Chapter 1

By CalliCobra

"It has been a year since the battle Hermione," Ginny says, while the two of them are sitting for coffee in muggle London. "In that time you have dated Ron and broken up with him, almost completely rebuilt Hogwarts, and you found your parents. Yet you haven't found anyone else to date yet!" Hermione sits back in her seat, tired of this conversation. Every time they see each other Ginny always talks about boys. It hasn't been that long since she broke it off with Ron, only three months, and she wasn't quite ready to officially move on. She had decided that when she was done helping rebuild Hogwarts she would get back out there but it wasn't done quite yet.

"Ginny, even when I decide to start dating again you should know that you can't set me up with people. How is it going with Harry?"

"I'm not sure. He has been so busy with training that we don't even see each other. It feels like I am raising Teddy by myself and he isn't even my godchild! He stays with his grandparents every night and during the weekends but they work during the week so he is staying with Harry, which means me." Ginny sits back in her seat. "Mom is know help, she is trying to show me that I shouldn't have kids for a while."

"You shouldn't," Hermione says, tearing off a bit of her scone and taking a bite.

"I know, I don't want kids right now. I have to finish school. Harry will have to figure something out with Teddy when I go back." Ginny takes a piece of Hermione's scone.

"Maybe Lavender can help out," Hermione says, jokingly. Ginny shudders.

"Their apartment smells like lavender, Ron smells like lavender, it makes me want to gag."

"It can't be that bad," Hermione replies, getting her bag, knowing that they will have to part ways soon.

"It is! It is so strong. I don't think Ron even notices," Ginny says, making Hermione snort. "I have to go. Harry will be home soon and I like to spend as much time as I can with him," she says, standing up. Hermione follows her out the door and to a alley behind the coffee shop.

"Same time next week?"

"Of course. I will let you know if something comes up." With a pop Ginny is gone.

Hermione walks out of the alley and down the streets to her townhouse. She hangs her coat on the back of a chair and puts her purse on the dining room table. She walks into her changing into sweatpants and a t-shirt, preparing to spend the night in. She grabs a history of Hogwarts, the original version of it, and curls up on the couch. The battle at Hogwarts made someone write a new book about it, including all of the things that the three of them went through while in school there. They were actually interviewed for a got free copies of it, but Hermione hasn't touched it besides for putting it on her shelves. She isn't ready to read about herself yet.

A tapping on the window makes Hermione drag her eyes away from her book to the window it is coming from. She recognizes Minerva's owl, Misericordia, and opens the window for it to land on the back of her couch. She takes the letter from it's foot and opens it. After reading it she rushes to her room and changes quickly then apparates to Hogwarts. Standing outside is all of the people who have helped rebuild. They are all hugging and giving high fives, huge smiles on their faces. Minerva walks over to her and hugs her.

"We put the last brick on twenty minutes ago. We can open for this school year if we get all of the professors that we need."

"I can't believe it is done," Hermione says, looking at the castle and remember the first time she saw it her first year. It might be more magical now that she has helped to build it.

"The press will be here tomorrow morning to announce it. Anyone is aloud to stay the night tonight so they can be in the picture tomorrow," Minerva says, and Hermione can tell she would like her to stay.

"Just because I stay tonight doesn't mean that I will take you up on your offer," she says.

"I know, we can talk about that tomorrow," Minerva says. "Come inside. You can have the defense against the dark arts professor's room." Everyone walks inside, looking around the castle like they haven't seen it everyday for the last year, and the last six or seven years. They were able to rebuild it exactly the same, changing up little things like the classroom size, dorm room size, professor room sizes, and then they added five rooms where the students can hang out and have fun together, to try add unity to the school.

Minerva shows Hermione where the room she will be sleeping in is. Hermione worked on the great hall and library mostly, getting the ceiling just right and collecting more books since some were destroyed in the battle. The rooms are very nice, a living room area that is lined with books on every wall, a room with a office, a loo, and a bedroom with its own bathroom. Hermione knows why Minerva gave her this room. Minerva would like her to become the DADA professor, saying that she is "the most qualified person to teach" and she must say, it is working slightly. She doesn't know what she was planning on doing when they finished construction, but she hadn't thought teaching would be it.

In the morning the photographer comes to take the picture early in the morning so they can release the article as soon as possible, even though it will be later than usual. Hermione gets questioned about the whole process of it, and asked if she knows who will be taking over the many empty positions. Rita Skeeter comes to her after that and begins asking her about her love life for some article on who the war heroes have ended up with. Hermione refuses to say anything and just walks away to join Minerva. The two witches walk together to the head masters office.

"Hermione, I implore to really consider your options before saying no to what I am offering. You could leave next year if you like, I just need someone for this year."

"What about one of the other people who fought? Neville would like it," she suggests.

"He is going to be the teaching Herbology. I have thought about everyone. Ginny is finishing school, Harry and Ron are doing their dream jobs, Luna is going to be teaching a newspaper class, all though I am some what rethinking that. You are the only person." Hermione sighs. It wouldn't be a terrible thing, she would have Neville and Luna and Ginny this year, and she would only be signed on to do it for one year, knowing that if she enjoyed it she could continue on.

"But I have never taught people before," she says, slouching back into her chair. "I don't even know if I wold be good at it."

"You will be. You helped Harry teach Dumbledores army. This would be people younger than you, for the most part. I don't mean to push you dear but I need you to decide now. I have to find other professors and if you don't except I need to add this position to the list." She hands Hermione a paper with the contract on it saying that she will be here for at least this year.

"Alright, can I have a quill please?" Minerva hands one to her that has already been dipped in ink. She signed on the line the paper disappears, most likely to the ministry.

"Thank you so much dear. I appreciate it greatly," she says, standing up.

