chapter 1: WHAT in the hell?

Hermione sighed contently, for once in her hectic, eventful life, all was calm. She was in a compartment with Harry, Ginny, Ron, Luna, Seamus and Neville, it was a bit crowded, however, Hermione jean granger couldn't care less. Everything was so calm and peaceful, nobody was talking, and it was a comfortable silence. Ron was sitting next to Hermione, with one arm around her and the other holding a bag of Bertie Bott's every flavor beans, Ginny was also in the same circumstance, however harry held a liquorice wand, and if you didn't know already, they were on the Hogwarts express, it was a law passed(much to Hermione's delight), that every wizard was to repeat the year due to the simple fact, and I quote from professor McGonagall that everything the young witches and wizards were taught during the time the golden trio was away was " COMPLETE AND UTTER BLOODY RUBISH",Hermione smiled inwardly, the thought of McGonagall using the words bloody and rubbish in the same sentence was hilarious, just then an announcement drifted into each compartment, "The Hogwarts express will be arriving shortly at Hogwarts, in approximately 20 minutes, all prefects are required to meet at the Hogwarts prefects compartment, the head boy and head girl, Hermione granger and Draco Malfoy are also required to meet at the prefects compartment aswell,you will be given instructions pertaining to the first years, the first years may be fairly large as they are combined with the new and old ones, that is all,gooday." Ron groaned and stood up and helped Hermione to my feet, "This is bloody annoying!" Ron exclaimed animatedly, then another announcement came along, "Harry Potter must also report to the prefects compartment, that is all", Luna, Seamus, Ginny and Neville got up and decided it was the right time to return to their original apartment, Harry, Hermione and Ron figured that since they might be kept in the prefects apartment for quite some time, they should slip into their wizard robes, when that was done the moved swiftly towards the prefects apartment.

WITH DRACO

"No Blaise, you're too cute"

"I swear to merlin pansy you are-"

"Oh come now, I sure it's yo- ''

"YEAH YEAH, WE GET THE PICTURE! YOU TWO ARE EXTREMELY ADORABLE!" Draco said, hastily pulling on his robes so he could rush to the prefect's compartment and avoid the two love bird's mushy couple stories. He was halfway down the corridor when he saw the golden trio, entering the compartment 10 meters from where he stood. When he finally entered the compartment, he saw the other students conversing happily until their judging eyes met his pale skin. The room went silent, pansy was not yet here and he wasn't entirely fond of the people before him, he took a seat in the corner of the large apartment and waited for Hermione to read the rules that the prefects needed to follow…

10 minutes later…..

"- and Malfoy and I will have to lead the first years up to the different dormitories, urm, Yeah,I think that's about it…" Hermione said scanning the parchment one more time. 'Merlin help me, another year with mudblood, potty and weasel, how exciting…' Draco thought as the train came to a halt.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The sorting hat gave its annual song, the sorting continued as normal, to Draco it was exceptionally boring but on the opposite side of the great hall Hermione was drinking in every word contently. Dumbledore finally stood up as McGonagall removed the sorting stool, "Firstly I want to say, welcome back to those who have walked these grounds before, and welcome to those who are here for the first time, I know many of you think it's odd that a dead headmaster stands before you, but rest assured, I am no longer dead, and before I starve YOU to death, let me quickly say, LET THE FEAST BEGIN!".The students cheered gratefully as their plates began to fill with the most delicious foods you could possibly imagine and then the youngsters gobbled it. The first years were very excited; mind a few of them who had been there and done that, but they were as equally giddy, but had experienced just a few more cruel and vile circumstances. Once dessert came, the learners were practically jumping in their seats mind few rich purebloods from each house. The house elves had really outdone themselves. The previous year had been terrible, most of the elves were fired and couldn't find any work anywhere else because who would employ a couple of freed house elves? When Dumbledore returned and re employed them, they literally fell at his feet crying tears of joy and they were so willing to outdo themselves this year. Dessert comprised of various flavored ice-creams, treacle tart, mince pie, fruit mince pie, trifle, strawberries along with various other fruit and berries, cream, crembrule's, milk tarts, apple pies, chocolate cakes, cupcakes, fudges and mouse's were just some of the things neatly arrayed on the tables before the young witches. Draco's eyes wandered all around the great hall. He couldn't help but feel slightly ashamed that many of the students were no longer there. Many of the students had large, dark circles beneath their eyes, he knew why, he had seen many students die and he had also remembered seeing their families die as well. He could do nothing, he knew he was helpless during the war but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was his entire fault.

'if only you stood up to your father, if only you made them realize you wanted no part of it, if only… how different everything would have been Draco, you wouldn't be hated by everyone…no, you would, even without being a death eater you would have still been a snooty, spoiled, rich boy… shut up Draco, no you shut up! Merlin you're actually talking to yourself!'

Draco frowned at his thoughts, absentmindedly his eyes drifted over to Luna who immediately reminded him of Olivander. He shuddered and his eyes involuntarily shut. He remembered the drawn out screams from the cellar bellow the dining room, he remembered the old man who had made his wand …

"No! No! I beg you, I beg you…"

"You lied to lord Voldermort, Olivander!"

