After the war was over there had been a lot of rebuilding to do in the wizarding community of Britain, Hogwarts was in ruins, the ministry had fallen, businesses all over had suffered to some extent and lives had been lost. So many lives.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were quickly deemed 'war hero's' and thrown in front of the media. They were presented with an order of merlin first class each and their Gringotts vaults held more galleons than they could ever spend in their life time. Maybe not even in two lifetimes. Kingsley Shacklebolt had quickly been named minister for magic and started the task of cleaning up the government. The first order of business being Hogwarts of course. The rebuilding of Britain's famous school of witchcraft and wizardry had begun almost immediately in the hopes it would be repaired for the coming September school year. Volunteers from all over the world came to help out as their way of giving thanks for saving wizarding kind, or in the hopes of getting an up close look at 'the golden trio' it was never quite clear but nevertheless less it was appreciated. It took over a month for the building to start taking shape again and another two more after that for it to be finished; looking exactly as it had not five months before.
There had to be new professor appointments and many muggle borns would be starting at age twelve instead of eleven since none of them had been allowed to attend the year prior. Sorting out the years had become a bit of a difficult task for Headmistress McGonagall and deputy head Professor Flitwick but they eventually decided that any children who had attended the year before would be allowed to move up except for the fifth years since they hadn't had a chance to sit their O.W.L.s which the government deemed mandatory.
It seemed the government also deemed it mandatory that no student was to leave school without completing seventh year and taking their N.E.W.T.s meaning many of the years would be blending together whilst others would be scarce. First year for example should theoretically have it usual amount of students plus all the muggle borns and half bloods who should have attended the year before. There would be no second year at all since the ones that had attended first year the year before had mostly stayed home after the Christmas holidays meaning they would have to redo the whole year. Third, fourth and fifth years should be around normal size and the sixth year class would consist of only the half blood and muggle borns that should have attended the year before whilst seventh year would have all the previous years class and the purebloods from the year below in attendance. It should have been one of the larger classes but since so many of them had stayed behind to fight at the Battle of Hogwarts the number of students who would actually be returning for that year was only about half of what it should be. It did make dorm arrangements easier but it didn't help ease the mind that the professors should be worrying about where to put the students.
It had been announced in the Daily Prophet the same day the letters had been sent out to all the students. To say it had been a shock was an understatement. The golden trio themselves hadn't even been aware of the plan.
"This has got to be some sort of joke. They want us to go back?" Ron asked as he, Ginny, Harry and Hermione stood around the kitchen in The Burrow.
"We didn't graduate Ron, you can't just expect to walk into a job with no N.E.W.T.s. Besides, it will probably do us good to have a normal school year for once anyway." Hermione had replied.
"We saved the bloody whole of the wizarding world 'Mione and now they want us to go back to school! It's bloody preposterous!" He shouted.
"Woah there, hold up just a minute" Ginny said getting between the two friends "Ron, when the hell in Merlins name did you learn a word like preposterous?" She asked clearly shocked.
"Come off it Gin, we all know he's smarter than he looks. Helped saved the world and everything." Harry added with a smirk on his face, evidently returning to school for another year wasn't such a bad idea to him. "Besides, I agree with Hermione I wouldn't mind just one year of normal schooling for once. You know, no crazy wizards trying to steal the Philosophers Stone, no Chamber of Secrets and diaries and basilisk's, no escaped prisoners and hideaway animagi', no death eater imposters hell bent on putting me in a crazy dangerous competition just to get me killed. No dead champions. No nasty pink clad ministry bitches, sixth year wasn't so bad except for the whole world not believing me and that Half Blood Prince stuff where I nearly killed Malfoy then watched Dumbledore die. No horcruxes. No death eaters. No Tom fucking Riddle plotting how many ways he can kill me. You'd think for a man who was brought up in a muggle orphanage he'd see little one year old me in that cot and be like 'oh I know lets pick him up and throw him out of the window' or something, I mean, it would have been more effective wouldn't it? No wonder the nutcase didn't win in the end." He finished not realising his friends had fallen silent.
