Chapter One
Hermione sat comfortably in the compartment with her book open in her lap and her eyes focusing on the parents waving goodbye to their children as everyone boarded the train. First years had stopped a few times with wide eyes at her, knowing immediately who she was. They had even clapped the minute Hermione had walked through the brick wall. Although she knew it would have been worse if Harry and Ron were with her. She was never really one for the attention, she prefered the shadows in all honesty but being friends with the boy who lived didn't really provide her with that throughout the years, so part of her was relieved that she was going back alone but of course she still missed them.
"It's strange being back, don't you think?" Ginny asked taking her seat opposite Hermione. Her red hair lay in curls over her shoulder as her pale face exposed a few more freckles.
"Certainly." Hermione replied. Although, it wasn't so much weird as frightful. She was heading back to the one place that threaten her life over and over but inside, she felt like it was the only way to really heal. She was tired of the dreams she was having, tired of being shook awake by Ron and having late night chats with Harry over the people she wished she had saved. Deep down, Hermione believed going back, finishing her year and keeping her mind from the gutter would help her. She was always one to face her demons head on.
"I saw Neville and Luna but...I don't think their together." Hermione stared at her best friend with a look of wonder. Had Neville spoken to Luna during the war about his feelings? "And I heard Malfoy's coming back too. Haven't seen him though." Hermione's thoughts flashed back to that night in his manor. The pain she felt as his favourite insult was carved into her arm and for a second, Hermione thought she could feel the burning tare of her skin as she fought back the tears allowing Ginny to continue. "His father's court hearing is very soon. I heard he's living with friends of the family, his mother taking the charges pretty harshly. Most of the Slytherin's look...lost."
"Things were bound to change." Was all Hermione could muster to say as she forced her eyes down to her book.
She hadn't prepared herself for the sight of Malfoy. Part of her believed he wouldn't come back, not with the reputation he has. But now that she knows, she wasn't sure how she could take seeing him, knowing he heard her wither in pain on the floor of his home.
But there would be many reminders.
Not long after the train had left, had Neville and Luna joined them with a few other student's all already changed into their robes. Hermione had left for a few minutes to change, her robes easily pulled on. Her skirt reaching a little above her knee with black tights and her white shirt with the red and gold stripped tie. She tucked her wand into the pocket of her robes as she tied her straightened brown hair up and walked out back towards her compartment only to find a note on her seat.
Malfoy stared out the window, a black suit and his blond hair freely washing across his ice grey eyes.
Blaise sat in silence opposite him, twirling his wand between his fingers as he counted the time away. The Slytherin compartment wasn't the same anymore. Everyone mostly sat in silence with their heads forced into a book or the eyes replaying the last year.
Malfoy however, wasn't doing any of those. He sat there wondering how things would change this year. He had already been told the plans of him as Headboy and the change that was in his hands, now all he had to do was carry it all out. A part of him worried how the other Slytherin's would take the new rules that he would be forced to enforce. Not that it bothered him. Not much bothered him these days. He couldn't really feel much, he wouldn't allow himself too.
He knew the mistakes he made, he knew the people he owed his life too but he believed there was no second chance.
"Draco?" Looking up at the slightly timid voice sounding next to him, Malfoy narrowed his eyes towards Pansy. She cringed a little taking a step back and adverting her gaze to the ground. "Granger's outside." Pansy walked to the back of the compartment, nothing else said as Malfoy sat confused before standing and opening the door to see Hermione weakly standing there with her head hung low and her eyes fixed on the spot on the floor.
"Granger?" He muttered tucking his hands into the pockets of his trousers.
Hermione didn't lock gazes with him, she didn't think she could without feeling the past.
"I was told to come here. A note?" Hermione held the note out for Malfoy to take but he simply shook his head.
"McGonagall didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Hermione questioned, allowing her hand to fall back to her side as she took a deep breath, straightened her posture and forced her eyes to lock onto his, a cold stern look that almost matched Malfoy's. The difference was that Malfoy's stern look had changed slightly. Now he held no disgust.
"You've been elected Head Girl." Hermione's eyebrows shoot up, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Oh..." She breathed, feeling his intense glare burn holes in her face. "So why would-"
"I don't know Granger." Malfoy said sharply cutting her off but when he stared straight back at him, his eyes fell to the floor as he gave a quick nod and walked away leaving Hermione in a state of confusion. Had Malfoy looked away from her without a fight? Without a sly remark or look of annoyance at her existence? Had he managed a civil conversation? She walked back to her compartment and sat back down after telling Ginny the news. A few congratulations were given before the topic changed and Hermione's mind wandered back to Malfoy. His skin pale white, dark circles under his eyes and a look of distance in his eyes. Hermione could hide her trauma, her pain to a great extent but she never expected Malfoy to struggle to hide.
Yet she wasn't sure if he wanted to hide.
She wasn't sure of much when it came to Malfoy but she wasn't in any rush to have another chat with him. It was hard enough back there and it had no reward. Looking at him still hurt and Hermione couldn't help but let hand rest on her arm protectively knowing the scars that should be there, knowing the label that was cut deep in her flesh.
It was then that she missed Harry, that she missed Ron. The two people that could make her laugh no matter what.
But she closed her eyes and took a deep breath knowing this was for her, knowing she needed time apart to find herself, so when the train came to a stop, Hermione dragged her trunk out and followed the crowd towards the Castle she risked her life to save and stared up at the building without fire.
I'm here...I'm back...again.
