One: I am most certainly back, but I won't be posting as often as I'd like to as I'm going back to school.

Two: Please don't bug me about longer chapters, it's better short so I can update more often.

Three: I hope you like this chapter! I certainly think it's better that the original.

Four: All characters and ideas belong to J.K. Rowling, only the plot and the original characters are in my possession.

CHAPTER I

HERMIONE

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

A small curled up form under her lavender covers, shifted and yawned before slapping the alarm clock off her bedside table.

'Wake up!' A voice called out from the floor below. 'We're leaving in an hour and we don't want to be late.'

'Five more minutes?' The girl under the covers asked tentatively.

The voice in the floor below let out a small chuckle. 'We set your alarm clock early for a reason, dear.'

Instead of replying to her mother, Hermione let out a long groan as she tumbled out of her bed and onto the floor.

'Ouch.' She mumbled whilst getting up and walking into her bathroom.

Hermione frowned at her unruly brown hair, it wasn't as frizzy as it was in her first year, but the way it looked in the morning was just terrifying sometimes. She brushed out her wild curls till they straightened out to curly waves. She gave a small sigh before walking back into her room and heading towards her wardrobe. She hastily slipped on the outfit she had set out the night before; a cosy blue knit sweater, a black skirt, black stockings and a pair of black oxfords. She turned to her dresser and slipped on several pieces of jewellery including the star necklace her French friend, Lucas had given her the summer before she went Horcrux hunting. After applying a minimal amount of makeup, Hermione looked at the mirror once more, and shuffled downstairs.

'Morning.' Hermione yawned, despite the fact she'd been awake for twenty minutes, she was still sleepy.

A man in his late-forties briefly looked up from his morning newspaper to see his wife set down a cup of coffee next to his toast. 'Finished packing all your things?' Hermione's father, Wendell, asked.

'Yes, Dad.' Hermione leant down and placed a small kiss on his cheek. 'I finished last night.'

'Good, good.' Wendell murmured, his eyes travelled quickly across the page, widening at each new word.

'Dad, are you hiding the Daily Prophet behind your paper again?' Hermione asked, settling into the chair across her father.

Wendell cocked his brow before setting the newspaper down with a smile. 'How did you know?'

'You're never that interested when it comes to normal muggle paper.' Hermione replied.

Her father replied with a laugh, picked up his newspaper and continued on with his reading.

'Is there anything interesting happening in the wizarding world?' Hermione's mother asked as she placed a plate of pancakes in front of Hermione.

'There's been an escape in that prison of yours.' Wendell replied through the toast he had in his mouth.

'Oh dear,' Monica Granger sighed, wiped her hands on her apron and took a seat next to her husband. 'A death eater?'

Wendell replied with a curt nod, he squinted his eyes at the paper. 'A man named Antonin Dolohov escaped Azkaban three days ago, no word on how he escaped though.'

'Dolohov?' Hermione exclaimed. 'B-but, his cell is one of the most highly secured areas in Azkaban! How is that even possi–'

'Dear, don't dwell on it. I'm sure your police will have him locked up in no time.' Monica assured Hermione.

'But –'

'No,' Monica said firmly. 'I don't want you worrying about this. We have to head out now if we don't want to be late for your train. It is your last first day.'

'Alright, Mum.' Hermione grumbled before placing her empty plate in the sink and retreating back into her bedroom to retrieve her things.

Hermione rummaged in her bedside drawer for her 10 ¾ vine wood wand and her beaded handbag. Whilst walking back to the corner of her room where she had left her trunk the night prior, a brown owl swooped in through her bedroom window and dropped a black envelope the size of a lemon square on her bed.

'Owls?' Hermione swiped the envelope off her bed and ran her fingers over the small crest that bore upon the flap. 'The LeBlanc family crest? Sophie?'

Bonjour chérie!

I don't know if you've heard the news yet, but I'll be seeing you soon!

- Sophie LeBlanc.

'What? But, Sophie has to stay at Beauxbatons for her eighth year.' Hermione frowned and tucked the letter back into the envelope. Pushing the confusing thought aside temporarily, she slipped the envelope inside her handbag. The brown owl took flight once more as Hermione proceeded with carrying her trunk downstairs.

'Need a help with that, darling?' Wendell appeared at the foot of the staircase, car keys already in hand.

'Yes, please! Thanks Dad, I didn't expect it to be this heavy.' Hermione smiled gratefully as her father took her luggage.

