The war had ended. Voldemort was dead and it seemed like nothing would ever go wrong again. Unfortunately, things go wrong even if they seem they wont. Harry, Ron and Hermione were on their way to Hogwarts to complete their 7th year. They still wanted to be Aurors and that required them to take the NEWT's. Hermione was watching the scenery zoom by through a window of the Hogwarts Express while Ron and Harry were playing a game of Wizards' Chess.
"Checkmate mate" Ron says quietly looking up at Harry after observing the board.
Harry was quiet for a moment as he observed the board. "Damn it, I could never beat you"
"Hey we all have our own strengths" Ron says packing up the board, "You're good at knocking our extremely evil dark wizards while I'm good at chess."
Harry laughed at that, then he got up and opened the compartment door, "Wonder where Ginny went of too" he thought aloud.
"What the hell" Ron starts, "she's been gone for like two minutes and you're already panicking."
Harry was about to answer but that's when Ginny came in with her flowery scent following.
"Where did you go off to" Harry asked, sitting back down. For some reason he felt slightly irritated.
"I was looking for Neville and Luna, and I found them in a compartment. I offered them to come sit with us, but they said they were okay" she answered quickly.
"I wonder why they wanted a compartment to themselves" Ron thought aloud, grinning.
"Ron !" Hermione said shortly. Ron's smile faded away as he saw Hermione's look.
"Guess who else i saw" Ginny continued.
"Who" Hermione asked looking away from the window.
"Malfoy" Ginny answered with her eyes narrowed.
"WHAT" Harry yelled standing up."Why"
"Yeah, why him" Ron yells angrily.
Hermione finally spoke up, "Guys don't be so mean to him this year"
"Us being mean to him. He's the one that's always picking to start something" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, I think you can expect less of that" Hermione says, turning back to the window.
"What makes you say that" Harry asks.
"Well, he's probably going to avoid us. I think he'll feel guilty because we saved his life last year" Hermione says quietly.
This made absouletly no sense to the others, but they stopped talking about Malfoy. Ron dozed of on Hermione's shoulder and Hermione dozed of on Ron's head.
"Awwww, don't they look so cute together" Ginny jokes.
Harry wasn't paying attention. He was looking at Hermione. For some reason he felt different around her now.
Here's something about this story. It's told from 4 points of view. Sometimes I'll have Hermione's point of view. Sometime's i'll have Ron's, Draco's, or Harry's. Here u go.
Harry too dozed of after a while. He had dreams about Hermione. He woke up in the middle of the one where he was holding her in his arms and they were kissing. He felt very guilty about it. He took a sideways glance at Ginny, but she obviously didn't know anything about the dream, how could she. Actually Ginny was slumped away from him and she was also asleep. He then slid his eyes towards Hermione, who was awake again looking out the window, Ron still fast asleep on her shoulder. She glanced at him for a second and then turned back to the window.
Harry was still trying to figure out his feelings for her as he looked away from her. The dream had obviously meant something. He had always thought Hermione was pretty, but he never thought that she was his type. Now that seemed to change for some reason. He felt a strong desire for her, he felt in love with her and it wasn't only because he was pretty. He felt emotionally in love with her, and it was so strong that he felt he couldn't resist kissing her at the moment. He didn't of course, not even with Ginny asleep. He glanced at Ginny again who was still fast asleep.
His thoughts slowly lingered to Ginny. Now that he thought of it, the only reason he was with her was because of her looks. He had never felt emotionally close to Ginny that much, much less than the way he feels for Hermione right now anyways. However, Harry knew he had no chance with Hermione. Firstly because, he could tell Ron and Hermione loved each other just as much , if not more, as Harry had loved Sirius. His chances were low. Secondly because, Ginny is Ron's sister and he wouldn't dump her and go after Hermione. It would risk his and Ron's friendship. Harry felt very confused.
"What are you thinking so hard about" Hermione asked from nowhere. Harry snapped his head towards her.
"Nothing. How did you know I was thinking" Harry asked. He didn't feel hesitant around her. She had been his friend for 8 years.
