((A/N: In the process of writing this chapter, the site logged me out and I lost what I'd written, having forgotten to copy just in case, so I'm sorry if this isn't the best introductory chapter in the world. That's basically all this is. To get you caught up.))
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Chapter One: On the Return Trip
"Come on! Not much time!" A feminine voice called from downstairs.
"Ugh! Five more minutes, mum!" A younger, yet equally feminine voice countered, in the process of rolling over in her bed.
"Hermione Jean Granger, if you don't get up right now, you won't have time to get to the station!" Mrs. Granger shouted, sounding furious, now.
Hermione bolted up in bed, eyes wide. Looking around, she saw the papers she'd been working on scattered over her bead. She must have fallen asleep during her essay hours. Each night, she had set aside time to work on her essays, which were all based on her trips to find horcruxes, the war, the rebuilding of Hogwarts, and her large role at reorganizing the ministry. She jumped out of bed, changed, brushed her teeth, and fixed her hair. Leaving her bathroom, she re-re-checked her trunk (she'd done the same thing the night before), and gathered up anything else she thought she might want in a bag, which she planned to carry on the train with her. She levitated her bags downstairs, scaring Crookshanks.
"Sorry." She said, frowning. "But you know, if you were coming with me, you'd be in less danger of flying objects." It sounded contradictory, considering the fact that she was going to Hogwarts, the newly rebuilt Wizarding School in England. By far, this school outranked all others throughout the world. "You'd be in your safe crib." She amended, feeling silly for having said the original comment in the first place.
During breakfast, she thought back over the last two years. She was turning 19 in nearly a month. September 17th, to be exact. She started to wonder if anyone would remember. Last year, only her parents had thought of it, throwing her a party, in which all of her friends from Hogwarts looked awkward and as though they regretted something. She immediately knew they'd forgotten.
The first of the two years was spent roaming across the European Countryside, searching desperately for Voldemort's horcruxes. Then, the war punctuated the end of that year. The next was spent rebuilding Hogwarts, working with Harry, Ron, and the Professors to re-establish what had originally been there. Then, she began helping the efforts to update the Ministry policies, create new departments, and get employees who were most certainly not Death Eaters. The biggest, and best surprise, when it came to enlisting people, was that Kingsley was the new Minister, and was doing a superb job of it. As an auror, he knew exactly what to look for when interviewing, and what to avoid.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had been to loads of dinners, meetings, and interviews, mostly about their trip, what they learned, what to look out for when out on your own, and silly things like that. Hermione found it all too tedious, and eventually left Harry and Ron to it. Soon enough, they joined her in ignoring the letters and requests, which had started to die down. People had, finally, gotten the hint that they didn't want to talk about their dead friends and family, and about the bad memories.
Today, the students of Hogwarts would be allowed to go back, and re-do their previous year, with proper instruction, from proper and educated Professors. Most of the Professors returned, including Headmistress McGonagall, who was no longer Head of Gryffindor, which disappointed Hermione immensely. Of course, now Hermione had no one to go to, specifically, for job ideas, applications, or secondary education information. Hermione had quite a surprise for her friends, too. She was no longer just a prefect. In fact, she wouldn't even be sharing a dorm with her Seventh Year companions, Lavender and Parvati. Not that they were that close in the first place. Nor would she be using the Gryffindor Common Room as her study area of choice - second to the library, of course. She would be staying in the Head's Dorm, along with the Head Boy. Each would have their own room, and share a Common Room.
Although the so-called Golden Trio was being thanked by everyone, Hermione couldn't help but worry about what the other students would think of them. Would they think they had ran off to hide, leaving them to fend for themselves against the Death Eaters? She had a feeling at least the rotten Slytherins would. She grumbled to herself and she ate the healthy, yet measly breakfast which was commonplace around the Granger Household.
"Come on, dear. We'd best be off." Mr. Granger was saying.
He, along with Mrs. Granger and Hermione herself, was obsessive about being early, rather than on time.
"Being early is being on time. Being on time is being late." He would always say. It had practically become a Granger family motto.
The three of them hopped in the car, leaving Crookshanks to do as he liked, hoping he wouldn't tear anything up while they were out. They arrived at the station with more than fifteen minutes to spare. Not that they were surprised. They found a trolley in no time, and loaded Hermione's trunks onto them. Upon reaching platform nine, and walking halfway between Nine and Ten, Hermione turned to her parents.
