Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. J.K. Rowling does. I just created the Fan-Fiction....
Chapter One
A Surprising Start At Hogwarts
"Bye Mum! Bye Dad!" said Hermione.
She was standing, about to go though the 9 3/4's barrier to Hogwarts. One year had passed since Lord Voldemort had died, and Hermione, still thought that education counted.
Like that would ever change.
Unfortunately, Harry and Ron refused to go back to Hogwart's to remake up their 7th year, no matter how much Hermione begged them. Apparently they thought there were better things than school. Hermione still didn't understand why they thought so.
"Bye dear. Have everything packed? Everything checked? Have you read up for the summer?" Jane Granger quizzed.
Hermione nodded.
"Mum, I'm almost 18! You don't need to worry about me!" Hermione said, exasperated.
"I know, I know...But my little pumpkin is going off and starting her future. In one year you'll probably have a job and move out...And dare I say it, be married?" There was a twinkle in Mrs. Granger's eyes when she said it.
Hermione groaned. Her mother didn't believe that Ron and her had broken up. Sure, they did kiss at the Second Wizarding War and go out on a couple of dates, but that was it. Things were tense and boring when they did go out, and soon they realized they were much happier being friends. Hermione wanted a bigger future than Ron, seeing all he did was work at Weasley Wizard Wheezes. George needed help at the store, since Fred's death, and also needed help being put together. George was very shaken up after Fred died. He couldn't sleep for weeks on end.
Hermione tried to shake off the thought of Fred and looked at her mother.
"Mum. Please! You know Ron and I aren't together anymore! It just wasn't meant to be!"
"But-"
"Honey, let it go. Hermione is almost 18, and she has the right to say who she's with. I just hope it's no one..."
"Richard! Are you saying you don't want Hermy to get married and have kids?"
Hermione sighed. She turned back to her luggage, and she petted Crookshanks, and checked the time.
It was 10 to 11. She needed to hurry. She turned to her rambling parents and poked in.
"Mum, Dad, I need to go!"
Jane and Richard Granger turned to their daughter.
"Okay dear. So you have everything right? Wand? Cloaks? Robes? Books? Clothes? Quills? Crookshanks?" Said Mrs. Granger, looking toward the fiery, orange cat. Jane hadn't really liked her, but she put up with her. For Hermione's sake. She loved that cat.
Why couldn't she love a man like that?
Mrs. Granger sighed and looked at her daughter. She was sure pretty enough...And smart. Interesting....What else could you ask for?
"MUM! The train! 5 minutes!"
"Sorry! Okay, it looks like you're all set. Write home every week OK?"
"Mum, I'm 17."
"You'll write, right dear?" Jane asked, a bit worried. Luckily, before Hermione told them she was going to go back to Hogwarts, she whiped their memory clear of how the Second Wizarding War took place at Hogwarts. Sadly, somehow her mother seemed to remember Ron and Hermione's kiss...
"Yes, mum, I'll write every week." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Okay, off you go!"
Hermione kissed her parents, and took her trolley, and started running toward the barrier to the Hogwart's Express. A second later, she was in a different station. Children from ages 11-17 running around, flicking their wands, looking excited, and saying bye to their parents.
Hermione sighed again. She was alone. Harry and Ron hadn't come back. But luckily, Ginny was here. She was in her 7th year! So was Luna! Keeping the thought, she traveled along, and carried her luggage onto the train. She walked into an empty compartment, and closed the door. A second later, the door slid open.
"Hermione? Hey!" a red-haired girl ran into the compartment, followed by a dreamy looking Luna LoveGood.
"Ginny! Luna! Hi!" Hermione jumped up to hug them both.
"Harry told me you were going back to finish up school. Should of known before..."
"Hello Hermione! How are you? Did you hear? Me and my dad saw a Crumple-Horned Snorkack this summer!" squeaked Luna, in a high-dreamy sounding voice.
Hermione doubted that Luna had really seen a Crumple-Horned Snorkack but she was used to Luna and her wild thoughts.
"So, how was your summer?" Asking Ginny and Luna.
"Okay. Percy is back in our lives, it's a bit annoying though. When ever we see him, he would tell us he's sorry. A million times. I'm not kidding. Sooner or later, I'm going to blow up his head or something. I don't care if I go to Azkaban doing it."
They all laughed, and like the first time Luna and Hermione met, Luna laughed insanely and a bit too loud. Hermione and Ginny glanced at her, and looked at each other, bursting in laughter.
