"Are you sure that's everything? I don't want to leave anything that I might need." Hermione grabbed her list out of Harry's hands and looked it over, checking to make sure there was an 'x' next to every object.

"Yes I'm sure, Hermione. I wouldn't let you leave anything, although why do you need these cat toys?" Hermione looked at him like he had grown a second head.

"For Crookshanks, I don't want-" Hermione trailed off, realizing her own fault. She didn't have Crookshanks anymore. He had died while she was out with Harry, searching for horcruxes.

"Oh, right," Hermione sighed. Harry gave her a quick hug then left, claiming he was in need of a drink. She sat down on the bed. This year was going to be difficult. Sure she had more time for her studies, but who would she hang out with when she had spare time?

"'Mione, Molly is here to say good bye." Harry's voice drifted into her room awakening her from her thoughts. She rose and nearly floated down the hallway to greet Molly.

"Dear, we will all miss you, you know." She pulled Hermione into a big hug. Hermione's eyes started to water unintentionally.

"I will miss you guys too, but I am excited to go back. Besides, it's only a few months before I'll be back for Christmas." Harry walked down the hallway towards Hermione's bedroom.

"Do you know anyone else going back, that was in your year I mean?" Molly glanced and Ginny who was sitting patiently to the side, waiting to depart.

"No, I am not sure if anyone else is, I am sure there must be some people though. Anyone else who was absent because they thought it unsafe, or because they were busy with the war. Who knows? I might not be as lonely as I fear." Hermione shrugged one shoulder, hoping what she said was true.

"Yes, well, you girls must be going. Are you sure you don't need us to come see you off?" Molly asked. She gestured at Harry, Ron and herself. Ginny rolled her eyes and Hermione laughed.

"No, thank you. I think we will be alright." Molly nodded and left followed by Harry and Ron. "So," Hermione started, turning to Ginny, "do you have everything? Are you ready?"

"Yeah, it's weird to think that technically we are in the same year." Hermione nodded.

"You're right. It's kind of funny actually." The girls stood, each grabbing their own luggage and agreed to meet at platform nine and three-quarters. Hermione felt the tug of apparition and opened her eyes to the station standing tall in front of her. She looked around, making sure that no muggles had seen her odd arrival, and continued towards the platform.

She caught Ginny just outside the platform and the two witches ran through together. On the other side was the familiar site of families gathering to send their children off. The girls boarded the train right away, having already said their goodbyes at the house, and placed themselves in the first empty compartment they found. They watched through the windows as many students got on the train, watching in particular for anyone they knew.

The first anyone just happened to by none other than Draco Malfoy. He didn't seem to have family around either and carried very little luggage. When he got on the train Hermione couldn't help but hold her breath, hoping he had gone the other way. Just because Harry had saved his life during the final battle didn't mean that they were on friendly terms, they simply didn't hate each other anymore. More so it had just been a mutual avoidance.

"Do you ladies mind if I sit in here?" Malfoy's cultured voice came from the doorway, as proper and polite as usual. He stood tall and did not seem to be the least bit reluctant to sit in their compartment.

"Wouldn't you rather find one that was more suited to your taste?" Hermione asked with an edge to her voice. "Perhaps one without a mudblood and a blood traitor in it." Draco looked at her, not with disgust or anger, but sadness and perhaps a bit of regret.

"I don't care about stupid things like that, those names are the sort of things that came from a man that had my mother killed and got my father boarded up in Azkaban. Those stupid prejudices are just that, stupid. I am done with it. Now, may I please sit in this compartment?"

Hermione was shocked! He hadn't said any of his little speech with his usual sneer or smirk. Only with a wise, truthful look in his eye. She was about to comply to his request when she noticed Ginny, still looking wary of him, ask him, "Why would you want to sit in here? With us?"

"Simple, Ginny, I would rather sit with you two than a group of cackling first years." Ginny's mouth hung open at the use of her first name and Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Still a bit uncomfortable, she motioned that Malfoy could take the seat next to her and he moved quickly, probably trying to sit down before she changed her mind.

Soon the train's whistle blew, signifying that it was readying to take off and the few remaining children boarded. The three of them sat in silence as the trip began. Every now and then Hermione would look over at Malfoy as he slept. He was laid back with his legs stretched across the floor, crossed at the ankles, and his arms folded across his chest. He looked peaceful, more so than the last time Hermione had seen him, at the Ministry.

Once, while she had been observing him, and Ginny had been caught up in some muggle love story, he had shifted ever so slightly and Hermione saw his eyes open, only for a second. She blushed at being caught watching him and she could have sworn she saw a smile, a genuine smile, cross his face, but it was gone so fast that she thought she might have imagined it.

The ride, as usual, began to take its toll on Hermione and soon her eyes became heavy. Ginny had fallen asleep nearly ten minutes ago and Malfoy was awake now, reading a newspaper. She was so tired that she barely registered it was her own story he was reading. She watched, while she could, his reaction while reading it and was surprised to see that he didn't look shocked. In fact, he looked happy and that worried Hermione even more so.

When she couldn't watch anymore she closed her eyes and felt sleep begin to pull her closer. She heard rather than saw Malfoy stand and leave the compartment. He returned seconds later and Hermione felt a soft warm blanket being laid over top of her. She opened her eyes to watch as Malfoy put another one over top of Ginny and sat back down. She meant to say thank you, she really did, but she just couldn't will her mouth to open when sleep seemed so inviting.