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Hermione's POV:

Ginny had settled herself by the window and looked rather sad. I did pity her. Harry and she had spent all their free time being with each other. It obviously would be difficult to spend a whole year without Harry. I had chosen to return to finish my education and give my N.E.W.T's to become a qualified witch. Not that the ministry wanted me to.

Kingsley Shaklebolt, now being the new minister, had offered a direct entry into the Auror Training Program for the older students who had participated in the war. It was obviously an easier option and hence Ron and Harry had taken it up. But I could not do it. All my life, I had tried to study hard and get the things that I truly deserved. I did not want to be handed an opportunity that I had not worked for. Besides, being an Auror was not what I wanted. I saw myself as a helper of the people. I wanted to be a healer.

"So? Can I join you guys?" A voice interrupted my internal monologue. I looked up at a girl with a long blonde hair and dreamy silvery grey eyes that held much more intelligence than she was credited for.

"Luna!" Ginny exclaimed and hugged her. "How have you been?"

"Quite well actually!" she said beaming, "Daddy was upset with me coming back but I convinced him. He's still not happy though but he accepted it. I guess I shouldn't blame him after what happened last time…" Luna trailed off.

"I understand that absolutely. But we are all out of danger now, right?" I said smiling at her.

Ginny and Luna began chatting up about wrakspurts and I tuned them out. Ginny seemed oddly interested in the topic and I wondered why. I heard Crookshanks purr in his cage in the luggage rack. I let him out and he nestled comfortably on my lap and slept. I soon leaned against the window and began my reminiscence of the first ever time I had travelled to Hogwarts, where I had met Neville first, instantly sympathizing for the boy who was desperately trying to hold on to a toad that was trying to get away from his grip non-stop. Eventually as it escaped, I had offered to look for it and had walked straight into Harry and Ron's compartment. Who knew then that one we would become best of friends and save Hogwarts?

I looked over to my friends who had relaxed in their seats. Luna had hidden herself behind an upside down copy of the Quibbler. Ginny had started playing with her pygmy puff Arnold, changing his fur color with a flick of her wand as he ran around on her lap.

"How is George doing?" I asked Ginny as I scratched the sleeping cat behind the ears.

"He's much better now actually. He is trying to pull himself together, trying to get back to the shop. But it is very depressing to watch. I once walked in on him curled up on Fred's bed, shaking silently. I had to hug him for a while till he calmed down," Ginny smiled sadly. "I miss Fred too. But it must be harder for George. They were practically inseparable for 19 years."

"He'll be fine in no time, Ginny," Luna said dreamily, still hiding behind the paper.

The compartment door slid open once again, and Neville walked in all grinning. "You guys returned!" he exclaimed.

Ginny and I rose to greet him with a hug. Luna cast aside her Quibbler with extra enthusiasm and jumped up to hug him. When they parted, I could see that she was slightly pink around the ears and so was Neville. I looked over to Ginny with my eyes wide. She bit her lips trying to suppress a giggle as she looked from them to me.

"What are up to Nev? Why didn't you send us any letters?" I asked once all of us had settled.

"I tried to but every time I got around to it, Gram would give me some chore to do. I might have killed a giant snake and all but that has no effect on my grandmother whatsoever," he grimaced as we burst out laughing.

"So, no Auror Training for you?" Ginny asked.

"Auror training sounds great… don't get me wrong. But Herbology is more my thing. So how are Harry and Ron doing?"

"Well, their training has not begun yet. They are waiting for Kingsley's confirmation on things. Wish I was there too. But mum won't let me." Ginny said making a face.

"You just want to be with Harry, don't you?" I said, teasing her.

"Like you don't want to be with Ron," Neville teased back. My smile melted. Ginny glared at a clueless Neville and Luna sighed.

"They broke up, Nev." Luna explained.

"Oh my! I am sorry! I did not know I swear."

"It's alright!" I said smiling weakly, "We are still friends and stuff. It just seemed like the right thing to do."

The silence that followed was awkward. Ginny did everyone a favor by changing the topic.

"I wonder what this year is going to be like. Who do you think will be our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?"

We dived into a discussion that seemed to last for hours and had jumped hundreds of topic in the time span. Soon we just melted in our places. Ginny turned her attention back to Arnold. Crookshanks jumped next to her and kept his eyes trained on the now canary yellow Arnold. Neville and Luna were speaking to each other in a small voice, both blushing occasionally. I leaned my head on the window and went deeper into my thoughts.