'Not a problem, dear.' Wendell turned swiftly and dragged the trunk out of the house and into the car.

'Come on, Mum!' Hermione called. 'We're ready to leave already.'

'J-just a second, I-I need to finish up in the kitchen,' Mrs. Granger replied. 'I'll be out in a minute.'

Hermione frowned and jumped the last few steps, her footsteps echoed as she walked into the kitchen. 'Mum? Are you okay?'

In the corner of the room, by the sink, Monica Granger was crouched over, her hands covering her face. The early morning light streamed in through the window as she wiped at her wet cheeks.

'Oh, d-dear. I didn't want you seeing me like this.' Monica hiccoughed. 'Just head out to the car, I'll meet you out there.'

Hermione left her beaded handbag by the seat she previously occupied; she rushed over to her mother and engulfed her in a huge hug. 'Mum,' Hermione whispered. 'Why are you crying?'

Her mother shook her head and just burrowed her head further into Hermione shoulder.

'Mum, what's wrong?' Hermione pleaded. 'Please tell me what's wrong.'

Monica lifted her head slowly and brushed away the strands of hair that fell in her face. 'Oh, it's silly, really.' Monica laughed shakily. 'I don't even know why I was crying about it.'

'Mum,' Hermione said. 'Tell me what's wrong.'

Monica hesitated before letting out a long sigh. 'It's just –' She closed her eyes. 'I-I lost you for a year. We've only spent a month together. I just – I just can't bear to lose you again.'

'Oh, mum. You know I had to take your memories, you could've been ki–'

'Yes, killed.' Mrs. Granger said. 'I knew of the consequences if they found us. But, I just got you back. I don't want to lose you again.'

'Oh, mum. It's just three months. I'll be seeing you again for Christmas.' Hermione assured.

'Well, yes. Bu–'

'Mum, I'll to write you every week.' Hermione laughed softly. 'I promise I'll be back for Christmas, I won't skip out. I'll be here for the whole holidays.'

'But, what about your friends?' She asked. 'They'll be expecting you for Christmas.'

'Mum, I promise I'll be here for the Christmas holidays.' Hermione smiled. 'Besides, they'll see me for the rest of the year.'

Mrs. Granger laughed softly; she brushed Hermione's hair away from her face. 'You've grown up to be such a beautiful girl, Hermione.'

'Thanks Mum,' Hermione laughed. 'But, we really need to go, or I'll miss the train.'

'Oh, dear.' Mrs. Granger said. 'How could I have been so selfish? Your father must have been waiting for so long.'

Hermione took her mother's hand, slung her beaded handbag across her chest and led her mother out to the car where her father was teasingly pointing his hand at his watch.

'We must hurry,' Wendell laughed. 'Hogwarts still needs their brightest witch for her last year, you know.'

Hermione blushed slightly and slipped into the back seat of her father's car, Wendell backed out of the driveway as soon as all the doors were shut.

'Let's have one last trip to Kings Cross Station, eh?' Mr. Granger asked.

Hermione replied with an eager nod. 10: 19, her watch read.

It takes half an hour to get to the station, and that should leave me with just enough time to find Harry and the Weasley's, she thought.

'Mum, I really must go.' Hermione said, pulling away from her mother's hug. 'The train is going to leave in less than five minutes.'

'I know, I'm sorry.' Monica Granger laughed nervously, she let go just before planting one more kiss on Hermione's forehead.

'I love you, Mum and Dad.' Hermione laughed, gave a quick hug to her father and waved them goodbye.

'We'll see you for Christmas, darling!' Monica and Wendell Granger waved their daughter goodbye as she barrelled straight into the wall in between platforms, nine and ten.

Hermione beamed as she got through the other side of the wall, the platform of 9 ¾ was empty besides the cluster of parents near the end of the train.

'This is your last chance to get on the trains! This is your last chance!' A man with a blue coat and silver buttons yelled from one of the several doors of the long black and red train. 'Good luck trying to find another way to get to Hogwarts!'

Hermione scrambled with her things and dumped them in the baggage area; she kept her beaded handbag slung across her chest as she sped past the closing doors.

After coming to three very close encounters with running first years, Hermione finally came to a stop to the last carriage of the train and began to peek through the windows of every compartment, desperately trying to find her friends.

