Chapter 1: The Train Ride Back to the Scene of the Crime

It was the trio's seventh year. The school was reopened, if only because it was the safest place for all the students whose families were targeted by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Dumbledore's death rattled the magical world to its very core. And at the center of the conflict, were not warriors, but students, being forced to carry the great burden of responsibility.

Ron and Ginny retuned to Hogwarts against their mother's wishes. Ron went, of course, because Harry had chosen to go. And he had promised his friend that he would be with him when the time came to defeat the Dark Lord. Ginny went because of Harry too, but her reason had to do with the heart he ripped from her chest not three months previous, at Dumbledore's funeral. Hermione went as well. She, being the smart witch she was, knew it was the safest place for her, as a muggleborn. She feared for her parents, and made Lupin and the members of the Order promise to take care of them in her absence.

It was no surprise that she was named Head Girl. McGonagall had liked the bushy haired young lady since her first year as a student and member of her house. Ron was awarded the Quittich Captainship and though Harry was left bereft of shiny pins for his lapel, he felt that it was just as well. The less attention he drew to himself, the better. The truth was, McGonagall had offered him the captaincy first, but he'd turned it down flat. He knew it was one of Ron's dreams—and he also knew that he needed to focus on other… more important issues. He told McGonagall he wouldn't be playing this year—and of course, she said he most certainly would be. Nevertheless, Ron got the pin.

They were on the train back on September first, and all conversation had ceased in their little cabin. It seemed that over the summer they had said everything they needed to say to one another. They had reached some sort of silent agreement that they were all in this together, and that they would come out alive, if it killed them. What more was there to say?

Ginny, annoyed by the companionable silence the three had fallen into, turned to Hermione. "Shouldn't you be going to the Head's Quarters?" she asked.

Hermione started, as if she has only just remembered, herself. "Oh dear! You're right Gin, I completely forgot!" She grabbed her robes and slid the door to the compartment open and stepped out, sliding it shut behind her.

In the hall she met Neville Longbottom, "Hello Hermione," he said, his usual boyish lilt making his voice quaver.

Hermione smiled at him. "Hello Neville. What brings you out here?" Hermione asked, wondering if it was Neville who she'd be sharing living quarters with this year.

"Well, actually, I was just on my way back from Luna's cabin. I'm headed to Seamus and Dean's now…" Neville said, blushing shyly.

Hermione wrinkled her nose at the act, but smiled. "That's nice. Tell the boys I say hello, will you?" she smiled, and placed a hand on Neville's shoulder, before moving past him and continuing down the corridor.

Once inside the Head's Car, she found a large chair and turned it to face the picture window out the left side of the train. They were currently passing rolling fields and pastures. She could see farm animals in the distance. Smiling to her self, she picked a book up from a table beside the window and began to flip through it.

She was so engrossed in the book that she did not immediately turn around when the door to the car slid open and another figure entered. She blocked out the sound entirely. It wasn't until the person spoke, that she jumped from her seat and pressed herself up against the glass in shock.

"Already studying for NEWTS, eh Mudblood?"

Draco Malfoy. The very boy who had been the cause of all the destruction at the end of their sixth year. He was the reason the Headmaster was dead. He had been ordered to kill the great wizard himself… and now here he was, against all the odds, standing in the Heads' Car of all places! Hermione was beside herself. Before she could speak, McGonagall strode into the car and her discerning eyes swept the room.

"I'm glad the both of you made it" McGonagall said, looking knowingly between the two teenagers. She handed Malfoy a pamphlet and then, before he could speak, she handed an exact replica to Hermione. "These are your Heads' Handbooks. In them you'll find general rules for discipline of your fellow students—which I expect to be followed explicitly—as well as a chart detailing how and went to take house points." McGonagall emphasized, though she did not look at Malfoy, Hermione knew it was to him she was speaking. "You'll also find examples of prefects' duties and schedules made by previous heads. These will come in useful when you begin to make your own. I expect each of you to work together, whether or not you like each other." This point she made more to Hermione. "You will act professionally in public and set an example for the other students to follow. In your private dormitories…" here McGonagall paused, and looked frustrated, "just try not to kill each other before Christmas."

Malfoy smirked. That was a challenge.

Hermione sneered in return. Game on.

McGonagall merely shook her head. And looked between the two before turning to Hermione and holding up her hand to fend off the inevitable questions, "Before you even start, Ms. Granger, even you and your friends do not know every reason we of the Order do the things we do." Hermione looked at McGonagall like she was insane. She'd mentioned the Order of the Phoenix openly in FRONT of Draco Malfoy. This was the boy who'd been the direct cause of the Headmaster's death, and she's giving away all the secrets of his organization made up for the sole purpose of defeating his Master! McGonagall followed her thought process and grimaced. "Hermione. I would like to see you privately after the feast. We will meet before I show the two of you to your rooms." And with that, McGonagall left them alone again.

Malfoy sneered. It appeared to Hermione that McGonagall was on his side. The world had gone mad!

Author's Note:

So. First Chapter.

There's more to come, I promise. This will eventually incorporate Yellowcard's "Gifts and Curses" just a little FYI

Please tell me what you think!