"Who else do you have? To teach?"

"You already know about Neville and Luna. And then Draco will be the new potions professor," Minerva says, not looking at Hermione.

"Draco? Death eater Draco?"

"He has changed Hermione. His father is in jail and it was proven that he was abused by him and that he was forced into becoming a death eater. Give him a chance."

"But it's Draco! The Draco that I punched in third year!"

"What? Never mind, I don't think I want to know. You better be civil to each other because as first year teacher you get partnered with another teacher and I have decided that you two will be together. I must go, but feel free to stay for as long as you would like," she says, stepping into the fireplace and disappearing in green flames. Hermione bangs her head on the desk and groans.

"I can't believe that Hogwarts was finally rebuilt. I can't believe that I am going back tomorrow," Ginny says, taking a sip of her coffee. It has been a week since Hermione has agreed to teach and in that time she has been making as many lesson plans as she can. She was doing pretty good too, until it comes to the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. With the fifth years she at least has a idea of what to do because only a few of them fought in the battle. But with the sixth and seventh years, it is a whole different story. They all fought side by side each other, they all know what they need to know to protect themselves.

"Are you there still Mione?"

"Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking," Hermione says, shaking the thoughts out of her head and taking a sip of her own coffee.

"About what?"

"I haven't told anyone yet, I've been to busy. I am going to be teaching DADA this year."

"What? Hermione that is amazing! I mean, it will be strange having you teach me but the same goes for Neville and Luna. Are you excited about it?"

"I am. I'm nervous too, but I hope it all goes as planned. The only thing is who I am partnered with."

"What partners?"

"Apparently all first year professors get partnered with another person. Minerva gave me Draco."

"Really? What will he be teaching?"

"Potions, like his godfather."

"He didn't mention that when I last saw him."

"When did you see him?" Hermione asks, feeling a little shocked that this is the first time she has heard this.

"At the beginning of the summer he came to apologize for the way he treated us during school. Harry has been hanging out with him every other week or so."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He's been asking for advise on how to apologize to you every time. He knows what he has said to you is terrible Mione. You should give him a chance."

"I can listen to him apologize then decide. I do feel sorry for him, with what he has been going through, with his dad and all of the stuff that was revealed about his family."

"Maybe you can be polite because you feel bad for him," Ginny suggests.

"I'm not going to promise anything but I will listen to what he has to say."

"I'm sure that is all he really wants." The two of them sit and talk about what they are looking forward to at Hogwarts. They talk until the shop closes.

Hermione is in her classroom the next afternoon, getting it ready for the year before the students arrive. A knock on the door interrupts her concentration on a spell she was doing to her desk to make it so that she is the only one who can touch anything on it. "Come in," she calls, expecting it to be Minerva.

"I don't mean to interrupt whatever you are doing," a voice she knows all to well says. "Minerva said I had to come by. And I wanted to talk to you," Draco says, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

"In the future you should start with that part. It sounds nicer. What is it?"

"I will try to remember that," he says, and Hermione can tell that he is nervous. "I just wanted to apologize for what I said and did to you in our school years. I know it was wrong of me and you don't have to forgive me but I have to say that I am sorry."

"Thank you. But it will take time, don't expect me to be your best friend overnight."

"You aren't my best friend," he says, a little defensively.

"I might be your only friend while you are here. I doubt Neville and Luna will forgive you nearly as easily as I am willing to." He sighs.

"Minerva also says that we have to sit by each other at every meal and hang out with each other for two hours every weekend." Hermione slouches a little bit and hopes that it wasn't visible.

"Alright. I will see you in the great hall in a few minutes. They get here soon right?"

"I think the train just got to the platform."

"So we should go now. I can do this tomorrow," she says, walking toward him. He holds out his arm of her to take.

"I was raised a gentlemen," he says when Hermione gives him a questioning look. She reluctantly takes his arm and they make their way to the great hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts everyone! I am very excited to see all of the familiar faces and the new faces. I would like to tell you all that some things will be changing. We have made old classrooms into room where you can hang out and have fun, and the curfew is a hour later, but that isn't a huge deal. As you can see we have many new teachers this year, which also means new head of households. Taking over Ravenclaw will be Professor Lovegood, Hufflepuff will be Professor LongBottom, even though he was a Gryffindor. For Slytherin it will be Professor Malfoy, and for Gryffindor it will Professor Granger. I am assuming you are all starving, so let the feast begin," Minerva says, making the food appear.

Hermione is shocked. She had know idea that she would be a head of household, and have to personally care for a large group of people. Neville and Luna don't seemed surprised at all, but Draco is just as shocked as she is.

"Did you know?" she asks him, leaning over to make sure he hears her over the students talking.

"No. Did you?"

"No." They both start eating, and are mostly silent for the rest of the meal. The students go to the dorms and the plates disappear.

"Hermione, Draco, You will be on duty of the first three floors after the curfew. And that includes the Dungeons." Hermione and Draco both nod. They walk to their rooms and Hermione takes a shower and puts on a warm jacket for the rounds.

"Should we start at the dungeons?" Draco asks when she meets him out side of the teachers rooms.

"I guess. I'm not really sure what we are supposed to do if we catch anyone." They walk side by side down the halls. Hermione can't help noticing that he is wearing muggle looking clothes, and that they look really good on him. She looks away before there is any chance of him noticing her staring at him.

"I think we give them detention," Draco says, finally answering her. "It seems wrong to do that on the first night back though."

"How many students are going to leave their dorms on the first night anyways?"

"Hopefully not a lot." They go through all four of the floors that they were told to go down and don't find anyone. They begin walking back down to their rooms.

"See you tomorrow Granger," Draco says, opening his door.

"See you in the morning Malfoy," she says, closing her door.