Petrichor | ?

-Hermione-

We reached platform 9 3/4 with groans and snorts. No matter how often I had been here and had gazed at this train, no matter how hectic we still were, I just had to stop. With heavy breathing, I looked at the Hogwarts Express, standing majestically and splendidly on the tracks in front of me, ready to depart at any moment. Its scarlet color triggered the well-known feeling of warmth and security in me.

"Hermine, hurry up!" someone called from a distance. It was Ron, standing at one of the entrances, beckoning me. I quickly said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. The plump, red-haired woman hugged me one last time, and then I hurried after my friends.

On this train, I felt the same way I did every time, just before setting out on a journey to an exciting, wonderful adventure. I sat down in the compartment where Ron, Harry and Ginny were already sitting. It was a pleasant ride. Nobody talked much because our arrival had been very stressful. The Burrow was once again in disarray this morning.

We dozed off while I let my mind wander. We wouldn't be visiting Hogwarts for much longer and I had to decide on a future career path. Since I was already active in the League for Elf Rights, this path might take a similar direction.

I must have fallen asleep at some point, because I woke up grunting on Ginny's shoulder when the train came to a stop. In the train corridor, I spotted several students already making their way out. We all woke up a little and chatted happily about our summer vacation experiences as we made our way to the castle, which, with its countless towers, looked huge and magnificent.

Ginny and I said goodbye to the boys to unpack our bags. We quickly ran up to our room. I organized my few items of clothing and my vast quantities of books and school supplies that I had brought with me.

My stomach was already rumbling and I couldn't wait for the meal that was about to follow. Ginny didn't seem to either. She threw her things almost carelessly out of her suitcase and urged me to quickly go to the great hall.

As on every first day of school, there was a festive atmosphere and a feast of the finest. After a short speech by the teachers,

we started eating and I enjoyed the fantastic selection of dishes with their different flavors. I leaned back and held my slightly bloated stomach. Okay, maybe I had eaten a bit quickly. However, my friends looked as if they were not doing any better.

In the evening, I organized the remaining school books and collected everything I would need for the first day tomorrow. I took my bag and looked at the school books in it. Then I turned my gaze out of the window. The evening sky was red, the glowing sun was just setting behind a few hills.

"Hermione, you're not going to class at night, are you?" Ginny's smiling voice startled me.

"Of course not," I laughed and put the bag down. "I'm just really happy to be back here," I confessed to her and turned to her.

The sunset light that fell through the window made her already glowing hair shine. She looked at me with tenderness. "Me too," she replied with a smile.

A little later, we were lying in our beds. I snuggled into the sheets and shortly after that I had already fallen asleep.

*

Nothing had changed during the holidays. Harry was as always highly motivated and ambitious when it came to Quidditch. Ginny was still very shy and embarrassed in his presence. Ron was the same clumsy and lovable idiot. Neville was the same as always, although he had perhaps even improved a little in school. Luna was just as lovable and strange as usual.

There was nothing particularly new and I was glad about that, because finally some calm seemed to have come to Hogwarts. Only the relationship with Ron seemed a bit strange. We had kissed a few weeks ago, but apparently neither of us knew exactly how we felt about each other. Or maybe we were both not sure enough whether we wanted to take the next step at all.

Sometimes we were totally normal with each other, but in some situations we were suddenly very tense and nervous, although I had the feeling that this was mostly his doing. Perhaps the memory of the kiss still made him feel a little uncomfortable.

But I spent most of my free time in the library anyway, doing schoolwork and studying on top of it. However, since my friends also realized that our school days were coming to an end, I wasn't alone as much as I used to be.

I really liked school and its lessons very much, especially the care of magical creatures. Our teacher Hagrid, who was actually the gamekeeper of the school, had announced an exciting-sounding project. I was teamed up with Ron for this, which worried me a bit. Not only because of the unpleasant moods between us, but especially because Ron was not exactly the most ambitious student. And for this project, a good grade was extremely important to me.

But there was something else about Ron that soon worried me. "My stomach," Ron grumbled one evening in the Gryffindor common room a few days later. That was unusual; he didn't often have stomach problems.

"Did you eat something funny that upset your stomach?" I asked.

"Nonsense, Ron can eat anything without problems," Harry interjected with a grin before Ron could answer.

"That's right," Ginny agreed with a laugh.

"Hey," Ron complained with a pained smile, but was probably in too much pain to defend himself more seriously.

"Maybe you're just longing for Malfoy," Harry suggested with a serious tone of voice.

"What you're saying is more good for my eyes than having seen him for so many weeks," Ron laughed.

I looked at my friends and blinked. I hadn't noticed that. Sometimes I was probably really too focused on learning. "He dropped out of school?" I asked.

"I don't know, but his followers are always walking around without him," Harry shrugged.

That's right, I hadn't noticed him in any of the classes either. Maybe that was the reason for the sudden calm and relaxation at Hogwarts.

Two days later, Ron had finally given in to our urging and allowed Madam Pomfrey to treat him. She had diagnosed gastro-enteritis and some kind of virus, which is why she wanted to keep him in the hospital for a few days. Ron thought this was a bit much, but the witch didn't back down.

"And what about Quidditch training?" he had grumbled dejectedly.

"And what about our project?" I grumbled, imitating his tone, a little annoyed because he hadn't given it a thought.

"Oh, Hermione, I would have only slowed you down anyway," he grinned.

He was probably glad to be able to avoid work.