Hunting for Horcruxes

Okay, I hope this makes sense, because the POV is a little hard to explain. It's like the books: In third person, but Harry's thoughts and all are in there. I hope you can understand.

Chapter One

It was quiet as the students of Hogwarts sadly boarded the Hogwarts Express for what would be the final time as far as they knew. As people filed into compartments, Harry, Hermione, and Ron grabbed an empty one in the back. Each began doing their own thing, having made up their minds about what would happen when they reached King's Cross.

Hermione had a thick book she began reading, Ron had a few pieces of parchment and was writing what seemed to be a letter. Harry was Leviosaing a feather. (Since in the first movie, Hermione used a spell to repair glasses, and Fred, George, and Harry jinxed Crabbe and Goyle at the end of GoF, I am assuming the Hogwarts Express is part of Hogwarts and not the MoM, so they can use magic without breaking the wizarding law).

A few minutes later, Luna, Neville, and Ginny walked in. They sat down quietly, just staring since they had nothing which could occupy their time. Ginny looked uneasy, a severe contrast to her rock-hard face at the funeral. Neville appeared defeated and tired, a look that was never meant for 16 year-old boys. Luna was staring at Ron, who was next to her, while humming “Weasley is Our King”. Even though it seemed that Luna was staring at Ron, she didn't notice (or pretended not to notice), that in spite of everything that had happened today, Ron was grinning while he continued to write.

Now, even though it's of no importance, I want to explain the seating chart. We know there are two seats in a compartment, along both walls. There are 6 people, therefore 3 per seat. On one seat, we have Harry sitting between Hermione and Ginny, who pushed Ron off to sit next to her ex for an unknown reason as of now (I'm so bored, so it's time to pull out the big guns: big words and weird phrases). On the other seat, there's Neville on one end, Luna in the middle, and Ron next to the window.

Anyway, done being random for now, back to the story...

Harry was inwardly squirming. Sitting next to Ginny, who was unusually close to him, so much that he scooted over until he bumped into Hermione, who made no movement to acknowledge him.

(A/N: Harry's common sense VS. Harry)

`Hmm, what's up with Ginny? I broke it off with her only an hour ago? Why is she so bloody close? Merlin, Hermione's hair smells awfully good...' Harry nearly gasped at that last thought. 'Where in bloody hell did that come from?'

`Oh you know it does....' A voice in his head, distinctly female, answered.

`Well, yeah. Smells a lot like parchment and vanilla, which sounds absolutely disgusting, but smells quite fantast....WAIT!! Who the bloody hell are you?'

`I'm your common sense, you prat' the voice answered, clearly amused.

`Merlin, you sound a lot like `Mione...hold on, why did I just call her Mione? She hates nicknames...but `Mione sounds better than Hermy or Herms.'

Harry's common sense replied, `Well, I sound like Hermione because she's the only friend you have with common sense, and as far as the `Mione thing....maybe she just didn't like Hermy. Try `Mione and see the result.'

`Eh, the Hermione in my head has a point. Hmm....here comes the trolley lady...' Harry reached in his pocket for his wallet, which had both muggle and wizard money. He took everyone's candy orders, and then turned to Hermione.

“'Mione, what do you want?” Harry asked tentatively, preparing himself for a famous Granger tantrum. Instead, Hermione looked at him for a second, smiled, and answered,

“I'll just have a licorice wand and a chocolate frog...if it's not too much to ask, that is,” Hermione looked at everyone else, who seemed in awe that Harry had just successfully called her a nickname. Ron's brain was the first one that registered everything (surprise, surprise).

“Hermione, did Harry just call you `Mione?”

“Yes, Ron, I think he did. Why do you ask?”

“Well, nobody ever calls you that.

“Tut tut, Ron. Never say things you know nothing about. My parents and family call me `Mione. Now, may we please discuss something else? I feel rather uncomfortable being in the spotlight,” Hermione finished her sentence with a sense of closure in her words. Ron shut up, but the silence barrier had been broken. Everyone else began talking about everything, from Quidditch to Voldemort. When Harry was done buying all the food, and passing it out, he resumed his seat, still closer to Hermione. Said witch had finished reading, and was now looking at him quizzically. Harry returned her gaze.

“What?” Hermione just grinned at him.

“How did you know I like to be called `Mione? I would have told you guys, but asking for a nickname is a tad unnecessary.”

“I dunno. I just...knew,” Harry was so glad he had common sense.

'Told you she'd like it.'

Harry smiled, but then something it the back of his mind shoved its way to the front. Ron. Hermione. Together. It took a little push from his common sense, but Harry began chatting privately with Hermione.

“'Mione?”

“Yes Harry?”

“Uh...I was wondering about........umm....”

“What is it? Oh...Me and Ron.” Hermione said, reading his mind as usual. Harry blushed.

“Well...yeah. I mean, if you start dating, but then you break up, what will happen to us. I mean, I hear the names the three of us have been given...The Golden Trio....The Trio....things like that, and if you guys break up....mmph,” Harry was silenced by Hermione's finger over his lips. Harry's train of thought crashed at that moment. The feeling of Hermione's delicate finger over his lips caused a shiver, cold yet warm at the same time, to shoot through his head and out his toes. He tried to ignore the feelings she was causing within him, but it was impossible. When she removed her finger, Harry only had one coherent thought separated from the jumble Hermione had caused.

`I have to find a way for her to touch me again.' Thinking that, Harry realized how wrong that sounded, but it felt so right. Then he turned his attention back to Hermione, who was talking to him in whispers, so she wouldn't attract the attention of the others, who were hearing a play by play of the Quidditch Cup from Ginny and Ron.

“Harry, I know it seems like Ron and I will end up together, but Ron turned me into someone else last year....I can't describe it, though,” Hermione whispered. Harry knew the answer.

“You felt like your stomach was trying to jump out of you. You felt like you had to change just so he would notice you, even though some part of you knew it would never work,” Harry said matter-of-factly. Hermione gaped at him.

“Yeah!! Like, I just wanted him for me, but I wasn't really me. You know?”

“Yeah, the same thing happened with me and Cho,” Hermione's bright caramel eyes seem to darken with the mention of Harry's first girlfriend, but they quickly returned to normal, almost too fast for Harry to notice. Almost.

(A/N: I know this doesn't make much sense, but deal with it. However I mange to explain it, it comes down to this: IN this fic, there will be no consensual relationship between Ron and Hermione. However, I'm not ruling out love potions and Imperius.....MUHAHAHA)

Okey Dokey, that's enough writing for one chap. I hope this is a good start, and no cliffies yet, those are for suspenseful parts. Next chap:

-How will the Weasley's react to Ron and his leaving?

-Why did Hermione's eyes change when Harry mentioned Cho?

-Why is Ginny so close?

Reviewing's good for my soul

Luv, Sage