Voldemort's Defeat

The train moved slowly towards Hogwarts, more slowly then she ever remembered it. It seemed that the cloudless blue sky never changed. Maybe it was the fact that the two people that she usually sat with on the Hogwarts Express were not on board this year, and she sat with a compartment full of fashion crazed teenage girls. She missed Harry and Ron, especially Ron.

"Hermione you would look so pretty in this silver eye shadow," said Parvati Patil as she waved it in front of Hermione.

"Parvati is right you know," said Lavender Brown who was looking at her also holding a small package of some color of eye shadow. Hermione shook her head and looked out the window, not listening to Parvati and Lavender tell her she need to act more like a girl. She looked over at them both wearing the latest fashions and then looked at her own blue t-shirt with blue jeans. They would never understand about why she dressed like she did. They would never understand that her friends liked her just the way she was. The cloudless blue sky finally darkened, and the lights came on in their compartment. They began their endless talk of boys, clothes, and make-up. Hermione joined once in a while, saying who she thought was hot at Hogwarts, most of the time you could find her staring out the window.

At last the train stopped and she looked and saw the many towers and turrets of Hogwarts. Hoping to see Harry and Ron soon, she boarded the nearest carriage. She watched as the castle drew nearer. Finally her carriage stopped allowing her to jump out, eager to see her friends, since she had not heard from them over the summer. She followed Parvati and Lavender into the great hall and saw waiting at the table for her was Ron. She ran over and hugged him, since she had thought he might have died while helping the Order during the summer.

"Hermione! Were you afraid that I dropped over dead? Without saying bye to you," he smiled and told her to sit down so he could explain about what had happened over the summer.

"Ron...Where's Harry?" she said cutting him off. He looked at her and closed his hands around hers. He looked grave, scared, and worried.

"We don't know Hermione. He was supposed to be here when you all arrived. He and Sirius were going to The U.S as to warn their minister about Voldemort's return to power, but he isn't here so..." he said looking at her and then down.

"And if you will kindly quit referring to me as if I was on my death bed!" said a voice that sounded familiar, making both Ron and Hermione jump. They turned around and saw Harry standing over the. He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves cut off that stretched over his thin muscled frame, a pair of baggy skater boy pants, and a pair of Nike tennis shoes. He had a nice tan and looked as if he had worked out while he was away. His hair was cut short and spiked and he didn't have his glasses anymore. As he sat down he had every girls attention in the Great hall, some standing up to get a better look.

"Harry!" Ron shouted as Harry sat down. Harry looked at Hermione noticed that how she had changed over the past year. Hermione looked at him and then down afraid that she would stare if she looked at him much longer. He went into a daze as he looked at her, thinking about how she had changed, but not sure how she had.

" 'Lo Hermione," he said smiling. She looked at him and wondered why he had not changed into his robes, why he had such a nice tan, and how he got so hot.

"Hi Harry," she said her eyes glued to her plate as the Sorting began. Ron grabbed her hand and smiled at her. "Why haven't you changed into your robes Harry?" she asked as Ron squeezed her hand gently.

"Oh! Dumbledore said not to get too comfortable here. I may have to go back to the States," he said. "but I don't want to go back, I mean I had an awesome time! This girl, Shadow, picked out all my Muggle clothes, and then was teaching me how to skateboard so I wouldn't stick out to much. She may come here for an exchange student this year. She's really nice." Hermione looked at him and saw that he had put his black robe on top of his skater boy clothes, making him blend in a lot better.

"Nice hair Harry," she said trying not to laugh. He looked at her then smiled.

"It's all the rage in America. Everyone has their hair short and spiked, and all the girls dress like that," he said pulling out a picture of a girl with long blonde hair and silver eyes. Harry had his arm around her and both inside the picture were waving up at them. She was wearing a blue and silver bikini, behind them was the Atlantic Ocean. Ron snatched the picture away.

"WOW! I wish we had a few like that 'round here!" he said looking at Harry and then to Hermione who was looking at him with narrowed eyes. "I mean...er...I mean..." he kept stuttering and thinking about how he should word it.

"Are you saying that I...anyone! Around here can't look like that?" she spat accidentally spraying Harry with potatoes. "Anyone with a bikini and a body can look like that Ron!!!" she stood up and walked out of the great hall, having a seat next to the lake.

"Um, not going too well Ron?" Harry said taking a bite of his steak. Ron handed him the picture back and looked at the ground.

"It feels like we're drifting apart. I mean...oh!.. I don't know what I mean!!!" he said putting his head in his hands. Harry looked at him, put the picture back into his wallet and stood up.

