My first HP attempt! Wow...and it's not DHr or Fred/Hermione or even Tom/Hermione. It's a new ship of mine, Theo/Hermione.

I like reading the (sorta cliche) plot of a parenting class. But I've seen a lot that are just tacky or stupid, or barley focus on the children at all- or that only a few are chosen for it. So this is my attempt to make a decent story as such. I hope I don't fail...

This is set a year after DH. Somewhat follows the plot lines. There are a few characters I've resurrected from the dead for sake of my own weird parrings...but I have decided that Fred definatly died. Otherwise I'd be tempted to have something happen between he and Hermione...and I can't have that!

The full list of students I'll be using (Some were aged down, but still a year above Harry's year)...Eloise Midgin, Zacharias Smith, Hermione Granger, Theodore Nott, Sally-Ann Perks, Seamus Finnegan, Demelza Robins, Jack Sloper, Lavender Brown, Wayne Hopkins, Paravati Patil, Eddie Carmichael, Ginny Weasley, Ernie Macmillian, S. Fawcette, Dean Thomas, Mandy Brocklehurst, Blaise Zabini, Su Li, Justin Finch-Fletchy, Morag McDougle, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbot, Harry Potter, Susan Bones, C. Warrington, Lisette Moon, Anthony Goldstine, Harper, Terry Boot, Asteria Greengrass, Collin Creevey, Daphine Greengrass, Adrian Pucey, Tracy Davis, Stephen Cornfot, Pansy Parkinson, Ron Weasley, Padma Patil, and Kevin Etwhistle.

Wow that's alot! From three years, that's about fourty-four students. Not all will be main characters (obviously). I plan to follow the POV of quite a few characters, just to get a feel. Mainly Hermione or Theo, but you never know!

Hmm, I think that's all for now. This is the preface, hope you enjoy!

"This is so stupid."

There was only so much whining and complaining that Hermione could take before she snapped. She'd heard it the weeks leading up to the end of summer; when they were in Diagon Ally, on the platform, and now the whole way to Hogwarts. Ignoring things didn't help; she'd figured out very early on. But, it was all she could do not to yell at him. He had really been setting her teeth on edge lately, in the past summer. She guessed it was that awkward post-relationship feelings, but she really wouldn't know. She was making an educated guess.

"I'm happy to be going back!" Ginny replied, her head resting in Harry's lap. She twirled little balls of light around with her wand, "It's not like the last two years were really school years."

"You didn't even technically graduate." Neville agreed, "How do you ever expect to ever get a job?"

"I'm one of the golden trio." Ron Weasley scratched his head, "How could I not?" At this slightly arrogant comment, Hermione slammed her book shut.

"Honestly, Ronald." She said in an irritated voice.

"What?" He shrugged his shoulders, "We bloody saved the world. I think that's a bit more outstanding then getting nine OWLS- doncha think?"

"It's for the experience, then." Ginny huffed, "Our schooling hasn't exactly been normal."

"We're wizards. Normal is out of the question, I think." Hermione said quietly, but no one really heard.

"Stone of Life, Baskilisk, Escaped Azkaban prisoner, Tri-Wizard Tournament, Voldemort's Return- sixth year was sorta normal- then we didn't even attend school last year." Harry began listing, laughing as he reached 7th year, "This will be good."

"We have more experience than half the aurors that protect us." Ron grumbled, scowling deeply. Hermione sighed and checked the time.

"I have to go and meet with the head boy. I'll be back." She said, fondly running her fingers over the new head girl badge. No one but Neville seemed to notice as she slipped from the cart. She unsteadily moved down the rows of cars, until she came upon the Prefect's cabin. Except, right now, it was for the Head's meeting. Her partner was already waiting for her.

"Hello, Draco." She greeted warmly. Draco smiled.

If anyone were to have told Hermione three years ago that her and Draco would have been friends, dated shortly after, then broken up and became best friends; she may have thought they'd taken a bludger to the head. But, after it was revealed Draco was a secret agent, things changed. Ron still didn't trust him- and it was likewise in feelings for the ginger. Harry tolerated him, Ginny was civil, and Neville and Luna were occasionally friendly. It was only Hermione who was the most mature, and opened up to him.

