Surprisingly, Hermione slept well despite her strange new surroundings. She felt slightly nervous as she entered the large communal room because everyone else had met yesterday. She was pleased to see the friendly face of Ginny who walked over and gathered Hermione into a hug.

"Glad you're here at last!" she said. "It's all slightly crazy meeting everyone again - especially some people!"

Hermione didn't need to ask who she meant so she gazed around the room discreetly. Over by the window she could see Neville, who was dressed in his Professor Robes. He hadn't noticed her because he was deep in conversation with Ernie MacMillan - at least, Hermione presumed it was Ernie because he didn't look much like he had at school. He was tall with a narrow face and startling blue eyes. Hermione's lips twisted in amusement and Ginny followed her gaze.

"Why are Neville and Ernie amusing?" she asked, quietly.

"They're not amusing," Hermione said. "It's just that they both look pretty good and who would have thought they would? No offence to Neville - I mean he was always a lovely person."

Ginny grinned. "Ooh! So you fancy a bit of Neville or Ernie then?"

"No!" Hermione looked around because she had said this rather loudly. "I just meant they've both improved a lot."

"It's okay - I heard that half the girls at Hogwarts have a thing for their handsome Herbology professor, " Ginny said. She pulled Hermione to the right a little so that she could now see the main seating area. "While we're assessing our fellow geniuses..."

Hermione interrupted her with a giggle. "Nice to hear you being modest as always, Weasley!"

"As I was saying, why don't you cast your eyes over the hunk of total gorgeousness sitting on the sofa?"

Hermione did as Ginny instructed and her eyes met a mop of blonde hair falling into some deep grey eyes. She looked straight back at Ginny, horrified.

"Malfoy? Are you calling Malfoy gorgeous?"

"No! Not that sofa," Ginny pulled her further over. "The one by the staircase."

Hermione looked again and this time she saw a mop of almost black hair and some light brown, smooth skin.

"Blaise?" Hermione guessed.

"Yes of course Blaise!"

Hermione assessed him and despite herself she had to approve. He was wonderfully striking looking with gorgeous, large eyes and a stunning smile that he was bestowing on the Patil twins who were receiving it gratefully. She realised Ginny was staring at her awaiting a response. "Yes - I see your point."

"I had to stop my tongue hanging out when I saw him yesterday," Ginny said and Hermione giggled again. "Pity he's a bloody Slytherin and worse still git face's best friend."

Again, Hermione had no need to ask who Ginny meant by git face but before they could continue their conversation a deep voice interrupted.

"Hermione bloody Granger!" Hermione turned round to see Lee Jordan's wide smile and crazy hair. She let him pull her into a hug, giggling a little. He then held her at arm's length and looked her up and down. "You look great!"

"Thanks - I feel like I'm meeting a celebrity!" Hermione said. "And I've spent hours staring at your face."

Lee raised his eyebrows at her. "I'm flattered, Hermione but isn't it a bit early for a love confession?"

"Your poster is on the wall of our factory and shop - we sell Broomsticks." Hermione gave an unnecessary explanation of what she and Harry did for a living.

Lee chuckled. "I know what you and Harry do! Who doesn't? Half the England Quidditch team are riding Lightning brooms now!"

Hermione grinned. "Including Miss Weasley!"

Ginny did a little bow and they all laughed.

"I'll catch up with you later," Lee said.

"Hermione!"

Hermione turned at hearing her name squealed from across the room and she braced herself as Padma and Parvati ran at her before grabbing her and swinging her around.

"Look at you two!" Hermione managed to say when she regained her balance and dignity. "You look so glamorous!"

"Of course we do! The owners of Charms Beauty and Style have to keep up an appearance!" Padma said.

"How do you feel about being back?" Parvati asked, looking around.

Hermione shrugged. "Happy I suppose but slightly strange."

"It's weird isn't it?"

