Nothing Else Left

Chapter 2

The rest of the time they spent in Diagon Ally was uneventful. The students bought all the supplies needed for the school year and went to stay the night in the Leaky Cauldron. Ron and Harry shared a room. Draco had wanted to share a room with Hermione, but she had decided against it. She didn't want anything to happen that she would regret later. And so she and Ginny shared a room, and Draco got his own. It was the first year that Molly and Arthur Weasley had trusted Ron and Ginny to go get their stuff and get a room alone. They all went down to get some drinks once they were done packing. The next morning was September the First, and they were to get on the Hogwarts Express at Platform nine and three quarters, just like they do each and every year. Of course, except for Ginny, this was the last time that they would ever board the train on their way to school. For all of them, even Draco, this was a depressing thought. Each one of them made a vow to themselves to make this the best year they have ever had. They also faced the fact that after school, they would all go their separate ways, possibly never seeing each other again. Hermione knew they would never let that happen, and that every chance they could get; they would be spending it together.

"I can't believe this is really our last year together at Hogwarts. It's so sad. I'm going to miss everyone, everything so much." Hermione sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

Draco's arms tightened around her. "We haven't even gotten to school yet and you're already thinking about leaving? Just keep you're mind on the fact that we have a whole 'nother year together. All of us," he added, smiling around at the rest of them. Ginny looked so sad.

"What will I do? I don't really have any friends in my grade, they are all higher. They're all going to be gone, and I'll be left alone. I'll miss you guys." She sniffed too, then gave a watery smile. "I guess there'll always be Collin." Ginny had started to like Collin at around the same time Draco and Hermione got together. He liked her too, (who wouldn't? she was gorgeous) but he was kind of shy around her. Anyone who knew Ginny knew that she would wait for him, though.

"So, is everybody packed? I was thinking that we could all get up early and walk around Diagon Alley, you know, kind of saying goodbye to it, maybe stopping to say bye to Fred and George. We could get ice cream for breakfast. We've never been able to do that with the Weasley's here," suggested Harry, grinning at Ron, who's mother had made sure each of them got a healthy and complete breakfast.

All of them gave nods or a 'sure' in agreement. Ron gave a gigantic yawn. He looked at the clock, and seeing it said almost midnight, stood up. "I'm exhausted. I'll see you all in the morning. G'dnight." He yawned again, stretched and started up the staircase. Harry followed soon afterwards.

Hermione looked up into Draco's tired eyes. "Well, I know it's hard for you, but I think I ought to get to bed too." She grinned.

"Ok, I'll come too," Draco answered smoothly, setting Hermione, who had been sitting on his lap, on her feet.

"I'm not sure if Ginny would like that."

"Well, then come here for a second." He pulled her to him and kissed her lightly.

Ginny rolled her eyes, chuckled softly and headed to her room.

"I'll be right there!" Hermione called after her.

"So, you getting used to my friends yet?" Hermione asked, knowing that six years of severe distaste was hard to get rid of in a few weeks.

"I guess they're ok once you get to know them better. Not that I'd ever let them know that. Of course, they're nothing compared to you."

"Ha. Well, I should get going. Long day ahead of us tomorrow. You going to sit with us on the train?" Hermione thought that he might like to spend some time with Crabbe and Goyle, but since they've been staying back for the past two years, she doubted it. He didn't like the fact that they were so stupid. Not to mention that they weren't really friends to begin with. But that's a different story.

Draco nodded, sighing. "I guess I should. Maybe they've learned something useful over the summer. Not to mention I don't want them telling their fathers about me hanging around a Muggle, forget going out with one. They would go straight to Father, no doubt about it. Just for the train ride, though. And lunch, breakfast and supper. No choice there, we have to stay with our houses. I'll be with you every moment I can, though, mark my words."

They kissed once more before going to their rooms. When Hermione got there, Ginny was already fast asleep. Hermione was exhausted. She didn't even change her clothes for sleeping, never mind remembering to take off the small locket...

* * *

"Hermione? Wake up. We're going to be leaving in a few minutes to say goodbye to Fred and George." Ginny's soft voice barely even penetrated Hermione's subconscious, forget waking her up.

"Hermione..." poke "Hermione..." poke poke POKE "HERMIONE!"

"Huh? What do you want?" Hermione opened her eyes weakly to see Ginny standing over her, a totally innocent look on her face.

"What? Oh, sonce you're up, you should know that we're leaving in ten minutes to say goodbye and good riddance to Fred and George...and Ned and Norge for that matter..." She smiled sweetly and skipped out of the room. Hermione listened to her footsteps descend the stairs before she moved. She stretched, sat up, and then collapsed back onto the bed. There was no way she was getting up any time soon. Then Draco walked in.

All of a sudden, Hermione was fully awake. She could see and hear everything as clearly as ever. Her mind was fresh and sharp, and a wave of loving respect flooded to Draco.

Draco smiled. "Up? Ginny said it might be a while, but you look awake to me."

"Well, I wasn't a few seconds ago. It was weird. You walked in, and I woke up."

"Huh, must be the new cologne. I bought it last week. Like it?" Draco pulled out a bottle and sprayed her a few times.

"Ehhhhh, stop it, I can't breathe with that stuff in my face." She waved a hand in front of her face, clearing it as much as possible. "Well, now that I can smell it properly, yes, I do like it. But now I'm going to smell like it all day."

"Maybe some girls will like it. That wouldn't be so bad..."

