Hermione cursed under her breath as the train blew its last whistle for the final boarding of the Hogwarts Express. Storing her luggage away quickly, she hopped on the train and ran down the compartment doors to the favored one she had always shared with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, her two and only best friends that she could count on.

She was late for two purposes: one, she had packed the night before around twelve a.m. and suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to put all of her stuff away for Hogwarts, spending the entire night sorting and storing so she had slept in the next morning. This was unlike Hermione, evidently, though she had just arrived home from Krum's (Quidditch player) a little earlier before she had remembered to pack up her stuff. Another reason was that the other muggles had crowded around platforms 9 and 3/4 just as she had arrived, thinking they did that on purpose just to make her late, which was merely a coincidence.

Her 6th year would be even better than the year before, since Voldemort was out of the scene at last from complicating details and rumors she had heard about. Staying at Viktor Krum's half of the summer was a nice get away, but it was better to be back at home, or shall she say back at Hogwarts. Hermione didn't have much of any other friends, which sometimes almost made her weep from the non-expecting crowd of students that stuck their noses up at her. Harry, Ron, and her parents claimed that they were all just jealous that she was above standards at Hogwarts, but she knew all of them couldn't be jealous. Maybe a select few, but she knew how the pretty, dolled up people worked. They seemed as though they were all in on it; a mission to make any unhappy. The only thing she could call beautiful on her body was possibly her bust size; hence everything else was not at 'pretty' level. She considered herself pretty, in her own way, though not good enough for everyone else obviously. If only they wouldn't see her just as bushy haired Hermione, she would have more friends.

Opening the compartment door, she had an unexpected surprise. Draco Malfoy sat alone, peering out of the train's window at vast plains and wild trees. He seemed to be thinking hard but carefully, and his expression warned off others from disturbing him. A cute little kitten nuzzled Draco’s stomach as he continued to think. But that did not change Hermione's direction of path.

"What are you doing in here, Malfoy?" She asked distastefully, crossing her arms over her chest.

Draco, taken a back, looked up surprised, then expression changing to hatred and an unwelcome aura suddenly filled the air. "Thinking. What are you doing in here?" Not waiting for an answer, Draco demanded, "Get out."

"Make me, this is MY compartment. Where's yours and your body guards?" She stayed foot, face scrunching up into a sour frown of angst. Surely he didn't need bodyguards anymore; Draco was now a full-grown sixteen-year-old with broad shoulders and a firm looking chest. He could get his way just be flicking a kid and having them get knocked over by it. Hermione didn't care. She never cared when it came to the evil and seductive Malfoy.

"They left to that goody-goody French school in Paris or something to that extent. And this is not your compartment as of now. Potthead and Weasel are waiting for you a few compartments down. Now leave me be." Though never having his hateful look leave his face or the room, he seemed to force an aggressive voice from a not-caring-enough-to-reply voice. Turning back to the window, he had his thoughtful yet annoyed look back on his face, and sighed deeply.

Wonder what happened to him...Hermione thought, leaving and slamming the door shut, returning a few doors down. It took a while to find Harry and Ron, but when she did, they looked pretty ticked off.

"Can you believe that little prick? If he didn't look like he could pack a huge punch, I'd knock him out as fast as he slithered into our compartment. Why is he in there, anyway? His cronies kick him out?" Ron's familiar attitude towards Draco returned back into Hermione's head, and she felt like laughing. How naive Ron can be, and stupidly funny at the same time.

"Hello all who hate Draco, mind if I barge in on your lovely conversation?" Hermione asked, sitting next to Ron who looked up at Hermione with a sudden glow of happiness.

"Hermione! Did the giant, damned hamsters eat you yet?" Harry said out of no where, greeting Hermione with a smile.

"Let me see...." She thought with sarcasm, "No and why the retarded question? Oh, forget it. I found Draco in our usual compartment, why exactly? It was one thing with Professor Lupin, which was awkwardly funny, but seeing Draco all depressed almost made me depressed, too. He said his lovers went to Paris for one reason or another. Don't ask. But how was your summer?" stihe asked them, laying back in her seat.

