Attack on the Hogwarts Express
Hermione was up at dawn and tingling with excitement. Today they were going back to Hogwarts, and she couldn't wait. She could see how some people, like Ron and probably Harry, thought that it was quite odd that she loved school so much, but if they bothered to ask her why, she would have answered that school is the most exciting thing in her life. After all, she came from a muggle background, without magic, without wizards and without friends. That's what she would have told them, if anybody asked. She stood in front of the mirror, brush in hand, scowling at her reflection. "Oh why couldn't you be born with normal hair?" she asked her reflection. "Because then you wouldn't be you" came a reply from the doorway. Hermione jumped and dropped the brush. She turned to find Harry leaning against the door, arms folded, grinning at her, green eyes sparkling. "Just how long have you been stood there Harry Potter?" she said indignantly. She had just realised that she was still wearing only her night shirt, which was not something she wanted to be seen in first thing in the morning, especially by Harry! She quickly pulled on her dressing gown and did it up tightly. He just stood there, grinning even more at how flustered she was. "Well, I just came to see if you were awake. You want breakfast? I don't think there is anyone else up yet, its only six o'clock you know." he said, and moved out the room, gesturing for her to follow. She frowned. There was something odd about this. Why was Harry up, and dressed, so early in the morning? He shouldn't be up for another three hours on the first day of school, this wasn't normal, she was sure of that. She went down the stairs and found him already in the kitchen, getting out the cornflakes.
When they were sitting down, Hermione finally had to ask. "Um, Harry, is err is everything ok?" She thought she noticed his cheeks coloured slightly. Harry Potter? Blushing? What's going on? "Um…Harry?" He continued to look down into his cereal before taking a deep breath and glancing up at her. The intensity of his gaze held her eyes, she couldn't look away from those brilliant green eyes. Finally he looked back down. "You see…the thing is…well…I…I just" He trailed off, then seemed to pull himself together. "Well, what I want to tell you is that…is that I couldn't have got through everything without you…so, err, thanks." He babbled in a rush and turned bright red. Hermione just sat there, mouth open. Did he just say what I think he just said? Harry Potter… saying this? To me? "What…what do you mean?" she asked nervously, not daring to look up at him. She felt his eyes on her as she concentrated on un-picking a loose thread on her dressing gown. "Hermione, I think you're great. I mean, I really like you, and I just can't imagine getting through everything that's happened to me without you by my side. You see, I, well, I wouldn't be here without you would I? And I've finally realised just what you mean to me." She looked up at him, still not believing it. Did he just say what she thought he just said? She had liked him for ages, of course, but didn't say anything, didn't even notice it herself until now. She realised she'd been staring at him now for awhile, and quickly looked away. He spoke again "Your such a great friend Hermione, a really great girl." he got up and left, and she groaned. how stupid am I? she thought to herself. "Your such a great friend Hermione, a really great girl"… how could I think he meant more than that? she sighed. She was so glad she hadn't told him how much she liked him, he would probably have run a mile.
The journey to Kings Cross was painful. The silence in the taxi was so loud Hermione just wanted to scream, anything to break the tension in the air. Hermione was quiet and fidgety, still mortified about what she'd nearly said to Harry that morning. Harry seemed to realise something was wrong and kept looking like he was about to say something but then thought better of it. Ron, as usual, was oblivious to everything and chattered on quite happily about quidditch with Ginny.
When they reached the station they found themselves enclosed by Order members. Eight witches and wizards escorted Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny to platform 9 ¾ , all with their right hands in the pockets of their muggle disguises, gripping their wands, ready for any trouble. Hermione thought that the Order wizards were only drawing more attention to them, they attracted a lot of curious glances when they got on the platform. In fact, with the eight stern looking wizards surrounding them, none of their fellow students dared approach them, instead they parted to let them onto the train. Hermione followed Harry and Ron into a compartment they managed to get all to themselves, which was probably due to Tonks and Bill still accompanying them. The rest of their escort waited on the platform, ready to dissaperate as soon as the train left the station.