"How's George?"
"Okay. He's still really depressed. Not to mention Mum. She won't come out of her room nowadays. My dad is doing a bit better. Ron isn't as bad as everyone else but Percy is...going insane. He thinks it's his fault that....Well you know."
"I'm-" Hermione was about to saw she was sorry, but suddenly they were interrupted by the door banging open.
They all looked startled. But it turned out to be the Candy Trolley, asking if they wanted anything from the carts.
Ginny and Hermione jumped to their feet, both thankful for the excuse to stop the subject. Luna just stayed in place, pulling out a box of what looked like, Sugar Quills.
"None for me, Thanks." Luna piped up.
Ginny and Hermione returned to their seats, hand's full with Chocolate Frogs, Every Flavor Beans, Licorice Wands, and much more. The door was about to close when Hermione saw something surprising in the hallway.
Draco Malfoy.
The Draco Malfoy.
DRACO MALFOY.
She gaped. He looked over, flushed, quickly looked away, and walked out of sight. Hermione looked at Ginny. Who had seemed not to notice Draco.
"Did you see...?" Hermione asked quickly.
"See what, Hermione?" responded Ginny, not looking up from her sweets that were in her lap.
"Malfoy!" Hermione said, rather loud.
"What? What do you mean, Malfoy?" Ginny looked up at her.
"He's here!"
"Here? HERE?" Ginny looked alarmed and amazed.
Hermione nodded.
"What's he doing here? I wouldn't think he would be allowed! Being a Death Eater!"
"But that was in the past, wasn't it?" said Luna.
Hermione and Ginny looked over at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater in the past. He may have changed. Maybe he's changed his ways."
Ginny snorted.
"I highly doubt it. Malfoy would never change."
Hermione was speechless. She thought about it.
Draco Malfoy. The same Malfoy who had let her be tortured, who confirmed her identity, and insulted her, Change? She was with Ginny. She didn't think that Draco could ever change.
She decided to change the topic.
"So, how are you and Harry doing, Ginny?" Ginny's eyes switched from Luna to Hermione. She smiled.
"Good. We just had a date last week, at the Harpy Beach. It was beautiful!"
Ginny then turned to Luna.
"Harry told me he talked to Neville last week...He told me something a bit interesting.." said Ginny, her eyes glittering dangerously.
Luna blushed. It was the first time they had ever saw her do so.
"Are you dating him?"
Luna turned even more red. She nodded. She seemed like she was worried what they would say.
"We'll have to double-date sometime!"
Luna looked relieved and doubtful.
Ginny looked at Hermione.
"What about you?"
Ginny knew about Hermione and Ron, and it being over. Yes, Ginny was a bit sad, but she still understood.
"Me? No one."
Ginny face looked a bit disappointed.
"Hmm...What time is it? I'm hungry. Are you?"
She bit into a chocolate frog.
"Uhh...Sure."
Luna took out a Sugar Quill, still red in the face.
Hermione popped a Bean inside her mouth.
Yuck. Sardine. She stuck her tongue out. But then swallowed it.
She tried another. Almond. Better.
Hours passed by, and the girls talked on and on. When they looked outside, they discovered it was nightfall. They quickly put on their Robes and packed their luggage.
Minutes later, they came into view of Hogwarts.
Hermione sifted a gasp. It looked completely different. The Whomping Willow tree was still there, and so was a castle, but it was different. The grounds looked newer. Re-modeled. So was the castle.
"Hmm...Looks nice, doesn't it?" Ginny said.
Hermione nodded. But she missed the old Hogwarts.
About 20 minutes later, they walked in the halls of Hogwarts. They put their bags down, and walked into the Great Hall.
Hermione and Ginny saw Hagrid, and they started to run to hug him.
"Hi Hermione. Should of known yeh be comin' back ter Hogwarts."
Hagrid smiled. Hermione blushed. Ginny grinned.
"Hi Hagrid!"
"Hi Ginny. How was yer summar?"
"OK, my dad didn't want me to go back here though."
Hagrid nodded.
"I understand. Lot o' things bin happenin' since last year."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Well, obviously, everyone is still scared. They aren't a hundred percent sure Voldemort is gone, and everyone is shaken up. Including the Ministry." interjected Luna.
Hagrid blinked a couple of times when Luna said 'Voldemort'.
"That's right, Luna. Everyone's still scared something might happen again. Including, You-Know-Who comin' back."
"But Voldemort has died! What else could happen?"