Harry told his telltale vacation with boredom and a hint of humor, as Ron explained how Fred and George opened up Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and how they exploded a dead rabbit in Percy's face. Disgusting, though pleasantly relaxing to hear happy and welcoming voices. Not saying much, she mentioned going to Krum's and other such meaningless tasks she has done over her time of freedom. Ron obviously seemed a little jealous to hear about how wonderful Krum is, but tried hiding it, which was a poor attempt.

"I'm bored," Harry said out loud with an exasperated sigh.

"I wish someone would cast a plague of leaches down Draco's pants," Ron said out of no where, amusing himself with his own stupidity.

"Well, I heard that Dumbledore is doing some huge surprise this year for one student in every house each. Random, rumor is maybe some big expedition or something... I don't know...." Harry replied in monotone, twiddling his fingers.

"Of course, he always has something up his sleeve!" Hermione exclaimed in an ‘obviously’ tone, "You can never figure him!"

"Yea, but what do you think it is?" Ron questioned, not really expecting an answer but a day dreaming moment.

Hermione answered anyway, "Probably somewhere for a half a year or the whole year. Hopefully those French snobs do not come back. I am so glad Fluer did not come back to teach. That would be completely ignorant and foolish! After all, she is not the brightest person…"

"I don’t care anymore. As long as it’s not some stupid idea of combing houses or some sorting hat that puts you in some other house that was not your first choice, I’m fine with whatever lies ahead," Hermione persisted vaguely, looking out of the window and into the green moor.

"What if it’s as bad as having to work with Malfoy for a year?" Harry shuddered, looking at out the window as well.

"I could stand it. As much as I hate Draco, it would be something new," Hermione replied.

"I couldn’t. We’d end up in some gory fight and wake up in the hospital wing the next day," Ron too, joined in on the stare at the long moor of wild grass. "Something different, though. The same old routine every year. But this time Voldemort won’t be here to entertain us," Ron finally spoke the name he has been so terrified of ever since he heard about it’s history. Now it just rolled off of his tongue like any other word.

"Yea, something different. Same place every year. Same routine, same people, same everything," Harry sighed.

Hermione agreed with him in her head and wondered what it would be like to be free out there on that lovely moor. How happy those field mice and rabbits must be, to be some place different every day. Although the moor consisted of wild grass and miles of it, it was still not a stuffy old castle.

"Did you see Malfoy’s cat?" Hermione snapped her head away from the window and turned to Ron.

"Are you two obsessed with him?" she asked, rolling her eyes. Then again…she had seen the cute little kitten cuddled on Draco’s lap. She must have been too distracted by his thoughtful face to notice anything below it.

"Yea, ugly little creature, it is," Harry cringed. Hermione was reminded of how she had to leave Crookshanks at home this year, since he had been roaming around the year before like a wild beast, Professor Snape claims. Due to his careful attention her mother and father were to take care of him this year. She still thought Crookshanks was lovely and dear, hence his scrunched up face and lumpy stomach. Making fun of Draco’s cat seemed insane!

"Are you kidding me? I do remember noticing it but not storing the thought away carefully. It was beautiful! Almost as beautiful as Dra-" What was I about to say? She thought, stopping herself from saying the dreadful name. "Almost as beautiful as…dragons…." she covered up quickly. Not the brightest cover up, but it worked. "I happen to think Dragons are precious and beautiful. Anyway… I wish I had a cat like that."

The cat was completely covered in black, silky fur. Still, it seemed unique in it’s own little way.

"Pfft! Anything of Draco’s is hideous and dark," Harry mumbled.

Rolling her eyes, Hermione ignored it and leaned back against the wall, staring out of the window blankly. It seemed too tempting and relaxing, that her eyes seemed to grow heavier by the second and her mind drifted off into a black swirl of dots. Giving in, she closed her eyes and nodded her head against the wall to her right.

