A/N: I have no idea where this story is going to end up, I just know some ideas on how I want it to get there. I have started several stories in the past but never posted any of them cause I couldn't figure out how to end them. I figured I'd post this and take it from there. Feel free to add your input. PM me with any ideas you have for the future of this story. Totally open for suggestions on anything! I will also give you credit if I use your idea. With that said, enjoy chapter 1!
Disclaimer: I wish I were as lucky as JKR! I wouldn't be a poor starving college student. If you recognize it, I don't own it!
Chapter 1: A Whole New World
"Is this it? Is it really over?" Hermione Granger thought to herself as she held tight to the hands of her two best friends as they quietly walked through what was left of the main entrance of Hogwarts, and headed to the Great Hall. The war was finally over. For as long as the three would-be seventh years could remember, fighting against Voldemort was all they had known. Now that it had ended, and Harry Potter had won, what was next for the Golden Trio? Would they get to start over? Would they be able to spend what was left of their youth like previous Hogwarts students? Would it ever be normal? But what was normal really?
With so much death and pain surrounding the school, how were they supposed to feel? What emotions were appropriate? Would it be wrong to be happy that it is over? Or is the only acceptable emotion grief? For Hermione Granger and all of her knowledge, these where questions she could not answer. This only added to the emotional weight on her shoulders. As Ron Weasley had opened the door to the Great Hall, all of these questions where pushed out of her head. Right now, she had to focus on what was going on around her, which at that moment was ciaos.
The war may have been over, but the 'clean up' had just begun. Aurors were rounding up the rest of the Death Eaters, friends and families were being reunited with their loved ones, some had already started to repair the school itself, and several witches and wizards where being carried on stretchers in and out of the Great Hall. Those being carried out where being transported to St. Mungo's, or other wizarding hospitals in Europe. Their injury's were too severe to be handled with limited supplies. Those being carried in where found in other parts of the school, and either had small injuries, or where already dead.
The trio soon went down to two, as Ron, having had his whole family in the battle, ran to join them in their mourning of the loss of Ron's older brother Fred. Even though Harry and Hermione have been, and will always be, included in the Weasley family, they both felt that this was a more intimate moment and decided to keep their distance for now. Both Ginny and Ron would be looking for them soon enough. Several people had approached the duo, thanking Harry for everything he had done. To which he replied with a simple, "Don't mention it."
Across the Great Hall, the Malfoy family sat huddled together. Draco, for once, not bothered by the show of affection his mother was giving him. The war may have ended but their fate had yet to be decided. Lucius Malfoy quietly enjoyed what little time he had left with his wife and son. It wouldn't be long before the aurors came and took him to Azkaban, and he would go quietly in hopes that his cooperation with them would mean a lesser punishment for his family. He would take all the blame. By the time Lucius had realized the mistake he had made, and the danger he had placed his family in, by joining Voldemort, it was too late. All he could do was hope that they would remain safe, and they had, for the most part.
Sure enough, two aurors approached the Malfoy family. With an unreadable expression, the taller of the two men reached out his hand and gestured for Malfoy senior to follow him. Lucius stood up and started towards the man, Narcissa refusing to let go of his hand. He looked to his son with pleading eyes. With a nod, Draco pried his mother's hand from his father's, and quietly whispered, "It will be ok," as the two men escorted Lucius outside where they would apparate him to Azkaban.
Hermione had witnessed the whole thing. She never liked the Malfoy family, and the feeling was mutual, but she couldn't help the intense sadness she felt watching the small family torn apart. She may not know how she was supposed to feel, and act, with the end of the war, but she knew one thing for sure. She would be damned if she allowed prejudices to continue. The war started because of blood differences, she would not let another feud start based on which side of the war a person was on. This was a new beginning, a new era. This was the start of new world. With that in mind, she made her way over to the two remaining Malfoy members.