Chapter 2


September 1st 1998

As Hermione walked into King's Cross Station with Harry, Ron and Ginny, her mind was clear for a moment. The simple muggles passing them by without a single glance, too focused on their own lives, put her at ease. No people coming up to any of them, made her breathe just a little easier as the 4 of them walked to Platforms 9 and 10. Ron and Ginny's bickering with Harry laughing along brought her a sense of comfort she had forgotten about in recent months, calming her further.

Her brown knitted sweater kept her warm throughout their journey through the busy train station. Paired with her white jeans and her trainers, she blended in with the surrounding muggles easily with her unruly hair laying down her back, unable to be tamed. With Ginny by her side, the girls chatted on their way to Platform 9 , about the new school year, Quidditch and the Library. "I wonder who will be returning this year. I know that Neville is and so is Luna but I wonder if any Slytherins will be returning?" Ginny wondered aloud as they walked. Before Hermione could answer however, Ron's voice resonated from behind the pair.

"Not bloody likely. McGonagall wouldn't let Death Eaters back into the school after the war, especially not people like Malfoy and his other cronies." His voice held malice and loathing as he spoke.

"Ron, stop it. You know that Professor McGonagall would give the same option to everyone, even them and if they choose it. What's it to you? You and Harry aren't going to be there anyway?" Hermione answered him, her voice firm. She couldn't understand why she was defending the Slytherins but she brushed it aside to analyse later.

Instead of returning to Hogwarts with the girls, Harry and Ron decided to accept Kingsley's offer to become aurors. The minister had offered the 3 of them positions after the war in a department of their choice, however with the pain still too fresh in her mind, Hermione had declined. With Ron wanting to avenge his brother, Fred, and Harry feeling he owed something wizarding community, they decided to help the capture of the remaining Death Eaters that escaped after the Battle of Hogwarts.

"What is your problem Hermione? They should be in Azkaban with their parents! Not walking around freely-"

"Ron, mate, enough." Harry interjected, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him from getting carried away. Before he could continue, they arrived at the familiar brick wall, the gateway to take them to Platform 9 . The 4 Gryffindors stood there for a moment, their own memories filtering into their minds as they surrounded the entrance.

"Right." Ginny sighed. "Are we ready?" She asked with a hint of excitement in her voice. One by one the four of them entered through the barrier, their hearts thudding with anticipation. As Hermione passed through the barrier, the first thing she heard were the people. Students preparing for the new school year with their parents saying goodbyes and farewells. The smell of smoke lingered throughout the platform as they walked. The large red, recognisable steam train came into view, giving Hermione a sense of relaxation in seeing it once more.

The packed platform was difficult to navigate through, with people in every direction, making it hard for Hermione to keep up with her friends. With the crowds of wizards and witches, the panic in her began to rise, bubbling like a cauldron waiting to spill over. Her palms began to sweat, loosening her grip on the trunk making it fall to the stone floor. "Fuck" Hermione muttered to herself as she went to grasp the trunk handle. However, before she could, a hand appeared doing it for her. Her eyes flicked up to the person and her words left her, only the word "Nott" escaping her mouth.

" Never thought I'd see Hermione Granger at a loss for words." Theodore Nott replied, playfulness and teasing in his voice. The dark haired Slytherin stood in front of her, hazel eyes full of mirth with a smirk on his face.

"I- thanks." Hermione stuttered out, still in shock at seeing him. He nodded in reply and turned, disappearing into the throngs of people, leaving her there, baffled.

When the train began to whistle, Hermione caught up with the boys and Ginny, hugging them and saying goodbye. She felt a deep sense of sadness after it was finished, knowing that it would be the first time in seven years that the 3 of them weren't going to be together; with her at Hogwarts and Harry and Ron in the auror programme. The feelings began to swell, but she pushed them down, not wanting to focus on them too much.

Harry tugged her aside after his 'moment' with Ginny, who was too busy bickering with Ron to notice them. His eyes shone with sadness, and… something else that Hermione couldn't identify. Sensing hesitation from him, Hermione spoke. "What's wrong, Harry?" Concern laced through her words.

"Just… have a good year okay? Don't sit and worry too much about school and me and Ron, which you'll probably do anyway, but - relax. Just for once?" He sounded desperate for her to do what he was asking of her, his eyes begging her to understand something she didn't. Of course she was going to worry about the both of them, they were her best friends, her brothers. It was her natural instinct; But something wasn't right.

"Okay. Okay, Harry I'll try but I'm always going to worry about you." She replied, embracing him once more just as the whistles sounded throughout the platform. His shoulders dropped, adopting an easy grin once more. Hermione and Ginny left the boys there, on the platform as they boarded the train. Hermione glanced back at her 2 boys, standing waving at her with smiles splitting their faces, and the feelings rose once more, like the tide of the ocean. She smiled and waved then turned, not looking back as she proceeded down the corridor.

