First off, here's my disclaimer! I do not own Harry Potter, none of the characters or places are mine.

Next, I'd like to say this is my first Harry Potter fanfic so don't judge too harshly please lol. Let me know what you think by leaving a nice review. All constructive feedback is welcomed!

Third note (and I know how cliche it is), but I had a "theme song" of sorts in mind for this story. I know it was used for the opening of Pretty Little Liars, but Secret by The Pierces works so great for this story too!

Lastly, I'd like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this little story of mine! You're awesome!

Why when do our darkest deeds do we tell?
They burn in our brains, become a living hell
Because everybody tells
Everybody tells

Got a secret
Can you keep it?
Swear this one you'll save
Better lock it in your pocket
Taking this one to the grave
If I show you then I know you won't tell what I said
'Cause two can keep a secret if one of them is dead

- Secret by The Pierces

Happy reading!

Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of her age. She had proved that time and time again. From little on she had always been gifted, different some might say. As she clutched the letter from the headmistress in her hand, she was flushing with confidence in her ability. She had been chosen as Head Girl for the seventh year at Hogwarts.

It had been one of her life's achievement and for the past few weeks she had eagerly anticipated the letter that she held in her hands. A small smile played at her lips as she relaxed against her seat on the train. She tucked the note away into the folds of her robe as she watched the scenery out the window pass. She was perfectly comfortable with her solitude, she had known to expect it this year. Over the summer, Harry and Ron had been sent by the Order to search for the Horcruxes. Hermione had been ordered to keep watch over Hogwarts for signs of Death Eaters…more specifically Draco Malfoy. McGonagall had been sure that he was going to attend, and if he was there was a reason for it.

Gathering information was an important task, but she knew she was more than qualified to handle it.

Even the headmistress thought so.

She frowned at the thought of headmistress McGonagall. It sounded strange in her mind. The year was bound to be a strange one now that Dumbledore was dead. Without him to lead the school, she could imagine it being vastly different. Would McGonagall try and keep Hogwarts running similarly to the way the old Headmaster had or did she have ideas of her own, Hermione couldn't help but wonder.

She heard the door to her compartment slide open suddenly and she looked to see Ginny smiling at her. The small girl closed the door before she sat down across from Hermione. She wiped at a strand of red hair to move it out of her eyes.

"Hey, I heard the good news. Congratulations on making Head Girl, Hermione!" she exclaimed.

Hermione smiled at her, picking the features of Ron out of her freckled face. "Yeah, I can't wait."

"I wonder who the Head Boy is?" Ginny pondered.

Hermione shrugged. Honestly, she hadn't thought about it much. With McGonagall as Headmistress she expected it to be either a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw. She was sure McGonagall would've warned her if it was a Slytherin.

Ginny tilted her head to one side as she continued to speak. "Hopefully it'll be a Ravenclaw. You have to share living quarters with whoever it is after all. The last thing you'd need is for it to be with a slimy Slytherin."

Hermione nodded. "I know. I wouldn't worry about it so much, Ginny. No matter who it is, I'll be alright."

"I believe you," Ginny said blinking at her. "You're tough. That's why the Order decided for you to be here after all."

Hermione simpered at her. "Not as tough as you think."

"Missing Ron?" Ginny guessed.

"Missing Harry?" Hermione shot back.

Ginny laughed. "Good point. If I know you, you'll curl up in the library and forget all about it the first chance that you get. And if worse comes to worse, we'll go shopping on the first Hogsmeade weekend."

Hermione cringed at the thought. She knew Ginny liked to wander around, looking at clothes for hours. Hermione was more appealed by the thought of reading for endless hours to pass her time or listening to classical muggle music. Without Ron and Harry, she knew that she would also grow lonely at some point, so she was sure it was inevitable.

"And yes, you will go shopping," Ginny said, guessing her thought.

"We'll see, Ginny," Hermione said. "I'm still wondering how it's going to be…without Dumbledore, I mean."

Ginny's face pulled into a concentrated look as she looked out the window. "It's gonna be hard, I imagine. I haven't really put much thought into it. I know McGonagall will do a great job, but it won't be the same. Dumbledore was so wise, so in charge."

"Now he's gone, just like that," Hermione said with a sigh. The thought that someone as powerful of Dumbledore could be wiped out in the blink of an eye made her shiver with premonition. She hoped that Harry and Ron were safe because the time that lived in was dangerous for everyone.

"Gone but not forgotten," Ginny assured her. "At least we're almost to Hogwarts. Then we can eat and relax."

Hermione nodded in agreement, unsure of what else she could say. She was once again overcome with thoughts of grief when she pictured the elderly wizard who would no longer lead their school.

