Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, a fact which will be perfectly evident from my writing.
Chapter I
The Tuning
"I'm so excited to be going back to Hogwarts, aren't you?" Luna asked, putting down her copy of Witch Weekly. They were on the Hogwarts train. The war was over and everything was back to normal.
"Yeah, I'm really excited. I'm glad that they offered the option of attending Hogwarts another year for former 7th years." Hermione answered.
"I didn't see Ro-Sorry Hermione" Luna apologized. Ron had, for lack of a better word, "dumped" Hermione after just 4 months of them being together after the war. He said that it "just wasn't working out" and that he wanted to be just friends. It still hurt.
"It's fine." Hermione said, "He sent me a postcard over the summer. He's in Australia studying dragons with his brother Charlie."
"Great. So what classes are you taking this year?" Luna asked, trying to change the topic. Hermione had copied her schedule down on a piece of parchment that was now stored in the pocket of her robes. She didn't even need to reference it, for she had already knew it by heart.
"I'm taking Arithmancy, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Basic Wizarding Law, Magical Zoology, Intermediate Astrology, Advanced Herbology, Advanced Charms, and Advanced Potions." Hermione recited.
"The schedule is kind of weird this year, isn't it?" Luna asked
"Yeah. There seem to be less classes. That leaves us with more free time, at least enough for one other class." Hermione remarked, puzzled.
"Ah, well, they'll probably clear it up when we arrive." the Ravenclaw said, picking up her magazine again. Hermione peered out the window at the speeding countryside. Whatever it was, things were definitely going to be different this year.
Draco was anticipating the start-of-the-year feast. The Ministry had placed him and his family on something the Muggles call "house arrest". Basically what it meant was being imprisoned in his home with nothing to do for an entire summer. None of his old friends had sent him any mail either. Many Slytherins were still angry at the Malfoys after the Battle of Hogwarts. Others were simply uncomfortable. Draco didn't even want to return to school. He didn't want to be an outsider. But his parents insisted. "You've got to get an education, Draco." they said. "You're an intelligent, talented boy who could go very far in life. And you've got to nourish that" Draco huffed. He didn't feel like the intelligent, talented boy his parents told him he was. He used to. But not any more. He wasn't even intelligent or talented enough to beat that Mudblood, Hermione Granger. Draco shook his head. Thinking about her and her filthy blood wasn't going to benefit him at all. What he should focus on is being the top of the 8th year class. He just wish he had someone to talk to.