She was quite glad she had, in fact.

"Hermione. Have a good summer, I presume?" He asked. She rolled her eyes. Of course she had; they'd only owl'd each other every other day. He knew that, but why was he acting so stiff? He eyes traveled to where Mr. Weasley- the newly appointed Minister of Magic- sat. None of the Weasley family much trusted Draco, so she had just decided to omit the fact her and Draco were on such good terms.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley." She smiled, sitting in a chair facing him, "Quite enjoyable, thank you Draco." She added after a second's pause.

"Mr. Weasley was just beginning to inform me of a new change to the time sheets of the 7th years." Draco's silvery eyes glided over to her, where she cocked her head. Draco's jaw tightened with displeasure. Whatever it was, Draco didn't like it.

"Oh?"

"Yes. The board has decided to add a new class to Hogwarts for the 7th years." Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, his face as red as his hair.

"And just what would that class be?" Hermione frowned, trying to imagine what they could possibly be missing.

"It's mandatory." Mr. Weasley fumbled, "But we believe it will be, erm...well, it will encourage students to be productive in the rebuilding of society."

"Really?" Hermione bounced a bit in her chair, her eyes wide, "What is it? A class to help us create productive clubs and things like SPEW? Or will it be more hands on, like a architecture class?"

"I wish." Draco rubbed his temples, "The ministry's gone barkin' mad." He mumbled. Hermione's shining eyes dimmed at his comment.

"Our problem is not those things, Hermione." Mr. Weasley clapped his hands, sighing, "It's more the lack of magical bloodlines. The war damaged our population quite horribly."

"Magical bloodlines?" Hermione repeated, still confused, then her eyes grew wide, "Oh no! Is it a marriage law! Mr. Weasley you can't!"

"No. We are not at that desperate point yet...but nearly there. This class will hopefully push students to want to begin families after graduation." Hermione's mind ran through all the possibly courses that a school could offer to show this. For the smartest witch of her age, she drew up blanks. She looked at Draco cautiously, with curious eyes. Draco sighed, shaking his head like he couldn't believe what he was saying.

"It's a bloody parenting class, Granger."


Hermione was jumpy the rest of the night. Mr. Weasley said he couldn't say anymore than he already had, but he just thought it fair to warn the Head Students. So that they could ease the tension, when it was announced. The fact that 'tensions' needed to be eased set her stomach churning. If they expected such a bad response, why do this? Hermione wasn't ready to have children or settle down. Much less pretend. She wanted to be fully focused on her school work and nothing else.

Draco was taking the news badly too, for different reasons.

"It's such a bloody waste of my time." He told Blaise and Theodore as they hopped in the carriage to take them to Hogwarts. Theodore's eyes were no longer the only ones that could see the Threshles. All three could, and Draco wished he couldn't. Theo pet the lead one, smiling without emotion.

"A parenting class?" Blaise sat on the bench, scratching his head, "What are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know!" Draco snapped, "It's stupid."

"And they couldn't tell you anymore information?" Theo lay down across the bench across from his friends, looking at the stars.

"Nothing more than it was only one day a week. But, we start tomorrow. Or technically, we have two classes this week to start off."

"I don't want a parenting class. I'm ready to be a free man for a while longer, thank you very much." The cart lurched forward, and Draco gripped the edge of his seat.

"Exactly, Zabini."

"Can't you do anything about it?" Blaise looked almost afraid by now, but Draco shook his head.

"Tried. Ministry of Magic themselves decided this. What they were smoking the day it was chosen, I don't now." Draco said.

"Or my mother put them all under the imperious curse." Theo said softly, and both of the former death eaters looked at him. There was a pregnant pause, before Theo looked at them. He pushed his glasses up his nose, and sighed, "I was joking."

"I can never tell with you, Nott!" Blaise gave a sigh of relief and irritation, "It's bad enough that we were death eaters, but to be making jokes like that..."

"Look, I wouldn't put it past ma. She's been bugging me all summer to go out and find an heir. Sometime about wanting grandchildren." Theo's nose curled in disgust.

