Chapter 10: Returning to Hogwarts

Thursday, October 1, 1998 – Platform 9¾, United Kingdom, 10:40 a.m.

Hermione

My parents flew back to the United Kingdom at the 25th of September. I had packed all their belongings in boxes with a few simple spells, which would be brought by plane on the 3rd of October. We stayed at a hotel in London in a three-person's suite before I left to go back to Hogwarts. My parents and I went by car, they had purchased a new Vauxhall and my trunk even had fit in the back of the car. After placing my trunk on the street, we walk over to London's train station.

I look up at the cloudy and grey sky and see that the few existing rays of sunshine touch King's Cross. I see the new parts of the roof with colours that contrasted ugly with the previous colours. Ignoring everything else around me, my parents and I pass the wall between the platforms 9 and 10 and arrive at platform 9¾.

I immediately see the Weasley red on the right side of the platform and almost run over to them. But I contain myself and walk over to the left side of the platform to place my trunk on the train with a little help from Dad. After that is done I grip my beaded bag tight, check if my wand is still in there and pointed towards the Weasleys knowing that my parents will follow me. I run out in front of them to Harry and Ron's turned backs and yell their names over the platform. While I ran towards them I run passed a lot of people, but I ignore them all.

All the Weasley's turn around, but Harry and Ron started grinning and opened their arms wide for me to hug them. After a group hug I release them, smiling so wide my face could crack. No one would say that I'd seen Harry and Ron the 29th of September at the hotel but we hadn't talked as long as we wanted to and I had missed them already. I didn't go to the Burrow because Harry and Ron insisted that they'd come to me, so it was a surprise to see all of them here at the train station.

"Hermione!" the voice of Mrs. Weasley sounds.

"Mrs. Weasley! It's great to see you again!" I walk over to her and give her a hug too.

"It's great to see you too sweetheart! We've all come to wave you off," she moves her hand towards the whole Weasley clan.

I let my eyes move over all of them and smiled. They were my family too. She turned back to me and clapped her hands on my cheeks like she does every time she sees Harry and me.

"You look a bit peaky but not as peaky as you did two months ago."

I smile at Mrs. Weasley and wonder where Mr. Weasley is.

Just when I want to ask where he is, I hear him talking animatedly to Percy about broom regulations a few feet away. After small talk with Mrs. Weasley, I greet Andromeda with Teddy, Bill and his wife Fleur, Charlie and his new girlfriend Vanessa, Percy and Mr. Weasley, George and F… I swallowed down the suddenly appeared knot in my throat and moved on to greet Ginny.

"I have put Crookshanks on the train already," Ginny stated while hugging me tight.

"Thanks Gin! I totally forgot about Crookshanks, I was so busy studying and preparing for…"

"Hermione, you are always studying," she says laughing, but I could hear the unnerving tone sound through her voice, begging me profoundly not to bring up the past.

I smile back.

"I still find it ridiculous that your parents allowed you to play for the Harpies, are you sure you don't want to go back to Hogwarts?" I ask her.

"I'm sure," she says with her face locked in a hard look that didn't show any emotion and I left it at that.

When Ron and Harry join us, they smile wickedly and I can't help but grin as well. I have really missed them so much! I turn to check if my parents are okay and I see them both talking to Mrs. Weasley. Ron starts to talk about who would be going back to Hogwarts as well but I listen in on the conversation between my parents and Mrs. Weasley.

"You must stay at the Burrow until you have found a house! You are more than welcome!" I hear Mrs. Weasley say.

Before my parents answer, I walk over to them and answer, "That would be great Mrs. Weasley. I know that they will find a house soon, but if they can stay at the Burrow in the meantime…" I start, knowing that they would be very safe at the Burrow.

"But Hermione we can't intrude on…" my Mum starts.

"Nonsense, we would be happy to have you, honestly," Mr. Weasley says from behind me.

"Very well then, we would be delighted…" my Dad starts but the rest of his sentence is inaudible because of the high whistling that sounds over the platform. Which means that in five minutes the train will leave. I say goodbye to my parents and the Weasleys when I turn to say goodbye to Harry and Ron. I see them talking to Malfoy, Zabini and Nott almost amicably. Nott has his arm wrapped around Lisa Turpin's neck and I can't help but wonder how they got together. Blaise is looking intensively at Ginny and when she looks back at him there is some sort of reaction between them I can't quite explain. He smirks at her and she grins back in such a defiant way that... No. It couldn't possibly be… Blaise and Ginny?

But when suddenly two pairs of arms wrap around me, I get pulled out of my thoughts. Neville who appeared out of thin air with Luna are now standing in front of me, smiling.

"Hermione, it's good to see you," the deep voice of Neville sounds.

