A new start
She looked around, confused. The steam from the red train clouded her vision, she couldn't see further than to her hand. She brightened in a beaming smile, when she saw her two best friends running towards her – they had all decided that they wished to return to Hogwarts. It would be wrong to stay back, not finish what they had started 7 years ago. The friends embraced, she took in the feeling of their arms around her, feeling at home again.
"Well, then, Hermione, are you ready for the N.E.W.T'S?" The red-headed boy asked her. "Not remotely. I haven't been able to study for it yet – and I have to be Head-girl this year." She groaned at the very thought. The black-haired boy, laughed. "Hermione, you used to love being able to punish students for not study." He smiled. "Well, I did – I do – but not when the Head-boy is.. Draco Malfoy." She groaned. The boys looked at her. "Well… He's not that bad, Hermione." Harry told her, smiling sheepishly. "Harry James Potter, what on earth do you mean?" "Well, he and I.. We've bonded, you know? Since the war, we've helped each other, and I think you would like him. He's changed." Harry said. The looked at the clock – only two more minutes before the train would leave. She sighed, and turned from her two best friends. "We better get on, you two. Remember to change to school robes!" She called while entering the front part of the train – were the heads would stay for the ride. She saw the blond hair before anything else – it was like it drew her in, the sunlight reflecting dimly on the strands of hair falling in his face, which were currently bend over at big book. "Are you going to stand there and look at me all day, Granger?" He drawled. She snapped out of her thoughts, and hated herself for being caught. She sat herself down in the soft seat. Her head fell back and she sighed again. "What?" he snapped, but something was off. She snapped her eyes open, and saw… A smile etched on his face, highlighting his features. "Oh, nothing… I'm just tired, that's all." She said and slumped back in the chair. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that. But, at least you can sleep when we get to our quarters. Have you heard that we have a wing for ourselves?" He asked her, making conversation. She smiled. "Yes, I've read that in the letter. But it seems nice, as long as we won't have to share a bedroom." She said, ending the conversation as she walked out. While she walked through the train to get to the trolley, she kept thinking how odd it was to have Draco Malfoy talking to her in a civilized tone. She pondered whether it was a bad joke, and decided not to make any rash judgments before she got to know the "new" Malfoy. She walked back, having 4 pumpkin pies with her, and weaved through the students in her way. When the door to the cabin opened, she had to smile. Malfoy was asleep, his feet tucked up under him, shoes of, hair a mess, and a little smile playing on his lips. She sat down 2 pumpkin pies on the table next to him, eats her own and started absentmindedly to flick through some pages of her new book: "The Dark War; The beginning and the End". "Hey, you! We're almost there, you know? Wake up." A velvet voice awoke her. She sprang up, looking into Draco Malfoys chest. "Oh, sorry. Well, I'll just need a moment." She said, flushed at the feel of his chest. She thought she heard a soft whisper "Thank you for the pies." But she shrugged it off, thinking it was her head playing tricks on her.
When they all arrived to the Castle, they smaller kids in awe, Hermione smiled and led the first-year into the great hall. She remembered her surprise and awe over the castle, and smiled at the kids. "Are you ready? Then we shall go." She said, and led them into the great hall – their faces was amazing; big eyes and open mouths as they took in the starry ceiling. They stopped when she did, and she wished them luck – some of them looked happy, gleeful, while others nearly were green, and looking like they could throw up.
The sorting went smooth, except one little boy, whom fell on his way up to the chair; it surprised Hermione to see Draco Malfoy rushing to his side, helping him up and brushing him of. He stepped back with a satisfied smirk, and turned in her direction. His smirk turned bigger, turning into a lopsided grin, and her heart faltered. Never, ever, had she seen Draco Malfoy with a genuine smile on his face – and nor had she ever imagined it to be to her. She smiled shyly back to him, blushing a deep red. They both turned up, listening to the new head-master, Stanley Mack, a young teacher from America, talk about the rules of Hogwarts.
The dinner was over, and Hermione led her first-years up the moving stairs, and ended up in front of the fat lady. "Everybody, this is the fat Lady, and she guards the Gryffindor tower. You will not give out the pass-words, and the pass-word will change on a monthly basis. For now, the pass-word is Hallows. Enjoy, and the prefects will show you around in the tower." She watched the newcomers go inside, and thought to herself that among those kids was a new Ron, Harry and herself. She smiled, and hoped not to catch them in wrongdoing. She slowly dragged her feet to her room in the Heads-department. She was tired, and her cheeks were hurting from smiling all night. She just wanted a cup of tea, and then she would sit down and read a book. But, she had in blissful oblivion forgotten whom she shared her room with, and for a moment she was startled to see Malfoy reading in front of the fireplace, in a big fluffy chair; in sweatpants. She gasped a little – to see Malfoy without his dark suits was a new experience for her. He smirked. "Have you never seen a man read, Granger? I will assure you, I will not harm the books in any way." She sniggered. He actually joked? It was weird, but she kind of enjoyed it. "Well, it's just that.. Well.. You look relaxed. I never thought I'd see the day where Draco Malfoy was relaxed – in sweatpants!" She said, while throwing herself down in the sofa beside him. "Oh! You know, normal people relax after a hard day. And normally it's in something cozy – like sweatpants." He told her, a smile playing in the corner of his mouth. "Oh, shut it, Malfoy." She said jokingly. He just smiled, and returned to his book – she kept looking at him, until she realized it probably was a bit disturbing. She shook her head, turning towards the kitchen, and while the water boiled, she couldn't stop herself thinking what had changed him. Of course, the War changed everything, but… He seemed awfully changed, and she couldn't quite place it; she wasn't sure whether she found it nice or rather odd and disturbing. She drank her tea in silence, letting her mind wander. It was not a secret she had been crushing a bit on Draco in the early years – even with the name calling, she could not stop thinking about him. But after these years, she wasn't sure anymore. He still made her heart rush, and his voice made her melt inside, but she weren't sure if it was a good thing; even though he had indeed changed. She sighed. "Hey, you… Uhm, I'm going to bed. Just so you know…" His voice was so innocent, so little – he sounded worried and a little nervous. "Well, good night, Draco. Sleep tight." She said with a smile.