The war had barely been over for ten minutes before Hermione Granger had looked around the rubble that now was the remainder of the once majestic castle of Hogwarts and decided she was going to go back and finish her final year of schooling.

There was a mass tidy up effort and by some sort of miracle, by the first of September Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was returned to its former glory and once again ready to open its doors to its students; including the now eighth years—a year group made up entirely of students returning to complete their education without the war standing in the way.

Hermione found herself sat in the last carriage on the Hogwarts express all on her own, curled up by the window with an old, tattered copy of one of her favourite Muggle novels. She had been sat in the carriage since around 8am, regardless of the fact that the train wouldn't leave platform 9¾ until precisely 11am—she was determined to secure her friends and herself the best seats for the long journey to the castle. She was just trying to do everything in her power to ensure they all had the most wonderful last year experience that they were all deprived of the previous year.

However, she had also gotten there so early because she just needed a bit of time alone for the time being to wrap her head around a few things before the year started.

The summer has been far from peaceful; full of reunions, funerals, captures of the remaining death eaters and repairs. As much as she'd almost been grateful for all the distractions, there was no way of avoiding how she'd felt, the pain they'd all gone through, the exhaustion of always having to be strong and the strangeness of constantly feeling lonely even though she was permanently surrounded by the people who loved her.

More often than not, Hermione simply found herself feeling very overwhelmed and confused, which, for a girl who exercised control in almost all aspects of her life, was very intimidating.

Additionally, to make the situation even worse, things between the Golden Trio had been very different since the end of the war and nobody really knew how to explain it.

Nothing had really changed between Hermione and Harry—their relationship was stronger than ever. There was no way they could have ever come out of the previous year any different due to the months alone in the middle of nowhere in a tent. Harry was her rock and her best friend, but it was obvious that the closeness between them was still an issue for Ron. No matter how many times he was told he was being ridiculous, he would not listen to either of them and end up angry with them for sometimes days at a time; he was as stubborn as a mule, and that wasn't about to change at any time soon.

In fact, when she thought about it, the main cause of most of the differences that were occurring recently was because of the romantic relationship between Ronald and herself which was still very much in its early stages.

They had officially been an item since their sudden and passionate kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts, much to Hermione's happiness after being in love with him secretly for years. But now, things just didn't seem right and their relationship was nowhere near the bliss she had imagined it to be.

Truthfully, both she and Harry thought since becoming a war hero, Ronald's head had inflated so much that it was due to explode at any second.

Ron had always loved being the centre of attention due to being one of many Weasley children, but he seemed to have taken this to a whole new level. He was constantly doing interviews for the papers, posing for photographs in the street, signing autographs for fans and stopping to talk to any reporter who attempted to approach them. Once, he even went so far as to invite someone over from the Daily Prophet to the Burrow so they could write an article that was to be titled 'A Day in the Life of the Golden Trio', without asking anybody beforehand if they wanted to participate. Thankfully the article was never published as Molly had been so furious at her youngest son that he'd embarrassingly enough been sent to his room and the reporter was thrown out before he'd even had chance to take his hat and coat off.

Sadly though, his atrocious behaviour had given Hermione the suspicion that he was only in a relationship with her because of all the attention it brought along with it. It was no secret that he loved bragging that he was the one to have won her heart in the end and not Harry Potter—the Chosen One. Not that anybody within their circle seemed to care, mind, they simply reminded him that Harry Potter only seemed interested in Ginny – his baby sister – and that always succeeded in knocking him down a peg or two for a minute or so.

She was sad to admit it, but she just didn't feel like the spark was there anymore between the two of them, regardless to how everybody was always going on about how they were perfect together and that they'd be getting married within a few short years. He did not make her feel good about herself or treat her in any way that suggested he truly loved her. It was as if now that he'd won his prize, he'd simply given up trying to woo her anymore – not that he'd done an awful lot of that to begin with anyways – just expecting that this was the way things were going to stay from now on.

All in all, Ron had caused a bit of a rift between things for the trio and it was only because that he'd been their friend for years now that they put up with every mistake he made.

When it got around 10am, the station began to fill with all of the students attending Hogwarts that year and their parents all saying their goodbyes on the platform. Trunks were loaded onto the train and children hugged their parents, promising to write soon. Friends were reunited after the summer and everybody seemed to be truly excited for the new school year.