Neville had gotten ruggedly handsome and I let my eyes move quickly over his unshaven stubble. His hair was wavy and his brown eyes were shining bright.

"Hermione, I'm glad to see that you've come back. We've missed you," says Luna smiling.

I turned to look at Luna, who wore purple radish-shaped earrings. Her blond hair was tied in a short braid and her silvery grey eyes looked happily at me.

"I've missed you guys too! Save me a seat on the train okay?" I ask them.

"Sure," Neville says after turning to the Hogwarts Express.

"Excuse me, are you Neville Longbottom?" an older man approaches Luna and Neville.

The man seems friendly enough and I turn my back to Luna and Neville and walk over to the boys.

"Thanks Potter, you have a good year too," I hear Malfoy say after shaking Harry's hand.

"You too Weasley," he calls over his shoulder, followed by Zabini, Nott and Lisa.

"Same to you Malfoy," Ron calls back in a sort of grumbling only Ron can do.

I stand next to Harry and Ron now and they turn to me.

I know that it will take a while for me to see them and it hurts to say goodbye already. Moving from Ron's to Harry's face, I can feel the tears start to prickle in my eyes.

"Will you visit me?" I say, my voice breaking.

"Of course, any day you want us to," Ron says opening his arms.

The whistle sounds again and I know it's time to leave. I hug Ron tightly and it is over way too soon. A blinding flash makes me see black dots but before I can respond to the journalist, Harry pulls me into a hug as well. When I let go I hug my parents before stepping onto the train and jump in quickly. The train doors shut closed and I wave to the Weasleys and my parents from behind the door window. Harry and Ron run with me towards the end of the platform and I wave until I can't see them anymore. I press my forehead against the door and the fog of my breath on the window appears slowly. I wipe the few teardrops off my cheeks and turn around to search for Luna and Neville.

Heading for the compartments I see Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini standing in front of me in the hallway. I hadn't seen Malfoy after the war except for just now at the train station, but from up close he didn't look good. He was even paler than usual, which contrasted highly with the black rings around his eyes and his normally tight dark clothing seemed to hang loosely on his body. I remember the letter Harry brought with him and it was hard to believe that Malfoy was sorry. But looking at his sleep-deprived body, I could somehow believe him.

He stares into my eyes deeply, as if there is something he is searching for. Any sign of me that would give off a clue if I'd forgiven him. I stare into his eyes too, which is hard because the black circles around his eyes are very distracting. Looking into his eyes I search for any apology or regret. And then he blinks. When his eyes open again, it's there suddenly. It's hiding there in plain sight, his regret, almost radiating from his eyes.

When he blinks again, the regret is as good as gone and his lips curve upwards in some sort of strange smile.

"Granger, did you read my letter?" his voice sounds so soft I can hardly hear it.

I am appalled by this question and I don't know how to answer so I say nothing.

"Wait, you send her a letter?" Zabini asks him loudly.

"Zabini," Malfoy hisses aggressively.

Zabini seems flabbergasted at Malfoy's intensity and takes a few step back from him while looking at me rather curiously.

Then Malfoy turns back to me and I don't quite know what to say.

"Did you?" he asks again, with a little bit of hope sounding through.

I look at the dark circles under his eyes and nod.

"Yes Malfoy, I've read it," my voice sounds.

"All of it?" he whispers.

"All of it," I confirm.

When I say nothing more, he moves his head forwards and places his lips almost next to my ear.

"Thank you," he whispers so soft Zabini couldn't hear.

Then he steps back so abruptly it almost makes me startle and lets me pass them in the small hallway while his left hand presses Zabini against the side so he wouldn't stand in my way.

I nod at Malfoy and walk passed them.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I hear Zabini say behind me.

"Zabini," Malfoy's voice sneered through the air, "Not. One. Word. Ever."

"You can't be seriously…"

"EVER," Malfoy deadpans loudly.

I feel weird and I don't know what just happened. I almost felt guilty looking at him and maybe I should've been nicer to him, since he and Harry seem to get on quite alright now. I keep thinking while moving past a few compartments where other eighth year students are seated. I pass a compartment where Hannah, Susan, Justin, Ernie and Astoria are seated. And another where Nott, Lisa, Terry, Michael and Anthony are seated. After a few more compartments I find only Neville and Luna in a cabin and enter. I try to shake off the image of the dark rings around Malfoy's eyes but I can't help shivering.

Draco

When Blaise and I enter an empty cabin, I sit down by the window and he sits across from me. I say nothing and stare out the window, seeing that we are passing the green wet fields.

I can feel him staring at me and turn my head towards him, sighing.

"What?" I ask him.

"Nothing, I just find it weird that you wrote to her. What did you write?" he asks smirking.

