Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling!

Long awaited, September first arrived. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked around Platform 9 ¾ with wistful smiles. They were going to Hogwarts, knowing that there were no more Voldemort, no more danger, no more mysteries to solve. Sadly, also, no more Colin Creevey running around with his camera, no more odd welcome speeches from Dumbledore in his brightly coloured robes, and, generally, noticeable missing students who died during the war. It would be a bittersweet experience.

Harry, Ron and Hermione shared a compartment, soon joined by Luna, Neville and Ginny.

Ron sat by the window lounging, clearly in a good mood, "Here we go again, for the last time going to Hogwarts. What do you think they will call those of us coming back? Eight's year's? I would not mind having some more privileges," Ron commented to the compartment in general.

"Well, according to Professor McGonagall, students who actually attended Hogwarts last year will have the chance to continue into the year they should be in, if they can pass an exam for the class before Halloween, if they fail they will move down to the class below. She expects everyone in the classes taught by death eaters will take that year again, but will still have the chance to take an exam. We will have to take 7th year through completely, since we did not attend school at all, but we are welcome to take extra work from the teachers if we want" Hermione quickly summaries what she knew, looking delighted with the prospect of extra work with the professors.

Ron looked horrified at the thought of the extra work, "There is another reason why Hermione and I are not dating," Ron smiled, "It was a nice dream, but I do not understand you Hermione, no offence." Ron and Hermione had quickly decided that they were not to be. As soon as they started talking about the future they had to admit that they would not fit each other's wishes.

Hermione laughed, "ohhh, do you want me to stroke your hair and making cooing noises Ronny Bunny?" She then proceeded making gagging noises. The rest of their friends laughed at the two.

"OY! I am not that bad," Ron looked mock affronted.

"What did make you decide on not being together?" Neville asked curiously.

With a straight face Hermione answered, "I cannot cook".

Ron nodded, looking serious, "Yes, it was a horrible shock to learn that! So we decided that it did not work, I need food!"

Everyone laughed again, agreeing that that topic was best left alone.

"How is it going with Percy?" Hermione asked Ron, she had been to Australia to get her parents and had not experienced the reconnection of the Weasley family. The twins were let out shortly before she left and thus the Weasley family had had time to be a family again.

Ginny and Ron exchanged a look, "well, he is certainly much better than before, but he is a bit too much" Ron said.

"How do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"He is too nice, he keeps apologising and helping everyone with everything, he seems to be desperate to be liked again. I think the shock of almost losing the twins was a heavy blow him. Bill and Charlie has been spending more time with him, I hope it will help, he is even more annoying when being too nice." He grimaced.

They all laughed, enjoying the last of the journey to Hogwarts.


Hermione could not hold back her excitement when entering the Great Hall, it was almost like her first year. She looked all around, up at the magical ceiling and to the head table where Headmistress McGonagall sat in the middle where Dumbledore used to sit. To her right sat Severus Snape, looking a little less scary than he used to, Hermione figured it must be the lack of pressure from two masters and the role of spy. To her right sat Filius Flitwick seemingly bouncing with happiness.

She sat with her friends at the Gryffindor table, only waving to Luna as she took her seat at the Ravenclaw table. After a cheerful song from the sorting hat, singing about working together and working for a bright future, Professor McGonagall stood up to begin the feast, and it was as splendid a feast as usual.

She had almost forgotten how good the food at Hogwarts tasted, and she made sure to say, "thank you, you brilliant house elves," out loud, thinking they could hear her. Ron quickly mimicked her, though with his mouth full, clearly also enjoying getting reacquainted with the feast of Hogwarts.

After the feast, McGonagall stood up to give a speech, she looked a little sad but did not look as stern as she used to.

"Welcome to our new students, welcome back to our returning students." McGonagall began, taking few seconds to look at all the students at their different house tables. "This year will be different for most of you, first let me introduce you to your new teachers. First, returning as your Potions Professor and head of Slytherin House, now fully healed, Professor Snape."

Snape stood up and nodded shortly before quickly sitting down, scowling lightly at the students in general as they clapped politely. Hermione noticed that the Slytherin students seemed to be rather divided in whether or not they clapped, and wondered if Professor Snape would be having difficulty getting his usual respect. Looking at his scowl, though, she doubted he would have any problems.