Hermione had just begun to wonder where abouts Harry and Ron were and why they hadn't joined her yet when it happened.

Draco Malfoy burst unexpectedly into Hermione's compartment, slamming the door closed behind him without checking if there was anybody else in there with him. He slid down onto the floor in relief and put his head in his hands, his blond hair flopping down to cover the rest of his face.

Hermione sat there at first in complete silence, partly due to the shock of the sudden appearance of the boy – now man – who had caused her so much grief throughout her school years and had to her knowledge been one of Voldemort's' Death Eaters, due to the fact he'd gotten off scot-free at his trial mostly because of the testimony herself and Harry did on his behalf.

She did not want to break the silence through fear of startling him and triggering the abuse and potential dangers that he possessed, but also because he looked as though he'd grown tired and weary since the last time she'd seen him. He looked as if he'd been to hell and back over and over again and was only just able to relax for the first time; slumped with his back against the compartment door.

After a few more moments though Hermione was done waiting for him to notice her on his own, and made a show of loudly closing the book on her lap, making just enough noise to startle the Slytherin only a few small metres away from her.

He shot up in half an instant, his wand in Hermione's face so fast she only just had chance to grab her own for protection. She didn't, however, point it at him to copy his stance, she merely held it tightly to herself on her lap. There was no way Malfoy would be stupid enough to attack her on a train full of people, especially since it hadn't even left the station yet.

She hadn't meant to startle him as much as that, only inform him of her presence, but clearly, she had overlooked the fact that he was a victim of war – just like she was – and had reflexes of paranoia to show for it.

There was no noise within the carriage as they both looked at each other, which quickly turned into an even worse awkward silence and Hermione sighed to herself, realising that she was right and she absolutely would not need to use her wand. If he was going to attack her, he would have done it by now.

"Put the wand away," she said assertively and moved slightly to put her book in her bag before turning to look at the blonde again.

He still had his wand pointed at her.

"I'm not kidding, Malfoy. Besides, even if you don't send a hex flying my way you could still manage to take one of my eyes out."

"Why don't you think I'd hex you, Granger?" he challenged her in a way that was probably supposed to seem vicious.

"Because I don't think you have it in you anymore," she replied after a seconds thought, examining him carefully to make sure she hadn't misjudged him and he was preparing himself to send a particularly nasty jinx at her.

However, he then slowly began to drop his arm and then stowed his wand into his pocket. He looked back at her with an expression on his face that she was unable to place, but for once in the whole time she'd known him, he wasn't looking at her with any trace of disgust, not even a slight sneer.

"Maybe you're right…or maybe I just don't feel like wasting my energies on you, you d—"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY GIRLFRIED, MALFOY!"

Harry and Ron came barrelling into the compartment, Ron in front, his wand out, ready to hex the pale man out of his mind. But it appeared that Hermione didn't need a bodyguard and she was more than capable of handling the Slytherin prince.

"Shit Granger, I think you've broken my nose!" he screamed, being result to one of Hermione's right hooks for the second time. And her technique had massively improved since the incident in third year.

"What were you about to call me? A dirty Mudblood, Malfoy? Is that it? Well, luckily for you, I don't need reminding about that little thing anymore, especially not since your Aunt Bella left me a permanent reminder!" She rolled up her sleeve and thrust the scarred part of her arm in his face, so filled with anger in that moment that she'd failed to realise the lack of malice in his voice as he'd been cut off from finishing his sentence, so they'd not actually heard that word leave his lips before she'd punched him aggressively.

Draco flinched as she held out her arm demanding for him to see the word engraved onto it forever from a distance, but he surprised them all by gently reaching forwards and lightly running his fingers over the word etched into her skin, almost as if he was transfixed.

"I suggest you leave now, Malfoy," Harry said suddenly, grabbing hold of Hermione's other arm that was dangling by her side and using it to pull her away from the Slytherin and causing her scarred arm to drop out of his loose grip.