"Oh….erm…yeah I suppose so." Ron added nervously.
"Oooh look I don't have to redo sixth year I get to join you lot! Ooooh 'Mione we will be roommates again!" The red haired girl said excitedly as she bounced up and down.
"Sorry Gin, I got head girl. Get my own dorms. Or at least I get the choice, which I'll be accepting. Think I could do with the peace and quiet this year." Hermione replied hoping to let her friend down gently.
"Oh pants! Well, not to worry. Hey I bet Luna will be in our year now too. Ooooh I'm still a prefect. Cool!"
"I didn't get mine back. Thank Godric. Did any of you get a note off the Headmistress asking for a meeting?" Ron asked, clearly confused.
"Erm…yes I have one here."
"Me too."
"Me three. That's odd. Wonder what she wants."
It was a week later when the headmistress turned up as her note had said she would, for the meeting. She had clearly known some students wouldn't be as inclined to the new law as others were and had figured it would be wise to get the four of them on side. Especially as she needed to implement new ideas this coming year and would like the influence they gave to help things go as smoothly as possible. House Unity was the main issue of course. Especially where Slytherin's were concerned. The headmistress had asked the students to each place themselves at another houses table after the opening speech of the Welcome Feast that first day. It was supposed to help the other students in mingling with them more. Especially when two of the students going back that year would technically bare the marks of Death Eaters, though exonerated of any and all charges brought against them it was still going to be hard. Hermione and Ginny were first to agree with Harry not far behind, Ron probably wouldn't have agreed at all if he didn't fear for his life when Hermione stared at him. If looks could kill.
It was a full week later that the foursome left The Burrow to board the Hogwarts Express with anticipation of what the school year would bring for the last time. The train had been less enthusiastic as the previous years, all the first year students were worrying they would end up in Slytherin and the older kids knew too much about the war to enjoy themselves much.
When they arrived at the castle and joined their house tables the great hall was met with a sombre expression, never before had it been so full and yet so unbearably…well, unbearable.
The sorting came and went, there were 144 new students that year since it combined nearly two full years. They would be joining the thirty or so that were present from the previous year. The first child to be sorted into Slytherin was a tiny girl who barely looked a day over eight never mind eleven, and it was clear to everyone she was terrified just from the look on her face. It had taken one of the seventh years to come and bring her to to the table before she moved. Only 27 of the 144 new students had been sorted into green and silver, joining the 12 that had been there from the previous year. They were a smaller class than the other houses tat year but probably by no more than six students.
"And now that the sorting is done I would just like to say a huge welcome to all our new students and a just as big welcome back to the rest. I can't tell you how lovely it is to see so many familiar faces sitting in this room right now." Though the headmistress hadn't said as much it was evident she was referring to the students who had lost their lives during the war, the wetness aroud her eyes were testament to that. "I would like to take this opportunity to announce that this year there will be seven common rooms allocated around the school. One for each year, you will notice that those rooms are dressed in Hogwarts colours of all houses and are a way for your houses to become on friendlier terms with one another. They will be being watched by prefects on duty of course so I trust that this will be taken into account. If you have any issues please speak with your prefects or head boy and girl. Now, as a sign of house unity it is also my pleasure to announce you may sit at whatever table you shall wish during mealtimes. And lastly, the Forbidden Forest, as always, is out of bounds. Anyone who tries to go in there will likely not come out in one piece. If they come out at all. And shall that happen you will be wishing you were back in there. Now, shall we?" She asked nodding to the table as she sat down and watched as the plates began to fill up.
"Honestly, it wouldn't be Hogwarts without a trip into the forest."
"Harry!" Hermione scolded.
"What?!" Just saying it how it is. We got that speech in first year and I've been in that forest every year since. Including last year and I wasn't even attending school then!"
"You have not been in there every year."
"Really? You're sure of that? First year it was detention. You know, 'Hey kids the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. It's full of dark and dangerous creatures. You're not to go in there. Ever. Unless of course you have detention with Hagrid, then it's alright' I mean what?"
