While most of the other kids in her grade were grumbling about having to go to school for another year, Hermione was practically skipping down the hallway. She couldn't think of anything better than going to school for another year. They had created new classes specifically for any students returning for their Eighth Year, and they were going to be allowed to learn more advanced spells that you would typically only learn in Ministry jobs. There had been objections over teaching students Ministry-level spells, but the staff at Hogwarts needed a lesson plan that was more suited to adults, especially ones like Hermione who were already ahead.
Hermione's happiness ended abruptly when she laid eyes on Draco Malfoy walking toward the same classroom as her. What was he doing here? After Harry had killed Voldemort, all of the Death Eaters and Voldemort sympathizers were taken off to Azkaban, and though most families were only given a sentence of house arrest, she didn't think that any had completed their sentences yet, let alone one of the Malfoy's.
He looked up then and met her eyes. He didn't sneer at her like she was expecting him to, but his family had defected at the end of the war, so maybe there was hope for him. Not his family, though. To Hermione, anyone who willingly participated in Death Eater activities was irredeemable. Even after finding out that Professor Snape had been protecting them all along as a spy didn't sit right with her, especially because he joined willingly at first. She shuddered to think about the things they all did during their time as Death Eaters.
Draco was different. He was a scared teenager when he joined. Voldemort was living in his home for goodness sake, it's not like he could refuse to join with that monster in the next room. Hermione felt sorry for him in a lot of ways. When he switched sides during the war, he lost a lot of Slytherin friends, which she thought was for the better anyway. She couldn't imagine what it was like returning to school when every house hated you.
Come lunchtime, Hermione made her way into the Great Hall. She sat down with Ginny, since Ron and Harry had opted out of taking the Eighth Year, instead choosing to accept jobs as Aurors. Due to the work the three had put in during the war, the Ministry had provided waivers for each of them to skip their Eighth Year. Of course, Hermione refused, insisting she wanted to finish out her time at Hogwarts as she should have been able to do if not for the war.
Hermione found herself again looking at Draco and feeling sorry for him. He was eating all alone, everyone at his table giving him a wide berth. Most of the Slytherin families, though they would deny it, are still loyal Voldemort supporters, and being caught talking to a Malfoy is seen as being a death sentence.
Ginny elbows Hermione, "Hermione, I know you want to hit him with a good ol' bat bogie just as bad as I do for coming back here, but unless you know some spell I don't, you're not going to suddenly shoot lasers at him out of your eyes."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at her friend's joke, "Yes, Gin, I know. Honestly, though, I feel a bit sorry for him. He has nobody. Crabbe and Goyle were cretins, but you know they were great friends. He did help us in the end…" Hermione trailed off, watching as Draco poked at his food without really eating. "I mean, look at him. I can see the bags under his eyes from here. He looks as though he hasn't slept since the war started!"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "'Mione, I know you think you need to fight for the creatures who are outcasts and mistreated, but Malfoy did all of this to himself."
"Did he though Gin?" Hermione asked. "He was living with that creature watching his every move. He probably would have died if he refused the mark…"
"Yeah, 'Mione, you're right. I just can't so easily forgive and forget. Especially when I still have the nightmares…" Ginny trailed off as her eyes got this glazed look to them.
"That was his father, not Draco. You can't possibly blame Draco for what his father did!" Hermione exclaimed loud enough to draw the attention of others at the table.
Ginny's face got bright red, with anger or embarrassment Hermione couldn't be sure, but she slammed her hands on the table and yelled, "Well, then, why don't you go bloody sit with HIM then! Go on, then, go cozy up with Malfoy while the ones who were hurt by his and his family's actions just sit by and watch!"
Hermione could only stare up at her friend, mouth gaping open, as she tried to understand what just happened. "Gin, I didn't mean to upset you, I just – ".
Ginny cut her off, "You never mean to upset anyone, 'Mione, and maybe that's part of the problem. Some people deserve to be upset." With that, she sent a glare toward Draco and stomped out of the Great Hall. No doubt Draco had heard every bit of that conversation once Ginny started yelling. She looked up and sure enough, Draco was looking at Hermione with a strange look on his face. It almost seemed like he wanted to come over but was holding himself back. His hands were gripping the table so tight that his knuckles had gone white, and his jaw was clenched. Some might think his face showed that he was angry over being talked about in front of the whole school. Hermione thought he just looked sad.