"I wasn't going to call you…that word actually, Granger. What I was going to call you was 'damned know-it-all' because last time I checked, you were one," he said calmly in reply, trying and failing to hide how shook he was at seeing her angry scar standing out in contrast against her pale skin. "Maybe you shouldn't all jump to conclusions so fast, I'm not the nasty prejudiced boy who called you names anymore, I've done a lot of growing up, just as much as you all, I'd wager." He gave one more look at each of the Golden Trio, finally focusing on Hermione last, looking her straight in the eyes before turning and leaving the compartment without another word.

Hermione was left in an extreme state of confusion as she tried to figure out what on earth had just happened. She looked down at her scar briefly before yanking her jumper sleeve back down over it to cover it, she hated the damned thing; and it was her battle wound, so to speak. Her constant reminder of the war and its toll on all the Muggleborn's- like herself. Most of the time she forgot it was there, but she couldn't avoid it. They'd tried everything to get rid of it, to cover it even, but the mark would never leave her skin. She was stuck with it for good.

Harry saw her examining her scar with distaste and he sighed before pulling her into a friendly hug. "You know we tried everything to get rid of it, Mione, try to think on the bright side, at least we match now," he smiled as she pulled back to look at him in confusion as he poked at the lightning bolt on his forehead.

Hermione laughed at her best friend and then moved to sit back down again next to her boyfriend who was being uncharacteristically quiet for some reason. He didn't look massively happy and when she sat next to him, he did everything he could to avoid looking at her.

"What's wrong, Ronald?"

"You let him touch you. You let that filthy ferret put his hands on you. You encouraged him!" he angrily turned to glare at her before standing up and storming out of the carriage.

"Ron, wait!" Hermione stood up to go after him but the door slid shut in her face and she knew running down the hallways after him and causing a scene would do no good at all.

"He'll come around, don't worry," Harry reassured her. "He always does eventually."

"Honestly though Harry, I'm getting sick of it. I don't know if this relationship is going to last much longer if he carries on the way he's going. I am not some stupid fling who he can dominate and boss around. I'm not Lavender." Hermione sat back down in the seat she had previously claimed by the window and pulled out her book from her bag again, just as she did so the train started moving and the platform began to disappear from outside the window.

"Never mind all that now though, Mione," Harry said a slow and wide grin spreading over his face. "We're on our way home."

The sorting ceremony was unusually short, not many students having returned after the war for various reasons and there was a considerable fall in the amount of trembling first years that normally would have stood outside the Great Hall's doors waiting to be sorted.

Ron had continued to sulk for the whole of the feast and was stull furiously ignoring both Hermione and Harry too – as he had decided to side with her instead.

With all the drama that had already occurred, so far it had basically slipped Hermione's mind that she would not be returning to Gryffindor Tower with her friends this year after the feast. No, as the new Head Girl she had her own private quarters to share with the Head Boy, whomever that may be. She had been overjoyed when she received the letter by owl in the summer holidays to give her the news and had eagerly owled Harry immediately to ask if he'd got his letter yet for Head Boy, but he had received no such letter and didn't even seem upset about. He was looking forward to a peaceful year when he could simply be himself and focus on his NEWTS, he didn't want extra responsibility.

So, it was still a mystery as to whom the Head Boy was and who she would be living with for the entire school year.

Hermione said goodbye to her friends at the entrance to the Great Hall as they all departed for bed before turning to walk the opposite way down the hall and towards her new common room, still no sign of the Head Boy. The halls were very quiet the further she walked away from the feast, the Heads common room being in the most isolated part of the castle, away from all the other common rooms and any students who would accidentally wander into the secret location of the private dorm.

Finally, Hermione found herself stood in front of the concealed portrait. It was hidden behind a large tapestry, so Hermione slipped behind the heavy material and found herself down a dimly lit passageway. She walked down the passage briskly, not fully enjoying the dark and not knowing where she was and she finally came face to face to the entrance to the Heads dormitories.

The portrait had a majestic lioness on it and she was regally strolling around inside her frame. She looked Hermione right in the eye and nodded her head slowly, as if to recognise the Gryffindor girl stood in front of her. Hermione went to put her hand in the centre of the portrait but she passed straight through, as if there was nothing in the way of the entrance. So, just like she did at platform 9¾ hours ago, she stepped forwards and was taken straight through the canvas and into a cosy and gently lit room, completely failing to notice the silver and green snake slither across the bottom of the portrait and settle next to the lioness.