The sound of a compartment nearby slammed open with a force. Pansy ran past, tears streaking her porcelain face as raucous laughter from Malfoy and his friends followed.

Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances. In the moment, it was easy to forget that although a lot would be different, a lot would also be the same. That meant the pack of Slytherins that had targeted her, Harry, and Ron since their first year.

They were the ones that she needed to keep an eye on.

"Malfoy's up to his usual stunts," Hermione said.

"Let's just hope that with Harry and Ron not here, he doesn't bug us too much this year," Ginny said.

Hermione gave her a weird look. "Are you kidding, Ginny? It's Malfoy we're talking about."

"Yeah, he's a real arse." Ginny sighed. "Why is he even at school this year?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know, but it's definitely not a good thing. The Death Eaters probably have him here as a spy for Voldemort."

"I wouldn't be surprised, just like I won't be surprised that he'll damage as many people as he can when he's here," Ginny said glancing towards the direction that Pansy had run off to.

Hermione joined in the glance. "I wouldn't worry about Pansy too much."

Ginny was silent for a moment. "I'm not. My concern lies in the fact that I'm sure we're somewhere on his list. We're too well-known to not be," she said.

Hermione looked at her fingers in her lap. She didn't want to admit that Ginny had a point, but she did.

"I got to go to the bathroom," she said quickly. She stood up, slipping out of the compartment as she made her way down the path. She wobbled for a moment to try and keep her balance as she moved towards the restroom. On the way, she passed the Slytherin compartment and her eyes locked on Malfoy's.

His gray orbs were full of an unknown emotion as they locked onto her brown ones. Finally, he offered her a haughty smirk and she looked away. She slammed the door in the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hands clutched the sink as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her brown hair was falling around her face, and she reached up to wipe a lock of it behind her ear.

She noticed that her face seemed thinner and less healthy. Her summer had been rough. She had hoped to be better by the start of the schoolyear but she hadn't been that fortunate.

With a heavy sigh, she left the bathroom. She hurried past Malfoy's compartment and went back to her own.

Ginny turned to look at her friend. "Are you okay?"

Hermione nodded as she sat down across from her. "Just a little bit tired."

"Look at the bright side of this. You're Head Girl! You can write Malfoy up for everything stupid that him and his friends do," Ginny said just as the train began to pull to a halt.

Hermione nodded. "I'll enjoy it," she said thinking of the look in Malfoy's eyes as she stood to her feet. "Even without Harry and Ron, I plan on making Hogwarts a much better place."

Harry sighed as he looked at the tent that he had magically assembled. The night was cold, and he hoped that the flimsy material would be enough to protect them from it. He crawled back inside to look at where Ron was huddled on top of sleeping bag, holding his legs to his chest on the other side of the tent.

"Bloody good night for this," he grumbled to himself.

Harry smiled at him. "It's just for a few hours, then we move on in the morning. It'll go fast if we manage to get any sleep."

"Have we got anything to eat?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded and picked up his bag, tossing enough snacks out for both of them. Ron grabbed the nearest one and began to shove it into his face, groaning with delight at the taste. Harry began to eat one as well though his bites were much smaller and neater than his friend's. When Ron finished his first one, he tossed the wrapper to the ground and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand.

He stared at Harry for a long moment. "Do you think we did the right thing…leaving 'Mione behind?"

Harry shrugged. "I think we could've used her, but the Order was pretty clear what they wanted."

"I miss her, Harry," Ron said. "It seems so wrong to look around and not have her by our side. She's been with us through everything else, and now she's gone too."

"I miss her too, but she's stuck in Hogwarts until she finishes her task. Then maybe the Order will send her after us."

Ron sighed. "I hope so. I used to think her nagging about my eating habits were annoying, but I kind of miss it now."

Harry laughed and then the sound died. "We're doing a good thing, just remember that. It's not like we're leaving her forever, just until the time is right."

"Then why does it feel like it?" Ron asked.

Harry looked down at his hands, unsure of what to say. He had thought the same thing, but admitting it out loud seemed too much.

"It's Malfoy she's dealing with," Harry said with a shrug, "she can do it. Remember how she punched him in third year?"

Ron smiled. "Blimey, Harry, how could I forget? That's one of my fondest memories."

"She's capable of handling herself. Her and Ginny will make sure they keep Hogwarts safe until we hunt down these Horcruxes, and then maybe, just maybe we could live in peace."

Ron tilted his head to the side. "Do you really think it could be that easy?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know what to think besides the fact that we're living in tough times. All I'm saying is don't give up. We'll see Hermione again one day."

"Hopefully one day soon," Ron said as he settled himself in his sleeping bag.