"You think she went to the Ministry and got this class started?" Draco eyed Theo narrowly, looking to see the boy's reaction in the dark light.

"Who knows?" His gaze traveled back upwards, "I'm just glad to be away from the house, and back at school." He closed his leaf green eyes, "Aren't you both?"

Draco looked down at his hands, then at his arm where the mark was still fading. He was disgusted every time he looked at it.

The house was so empty now, Malfoy Manor. It held a certain darkness and gloom that would never leave. After his parents both passed in the war, he was left with the estate. He hated it. If it wasn't for his friends that visited or that he could contact, he would have lost his mind in the white- but dirty- halls long ago. He fully planned to sell the place and move somewhere small when he was done with school. Although the house had been in his family for decades, it just wasn't worth it anymore.

The place was not a home. It was a prison. It was the place he'd learned what bad really was. It was the place he felt like he was going to be killed at every moment of the day.

He knew for a fact that, at least, Nott and Zabini were in the same boat. Nott still had his mother, but his house was even bigger and grander. Therefore, it was even lonelier. Zabini had no one, much like Draco. His father ran off to Italy and was never found. His mother had committed suicide in the grand parlor. Draco knew that Blaise couldn't even walk past it without sweating. That house would be harder to sell, because everyone knew about Mrs. Zabini's death.

The carriage stopped. All three Slytherin boys looked up at the glimmering castle. Blaise's smile streached wide across his face, Draco grinned, and Theo gave a tiny smirk of a smile that only few people saw. Headmaster McGonagall was waiting and smiled warmly at the three.

"Welcome home."


The welcome feast was bright and full of light.

That is, until the new class was announced. Furious 7th years yelled and opposed.

Hermione sat placidly, her lips pressed tightly together. She glanced over at Draco who was looking ashamed. Blaise was scowling, and picking at his food with violent stabs. Theo's face was unreadable, as always, so she assumed Draco had told his best friends. She had decided not to inform hers; she knew how quick of a temper Ron had. Harry could manage it, and perhaps Neville. She wasn't quite sure what Ginny's reaction would have been, but she figured that everyone would know soon enough.

She wanted to be able to escape to the library, but as Head Girl she knew she couldn't. She missed it so much; the smell of old books, the yellowing pages, the knowledge yet to be learned...A silly smile grew over her face. The thought that she would be able to vanish among the stacks of books within the night kept her sane enough while her classmates exploded into bedlam around her. As Head Girl, she tried to calm as many down as she could, but they were so angry.

It wasn't that bad of a class; really. She supposed that parenting, though, (apart from Lavender Brown, for example) was the last things on people's minds. Right after a war, people did...erm, repopulate, but they were so young. It was a bit unfair, she supposed, making it mandatory. Obviously, married life was not for all witches and wizards. People could still be productive in society without having children.

She wanted to get married, she thought, one day. But, the idea of marriage and then children was reversed. And this did not sit well in her stomach. Hermione hated for things to be out of order. And what else could they be doing in that class except caring for dolls or flour sack children like their own? It was all so...old. Muggle schools had been doing this for years.

"Stop getting so worked up, Ronald!" She yanked her ginger friend down, "It's just a class."

"Just a class?" He repeated, "Just a class!" His voice rose higher.

"We don't even know what we're doing in this class." Harry tried to quip in helpfully, but Seamus gave a scoff from across the table.

"One galleon that we're not going to have to do something stupid and involving babies." His lip curled distastefully, and Dean scowled along with him.

"Babies!" Lavender smiled widly, "Oh, I love babies! I can't wait!"

"Me neither! How adorable!"

Hermione had to say, that she wasn't particularly as entusiastic as her room mates. But, a class was a class- as was knowledge. Whatever the reason (for she no longer really cared, because it was over and done with) she decided to go into this new class with an open mind.

Mr. Weasley and McGonagall knew what they were doing...Right?

Short, short, short. Usually, my chapters are much longer. I don't know when I'll get the next chapter out, but the next chapter is when stuff really starts. I guess whenever I finish...

Please review. It makes the owl in my head happy!

~Frosty