"Second year Hagrid tried to feed us to his bloody pet spider. Nearly died we did!" Ron added.
"Third year involved a time turner and a patronus, fourth year included dragons. Fifth year we went in there twice. Both times involved Grawp-"
"All right all right I get it. Just…just don't be going in again this year okay?" She asked nervously.
"I'll try, that's as good as you're getting."
"Honestly, I'm sure you two feed off this." Hermione huffed.
Harry only smirked as he stood up off the bench to follow through with the headmistresses plan, Hermione followed him.
"Right, well, I guess we better get this over with. Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"I think it might be best if I went to Slytherin. Ron would be the worst option but you often don't think before you speak either so it's best I go."
"Mione…"
"No, it's fine Harry, honestly. Why don't you go and sit with Luna?"
"Yeah I think I will you know. See you later Ron." He shouted back as he walked off towards the table adorned in blue.
"Go and sit with Ernie and Hannah, Ron. Come on you have to show house unity."
"Bloody house unity." He muttered. "What's old McGonagall thinking? Wait, if I'm going to sit with Ernie and Hannah that leaves you with the snakes."
"Clever." Hermione replied as she rolled her eyes.
"Mione no."
"Oh what in Circe's name are they going to do here? In front of the whole school? Honestly Ron!"
"Malfoy and Nott are Death Eaters Hermione!" Ron snapped.
"Were Ron. Were Death Eaters and you were at both of their trials so you know full well what the situation was. Is. Go and sit with Hannah. I'll be fine." She hissed before turning on her heels and walking off towards the table at the furthest side of the hall.
Hermione hadn't realised it but her encounters with both Harry and Ron had clearly been heard throughout the whole room and as she walked to the table covered in green and silver she felt the eyes of the entire room watching her.
As Hermione approached the Slytherin table she found an empty seat with the seventh years and slipped in between Daphne Greengrass and Theodore Nott before saying hello and filling up a plate to eat.
"Hello" she said smiling tightly.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, Granger?" Draco Malfoy, who was sitting directly in front of Hermione drawled.
"Of course you weren't listening Malfoy, do you ever? Inter house unity.
Better get used to it you'll be seeing me more than you'd like."
"I was listening. I just assumed your guard dogs would put a bit more effort in stopping you dining with Death Eaters."
"Semantics." She said waving him off as she reached for a plate of potatoes. "And honestly I I can fight my own battles you know. I don't need Harry or Ron telling me what I can and can not do. Thank you" she added turning to Theo as her poured her a glass of pumpkin juice, a habit of being a pureblood son in a sacred twenty eight family.
"You're welcome, Granger." Theo answer as he poured his own juice before passing the jug off to Blaise who was sat in front of him.
"Granger? Oh honestly! When have you ever called me Granger Theo?" She asked him sternly as she turned to face him crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes at him.
"Shit, Hermione! Don't do that! I really don't want to have to defend myself from Weasely's wand on my first day back okay " Theo said hurriedly as he pulled her arms apart before realising he was touching her in front of the entire school, who were of course watching them.
"You won't be defending yourself from his wand on any day Theo!" Hermione hissed.
"Well we'll see about that won't we. Just…if you're going to sit here just eat okay?" He asked nervously.
With a roll of her eyes Hermione turned back to her food and took a bite before Ginny turned up and sat next to Draco.
"Hey 'Mi. Having fun with the snakes?"
"Give it up Gin which one sent you?"
"Oh give me some credit! I came of my own free will, heard these snakes aren't bad in the chamber. Had to find out for myself didn't I? Plus if I didn't come when I did I'm sure my wonderful brother was about to storm over here because a man dared to touch you!" Ginny said mock gasping as she eyed Theo. "I mean, it was just on the arms and maybe hands and it didn't exactly look unwanted but you know Ronald." She carried on. "Oh I forgot, how rude of me, sorry you will have to excuse my manners. Blood traitors don't bother with such things. Hello." She said smiling brightly as she sat down and started helping herself to some chocolate cake.