"I did not…I swear I did not…"

"You sought to help Potter, to help him escape me!"

"I swear I did not… I believed a different wand would work…"

"Explain, then, what happened. Lucius's wand is destroyed!"

"I cannot understand…the connection…exists only…between your two wands…"

"Lies!"

"Please…I beg you…"

And then the crucio curse was yelled again… and again and again…

After that you-know-who seemed to be only obsessed with finding a particular wand and he was left to torture whoever the dark lord asked him to, Draco hated it really, it was terrifying, the dark lord only tortured people himself if he was really infuriated, like the time the golden trio had escaped Malfoy manor… Draco's eyes glided towards Hermione…

"I'm going to ask you again, where did you get this sword? Where?!"

"We found it-we found it-PLEASE!"

Bellatrix began to slice and stab every bit of flesh visible on granger…

"You're lying; filthy mudblood and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth! Tell the truth!"

"CRUCIO!"

An agonizing scream

"CRUCIO!"

A drawn out scream with no answers willing to be spilt,

All Draco could do was stand and stare in horror, never in his life had he ever seen Hermione Granger more vulnerable, maybe he had imagined himself torturing Hermione with that curse but he never actually intended on doing it, she looked utterly finished but beneath her dying exterior, she was hiding something that he knew she would never tell anyone if it meant saving millions, typical Granger, typical Gryffindor, too noble to endanger another's life, I was pathetic really, especially when weasel was so ready to be tortured… for a mudblood. As he looked at her, he noticed a thin line. He realized it was the one aunt Bella had made whilst trying to get them to drop their wands. Quizzically Draco tilted his head, if he could see the scar from here, which meant it would be fairly large up close, he winced, 'ouch, wait a second, I've that was made with a knife, the scar should be reversible!'

once every last bit of the dessert was consumed, Dumbledore spoke, "In the past year many things have happened, our dear friend tom, Voldermort to you was finally defeated many of our by harry potter- '', a roar came from the students, " along with Ron Weasley-''another slightly lower roar, "and Hermione Granger," which resulted in the loudest uproar ever, sure Hermione was sometimes snooty, but in actuality, she had loads of friends, plus, many had heard about her adventure, her torture, her will power and her daring nerves and she officially proved that girls can be better than boys, it was her that resulted in all those shy girls to come out of hiding and fight in the war. and her newly formed curves did help a lot with the boys-even Draco caught himself staring, "Hermione granger is now along with Mr. potter and Weasley part of Merlin's first class," more shouts of happiness. "the wizard world is going through changes, and I am confident that with your help we will manage to save and rebuild our world, each and every one of you has played your part in the war, and I cannot express how proud I am of each one of you, as we look forward to another year, I hope you become accustomed you the changes which I promise is only for the better, now I'm sure each of you are exhausted, so now you may retreat to those lovely warm beds of yours, first years all follow professor Flitwick and Trelawney." Hermione gave Dumbledore a double take, had she heard correctly? Her first job as head girl was being hoarded by teachers, wasn't she supposed to lead the first years? 'Oh you're being paranoid Hermione.' she looked at Draco who was staring at her neck… "Oh yes, I almost forgot, sixth, and seventh year students please remain behind, to everyone else, good evening,"said Dumbledore, Hermione was so confused…

The great hall was now cleared of lower years and now, the remaining students looked intently at Dumbledore, who nodded shakily in Snapes direction, 'why's he so nervous?' Draco wondered staring at the man he thaught dead, Dumbledore had a slightly scared, doubtful look on his face, he was wringing his hand for about a minute, but then he just stopped, slowly lowered his hand, his face became calm, then he inhaled and exhaled soothingly. "As you may know, witches and wizards have been around for a rather long time, and due to recent events 60 percent of the population has dropped…our minister Kingsley Shacklebolt believes that in the next 6 decades… witches and wizards will without a doubt, become extinct. I honestly don't believe that this is the best option as many of you are still undergoing the trauma of the war and aren't ready to settle down… however in the light of the current situation…but… a law has been passed that each female, ages 17 thru 35 will be partnered accordingly to a specially picked wizard, and before the given deadline, every couple must no longer…quarrel… and a child must be conceived to preserve the wizarding bloodline, the second reason is to unite feuding houses, it has been going on long enough, tomorrow a test will proceed and you will have no choice but accept your partner, each pairing will be given their own miniature cottage to get down to…business…" nobody spoke, nobody even seemed to be breathing, the war was over, they had partners, this law was a load of rubbish. everyone stared incredulously at their headmaster, Luna for the first time ever had an emotion that wasn't exceptionally dazed, it was shock, Ron and harry were heartbroken, silent tears rolled down pansy's cheeks as well as Ginny's, Draco was pale and his heart was beating abnormally, everyone in the great hall silently began hyperventilating, until one brave witch stood up and screamed "WHAT-IN-THE-HELL?"Hermione.