After staring at each other for a moment, Hermione smiled and hugged them. "I'll miss you."
"Be good." Her mum said.
"Of course." Hermione nodded, suddenly very serious-looking.
"And, I'd say be careful, but.. you've rather proved that we needn't worry about that anymore, haven't you? Ah well, I've got to say something encouraging yet threatening, don't I? Keep up with your grades." Mr. Granger said weakly.
Hermione grinned up at him, and hugged him once more.
"I'll write, I promise!" She said, before running towards the wall, and coming out on the other side, where kids were shouting to each other, the Hogwarts Express was steaming, and a large group of red-heads with one black-haired boy were standing.
"Hermione!" A now rather tall red-headed girl ran towards her.
"Ginny!" Hermione smiled, and hugged her tight.
"Oh, I've missed you." Ginny said, sounding rather desperate for a girl friend to talk to.
"Haven't you seen Luna lately?" Hermione asked, knowing Ginny was feeling lonely.
"No, she's been with Neville." She shuddered, and Hermione simply shrugged.
"It's not so bad. I bet people are doing the same thing about you and 'The-Boy-Who-Just-Won't-Die'. That is, the girls who are jealous." Hermione winked at Ginny.
Ginny had obviously grown over the two years. Hermione hadn't seen her much, and regretted it. Ginny was now the same height as Hermione, if not a bit taller. Her red hair was shiny - but not in a greasy, gross way. She was gorgeous, just the right height, had a perfect complexion, was even better at style than she had been before. Besides that, her confidence and outgoing personality lead her to having more friends than Hermione would ever have. Ginny could've been friends with a Slytherin at this rate. Not that she'd want to. She'd specifically said so, when Hermione suggested it.
"Come on, my brother's been frantic looking for you." Ginny laughed, and tugged on Hermione's trolley, leading it over to the group of Weasleys and a lone Potter.
"Hey, 'Mione!" Ron and Harry grinned.
They had both matured, too, Hermione noticed. She hadn't thought about it until now, having been so busy over the past year. Harry was probably the only person more busy than she. Harry, tall, handsome, and needless to say famous was just the kind of person who fit Ginny perfectly. Ron, too, was tall (surprise, surprise) and he wasn't too bad looking. Hermione thought back to their kiss two years ago. He'd never mentioned it. Perhaps he's forgotten.. Hermione thought hopefully. Not because she wanted him to. But because she'd rather think that, than think he'd rejected her, that he'd been caught up in the moment or some junk like that. He, however, was not going to get Hermione's time this year - except in a friendly way. She had a feeling he still had a thing for Lavender, anyway, even if he didn't show it. She had been obsessive, but after they'd broken up, she had caught him staring at her, as though regretting it. She seemed different, last time Hermione had seen her. She seemed less immature and stuck on silly teenage girl stunts, though she was still only 18. Everybody had changed, Hermione realized.
"Let's get going!" Harry said after a few minutes of talking. He took Ginny's hand, and magic-ed away everybody's trunks onto the train.
"Yeah, let's go get a compartment before we have to sit with somebody we don't know. Best to have our own, I think." Ron was saying.
Hermione realized that he wasn't Head Boy at that point. She said nothing, but followed them on. She figured Headmistress McGonagall wouldn't want two people from the same house, thus showing favoritism. Hermione, now a bit worried about who she would be stuck with, caught up to the group.
"Hey, I have to go meet the Head Boy. I'll see you later." She said pointedly.
"Yeah, alright." They agreed, not showing a hint of comprehension.
"See you at the meeting, Hermione." Ron smiled, and followed the others towards the back of the train.
Hermione, gaping after them for a moment, shook her head, and started straight towards the center of the train. She was told that was where the Prefect and Head compartments were, so they could keep track of the entire train as best they could.
She knocked, not wanting to interrupt her new companion for the year. She opened the door up, and gasped audibly.
"Surprised to see me? Or just by how good-looking I am? You'd think after all these years, you'd be used to it."
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((A/N: Evil, I know ;) However, I think you know who it is. Anyway, a banner by yours truly (hinthint) should be coming. I may even add in some chapter artwork. Not sure yet. I expect this to be long, as it will cover the entire year.
Reviews are very welcome. All growing writers need them! You'll even get a mention if you leave me one. If you have any ideas, let me know. :)
Even if you just read it because you thought it might perhaps be interesting, thanks! ))
