Chapter One

The Return to Hogwarts

Hermione Granger was headed back to Hogwarts to make up her seventh year in which she and her two best friends did not attend. She, Harry, and Ron were so relieved that the war was over, all the horcruxes vanquished and Voldemort dead. Harry was only going back to Hogwarts for a last year of Quidditch seeing as to though that he destroyed the most horid being in the world, he more than met the requirements of an auror. Ron had decided that he wanted to go into business with George, but wanted to stay with Harry and Hermione as long as he could. And Hermione, she wanted nothing more than to be a healer at St. Mungo's Hospital.

They were on the Hogwarts express recalling their summer away from the magical world with Neville, Luna, and Ginny. Neville was recalling what his Gram had said when he first got back from the war, "and when I got back my Gram said 'Because we are famous, Frank and Alice,' you know my parents 'will come live in the new extension that I bewitched next to your room...' I am just so happy that we can afford it with all those galleons the Ministry awarded us."

Luna had tears in her eyes, "That's wonderful Neville. I am so happy for you. I am also happy that my father is out of Azkaban for telling the Death Eaters that Harry, Ron and Hermione were at our house even though they weren't."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged looks, but it was Ron that spoke, "Actually Luna, we were there, the Death Eaters just didn't see us on account of Harry's invisiblility cloak."

"Really? Well, I'm still glad they didn't catch you because then Voldemort wouldn't have died!" Luna exclaimed.

The campartment door slid open so quietly that the group didn't even notice. "Hey Granger, Weasley!" it was Malfoy's voice they heard. As the pair turned their gaze to him he said, "Prefect duties, honestly I would have just let you get in trouble if the new Defense teacher wasn't sitting in my compartment."

"Thanks Malfoy, but we were just leaving." Ron snapped.

"Don't make me dock points from Gryffindor when we aren't even up to the school yet Weasley. Consider that your warning." and he slid the door shut and strode down the train.

After she was certain that he couldn't hear Hermione said, "I cannot believe that he would talk to us like that after you saved his snooty little butt from death Harry!"

"I can, he still thinks that he is superior to us even after Voldemort is gone. I'm telling you if I can do away with Voldemort I can certainly do away with Malfoy." Harry muttered only loud enough so that they all had to lean in closer to hear.

They all laughed harder than they had in a long time and it made Hermione's throat hurt badly. "Well, Ron we need to get down to the prefect's compartment to hear what they have for us before we get into trouble." she said and as she got up she pulled Ron up out of his seat.

"Bloody hell Hermione, your stronger than you look!" he laughed. And they left the campartment with the sounds of their friends' laughter ringing in their ears.

They pinned their prefect badges on as they walked down the train. A compartment door slid open ahead and soon they saw Cho Chang walking towards them. "Hello Ron, Hermione." she smiled.

"Hello Cho, where are you heading to?" Hermione said happily.

"Oh, well I thought that maybe I would go say hi to Harry and congradulate him for the whole war thing... so, yeah. See you later Hermione. Say hi to Ginny for me Ron." she exclaimed as she kept walking.

Ron laughed when she was out of hearing range, "Too bad she doesn't know that she will be saying hi to Ginny herself." he chortled loudly.

"Ronald, that's not funny! Cho doesn't know that Harry and Ginny are dating, let alone serious! Why didn't you tell her?" Hermione rounded on him.

"Jeesh, I just thought that it would be a good laugh. You know I don't think Ginny's right for Harry! I mean, you've seen how he looks at my sister!" he tried to defend himself.

"Still, I don't think she would like to have a row with Cho today. I mean it's the first day of school!" and Hermione opened the door to the prefect compartment and went inside, followed by Ron.

They were back in the compartment after performing their prefect duties. Ginny was glaring at Ron with a look of loathing etched into her beautiful face. "I cannot believe that you didn't tell her that I was dating Harry! You son of a -"

Ron cut her off, "Just so you know if you call me that then you are talking about your own parents." he laughed.

"I don't know how sweet of parents we have, could have made such a mistake as you!" she spat at him.

It was only then that Ron looked at her as if he was imagining her to explode into a million bits. And Hermione held back a giggle when she caught a glimpse of Ginny returning the same exact glare, sometimes it was just funny how much the two siblings looked alike!

"C'mon Gin wasn't it just wonderful when you saw the look of shock on her face?" Harry tried to make her feel better and she couldn't help but smile, "After all, she was the one that broke it off between us, I didn't feel the need to tell her about my new and better relationship." he added as Ginny giggled. Ron made a gagging sound behind their backs.

It was growing darker outside and the group pulled on their robes over their clothes. Soon the train slowed and then skidded to a stop. Harry and the others got their trunks and pets, Harry with a new owl named Hedwig the second. Hermione grabbed Crookshanks and headed out of the compartment, considering that she had her pouch that she had bewitched over a year ago, she didn't need hardly a trunk. They saw Hagrid in the distance shuffling the first years to the lake where their boats awaited them. They found a coach and they fed the thestrals (which they could all see because of last years battle) and clambered inside.

"I just know that you will make Head Girl Hermione!" Neville was saying, "And the best part is that you won't report us, right Hermione?" he added hopefully.

"It really is against everything I believe in..." she started and then paused, "but I think that some exceptions are necessary." she smiled as she finished.

The carriage stopped and the lot climbed out and went up to the castle still chattering about who knows what. Hermione wasn't paying attention. She was thinking of the fact that if she did become Head Girl that she would have a new common room and that she would be sharing it with someone else. But then she remembered that there is also an alternative, there was a room at the top of Gryffindor Tower by the girls' dormitories labelled "Head Of Houses" that she could go to if she really despised her roomate, but that would mean no privacy, which she had been lacking for a long time. She hoped that the new Head Boy would be nice to be around. "Coming Hermione?" Harry was saying, for Hermione had turned in a different direction.

"In a moment, I'll be there in a second." she said as she wandered off toward a familiar beech tree.