This was it. This was the first day of her very last year at Hogwarts. Hermione was a bit skeptical about returning after the war without Harry and Ron, but the pull to learn and complete her education had been too strong. She was one of the few from her year to return, as expected, but she was still looking forward to it.
She breathed in the fresh, crisp, early-morning air and was happy she'd decided to come back. As she made her way through the halls of the newly restored castle toward to the Great Hall, a flash of white-blond hair caught her eye. Blinking rapidly, mouth agape, she stared. The few students milling around the halls gave him a wide berth, some threw him suspicious glances, while others visibly cringed as he passed. Those who fixed to make any comment were quickly set straight under his stony glare.
He looked nothing like he did the last time she saw him, after his trial. For a moment, Hermione thought she was seeing things, but there he was. Straight back, squared shoulders, raised chin, cold, emotionless grey eyes and clad in perfectly laundered school robes.
Draco Malfoy was back.