The Slytherin's all tried to mask their amusement and shock at the fun and sassy redhead but they really were doing a poor job of it and it just had Ginny smiling harder.
"So how did you all feel about coming back this year? Didn't you attend last year Theo?" Hermione asked trying to change the subject.
"Oh they did. But last year was a bit of a funny time wasn't it Nott? Oi 'Mi why you calling Nott, Theo?"
"Apparently they do that. Though I'm not sure when it started. He even calls her Hermione" Blaise added.
"You do?" Ginny asked turning towards Theo.
"Umm. I guess so. Tried calling her Granger and I thought she was going to hex me. I'd really like to avoid a hexing so it'll be Hermione."
"Honestly, you've always called me Hermione. Why should that change?"
"Society I guess." He replied.
"Yeah well I don't care much for that kind of society. I told you to call me Hermione when we were eleven. You held my hand for like two whole hours and we sat and shared-"
"Chocolate frogs and sugar quills while you invaded the privacy of my books. Yes I remember." He finished with a small smile.
"Honestly this day is just getting weirder." Draco muttered. "You two have been friends since you were eleven? How did none of us know? And you held her hand? Theo you were eleven and holding a girls hand!"
"Honestly Draco does it ever occur to you that people maybe have lives you don't know about? We were friends yes. She was probably the first real friend I ever had-"
"Wait. What? I'm your friend. You've known me since we were in nappies!"
"-and you're a good friend but we were pushed upon one another because of our parents. It's different. Anyway after the sorting we didn't really see much of each other. I would see her in the library-"
"Oh come on Theo, you might have sat on the desk next to me but we were still studying together." Hermione interrupted rolling her eyes.
"And this friendship wasn't forced on you?" Draco added with narrowed eyes.
Theo looked at Hermione and smiled before turned back and answering "Yes it was but in a totally different way. She wouldn't shut up. Kept jabbering on and on and on. Wouldn't leave the compartment either then started reading my books. She was like an infestation I couldn't get rid of. You haven't changed much by the way." He added turning back to her.
"And yet the shy and quiet little boy who I met seems to be gone. I liked him, he was good to me. Made me feel safe in a new world. Was my first ever friend in the Wizarding world." She said smiling back at him.
Draco cleared his throat purposely before injecting into the conversation again. "Well, I hate to break up this little…erm…trip down memory lane but neither of you have explained the hand holding yet" he said pointedly as if it was the best gossip of the year. "I mean, eleven year olds holding hands? All I was thinking about was Quidditch."
"Oh yeah we held hands. He even kissed me." Hermione added as casually as she could.
"You did what?!" Ginny shouted.
"Excuse me?!" Draco spluttered.
"On her hand. Salazar! The lot of you are filthy minded. We were eleven for Circe's sake!" He said before leaning in to Hermione and whispering "You really haven't changed have you? You knew they'd do that." Hermione smirked at his words enjoy the reactions from their friends.
In reply, and as a way of showing their friends up, house unity in mind, Hermione smiled and held her hand out to Theo. Then watched as he picked it up and brought it to his mouth, placing a gentle kiss on it whilst never taking his brilliant emerald eyes off of her amber ones. As he dropped their hands to the bench he was about to pull his away when she pulled on to it tighter to keep him there and turned back to their friends who were all watching them wide eyed.
"See? Just like that." She said as innocently as she could manage.
"I really hope it was not like that at age eleven." Draco replied in what seemed a disgusted manner.
"And why not?"
"Because that looked a bit…err…." Daphne started
"Sensual?" Blaise finished.
"Sensual, sexy, hot. Take your pick. Certainly didn't look like friendship or anything remotely platonic. Oh look and my lovely brother clearly saw the whole thing along with the rest of the school. We're supposed to uniting the houses you know" Ginny said before turning to take a sip of the pumpkin juice Blaise had poured her.
"What the hell is going on over here?" Ron demanded as he approached the table.
Hermione felt Theo go to pull his hand away to try and ease the tension lest Ron see but she just entwined their fingers and held him firmly in place.
"Making new friends. Reconnecting with old ones." Hermione replied with a shrug.
