Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All the rights go to J.K. Rowling for creating such a wonderful world full of interesting characters.
AN: This is my first Harry Potter related fan fiction and I thought what better to start out with than a story about two of my favorite character, Draco Malfoy, and Hermione Granger. Please leave me your thoughts and opinions. And remember I'm still new to this.
Returning
It's been about 5 months since the final battle. Hogwarts was almost ready to bring students back through those great doors. Harry, Ron, Hermione and even Malfoy spent the summer helping the professors rebuild the school, as well as many other classmates. Malfoy mostly kept to himself and refused to talk to Hermione or even Harry for that matter. He would often just watch the golden trio laughing and smiling; seemingly not having a friend in the world. Most of the Slytherins hated him for choosing their side after Snape killed Dumbledore for him. He was a traitor, a blood traitor, and his father made it quite clear that he was no son of a Malfoy. His mother looked so torn between her husband and her son.
Hermione spent a lot of her summer taking notice of Malfoy. Noticing small things like him receiving a few letters from his mother. She sent him the occasional owl, but he never sent one back. Merely attaches a ribbon to the owl and sends it on its way. Perhaps to let his mother know that he received her letter? To tell her he's still alive? It was always a different colour ribbon, perhaps a code between the two of them? Hermione blinked with realization as she shook her head. Why was she so worried about Malfoy?
Professor McGonagall gave them all the option to come back and finish their last year due to the war interrupting their studies. But both Harry and Ron wanted to make a difference after the war, and become auras as soon as possible and opted out. Hermione still wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to do with her life. Obviously, so many things have changed since she first starting thinking about careers. She initially intended on being an aura as well. But after watching Dobby die in Harry's arms, and saw all that he sacrificed for Harry, she wanted to do something for all house elves. Maybe a career path with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures would be a good fit.
She ultimately decided it'd be best for her to finish her seventh year. She sent McGonagall an owl and informing her of choice to return. McGonagall assured her that she would be Head girl. At least I would have some privacy for my return. I'll have one of the towers all to myself. Since there aren't many older students returning it looks like I'll be the only head, she thought as she mulled over McGonagall's letter. Hermione looked around the Burrow, she spent the other half of her summer here with the Weasleys and Harry of course.
She would be going back to school next week, just a few weeks before her 19th birthday. She sighed and began to gather her things from the house. Her stationery and books, the time turner from McGonagall. She packed all her belongings into her truck and packed her Hogwarts essentials in a small bag to take with her. She sent most of them to her parents home. She knew that they may still be furious at her for erasing their memories but she trusted that they would forgive her in time. She was hurt at first when they told her that they needed time to let this settle. She understood that they needed a break from magic but it broke her heart that she hurt them, she only wanted to keep them safe. She would do anything to keep her loved ones safe from harm, even if it meant a great sacrifice.
A week had passed in the blink of an eye. Hermione said her goodbyes to Molly, Arthur, and George. Ginny left early to meet up with Luna and Neville before the Hogwarts Express took off. Hermione wanted to spend as much time with Ronald and Harry before she had to leave for a year. They accompanied her to the Hogwarts express.
"Promise that you'll write!" said a worried Harry.
"Don't I always write, Harry?" she answered.
Harry's expression softened, he knew she was right. She always did write and he had nothing to fear.
"Look, both of you… I'll be fine! It's just school. It'll be exactly as it was before Voldemort came back. I'll be safe! Please stop worrying, you're making me nervous for no reason at all. You're both being absolutely silly about this whole thing!" Hermione spoke without breath.
This would be her first year without her two best friends by her side. Without them, there being constantly annoying. A year without having to help these two idiots with their assignments and essays. As much as she hated having to practically do their work for them especially Ronald, she would miss it in a way. She would miss them having to rely on her. Oh dear, now her eyes were starting to water. She was going to miss them so much. She felt a tear slip from her watery eyes as she grabbed both Ron and Harry and pulled them into a tight hug. Once she opened my eyes and let go of them she couldn't help but notice Malfoy walking alone and looking rather somber. He couldn't be coming back to school, could he? He never cared about his education before. I wonder what changed. Why would he want to go back? Hermione wondered what his intentions were. Ron followed her gaze curiously, "You've got to be kidding me. Hermione, you can't go back if that bloody wanker is going to be there!" he said forcefully.
"Ronald Weasley!" she pushed against his chest, "Don't be cruel! Besides, I doubt I'll even see him. If it makes you feel better I'll just ignore him if I see him."
Ron sighed and kissed the top of Hermione's head as he wrapped his arms around her when he saw Malfoy watching them. Ronald hasn't done anything like this before, Hermione thought. She and Ron hadn't properly talked after they shared a kiss in the Chamber last year... She wasn't entirely sure what that kiss meant. She had fancied Ron for a while until then, but the war changed things. She saw a side of him that she didn't like. He left when she and Harry needed him the most, he let his irrational emotions get the best of him. But part of her still loved him, she just didn't know how dominate that part was. Ron could feel Hermione start to tense in his arms and he let her go. "Goodbye, Hermione…" he muttered as he walked away.
Hermione sighed heavily and dropped her face into her hands, Harry hugged her tight "Don't worry about it Hermione, I don't think he'll ever really understand." She told Harry everything she was feeling when he noticed that things between them were tense, Harry didn't blame Hermione for feeling the way she does but he couldn't really understand her reasoning either. Hermione hadn't the heart to tell him the real reason…
Hermione boarded the Hogwarts express and noticed a bleach blonde sitting by himself. She almost wanted to stop and greet him but as she was about to turn into his car she saw him staring at the hideous mark that resided on his forearm. She glanced down at her own arm, the arm on which his aunt so lovingly carved "Mudblood' into her precious skin… Her heart ached; she turned on her heel and ran down the length of the train to get as far away from that awful memory as she could. She finally found an empty car and sat down, pressing her head against the glass of the window. Hermione spent the entire ride mindlessly stroking the scar on her skin.
