One Friday afternoon, while walking on the streets of Diagon Alley, a certain witch named Lisa Turpin spotted her owl flying above her and carrying a piece of parchment underneath its wings. She untied the knot that bound the parchment to the bird, rolled it open, and realized it was the newspaper Gossip Witch. She noticed that in the middle of the page, there was a big rectangular moving photo of a woman she recognized. She smiled excitedly as she began to read:

Hermione is Back!!!

Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Witch here... and I have the biggest news ever. One of my many sources, Lavlav91, sends us this: Spotted at King's Cross Station, bags in hand: Hermione Granger. Was it only a year ago our It-Girl mysteriously disappeared for quote 'Australia'? And just as suddenly she's back. Don't believe me? See for yourselves: Lucky for us, Lavlav91 sent proof. Thanks for the photo, Lav!

The woman in the photograph was carrying two sets of luggage. Lisa recognized her as one of her former schoolmates, although she never really talked to the girl. After what seemed like three more minutes of staring at the photo, she turned and walked away. She completely forgot about the paragraph below the photo which said:

Wonder what Pansy Parkinson thinks. Everyone knows that they were sworn enemies during their seven Hogwarts years, but they eventually got along when the Dark Lord died. Sure, they are BFF's now, but we always thought Pansy's boyfriend Blaise had a thing for Hermione.

Gossip Witch featured the everyday scandalous lives of the magical world's elite. The people included in the elite were those who became rich and famous or remained such after the Dark Lord's downfall. Everyone who heard about the newspaper knew that the newspaper updated itself the second it finds out about any scandalous news about any of the elite. Whoever subscribed to it got the news through owl mail right away without any charge. It had been a while since Gossip Witch's last post. Everyone thought that Gossip Witch would never update again. Little did they know, the heat was just starting in King's Cross.

That same Friday afternoon, Arthur Weasley stood waiting also in King's Cross Station. Before he finally decided to sit down, he gave one last look around. Upon doing so, he spotted his son and daughter, both of whom just got off the train.

"Ron, Ginny, over here!" he yelled, trying to get their attention.

The red-headed woman caught his eye and enthusiastically walked towards him. "Hey, dad!" she greeted him, while her brother walked behind her.

Ginny and Ron finally reached the place where there dad was standing. Arthur Weasley hurried towards them and gave each of them a big hug.

"Hey, hey! You made it. Welcome back! How was your weekend?" he asked animatedly. He was glad to see them both, even when only a week had passed. Then, in a slightly serious tone, he added, "How was your mom?"

"She's fine," was all that Ron said.

"She's good..." Ginny said softly, as if she weren't convinced. Then she added more certainly, "She's fine, I guess."

"She's good and fine," Ron said firmly, in the hopes of keeping the happy atmosphere.

Arthur thought for a moment. Then, while keeping a smile, he asked curiously, "Like 'Maybe I should never have left The Burrow' fine or 'Taking a time-out from my marriage was the best idea I've ever had' fine?"

"Dad, you know... I'm starving," Ron quickly said, trying to change the subject.

Arthur was expecting that sort of reply from his son, but he didn't want to give attention to it—at least, not now.

He followed his son's direction in the conversation and said, "Let's go home. I'm cooking. Caprese salad with a little mozzarella di Bufala... yeah, I'm gonna make you guys some. I still did not forget your mother's magic secret in cooking."

Arthur put an arm around Ginny and they walked off. On their way to the other side of the station, where apparition was allowed, Ron turned around and caught a glimpse of someone he didn't expect to see. The person he didn't expect to see, a lady with brown bushy hair, captivated his attention that very second.

Her name was Hermione Granger. She was wearing jeans and what seemed like a dark-colored spaghetti strap top, which was covered by a beige blazer. Her arms were chained to another woman's arms. Her mother, who accompanied her, looked just like her. Ron was very overwhelmed to see Hermione again.

He hadn't seen that lady since a year ago, back on the night when the Dark Lord has just been defeated. They were more than friends then, and they shared their first kiss on that dark night. But they never got to pursue their relationship further because she spent more time with a new friend and she told him she had to go to Australia to fix the harm she has inflicted on her parent's memory. He remembered her saying that she would just be away for a week. Little did he know that he would see her only a year later.

Ever since Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord, everything changed—everything, except Ron.

The first thing that changed was Harry's future. Harry became wealthier and more famous. With his new elite "Lord" title, he frequently traveled a lot and didn't get to visit London and his old friends much.

