A/N: I don't own Harry Potter, that right goes to J.K. Rowling.
Rating may possibly change... not sure yet.
I let out a deep sigh as I looked toward the Hogwarts Express. "Are you sure you want to go back, you could get a job at the Ministry with Ron and I?" Harry suggested.
I have to admit, it was tempting, but I wouldn't be a war heroine forever. I needed a secure future, and the chance to know I could manage without Ron and Harry. I knew I could, I just felt like I had to prove it to myself. We had always been together and I felt like I needed this time to find out who I am without them looming over me all the time. I wanted to stay, but I also wanted and needed to go. "I'm sure," I told him assertively. "It's the right thing for me. I'll miss you though, come and visit on Hogsmeade weekends?" I asked.
"If we can get the time off training," Ron said, walking over to join us. He must have been saying goodbye to Ginny. At least I would have her, I didn't know who else in my year was returning. I checked my watch, 10:58 am. The train left at eleven on the dot each year. My trunk was already on the train luckily. "I need to go," I told them with a sad look.
"It's ok, we'll see you as soon as we can," Harry said with a slight smile. I gave them both a quick hug, Ron a kiss on the cheek and then I ran toward the train, turning around to wave. I was the last one on. I was now alone.
I walked along the train's very narrow corridor looking for Ginny. She was in the third compartment down with Luna and Neville. I smiled at the thought of at least having Neville for company this year as that meant I wouldn't be completely alone. "Mind if I join you?" I said, knowing the answer would be yes.
"There you are, for a moment I thought Harry and Ron had managed to convince you," Ginny told me.
"You should know by now that when my mind is made up, nothing can change it," I said with a laugh as I took a seat next to Neville. "Nice to see you all again," I said politely. I felt a little awkward as I hadn't spoken to Luna or Neville much since the war, as I had been in Australia or with Ron. I didn't even owl them, which made me feel like a horrible friend, probably because I was.
Ron had gone to Australia with me to help me find my parents. We'd also started dating whilst we were abroad, we were happy, I guess, and things had gotten serious very quickly. I didn't mind that though, considering that we had liked each other for a while and had been such good friends. We spoke about getting a flat together when I finished school, but part of me knew he wanted to do that sooner, in fact he had been a slight bit pushy on the matter. He needed his own space away from Molly and Arthur, since the war, Molly had been increasingly overbearing and whenever she saw us together I could see her planning our wedding in her head, which made both Ron and I feel uncomfortable – it got to the point that we would try to avoid her as much as we could by going out in the day and not returning until late at night when we knew she would be asleep. Sometimes we even crashed with the George or with Harry.
"How was your summer?" I asked them both, having known how Ginny's was already.
"Oh it was very good," Luna said in that whimsical tone of hers, "Father and I travelled to Switzerland in search of Hungled Lingarts."
"I haven't heard of them," I leant forward with interest. Over the years I had actually become quite fond of Luna and her creatures. "Tell me more."
"They are larger creatures that make themselves invisible around people, unless you have a magical connection with them."
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"It is quite simple really. Each of them can sense one witch or wizard's magical core and are only visible to them. Whilst they are around there is a boost in the magical capabilities of the witch or wizard they are 'paired' with."
"They sound fascinating, were you able to see one?"
"Oh yes," she said wistfully, "It was one of the best experiences of my life. They are quite beautiful creatures. How was your summer Neville?" she addressed the only boy in the carriage.
"It was alright I guess. I spent a lot of time in the garden, I wanted to make it look nice for when Gran was better and able to walk around again. Even with Pepper-up potions she gets worn out quickly."
"What happened?" Ginny asked.
"She had a fall at the start of the summer, that's why I didn't see anyone, I was trying to make sure Gran was ok. In fact I wanted to stay with her now, but she forced me out the house and told me not to return until Christmas. I argued with her because I didn't want her being alone when she could fall over again. Until she told me she had McGonagall checking in on her on a weekly basis and Uncle Arnie and his wife staying with her whilst I am at school."
"I hope she gets better soon," I say to him genuinely, "I'm glad to see that she still has the fire in her though," I say with a smile.
I see him smile at my quip from the corner of my eye. "After everything she has been through in her life, nothing could make her lose that fire. She says it's the one thing no one could ever take away from her."
"Your Gran seems like a great person," Luna says.
"She is, I'm lucky to have her. I mean I wish I had my parents, but I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for her. I owe her everything." I smiled at him sympathetically. The conversations continued to flow and my guilt for not speaking to them over the summer soon disappeared as they understood I was busy and so were they. There was a knock on the compartment door. "Wonder who that could be?" Ginny asked as she got up to open it. She was surprised to see who was on the other side of the door. Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy. What on earth were they doing here? I exchanged nervous glances with Neville and when I looked over to Luna she was sat there with a smile directed toward Blaise. She seemed happy – at least someone was. "Mind if we join you?" Blaise asked, looking at Luna intensely. "Sure," Luna said with a smile. It wasn't her normal smile, in fact I'd never seen Luna look so content. Was something going on between her and Zabini?