Suddenly, the whole train started to shake as a deafening bang echoed across the platform. Hermione looked out the window to see that masked wizards had appeared, spread among the various parents and children still on the platform. Hermione gasped as she saw numerous flashes of green light and people crumple and fall to the floor. People started to scream and dissaperate, although those with young children were stuck, and could do nothing other than run.
Tonks and Bill stood up and went to the door, then Tonks turned back, apparently unsure of what to do. Hermione could see her problem, she was stuck between wanting to help all those people on the platform, and her duty of guarding Harry. In the end she was saved the decision by the train beginning to move, as the clock had just struck eleven. A woman came forward from the crowd, blasting people out the way as her strode towards the train. She waved her wand and all the doors of the train sprang open, and her and the masked wizards jumped on, just as the train pulled away from the platform.
Harry sprang to his feet, wand in hand, followed by Ron and Hermione. Bill appeared in the doorway "They're going in all the compartments, fighting with the students! We've got to do something!" Tonks looked back at the three of them before saying "We've got to get you off the train, come on, we'll need to reach the driver before they do!" But just then, the lights went out, and they were plunged into semi-darkness, as only the compartments had windows, the corridor was dark. Shouting and screams came from in front and behind, and a jet of red light brushed Bill's cheek as a stunning spell shot past him.
Soon a full scale fight broke out, as the masked men didn't expect the students to fight back, but the sixth and seventh years did so, and with more skill and determination than the intruders expected. Although they put up a brave fight, they were still just children, against at least twenty skilled dark wizards.
Bill and Tonks ran into the corridor straight away to join in, leaving Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny alone in the compartment. "Why haven't Aurors got here yet?" Ginny said, on the verge of panic. Hermione thought about this, and the answer suddenly came to her. "Oh my god! We need to stop the train!" the others looked at her so she hurriedly continued, the sounds of duelling getting closer every second. "You can't apperate to a moving object! That's why they're not here! We need to get to the driver! See if we can somehow stop the train" The others looked at her, then Harry took charge. "Ok, Hermione's right. Me and Ron will go, you girls stay here." At this Hermione and Ginny broke into furious protests. Harry is always trying to be the bloody hero! Protecting those less able than him! Or so he thinks! She suddenly had an idea. She didn't want to lie to them, but it was the only way Harry would let her go. She sighed "Ok, ok! We'll stay here, but if the train doesn't stop in ten minutes, we're coming after you" Harry opened his mouth to argue, but then just shrugged and left, Ron following behind. Hermione waited a minute, then turned to Ginny. "Ok, u ready Gin?" Ginny nodded, looking determined.
They ran out into the corridor and dodged spells aimed their way. Soon, Hermione lost Ginny in the chaos and found herself fighting alone, sending random spells at anything that moved her way. She was about half way down the long corridor when she felt the train slow down. Suddenly something knocked into her and she half fell, leaning against the wall for support. The object that hit her got up from the floor, and she recognised the witch who stood before her. Young, tall, unbelievably beautiful. It was Azalea Rookwood. Hermione swallowed and backed away slowly, wand gripped tightly in her hand. Azalea looked straight at her and smiled cruelly, tossing her long honey coloured hair back over her shoulder. "Hermione Granger, isn't it?" she said, walking slowly towards the frightened girl. "How…how did you know?" Hermione squeaked, terrified. Azalea's smile grew wider. "You may not remember, but I was in my final year at Hogwarts when you were in your first" she surprised Hermione by saying. "What? You don't remember? Oh I'm only twenty two you know! Surprising isn't it? That I have so much power, while being still young." she looked closely at Hermione. "Your Harry Potter's girlfriend aren't you? The one mentioned in the prophet last year?" she chuckled softly, an idea forming in her mind. "Well Miss Granger, I think you and I should have a talk sometime, don't you? You have power you know, yes, a lot of power. I can sense it, you are just like I was at your age. And so good and kind… I bet you've never hurt anyone have you? We really need to talk… I'll be in touch" and with that she disappeared in a flash of white light, just as Aurors appeared on the train. Hermione swayed on her feet, and the world went black.