"Old ones? What are you talking about and why the hell is he kissing you. And why are you even letting him Hermione?"
"Ouch. He called her 'Hermione' must be in a bad mood." Ginny said to nobody in particular though the majority of the table laughed a little.
"Ron this is Theo, my friend. Well, he's been my friend since we were eleven we were just telling everyone the story. It's not really that grand I assure you but if you would like to sit we will happily tell it again." Hermione replied sweetly.
"Oh fuck. She's doing that 'kill them with kindness' thing. Better watch yourself with this witch Theo mate." Blaise said.
"What? Why?" Theo asked confused.
"Because she's bloody scary. I'm man enough to admit that. Slytherin or not."
"Yeah so why should I watch myself?"
"Tell me you two aren't still holding hands under there." Blaise said as he pointed towards the bench between where they were sitting.
"I…umm…we…"
"Yeah. Exactly. Plus she's wearing the head girl badge. You might as well just get used to it."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"You haven't told you friend? Oh this day is just getting better." Draco added.
"You know I haven't you've been sat with us the entire time we've been talking you prick."
"Told me what?" Hermione asked confused.
"Theo got head boy." Daphne said sweetly.
"What?! You did? Oh that's great Theo you really deserve it!" She shouted as she threw her arms around his neck for a hug.
"Something else you two did when you were eleven?" Draco asked amusedly.
"Err no. This...this is new." Theo replied nervously when Hermione pulled herself off of him though she did grab his hand back almost immediately.
"Wait." Ron started, clearly the others had even forgotten he was there. "Moine's head girl and Nott's head boy?" He asked though it was clear he already knew the answer.
"Yes?" Hermione asked.
"No." Ron replied quietly.
"Excuse me?"
"No. You can't. Head boy and girl share quarters 'Mione. You can't share with him!"
"I'm aware they share Ronald and for Merlin's sake if Malfoy had made head boy I would have shared with him. Luckily for me it was Theo instead . No offence Malfoy but I think we would have killed each other in a week." She added as she turned to him.
"I wouldn't have given us a day" he said with a shrug.
"And I assure you I can damn well do whatever I want Ronald."
"That include holding his hand and letting him kiss you?"
"Do you see me objecting?" I assure you I'm holding Theo's hand much tighter than he's holding on to mine. You see he's a little worried you might get the wrong impression and is trying to be a gentleman. Unfortunately for Theo it's my hand he's holding and I'm not exactly the type to not fight back. You remember that right?" She asked him leaving him speechless.
"Ron, I'm staying in the heads quarters, I don't know if Theo is too but either way I'll be staying there and you have absolutely nothing to worry about and no reason for any of this so please, just go back to the Hufflepuff table and talk to Ernie and Hannah." She added before turning back to the table and trying once again to tuck into her meal.
"You didn't have to do that Hermione." Theo whispered to her when Ron was out of ear shot.
"Ron's an arse and yes I did. We should probably put wards up to keep him out of our quarters though. I don't trust him to not come up unannounced at all hours of the day or night."
"And you trust me?" He asked looking right into her amber eyes.
"Never stopped." Hermione whispered back.
"Not even whe-"
"No. Not even then." She insisted.
"Well this is getting a bit awkward isn't it?" Blaise asked jokingly.
"Feels perfectly natural to me." Hermione said with a shrug.
"This hand holding; when you were eleven it was..well, you were eleven but now you're 18 it's a bit more intimate. I mean the whole school just watched this little scene but even still you can't just go around holding hands without it meaning anything." Draco said.
"Who said it didn't mean anything?" Theo asked as he gently squeezed Hermione's hand in his.
"What? Oh I'm lost." Blaise answered. "Any of you lot make heads or tails of these two?" He shouted to the group of seventh years whilst gesturing to Theo and Hermione.
"Don't ask me mate, I'm still in shock that Theo spoke to a girl and held her hand for a few hours when he was eleven then eluded us all for seven years about this secret friendship." Draco replied.
"Looks like more than a friendship to me." Ginny added.