I had been happy. The battle had ended and Ron and I were inseparable. I remembered a calm evening when Ron had apparated me to a nearby hill top. He had kissed me and claimed how much he loved me as we lay on our blankets watching the light fade with the setting sun. It had all been perfect for a month or so but things soon fell apart. We realized we were not right for each other. Speaking it out seemed to clear all the confusion up. We remained friends but I felt terribly guilty. Ginny had tried to convince me that it wasn't my fault but that did not stop me from over thinking.

"Hermione! Wake up!" Ginny called out to me. I realized that I had dozed off somewhere in the middle of my thoughts.

"Ugh?" I said groggily, processing my surroundings.

"It's time to change, sweetie. We'll reach in half an hour or so."

We stood ready as the station drew closer. We gathered the luggage in the compartment for the elves to take it up to the castle. I grimaced at the thought. Maybe I should have a word with McGonagall about paying the house elves.

"First years gather over here please!" An unfamiliar voice called out. We exchanged looks as we got down from the train.

"Where's Hagrid?" Neville asked, looking over at the plump witch gathering all the students.

"Don't know! Let's get moving though. Look the carriages are almost gone." Luna said and walked towards the carriages driven by the thestrals. They were probably visible to most of the people by now.

All the carriages had already taken off. Only one remained but it had already been occupied by a pale blonde boy. I hesitated to climb in. I did not want to travel even that small distance with Malfoy. Everyone else got in anyway.

"Come on, Hermione! This is the last carriage!" Ginny insisted.

I sighed and got in the carriage. Malfoy scooted to a corner as if he wanted to disappear. The carriage took off with a lurch.

"I wonder where Hagrid is. I hope everything is alright with him," Ginny said absently, picking a stray thread off her robe.

I looked at the silhouette of the castle as it came into view. It appeared as if parts of it were still damaged but otherwise, it was pretty much the same. It gave me a feeling of familiarity that I had every year I returned to Hogwarts. I was finally home.

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The great hall was pretty much crowded. Familiar faces greeted us when we settled at the Gryffindor table. I glanced up at the teacher's table. At the head sat Minerva McGonagall, the new headmistress. The chair to her right was empty. The chair on the left was occupied by Professor Sprout beside who sat Hagrid. I let out a sigh of relief. Hagrid scanned the room, caught my eyes and winked at me. I continued scrutinising the rest of the staff. Horace Slughorn sat next to the empty chair and was having an animated conversation with a teenage looking witch with curly black hair and pointed features.

"Hey, is that-"

I was cut short by the entry of the first years. Professor Flitwick walked in the front of the crowd with the sorting hat in one hand and a wand pointing above. The sorting hat showed no evidence that Voldemort had tried to burn it. A stool hovered in the air and I realised that Flitwick was levitating it.

The sorting ceremony took longer than usual. The number of students was higher than any since the children who could not attend school last year had also decided to join Hogwarts. The babble of excitement died down as soon as McGonagall rose to address the crowd.

"Good evening, students. I would like to start by giving a warm Hogwarts welcome to the first years and to the older students. I am glad that most of you returned to complete your schooling. Firstly, let us give a moment of silence to all the souls, friend or not, who are no longer with us. May they all be forgiven and rest in peace."

The whole of Great Hall stood silent. I could hear students all around me sniffing or sobbing. My eyes welled up slightly as I remembered Fred, Remus, Tonks and many others.

"Thank you," McGonagall continued and everybody took their seats. "And now we move on to the announcements. First, let me introduce, as the new head of Gryffindor, our very own Rubeus Hagrid."

I exchanged startled looks with Ginny and Neville. A huge cheer rose from the Gryffindor table successfully drowning the polite applause of the rest of the hall.

"Next," McGonagall continued after the applause died down, "I would like to introduce Pamela Waltham, our new Defence against the Dark arts teacher. She is the youngest and the brightest witch to excel in the field and has chosen to mentor young minds and share her knowledge. Please welcome her."

The curly haired witch stood up and everybody applauded. A few whispers floated down the hall but none intelligible.

"Thirdly, some important announcements. Due to the busy schedule of the repairing and restoration of the castle, we were unable to finalise a head boy and girl for the year. However they shall be chosen by tomorrow and the announcement shall be made. Next, due to the ongoing repairs, parts of castle might still be delicate. Students are asked to watch their step while moving along the corridors. And lastly, as it is familiar to older students, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. Students attempting to enter shall face serious consequences. Let the supper begin!"

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A/N: I hope you like this chapter guys. Once again, thanks msdamonsalvatore for beta reading it :)