*~*~*

"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron shook her shoulders anxiously and looked out of the door as everyone crowded out of the train.

Hermione groaned softly and stretched her arms out in front of her, opening her eyes slowly. Sleep dust still trying to close it shut; she wiped it away and sat up.

"Ouch!" she shouted aloud as a sharp, strong shock of pain stung her neck. Must’ve slept on the wrong side, she thought angrily as she kept her neck in a position that wouldn’t sting. Standing up, she carefully massaged her neck.

"Finally! We’re leaving!" Harry said, motioning for them to leave the compartment.

Cursing under her breath, Hermione walked out with Ron by her side and headed off of the train. Everyone seemed to be groaning for one reason or another, and she had to agree silently with them. Not knowing what, exactly, she sensed that it was either from back to school blues or the next long trip ahead of them to the damned castle.

"You missed it," Ron chuckled, slinging an unwelcome arm around Hermione’s shoulders.

"What did I miss, exactly?" she asked, brushing off his arm.

"Malfoy stopped by our compartment. Apparently, he wanted to know the homework assignment because he ‘forgot’ them. What a nasty liar!" Harry told her, walking up from behind them.

"It might be possible that he did in fact," Hermione persisted, rolling her eyes on how blunt they can be at time.

"And he had that rotten cat at his side. It follows him everywhere, it seems!" Ron obsessed over the cat in such a minor mood it seemed ridiculous to insist a cat was ‘evil’.

"Is that all?" Hermione asked, hopping on the pearly white carriage.

"Um…yea, pretty much. But you could tell he was on to something!" Harry insisted, following.

Hermione stuck her head back out of the carriage as Ron hopped in. "He looks lonely this year," she noted, peering at his black cat by his feet. "Where’s his cronies?"

"Must have left to be jolly and gay together," Ron joked, believing that it might be true.

"Still…there’s something about him this year yet I don’t know what." Oh, please! We’re talking about MALFOY. The evil of evil! Hermione thought with a small laugh. Wait, it’s his eyes, she thought turning serious. He does look lonelier than usual. Amazing how much better a guy can look without a crowd of Slytherins breathing down his neck. Whoa! Hold it there, Hermione! Remember, he’s Draco Malfoy, she thought sourly, sticking her head back in the cozy carriage.

"Yea, you’re right. He looks more sarcastic than usual," Harry replied thoughtfully, scratching his chin with sarcasm.

"He strikes me more as a slimy, amazing, hopping ferret, actually," Ron added, doing the same reaction as Harry.

"Oh, please, you two!" Hermione giggled, trying to hold back a grin.

"Aah! Demon cat!" Ron shouted, cowering in the corner. A black cat hopped in suddenly, purring loudly with a wild smile. Hermione knew cats didn’t have the muscles or ability to smile, but you can always tell when a cat is happy or evidently, smiling in it’s own feline way.

"But it’s so sweet!" Hermione cooed, scratching behind its ear with encouragement.

"She’s not an ‘it’, she’s a feline that would rather be referred to as ‘Milady’, as what I call her. My mom named her Fluffy, the wretched name, but it never stuck. I would like her back, and if my recommendation is too difficult to comprehend, I will repeat it with a more persistent tone," an eerie voice drawled.

"Wow, you actually made sense! Sound the trumpets!" Harry applauded, bowing with yet another sarcastic aura.

"Quite hilarious, Potter. Maybe next time Milady happens to drop by, you shall happen to think up a better come back," Draco replied smoothly, turning back to Milady.

"Excuse my sudden urge to reply to you with an odd and more polite sense, but Milady is quite the bright one. Why does she follow you around like she does?" Hermione asked, continuing to pamper Milady.

"What can I say? Animals adore my inane sense of kindness," Draco said this with the most coldest tone that it sounded like a joke of what he just said, "Milady! Come along, thy carriage awaits thee," he bowed to his cat with a sense of humor, as she rubbed up against Hermione’s leg and hopped down from the carriage.