"Blaise, I told you to drop it," I sneer a lot harsher than I intended.

When I see the hurt look on his face and he turns away from me, I roll my eyes and sigh. I know he only acts like he is hurt and he'll come around in a minute or two.

After five minutes Blaise still hasn't spoken and I start to worry.

Why did Blaise choose this day to have a bitch-day?

"Look Blaise," I start.

"No! You don't get to 'look Blaise' me! I tell you when I do something major in my life. And in my book writing to Hermione fucking Granger is something major!" he yelled, obviously angrier than I expected.

I looked at his face, radiating anger and I couldn't help but agree. But I hadn't told anyone except Potter… And if I would tell Blaise and Theo that I wrote to her, I should also tell them what was in the letter as well. And they don't know. Well, they know about the screaming in my head and the nightmares, but they don't know that it was Hermione screaming while being tortured in my own home.

I stare at his angry face and sigh. But before I can speak he looks straight at me and opens his mouth.

"I told you when my mother dated her 4th husband that I was afraid he wouldn't stick around long even though I really liked that one! And when I didn't like her 5th husband I came to ask for help from you and Theo. But I can't act properly and back you up if I don't know, Draco. I can't. You know I'll always have your back, but not if you don't keep me in on the loop. I can't back you up then mate," Blaise says.

"I know," I say, and I know.

I know I should've told the both of them and I stare out of the window.

"I'll tell you when Theo gets here, I'm only gonna tell you this once," I say as the compartment door opens.

Theo is standing in the doorway with one eyebrow raised and closing the compartment door behind him.

"What are you going to tell us once?" he starts while sitting down next to Blaise.

"He wrote a letter to Granger."

"What?! You didn't!" Theo says surprised.

"I did," I confessed after muttering a few anti-eavesdrop spells.

"But why? Did you finally confess your never-dying love for her?" Theo asks.

I give him one of my are-you-kidding-me-looks and he smiled awkwardly.

"Of course you didn't," he states.

I look to the compartment door to check if we are indeed alone and place my left leg over my right nonchalantly.

"The screaming in my nightmares is Granger, being tortured at Malfoy Manor by my aunt Bellatrix with the cursed knife. I can't seem to shake her screaming off of me. And I figured if I'd apologized I might feel better. Or at least well enough to not have these nightmares every night," I say softly, still afraid that someone could be eavesdropping.

Theo and Blaise don't hide their shock well. Theo's mouth falls open and Blaise is speechless.

"You think she's actually going to read it? A letter from you? She'd probably toss it in the fire immediately before opening," Theo says.

"I asked her a few minutes ago and she said that she had read the whole letter."

Theo seems to think about this for a second while Blaise finds his ability to speak.

"You apologized to Granger?!" Blaise starts with shock sounding through his voice loud and clear.

"Yes."

"And how did she respond?" Theo asks.

"She didn't. I just asked her today if she'd read the whole letter, but I never got an answer. Not that I was expecting one," I say.

It is silent for half a minute or so and all three of us are thinking.

"But you hoped she would. Give you an answer I mean," Theo states while looking at my face.

"Only because of the nightmares," I say, suddenly feeling defensive for no reason.

"Right…" Blaise mumbled.

Hermione

When we exit the carriages, Neville and I wait for Luna who says goodbye to the thestrals. And walk over to the castle.

Finally, back at Hogwarts!

The castle seems restored in its previous glory but if you look up close, you can see the tears in the stone and the spells that forced the stones to glue back together. When we enter at the gates of Hogwarts terrain, I can see 2 aurors scanning us as a crowd. The Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and even the Slytherins (because of Theo and Lisa) have joined us as well and as a group we walk inside. It is almost time to have dinner already and we enter the Great Hall.

There is a lot changed inside the Great Hall like the tables. There are eight tables now, two short ones and six long ones. Above each table hangs a number. Numbers 1 to 6 hang above the large tables and then above the two shorter tables hangs the numbers 7 and 8.

"I think we have to sit by year, if I'm not mistaken," I say towards Luna and Neville.

"You are not mistaken Miss Granger. Please take a seat at the table with your year number above it. Try to mingle with people from other houses. Inter-house unity is highly appreciated," the magically enhanced voice of Headmistress McGonagall sounds through the Great Hall.

All the students except for the first years who will arrive soon, start to sit down at their assigned table.

I walk over to the table on the far rightest and sit down next to Neville and Luna. Because our table is so short, it only just fits with the number of student we have. I can see Pansy nearly sitting on Malfoy's lap, who looked irritated the least and I grin back at Luna. While looking at her, I remember that Luna isn't an eighth year student and just when I want to ask Luna why she isn't sitting at the 7th years table, she smiles at me.