Second, the Ministry of Magic suggested that it was best that all Hogwarts students should have an eighth year. The Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt, implemented that the eighth year should be a time for all graduating students to tackle more subjects under their chosen course so that they can fully master their profession and be immediately ensured of a high-profile career in the magical world.

Third, McGonagall implemented the rule that Hogwarts should no longer be divided into Houses so that Hogwarts will be united. Because of this, she didn't require the students to wear their Hogwarts uniform, which still had their House logo stitched on its pocket.

Fourth, the Slytherins began to feel the need to stop being mean bullies to their other schoolmates. Although they stopped their bullying ways, they were still not compelled to start talking friendly to others.

The only sign of such situation was seen in the small shocking conversations that Pansy and Hermione had whenever they ran into each other. Among the seventh years, rumor has it that Hermione had felt the need to act and break the barriers between the red and green. It was rumored that she had made the first move when she wore an Eleanor Parkinson dress. Upon seeing the apparel fit so perfectly on the muggleborn's body, Pansy couldn't help but comment and even compliment her. Soon, they were best of friends, talking about witch fashion and accessories. Although Pansy was apparently friends with Hermione, she had always left her side whenever Ron, Hermione's then boyfriend, came into the picture.

The only thing that didn't change was Ron himself. He still wasn't used to the idea of being united with Slytherins, so he kept his head low and communicated only to his old friends. No one thought anything of him, since all the attention was directed to his best friend, who was now Lord Potter. No one thought that Ron had anything to do with the dark Lord Voldemort's defeat. He had no one, not even Hermione, who was always with Pansy Parkinson during seventh year. Ron remembered her talking to him only once, a week after the Lord Voldemort had been defeated. And that one time was the time, she told him that she would be leaving for Australia for a week to visit her parents whom she 'obliviated' for their protection. He hadn't seen her after that, not even after a week had passed. He received no letter from her and soon, he ended up accepting that she left him for good.

But of course, he was wrong. It was now the last Friday of the summer before his eighth year and he just arrived from a visit to his mother. And the last thing he expected was the last thing he saw upon leaving the station.

This lonely boy couldn't believe the love of his life has returned. If she only took time to remember him, then he wouldn't be so lonely anymore. But everyone knows Hermione. And everyone is talking.

After Hermione Granger and her mother disapparated from his sight in King's Cross, Ron turned and continued homebound with his father and sister.

A few miles away from King Cross' station was the Parkinson's home. The Parkinson residence was located in Essex, a known village where most of the great pureblood families lived. In one of the bathrooms of the Parkinson residence, Pansy Parkinson was reading a magical newspaper, which had the headline, "Hermione is Back!" Frowning upon reading the article's last word, she left the bathroom and joined the party downstairs. She saw her mother, Eleanor Parkinson, talking to a friend.

"…I have to design a dress for this woman," Pansy heard her mother say to another witch.

As Pansy drew nearer to the pair, the witch noticed Pansy and pointed to her to make Eleanor aware of her daughter's presence nearby. Eleanor Parkinson swiftly turned her back towards the witch and faced her daughter.

"Pansy, if you're going to wear one of my designs, tell me about it so we can at least get it properly fitted," Eleanor nagged, her head shaking.

Pansy stared at her mother and frankly said, "Thanks, mom. I'll keep that in mind. Great party." Eleanor turned back to the witch as Pansy moved towards the buffet table.

"She is my best advertisement," Pansy heard her mother say faintly.

Near the buffet table and in front of the open bar, Pansy saw her boyfriend, Blaise Zabini, Blaise's father, and another party guest. She stood within earshot of their conversation but didn't bother to greet them just yet.

"So, Blaise, have you been thinking about your eighth year?" the party guest asked the young, tall, dark-haired lad named Blaise Zabini.

"Well, actually, I want Blaise to finish his eighth year by taking Business in Durmstrang. I want him to run the family business in the future," Howie Zabini, Blaise's father, said.

"Yes, dad has always spoken very highly of Durmstrang. But I would like to continue in Hogwarts," Blaise replied firmly.

"His mother wouldn't hear of it. Hogwarts is getting less classy these days. You know, without the House divisions and all…" Howie Zabini trailed off.

"Yes, well... Hogwarts is my first choice," Blaise said calmly. Howie put the conversation on hold when Pansy filled the space between the father and son.

"Excuse me, Mr. Zabini," Pansy said to Blaise's father. Then, she asked impatiently, "Blaise, may I borrow you?"

