Chapter 21

Arriving

AN: Here's chapter 21, hope it's enjoyable and doesn't take TOO long to write. Well that was disappointing... stupid writers block.

Thanks to my Reviewers. shaymars, marianna79, Whatever Way the Wind Blows, Princess of Mirkwood2, Varan Nightshade, ginger28, Leens, redskittlsbaby3, LCB, Guest, aubshkabob,

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!

Hermione POV

I walk the train after the prefect meeting, absorbing all the faces and names, the rules... just the fact I was Head Girl. It was a lot to take in. Yes I knew it was coming, had suspected it for years but to actually be here... going to Hogwarts... as Head Girl... without the fear of being attacked by grown adults... mad men... it was a new thing; Something to get used to. I shake my head and lean against the wall, watching the darkness outside the window as the train begins to slow, pulling into the station. I shake my head again and step out onto the platform when the train stops, stretching, watching the faces of my fellow students as they get off the train as well, the looks of wonder from the new students, the happiness to be back from the others. Hogwarts really was magical. I smile and start my work, as Head Girl it was my job to make sure everyone got where they needed to be tonight. Time to get to work.

I walk the platform of Hogsmeade, directing students, making sure the first years got to Hagrid, making sure second years got to the carriages. I smile as I meet up with Ginny and Luna, shouldering my bag as we head to the carriages to help sort everything at that end. I smile as I see many of the older students and Prefects already helping, standing back to watch for a few minutes.

"They're really doing a good job... you think it would be ok for me to go on to the school... let them handle it?" I ask Ginny and Luna. Ginny shrugs.

"Might as well, you're Head Girl, you are allowed to let the Prefects take charge. Only right isn't it?" she says. Luna nods in agreement. I snort and get into a carriage with them, riding up to the school. The school looked as it always had; they put NO effort into fixing it up after the war, only put it back to what it was. I sigh and shake my head.

"Rebuilt the thing the same damn way... I bet they didn't even fix anything past getting it to where it was before the war." I mumble.

"Likely didn't think they needed to... was fine before why change?" Luna says half paying attention. I huff and nod, sounded right. Why change things that weren't broken? But things WERE broken, we had just fought a war fifty some years in the making because people didn't want to fix what sort of worked.

"Just... with all the extra room, unused class rooms you'd think that's change some stuff. Update the lay out or... something." I say with a sigh, sitting back. It just made no sense, they had the perfect opportunity to change things and we were back to the same damn school; made me want to scream.

"You can make that a project after you graduate... I'm sure SPEW won't take up all your time." Ginny says idly. I roll my eyes.

"It's S.P.E.W. not SPEW... Merlin you guys can be thick sometimes. Besides I think I'm going to change it anyway. Most elves don't want to be free... they just want to be treated correctly. Dobby was the far end of the spectrum. Maybe Fair And Regulated Treatment for Elf Welfare or something..." I tell them with a shrug. S.P.E.W was a good idea but it wasn't the right way to do it, most elves were treated right, but they needed a safety net to make sure things like what happened to Dobby and Winky didn't happen on a regular basis. I shake my head to clear it.

"Sorry... zoned out for a minute. You two going to try and find boyfriends... or girlfriends... or whatever?" I ask trying to keep my mind from wondering. Gin shrugs.

"Might go looking but I don't know how hard I'll try... or how annoyed I'll be if I don't find any one. I mean before it was to get reactions and to... be out of my brother's shadows. Now... I don't know. If I see a guy I like I might try but... the world is so big I don't wanna do something stupid and get stuck not knowing." She explains. I nod my understanding, looking to Luna.

"I don't know if I ever have had a boyfriend... Harry took me to that Christmas party but besides that no one's ever shown any interest. Who knows, maybe this year will be different. What about you Mione?" she asks. I shrug.

"Theo says Malfoy likes me and I have a feeling there's stuff he's not telling me... I mean it would be interesting... and we will be sharing a tower being Head Students and all so... we'll see. I don't think I'll actively go looking for a boyfriend or anything. I mean I'm still in school. I have other things to worry about more then boys or... having to get gifts for birthdays or whatever." I say with a shrug, if I got a boyfriend I got one but I wasn't worried about it, I had plenty of time after I graduated. They nod in agreement; this year was going to be about fun and school... not worrying about war and death eaters.

"Agreed... should we make a pact or just agree... no actively looking for boyfriends or... playmates or... anything? Friends are one thing but... for once just being able to go to school for school... would be nice." Ginny asks, looking between Luna and I.

"I don't think we need anything formal... just an agreement between friends... if it happens it happens but... one year of just school won't kill us... I mean if the other stuff hasn't surely a year without a boyfriend won't either." I say. They nod in agreement and we all lean back with a sigh, enjoying the ride to the castle.

XxX

Draco POV

I sit in the empty compartment for a few minutes after the meeting ends, letting my senses relax after being in such a small space with so many people. That wasn't too bad... I didn't go into a rage for blood or anything... I could do this. I shake my head and get up, making sure nothing was left by anyone, heading out to walk the train, be seen as a... friendly free face. This year had to be different, I was different, school was different... the world was different. No one was going to order me to kill the headmaster... or threaten mother if I didn't so something. Voldemort was dead, Aunty Bella was dead... father was behaving... I was free to be... me. Whoever me was, I should figure that out. I had so much to figure out this year, who I was as a person, as a vampire... what I wanted to do after school was over. I sigh and lean against the wall, losing myself in my thoughts, idly watching the countryside pass outside the window.

I head out onto the platform once the train stops in Hogsmeade, helping where I can. Simple fact was most students knew where to go and what to do. I shoulder my bag from Blaise as we look over the mess of students milling about, trying to get where they needed.

"Has it always been this much of a mess?" I ask him. He shrugs and shifts his bag over his head.

"Pretty much I think, though I never paid much attention, you know? Off the train, to the carriages, to the school... into the great hall." He says with a shrug, helping me heard the last of the students towards the carriages and off the platform. We meet up with Theo near the end of the platform.

"Where were you then?" Blaise asks him. He shrugs and blushes, grinning a little as we walk towards the carriages.

"Hiding mostly, girls are crazy." He tells us, walking with us. I roll my eyes; at least he had a choice what girls he dealt with. I shake my head and rub the bridge of my nose.

"Can we not talk about girls... I still have to dump this massive pile of crap on Granger... Hermione... FUCK. I don't even know what I should call her." I say with a sigh, rubbing my face.

"I call her Hermione... never had a problem with that. Calling her Granger might bring up bad memories... you know? You could always ask... you know like an adult." Theo tells me with a grin. I roll my eyes and shove him, checking the platform once more before we climb onto the carriage. I blink when I notice the... animal in front.

"Um... can you guys see anything pulling the carriage?" I ask softly, blinking.

"Yeah... their called Thestral's I think... you can only see them after you've... seen death. Considering you saw people die it makes sense you can see them now. Luna could see then since day one I think... but she watched her mother die... potions accident at home I think. What? Just because you never paid attention to anyone doesn't mean I didn't." Theo tells me with a grin. I roll my eyes and climb into the carriage, sitting back with a sigh.

"What? You know you didn't pay attention to other people. Not that you had time to sometimes but still..." Blaise starts.

"Yeah yeah I know... I know. I'm going to try this year... new start... fresh start." I say with a sigh. We ride in silence up to the castle, each in our own thoughts.

"Guy... how do I start fresh...?"

AN: so that's chapter 21... sorry it took so long to get up, life got in the way... writers block... you guys know how that goes.