The train had swept past the houses of London, and drove through the tracks with a field of cows and sheep for a view. The land was vast and green, few homes were settled in the area, but rows and rows of vegetables and fruits decorated the scene

At the eighth compartment, Hermione came to a stop and slid the door open. Inside sat a group of five eighth years; Luna was by the window, staring at the view of the long and vast land outside. To her right, was Neville in a very engrossed conversation with Seamus and Dean who had been sitting in the seat across, to Dean's left, was Parvati, her arms were crossed as she put in her input every now and then about the things that would be happening at school. Padma, was sitting on Neville's right and had a book settled on her lap, and was oblivious that Hermione had just entered.

'Hermione!' Neville exclaimed, shaking Luna out of her reverie. 'We didn't see you at the station, where were you?'

'Just got here, there were a lot of cars on the road when dad was driving to Kings Cross.' Hermione smiled apologetically. 'I can't stay for long, I'm positive Ginny will kill me if I don't get to their compartment anytime soon.'

'Oh, hello Hermione.' Luna smiled. 'How was your summer?'

'It was great, thank you for asking.' Hermione said while leaning against the door. 'And, yours?'

'Quite pleasant,' Luna replied. 'Dad and I spent it in that Forest you told us all about. The Forest of Dean, was it? Yes, there were plenty of magical creatures that we found there. You can read all about it in the latest Quibbler.'

'I'll remember to pick one up as soon as I can.' Hermione promised. 'Sorry to leave already, but do you guys have any idea where Ron and Harry are?'

'Down at the last compartment,' Parvati piped up. 'They practically raced down there once the doors were open.'

'Blimey, I nearly fell over on Dean when Ron pushed past us.' said Seamus, who was laughing along with Dean.

'Thanks you guys.' Hermione smiled. 'I'll see you at the castle.'

They waved Hermione goodbye as she pushed the door shut. As she turned away from the compartment door, a tall figure crashed into her body, knocking her down to the floor.

'I'm terribly sorry!' Hermione blushed; her hair had fallen in her eyes, preventing her from seeing the other victim. 'I didn't see where I was going.'

'You'd think being in a war would improve your senses, wouldn't you?' A male voice drawled.

Hermione hastily pushed her hair away from her face and glared at the blonde male that stood before her. 'You would think so wouldn't you? Especially being trained as death eater.' Hermione spat.

Draco Malfoy's face twisted into a face of pure anger. 'That's not how I am anymore. I've changed. You of all people shouldn't be the one bringing this up.'

Hermione hesitated, she shook her head slowly. 'I apologise, that was out of line.'

Malfoy's face softened, but the anger and pain in his eyes remained. 'You can't stay on the floor forever.' He extended his hand, ignoring the confused look on Hermione's face.

'Aren't you afraid of getting infected with the germs of a mudblood?' Hermione frowned, getting up from the ground herself.

'Don't call yourself that.' Malfoy shook his head slowly before walking past Hermione, towards the front of the carriage where Blaise Zabini was waiting.

Hermione watched his retreating back, slightly confused by his actions. She brushed the nonexistent dirt off her skirt and walked down the aisle, waving to the friends she had spotted through the compartment windows.

Finally reaching the end of the train, Hermione grinned as she watched Ron swipe a chocolate frog from next to Ginny.

'Ronald, stop being such a pig and give that back to Ginny.' Hermione said once she had slid the compartment door open.

'What –?'

'It's about time you got here.' Ginny said, taking back the box that Ron had just stolen.

'Sorry, traffic on the way to the station.' Hermione said, taking a seat next to Harry by the window. 'But, hello to you to Ginny.'

Ginny rolled her eyes and tossed Hermione a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. 'Good luck getting a good flavour.' She grinned.

'Ugh. You know I hate these.' Hermione groaned and threw it back. 'You can have it.'

'Your loss.' Ginny shrugged, ripping the lid off and popping a blue coloured bean in her mouth. 'Blueberry.'

'Mione!' Harry grinned and mussed Hermione's hair, earning him a glare. 'How was your summer?'

The glare melted off her face and formed into a wide grin. 'It was splendid!' Hermione said. 'I went to Paris and visited my friends.'

'The ones who go to Beauxbatons?' Ginny asked. 'What were their names again? Sophie, was it? And those other three boys?

'The very ones, I stayed at Sophie's and we saw the Eiffel Tower and went to Sorcellerie,' Hermione said. 'It's like a French version of Diagon Alley.'

'Did you get me anything?' Ginny asked tentatively.

