Tournament of Magic

Chapter 1 Hermione

I couldn't help but feel the excitement in the air as I burst through the wall to Platform 9 ¾. First years bustled trying to place their items on the train while older students rushed to try and get the best seats, many forgetting objects that their parents still held. And in the midst of it all, I caught sight of my friends.

The Weasleys were impossible to miss with their bright red hair, and of course, the one odd head of black in the mix. Mrs. Weasley wore both a vast smile of joy and tears of sadness when I approached. Before she noticed me, I heard her saying, "Oh I can't believe it! My babies are going away for their last year! The both of you! And you too of course Harry! You are a part of the family! Oh my you're all so grown up!" I chuckled to myself, and Mrs. Weasley turned around to notice me. "Oh Hermione dear! Of course we couldn't forget you as well!" She gave me one of her firm embraces and I couldn't help the grin that engulfed my face.

"Hello everyone! You all had a happy summer I hope?" They all nodded in return.

I hadn't seen much of the lovely redheads over the summer. Ron and I had had a bit of a falling out after the end of the war. We were going to try and date, he really wanted to, but it just wasn't for me. I was much too busy with finding my parents and fixing their memories and fixing my relationship with them. And there was the matter of studying to try and catch up on the year of school I had missed.

It was finally announced in early July that all previous year seventh year students would be asked to return to Hogwarts to officially complete their education- the correct way. Everyone else would just have their previous year material combined with their current year material to catch them up, but since seventh year was supposed to be the final year, we were asked to return.

I was happy of course, but the boys had not been. Ron had tried to convince Mrs. Weasley that he was content with not finishing after all that we had gone through in the previous year, but she wouldn't have any of that conversation. He was going back if he wanted to continue to have a place at the Burrow.

And then there had been Harry. He'd been busy most of the summer with having to do interviews for the Daily Prophet the first half of the summer after the war, and then having to go to the ministry every other day to meet with Kingsley about his becoming and Auror.

Kingsley wanted him in the position, of course, but the Aurors and other ministry officials decided that Harry was not to become an Auror until he finished his schooling, officially. Their reasoning- even a hero must have an education, I can't say I disagree honestly.

The boys, Ginny, and I finally made our way from Mrs. Weasley's grasp and found our seats on the train. We waited for the train to begin pulling out before standing to wave goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Ginny smiled, "This is it, isn't it? Our final year!"

I smiled back at her and began to open my mouth when Ron rudely interrupted, "SOME of us should have already been finished had it not been for the school refusing to consider us graduated."

"Oh please Ronald. At least the three of you were gone last year. How do you think poor Neville feels, having attended school last year AND returning this year?" I nodded in agreement with Ginny as both Ron and Harry hung their heads.

"Who all do you suppose is coming back anyway?" I asked before continuing, "There were a lot in our class who never really did care much for their education. I'm sure there are a lot not returning this year."

Ron was the first to speak up, "In your eyes, none of us cared much for our education Hermione. We never studied like you. Or lived in the library for fun. Or anything of the sort."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "That doesn't mean you didn't care for your education, just not your marks in classes. I meant the ones like Crabbe and Goyle. It was obvious those two never cared!"

"Well of course not! They were too busy following Malfoy around and being his lackeys to take care of themselves."

Harry finally spoke for the first time since boarding the train, "I don't know about you all, but I for one hope Malfoy isn't returning." Each of our heads nodded in response.

Ron muttered, "Well we wounded have to worry about it if you hadn't insisted on going back for them." Ginny provoked a laugh from Harry and I as she smacked Ron on the back of his head. He rubbed it in irritation as he glared at his sister.

All too soon, our curiosity was answered as we heard a familiar voice outside the cabin, "Move it you fat oafs! We already lost our usual seats thanks to you!"

Ron opened the door, "Oh great. You ARE back Malfoy."

Malfoy sent a malicious glare back at Ron, "Of course I'm back Weasley. Unlike YOU, I have a future. In professions that require complete education. However did your parents afford to send you for an extra year anyway Weasley? Weren't the books much too expensive for them? Or were they hand-me-downs, like your robes?"

"Shut your trap Malfoy."

"Or what Weasley? You'll make me eat slugs?" A smirk spread over Malfoy's face, apparently he still remembered the incident in second year.

I then chose to speak up for my friend, "Just get out of here ferret. You want to bring up the past, I can do it too."

"Oh look! The Mudblood still hasn't learnt her place!"

"I said get out of here Malfoy." I drew my wand and pointed it at his face, "Or I'LL hex you." And unlike Ron with a broken wand, I wouldn't fail.

Malfoy's glare deepened, "You're going to be sorry this year Mudblood. You'll see."

He turned around and began to march away when I heard Ron mutter beside me, "I bet his father will hear about this." The four of us burst out into laughter.

Ginny finally spoke up, I had almost forgotten about her presence actually, and said, "This year should be interesting indeed."

Harry literally jumped out of his seat, "No! This year most certainly had better not be interesting! Every year is 'interesting', I want a break! No more Voldemort, no more horcruxes, no more Dementors, no Tri-Wizard Tournament, no more Basilisk, no more life and death!"

We all started laughing again and I nodded in agreeance, "Here's to a boring year!"