Disclaimer: I own no characters or locations. They are the brain-child of J.K. Rowling. The only thing I take credit for is the plot, which I hope you enjoy.
Summary:Hermione and Draco are the new Head students, chosen to bring unity to Hogwarts. But can they do it, or are there too many obstacles in their way?
Peace and Unity, Forever.
Chapter One: A New Hogwarts.
Passing through the barrier to reach platform 9¾ and the Hogwarts Express stirs different emotions in different people, depending on who they are. For Hermione Granger, having not seen the maroon steam engine for two years, it was met with happiness and sadness. The penultimate journey she thought sadly. Taking a moment to remember all that had happened on that train she was suddenly jostled out of her memories by someone bumping into her. Regaining her balance she turned to see who had bumped into her and came face to face with non-other than Draco Malfoy. She was about to turn without saying a word to him, hoping to avoid confrontation when his voice stopped her before she could move more than a muscle.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. Guess I must be more excited about going back than I thought" he said with a shy smile. Draco's statement about going back confused Hermione more than him talking to her in the first place. Before she could ask him about his statement, he bid her goodbye and walked around her and into the crowds. Shaking her head to rid herself of confusion Hermione pressed forward into the crowds of the platform.
Depositing her trunk with the station hands Hermione stood on her toes and looked above everyone bustling heads in the hope of seeing a mop of ebony black surrounded by a see of red. Spying her target she made her way through the crowds towards Harry and the Weasleys. "Harry! Ron" she shouted when she was about a metre away. Spinning around at the sound of their names they both grinned when they saw who it was that called them and before they knew it they were both wrapped in a crushing hug by their curly haired beast friend causing the three of them to stumble due to the force at which Hermione threw herself at them. Laughing they broke their three way hug and turned to the other Weasleys', all of which had smiles on their faces at the antics of the 'Golden Trio'. Ginny came forward and embraced Hermione in a warm hug, the two girls having not seen each other for months. Before they could start talking the final boarding whistle blasted, warning everyone that the train was about to depart. Hugging and saying a quick goodbye to Molly and Arthur the four Gryffindors' boarded the train and went in search for a compartment.
"So how was Australia? Enjoy your holiday?" Harry asked Hermione. She had travelled to Australia to retrieve her parents and give them their memories back.
"It was good," she said smiling "it took awhile for me to gain their trust; it would have been weird if just went up to them and told them that I was their daughter, was a witch and that I'd changed their memories for their safety. They would have had me confined to mental institute." She told them, causing the three of them to burst into laughter at the image of Hermione in a straight jacket. Once all three had calmed down Hermione continued, "Once I regained their trust the reversal spell was easy enough. The only problem was they didn't want to leave, I mean who would want to live in Britain rather than sunny Australia. They decided to come back but they wanted me to enjoy what Australia had to offer before we left. I have to say that I would definitely go back their for a holiday." She said with a big smile on her face. "What about you two, what have you done in the last month? I know you helped rebuild Hogwarts but what about afterwards?" she asked them curiously, she hadn't been in much contact with the two while retrieving her parents, wanting to rebuild their somewhat broken relationship.
"Well after making sure Kreacher was okay, which he is by the way, I finally got round to checking out my inheritance, you know, seeing what my parents and Sirius had left me. Turn out that I have more than I thought." Harry replied with wide-eyed astonishment, as though he was only just coming to terms with what he owned. When asked what he meant Harry elaborated, "Well including my trust vault, I have five vaults altogether, each with different things inside. One has ancestral portraits since the family manor was destroyed while mum and dad were in their final year. Another has family jewels and wedding dresses which I found surprising. I guess they wanted to preserve them because of their significance. Oh, well. A third has kind of a library and from what I could make out there were personal and professional journals from different members of the family. The last one is the family fortune and it's kind of split into two sections one with the Potter fortune and the other the Black fortune. I was quite surprised about that but once the goblins explained that the Black side has everything from the family with it, it made more sense. It's there to keep the place neat and clean." Harry said with a chuckle. "The rest of my times been divided between houses. Me and Kreacher have been working to make them habitable. It's not been pleasant, but it has been fun." He told us with a happy, almost content smile.
"Ron? Ginny? What about you two, what have you been up to for the last two months?" Hermione asked the two redheads sitting opposite her.
"Well after we helped rebuild Hogwarts with Harry and the Order we started to build a new house again, couldn't exactly live in Grimmauld Place forever. Dad decided it had to be less dependant on magic and more structurally sound this time to avoid any problems. Not that there aren't loads of wards on it to protect mum and dad. Once that was done and the insides all decorated I helped George out in the joke shop, try to make it easier you know, after loosing Fred. He's been so quiet and shut off since the funeral we didn't want to risk him hurting himself in the joke shop without anyone there. It was a lot fun working with him, I managed to bring back some of the fun and laughter that's been missing. Of course I think Alicia Spinnet helped more. She's been coming in every day to check on George and see how he's doing. They even meet for lunch everyday. I hope they get together, she's really good for him and they'd make such a sweet couple." Ginny told them with a dreamy sigh escaping her lips.
"I helped Luna and her father rebuild their house when we finished ours. She actually really nice just a little odd but who isn't in our world. We've gotten to know each other a lot better over the summer and," Ron paused blushing bright red and looking down to the floor of the compartment. They were just about to push him to continue his story when he mumbled almost inaudibly "We went out to the café in the village last week. We're kind of together now." He told his friends shyly; almost as though he was afraid they would laugh at him. When none of them made any noise I slowly raised his eyes from the ground and looked at his two best friends and sister. All three had wide grins on their faces, happy that their friend had found someone he liked. Hermione was especially happy for her friend as she was worried that he would presume they were together now since there kiss before the final battle. She was relieved to see that he didn't think that and it left her free and single to do as she wished. After a little more talking Hermione and Ron departed from their compartment to attend the prefect meeting at the front of the train. They were both anxious and excited as it was this meeting that they would finally find out who the head girl and boy were for the upcoming year.
