It felt extremely weird stepping onto the Hogwarts Express after eight years away from it. But there was something comforting in seeing the big red train again, even if it was strange not seeing throngs of students and parents around them.

They were welcomed by their previous teachers like equals which only added to their unease. To their previous professors the whole thing was clearly very amusing.

"Weird isn't it? Trust me, I know the feeling." a familiar voice said to Hermione as the speaker helped her shift her trunk onto the train. She didn't look at him until they had settled her trunk amongst the other luggage. He was a tall, good-looking man about their age, with white blond hair and a rather pointed face. He smirked a horribly familiar smirk at her and she backed away from him a little, almost tripping over a box.

"Malfoy?"

"In the faultless flesh."

"I see your ego hasn't changed in the slightest. What the hell are you doing here?" Hermione fired quickly without even pausing between sentences.

"Didn't Dumbledore tell you? I'm the Potions Master."

Hermione made no answer but turned her back on him, raised her eyes to the heavens and declared that they had to be kidding.

Clearing her throat she turned around to face him again. "You weren't that good at potions at school. You were just Snape's favourite."

"Actually I was both. I was his favourite because I was so good at potions. You only saw the first part. I was better than you at potions."

"That's some claim, boy. Care to test it this year?"

"How?"

"Dumbledore sets a series of potions challenges to be done in the great hall in front of the school. Then we'll see who the best is."

"You haven't changed at all, have you Hermione? You can't stand the fact that I'm better than you."

"Hah! You are not better. Not at potions, not at anything."

"Mione? What's going on?" Harry asked coming in with a box in his arms. He nearly dropped it when he laid eyes on Malfoy. "You?" he set the box down, not taking his eyes off Malfoy.

"Me. Oh, don't look so shocked, Potter. Surely we can get along now that we're older and possibly wiser than we were when we were schoolboys." Malfoy held out a hand for Harry to shake.

Harry's incredulity was only matched in Hermione's disbelief. Malfoy restrained a snigger at the expressions on their faces.

Harry extended his hand to shake his former rival's. Malfoy looked quite surprised that he had responded. Harry smiled. "You know, I am a bit tired of thinking badly of you. Ginny always said that if we hadn't had that initial stigmatism we could have been great friends." Harry's voice cracked a little and he broke off, looking sad.

Malfoy acknowledged the look. "How are the Weasels doing anyway?"

Hermione and Harry shared a look and Harry turned and left the room without a word. Malfoy acknowledged the look and his reaction. He sent a puzzled look at Hermione who smiled a little.

"It's still very hard for him. It's hard for all of us. And we hardly speak to the Weasleys anymore."

"Why ever not?"

"Because of Ron." Hermione almost whispered.

"I heard about that, I'm sorry."

"Posthumously he achieved what he had always wanted in his life. All he'd ever wanted was to outshine his brothers and later, Harry. His Order of Merlin was something that none of his brothers achieved. And because of the way he earned it, Harry never got it either."

"I remember reading the story in the Daily Prophet. Harry was offered the Order of Merlin but he refused it, saying that he wasn't the one to deserve it. That because Ron had sacrificed himself he was the one who should have it."

"The Weasley's kept in touch for a few years after the war, but we knew they blamed Harry for involving him on the front lines. If he hadn't been friends with us then he would have taken part in the war but he wouldn't have gone out the way he did. Percy too. Right after the reconciliation."

Malfoy looked uneasy at Hermione's pain and searched for a change of topic. "I heard that Dumbledore asked you to start a club. Any ideas?"

Hermione nearly fell over as the train started moving. Malfoy caught her and steadied her. "Nothing yet. But I'll have to come up with something soon." They left the compartment and made their way to the seating compartments.

"I'm sure you will. I'll help you if you like."

Hermione stopped and looked at him like he was from another planet. "I never thought I'd hear you offering to help me."

"Get used to it, girl. We work together now." Malfoy bowed her into a compartment theatrically.