Not really sure where this is going to go. I had written some of a Dramione fanfiction before, but I didn't really like where it was going so I took it down. I'm trying a new story, which hopefully will be better. Absolutely love all things Harry Potter, and I do not own anything. Please review! I love getting constructive feedback so I can work on my writing skills! This is set after the Battle of Hogwarts. Rated T just to be safe. I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING IN THE HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE!

Chapter 1

(Hermione)

Hermione opened her eyes. It was a bright, sunny morning and in exactly one week she would be at King's Cross for her final year. A little over three and a half months had passed since the "Battle of Hogwarts", as people called it. However, to her it felt like decades had past. She felt so much older than 18. All of her peers had to grow up over the last year, making all of them seem older than they were. Even George, who always had a twinkle in his eyes and a mischievous grin pulling at his lips, lately had looked old, solemn, and weary. Hermione supposed that wasn't surprising given that he had lost his other half.

She smiled when her ginger cat jumped on her bed and started pawing at her stomach. "Well good morning, Crookshanks. You hungry?" Her cat blinked and meowed softly in response. Hermione laughed and got up to feed him before getting herself dressed. She was staying at the Leaky Cauldron, and the Weasleys plus Harry were meeting up with her for a day in Diagon Ally. When she was dressed she went downstairs to get some coffee and breakfast.

Everyone was already in the pub and had just gotten their breakfasts; Harry saw Hermione first and smiled to her. He nudged Ron to scoot over so she could squeeze in. Harry and Ron both came to hang out and go school shopping with everyone despite the fact that they would not be returning to Hogwarts. They were reporting to auror training less than a week. Hermione said hello to all the Weasleys, gave Harry a hug, and finally turned to Ron. An awkward heartbeat passed before Ron pulled her into a big hug, "You're still one of my two best friends, Hermione" he said.

She breathed a sigh of relief and returned his embrace. The last time she had seen Ron was when they had broken up in June. Hermione felt bad, but with the war over she'd lost the spark she had felt for Ron. She talked to Ron about this, and he admitted that he felt the same way. She had barely spoken to him since then. She felt guilty for breaking up with him, though she knew it had been for the best. Her main worry for the last couple months had been searching for her parents. So she had more or less dropped off of the map from her friends, and she hadn't been sure whether or not he would still want anything to do with her. She smiled at him, "I know, I'm sorry that I haven't been talking to you."

Ron smiled and waved his hand in the air, "No big deal, Hermione. We're here now and all three of us can catch up before we leave for training."

There was excitement for the first time in weeks and everyone was finally cheerful. George was cracking jokes, Ginny was laughing so hard that she almost fell out of her seat. Harry caught her and laughed himself. It was perfect, well, as perfect as it could be.

After breakfast everyone split up to go shopping. George excused himself to go back to work at Weasleys' Wizard Weezes. Molly insisted everyone meet back at the Leaky Cauldron by 3:00. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to go to Flourish and Blotts first. Ginny, Bill, and Charlie agreed to go to the Magical Menagerie to check out the animals there. Percy told everyone goodbye and insisted he needed to return to work. Hermione was glad he came. She knew that his relationship with his family had been strained, but it finally seemed to be healing. She watched as he gave his mother a kiss goodbye and waved before disapperating with a small pop.

"Alright then, shall we?" Harry asked. Hermione smiled and practically dragged them off to the bookstore.

Inside was packed, but Hermione was glad. That meant that Hogwarts would be relatively full this year. She bought all of her seventh year books plus a few extra for her own enjoyment. Harry bought a couple books in hopes that it would help prepare him for his training, while Ron insisted that everything they needed to know would be taught at the training. After they finished getting all the books they needed, Hermione stopped to replenish her stock of ink, parchment, quills, and potion supplies. They passed by the quidditch supply shop to look around. Both boys looked nostalgic.

"You two are going to miss playing this year won't you?" she asked.

"Yea. Definitely. Hopefully there will be people who live around us who would be interested in playing every now and then." Harry replied.

"Honestly I don't know if we'll have time to, but I would love to play for fun if we get the chance." Ron said.

"Harry did you ever get a new broom?" Hermione asked.

"Yea, actually, I did. Apparently when Sirius bought it he also got a lifetime warranty on it." Harry explained. "I went in to ask about buying a new broom in general, and when they guy asked what I broom had before he checked the records and told me about the warranty. Thank Merlin, because I don't think draining my bank account on a new Firebolt for fun would be very smart. Ginny would kill me."

"Not if you let her use it this year, mate. She'd love you for that." Ron put in.

Harry laughed. "Fair enough. Hell, I may let her use it this year. It'll help Gryffindor secure the Quidditch Cup."

The rest of the day they wandered around and stopped at different shops every now and then. Finally, when it was time for them to leave she gathered her things and packed them. She would be staying at the Burrow for the week, at Molly's insistence of course. She brought her trunk down to where Harry and Ron were waiting for her. "Ready?" Harry asked. She nodded and they disapperated for the Burrow.

The rest of the week slipped by quickly. On Sunday she told Harry and Ron goodbye and wished them luck. They were told to report for training on Monday morning at 7:00. They both assured her that they would write as often as possible and wished her and Ginny luck with the school year. Finally, bright and early on Tuesday morning Hermione and Ginny were packed and ready to go. Hermione told the Weasleys goodbye and thanked them for letting her stay there.

"Of course, dear, anytime. Have a good year!" Molly told her. She and Ginny boarded the train and headed to the Prefect carriage. Her letter had come with the Head Girl badge, and Ginny's had come with Quidditch Captain and Prefect badges. While she was excited about being Head Girl she was also nervous. The Head Boy and Head Girl always worked closely together throughout the school year, and her letter had also informed her that the Head Boy would be none other than Draco Malfoy.