Hermione's nervous stomach fluttered with excitement and anticipation during her drive to King's Cross. She was finally going to have the seventh year at Hogwarts that she and her friends deserved. After a year destroying horcruxes and fighting Voldemort and the death eaters at the battle for Hogwarts, she was ready for some relaxation and education from the recently rebuilt school.
Although many people died in the battle, most of her closest friends would also be returning to school to finish their education. Ginny, Neville, and Luna all were returning, and of course Harry and Ron were going back in hopes of getting enough NEWTs to become Aurors in the future. Hermione smiled to herself as she thought about Ron. They had dated briefly after Voldemort was defeated, and although their sexual chemistry was undeniable, after the celebration and novelty had worn off, they found that their constant bickering that had been playful and lighthearted as friends, was irritating and hurtful when they were more intimately involved.
But why deny themselves a good thing? Ron and Hermione (well mostly Hermione) had developed a system for a friends with benefits relationship that would satisfy their sexual needs while giving them the distance that they needed to maintain their friendship. Hermione felt herself get wet just at the thought of seeing Ron again, and shifted uncomfortably in the backseat of her parents car, trying to think of something else.
Draco Malfoy popped into her head. She had been made Head Girl over the summer, and suspected that he had been made Head Boy. 'That would certainly be…interesting' she thought to herself. The Malfoy family had awkwardly approached the trio in the celebration after the battle of Hogwarts.
They asked for mercy and forgiveness, as they had discovered throughout the years that Voldemort's lessons of power and hate were cruel and wrong, but that they had been too involved at that point to safely disengage from his service. They explained that their family was the most important thing to them, and that they were happy with Harry's success that allowed them to be together, and told him that they were eternally grateful for all he had given them.
Harry, very diplomatically, had thanked them, especially Narcissa for their
words and said that he was glad they had each other. Ron had a harder time accepting the Malfoy apology, and although he was stone faced as they were speaking, Hermione thought she could hear him muttering "gits" under his breath as they walked away. Hermione was a little apprehensive about the apology as well, especially when, as the Malfoy family retreated back to their corner of the Great Hall, Draco turned around and spoke to Hermione directly.
"Listen" he said "I'm sorry for calling you…well Mudblood…all those times in school. I really made life hard for you, and I can see now that your parents have nothing to do with your skill or your worth. You are really talented Grange…Hermione. I'm…I'm glad you are alright." He blushed heavily and quickly glanced at her face before abruptly turning around and retuning to his family.
"Well," Ron said at that point "That was bloody weird." But Hermione couldn't speak she was in such shock.
Thinking back on the moment now, she found herself hoping that Malfoy was indeed going to be Head Boy. It would give her a chance to see if his words were true, and if he really has changed.