"See you later, buddy old pal!" Ron waved, having Draco stare at him blankly with a shadow of cruelty.

After Draco and Milady left, the carriages pulled away and went on with the long journey to the castle.

"Wouldn’t it be SO MUCH easier to just apperate into the castle?" Ron groaned, leaning back in his seat.

"It would, but they want us to feel just as much miserable as they are on occasion during the year. Besides, we don’t know how to apperate," Harry inclined, doing the same as Ron.

Hermione sighed softly and looked out of the window of the carriage. One more year and they would be free. It was unbelievable on how the years flew by with either victory or morn. She still didn’t know what to do with her life.

*~*~*

"Hermione! Hermione!" Harry’s voice rang in her head as she shot open her eyes, glancing about.

"What happened?" she groaned, sitting up.

"We’re at Hogwarts, you fell asleep again," Harry replied, hopping out of the carriage seeing as how Hermione was to follow.

"Oh great, next thing you know I’ll be sleeping in class," she murmured, following Harry. The place seemed deserted except for a few other students talking and walking slowly up the steps to have a long, private chat. "Where’s Ron?"

"Right here," Ron tapped her shoulder from behind and began to walk with them. "What’s up with you this year?"

"I don’t know! I’ve had these sudden urges to doze off! I had enough sleep this summer, to last me all year, I don’t understand why my mind is telling me to close my eyes…. It just happens…." Hermione replied, skipping up the stone steps.

"Well, due to your lack of attention, we are about to miss the traditional sorting hat song," Harry stated, running up the steps and ahead of her.

"It took us forever to wake you up!" Ron added, stepping up to Hermione.

"Who cares? I feel as queer as Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary! With out the attitude!" Hermione gushed, a rush of happiness over coming her.

"She’s been reading too many classic novels again," Harry muttered to Ron as Hermione skipped three more steps and leaped into the castle.

"She’s still got me stumped," Ron shrugged, following her.

Harry, Ron and Hermione ran into the main hall with an echoing pound of the large, oaken doors, causing a big entrance. Everyone stopped eating for a moment and stared at them with wide eyes, as if they had just seen a ghost.

"Bloody hell, they act as though we’re insane clowns escaping a mental institution…" Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione as they walked quickly over to the Gryffindor table.

"Hey, look, slime-ball Malfoy doesn’t have some smart ass comment to give us," Harry noticed as they sat down next to Ginny and Colin.

"How nice of you to join us, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, and Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said, the only sound heard in the entire room.

"How long did I sleep?" Hermione asked, keeping her head low.

"Well, I will tell the three of you what I have told the rest of the students that made it on time, one student from each house will be randomly chosen from the ages fourteen to seventeen to attend a public, muggle high school. We will be drawing the select four tomorrow evening. Please do show up this time when I announce them, will you?" Dumbledore announced. Hermione felt her cheeks burning red and the eyes of every student upon her. She dared to look up, only to find Draco staring at her intently, seeming to take no joy this time out of their embarrassment. That was odd.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied, biting his lower lip.

"Why are they STILL staring at us?" Ron whispered, giving a few smug faces the finger.

"Because they have nothing better to do with their meaningless lives," Hermione whispered back as a few began to eat again. Soon enough, the rest of the students began eating and chatting away again.

"So, what’s up?" Ginny asked after a long silence between the five of them.

"Nothing, just Hermione slept on the carriage and it took about fifteen minutes to wake her up," Ron replied, biting into a buttered roll.

"Well, I know why Draco is being so silent and queer all of a sudden this year," Colin inquired, putting down his pumpkin juice, "His cronies left from Voldemort’s sudden defeat and now all of the Slytherins hate him because of some reason or another. All I know is that Draco is vulnerable this year and all he has is his cat and arrogance."

