Hermione Granger had had a hard time the summer after the defeat of Voldemort. She and Ron Weasley had decided to start a relationship after admitting their feelings to each other during the Battle of Hogwarts. However, that relationship did not last long since Hermione wanted more out of their relationship than talking about Quidditch and sloppy kisses. Hermione was intellectual and sensual; she needed someone just as passionate as her. It also didn't help her relationship with Ron that when she went to Australia to restore her parent's memories, she couldn't find them. She spent the whole month of July in Australia with Ron and their best friend Harry Potter looking for them. She was still searching records to try and find them, but so far no luck. The entire trip Hermione and Ron fought. All Hermione wanted to do was find her parents while all Ron wanted to do was talk about quidditch and eat because he was bored of searching through public records trying to find Wendell and Monica Wilkins. So after returning to England, Hermione broke up with Ron. He, of course, was mad, but in the end he seen the reasoning behind the break-up. All of the fighting showed him that it wasn't the ideal relationship that he wanted for himself. Later on, when both of them realized the true extent of their feelings for the other, they realized that they were more like siblings than possible lovers.
It was now September 1, 1998 and Hermione, Ron, and Harry were returning to Hogwarts to complete their seventh year that they missed in order to destroy Voldemort. Thankfully over the summer the school was easily repaired of all damages that took place during the battle. During sixth year, Professor Snape had managed to complete Draco Malfoy's task of killing Headmaster Dumbledore- at least that is what Voldemort and all of his followers thought. A master plan had been hatched to technically kill Dumbledore so that Snape's Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy was not broken. Dumbledore was dead for a matter of minutes before he woke up once again. Before the confrontation with the Death Eaters in the Astronomy Tower, both Snape and Dumbledore knew it was going to happen. The two men had devised a new potion that would stop the heart beating for ten minutes after being drunk and hit with the Cruciatus curse. So now it seemed as if Professor Dumbledore was dead. Before the Death Eaters had shown up to kill Dumbledore, he fished the potion out of his robes and took it, hiding the vial back inside of his robes. They all showed up and Draco was too weak to do as the Dark Lord had bid him, so Snape hit Dumbledore with the Crucio, hoping that the old man had taken the potion. Dumbledore fell to his knees in pain and a few seconds later he was laying on the ground with his eyes shut tight. Draco had checked his neck for a pulse- there was none. The Death Eaters thought that they were successful and took off. Ten minutes later Albus Dumbledore woke up to two of his most faithful friends hovering over him thinking that he was truly dead. Their love for the Headmaster was shown in the sorrow on their faces; Minerva McGonagall and Harry Potter truly thought that they had lost the wonderful man. After a blessed reunion, Dumbledore explained the need for it to seem as if he was truly dead to everyone except the members of the Order of the Phoenix. And so everyone thought that Albus Dumbledore was dead, everyone who knew the truth still mourned as if he were truly dead. When it was time for the final battle, Dumbledore was right there when Voldemort was finally defeated, showing him that his most trusted servant had indeed betrayed him.
This year at Hogwarts would be different than the others though. There were other students that had missed their seventh year last year because either their parents were Death Eaters and didn't see a reason for their children to go to Hogwarts, their parents were against Voldemort and decided to run and hide from him, or they were a Muggle-born and thought it best to not return unless Voldemort was destroyed. So this year some of those that had missed the previous year would be returning, along with others who had attended last year and wanted to receive their true education they should have received in the first place. However, some still did not return, deciding instead to study on their own and take their N.E.W.T.S. at the Ministry of Magic when they were ready. The students returning would be integrated into the real seventh year class- Ginny Weasley's class. There was still only one Head Girl and one Head Boy, but Professor Dumbledore had decided to add extra prefects to the seventh years since there was more students this year than any other year before. It was no surprise when their Hogwarts letters arrived that Hermione was informed that she had become Head Girl.
Hermione, Harry, and the Weasley's arrived to Kings Cross Station early so that Hermione could see who had become the Head Boy. Hermione left her friends to go to the Head's compartment. When she arrived no one was there. Hermione looked out the window seeing a few familiar faces like Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Pavarti and Padama Patil, Pansy Parkinson, Blaize Zabini, Susan Bones, Michael Corner, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan. For the brief time that Hermione turned to get her book out of her bag she missed Draco Malfoy and his mother apparate onto the platform. After a quick hug, Malfoy disappeared onto the train and Narcissa apparated away.
Hermione sat there in the compartment waiting for the Head Boy to show up. After reading a few pages into her new book, the compartment door opened. Instead of a student entering, there stood Professor Snape. He walked in and shut the door behind him. Hermione couldn't help but stare at him. She knew that he had survived the bites that Nagini had inflicted upon him since she is the one who saved him after the war was over. But she hadn't seen him since and didn't even know if he knew that it was her who had saved his life. He still looked the same as before with his black billowing robes and guarded expression, but his face seemed softer, like the weight of the world had been taken off of his shoulders.