"I'll go talk to her ok Ron. Maybe she just needed some time alone," he said as he looked at Ron, his head still in his hands. Harry's robe vanished into thin air, as he walked outside, replaced by his skater boy clothes, his eyes darting around for a sign of Hermione. He saw her, sitting by the lake, her head held in her hands , the silence broken by occasional sobs. Harry walked over to her and sat down next to her. "Hermione what's wrong?" he asked his green eyes fixed on hers, almost like he was searching her soul.

"I just feel so left out...I mean you and Ron both like the girls who wear the latest fashions, make-up, and will fall all over you!" she said almost yelling and then put her head in her hands starting to cry again. Harry put a comforting arm around her as any friend would do, and kissed her on the cheek. He looked up to see Ron stop in his tracks at the bottom of the great stone steps.

"RON! Wait!" Harry let go of Hermione and stood up, but Ron never heard him. He had already disappeared up the stone steps. He looked down at Hermione who was still sobbing unaware that he had just shouted. "Hermione...I..." Harry began but Hermione didn't hear him. Her gaze was fixed across the water not taking in anything, just looking lost.

Ron looked at the scene before his eyes seeing his best friend put his arm around his girlfriend and then kiss her. Was he going mad? Or was something else not right about the whole scene. He turned and walked back up the stone steps. Around the corner came Neville.

"Ron! Have you seen Trevor?" he asked looking at Ron's hurt face.

"Sorry Neville I haven't, but if I do I will tell you," he said and then started up towards Gryffindor tower.

"Hermione.... Hermione...HERMIONE!" Harry was trying his best to get her attention but could not.

"Yo Harry you didn't tell me you had a girlfriend," a voice said behind him. Harry turned and saw Shadow walking towards him. She looked just like she did when he saw her in America. She was wearing a navy blue shirt and a pair of baggy skater pants, in her right hand she held a wand in her left she held a skateboard.

"Hey Shadow...no she's not my girlfriend! She's just my best friend...well one of them..."he said looking very pale.

"Oh so what's up with her anyhow?" she asked looking at Hermione oddly.

"I have no clue," he said. Hermione opened her eyes, heard their conversation and turned around.

"I'm fine I was just thinking," she said through clenched teeth. She stood up and looked at them both. "Well I see you guys need to catch up on the times so I'll just go," she walked away from them both. She walked up to Gryffindor tower to find Ron seated on the couch in front of the fire. "Ron! I'm so sorry about-"

"I bet you are! Sulking around to get Harry's attention!" he spat at her, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm going for a walk," he said as she sat down almost in tears.

"Ron...please," she started "I am so sorry!" she went over to him and tried to hug him but was thrown back.

"Don't start with that "I'm sorry bullshit"!" he said as he walked out of the portrait hole.

"But I really am..." she said not knowing what he was really talking about.

"Man! I hate this! First my girlfriend hangs over my best friend then she tries to cover it up" Ron said to himself as he walked into the Forbidden Forest. "I mean why would she? Why should she?"

"Maybe she is tired of you being so jealous of a boy who has fame because of a damn scar," a voice said out of the darkness.

"Hey who is tha.. AHHH!" Ron screamed making the birds fly in terror from their perches. Ron heard people talking and laughing, but he also noticed that they were not coming to help him.

"Shadow, it is so good to see you again," Harry said taking the skateboard and putting it aside. He reached up to Shadow and pulled her down sitting her between his legs. He laid his chin on her head and puts his arms around her waist.

"Harry what were you doing with that chic?" she asked curiously turning to look at him. He looked up at the star filled sky and sighed.

"She is one of my best friends and she is dating my other best friend. I showed Ron picture of you and he said something and it made her upset," he said looking into Shadows silver eyes. She lifted herself off the ground and kissed him on the lips.

"So where do I sleep in this place?" she said still looking at his eyes. He smiled, kissed her again and stood. He offered her a hand up and they started towards the castle hand in hand.

Hermione sat in front of the fire on the red couch, as she heard a crashing from outside the portrait hole. She went to it and opened it, seeing Harry and, who she supposed was his friend Shadow, laying in the ruined heap of a suit of armor. They were laughing, kissing, and making one hell of a racket in the metal pile.

"Um Excuse me..." she said. They did not seem to notice that she was saying anything. She walked over to Harry, who was lying on top of Shadow, and pulled him up by the back of his shirt. He turned around and saw Hermione. His grin left instantly and was replaced by horror.

"Um...hi Hermione," he said getting up and then helping Shadow to her feet. "I tripped and she went down with me."

"Yea I bet Harry," she said trying not to laugh. She was still holding by the back of his shirt.

"Hermione when did you get so strong?" he asked a smile on his face. Shadow looked between them, Harry who was smiling to this girl and the girl who was smiling back. Hermione let him go and then offered a hand to Shadow.

"Hello. My name is Hermione, Harry has told me so much about you," Hermione said her hand still outstretched. Shadow looked at her and then lifted herself off the ground.