"Nothin' that bad. But people still don't know if he's really gone."
"But we were there! We saw him die!" Hermione argued.
"But they don' know that, Hermione! He disappeared once when Harry got 'is scar, an' they're afraid it might happin again."
Hermione was about to protest, using the Horcruxes and evidence, but no one knew about that except for her, Ron and Harry.
"But-"
"Yer guys should go sit down. It's startin'."
They said bye, and hurried to their House Tables.
A stern-looking Professor McGonagall stood up and walked to the podium.
"Hello witches and wizards. I hope you all had a nice summer. I want to welcome returning students," Her eyes glinting toward Hermione, "And our first years. Now, I want to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Art's teacher, Professor Winchell. I hope you will all welcome her with great generosity. Now! Let the Sorting begin. As most of you know, the Sorting Hat was hurt last year, but he has agreed to come back for the job."
She gestured to a chair and a Hat on it. As it began to sing, Hermione glanced at the teachers in the chairs. She saw Professor Slughorn, Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick...but Hermione looked for a new face. She found it. There was a young pale witch sitting at the end of the row. She had short brown hair, that fell around her face. She had piercing hazel eyes, her eyes were hard, but her face was kind. Hermione hoped she was a good teacher, the only woman D.A.D.A teacher she had was Umbridge. And we all know how that went.
When Hermione focused back on the Sorting Hat, it had finished his song and Professor McGonagall began to read First Year's names.
"Aron, Taylor!"
A short, blond haired girl walked up to the hat. She put it on. A few seconds later, it shouted
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Taylor Aron jumped off the chair, looking a bit happy, and walked to the Hufflepuff table.
"Canning, Gabrielle!"
A brown haired girl walked up to the chair.
"RAVENCLAW!" the Hat screamed.
Hermione wondered if it ever lost it's voice.
Ten Minutes later, the Sorting had ended, and the food had appeared.
Hermione pilled on some steak, and turned to Ginny.
Ginny said something before Hermione could utter a word.
"You think that the Wizarding War is still scared after everything?"
"Yeah, I mean, people thought Voldemort was dead but then he came back through the Hor-, I mean, well, he came back didn't he? And now they think that he could still come back. Even if he did die trying to kill Harry."
"I suppose so, but there isn't anything to be scared of..."
"I know..."
They turned back to eating and didn't talk for a while. Then all of a sudden, the short, blond girl walked up to Hermione. She seemed nervous.
"H-Hi! Um...Could you, um, Can I-I have your autograph?" she asked Hermione. Hermione was surprised.
Ginny turned and grinned at the girl, (Who had turned completely red and turned away) and then at Hermione.
"It's OK if you don't want to....I guess you get annoyed by all the people asking you-"
"Of course Hermione will sign! Won't you, Hermione?" Ginny turned to the girl, and to Hermione.
Hermione couldn't seem to utter a word. Then she spoke up.
"Uh, sure."
Hermione took the piece of paper and the quill in the little girl's hand, and signed it. Hermione frowned afterward, she didn't like her signature.
"Oh well, I hope that will do, it's a bit messy though." Hermione handed it back to the girl, and she looked like Christmas had come early. (The little blond girl I mean)
"Er, What's your name?" Hermione asked. The girl looked surprised.
"Taylor! Taylor Aron. I'm a first-year, just got here, and a Hufflepuff. Thanks! I can't believe it......" Taylor walked off, still muttering words to herself.
Ginny and Hermione stared at each other.
"Well that was odd...." Hermione blurted out.
"No it isn't! You're on the Chocolate Frog cards, Hermione! You're the greatest witch of our generation! Come on! You're FAMOUS!" Ginny almost yelled.
Hermione turned red. She was about to lash back to Ginny about how she wasn't famous, but she was interrupted by the loud, booming voice of Professor McGonagall.
"Hello! Well, I want to tell you that the Forest this year, is again off limits. The Quidditch tryout's will be posted by the Quidditch Captains. And this year, the captains will be...."
"For Gryffindor......Ginny Weasley!" Hermione and Ginny yelled for joy, as did a few more people, including Luna. They yelled so loud that they didn't pay attention to the names for Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, but Hermione and Ginny stopped when they heard one particular name. The Slytherin Quidditch Captain.
Draco Malfoy.
Author's Note: Umm...sorry about before..... I posted it. But my friend said something was wrong, so I deleted it and posted it again. I'll post Chapter 2 soon, I promise!