After the battle was over and Voldemort was destroyed, Hermione decided to go back to the Shrieking Shack to bring Professor Snape's body back. When she got there she looked at him and felt like something in her had died. Hermione had always adored her professor for his intellect and his bravery. For years, when Harry and Ron thought he was evil, she thought the opposite. Until her third year she thought the same as the boys. But when he put himself in front of her, Ron, and Harry to try and protect them for Lupin in his werewolf form, she knew that he wasn't evil. From that day on she secretly admired him. At first it was just admiration like you would look at a hero, but then in her fifth year it became more like a school girl crush but only something stronger. In sixth year, when Snape was shown to be a loyal Death Eater to Voldemort, she knew that there was something more there than that. Hermione always thought that Snape was still working for Voldemort, but she was smart enough to connect the dots that he was most likely a spy. After he left Hogwarts she felt lonely for some unknown reason. At this point she didn't even talk to the man! He said his snide remarks and she kept her mouth shut other than to answer questions. Truthfully, she always did her absolute best in his class because she wanted to impress him; Snape sadly wasn't one to be impressed with anything a Gryffindor did. But when Hermione had found him in the Shrieking Shack she felt broken. Wanting him to be alive more than anything she could barely think straight when she touched her fingers to his neck and felt a faint pulse there. She had thought he was dead just like Harry and Ron had thought. But there it was, the smallest, faintest pulse. Hermione thought she knew her potions professor well enough to know that a Potions Master such as himself would be smart enough to carry around some type of potions during a war and battle such as this. Hermione accioed every potion that she could think of. She managed to get a blood replenishing potion, a pain relieving potion, and a healing potion from his cloak pocket. She lifted his head up and helped get the potions into his mouth and get them down his throat. She grabbed his hand, holding it in both of hers, willing him to get better. His hand had been holding something and when Hermione looked she found an empty potion bottle. To this day she still didn't know what had been in the empty vial. Snape's pulse started to pick up and his bite marks started to close up from the healing potion but Snape still hadn't woken. Hermione decided she needed to get him to Madame Pomfrey and fast. She levitated him down the tunnel to the Whomping Willow and back to the school. She passed by many people who gave her strange looks and others cursing at Snape. Hermione ignored them all and kept walking to the infirmary. Luckily, Professor Dumbledore was there and made sure that Madame Pomfrey knew the truth about Snape and his loyalties and made sure she gave him the best care possible. As soon as Madame Pomfrey got started working on Snape, Hermione looked at the Headmaster who started walking towards her. Looking at the Headmaster, she started falling. Two days later Hermione woke up at the Burrow to news that Snape had survived and was pardoned of all charges. After that she started getting ready for her journey to find her parents.
Back to the present, Hermione watched as Professor Snape sat down in front of her. He looked her in the eye once he got comfortable leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees, hands put together as if he was praying. They looked at each other a moment, not taking their eyes from the other. Merlin, he looks just as gorgeous as I remember Hermione thought to herself causing her to blush.
"Hello Miss Granger. Congratulations on making Head Girl. I have come here to talk to you about the Head Boy before he joins us" said Professor Snape.
Did he just congratulate me? And why does he sound so nice? Where is my Snape? MY SNAPE? Hermione just nodded her head at him too afraid to speak after what she just thought.
Professor Snape continued when Hermione nodded her head and didn't reply. "It is to my understanding that you do not know who was given the honor of head boy this year." Hermione nodded again. "Well, I have come to inform you that even after the events that have taken place with the war the Headmaster and all of the other teachers have decided to award Draco Malfoy the honor of Head Boy."
Hermione looked at Professor Snape like he was insane. She knew the situation that Malfoy had found himself in and she would probably have done the same in his situation, but to allow him back into Hogwarts was one thing, to make him Head Boy was another.
"Malfoy? The same Malfoy who tried to kill the Headmaster? The same Malfoy who stood by and watched as his insane aunt decided to write 'Mudblood' into my skin?" Hermione was getting really angry really quickly.
"Miss Granger, I know that this isn't the ideal situation for you. Remember what Draco went through wasn't the ideal situation for him either. He made do with what he was given. I expect that you will do the same. The Headmaster has already visited with Mr. Malfoy and his mother multiple times over the summer holidays. Draco knows that there are stipulations to coming back to finish his education. However, after the many talks that the Headmaster has had with Draco the Headmaster feels that Draco is not the same boy that you have grown up with. I have come here to make sure you realize that he deserves this chance to better his life and make something of himself just like you do. We faculty chose Draco because we believe that he is the best for the job and will take his responsibilities seriously, just like you. If you will give him the chance you will see that he has changed. However, if you feel as if you will not be able to work with him at all, we can find someone else to take your place as Head Girl if that is what you wish."
Hermione took a minute to think through what all Professor Snape said and she realized that he was right. After a few minutes Hermione finally replied, "You are right, sir. If he is trying to better himself it is not my place to get in the way and stop it. As long as he doesn't insult me or try and hex me, I think him and I can work together quite well."
