I stared at the vast lands of green racing by, as I sat on the red velvet seat; I sat on 8 years ago. The Hogwarts express was taking me back to the place I grew up, the place which changed my life, the place which reminds of me of that fatal night, the night which changed everyone. The first time I sat on this train I was young and naïve and so utterly excited about being a witch, I can't believe how much things have changed.

I glance ahead at my best friends, Ron's bright ginger hair bouncing upon his head, how young and childlike it may seem, yet once you take a look into his eyes you see the pain and the vulnerability of a boy who just lost his brother, a boy who has finally given up. Something inside me aches for him, it makes me want to hold him in my arms, stroke his hair and make him forget. Yet things have changed.

I feel the warm gesture of Harry as he squeezes my hand; there is a sense of knowing in his green eyes, he knows how much I want to help Ron, how much I want Ron back to normal. Once Harry defeated Voldemort you expected everything to be all right, one great big happy ending like in the story books, good conquers evil. But even though good conquered evil you can never really get over it, it stays with you like a shadow haunting your every move never really letting you escape.

The train finally decided to pull up at the station and the rustling of students began to come alive as Hogwarts was only a short boat trip away. I stepped off the train to see Hagrids familiar warm face staring down at us, he seems tired and warn out, the bags under his eyes displaying the many nights of lost sleep. "Are ye' coming or are ye' just gunna stand there?" Hagrids hoarse voice boomed around the station.

Coming back to Hogwarts was like finally coming home. The familiar smells of the trees from the forbidden forest, the old damp smell which once I found disturbing is now like a comfort blanket welcoming me in. Yet something happened to Hogwarts just like it happened to us, there was left over rubble in places, windows which hadn't yet been replaced all a reminder of that incurable night.

Me and my two best friends stepped up facing the Dining hall which we shared many feasts over the years and somehow all seemed like strangers to each other. Ron turned and mutters something under his breath, he walked away up the stone steps towards Gryffindor tower.

"Where are you going, aren't you coming to the feast?" I demanded.

Ron stared at me his eyes nearly filling with tears.

"Feast! Yeah lets all just celebrate and eat on the spot where students and friends were laying dead just weeks ago! Pretend none of this happened and we're all just one big happy family!"

"Ron, please you can't let this change you" I say barely audible.

He stares and turns to walk up the stairs; I feel student's eyes bearing into my back as I run after the boy I once wanted everything with.

"Ron.., Ron, wait please, if you let this change you then he won!" I shout with tears filling my eyes as Ron turns to stare back at me.

"Well, he won" he whispers coldly as the fury filled his eyes. Leaving me standing there alone at the bottom of the steps staring at his Ginger head disappearing up the staircase, everything in me wants to run after him, fix that broken boy which I love so dearly and stop him hurting, yet all I can do Is stand their watching him walk away.

I walk over to Harry, whose face is filled with concern as the whispers of first year's echoes around us.

"Come on, let's get something to eat, he'll come back to us" he squeezes my hand in reassurance, yet I don't feel comforted just plain tired.

We all sat down at the Gryffindor table as our friends arrange themselves next to us, Ginny's Long ginger hair forming around her heart shaped face, settles herself down next to Harry, the two finally got together properly after the battle and seem happy enough, oh how I longed for what they have. Opposite, Neville was smiling warmly at Luna who is walking past to the Ravenclaw table staring absently at the ceiling, as their comforting faces begin to make me feel safe I start to relax as our new Head Mistress Professor McGonagall stands as everyone is settled.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, as this new year starts I was to ask you all to please pay tribute and remember the students and friends who died here not so long ago, and let them live on in each of you and never be forgotten. As it's a New Year and a new start I would like you all to welcome our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Sylus Jones"

The Hall erupted in applause as the new teacher stood, my eyes caught his and I notice the mysterious glow of his brown eyes as he modestly sat back down, his dark short hair framing his handsome features. He was definitely too young to be a professional teacher, yet he was. Something happened then, something strange as his eyes found mine, I felt as if we were the only two people in the world, I forgot about Ron and the grief that has swallowed him; I let myself disappear in his eyes. Only the voice of Harry in my ear resurfaced me.

"Hermione..?" I suddenly shook myself and stared back at Harry his face full of curiosity.

"Sorry, I zoned out" I say rather unconvincingly as my face burned red.

The First years went through there sorting and we all carried on with the feast, now and then I glanced back at Sylus Jones and got the most overwhelming sensation of excitement as the night drew in and by the time I was in bed I was eager to go to my first lesson with Professor Jones tomorrow, yet for some reason I don't think it was the subject I was excited for.