"The new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor is Professor Adley, a retired hit wizard who found retirement too boring, welcome professor," McGonagall bid the new professor. He reminded Hermione of the football coach at her old muggle school; tall, athletic and he looked kind, not how she would have imagined a hit wizard, he did not look very old, though he did have greying hair. She noticed Harry and Ron looking both excited but also apprehensive, she could understand, they did not have a good track record with their former DADA professors.

Professor Adley, stood up and gave a small smile to the students, though Hermione noticed he also scanned the room quickly, probably an occupational habit, Hermione mused.

"Professor Hooch will take over as head of Gryffindor," McGonagall continued, resulting in a huge round of applause from the Gryffindor table, and a smiling Professor Hooch. "And last but not least, Professor Figg, who will be teaching Muggle Studies." Arabella Figg received a polite applause. Harry looked shocked.

"Mrs. Figg will be teaching at Hogwarts?" he asked unbelievably.

"Well Mate, now she does not have to look after you, she is bound to want something to do, besides babysitting, you know," Ron teased, earning an annoyed look from Harry.

"We have just ended a terrible war," McGonagall continued, stopping Harry from answering. "A war which showed a divided society. We will make a few changes this year to try and change this division and we will do more next year, so if you have any ideas, be sure to inform your head of house, who will be making a list. Now, the first change will be that every wizarding raised student will be taking a muggle culture class from their first to third year, likewise all muggle raised will take a new class about wizarding culture at the same time. The wizarding culture class will be taught by Professor Babbling and the muggle culture class by professor Figg. Muggle studies will then be an elective with more focus on new technology in the muggle world, and how to use it. This will begin this year."

The students started mumbling about this new change, some sounded pleased others annoyed. Hermione was overjoyed, she would have loved such a class when she started. She looked up as McGonagall continued.

"Another change will be the seating arrangements, every Sunday evening you will all be attending dinner on time, no exceptions. You will then look at a table planner at the entrance to the Great Hall where you will see where you will be sitting. It is my intention to mix you up every Sunday, to give you a better opportunity to communicate with other students, from other houses and other years. This is non-negotiable." McGonagall stopped, probably expecting a huge uproar, but only got excited murmurs around the room.

"As long as I won't have to sit with any death eaters, I will be fine," Ron commented.

Hermione shushed him.

McGonagall continued," Lastly, before you will head to bed. It has been decided to create a memorial at the school to honour everyone who fought against the self-proclaimed Lord Voldemort," she spoke his name with confidence and strength, "This memorial will be held this Halloween, and will then be repeated every year, on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts." She then proceeded to give the usual warning about the forest and Filch's contrabands before letting them go to bed, minds buzzing with the new information.

"I like the new ideas" Hermione told Harry and Ron on their way to Gryffindor common room, all trying to ignore the stares following them, now Hermione knew what Harry always felt like. Honestly, being proclaimed a war hero and receiving the order of Merlin first class, did not mean she was suddenly a zoo animal.

"They certainly seem like they could do some good," Harry agreed, looking around the castle as they ascended the staircases. "I missed the school, it is good to be back, but it feels very different."

Hermione knew what he meant, it did feel different, not like they did not belong, just belonged in a different way.

"Maybe we are just older and more mature," Ron commented.

Harry stopped behind Ron, sending a playful glance at Hermione, who wondered what he had in mind.

"AAAAGH SPIDERS!" Harry yelled suddenly, making Ron jump, spin around and duck with his wand out, his senses still fine-tuned. Harry laughed loudly and ran ahead of Ron laughing all the way. Ron swore at him and ran after, "Oy! I will get you for that Harry," He yelled.

Hermione looked after them, smiling while Neville came up behind her looking confused, "What happened?" he asked.

"Oh, they are just staring to get back to normal, I guess it is not so different after all," Hermione answered, still smiling widely after her two best friends. Neville still looked confused but smiled as well.


The first couple of months went by without anything trying to kill Harry, Ron or Hermione. Though Ron might disagree. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Adley, had a different approach than their previous teachers. He informed them on their first day that they would have a obstacle course by the Black Lake. The obstacle course turned out to be closer to a full military version than a school version, leaving every single student out of breath and sore for several days after. Professor Adley was not impressed with their state after the course. "How did you defeat You Know Who with that terrible a physique?" He had asked them. Then he proceeded to order them to get up an hour earlier each morning to run for at least 30 minutes, threatening with detentions if they did not, as he called it, "have enough self-respect to try and hone their abilities."

