Disclaimer... I own absolutely nothing that looks even a bit familiar...And warning... this is my first attempt at fanfiction... please keep flames to a minimum... I'm flammable! Also - story started before the sixth book released. In this story, Voldemort was defeated after their sixth year, with the main characters returning to actually enjoy their seventh and final year at Hogwarts in peace. Or, at least, without the threat of an impending war. Characters might seem slightly OOC, but I've tried to write them as close to the original characters as possible, with the only difference being they can finally relax a little bit and focus on themselves, and not on fighting a war.

Also, for those that have read this in the past, I am planning to add more, but first I want to fix the typos and grammatical errors before I carry on. You can either start from the beginning, again, or carry on where you left off. I don't plan on changing much in the first six chapters, at least not enough that will impact too much of the final outcome.

"Watch it!" An irritated voice yelled as the brunette came barreling down the aisle, running into anything in her way. Only stopping to throw the weasel a quick glare, she pushed on, only to run smack into the person she was so desperately seeking out.

"Oy!" Squealed Ron, startled and surprised to be met by such a tight hug from such a tiny girl. "Let me take a look," he said, as he extended Hermione out to arm's length and spun her around, taking her all in. He whispered quietly, "Wow. Hermione, you look…"

"Look what?" She asked, silently pleading for him to tell her what she wanted to hear. She looked deep into his piercing blue eyes, begging him to tell her she was beautiful, amazing, and that he couldn't live without her. He didn't.

"Uh, nothing," He stammered, silently noting how beautiful she had become. This break was the first time he didn't get to spend any time with her at the Burrow, and over the two months she had changed dramatically. Her bushy locks had calmed down into shiny spiral curls and her face was as smooth as porcelain but displayed an obviously beached tan. She smiled slightly at him, and he began to feel unfamiliar warmth on his cheeks. He turned away and told her that Harry was on his way to their usual compartment, although he was being held up by Ginny.

"Ginny?" She questioned. "Are you serious? It's about time!"

Everyone knew that Harry had a thing for Ginny, although it took him long enough to finally admit it to himself, and everyone else, that he did. During the summer, Harry stayed with Ron at the Burrow and became closer to Ginny in the process, Ron explained, "It was a bit odd at first, having to knock on doors in my own house. The one time I didn't I was in for a nasty surprise."

"They didn't!" Hermione exclaimed. "I can't believe that Harry and Ginny…"

Before she could finish, Ron continued, "No, no. They were just snogging a bit, but c'mon. She's my little sister and he's… he's my best friend!" He let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh well, it could be worse. At least we know Harry has a good head on his shoulders and a future ahead of him. I can't necessarily say the same about some of the other boys she became friendly with last year."

Hermione nodded her head in agreement and followed Ron to their compartment. After a few minutes, they felt the train start to move and they became excited once again, realizing this would be their last trip to Hogwarts. An odd, yet comfortable silence fell between them as they rode in peace, until the door to the compartment slide open and a handsome young fellow sauntered in.

"Harry!" Hermione squealed before jumping up and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Hermione, I've missed you too, but get off! You're starting to choke me!" Harry exclaimed. Hermione loosened her grip and gave a weak smile.

"Sorry Harry, guess I was just a bit excited. You know, I haven't seen you all summer and you look mighty fine. I might just become a bit jealous of Miss Weasley." She gave him one more look over. The summer had done him very good. His skin was a deep shade of olive, dedicated to months of almost non-stop quidditch practice. He had grown even taller, almost reaching Ron's height, and his build was lean and muscular. She admitted that he did look very nice. "Speaking of Miss Weasley, where is she?" Even though the first few years at Hogwarts Ginny had been little more than just the little sister, she and Hermione had grown close over the past few years - she was the closest she had to a girl friend and she missed her dearly.

"She's with a bunch of the other sixth years. They're getting reacquainted and settled into their compartments for the trip back to Hogwarts. She missed you a lot this summer, did ya know?" Harry responded.

"I missed her too," Hermione said.

"Well I missed both of you, too," said Ron, who had made himself more obvious, trying to get in on the sentimental moment, and gave Harry and Hermione another big hug.

"Ron, you goof, I spent the whole summer with you!" Harry exclaimed.

"I realize that mate, but it wasn't this Weasley that you spent most of your time with," teased Ron.

"Hey now!" Harry shouted playfully. Harry looked up at Hermione again, and decided that she looked amazing. 'Ron would be crazy not to finally go for her this year,' he thought. Everyone, except Hermione, knew that Ron had had feelings for her since second year, although he refused to admit it. As smart as she is, she tends to miss the obvious social facts staring her straight in the face, he noted. As he gave her one last once over, he noticed the shiny badge attached to her vest. "What is that, Hermione?" He asked.

She was a bit confused, "What is what, Harry?" She looked down to what he was pointing to. "Oh, the badge. Oh yeah! In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you. I'm Head Girl!" With that statement came another round of hugs and congratulations.

"Who's the Head Boy?" Ron asked, hoping that she wouldn't say that slimy git, Malfoy.

"You know what, Ron? I was too excited by the news that I didn't even think to ask. I have a meeting in ten minutes, I'll tell you upon our arrival at Hogwarts. As long as it isn't Malfoy, there won't be a problem this year. Just think, if I had to actually live with that git, I don't know if I could do it!" She exclaimed. She knew that while she was looking forward to getting away from everything going on back at home, if she was stuck with Malfoy all year, she might as well have just stayed home.

"He really isn't that bad," drawled a silky voice from the front door to the compartment. The trio looked up to see none other than the blonde himself, surrounded by his mute flunkies, leaning casually on the door frame.

"What do you want?" She demanded, in a tone almost as icy as her stare.

"Just letting you know that we have a meeting soon in compartment three," replied Malfoy in a nonchalant tone. He began to turn as Hermione responded.

"Never ever would I go to any compartment with you!" Hermione stated, getting a bit riled up.

"Oh, really?" Asked Malfoy, looking slyly at her, almost daring her to respond, "I guess I'll just have to tell Dumbledore that you revoke your Head Girl status."

"Wait!" Hermione cried, grabbing his arm and whipping him around, "Are you saying that you are the new Head Boy?"

"Did you actually think that I wanted to spend more than a second with you in the same compartment? Who are you kidding?" Draco laughed, although he did admit that the older Gryffindor girl had changed quite a bit over the summer. There was something different, something alluring yet silently tragic beneath her eyes. What am I thinking? She's…. a muggle-born. So ugly, so unpure… so perfect.

Hermione noticed his stares for just a split second and let out a groan. This is going to be a long, long year. Shaking her head, she followed the git to the third compartment.