Professor Snape let out a sigh of relief. The job of finding her replacement would not be fun and damn it all, when did Hermione Granger become so beautiful. Sick bastard she is your student thought Snape. "Well then Miss Granger, I will inform Draco that he may now join you and you two can discuss your head duties. Do not forget to have a meeting with the prefects before we make it to the school as well." With that Professor Snape got up and left the compartment.
Hermione tried to continue reading but all of her thoughts were on Snape and Draco. Her thoughts were interrupted when the compartment door opened and Draco came in. Hermione noticed he looked just as good-looking as he always had but he seemed paler than usual in his school robes. As he sat down putting his bag beside him Hermione decided to be the first one to speak.
She smiled and said, "Hello Draco. I hope you have had a good summer."
Draco couldn't hide the shock on his face. Hermione Granger was smiling at him and being nice to him. The girl that he had taunted for years, the girl who he had watched be tortured by his own aunt while he watched and did nothing, was speaking to him.
"He-helllo Granger," was all that Draco could manage to say.
"Call me Hermione. We are going to be spending a lot of time together between Head Duties and sharing a dormitory," Hermione said, inside even she was shocked that she could be so nice to him after everything that had happened.
Draco looked down at his feet, his face turned red. "Okay, Hermione."
Hermione smiled and got back to reading her book. The rest of the train ride was uneventful until they had a meeting with the prefects. Most didn't understand why Draco was back at Hogwarts, let alone being Head Boy. Hermione ended up stating what she was told by Professor Snape and asked everyone if it was their place to question the Headmaster. At that everyone shut up. The rest of the meeting went by smoothly and the prefects left to do their rounds on the train. Thirty minutes before they were to arrive at Hogwarts Hermione and Draco went to all the compartments to inform the students of their impending arrival and to change into their robes.
Arriving at the Hogsmeade station, the first years went to Hagrid to go across the lake in boats to the castle while the older students took the thestral drawn carriages up. Draco and Hermione were the last ones to leave the train and rode up to the castle together. As they got to the carriage both of them were able to see the invisible thestrals. Seeing them just brought back memories of all that had died during the war. They both shook their heads in sadness and didn't talk the entire ride to the castle. When they arrived they were the last of the older students to arrive and everyone in the Great Hall eyed them suspiciously when they walked into the Great Hall alone and standing next to each other. Hermione said goodbye and walked to the Gryffindor table towards her friends. She looked around at the shocked faces that followed Draco as he went to the Slytherin table to sit down next to Pansy and Blaize.
No one had time to say anything because almost as soon as Hermione sat down the Great Hall doors opened back up admitting Professor McGonagall and the new first year students. At the front of the room sat a stool with the Sorting Hat sitting on top. Hermione looked towards the faculty table and seen Professor Snape sitting to the left of Dumbledore. When she looked at him she wasn't expecting him to be looking directly at her. Professor Snape had a strange look on his face that she had never seen before. He gave the smallest of smiles that she almost imagined that it didn't happen and Hermione blushed and looked away towards the Sorting Hat once again. After the sorting was done, the Headmaster stood up to speak.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I will leave my speech until the end. For now everyone dig in."
At that, food appeared all over every table and with the appearance of the food, Draco Malfoy was mostly forgotten. Everyone at the Gryffindor table ate and enjoyed the company of their friends. The seventh years noticed the two people missing- Lavender Brown and Colin Creevy but knew in their hearts that they were still there with them.
After dessert Professor Dumbledore stood up once again to give his Welcome Feast speech.
"Once again, welcome. It is good to have the school back to normal and for me it is good to see all of you again. In May we were able to defeat Voldemort and the expense was to lose some of the people we were close to. Every house here felt the loss of life. But now we are united as one and are stronger than before. Those who died did not do so in vain. We will all remember them and their sacrifice for a greater world and to have a greater world we need to learn forgiveness. There are students who have returned to us this year whose parents were Death Eaters or they were Death Eaters themselves. These students were found not guilty of the charges brought against them and are being given a second chance to do well in their lives. I know some of you are not happy that they are here, but as I said we need to learn forgiveness. I trust that each and every one of you would think about what you would have done if you would have been in their shoes. While their choices weren't the wisest, most of them made their choices because of the love they feel for their families. You could have been them and you could have made the same choice as them. So I ask all of you to give these students a chance." Hermione looked around the Great Hall and everyone she seen was hanging on to every word the Headmaster was saying, taking every word to heart. "Now, before we head to bed to get started on classes tomorrow, I would like to announce our Head Girl and Head Boy and hope that you join me in congratulating both of them on their accomplishment as I call them up to the front. Our Head Girl this year is Hermione Granger." Loud cheers came up from all of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff as Hermione got up and walked towards Professor Dumbledore noticing that Professor Snape was actually clapping for her. "Our Head Boy is Draco Malfoy." Hermione realized when not only was every person in Slytherin cheering for Draco, but that also most of the people from the other three houses cheering and clapping for him, that what Professor Dumbledore said about second chances was truly being taken to heart by the students of Hogwarts. Hermione was happy that everyone was giving Draco the same respect that they were showing her. With Voldemort gone maybe this will be a better world she thought.