Blaise looked at Pansy with a curious look. "Eh, sure," he said questioningly. "Excuse me for a second," he added for the benefit of his father and his father's friend.

Pansy lead Blaise to her pink bedroom upstairs and pushed him onto the majestic bed.

"What's going on?" Blaise asked, startled.

"I wanna do this... It... Now," Pansy panted.

"Now now? You wanted to wait—

Pansy interrupted him, saying, "Not anymore."

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy, a friend of Blaise, seated on the black leather couch in the middle of the room and played with his drink. He was leaning back with his arms outstretched, supporting the heads of two girls.

"Oh my, you'll never believe what's on Gossip Witch," one of the girls began.

"Someone saw Hermione Granger get off a train at King's Cross," the other girl said, excitedly.

"Good, things were getting a little…dull around here," said Draco, sounding bored.

One of the girls was about to comment when the main door opened to reveal a womanly figure. It was Hermione Granger herself. Hermione surveyed the scenery. There were many faces, old and young alike, who were chatting and drinking cosmopolitans. She recognized only a few people, one of which was Pansy's mother. When she finally caught Eleanor's eye, Eleanor greeted her like a long lost daughter.

"Hermione! How are you? How was Australia?" Eleanor greeted her.

"Good," Hermione replied quietly.

"So, are you going to continue studying in Hogwarts?" Eleanor asked.

"I guess so," Hermione said nervously.

"Where are you staying before school starts?" Eleanor asked.

"At the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione said.

"Oh, I heard they renovated the place to make it look more sophisticated," Eleanor said gravely, deep in thought. Then, she added, "That's good."

Hermione merely nodded.

"Come inside, I shall get Pansy," Eleanor continued. She dashed upstairs and came upon Pansy's bedroom. The door was closed but that didn't prevent her from hearing the voices inside.

"I love you, Blaise Zabini. Always have, always will," Blair whispered.

"I love you too," was all that Blaise could say.

Eleanor knew about Pansy and Blaise's relationship and she was very happy about it. She didn't want to interrupt their lovemaking but she didn't want to keep her daughter's friend waiting either.

"Pansy, it's Hermione!" Eleanor hollered to the door.

"Hermione?" Blaise asked, surprised. His heart suddenly pounded harder, and it wasn't because of Pansy's touches.

"Hermione is in Australia. Kiss me," Pansy said hastily.

"No, I think I heard your mom say she's here. Don't you wanna go say 'hey'?" Blaise asked, eagerly.

Pansy looked at Blaise and sighed, "Yeah. Totally."

Pansy and Blaise strolled downstairs and noticed Hermione on the other side of the room. As soon as she was sure Blaise and Hermione made their first eye contact, Pansy walked in front of Blaise, blocking him from Hermione's view. Then, Pansy stretched her arms and gave her friend a hug.

"Hi, Hermione, so good to see you," Pansy said happily, pretending to be enthusiastic.

"Good to see you," Hermione replied rather sheepishly.

"Come, we're about to have dinner," Pansy beckoned with a restrained smile.

Eleanor darted towards the two girls and chimed in, "I'll set a place for you beside Pansy."

Hermione thought for a moment. "Er, actually…there's somewhere I have to go," she replied, looking down.

"You're leaving?" Pansy asked, her happiness now genuine.

"Yeah, I just—" Hermione started. She looked up right then. "—don't feel well. I just wanted to come by and say hi. I'll see you at school on Monday," she continued.

In a blink of an eye, Hermione left the party without any more ado.

"School... so I guess she's back for good," Pansy said haughtily.

"Didn't you know she was coming?" said Millicent Bullstrode, one of the girls who sat beside Draco Malfoy earlier.

"Course I did. I just—" Pansy paused, not knowing how to phrase this. Then she continued, "—wanted it to be a surprise."

Word is that Hermy bailed on Pansy's party in under 90 seconds and didn't even have one lemon shot. Has our bad girl really gone good? Or is it all just part of the act?

Meanwhile, in another village miles away, Ron was looking through his sister's school papers and saw the Gossip Witch newspaper. He began to drift away in his thoughts, asking many questions.

Why'd she leave? Why'd she return? And why does Ginny have a copy of Gossip Witch? What is Gossip Witch anyway? He began to wonder. Then, to answer his question, Ron began to read the last few lines of the article:

And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell. You know you love me. XOXO Gossip Witch.