September came rapidly. Summer passed and autumn approached. Hermione always knew that returning to Hogwarts for her seventh year was imminent, that didn't mean she had to like it though. Surely, book-worm Granger, Mudblood entrepreneur and all around SWOT would love to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, wouldn't she? No, she wouldn't. Never-the-less, seventh year preparation was done and 'Hogwarts: A History' was re-read once again. Her books were stacked in neat little piles inside her trunk, wand in hand and robes neatly pressed. She was ready, but not so willing to return.
You see, Hermione Granger had not only grown tired of the constant insults and the pointless classes she was expected to take, no, she had changed. A lot. Finely realising that no matter how hard she worked in school, and what she did to stand apart, she would always be 'The brains of the Trio', always The Mudblood, Granger, 'Mione. Whatever the fuck anyone wanted to brand her with, never Hermione Granger-human-with-feelings. The war was over. Harry won, as was expected, he was the chosen one after all. Half of the Slytherin house was destroyed and lives ruined all around. But, she had no doubt in mind that hers had just begun, no amount of stress would be forced upon her this term, who would turn down Book-worm Granger for a job, no-matter how many NEWTS she received. However, like her parents had always said 'You can only try, but try your best'. What a shitty, unoriginal phrase that was.
Along with a fair amount of personality change, Hermione had undergone a rather great change in appearance. Thanks to muggle dentistry, her teeth were now perfectly straight and Hollywood white. Thanks to Ginny, her hair was charmed to be either straight or in loose curls that perfectly framed her face. Also, her features were now soft and womanly. Hermione looked good and it was about bloody time. That, along with killer curves that had somehow suddenly appeared; people were finally starting to see her as a girl. No more, 'Hermione, you're a girl right?'. Damn you Ron Weasley and your fantastic way with words.
Not only that, but, finally appreciating her feminine figure, Hermione had finally started to wear more feminine cloths and robes that not only complimented her complexion, but also flattered her figure- thank you Witch Weekly and your feminine wiles.
And now, standing in front of platform 9 ¾, she couldn't wait to show Hogwarts exactly what she had now become. Flipping her straightened hair behind her shoulders and pocketing her shrunken trunk, Hermione, with a new found grace, stepped through the wall boundary and made the first step towards her future.
As soon as her foot hit the floor, the smell of salty tears filled her nose. Since her parents were still in Australia blissfully unaware of their only daughter, all thanks to the handy little 'obliviate' spell, Hermione was all alone. Spelling her parents to forget all about her and her witchy ways had been the hardest thing she has ever had to do, but, it was also one of the most important, hurting her parents was the last thing she ever wanted to do and if it meant hurting herself to protect them, so be it. Well, perhaps Hermione wasn't all alone. Just spotting her from over the crowd, Harry and Ron pushed their way through blubbering parents and heart-sick pupils, slowly, but surely, making their way towards her.
"'Mione, I missed you!" Ron squealed pulling her in for a hug, much against her will.
"We Ron, we missed you" Harry's turn to attack her. Pulling both Ron and Hermione into a hug, since Ron simply refused to let go, trying to pry her away and all the while tugging at her hair.
"Where did the frizz go 'Mione? It's all straight and soft, what is this sorcery?" Hermione resisted the temptation to roll her eyes at the raven haired wizard in front of her, before meeting his extremely camp comment with one of her own.
"Oh, well, Gok Wan watch out, Harry Potter is out to rival your position, Merlin Harry, is a girl not allowed to change her hair style every once in a while? Oh come on, I've got a chocolate frog with my name on it-Merlin I missed you guys, but please, lay off with the touchy feely, it doesn't suit, you" Hermione caught Ron's smirk, and before it could spread any further, gave him a pointed glare, before adding , "either of you" Hermione laughed softly to herself, she might not have missed Hogwarts, but she certainly had missed these two fumbling oaths.
And it was just at that moment that Hermione noticed the platinum blonde boy hidden in the corner, grey eyes pinned to her. Creepy. But, then again, Draco Malfoy always had been. Creepy. Blonde. Always in the shadows.