Stepping off the train at the school platform, in her Hogwarts robes, like it was another school year. She didn't have the same feeling like she usually had when she starts a new school year. Maybe because her boyfriend and best friend didn't return to school this year with her. She was the only one to return out of their friends. Everything looks the same from before the Battle of Hogwarts, the school was resorted the bodies of the dead laid to rest.
Nothing felt the same after that day.
And she was alone in this school year. Head Master McGonagall wrote her a letter asking her if she would come back this year and help get the school back to normal.
"Normal?! Blimey we never had a normal school year." Ron told her after she read the letter twice before reading it out loud for Harry and Ron. She waiting for a couple of days before giving the newest Head Master her answer. She stayed with at the Burrow with Weasley after the Dark Lord was defeated by Harry. She felt safe there, but knew she could not stay there forever, if they were to move on she needed to take the step and moving on with the grieving processes. Truly only joy that was at the Burrow was when Harry and Teddy with him.
Ron asked her not to go and to stay with him, but she knew it was the right thing to do. Help rebuilt the school name and reputation back to what it was before Harry Potter and Voldemort began their fight.
There she was, Hermione Jean Granger prepared for the next school year.
Walking into the Great Hall, there was only two tables with the four houses banners above them. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff above one table, Gryffindor and Slytherin above the other.
Hermione taking a seat directly under the golden lion. Looking up at the staff table head of her, she got lost in imagines and moments. She was thrown back to the night of the battle, bodies of the death laying all over the Great Hall, hopelessness and darkness covering her. Suddenly she could not breathe. Feeling like she was falling through space, and the dead flashing before her.
"Miss. Granger after dinner would you have a cup of tea with me?" Said Head Master McGonagall pulling her from her dark thoughts. Hermione interlacing her fingers together and gently placing them in her lap and squeezing tightly her fingers. Holding together her composer, and quickly answering. "Of course, Head Master." Trying to the hide the shaking in her voice.
She not dare look around the Great Hall again, in fear that her moment of panic would take her again, instead she sat quietly with her hand in her lap staring mindlessly at the wood grain of the top of the tables.
After the Sorting ceremony was over and the first dinner had been eaten, carefully she stood and heading towards the staff table.
Once the Great Hall was empty, Head Master McGonagall standing beside Hermione, placing both of her hands-on top of Hermione's shoulders before pulling her into a hug.
"Miss. Granger how happy I am to see you." She told her, giving her a gently squeeze.
Hermione a little thrown off by her affectation action.
Head Master McGonagall leading them out of the Great Hall up several stair cases, and down a long hall way. 'Where is she taking me?' Hermione thought to herself as they walked.
"Password" Said the knight standing in the Portrait, concealing the hidden door way.
"Dracarys." Head Master McGonagall said.
They enter through the port hole, into a small common room. An oversized couch sat in front of the enormous fire place. With a small table for two behind of the back of the couch. Three doors that semicircle around the common room. Head Master motioning for Hermione to sit at on the couch.
"Miss. Granger, this will be your dorm for the Semester. I would like for you to be the Perfect for the school this year." McGonagall speaking while she conjured a tea pot, with two cups, milk and sugar.
"Your duties would be to help the Head Boy and Girl keep their houses in order, while handling any issues that could arise. If needed be you can always get help from the Professors. Other than that, you will arrange the school trips to Hogsmeade and keeping the parties after Quidditch matches from getting out of hand." McGonagall finally taking a sip of her tea.
"Wonderful. I am up for the task. Now can we discuss my class schedule, I would like to try and fit 8 classes in this year." Hermione told her setting her tea cup in the saucer on the coffee table in front of them. Not wanting to wait another minute, she was ready to dive in and take her mind off of everything else.
"Hermione there's another thing. You will have a someone working with you to manage all the duties. Keep in mind since Voldemort was defeat individuals have been trying to clean their name that once has been tarnished by association with Voldemort. I truly want to believe he is trying to do the right thing but he might need your guidance to keep him on the right path." McGonagall told her.
The panic starting to creep up, Hermione squeezing hands in her lap again. Fearing who her partner will be.
"Draco Malfoy, will be joining you later this evening. I know if you can manage Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy won't be a problem for you. Just keep in mind he is trying to make things right." McGonagall told her, placing her hand on top of the interlocked hands in her lap.
Hermione trying to keep her breath steady, though the panic and darkness getting a foot hold on her. The scar on her arm beginning to hurt.
"Hermione, you, all right?" McGonagall asking.
"Of course. I will keep an eye on him." Hermione told her.
McGonagall giving her an extra-long stare, before being completely satisfied with her answer.
"Well then, I will bid you a good night, and see you first thing in the morning to discuss your class schedule." McGonagall finally standing up to leave. Hermione stood as well, watching as the Head Master left out the port hole and the portrait swinging closed with a squeak.
Hermione steading herself before exploring the rest of the dormitory. Two bedrooms exactly the same, and one Bathroom in between the two rooms, with one shower.
"Sharing a bathroom with Malfoy. This won't do." She thought to herself as she chooses a room to have. Finding her trunks and bags sitting at the foot of the bed of her chosen room.
She begun unpacking trying to put out all of the negative thoughts from her mind. She finding Ron's red sweater with his letter R stitched in the front of it. Pressing it to her face and inhaling his scent. Trying to control the wave of emotions that plaguing her body.
Deciding to not unpack. She undressed leaving her robes and uniform on the ground at the foot of her bed she pulls her favorite pair of grey sweats and pulling Ron's sweater over her head. She could not hold it together any longer, the tears falling from her eyes and leaving a trail down her cheeks. Her sobs making it difficult to breathe. She knew it would be hard coming back here, and dealing with the that occurred during the Battle. But now she is dealing with her own personal trauma. She hadn't thought about it since they were with Bill and Fleur at their beach house, after she was tortured by Draco's Aunt, Bellatrix.
Hermione tried everything to heal and remove the ugly word that is scarred into her skin. 'Mudblood' Ron held her so tightly after they were capture. She tried everything in her power to forget what that evil woman did to her. Pinning her down to the floor as Draco and his mother watched as she was kicked and slapped and cursed her over and over again.
Hermione climbing under the covers and pulling them over her head as she cried herself to sleep.
Only felt like moments had pass when loud noises woke her from her sleep. She rolled from her bed, wand drawn as you pulled open her door, blinded from the light that flooded her darken room.
"Oi Granger, sorry to have waken you." Said nicely from the tall blonde hair man standing in the middle of their common room. He was wearing dark blue jeans and emerald green sweater.
"No worries. Just wasn't sure if it was you." She said little embarrassed by the fact she was in her pjs and her hair probably looked like a lion's mane. "Your room is over there, and the bathroom is here." She pointing to each of the doors, using the door frame to hide herself from his eyes.
"Just the one loo?" He asked, a shocked express covering his face.
"Yes." She told.
"If anything, I will go the Slytherin dorms to shower." Draco being overly nice.
Hermione taken back from how Draco is talking to her, nicely and being kind to her. Maybe he is trying to go down another path. A better path.
"I don't think that will be a problem." She told him, trying be genuinely nice to him.
"Well I am gonna be off to bed. See you in the morning." Draco pulling his trunk across the floor to him room closing the door behind him.
Hermione closing her own door and climbing back in bed. Thinking how much different Draco looked without the darkness following him. She wonders if this partnership could be a good thing, maybe he could be a good guy. Falling asleep curling herself into a ball.