The prefects' compartment was already full when Ron and Hermione arrived, even the Slytherin prefects were there before them, which was unusual. I guess they must be anxious about who the head students are Hermione thought as she sat down in the last available seat next to Padma Patil. It wasn't long after there arrival that Professor Vector entered and called the prefects to attention.
"Now I know you are all wondering who the new head girl and boy are so I won't keep you in suspense any longer. It is Headmistress McGonagall's hope and desire that by appointing these two students as heads they will be able to work together and bring unity back to Hogwarts in this time of peace, in the hope that the past does not repeat itself." She paused and looked around the now mournful faces of the prefects. Even though it had been over two months since the final battle, those that were lost were still deeply missed and not all the emotional wounds had healed fully yet. Sighing regretfully at those that wouldn't be returning to the ancient school, Professor Vector reached into her pocket and pulled out two envelopes, on marked Head Boy and the other marked Head Girl. Clearing her throat she regained everyone's attention and began to talk again. "In here," she said holding up the envelopes, "are instructions for the head girl and boy as well as their badges. Now the head girl is Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor. Congratulations Miss Granger, you've earned it," she said smiling and handed the envelope over to a beaming Hermione, who was having a hard time trying to reign in her smile. Clearing her throat again, the Professor continued, "Now the head boy is Mr Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. A surprise to most of you I would imagine but he has the second highest grades in the year and, though it doesn't outwardly show, has a high regard and respect for the responsibilities of a prefect. Your envelope Mr Malfoy and congratulations to you as well. Now if you'll excuse me I must return to the school. I leave you in the very capable hands of Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger to explain the responsibilities to the new fifth year prefects." And with that the Professor turned on her heels and walked right out the carriage, leaving the prefects alone.
Once the professor had left Hermione and Draco stepped outside to read their letters and retrieve their badges. Once done they re-entered the compartment and dismissed the sixth and seventh year prefects, telling them that their duties hadn't changed and that they had to patrol the train periodically and stop any disrupting behaviour and help anyone that might need it. Once alone with the new fifth year prefects Hermione and Draco explained what it meant to be chosen as a prefect and what their new responsibilities and duties entailed. As soon as that was done they were sent on there way and the two heads went back to their friends to enjoy the remainder of the ride to Hogwarts.
The sorting passed uneventfully, as did the feast. It wasn't till afterwards when Headmistress McGonagall stood up at the front of the hall and began to give her first start of term speech. "Welcome to a new year and a new beginning at Hogwarts. As all of you know, over the last three years there have been many loses due to the war against blood and I hope that all survivors have learnt a valuable lesson; whether it's how to defend yourselves; or a change in opinions and beliefs," McGonagall looked pointedly at the Slytherin table as she said this, knowing that the overwhelming majority of that table fought or supported Voldemort during the war. "Now, I know that there have been many memorials for those that we've lost over the last two months, but I would like us all to take a two minute silence to remember the students and staff that have lost their lives fighting." As soon as she said this it was as though a spell had been cast over the hall; no whispers, no shuffling, nothing. Everyone present in the hall looked down to the ground – ghosts included – and remembered the happy times spent with those that were lost. Occasionally you could hear a sniffle as someone tried not to cry, wounds still fresh in everyone. At the end of two minutes the Headmistress cleared her throat and continued, "Now, there are a few new additions to the staff this year. Our new Muggle Studies teacher is Professor Miriam Bands. Our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Quinn Bonitas, an ex-Auror who is looking for a more relaxed life," McGonagall said with a small smile while a few scattered students chuckled. Once there was silence again the Headmistress continued, "And finally our new Transfiguration teacher is Professor Grady King. I would also like to announce that Professor King has kindly taken over the role as Head of Gryffindor house. I hope you all make them feel welcome." She turned to the side and clapped for the new Professors and soon the students followed suit, welcoming their new teachers. Calling everyone's attention back to herself the Headmistress completed her speech, "Finally this years Head Girl and Boy are Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor and Mr Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. First years, if you need any help or assistance and cannot find you house prefects go to these two people. Now I'm sure you're all tired after the long journey so return to your common rooms and rest up, ready to begin your lessons in the morning. Can the two head students please stay behind so you can be shown to your new accommodation. Goodnight all and welcome back." With that said everyone rose from their seat and headed to the common rooms, prefects guiding first years in front.
Standing and making their way to the front of the hall where the Headmistress was waiting for them, both Draco and Hermione were curious as to what their new homes would look like. Luckily for the both of them they didn't have long to find out. After the teacher's had congratulated them, the Headmistress led them to their new common room and dorms which were located on the sixth floor and were guarded by a portrait of the Founders of Hogwarts. They were given the password (pax) then left to discover their new home.
The heads common room was nothing special. The fire was the first thing you saw when entering, surrounded with plush armchairs and a sofa with a coffee table in the middle. The far end of the room were two staircases leading up to their own, private rooms, which they later discovered were connected by a shared bathroom. Either side of the two windows there were two bookcases, already filled with books and a tables and chairs between the two windows for maximum light, most likely for studying they both thought. They both quickly ran up to their rooms to see what they were like and when they returned to the common room there was an awkward silence between the two. When neither we able to think of anything to say to break the uncomfortable silence between them, they bid each other goodnight and retired to bed. Well this is going to be an interesting year.