"Well Hi Hermione. I'm Nikki though all my friends call me Shadow," she said looking at Hermione through narrowed eyes. Shadow shook Hermione's hand and then walked over beside Harry. Hermione smiled and then walked through the portrait hole. "Harry I don't like that Hermione person...." she said staring after her.

"Why don't you? She's one of the nicest people I know," Harry said looking down at Shadow his eyes narrowed slightly.

"I just don't she seems like she's trying to take you from me," she said still staring after Hermione. Harry kissed her.

"She's dating Ron, and I love you, you have nothing to worry about," he said kissing her again.

Hermione went into the portrait hole and sat back on the couch. The silence was broken by whispers coming from the girls staircase.

"You grab her and then we'll try and reason with her," said the one voice.

"How about the other way around you grab her and I will reason with her I'm so much better at reasoning then you," said the second one, both sounding oddly familiar.

"But what if we both have to hold her down?" the first voice said.

"I don't remember Hermione being that strong," the second voice said.

"Ok one...two...three now!" the first voice yelled as they jumped, both of them holding down Hermione, she was very strong for a girl her stature.

"GET OFF!" Hermione yelled as she continued to struggle. They held her down and she saw who they were. Parvati and Lavender. "What is going on?" said Hermione looking up at them.

"We're going to give you a make-over," Lavender said her eyes gleaming.

"You have the potential to run off with Harry Potter if you would just let us put make-up on you, and give you some better clothes!" said Parvati eyeing Hermione's blue jeans and t-shirt. Hermione thought about it, her going out with Harry Potter, watching Ron be even more jealous of Harry then he usually is.

"Fine. But if I don't like it comes right off ok?" she said.

"Yes Hermione we promise," they said in unison.

"Then do what you have to do," she said as they began to work.

The tall figure that all of Hogwarts believed to be Ron walked to the castle, and walked to Gryffindor Tower. He got to the Fat Lady and stopped unable to recall the password.

"Umm...Watermelon?" he said as the picture stayed in place. "Um... Fox?" he said scratching his head.

"You're a Gryffindor and don't even know your own password," said a voice from behind him. He turned around to see a tall blonde haired guy. He had blue eyes, and was holding a surfboard in his right hand. He was wearing a light blue tight sleeveless shirt that brought out the color of his eyes, and a pair of surfer-like shorts that matched his surfboard.

"Of course I know my own password!" Ron said sounding irritated. He looked at the guy through narrowed eyes, and noticed that this guy had not gone to Hogwarts before. "Who are you any how?"

"Oh sorry mate didn't get a chance to introduce myself. I'm Ty Dasani, I'm a transfer student from Australia. My cousin Nikki is here as well, do you know what house she is in?" he said Ron now noticing his Australian accent.

"Nikki?" Ron asked a bewildered look on his face.

"She goes by the name of Shadow stupid if you ask me, but any how so what is your name mate?" Ty asked his face breaking into a smile.

"Oh I'm Ron...Ron Weasly," Ron said holding out a hand. Ty gladly shook it. "So are you a pure-blood or what?" Ty looked at him oddly.

"Pureblood, but Shadow is a half- blood, Muggle father, poor bloke got shot down in Desert Storm," he said looking extremely gloomy when he said that. "But on happier terms, do you happen to be friends with Harry Potter? Shadows boyfriend I think that is what she told me...The Boy Who Lived," Ty said his eyes gleaming.

"Potter, you could say we're pretty close," Ron said a weird and strange look came over his face. He looked at the tall Australian, and heard footsteps and noises coming from behind him.

"But Hermione! Ron loves you...give him a second chance!" the voice said.

"Why should I?" said Hermione her voice echoing through the halls like a church bell. They came around the corner and Hermione stopped dead looking at Ty.

"Good evening ladies," he said looking at Hermione. Hermione looked great in her tight L.E.I jeans, and tight tank top. She was wearing all sorts of make-up, and had gotten ultimate loads of attention from every boy she passed.

"Oh! Hi I don't think we've met..." she said uncertainly looking at the hot Australian before her.

"I am Ty Dasani I just transferred here from Australia. Please to meet you...um..." he said looking at her his breath caught in his chest.

"Hermione." she said smiling. She looked at Ron to see that his face had not changed expressions his blue eyes staring fixedly on Hermione unwavering. "Ty would you like to come and get to know the common room?" she asked sweetly as Ty took her arm.

"Sure Hermione. I think I will need lots of help learning my way around this place. Hermione and Ty walked in followed by Ron, the person Hermione had been talking to disappeared.

"Kung-Fu Cow" Hermione muttered the password. As they stepped into the common room a unexpected sight met their eyes.

"Oh my goodness," Hermione said as she turned away.

"OH MY GOD! YOU MEAN HOGWARTS KIDS GET TO DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT! AWESOME!" Ty roared.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD!!! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN HERE?!" Ron said his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.