The Smart One

Chapter 1

Disclaimer : I obviously am not J.K Rowling, so anything you recognise doesn't belong to me.

A/N : The story in the school year of 1998, after the War. I have modified one major aspect of the original story : Dumbledore and Lavender are alive. This is my first story, so please review, I would love some feedback! Enjoy!

Hermione looked around her carriage. She was aboard the Hogwarts Express, surrounded by her friends. Ginny's head rested on Harry's shoulder, Lavender was curled up in Ron's lap, and Neville had his arms around Hannah Abbott, a rather pretty Hufflepuff girl he had only recently got the courage to ask out. In the corner, Parvati Patil and Luna, the only people other than Hermione to be awake, were laughing over a magazine.

Even though her carriage was full of people, Ms. Granger felt lonely. She was surrounded by friendly faces, yes, but she felt like a third wheel. Well, more accurately, a ninth wheel. Ginny and Harry had always been a thing, whether the pair admitted it or not, and she couldn't be happier for Neville and Hannah. Having never had a close female friend, she slightly resented how close Parvati and Luna had become, but most of all, it was Ron's relationship that bothered her.

She didn't like Ron or anything. It was just that, well, it did hurt a bit to know how little her short-lived relationship with Ron meant to him. They had agreed that the War probably made everyone a little desperate for someone else, but that once the threat of death was much less imminent, circumstances had changed. They separated amicably and tried to stay good friends, but they hardly talked anymore nowadays, as with Lavender always shoving her tongue down his throat, it was impossible for him to have a proper conversation with anyone.

Not that she cared. She did not like anyone, least of all Ron. If she had come back to school for her 8th year, it was to do her N.E.W.Ts, as the War had inconveniently gotten in the way of everyone's exams last year, and she didn't plan on having any distractions. She knew very well how difficult heartbreak and boys in general could be, and did not plan on letting either get in her way.

As the train pulled in to Hogsmeade station, Hermione suddenly felt the need for fresh air, and quickly excused herself from the carriage. Once she was outside, she looked around, taking in her surroundings. Her fellow students laughed and chatted, however she could tell they were only trying to make things seem normal, trying to feel normal, after the horrible events of the previous year, and the dark circles under their bloodshot eyes was only further proof of that. She wasn't alone in having nightmares, she thought to herself.

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Watch it, Weasley!" Malfoy snapped.

Hermione turned around to see Malfoy and Ron glaring at each other. From the looks of things, Ron had been helping Lavender off the train when he had accidentally bumped into Draco, whose hand now hovered dangerously close to his wand pocket. Not wishing to see Ron hit with some curse Malfoy had learned during his time as a Death Eater, Hermione rushed to her friend's aid.

"Leave him alone!", she exclaimed. "Don't you think you've had enough problems already?"

"Stay out of it!", the boy retorted. "Filthy Mu..."

"Go ahead", she muttered, her eyes glittering dangerously. "Call me a Mudblood one more time, and I swear you'll regret it."

"Don't make promises you won't keep", he smirked. "Mudblood."

"Densaugeo" she muttered, pointing her wand at the boy, whose hands flew to his mouth as his front teeth began to grow.

"You bit...!" he began to cry. He was however unable to finish his sentence, as Hermione had silently cast a Langlock on the boy, rendering him unable to speak.