness by walking up to them for final goodbyes. She hugged them both and thanked them for letting her stay most of the summer. They assured her that she always had a home with them.

Molly pulled her into a tight hug, "Write to us, won't you dear? We do so love updates about how our children are doing."

Hermione's chest warmed at the thought of the Weasleys considering her part of the family to the point that Molly called her one of her own. "Of course, Molly," she smiled as she hugged the woman a little tighter. Over the smaller woman's shoulder, she could see Ginny and Harry sharing a goodbye. They were wrapped in each other's arms as if letting go would be the most painful thing either one of them could imagine. Hermione noticed Ginny wiping tears from her cheeks as she pulled away. Harry reached out to hold her face in his hands, tilting it up so they could share a final kiss. Hermione averted her eyes, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her heart.

She took a step back from Molly and recomposed herself, "I should get going. I have to give the prefects their assignments. Thank you, again, for everything." She nodded one last goodbye in their direction and made her way toward the train.

"Hermione, wait up!" Ginny called after her. She turned to see her jogging away from Harry. "Are you ready for this?" she smiled brightly at Hermione as if nothing had changed.

Hermione gave her a small smile and nodded, "I have to go check-in with the prefects, but you'll save me a seat, yeah?"

"Of course," Ginny replied as they stepped into the train car, turning to wave at the Weasleys and Harry one last time. "I'll find Luna and Neville. Join us when you can." She gave Hermione a sweet smile before turning to go to her compartment.

Hermione was making her way down the corridor to the front of the train when someone stepped out of a compartment and bumped into her. She nearly toppled over, but a pair of arms wrapped around her to keep her steady, "Oh jeez, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you." Hermione's stomach swooped a little when she looked up to meet the blue eyes of the girl that had bumped into her. She was taller than Hermione by a few inches. She had long blond hair, tan skin, and dimples accentuated her cheeks as she smiled brightly down at Hermione. The girl was objectively, and subjectively in Hermione's case, very beautiful.

"It's okay," Hermione blushed as she stepped back out of the girl's arms. "I wasn't paying very close attention."

The tall blonde seemed to be surveying Hermione as her eyes dragged all the way down her body and back up again before landing on her eyes, "Lucky me. I'm Taylor, by the way."

Hermione accepted the hand that Taylor offered, shaking it lightly while trying to ignore the tingling sensation in her palm, "Hermione. I've never seen you before."

Taylor smiled again and leaned against the doorway in her compartment, "I was homeschooled until this year. My parents are a bit paranoid, but now that I'm seventeen, I thought I'd give Hogwarts a try."

"How does that work with your sorting?" Hermione cocked her head curiously.

"I met with the headmistress over the summer and was pre-sorted. You're looking at the newest member of the Hufflepuff house, at least until the first years are sorted," she replied proudly.
Hermione gave her a warm smile, "Hufflepuff's a great house. I'm sure you'll love it. I have to get going. I'm Head Girl and duty calls."

"Head Girl, huh?" Taylor gave Hermione what could only be interpreted as a flirty smile. "I guess I know who to find if I need help adjusting. See you around, Hermione."

She couldn't help but watch as Taylor walked away, her eyes inadvertently drifting to stare at the girl's butt. Hermione blushed though no one would've noticed what she was doing. This is the first time Hermione could remember actively checking another girl out. Her mind was always so preoccupied with Ginny and what she couldn't have that she never paid much attention to what else was out there. Maybe Ron was right, though. Maybe there were other ways to keep herself occupied and distracted from thoughts of Ginny. This year may have just gotten a bit more interesting.

Taylor lingered in her mind the rest of the ride. It did seem like she had been flirting with Hermione, but she was so new at this how was she supposed to tell? It could have been that Taylor was just really nice and came off as naturally flirty to everyone. Even as she sat in the compartment with Ginny, Neville, and Luna, she felt distracted.

"Everything okay?" Ginny leaned in so their shoulders were touching.

Hermione nodded, "Sorry, my head's just all over the place."

She swallowed a sigh as Ginny rested a hand on her knee and started tracing small circles with her thumb, "You're the brightest witch of our age, Hermione. Whatever happens this year, I'm sure you'll come out on top."

"What about you? Are you excited?" Hermione asked.

Ginny gave her a beaming smile, "I didn't have the chance to tell you! I'm Quidditch captain this year."

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, "That's brilliant! Congratulations."

You'd think Ginny had already won the inter house championship with the way she glowed at Hermione's praise, "I can't wait to put a team together. You'll be at every match, won't you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes teasingly at the question, "You know I will."

After that, Hermione was able to relax for the rest of the ride to school. She chatted with her friends, changed into her robes, and enjoyed the sense of normalcy that accompanied being on the Hogwarts Express on her way to one of her favorite places in the world. Hermione was sure this was going to be an interesting year.