She pushed her hair off of her damp face, glaring slightly at the hustle and bustle of the students around her. Each eager face was beaming happily at their peers, glad to be back for what may finally be a safe and average year of school. As average as possible for Hogwarts that is.
Hermione sighed audibly, attracting the attention of her close friend Harry Potter, whose gaze had been fixated on his beautiful girlfriend for the entirety of the train ride. He patted her shoulder reassuringly, guessing her thoughts. The war had affected each person differently, some dealing with more drastic consequences than others. Ron for example, had suffered over the loss of his brother Fred, and was handling it worse than others. Hermione had watch his transformation before her very eyes, sadly seeing the way he turned cold and negative towards her and the rest of the world. She refused to give up though. They'd been so close to happiness before his brother's death, so close to the relationship she'd been longing for for years, and Hermione was nothing if not stubborn.
"Hermione there's a free carriage up the front, quickly, let's get out of this sodding rain." Harry dragged her from her thoughts, pushing her through the crowd of students towards a carriage being led by what she realised in horror must be the thestrals that Harry had described to her. Her face darkened as she looked around at the shock and sadness displayed on each students face as they too realised they were able to see the winged creatures, their memories spiralling back to that fateful night where bodies of their friends and families were hitting the ground mercilessly. Hermione shuddered and climbed into the carriage ungracefully, pausing again to push her dripping wet hair from her face.
"I almost don't want to go back," she whispered tiredly. "My memories of this castle have been tainted. All I'll be able to think of is Lavender, Tonks, Remus…Fred, Dumbledore for Godric's sake, all those people." Ginny patted her shoulder tentatively as if worried she'd burst into tears herself. "They're just… gone."
Ron grunted sullenly from beside her, and Hermione reached her hand towards his. His reflex's were too quick however, and he pushed his hands deep into his robes pockets, turning away from her moodily, leaving the air in the carriage heavier than it had been previously. Harry exchanged a quick look with Ginny, but Hermione ignored it, acting as if she'd not noticed the clear act of rejection from her boyfriend.
The carriages pulled up at the castle gates and Hermione left her friends standing at the entrance, as she herded a group of students towards the Great Hall. Her reminiscing had not made her forget about the small badge pinned to the front of her robes, shining brightly in the light cascading down from the hanging lanterns. A large, golden "HG" was pinned proudly, and she was not going to waste her time fretting over the past when she had important duties to attend to. Her escorting of the students was quick, her eyes searching desperately for help, though none came, and soon she was seating herself beside Ron, Harry and Ginny at the Gryffindor table, listening to the sorting hat sing tales of the passing war, and the unity which would follow.
"Load of bollocks if you ask me," grunted Ron sourly, "If anything this war has just shown how weak and diabolical those Slytherins really are. I still reckon McGonagall is off her rocker letting them back here." His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists, broodingly staring at the sea of green and silver student on the opposite end of the hall. Hermione clenched her teeth, trying to prevent the argument from breaking out so early into the school year, but Ginny beat her to it.
"Ron some of them stayed. Some of them fought with us. Not all of them left, and even if they did can you blame them? Not everyone has a death wish. Most of their parents were on You-Know-Who's side, it's not like they would want to fight their parents."
"Ginny, he's gone, I think you can say Voldemort's nam-" Harry tried to correct her but Ron ferociously interrupted.
"I don't see why you're sticking up for them Gin, they've been nothing but prats to everyone since they stepped foot in the school, and one bloody war won't change that. They ran to save their own skins. To join His side against us. They would gladly have us dead."
Hermione cleared her throat nervously, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but hoping the three Gryffindors would stop their fighting for a moment to realise the headmistress was about to speak. "Good evening students," Minerva McGonagall stood above them at the podium, looking as strict, and as neat as ever. Her hair had gone a shade more grey, and her face was lined with more wrinkles, clear impacts from the passing war, though she held herself proudly.
Hermione stared at her, feeling respect bloom within her chest at the sight of this fierce woman in front of her. "I'd like to welcome you back to a new year at Hogwarts. For those of you who are new, there are some rules which you must abide by. Firstly it is asked that you are not to go into the Forbidden Forest. It would be assumed that that would be common knowledge, considering the name, but some of you," she stared towards their place at the table, and Harry blushed and ducked his head down, "seem to need reminding each year, so I thought I would let you know. Also, due to the events in the recent past, we will be trying our hardest this year to integrate each of the houses, so I would like to remind each and every one of you that this school was founded on friendship, and although we are individuals, we are all together on this journey to wisdom. Any foolish fights or inappropriate behaviour towards others will not be tolerated, and we are treating this very seriously this year."
Hermione took a side glance at Ron, who was shifting between glaring daggers at his sister, and at the Slytherins, and she rubbed her temples, praying she would have the power to stop him from doing anything stupid this year. "And with that, I think it is time for the well awaited feast. Bon Appetite." McGonagall drew away from the podium with a swish of her robes as food littered the previously empty tables. Hermione watched her boyfriend's eyes light up, for the first time in what felt like years, at the sight of the gigantic feast.