Delayed Friendships

Hermione Granger stepped off the Hogwarts Express and into the crowd of students heading for the carriages which would take them up to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hermione had been a student at Hogwarts for five years now, and was looking forward to starting her sixth; they would begin work for their NEWTs, and Hermione, always eager to learn, relished the thought of advanced Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms and Arithmancy.

It was usual for sixth-year students to only take four subjects, but Hermione enjoyed work more than anything, and was used to burying herself in it. In her third year she had gone so far as to borrow a Time-Turner from Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, which allowed her to attend all of the optional OWL subject classes as well as the compulsory lessons, and no one had been any the wise.

Truth be told, thought Hermione, no one really cares enough about where I am to notice anything unusual, even if I was technically two places at once. And she was right. Hermione was a girl who kept herself to herself. No one really talked to her, and no one ever talked about her. A fine example of her solidarity was shown on the journey to Hogwarts; even though Hermione was a prefect, she had barely said a word in the prefect's meeting as the train pulled out of Kings Cross station, and only spoke with force once on the long journey to reprimand a couple of third-years who were trying to force some poor new boy's frog out of the window.

After she had finished patrolling, Hermione had found herself a carriage near the end of the train which was empty except for Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom and the infamous Harry Potter. They were fellow sixth-year students, and were all in Gryffindor, the same house as Hermione. There had been a tense silence as she entered the carriage and sat down, but she got the feeling this atmosphere had been present for quite some time.

'Sorry,' she had apologised. 'There wasn't really anywhere else to sit.'

Ron and Neville had offered her small smiles, whilst Harry just sat and stared out of the window. She knew Neville fairly well because she sometimes helped him with work if he was struggling, and Ron was the other Gryffindor prefect in the year. Hermione had patrolled with him once or twice a week during their fifth year, but little conversation had been shared between them, and they had fallen into a routine of walking the corridors in a silence both were uncomfortable with, but neither knew how to displace.

The train had chugged on through the afternoon and into the evening until it reached Hogsmeade station, where the students had eagerly crowded onto the platform ready for the new term.

As Hermione navigated her way through the mass of students towards the carriages that would transport them to the castle, she noticed a few new faces in the crowd. Not just first years; there were some students who looked like they should have joined Hogwarts many years ago.

She boarded the first empty carriage she came to, and seconds later, Ginny Weasley clambered in to join her. Ginny was Ron's younger sister, and was just starting her fifth year. Like her six older brothers, and her parents before them, Ginny was a Gryffindor, and showed it. She was one of the most out-going people Hermione knew, and the only other girl Hermione was really friends with.

'Hi, Hermione,' said Ginny when she was settled. 'Have a nice summer?'

'It wasn't bad. My parents found out what happened at the end of last year and considered taking me out of Hogwarts, but I managed to dissuade them by asking what career I was to go into with nothing but a wizard's education.'

Ginny looked shocked. The incident Hermione was referring to had stunned the wizarding world, and quite rightly. Voldemort, one of the most powerful dark wizards that ever lived, had returned to power. Harry Potter was his arch-nemesis, and he had said as much the previous year after the Triwizard Tournement, when he had mysteriously disappeared along with Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff. When he returned, along with Cedric's body, and announced that Voldemort was back in power, few believed him. However, an 'epic battle at the Ministry of Magic' (according to the Daily Prophet) had changed all that, and now no one was in any doubt - Voldemort was back.

Hermione mulled this over as the carriage approached the castle. She had believed Harry from the start, and had had expected an event such as this to happen. Because no one really spoke to her when she sat alone in the common room, Hermione had been a people-watcher since first year, and Harry's behaviour had led her to believe something was definitely wrong.

She noticed that her companion was quieter than usual, and suddenly realised that Ginny had been involved in the Department of Mysteries struggle. How could I have forgotten? Hermione scolded herself.

'Ginny?' she ventured. 'Are you alright?'

'Yes, thanks,' Ginny said. 'It's just - it was all so ... terrible. I think Harry's really suffering. He lost the nearest thing he ever had when Sirius ... y'know ...' she finished lamely.

Hermione nodded. Sirius Black had been hailed as one of the worst murderers in wizarding history until he had been cleared of all charges this summer. Unfortunately, it was too late. Sirius had died in the fighting at the Ministry, and Harry had lost his Godfather.