"I knew something was up. Maybe he was only like that before to show off in front of the other Slytherins or knew he could get away with anything with those huge blokes around him," Ginny pondered, then not taking a second thought of it.

"Maybe, but he’s probably still that slimy asshole inside," Ron replied, chewing with his mouth open.

~*~*~

Hermione dragged her feet restlessly down the empty corridors. Why am I always tired now? She asked herself, yawning again. She had drifted off at the Gryffindor table, and when she woke up, almost half of Hogwarts had gone to bed. She told Harry and Ron to leave without her, she sort of wanted to be alone to think.

As she pondered a bit more, a black cat rubbed up against her bare legs from under her robe. Thinking it was a rat in her robes instead; she screeched and threw her robe off, dashing a few feet away and staring intently to the floor. Instead, she saw Milady, smiling up at her with those big, green and yellow cat eyes.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Hermione sighed, leaning against the wall.

"Quite," a seductive voice drawled, stepping up next to Milady, "I was hoping for her not to run into you again, but now I’m a little glad."

She looked up with a disgusted look on her face. "You are a pervert." She covered her chest by crossing her arms, which had a tight white top over it and a plaid mini-skirt. She normally would never wear such an outfit, but because of the heat and her small selection of clean clothing, she was forced to wear it. She looked down, noticing how her legs looked a little better than usual. She hated the heat all too much. "What are you doing up wandering about at this time anyway?"

"I was about to ask you the same question. Milady decided of all nights, ‘Hey, why don’t I torture Draco and find that mudblood girl again?’ What took you so long to eat, Granger?" Draco replied, leaning against the wall as well. Even through his sarcastic sense and arrogance, Hermione felt he was being a little kinder than usual.

"I’ve been having this huge obsession with sleeping in the middle of things. Besides, why would you care of all people?"

"I have nothing better to do, have I? Besides, the other Slytherins seem to hate me this year. But screw them, all I need is myself," he replied, bending down to pet Milady. You could hear her purr a mile away.

"Aw, poor Draco. Excuse me while I go and find someone who gives a shit. I’m going to bed," she stated flatly, walking over to Draco to grab her robe. As he was bending down, he grabbed her robe and stood back up, holding it high over his head. Being a little shorter than he, it took a little difficulty to snatch it back.

"Give it back, Malfoy!" Hermione sneered, jumping up and attempting to grab it.

"Going to have to do better than that," he smirked, watching her jump in frustration.

"You are such a pig! Why are you bothering me, anyway?"

"What can I say? I have a knack for watching you squirm," he replied restlessly, waving it back and forth.

"Give it back!"

"Make me."

"Give it back!!"

"MAKE ME."

"GIVE IT BACK!" She had had enough. The turmoil and anger swelled up inside of her and she punched Draco square in the jaw. It bruised a pretty purple and black and it bled a little, as Draco dropped her robe and grabbed his jaw.

"SHIT Granger! When did you become so abusive?"

"When you suddenly became interested in my form. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to bed in hopes of never seeing you again this year," with that said, Hermione pulled her robe back on and strutted away, clenching her teeth and balling her fists. After she was completely out of site, Draco began to laugh an evil but fruitful cackle.

"Milady, I look forward to one of your little meetings with her soon," he told his cat, walking away with her scampering by his side.

+TBC+

Chapter 2 of Thoughtless: One student from each house is expected to attend a muggle school as a creative learning activity. Guess who gets picked?

BrAnDi’s Note: I had to name the author’s note BrAnDi’s Note, because I’m not just an author, I’m Brandi! I’m my own author! Anyway, I have been working on this for weeks once everybody has retreated to bed in my house, which is about one hour of typing and even then I got side tracked. I’m also working on Damned Eyes and this other fanfiction I haven’t uploaded yet. So if you liked this, review and say hi! If you didn’t, flame and say bye! Also, I named this from the KoRn song "Thoughtless". Kids get badgered in school everyday, and I clearly want to make my point in writing this.

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