"Yeah I agree the nice Weaslette here. Definitely not just friends ." Daphne chimed in.
"Do you lot really need a label for everything?" Theo asked exasperated.
"Not just us mate, look around, the whole school wants to know." Draco answered.
"They'll just have to make do then won't they." Theo shot back through gritted teeth. After a quick look around the hall he noticed at least 80% of the occupants were watching them before turning back to Hermione who, miraculously had actually managed to eat half of her meal, one handed. "Welcome to the house of Salazar kitten, snakes, the lot of us. I hope you'll forgive us."
"Friends?" She asked smiling.
"Haven't we always been? Since when did you give me a choice?" He joked before bringing their joined hands up and kissing hers again.
"You're right. We have."
"Oh fuck. He called her kitten we're doomed. I was going to offer bets on how long it took but, Salazar what's the point?" Blaise asked.
"I give it a week." Daphne added.
"Three days." Ginny said.
"Malfoy? You in?" Blaise asked his friend who had his head in his hands.
"No." He grumbled.
"Why not? Come on even Red joined in!"
"Because I don't want to be right!" He shouted.
"And what would your answer be that you're so worried it would be right?"
"Tomorrow. Maybe even tonight. Merlin look at them! Haven't taken their eyes off each other since she came over here. He calls her kitten, kitten for Merlin's sake and that's when he's not calling her Hermione. And he kisses her and they've been sat there holding hands for like half an hour without letting go even when the Weasel came over here shouting his mouth off. It's Theo, Blaise. Theo doesn't do stuff like that. Ever."
"Yeah, he's also sitting right here listening to everything you're saying." Theo added in a warning tone to his friend.
"See what I mean?" Draco exclaimed to his friends. "It's happening already. Might as well hand the galleons over already. We all know I've won."
"Is he always this dramatic?" Hermione asked the Slytherin's.
"Pretty much." Theo replied as he refilled both of their glasses under the watchful eyes of their friends.
"Well, this year is going to be fun. Now that we've gathered Nott is very clearly taken and I won't be Slythering into his bed chambers any time in the near future, I'll just have to set my sights on someone else." Ginny chimed in as she winked at Blaise.
"I like her, Granger." Blaise said to Hermione before turning back to Ginny "You, you little minx are welcome to our table anytime." He said as he kissed her hand.
"And your chambers?" Ginny asked teasingly.
"What happened to Potter? Thought you two were like the perfect couple."
"Pffft hardly. Just a passing fancy. I'm too young to settle down. I'd like to use my youth for experience. We're still really good friends. He's like a brother but that's about it."
"Well in that case my chambers are open to you any time love." He replied with a wink.
"Seriously? It's not even been an hour back at school and you're all coupling off already!" Draco moaned.
"We're not a couple. Just two like minded people looking for fun right, Zabini?"
"Right" He answered with a grin.
"So how do you explain those two then?" Draco asked pointing towards Theo and Hermione who seemed to be in deep conversation through hushed whispers and looking rather happy.
"Not sure at all. If I didn't know better 'love at first sight' would be my answer but…"
"But it's not real?"
"I don't know. We live in a magical world so why shouldn't I believe it and then you see people like these two who were clearly attracted to each other to some degree even when they were eleven. Ron and Harry are going to hate this, this year is going to be fun."
"That's one word for it Weasley."
"Do you think you could all call me Ginny? Or Gin at least? Looks like we'll be seeing each other a lot more anyway, I can't have my best friend being the only lion at a table full of snakes can I?"
"I suppose so, Ginny. Seems odd." Draco added.
"As odd as calling you Draco I imagine but I'm doing it anyway."
"Always knew Weasley's didn't know the meaning of no."
"Oh stop complimenting me Draco I might start wanting you to hold my hand like those two." Ginny joked nodding her head towards their friends.
"Merlin, no thanks!"
"Well, we agree on something see we're becoming fast friends already."
"Friends, yes, clearly. I think all my ancestors just turned in their graves." Draco said rolling his eyes and going back to the food in front of him
"And mine are probably all laughing."