The new common room was gorgeous, as was Hermione's new sun facing room with large bay windows opening out onto a secret terrace garden that truly was magical. She knew she would be completely comfortable here.

As for the mystery around who the Head Boy was, she still was none the wiser. The colour scheme gave nothing away as the whole common room was decorated in neutral shades of brown and crème and it was only Hermione's personal quarters that reflected her house colours of red and gold. Hermione was certain that her new roommate entered the common room whilst she was outside on the terrace, but by the time she had gone back inside she could hear a shower running from the next room.

Hermione sat down on her new bed and sighed, enjoying the peace and quiet, just listening to the shower running until her peace was ruined by a large owl pecking on her window with its beak, an envelope strapped to its leg. She did not recognise the bird, but let it in nevertheless. The creature swooped in, let Hermione untie its load and it was gone again into the dark.

The letter-sized package felt heavy in her hand, more so than just a single piece of parchment would have done. Curious to see what was inside the envelope, Hermione tore into the corner and slid the contents out over her bed sheets.

What she saw splayed out in front of her was enough to make her turn ghostly pale and shake in anger.

Sprawled out over her bed were several images of Ron in a small alcove with a woman and they were in the process of undressing each other. With the images was a very brief handwritten note: I just thought you should know how your boyfriend is spending his first night back in the castle.

Hermione was horrified, but instead of being sad and mournful like she probably should have been, she was just filled with blind anger. She had not been happy in her relationship with the youngest Weasley male, yet she had not done anything about it through not wanting to hurt his feelings – they had been best friends since first year after all – but this…this clearly showed that Ron had not bothered to show Hermione the same decency. And he'd been the one to get mad earlier about Malfoy poking her arm of all things.

She furiously gathered up all the images and threw them on her desk, who on earth would send her photographs like this? Somebody concerned for her happiness, or someone just trying to be destructive and make her miserable? Either way, she would try and forget about them for now. The shower had stopped running and the bathroom was now vacated which meant she could finally take a shower of her own.

She stripped out of her robes in record speed time, desperate to feel the warm water trickling on her skin, and quickly entered the bathroom through the door that took her into the shared space – clearly the Head Boy had his own entrance that led in through his own room.

Once she was under the water she felt all the tension in her body just melt away, it was pure heaven and it enabled her to view the Ron situation with a clear head.

They needed to break up, that was clear to her now, things just hadn't been working for a multitude of reasons and they just weren't suited to being a couple at all. But first, Hermione almost wanted to make Ron suffer for daring to cheat on her. Nothing majorly damaging, but something enough to make it clear that nobody treated her in such a way as he had, regardless of how long they'd been friends for.

Hermione turned off the water after she'd finished her cleaning routine, stepped out the shower and wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel she found hanging up on the heated towel rail. She sang quietly to herself as she wandered back into her room before cursing, realising her trunk containing all of her belongings was still in the common room outside as she'd forgotten to bring it through earlier.

She wrapped the towel more tightly around herself before gingerly stepping into the warm room, not taking her eyes off the floor, sneaking towards her trunk, hoping if she stayed quiet there was no reason anybody would hear her and come investigate.

Unfortunately for her, Hogwarts's new Head Boy was currently sat in front of the fire, shirtless, curled up in an armchair, a book on his knee and his semi damp blond hair flopped down in front of his eyes as he read. He looked up at the sound of the Head Girls door opening and was shocked to see Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Princess, trying to slip by unnoticed and unheard across the room, wearing nothing but a towel. She was still wet from her shower and her normally bushy hair was thrown up into a bun as it dried with a few loose tendrils draping down the back of her neck. She was every guys fantasy at that very moment and he was not the sort of man to not appreciate a half-naked woman in the same room as him. He watched her bend over the trunk to try and find the best way to lift it without letting her towel fall with a smirk before deciding to make his presence known.

"Nice arse, Granger."

Hermione was so shocked she forgot to hold onto her towel as she straightened up and spun around to see where the voice had come from.

There was a collective gasp that hung in the air as Hermione Granger stood there, completely naked, in front of the ex-Death Eater and the boy who had bullied her mercilessly since she was eleven; Draco Malfoy.