'Of course I did,' Hermione said. 'And I got something for you two as well. But, I'll give it to you later, it's in my trunk.'

'Damn.' Ginny said, feigning disappointment.

'And how were your summers?' Hermione asked, ignoring Ginny's pleading face.

'Brilliant,' Ron said. 'When Harry came over in July, we went to the Quidditch World Cup – '

'Even better than last year!' Harry cut in.

'England made it to the finals, along with Bulgaria again,' Ginny informed, a sly smile playing on her lips. 'And, of course, Krum was there in all his glory.'

'He did the Wronski Feint and everything,' Ron smiled. 'Of course, I'm sure he would've liked to see you in the stands, though.'

'Oh, shut up.' Hermione muttered, playfully kicking Ron's shoe.

Romione, as Ginny had named them when they were together, were no longer a couple. Ron, deciding that while he still loved Hermione, his love for her was equally the same as his brotherly love for Ginny. They were far too incompatible, they argued, often resulting in silent treatments that went on for days. A month into their relationship, they mutually agreed that their friendship was too important to be held on the line just because of their relationship.

'In fact,' Harry said. 'George and I did spot a sign that said 'Marry me, not Granger!''

Hermione slightly felt a smile tug on her lips as she tried not to give in to her friends. 'Did you stay the whole summer, Harry?'

'From the end of July till the end of the summer,' Harry replied. 'Pity, you didn't stay over as well.'

'Yeah, I know,' Hermione smiled apologetically. 'I had to go over to France and tell my friends that I was still alive.'

'But, you will be coming over sometime in the Christmas holidays, right?' Ginny asked, still munching on the sweets they had bought from the trolley.

'Not this time,' Hermione said, feeling slightly guilty. 'I promised mum and dad that I would stay with them for the holidays.'

'Not even for the traditional Weasley Christmas dinner?' Ron asked, looking slightly sad.

'I can't, mum had a breakdown before I left this morning,' Hermione explained. 'She's been really sad that we hadn't been spending time together, especially of the memory swipe and my visit to Paris. She really wants to spend time as a family again.'

'Makes sense,' Harry said. 'I mean, when we did find them in Australia and regained their memories, your mum was crying the whole way back, kept on begging to see you.'

Hermione turned to window and blinked back her tears. 'Hey,' Harry nudged her softly. 'It's okay, they're back and their memories are completely restored. There's nothing to cry about.'

Hermione turned to her friends, they were each giving her reassuring smiles. Hermione returned a small smile and leaned her head against the window.

'So,' Ginny said. 'Who do you think will be our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher this year?'

And from there, the group of four teenagers dove into a conversation that varied from the subjects of school and Quidditch. As the views of the small villages on the outskirts of large valleys vanished, the green land expanded even more, reaching the horizon. The sun's light faded and the moon rose into the night sky as the cold replaced the warmth. With their bellies full of sweets and cauldron cakes, the Hogwarts castle came into the view of their windows, they rose from the seats and clutched the small belongings they held with them on the train ride.

'Thestrals.' Ginny breathed, staring at the thin winged horses with leathery wings. Ginny was not the only one who stopped to gawk at the strange creatures, nearly everyone had stopped to point and whisper to their friends, hoping they weren't going crazy.

'So, this is what they look like.' Hermione said, her eyes were sad, flashbacks of the Second Wizarding World War flooded back in. All the screams, the rubble, the blood, the tears, the deaths had clouded her mind; she had stood still despite the fact that everyone else had gotten over the shock and carried on with taking their seats on the carriages.

'Hermione?' Ron's voice brought her back to the present, and she slowly walked with the moving crowd, joining her friends in their spacious carriage.

'Are you okay?' Ginny asked, watching Hermione take a seat next to Ron towards the door of the carriage.

'Fine,' Hermione said. 'I just find it strange that I can finally see Thestrals now.'

'How is it strange?' Ginny asked.

'I don't know.' Hermione admitted with a small smile.

'Hermione Granger not knowing how to answer a question?' Ron exclaimed. 'Call the Prophet, they ought to know!'

Hermione rolled her eyes, but laughed along with her friends. All the thoughts and images of the war had exited her mind as they rode up the path to Hogwarts.

This is it, she thought, this is the last trip to the place I call my second home. No more war, no more battles, and no more Voldemort.

Yo, what do you think? Please review! Oh, if you hadn't noticed, I decided to just replace chapters instead of reposting, that way people still get the notifications.

- Frankie.