Hey everyone, sorry I haven't updated on my stories yet, I've been experiencing some writer's block. Anyway I hope you like this, sorry it won't get very interesting until the next chapter or maybe the one after that. Anyway I borrowed the idea from a friend (ISolemnlySwearThatImUpToNoG00d), who agreed to let me use it. Enjoy!


Hermione walked up the steps leading to the doors of Hogwarts castle, barely aware of Ginny standing next to her. The castle had changed so much in the last few months. She remembered May, the explosions, the curses, the screams, the dead students, dead parents, the rubble, the dementors... a tear ran down her cheek as she forced herself to get the images of death out of her mind. They already occupied her nights... Instead, she focused on the renovated school. The castle looked the same as ever, still impressive, standing tall. You'd think the Second Wizarding War had never happened just looking at it. But with further scrutiny, Hermione noticed that some of the statues and paintings had been replaced.

Gathering her thoughts, her and Ginny walked through the doors, holding each other's hand tightly. They noticed other students that had fought looking around them with wide eyes, second year students who were trembling to be back where they had been beaten, tortured and abused by the Carrows and older students, mostly Slytherin. They reached the corridor and froze. In front of them were the portraits of all those who had died during the battle. The list was long, but Hermione only recognised Colin Creevey, Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin, Remus Lupin and Fred Weasley. At this last portrait, Ginny gasped and a tear slipped down her cheeks. She had not permitted herself to mourn her brother, staying strong for the rest of the family. Hermione led Ginny gently to the Great Hall, where the sat at the Gryffindor table, shortly joined by Dennis Creevey.

Harry and Ron had both decided to move on in their lives, accepting the job offers to become Aurors, as did Neville, though everyone knew it was only to please his grandmother.

There was hardly any chatter in the giant room as everyone waited for Headmistress McGonagall to call up the first years. The ceremony went well and quite fast, Gryffindor gaining seven more members, Slytherin four, Hufflepuff six and Ravenclaw five, and then they ate. The feast was wonderful, as always, but the student ate mostly in silence and a gloomy atmosphere hung overhead. Finally, the plates vanished and Headmistress called for silence, though everyone was already looking up at her expectantly.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Firstly, I would like to assure the second years that last year's fiasco is over. Discipline will be handled through detentions where the students will clean or perform other duties that their professors will decide upon. Violence in this castle will not be tolerated, from the teachers or students. Also, to avoid seclusion, it has been decided that students are permitted to eat at other Houses' tables, except on special days, so that you may all interact. This behaviour is highly advised. Onto the more traditional notes, I would like to introduce you Professor Collins, your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Professor Pidge, your new Transfiguration teacher. It has been decided that Professor Collins will be the new Head of House for Gryffindor. Finally, all students are to remember that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden. Any student who goes in without permission will be severely punished." She announced. Two wizards stood as the students clapped for their new professors, before they were finally dismissed.

As the Gryffindors made their way up their tower, Ginny and Hermione began talking.

"I can't believe she didn't make you prefect." Said Ginny.

"She probably just wanted to avoid me some stress. Quite a bit has changed this year..."

"Yeah... I can't wait to meet some Hufflepuffs, Ernie Macmillan seemed nice last year, didn't he? But I think she's crazy if she thinks people are going to chat with the Slytherins... I know I'm not."

"Ginny, that's the whole reason for this new rule. The Slytherins had family members among the death eaters and for that they're going to get shunned. Not all of them are evil you know. From what Harry told me, Draco seemed really against fighting for the Death eaters... with their families among the ranks, the kids had to do what they did. It wasn't their fault. I'll try my best with them, to show them that not everyone hates them."

"Everyone does hate them though." Ginny mumbled, before both girls went to their dorm and started getting ready for bed.

Hermione hid her fear as she slowly prepared for another night of nightmares, the faces of the dead and those evil red eyes haunting her.