"No worries Hermione. Professor McGonagall will explain after dinner,"

After the sorting hat sorted the new first years, all first year students had to sit with their year mates at the same table and no special place for a certain house was made. When dinner was done and I had talked to Luna and Neville some more, Professor McGonagall rose from her chair and started a speech.

"Welcome new students and welcome back old students at Hogwarts. I am the Headmistress Professor McGonagall and I want to explain a few things before sending you off to your dormitory. Our caretaker, Mr Filch asked me to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits to students who don't want to die an immense painful death. Secondly, I know that you are aware that the code of safety has been decreased to not likely, this does not, however mean that the danger is over. That is why there are still aurors patrolling the school and the wards will close at ten in the evening sharp. Then I want to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Mrs. Jones,"

A dark small woman who I believe was in her mid-forties stood up and raised her hand a little before sitting down on the chair next to Professor Slughorn.

The students looked up at the Headmistress and quietly awaited her to resume her speech.

"Also I wish to inform you of the fact that any blood prejudice or supremacy in any way is forbidden. If you fail to keep to this rule you will be expelled immediately and put to junior trial in front of the Wizengamot, or to put it differently for the muggleborn children, the magical law officers. The Head students and prefects will help us to keep this rule clear. Mr. Bob Gaynor from Ravenclaw is the new Head Boy and Ms. Janette Smith from Hufflepuff is the new Head Girl."

The two seventh year students also rise from their seats and raise their hand.

"Tomorrow you can pick up your class schedule and sign in to the extra courses at eight in the Great Hall. Then I wish you goodnight for now, I'd like the eight year students to wait here, including Ms. Astoria Greengrass and Ms. Luna Lovegood. The rest can leave to their dormitories now."

After seven minutes the Great Hall was cleared of students and Professor McGonagall walked over to our table. She stood at the end of it and placed her hands on the table, close to Tracey and Blaise who were sitting at the end.

"Welcome back everyone, I'm glad to see such a great number of students coming back to Hogwarts."

A small silence fell and everyone was staring in front of them, thinking back about the battle and the ones that were lost.

"Because the castle doesn't have enough room for you in the 7th year dormitories, we have made an eighth year dormitory for you alone. The rules for you are almost the same as for teachers. You are to be in your common room by twelve in the evening and you can leave your common room at six in the morning. This year we will be stimulating inter-house unity in more ways than one, seeing as you will be sleeping with all the girls and boys in two separate rooms. Which means nine girls in the rightest room and nine boys in the left room. Ms. Astoria and Ms. Lovegood have signed up for a difficult and heavy course, following 2 years of education in one. Their grades allow them to achieve this immensely difficult goal. They will be staying with you, since they will graduate at the same time as you. So they are now eighth years as well. Oh, before I forget, for the students who are interested, Professor Slughorn is prepared to give classes in alchemy, but only for those who follow potions as well. That was all, do you have any questions?" she asks us.

I could think of a thousand questions but instead of jumping up, I raised my hand slowly.

"Yes, Ms. Granger?"

Everyone turned to look at me and I felt just a little bit awkward.

"What about Hogsmeade? When are we allowed to go there or anywhere else?" I ask out of curiosity.

"I forgot to mention that too. Well, seeing as you are of age we can't stop you from going anywhere, nor would we want to, but keep the safety in mind. The time rules still apply, even when you are in Hogsmeade. We would rather not have you leave Hogwarts or Hogsmeade at all, but if you give me or your house teacher a time notice when you will be gone, I'm sure we can arrange something," says Professor McGonagall.

I see a few people smiling. It wouldn't be a problem to see Harry and Ron then! And I could visit my parents…

While I'm thinking about the alchemy classes I get pulled out of my thoughts when I hear Justin Finch-Fletchley ask a question.

"Where are the dorms and common room?"

"Ah yes, it is on the third floor on the right side behind the portrait of Laverne de Montmorency. I'm sure Ms. Granger can guide you towards that?" Professor McGonagall asks me with a smile around her lips.

I think back of the first year at Hogwarts when the Philosopher's stone was kept there. They must've rebuilt it afterwards then?

"Yes Professor," I answer. And with that we are dismissed and walking to our new common room.

Just before leaving the Great Hall I look up at the stars from the charmed ceiling. Smiling I walk towards the dorms with Neville and Luna. This was definitely going to be an interesting school year.

Hi guys!

Okay, so I officially found a beta for this story! Ms. Lana has already edited my first chapter; all credits go to her! This is the only chapter I'll be posting this week seeing as I have to exams coming up. I hope to post a new chapter by the end of next week, but no promises!

Love to know what you think!

Xxxx Aimee