"Weird and wonderful," Ginny said, her voice changing on the last word to a breathy whisper. She inclined her head in the direction of Blaise making all the girls laugh. Padma grabbed Hermione's hand and examined her fingers.

"So you're not married then? I thought that maybe you and Harry had got married but kept it quiet?"

"No - we're just friends and business partners."

"Disappointing," Padma commented. "But at least it means we might be able to do a bit of match making." She looked around the room and Hermione pulled a face.

"She likes Neville," Ginny said, unhelpfully.

"Ginny!" Hermione protested.

"What?" Ginny asked her friend. "You two would be well suited."

Padma was looking at Neville and nodding. "Oh, yes. He's grown up rather nicely hasn't he?"

Hermione shook her head but she was smiling. "This really is like being back at school! I'm pretty sure we had this exact same conversation when we were fourteen!"

"Just for the record Mr Zabini is mine so hands off," Ginny said, gazing over at Blaise who was now talking to Draco.

"Where's Luna?" Hermione asked.

"She's not coming until the end of the week, she's off on some expedition somewhere," Ginny answered. Hermione watched Ginny's expression change, her eyes fixed on a point over her shoulder and then she felt a finger tapping her on the shoulder. She turned to find herself face level with a broad shoulder. Lifting her eyes, she saw that the shoulder belonged to Ron who was grinning at her.

"What time do you call this to get here?" he asked and they hugged each other. Hermione didn't keep the hug going for too long because it still felt just slightly awkward with Ron sometimes. After school they had dated for over a year but it had never really worked. Hermione had great affection for him and she would never have said it was like a brother because there had definitely been a slow growing attraction between them at school, but somehow it had never quite blossomed properly. They hadn't argued but there hadn't been the spark that there should have been - it was as if they knew each other too well before they started dating. There was nothing new to learn and Hermione knew that Ron felt the same. So one day an everyday conversation had turned into a discussion about their relationship and suddenly they were both agreeing that it wasn't working out. That had been it - no big break up - no argument or awkwardness. They just slipped back into their friendship and most of the time Hermione completely forgot about them being a couple. Only when they had to hug or touch did it surface.

She hadn't seen Ron for ages though because he'd been with his brother Charlie who was in Romania, studying Dragons. Ron had been seconded for a short while to Europe to study some foreign wizard sports with the possibility of introducing them to England and Hermione was very glad to see him again.

"I like to make a grand entrance," Hermione answered his teasing question. "I'm glad you're here Ron."

"Yeh - me too."

Someone made a vomiting sound from close by and Hermione turned back to the room to find Draco standing a short distance away, making gagging noises. She felt Ron tense and she shook her head at him, willing him to keep his temper.

"Ignore him, Ron."

"I can hear you - do you mind not talking about me as if I'm not here?" Draco said.

"If only that were true," Hermione retaliated. "No-one asked you to come over did they?"

"Well - as everyone else in the room seems so sickeningly pleased to see you I thought I should come and see what all the fuss is about," Draco looked her up and down. "But no, my impression last night was correct. There is nothing to make a fuss about so..." he waved his hand back towards the sofa's..."I'll leave you to slobber all over each other."

"Why don't you just..." Ron started to splutter but Hermione stopped him by placing a hand on his arm.

"Seriously Ron, he wants you to bite back. Just ignore him," she whispered.

Draco had moved away again, his walk confident and arrogant. He literally threw himself onto the sofa, over the back. It should have looked terrible but it didn't because he landed elegantly and nonchalantly before running his perfectly manicured fingers through his hair. He didn't have long to sit because the door opened and they were invited to the morning meeting.

Because so many characters are in this one I will need a few chapters to get them all introduced and get the story going, so bare with me. I wanted to add a few more familiar characters in because I don't want my stories to become too similar to one another which is a danger when it's mainly Draco and Hermione. Hope you liked this chapter although I know not a lot happened. Keep reading - it's gonna be a slow burner! x