Hermione punched him in the arm. "Typical guy. What is the fetish with lesbians?"

"What fetish? There is no fetish. I just wouldn't mind having a couple extra girls around..." Draco batted his eyes innocently at her. "Oh look! There go some now!"

"Yeah, right. You want me to fall for that 'made you look' stuff? I'm not that gullible, or that immature." When Hermione turned to grin at him to let him know she was playing, she caught a glimpse out the window of two young female witches making out. "Ewww, ok, so you were right. Leave me alone." She pushed him out the door so that she could get dressed and ready to go. Once he was gone, all it took was a wave of her hand and she was in her robes. She knew that it didn't matter if Draco was in the room; nothing showed when she got dressed like that. But somehow, it seemed wrong. Hermione had learned a lot from Hogwarts. She couldn't wait to get on the train so she could start practicing her changing.

Ever since her fourth year, when she had learned about Sirius being Animagus, along with several other people, Hermione had wanted to be one too. She had received permission from Professor McGonnegal, Professor Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic to become one. She had chosen to be a falcon. She wasn't at all sure why. It just seemed to have grace, speed, agility and power, all wrapped up into a compact, beautiful body. She was a deadly hunter.

Naturally, Harry and Ron wanted in too, so they tried to get permission. Of course they were denied, and of course they did it on their own. Harry already had it down perfect, even better than Hermione did. Harry chose to be a male deer, a buck. When he transformed, he was beautiful. The antlers were gigantic; they looked too heavy to keep his head up. He carried his weight as if it was nothing, and he moved easily. Harry had wanted to become as close to the animal as his father, and he wanted to be the buck as soon as the option came up.

Ron, on the other hand, was lucky if he could get fur, never mind fully transform. He had chosen the arctic fox, being small, fast and agile, he figured it might come in handy. So far, he had managed to get a tail and the fur. He was coming along, though.

Draco didn't know they were all becoming Animagus, and no one was planning on informing him of it either, for safety reasons. Even Hermione had to go along with this, even though she would trust Draco with her life.

When Hermione was all done, she went downstairs to meet the others. They all said good morning and soon set off.

First, they all went to get ice cream for breakfast. Harry paid for it, manly because he had the most money out of all of them. Afterwards, they headed off to say goodbye to Fred and George. Surprisingly, they were actually working instead of their owls. Hermione still thought that to be a little weird, but hey, that right there perfectly describes the Weasley twins. They aren't the most "normal" people you could meet. Then again, Hermione remembered that for the past six years she wasn't exactly normal either. After all, she was a trained and talented witch.

"Hey Fred, George." Hermione and the others greeted the twins as they strode purposefully into the store.

"Hey, I was wondering when you guys would pop in to say goodbye. Any of you going to visit us during the holidays?" answered George, sporting a gigantic smile.

"I don't know yet," Ron looked curiously at the two grinning brothers. "Why are you so happy?"

"Oh, come on Ron. You know the answer. "Fred winked at the rest of the group, then looked back to Ron. "You'll finally be out of our hair for a while. I can't say it'll be long enough, though. Either way, it's better than nothing."

Ron grinned, but his eyes clouded over. When Fred saw this, he walked over and ruffled his little brother's hair. "Come on, you know I'm kidding. Besides, everyone knows this is the biggest day of the year for joke shops. All the kids putting in some last-minute prank shopping before school starts. Setting off a dung-bomb in the school hallway is the perfect way to make a first-impression on all the teachers!"

"Well, that's what we thought, anyway," George added thoughtfully, reminiscing the memory of their first day of school at Hogwarts that seemed so long ago. Even though it was eight years ago, both the twins could still remember it perfectly. Ron hadn't been in school yet, back then, and Fred and George were by no means intimidated by the huge school and powerful teachers. Just as they walked into the school and stood waiting for the faculty to set up the sorting ceremony, Fred took out a dung-bomb and set it off right in the middle of the first-year students. They both thought it was hilarious, but it turned out that Professor McGonnegal didn't think so. They had both been landed with a week's detention. Thankfully, no points were taken from Gryffindor, seeing as they had not been sorted into houses yet at the time.

They all talked for a few minutes, until Ginny glanced at the clock and realized they only had fifteen minutes to get their stuff from the Leaky Cauldron and get to Platform 9 ¾. They all ran, got their stuff, and wheeled it as fast as was possible to the crowded train station. Even running at full speed, they just barely made it onto the train. They boarded the train, all exhausted, except for Hermione. Amazingly, she felt fine. She wasn't even breathing hard, considering she had just sprinted almost a mile. 'Weird,' she thought. 'I could barely run down a hallway without getting tired.'

Draco kissed Hermione lightly on the forehead. "I'll see you when we get to Hogwarts."

"Okay." He left and Ginny went off in search of Collin. Hermione, Harry, and Ron took their usual compartment in the very back. Harry and Ron were both still breathing hard from their run. Ron looked up and saw Hermione standing there, looking at them, a strange expression crossing her face.

"Hermione, you're amazing. You're not breathing hard or anything. You're not even sweating!" Ron's mouth was open in jealousy. Harry laughed bitterly, then coughed from lack of air.

"I know, I don't understand it. I've never been a..." Hermione stopped as a sudden wave of fatigue swept over her. She didn't know what was going on. Abruptly, she was too tired to even keep her eyes open. The last thing she saw was the floor rushing up to meet her.