It was after the war when Hermione found herself having a relaxing day at the Weasley's. She and Ginny were laying on beach towels in shorts and bikini tops tanning in the warm summer air, next to the Weasley's newly-built pond.
"Ginny, I think this is exactly what I needed," Hermione said. The war ended only three months ago. Hearts were broken, lives were lost, and people were moving on. They were getting over their lost and loved ones, but not forgetting them. Enemies fled or were captured. The imperiused returned to their normal lives. All wasn't quite well, but it was getting there.
"I think we all did, Hermione," came Ginny's muffled response. She was laying on her back with her arms folded neatly under her head. Her eyes were closed, and she was humming softly.
"I wish Harry and Ron would go back with us." Hermione sighed. "But it's great that they're taking up jobs as aurors."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna had all been offered jons as aurors from the Minister of Magic himself, Kingsley Shacklebolt. It was needless to say that they were much more experienced and qualified than all of the other training wizards combined.
Only Harry and Ron accepted, though. The rest turned down the offer to go back to school. Neville had already decided that he wanted to persue a career in Herbology.
"I know," said GInny, rolling over. "I don't know how I'll be able to stand being away from Harry for another year." She looked over to the hill where the boys were taking turns tossing cherry-sized apples to each other on their broomsticks. Harry looked and caught Ginny's eye and winked. This earned an apple to the side of the head from Ron. Ginny and Hermione giggled.
"Great news, though, about you getting Head Girl." They had received their letters earlier that morning. Hermione's owl delivered a rather bulky envelope, and upon opening it and dumping out its contents, she discovered the Head Girl badge.
"The same for you," Hermione inclined her head at Ginny. She had come across the same situation, only to find a prefect's badge instead of Head Girl. When Mrs. Weasley found out, she promptly started plannin a little celebratory dinner. Ginny had also gotten Gryffindor Team Captain's badge.
"Fred and George will be so disappointed in me," she laughed.
Hermione pulled a bug out of her hair, thinking of Rita Skeeter. "Yes, but getting team captain should even them out."
"Suppose so," Ginny agreed, laying down on her back to resume her sunbathing. "At least we get to go to Diagon Alley as soon as Dad gets home. Then I can see for myself."
Hermione was silent for a moment. Then Ginny voiced the question that she had been wondering all morning.
"Who do you suppose Dumbledore chose as Head Boy?"
Hermione thought for a moment before replying. "Well, Professor Dumbledore said that it would be someone in my year."
"When?" GInny asked quizzically.
"In my letter. And I don't know who all from my year is returning, aside from Neville and myself."
Ginny sat up again. "Well, let's go over all the guys in your year."
Hermione took a deep breath. "Okay. From Gryffindor, there's Neville, Dean, and Seamus. I only know of Ernie McMillan and Justin Finch-Fletchly from Hufflepuff."
"I don't think I know anyone from Ravenclaw in your year," Ginny said.
"Me neither," said Hermione. "And then there's Slytherin... assuming any of them will be returning."
"Or that they'll get their thumbs out of their asses long enough to straighten up and earn Head Boy."
Both girls looked at each other and laughed. Crookshanks, who was also sunbathing not far from them, jumped and hissed at their sudden outbursts.
"Anyways, we should include those baboons just in case."
"Oh, alright. There's Crabbe and Goyle."
"And Blaise Zabini," said Hermione. "And let's not forget the king of Slytherin himself..."
"Malfoy," Ginny interjected.
"Yes, Malfoy." Hermione thought for a moment. She seemed to be internally arguing with herself.
Ginny noticed this. "Everything alright, Hermione?"
"Well, it's just that I've been thinking a lot about the matter, and I figure I might as well share it."
Ginny looked interested. "About Malfoy? Spill! You don't have secret feelings for him, do you?"
Hermione looked disgusted. "Of course not! But, during the battle, and before that when we were kidnapped and taken to Malfoy Mannor, he seemed... not himself. It was like he didn't care about fighting anymore. And he wasn't horrible to us."
Ginny sighed. "Yes, I've noticed that too. Maybe he'll forget everything if we will."
"I think that would be best. Maybe he will. But I don't know if he will even be returning this year."
"Probably not. People at school wouldn't be too happy to see him," said Ginny.
"I suppose you're right," Hermione sighed.
The girls layed back down. Hermione became lost in her own thoughts.
For the rest of the afternoon, they wathced Harry and Ron play makeshift quidditch.
When Mr. Weasley arrived home, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and he all flooed to Diagon Alley, as Ginny was still too young to apparate yet.
The boys and the girls went their separate ways once they got there. They met up an hour later at Fred and George's store, where they teased Ginny for getting Prefect, and congratulated her for getting quidditch captain. Then they flooed back, ate dinner, washed up, and were in bed in the blink of an eye.
Hermione was laying in the bed adjacent to Ginny's She was once more thinking about who would be appointed Head Boy. She once more went over the list of possibly returning seventh year boys.
"Ginny?" Hermione said suddenly.
"Hmm?" Ginny murmured sleepily.
"It can't be Crabbe," she said. "He's dead.
Ginny was silent for a moment. "I know. I was thinking about that, actually."
Hermione rolled over onto her stomach. "Who do you think it'll be?"
"I honestly think it'll be Neville."
"I hope so. He's earned it. Good night, Ginny."
"Night, Hermione."
With that, Hermione closed her eyes, and before she knew it, fell into a blissful sleep.