Chapter 1: So Much Has Changed…

It was a lovely September morning. The birds in the trees were chirping vigorously and those that took to the skies exercised their vocal muscles in a very conspicuous manner too. On the ground, a gigantic red train roared its way over the fields and meadows of England, passing into Scotland. This train was called the Hogwarts Express, and the people in the train were wizards and witches that were going to their school, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, for another year. On first sight, the rhythm of the train and the beautiful scenery would suggest gaiety and happiness for the boarders of the train; however, a closer look revealed otherwise.

All of the compartment doors were closed, many of them with locking charms on them (except for those of the first-years, who as yet did not know how to perform such spells) and there was a waft of unmistakable tension in the air. They couldn't be blamed: after all, it was only a few months ago that they had received the startling, horrifying, and depressing news that Albus Dumbledore, commonly regarded as the most powerful wizard on earth and the only person that Lord Voldemort had ever feared, had been killed by none other than Professor Snape, teacher of Potions at Hogwarts. The wizarding world had been plunged into the highest fear and uncertainty, and now that school was reopening….

Hermione Granger walked in the passageway, her robes billowing behind her, her gaze fixed, her air confident. An aura of authority and will surrounded her, probably due to the fact that her hand was constantly on the wand that was in her pocket. She peered into the compartments that she passed, checking them, making sure that the students were safe and also that they were not doing anything dangerous. She did not need to worry: all of the students were sitting firmly in their seats, hands in their laps, sometimes fidgeting and all with deadly serious looks on their faces. No Weasley twins this year, Hermione thought to herself, grimly. No fun, no jokes, no tricks. Hogwarts is changed now. Steel yourself, she told herself hastily, to stop the tears that were threatening to flow. You're ready for this. You've been ready for this.

The truth was, Hermione missed Hogwarts as it had been before, and the way people would laugh and joke on the Express, looking forward to a new year. The happiness, the food, the… Hearing a sound, she spun around, whipping her wand out for an attack if necessary, and lowered it promptly – it was the lady selling sweets on the train.

"Horrible business," the lady muttered. "No one wants to buy anything, afraid that it would blow them up or something. Doing spells on my food and jinxing them to check for dark magic, you would think that I was You-Know-Who in disguise!"

"We're all scared," Hermione said, reassuringly. "It's really – "

She was cut off by a loud noise that sounded as if something very heavy had just been dropped on the ground. Turning immediately and again with wand at the ready, she spotted a large black object on the floor in front of her. She was just about to throw a freezing spell at it when the 'thing' raised itself from the floor and started talking. With a breath of relief, Hermione saw that it was Neville Longbottom.

"Neville!" she said, pocketing her wand for the second time. "What are you doing?"

"I – I was just about to buy some – some food," Neville stammered out. "But I changed my – my mind." He vanished back into the compartment and Hermione sighed. She just wished everything could be back to normal – but then, there was never anything normal in the wizarding world.

After the train arrived at Hogwarts, they hurried into the castle and sat down for the opening feast. It was strange to see Professor McGonagall sitting in the same seat that Professor Dumbledore had possessed for all the years that she had attended Hogwarts. As she scanned the Great Hall, she realized that the Slytherins were in record few numbers – a flash of hatred passed over her face as she noted that most of them had left to join their master, the Dark Lord. Suddenly angry, she willed herself to listen to McGonagall's amazingly calm speech and encouraging words. All of the students were in low spirits, but when the delectable food appeared, even the most pessimistic were forced to brighten up. Suddenly, an owl swooped down from the far end of the Great Hall and dropped a letter in Hermione's lap. Curious, she tore off the envelope and read:

Dear Hermione,

As you will be the Head Girl for this school year, there are some housekeeping things to take care of in advance. Please see me directly after dinner in my office.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Smiling, Hermione pocketed the letter and continued eating, chatting occasionally with the now-happier Gryffindors but mostly simply listening to the other students' conversations. Over the summer she had grown more reserved, studying advanced magic almost feverishly and putting up wards around her house and protection charms on her loved ones. She was back at Hogwarts with more knowledge of magic than ever before, already past NEWT level before the school year had even begun. The summer had also held sad occurrences that brought tears of worry to her eyes – Harry and Ron were gone.

Indeed, her two best friends had decided that they would go on the hunt for Voldemort themselves, search for the last Horcruxes, and destroy the Dark Lord once and for all. Part of their plan was to let Hermione stay behind and go back to Hogwarts in order to keep an eye on the day-to-day wizarding world affairs and inform them when new information came up. Hermione knew, however, that Harry and Ron really wanted Hogwarts to remain in operation – and Hermione's presence, with her incredible store of defensive magic that she had garnered over the summer, soothed their worries about very possible attacks on their school. That was how Hermione came to be the only Head Student in charge of patrolling and other duties; Harry had been chosen as Head Boy, but since he was on a mission and no one else seemed qualified or willing to take on his role, it remained vacant, and the Head Girl was to take on both of their responsibilities, which, presumably, were what McGonagall wanted to talk to her about.

After dinner, she hurried to the Headmistress's office, where the gargoyle demanded the password.

"Uh – sherbet lemon." The gargoyle shook its head.

"Let's see – Bernie's Every Flavored – oh, it's McGonagall! Of course she wouldn't – duh! Transfiguration!" she said hopefully, and was promptly rewarded with a vigorous shaking of the head. "Animagus!" she tried again. Again, she was denied entrance.

"I would try '' if I were you, Miss Granger," came a voice from behind her, and she turned to find the smiling Headmistress. "Come in."

The first thing that Hermione noticed in the Head Office was that Dumbledore's portrait was hanging on the wall along with the other Headmasters of Hogwarts. It was smiling, his half-moon glasses twinkling with an unknown source of light. A surge of emotion filled Hermione as she contemplated this picture and felt more strongly than ever what a loss to the wizarding society Dumbledore's death had been. With his passing, the wizarding community was more vulnerable to Deatheaters' attacks than ever before, and attacks would be inevitable…

"These are your duties as Head Girl and the only Head Student this year," McGonagall began. "You will attend all your classes as usual with your classmates, but you will be required to patrol the grounds from ten to midnight every day. You will also be required to be a model of excellent behavior to your fellow students – but that would not be a problem. Oh, you get your own dormitory too. Follow me."

McGonagall led an excited Hermione to a portrait of a goblin on a wall not far from Gryffindor Tower. The goblin bowed and the Headmistress said briskly, "Honeysuckle stems." The portrait swung open and Hermione gasped, for they had entered the most beautifully furnished common room Hermione had ever seen. Every article of furniture was deep and rich in color and exceptionally inviting, to say the least. There was a warm fire crackling in the fireplace, several couches throughout the room, and soft lights hung from chandeliers. It was breathtaking.

"Since Mr. Potter is not with us, you shall be the only occupant of this joint dormitory. Your room is to the left and the Head Boy's quarters are to the right, if you ever decide to use it for any purpose. The password, again, is 'Honeysuckle stems.' Good night, Miss Granger." At the door, she paused and added, "Your patrolling duties begin tonight. Enjoy your day." With a swish of her cloak, McGonagall was gone, and Hermione was left to run up to her bedroom, where her suitcases had already arrived. The two hours that remained until her patrol time were spent in unpacking and singing to herself.