The morning came and the students had been woken up earlier in order to pack their belongings into their trunks and get ready to head down to the train station in Hogsmeade.
The boys had gotten their luggage all packed almost an hour before any of the girls emerged from their dormitory, many exchanging semi-tearful goodbyes despite the next time they would be seeing each other would be in September.
"Took you long enough Esposito! Could've gotten Yaxley married off in the time that it took you girls!" The sixth-year male prefects exclaimed when the fifth-year prefect emerged with the first, second, and third years girls with their bags.
"Oi!" The older student shouted from the side. "I am not that undesirable! Take it back Thompson!" He had almost whipped his wand out when the door to the common room open and in walked Professor Slughorn.
"The carriages are ready. Prefects, please escort the students down to the main gate. Seventh years, do stay back for a few moments. The rest of you, have an enjoyable summer and I hope to hear about it when you all come back." The Head of House smiled and waved goodbye to the students
The entirety of Slytherin house, except the seventh-years, all followed the prefects down from the school, just listening to them banter, most of them just laughing at Prefect Yaxley and his undesirability and his lack of social and romantic life.
It was a quiet journey on the carriages down to Hogsmeade, everyone being split apart from their houses and being placed with students no one knew very well. For some, they were lucky enough to be placed with house members, others, not so much.
But once at the train station, friend groups were quickly remade and reformed once boarded and the journey back to London began.
How Hermione found herself sitting in the compartment with 3 other crying girls, she didn't know. Here she was, sitting Anita Urquhart, Isabelle Yaxley and an unknown female from a different year all crying, exchanging goodbyes as if it was the last time they'd ever see each other.
Cecilia Cooke, a half-blood Ravenclaw, had come looking for her fellow housemate and had been dragged into the gaggle of crying girls.
"Why—why are you all crying?" The brunette exclaimed, trying to snake her way out of the gaggle.
Hermione zoned out during the conversation, making it very clear she didn't want to be stuck in the group hug or cuddle or comfort hug —whatever they wanted to call it— and looked out the window. Maybe she'd be able to get away without anyone noticing.
She looked back to the crying gaggle of girls and sighed. Cooke had finally given up om escaping the gaggle and took her place with the trio on the bench usually meant for two people and squeezed in. She shook her head and reached for her bag for something to do when she finally noticed the discreet waving of a hand on the window, out of view of the other girls.
She picked up her bag discreetly amongst the crying chaos and slid out of her seat, opening the sliding door quietly and leaving into the hall of the train. She looked to the person that was waving her hand and found that her saviour was her frizzy haired, slightly insane, roommate.
"Thank me later." Bellatrix grabbed her wrist and pulled her along the hall. "Be quiet." She ordered as they stopped near one of the compartments.
"Why?" Hermione whispered as Bellatrix crouched under the window, avoiding being seen. Hermione followed suit and crouched below the window.
"I want to hear what they're saying." she mouthed and pointed to them. They quickly quiet down and listened to the whispering. Hermione was able to recognise Andromeda, but the other voice, a female —Likely from a different house— it was evident neither Bellatrix or Hermione recognised the voice.
"Forget what they think." they heard the unknown female speak, "Look at how I am!"
"Your entire house ignores you."
"But people love me!" they could hear Andromeda laugh and some moving around.
"What are you both doing?" A voice asked loudly right behind them.
"shut up Frederick!" Bellatrix harshly spat before shoo'ing him away. "Secret."
"Oh, I see how it is." Fred looked between the two girls and the cabin door. "Alright." He walked slowly away. "Andy's being spied on!" He said loudly and knocked on the door before running.
"That bastard." Bellatrix and Hermione quickly got to their feet and quickly. "You snitch!" Bellatrix exclaimed when the two caught up to Fred, who was laughing his arse off near one of the empty trolleys.
When the train finally pulled into the station at King's Cross, the first thing that everyone did was look for their parents or guardians.
"Lucius, why is grandfather here?" Hermione asked her brother as he gave her luggage from the back on the train.
"Grandfather is here? But I saw father at the back." He said back, confusion in his voice. "Why are they both here? Usually mother is here."
"Let's go ask." Once the two had their luggage, they made their way through the thick crowd of parents and students before finding the parental figures standing outside of the crowd.
"Change of plans for a few days." Their father immediately began once the two were close enough. "Hermione, you'll be spending time with your grandfather. Lucius, you're with me." And just like that, Abraxas had disappeared with Lucius and his luggage, leaving Hermione with the elderly Septimus Malfoy.
"How was your term, my dear?" He hugged his granddaughter with both arms and kissed the top of her head. "Did you enjoy your time?"
"I did." she smiled and began gathering her luggage to leave.
"You don't wish to say goodbye to your classmates?" He asked. "I fear you won't be communicating very often with them for the next few weeks."
Hermione had quickly ran off to say goodbye to her friends while her grandfather watched from a distance.
I'm so sorry it took so long to update, though I do hope you all spent amazing vacations during winter break! I know that this is a short chapter but Ido hope you are all intrigued.
A quick reminder that feedback helps the Quill flow~