She smiled slightly, "Because I don't think I've ever seen your face look concentrated before, nor Ron's" she adds, shrugging him off her shoulder so he landed slept on her lap instead.
"Well, thinking isn't one of my strengths" Harry said also smiling. "I don't know what Ron and I would have done without your notes for the last 8 years Hermione"
"Probably still be in our first year" Ron said, who was still lying on her lap with his eyes closed.
Hermione looked very radiant. She obviously felt appreciated. Soon everyone was back to their normal positions. Ron fell asleep again, Hermione glued her eyes to the window, and Harry started thinking again. Hermione was taking glances at Harry. She had noticed how he was staring at her when he had awoken, and she was feeling slightly uncomfortable. Her heart belonged to Ron and she knew it. She loved him beyond anything else in the world, but she still couldn't stop thinking about why Harry was staring at her.
***
The castle was now visible through the windows of the Hogwarts Express. Draco watched them through his window as he changed into his school robes. His compartment was empty expect for him and his school trunk. None of his friends had come back to Hogwarts, why would they anyways ? The question was, why would Draco Malfoy return to Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy had no one left in his life anymore. His parents were in Azkaban and he didn't have any friends anymore. At least there would be people in Hogwarts, at least he wont feel as lonely as he would have in his father's manor. Draco watched as the castle got closer and closer until the train finally stopped.
***
The students stepped out of the Hogwarts Express. Harry walked up to the familiar carriages that were pulled by Threstrals. He went up to one of the Threstals and gently patted its side. His mind was still in Hermione. He was feeling a strong desire to cheat on Ginny and Ron's trust, and love Hermione in private. However, he knew it would be wrong and he knew he shouldn't do such a thing. He continued petting the Threstal absentmindedly until Ginny grabbed him by the arm and walked him into the last carriage, which was empty.
"Where's Hermione" Harry asks looking around, "and Ron" he adds hastily seeing the look in Ginny's eyes.
"They went ahead" she says, eyeing him suspiciously as they sat down in to the carriage. No one else was in there, Ginny sat herself across Harry.
Ginny looked Harry into Harry's eyes and took his hand into hers.
"Harry" Ginny whispered as the carriage started moving towards the castle.
"Yeah" Harry answered looking down at his lap.
"We haven't had any time alone" Ginny said gently. Harry didn't answer. He really had lost his interest in Ginny.
"So, why don't you give me a small kiss. Please" Ginny added.
Harry looked up. He really didn't feel like kissing Ginny anymore. He felt that his lips were made for kissing Hermione's lips,but still, he leaned over and gave Ginny a small kiss. As he tried to pull away, Ginny grabbed him and they continued kissing. Harry, feeling slightly annoyed at this, pulled away and started looking out the window. He couldn't see the look in Ginny's face, but he knew he had disappointed her. Ginny and Harry rode the carriage to the castle in silence.
*********
Draco stared at his empty golden plate as the students filed into the Great Hall. He was feeling really lonely because none of his close friends had returned to Hogwarts. He could hest people whispering things about him.
"The blond one"
"He's the son of Death Eater"
"He's responsible for Dumbledore's death"
The statements made Draco very angry and very sad. He could feel himself shaking as he clenched the front of the bench with his hands between his legs. His face was beginning to feel hot. Then suddenly the Great Hall broke into applause. Rows of people were standing up to applaud the four people who were just walking into the Hall. Draco stood up slowly to see the newcomers. They were Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny. Hermione was looking around the Hall, beaming. Her eyes met Draco's. Draco suddenly felt warm. His anger vanished on the spot and he stopped shaking. It was like her eyes were calming him down. She looked away almost immediately and turned to walk with the others towards the Gryffindor Table. Draco sat down, his mind was racing. What the hell just happened, he asked himself.
"Welcome to another year in Hogwarts" McGonnagal's sharp voice said, silencing the talking crowd.
Everyone looked up at her. Draco noticed quite a few changes to the staff. Snape's seat was occupied by Slughorn. There were a few new teachers as well. The former teacher for Muggle Studies had not returned after the Carrows had gone to Azkaban. Draco had witnessed the murder himself and he started feeling cold.