Ron had grumbled about having run enough during their actual run, hunting horcruxes, but only Hermione and Harry heard. Luckily, for Ron's mood, they had been among the best in the class, Dean Thomas was the ultimate winner though, bragging about his football physique. Surprisingly, second to finish was Pansy Parkinson and then the trio led by Ron, then Harry and Hermione. Professor Adley firmly believed that you could better control your magic if you were physically active, and it was a distinct advantage to be quick to duck and roll when needed. Not even Ron could argue against that, as the 'duck and roll' had come in handy several times during the war.

Professor Adley had announced that an obstacle course would be given once a month and he would add more and more magical challenges they would either fight or defend themselves against. Harry did not know whether to be happy of the challenge or be annoyed by the similarities to the maze in his fourth year, knowing what wizards apparently though appropriate challenges for seventeen year olds.

The second obstacle course had contained Billiwigs, Hermione was sure it was for the Professor's own amusement as it was not a dark creature. Billiwigs, as Hermione would get awarded 10 point for telling afterwards, were small insects from Australia, about half an inch long and wicket fast, almost impossible to see. When stung the victims, also here known as her classmates, may experience giddiness followed by levitation. Hermione was fascinated as she watched several of her classmates giggle and then levitating above ground, it reminded her of a scene in the film "Mary Poppins". She and Ron had been able to avoid getting stung, Hermione had cast a strong shield charm as soon as she spotted the blue lights coming against her, and Ron had dug behind her. Harry had not been as lucky though, causing Ron to laugh so hard he tripped over the next obstacle. Unknowingly, letting Hermione get ahead, and winning over her two best friends, though she doubted it would always happen.

When the students complained about the Billywig, Professor Adley only smiled and commented that you never know what you might meet while fighting or escaping. Hermione rethought the image of the kind man. That smile held a little too much amusement over his struggling students, though she saw no malice in his eyes, he was enjoying himself, seeing the sore students rubbing different sore body parts.

During the first two months, the death eater trials had begun. The trials for the younger death eaters, like Draco Malfoy, had happened before school began, as they were considered too young to sit and wait for too long. Harry, Ron and Hermione had all testified at Draco Malfoy's trial, and as he was underage at the time, and clearly pressured by his father, he was allowed to go free, though he was asked to attend Hogwarts to try and get back in society. The same had happened with the other child death eaters, they stuck together. Harry, Ron and Hermione did not really speak with them but they had made their peace and insults were no longer exchanged.

Harry had also written letters, to use as his testimony, at the trials of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, and a couple more. Narcissa Malfoy was given house arrest and Lucius was send to Azkaban, the list of crimes and his manipulation of ministry officials for many years were too much. He would be in Azkaban for 20 years, though it would be different as all the dementors were gone, deemed too unreliable to keep as guards.


All in all, Hermione reflected while writing her charms essay, nothing much had happened. The forced seating arrangements had been quiet for the trio, Hermione and Ron had sat with first or second year Slytherins, otherwise they had not had to interact with the house. Though, she would imagine, it would change.

"Come on Hermione," Ron interrupted her musings, "The feast will begin without us if we do not hurry." Ron pleaded with her, looking desperate to attend the Halloween feast. Harry stood behind him smiling.

"Yes, and we need to be there for the memorial." Harry reminded, he was looking forward to that, he wanted to honour those who died.

"All right, I am coming," Hermione gathered up her papers and went to her dorm room to put them away before she would follow Harry and Ron. When she was about to leave, however, she was struck by a sudden dizzy spell, she grabbed the doorframe and breathed deeply, in and out. 'whoa, what was that?' she thought, 'I must have turned around too fast or might be feeling the missed lunch'. Whatever it was, she figured she would be better after eating something. She took a last deep breath and joined Harry and Ron, quickly going down to the Great Hall.

A/N:

Wow! It is difficult writing a chapter fanfiction, I had no idea I would incorporate some of the ideas, but they just came to me. I hope I will be able to keep track of them :-)

I liked the obstacles, I think I might have one play out in a later chapter.