Chapter One: First Day of School
"Honestly, Ronald, must you chew with your mouth open all the time?" Hermione Granger complained as she glared at her fellow boxcar companion in irritation. "It's no wonder we never got around to having sex when all you can think about is your stomach."
"Well, if you'd have been a bit less frigid we might have done," Ron pointed out around his mouthful of food. "And Harry, would you please stop making eyes at my sister, mate?"
"They're still dating," Hermione pointed out sharply, and Ron rolled his eyes and turned away from her, grabbing another biscuit to chew loudly as he put his feet up on the seat.
"Oh!" Hermione growled, but then Neville Longbottom stepped into their car and she perked up. "Neville, you're back again this year? Why didn't you graduate last year?"
"None of us did," he explained. "Every one of the seventh years from last year has to come back for a month long course to prepare for testing, and then we'll be graduating just before Halloween. McGonagall's implementing a special program just for us."
"Well, it's good to see you," she told him with a genuine smile. "How was your time off school this summer?"
"I kept pretty busy this summer," he told her. "I just started an internship at the Magical Plant Nursery, and they've given me the month off to finish up my schooling. Once I have my diploma they're going to pay for me to go to the college in Bath, where I can learn everything there is to know about plant pharmacology. It's going to be wicked."
"Wow, that is so great for you, Neville," she said. "Me, I have to be here all year, but who knows what I'll do when I've finished. Maybe Auror training, or even a job at the Ministry. With my status as a war hero, I should be able to land something really nice."
"Well, good luck, Hermione," Neville said. "I've got to get back to my car before Luna starts to wonder what happened to me."
"Oh, poor Luna," Hermione said. "How is she holding up without her father?"
"She's been running the Quibbler all by herself these days," he said. "It's not a lot of money, but at least it's enough to keep things going. I guess she's thinking about selling the old house and getting something a bit more manageable."
"And has she invited you to share the new home with her just yet?"
"No, we're taking things slow," he said with a sigh. "Is that girl talk for not sure if she wants me or not?"
"With Luna, it's hard to tell," Hermione said with a grimace. "Anyway, tell her I said hello, and I'll see you two later."
"Will do," Neville agreed as he headed down the narrow hall.
Hermione smiled as she watched him go. It seemed so strange to see all her classmates planning for their futures as adults, leaving behind their childhoods. She would soon have to do so as well, she knew, but at least she still had the greater part of a year before she had to worry.
It was late in the afternoon when they finally reached Hogsmeade station. Hermione watched fondly as the first years climbed out of the train and into the waiting boats that would take them to the castle without going through town. Though it had always seemed silly that only the upperclassmen could ride to school in the carriages, she found herself looking upon the tradition of taking the boats with a fond memory of her first years at Hogwarts.
Luna and Neville stood petting the Thestrals that were attached to the carriage that they were about to board along with about ten others, including Harry, Ron and herself. Hermione had only learned to see the horse-like creatures more recently, since she'd witnessed the carnage and death that happened in May. She'd fought at the Battle of Hogwarts alongside her friends, and saw many of them die. She had heard that the castle was now fully restored to its former glory in large part by the funding and actual time put in by Lucius Malfoy in restitution for his crimes.
She herself would have sent the man straight back to Azkaban, but apparently even though the Ministry would no longer allow him to work within their hallowed walls, they had granted him a stay of sentence in exchange for his service and support. It must all boil down to the fact that he had money, she figured, otherwise he'd be kissing Dementors right this minute.
As they all climbed into the carriage, Dean Thomas said, "It's good to see you again Harry, Ron, Hermione. You too, Ginny."
Harry replied, "Yes, hello Dean. So you're back for that one month program I've been hearing about as well, I take it?"
"Yeah," he said. "I'm really glad they're not going to make us take the entire year over again after all the hell Snape put us through under his regime. I just hope I'm able to pass the tests so I don't have to be here any longer. I've got plans to travel about Europe after I'm done here."
"It must be nice to know you've a nice, cushy job waiting when you get back, Dean," Ginny commented with a wry grin. "I want to try out for a Quidditch team myself when my year is up. Harry says he won't mind if I want to play professionally, as long as it doesn't interfere with the wedding plans."
"You two have wedding plans already?" Dean asked with a wrinkle of his nose. "I don't plan to get married for at least another five years."
"Well, that's probably because you don't have anyone you want to get married to," Harry pointed out. "It's a lot easier to say you're going to wait when there's no one to wait for."
"I did have my eye on one or two prospects," he admitted with a grin. "I just haven't quite got the list narrowed down yet."
"That figures," Ginny scoffed good-naturedly, and Dean laughed with her.
"Wow, look at that," Hermione gasped. "The place looks brand new again, doesn't it?"
"Hogwarts has never looked that good," Harry said. "I hear tell they replaced some of the stone with actual quartz crystals. It's supposed to help conduct the magic better."
"It'll be interesting to see if it works," Hermione answered. "If nothing else, it looks great."
"I can't wait to see the inside!" Ginny practically sang. "They had to rebuild Gryffindor tower completely. It has bigger bedrooms and everything."
"Looks like they built Slytherin a tower as well," Hermione commented dryly as the tower came into view. "Why am I not surprised?"