The Order Of Fawkes

CHAPTER 8 - THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS

"Everyone knows how to get on, so...Harry, you go first," Mrs. Weasley said patting Harry on the back as he ran through the wall.

Ron went next, and Ginny afterwards.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Let's go towards the back," suggested Harry looking back at Ron who was behind him. Harry unfortunately tripped over something.

"Watch it!" Ron said as he gave Harry a hand to help him up.

"Whoa! Who is that do you think?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. Let's bring her inside this compartment," commented Ron as they both brought the girl into the nearest compartment to their left.

The girl had straight blonde hair that was a little below her shoulders. Her eyes were closed so Harry and Ron couldn't see them. However, they were brown. She already had her robes on, which looked very clean, and new. She held something in her hand. It was a book. The book was-

"Hogwarts a History?" Ron asked curiously.

"You don't think that this could be-" Harry asked.

"No! Not our Hermione?"

"Of course not. How could it be? I mean, her hair? Her robes?"

"Well, they could be new."

"Yeah, I guess. But what if she dyed her hair blonde?"

"Dye hair? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, it's a muggle thing. Muggles put some type of cream in their hair, and it changes the hair colour. If she did dye her hair, and this is her, then she must of done that because you can't do magic away from Hogwarts," explained Harry as he touched her hair. It's so smooth. And straight. I wonder if this is Hermione? Harry wondered.

If this girl isn't Hermione, I think that she would end up her best friend. Thought Ron.

"Look! She's coming around." Said Harry.

"Huh? Where am I? Harry? Ron?" the girl said weary.

"Who are you?" Ron asked in amazement. She's even more beautiful awake!

"I'm Hermione, who else?" Hermione answered, curious why the two boys didn't know it was her.

"Oh. You just look, er- different," stuttered Harry.

"Thanks. You like it?"

"Yeah. It's pretty," Ron complimented.

"Thanks, Ron."

Ron blushed as red as his face could go.

Suddenly the compartment door slammed open.

"What are you doing here, pure blood?" Hermione questioned.

"It just doesn't work that way, Mud- Hey! Who are you, anyways!"

"Don't you recognize the Mudblood that you tormented for the last 4 years?" Hermione questioned.

"Hermione?"

"Yeah. It's me."

"It's just, that you look so beautiful!" Malfoy complimented [A/N: I'm not quite sure where this is going. Review and/or owl me to tell me what you want/think,].

"Yeah, well, thanks..." trailed off Herm. Then she jumped back to reality, "Why are you here? What do you want?"

"I just thought that Crabbe and Goyle were in here, but I guess they are in the compartment across from you. Sorry," Malfoy explained in a cold voice, like ice. All except the 'sorry' part.

"Bye," Harry said, gesturing Draco to the door with his waving hand.

"Well, that's a first. He actually apologized," Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, he did," Herm stated in shock. She was no where to be found. Even though she was visibly there, with Harry and Ron, her mind was elsewhere. Actually her mind was with Draco Malfoy. Malfoy's really changed. I mean Draco. No, wait! I mean Malfoy. Oh, I don't know what I think anymore. He's really grown taller. And cuter too! I think I'm starting to like him. What? What in bloody hell am I thinking? I have to stop. Hey, it just started. Well, actually not. At the end of last year, I think that it was then when it started. But, he's a Malfoy. He's - Draco Malfoy! I doubt that he'd ever like me. Me. A Mudblood, Hermione Granger. But what about the compliment? Well, I guess I do look better, now. Different hair, different robes. But why would HE like ME? Hermione thought.

"Hermione? Hermione?" asked Harry waving his hand in front of her face to cue her to come back to earth.

"Huh? What?" Hermione asked.

"You were somewhere else," stated Ron.

"Oh, yeah. I was just - er- thinking about what we're going to be learning this year," lied Hermione.

"Yeah. You would do that," said Ron.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hi Crabbe. Goyle," Draco exclaimed, as cold as he could get.

"Hi Malfoy," Goyle murmured.

"Hi," Crabbe mumbled.

"What's with you?" Malfoy wondered aloud, although not sympathetic at all.

"Nothing. It's just that now we won't become death eaters for 2 more full years," explained Crabbe.

"Aw... Poor little Crabbey," Draco Malfoy sarcastically stated.

After that, Crabbe and Goyle started arguing. However, Malfoy didn't hear them. Just like Hermione's thoughts were where he was, his thoughts were with her. She's just so beautiful, compared to before. Before? What is before? I think that it is her sudden change over the summer. I have to control myself. Okay. Draco, think. She's a Mudblood, you're a pure blood. She's in Gryffindor, you're in Slytherin. She has a completely clear destiny, amounting to anything she want to do. You, on the other hand, are probably going to become a death eater against your will. Against my will? I don't know anymore! I don't know if I want to be good, I don't know if I want to be bad. What is wrong with me? Oh, no! I'm becoming soft! This can not happen. I can't be. Oh, well. It will pass. I'm sure of it.

Draco finally came back to reality and realized that he should be putting his robes on.

"Can you two go somewhere else? I need to change into my robes," asked Malfoy cold as ice.

"Sure, Dra - Malfoy," Crabbe explained, hurrying to get out the door before Malfoy popped him one. Malfoy wouldn't of punched him one. Crabbe just expected it. Actually, on a regular day (without seeing Hermione, that is,) Malfoy would have.

Malfoy changed into his robes very quickly, and by the time he was done, the train stopped. He had returned to Hogwarts. Hogwarts, a school full of people that respected him. Malfoy developed a slight smirk. Pansy would be there. And some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, too. They would clear him out. He couldn't be fawning over her forever, could he?