A/N: Hey guys! This has been an idea that i have been playing around with for a while,Im not too sure on how long this story will be going on for or even if I will continue this at all, but I have a rough idea on how I want this fic to turn out so that's a good thing I guess?

But anyway here the first chapter,if your could leave a review, that would be great, constructive criticism is always welcome. Enjoy!-

Taking a deep breath, Hermione stepped aboard the Hogwarts Express for what, she knew, would be the final time.

Setting off at a quick pace down the corridor, Hermione glanced quickly at each compartment to find a suitable seat. After all, this would only be the second time she were to board the Hogwarts express without Harry or Ron. The first time she sat without them was in second year, where Harry and Ron had both missed the train, leaving Hermione sitting in a compartment with a very shy girl called Florence, who owned an extremely ugly Rat called Sid, whose fur that was a peculiar shade of yellow.

However, this time around she wasn't having much luck in finding a nearly empty or, better yet, completely empty compartment. Most of them were filled with 3-4 people minimum, any other year Hermione would have compromised and sat in any seat however after the war, Hermione, Harry and Ron were receiving quite a lot of unwanted attention, and she hated it.

While Hermione had decided she wanted to go back to Hogwarts to complete the year she had missed, the boys had accepted an invitation from Kingsley to take part in an auror training course. Kingsley had, of course, offered Hermione a place alongside Harry and Ron, but she had kindly refused as she would rather have a quieter year at Hogwarts. The morning after declining Kingsley's offer Hermione received an owl from professor McGonagall, informing her that as she has chosen to return to Hogwarts she has been selected as head girl if she would like the position. Replying to the new headmistress immediately she kindly accepted the offer. Neville,Ginny and Luna were also returning to Hogwarts this year, however they were to be starting the term a month later than everyone else. This meant that Hermione was subsequently alone at Hogwarts for four weeks.

Just as she was reaching the back end of the train she had stopped an empty compartment that was much smaller than the rest. Realising this was probably the only compartment not filled with people who were dying to ask her as much as they could about the war, or just stare at her for the entirety of the train journey this was her only option.

But as Hermione started sliding glass door open she suddenly noticed a head of unmistakeable platinum blonde hair facing out of the window. A feeling of nausea overwhelmed Hermione as she soon realised that she had let out a noised that seemed to be a cross between a whimper and a gasp, causing the cold stormy grey eyes of Draco Malfoy to lock onto her own

Hearing the final shouts of the conductor and the sounds of the train whistle signalling leaving time, she soon realised this was her one and only option for a seat. Taking a deep shuddering breath and trying to summon her Gryffindor courage, Hermione slowly opened the compartment door, all the while Draco Malfoy was watching her with an unreadable emotion painted across his face. With the door finally open enough for Hermione to stand half way in, she yet again met the eyes of the boy that had endangered, and saved her and her best friends' lives last year.

"Th-There aren't any other seat left on the train" Hermione said, trying make her voice seem as confident as possible, however after there was no response she averted her stare to the floor.

Taking another deep breath she looked back up at the boy that had tormented her for over 6 years, deciding that she wasn't going to allow this year to be anything like the others.

" Look" Hermione said her voice filled with confidence now ,"I know you don't want to be anywhere near me and I feel the same" Draco then looked back out of the window of the train window with an audible sigh.

"But I need a seat and this is the only one not filled with people that will stare at me like I'm some sort of animal in a cage. Now, may I sit here… please" she added.

Looking back into Hermione's eyes Draco replied " Do what you want , Granger" in a monotone voice that took Hermione by surprise as whenever she had heard Malfoy speak it was always filled with some sort of emotion whether that were anger, spite or disgust it was always there, but now, his voice just sounded empty and tired.

Picking up her case Hermione slid the door open fully and stepped inside the small compartment. Shuffling slowly around to close the door, Hermione tried not to move any closer to Draco Malfoy than necessary, even if that meant making moving around far more difficult than it had to be.

When the door had finally clicked shut she tried to lift her extremely heavy trunk into the overhead compartments. In the past Harry or Ron (usually Harry) would lift her trunks for her, this ultimately proved to be a difficult task as she lacked the upper body strength that Harry and Ron had gained by playing Quidditch. After a good 5 minutes of trying Hermione felt the weight of the trunk suddenly removed from her arms by Draco, and she watched him as he lifted her trunks into the overhead. As she did so, she noticed that Malfoy wasn't looking as ill as he did for the past two year she had seen him, he had put some of his weight back on and had gained the majority of his muscle back.

Hermione was brought out of her trance by Malfoy clearing his throat, shaking her head Hermione noticed the quizzical look he was giving her. "What?" she asked in a sharper tone than she meant to use.

"You're welcome Granger" Malfoy said in a slightly sarcastic tone,

"Oh…Thank you" Hermione said feeling slightly embarrassed.

Taking a seat, she turned her attention towards her shoulder bag, Hermione decided that she may as well start to read one of the new books she had bought in Diagon alley, seeing as Malfoy would probably ignore her for the whole journey and she needed to catch up on some reading anyway.

"So," Malfoy said "Where are Potter and Weasley anyway"

Not taking her eyes off her book Hermione answered, "They decided not to come back to properly finish their education, they've decided to join an auror training team"

"But of course you decided you would come back" Draco added in a quiet voice,

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Hermione questioned, looking up to meet his eyes,

"Nothing, it's just I'm surprised you didn't choose to take one of the many jobs you've surely been offered this year"

In fact Hermione had been swarmed by the ministry over the past few months, they had offered her a job in any field she liked, but she felt as if she would have bought her way there rather than earning it if she did so. But ignoring his last comment Hermione picked up her book and began reading.

"And how are the two buffoons anyway"

Hermione looked up from her book again, sighed, and said "Harry and Ginny are properly a thing now, and Ron's fine"

"Just 'fine'" Draco said "it sounds like there's some animosity there Granger?" he added with a smirk.

"Ronald and I are perfectly fine"

"So there's no 'we' between you two?"

"What?" Hermione asked again,

"Well if you were all loved up and planning to elope and have baby Weasleys like the prophet infers, you surely would have said 'we'?" Draco asked in a sarcastic tone,

"There is not and never was a 'we' between me and Ron" Hermione said.

Even though she had had a crush on Ron for several years and even though they had kissed in the Final Battle, Ron and Hermione soon began to realise that a relationship between the two would never work out, they were far too different. But Malfoy didn't need to know that.

The pair continued to sit in silence for the remainder of the train journey, and as the train slowed to a halt Hermione stood up and brushed her robes off. As she turned around to reach for her case Draco grabbed her arm and put it down as he reached up for the case himself. Setting the case on the floor, Draco grabbed his trunk and left without saying anything to Hermione, no snide remarks on how he would have to throw his clothes out after being in such close proximity to a 'mudblood', no sneers in her face, he just left. The only evidence he had been in the compartment was the faint smell of apples and something that Hermione couldn't quite place.

Gathering her thoughts Hermione pulled her trunk down the corridor of the train towards what she hoped would be a peaceful year back at Hogwarts.