"Great," Zabini said, taking hold of Malfoy's sleeve and dragging him into the compartment. Zabini then went and sat next to Luna. Ginny took her original seat on the other side of Luna. As Neville was right next to the window, that left only one seat for Malfoy. Next to me. He stood there in the entrance of the compartment hesitating to sit next to me. I knew he didn't want to sit next to some filthy little mudblood just as much as I didn't want to sit next to a death eater. "Just sit the fuck down mate," Zabini said with a typical Slytherin sneer and a slight smirk that most people wouldn't notice. Malfoy growled in response but took the seat next to me regardless. I just hoped he didn't try to speak to me. That sounds harsh but whenever I looked at him all I could see is being tortured and how he kept glaring at Zabini. I sat there awkwardly silent for five minutes before I knew I needed to leave the compartment and get away from Malfoy. I stood up quickly, surprising everyone and stuttered out "I-I need to g-go." I walked quickly out of the compartment and a little further along the corridor, before sinking to the floor and holding my head in my hands. I breathed deeply and told myself: "You're on the train to Hogwarts, not at Malfoy Manor," repeatedly. I was trying to calm myself down. I tried to focus on getting my breathing back to normal when a deep voice interrupted me. "Granger?" Malfoy asked quietly, "Are you alright?"
I glanced up at him, my eyes watering, I hadn't even known I was crying. "I'm fine," I informed him sharply, wiping my eyes. "It doesn't look like it," he said as he sat down next to me. "I'm sorry."
"Pardon?"
"I'm sorry," he said louder. "I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?" I asked him confusedly.
"Everything." He sighed. "I'm sorry for calling you a mudblood since as long as I can remember. I'm sorry I told you I hoped you died when the Chamber of Secrets was opened. I'm sorry for being an arsehole in third year, and fourth. I'm sorry I ratted you out to Umbridge in fifth. I'm sorry I was so awful to you and everyone else in sixth. The thing I'm most sorry for though, is not helping you get away from my aunt at the manor."
"I'm so confused. Why are you apologising now?"
"You deserve my apologies and more. I will make up for everything that I have ever done to you Hermione," he said quietly. He took one last look at me before getting up and leaving me alone. Maybe I should have stayed with Harry and Ron.
Eventually, I had gathered enough of my so called Gryffindor courage to return back to the compartment. I was no less confused by Malfoy's apology but it made me feel slightly better about the year ahead, even if it meant I was confused. I hated being confused, it made me feel uneasy. I took another deep breath and opened the door to the compartment. As I walked in to take my seat I did a quick and discrete analysis. Luna was now perched on Zabini's lap, laughing happily together. Ginny was watching them with a smile whilst talking to Neville, who had moved to sit next to her. Malfoy was sat by the window, where Neville had previously sat. There was no space on the side that had Ginny, Neville, Luna and Zabini, which meant the only space available was next to Draco. Just my luck. Sure, I felt a little more at ease after he apologised but because of how unexpected it had been and I had no explanation for it, I couldn't help but feel nervous. This was going to be one long year - that's for sure.
I took a seat next to him, and I could see him tense up. He didn't seem too tense when it was just us in the hall. Though, in public he did still have his reputation to uphold. Considering this, I moved further a;,9,,way from him and even closer to the door. I sat on my hands to prevent me from biting my nails, which had recently become one of my nervous habits. I forced myself to look at the floor, so I wouldn't be tempted to look at the enigma that was sat near me. I could feel his eyes on me too, which made it harder to ignore.
I'm proud to say I managed though.
"Welcome back!" Headmistriss McGonagall announced to the students. "Let the Sorting Ceremony commence!" Professor Flitwick started reading a list of names and one by one, each first year went up to find their 'family' for the rest of their school days. There were only forty new students this year, many I guess had moved away before the war or had died during. Three went to Slytherin, two boys and one girl. Seventeen went to Ravenclaw, majority being girls. Ten each for both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. I didn't pay too much attention, I was trying my best, but it was difficult when I was aware of someone staring at my back. I hoped I would be able to avoid him this year.
"Before the feast can begin," McGonagall began, "I want to explain some differences that will be in place this year. There will be no set tables, just because you have been sorted into a house does not mean that you cannot mingle with other students. We have also decided to introduce a mentoring system, where each student will be paired with a younger student from a different house than their own, we hope that this helps extend an olive branch to encourage house unity. For the small amount of returning Eighth years, you shall have your own dormitory to share, we are hoping this will also help to encourage house unity, as you especially have experienced the effects of what can go wrong when we don't learn to get along. So could all Eighth years please remain after the feast so we can show you your new living areas."
McGinagall looked around the room at all the hungry faces. "Let the feast begin!" She announced to end her speech, as all the tables filled with food. I saw the new first year Slytherin come up to the Gryffindor table and sit with one of the first year Gryffindor boys. She was the first person to move, gutsy. I like this girl already.
The feast soon ended as many people had eaten a load of sweets on the train. "Could all prefects lead the first years back to the common room?" McGonagall instructed. Hermione didn't even bother looking to see who the prefects were, "Could all Eighth years please come to the Teacher's table?" she continued. I sighed quietly, I'd momentarily forgotten that I'd have a separate dorm from the rest of the students. Which meant, I'd be sharing a living area with Malfoy. Well, this could be interesting.
A/N: Hey Guys! Welcome to the first part of my Dramione story! I'm actually really excited to write this ngl. Anyway, this first chapter was mainly to set the scene ready for Chapter Two so please stick with it! I will say now, I have exams in January and exams for most of the year really, so updating could be a little sporadic but I don't want to abandon this story! I want to finish it. I have another account filled with started stories but none finished because I just lost interest in them, maybe it just wasn't the right story. So yeah, I hoped you guys liked it, please review and follow/favourite if you really liked it :)