They sat in silence until the carriage came to a halt outside the entrance to Hogwarts, where the two girls jumped down and headed up the steps. Once inside, they headed straight for the Great Hall, where Hermione made moves to sit at the end of the Gryffindor table, away from all the action. Ginny instantly grabbed her arm and pulled her further down the hall, ignoring Hermione's protests.

'But Ginny, I always sit up that end. It makes it easier to guide the first-years up to the common room,' she reasoned.

'Nonsense,' Ginny retaliated. 'You've only had to do that once. Ron sits down here and he has no problem. And that's not just because he's a clumsy oaf and people flee before him. No, you can sit with me up here. You never know, you might like it.'

Hermione sighed. 'Fine. I suppose you get a better view of The Sorting from here anyway,' she smiled, and Ginny gave a nod of approval. They came to a halt and sat down together a little way from the front. 'It should be interesting; I've noticed that there are some new students this year who aren't first-years.'

After a few minutes of pleasant conversation - Hermione learnt that Ginny intended to try out as a Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year, reasoning that Harry would want his Seeker position back - they were joined by several of their housemates; Ron, Harry and Neville included.

'Bloody idiots,' Ron said, shaking his head as he sat down opposite her. 'Everyone knows Sharker's our best player. I can't believe that Mutson's gone and sold him to Puddlemere. Puddlemere! It's not even like he went to a good team!'

'Sharker was never the Canons' best player. What about Middleton? He's by far the fastest Chaser you've got, and his aim's always spot-on,' reasoned Seamus Finnigan, another sixth-year, who had sat down on Ron's left hand side. 'And Patchell's a great Keeper.'

'And,' put in Ginny, 'Crewes has been playing really well for the reserves. I think he may prove even better than Sharker. You practically said so yourself!'

Ron went red; Hermione knew he didn't like losing arguments. 'Where's this food, anyway?' he said, changing the subject to avoid further humiliation from his little sister. 'I'm famished.'

It was at this point he seemed to notice Hermione, who had stayed silent throughout the Quidditch exchange. She had never really had the opportunity to get into the sport, and so had little time for it. Sometimes she thought this would be different if she was better friends with Ron or Harry, or even Seamus.

'How come you're sitting down here?' he questioned her bluntly.

'Didn't realise there was a law against it.'

Ron started to turn the colour of his bright red hair once more. 'I didn't mean it like that, it's just you usually sit up the other end, and-'

'Ron,' Ginny cut in, 'Hermione can sit where she likes.' And as a matter of fact, I invited her to sit up here. She is my friend, you know.'

Hermione tried hard to suppress a blush here. No one had ever stuck up for her before, even though it wasn't really necessary; she had learnt from watching him that Ron didn't tip-toe around questions. Not only that, but Ron had noticed where she usually sat. Maybe she wasn't invisible after all.

The Sorting began, and Hermione clapped along with the rest when new students joined the Gryffindor table. After all the first-years had been Sorted, six others were left at the front of the hall, looking uncomfortable under all the stares in their direction. Professor McGonagall announced that these new students had previously attended Muggle schools through their own choice, but were now joining Hogwarts because their parents felt that 'the present situation required it'. Two new students were Sorted into Gryffindor; a third-year girl named Amelia Packer, and a fifth-year boy called Jake Scot.

Has it really come to this? Hermione was worried. If the parents of these people don't think they're safe in the Muggle world, the situation must be really bad. Her thoughts were interrupted when a hush descended over the hall. Dumbledore had entered, and Hermione watched him take his place at the centre of the teachers' table, ready to address the students as he did every year. She noticed his brow was a little more furrowed than in previous years, and his tone more sombre as he began to speak.

'Welcome, new students, and welcome back to everyone else. I must start by saying it is more important now than ever before that we come together as a school to stand against a war which draws ever closer. We must forget silly house rivalries of the past and prejudices we hold against others,' his eyes swept towards the Slytherin table as he said this, 'and forgive others for prejudices they may have held against us. For now is a time, I fear, of great troubles, which we may only fight as one. Remember this at all times, even when tempers are strained, and we shall hold strong.'

Dumbledore paused at this point, and surveyed his students over his half-moon glasses. He sighed, and his expression lifted slightly.

'And now,' he continued, 'we eat.'

Ron looked delighted as the giant plates of food appeared in front of him, which contrasted with the great sense of tension that had filled the hall during the headmaster's speech.

Hermione sighed as she too dug into the food. This was going to be a long year.