The corridor was busy with all the younger students, with Second and Third years running around playing with Weasley's Wizard Wheezes inventions and timid First years meeting their classmates. The further she made it into the train however, the more subdued the atmosphere became. Fourth and Fifth years speaking quietly, mere murmurs from outside the compartments, a sense of sadness looming over their heads. Then there was the Sixth, Seventh and 'Eighth Years', which was a group of near silence right at the back of the train. Barely a peep coming from most of the compartments. She suspected some had Silencing Charms placed upon them, making it more silent but Hermione could understand. They were all hurting in some way or another.

She spotted Ginny's fiery red hair in one of the last few compartments, with a blonde, a pair of Spectrespecs on her head, and a brunette haired boy beside her. Hermione knew immediately who they were and she all but yanked the handle of the compartment door open to see Luna Lovegood, reading the newest edition of the Quibbler, and Neville in a conversation with Ginny about a plant of some kind.

"Neville! Luna! Oh it's so good to see you both!" Hermione exclaimed as she embraced them both and they all caught up, talking well into the journey as the train chugged along through the English countryside.


Hermione was so engrossed in the new novel she had picked up at Flourish & Blotts the previous week, that she failed to notice the Second year Hufflepuff at the compartment door. Ginny nudged her forcefully, breaking her out of her focus. "What Ginny? It's getting to the good part." She all but whined, earning an amused look from her friends.

"There's someone at the door for you." Ginny waved at the door, causing her to finally see the child standing behind the glass. The door opened and the Hufflepuff entered.

"Um… Hermione is to go to the Head's carriage to meet the Head Boy." The little girl stated timidly, handing Hermione a slip of paper with the same note, signed by Headmistress McGonagall. Then she slipped out quickly after that.

"I'll see you guys when we get to the castle. McGonagall will probably want me to figure it out and get to know whoever the Head Boy is." Hermione said as she collected her things, Crookshanks' carrier and then headed into the train corridor.

"She hasn't even told you yet?" Ginny questioned, confused why it was such a secret.

She just shook her head and headed into the corridor, shouting "Bye guys" behind her. Their resounding goodbyes were cut out with the door sliding shut. The silence resonated around Hermione as she travelled down the cramped corridor, the meowing of her familiar the only sound besides her feet hitting the maroon carpet. Her mind began to wander as she walked, questions began to pop up in her head - why hadn't McGonagall told her who the other Head was? Would they get along? Or clash? - all staying unanswered, but not for long. She changed into her robes quickly before continuing on.

The English countryside was one of the things Hermione loved about the journey to Hogwarts. The rolling green hills, the streams bursting with life and all the wildlife laying in the warm September sun. She decided to stop and look for a moment, to calm her racing mind. Her eyes watched the passing scenery with all of her attention, not wanting to miss a second of the outside. After some time, minutes or seconds she couldn't tell, she heard the rustle of fabric beside her, startling her out of her observation.

Her heart jumped into her throat as she turned, seeing a pair of hazel eyes connect with hers. "Good Godrick, please warn me if you decide to sneak up on me." She snapped, causing Theodore to laugh.

Theodore Nott was a very odd character to Hermione. He was a Slytherin, but never spoke about the blood purity nonsense like his friends; was very reserved and studious; however, she couldn't really remember him ever being particularly rude to her or her friends. With light hazel eyes and a smile that could make your heart race, his presence wasn't as uncomfortable to her as she thought it would be. He loomed over her, even with him being hunched over the window ledge, smiling that easy going smile.

"Sorry Granger, I'll warn you next time. Maybe shout something?"

"And scare me? No thanks." She replied, smiling at him. "So… did you need something, Nott?"

"Nope just wanted to bask in the presence of Hermione Granger, the brains of the Golden Trio." Theo replied, his eyes drifting back out the window. "And please call me Theo."

"Why not Nott?"

"Cause it reminds me of my Father-" Something in his expression dulled, becoming darker, as if the mere thought of the man made him angry. "- and I hate Theodore." The next second, his face was devoid of the brief change. "Where are you heading anyway? I would have assumed you would be with your Gryffindor Lions?" He questioned, his gaze returning once more.

She hesitated before telling him, wondering if people already knew that she was Head Girl. She told Nott-Theo anyway. "Um… I'm off to meet the Head Boy in the Head's Compartment." Surprise crossed his face, before a smug grin appeared. Hermione wondered why he looked almost giddy with learning this. Was it funny? Expected? What if -

"Well I can't see anybody doing the job better than you." Theo told her, his eyes alight with mischief. "Well, I won't hold you back from your important meeting." Without another word he continued down the corridor, not glancing back.

Her mind was puzzled as she stood outside of the Head's carriage, still trying to figure out Theo's words. She decided to put it out of her mind; it wasn't that important anyway, she had to focus. With her robes straightened, her appearance fixed she entered the cabin. Her eyes looked around trying to find her companion. Hermione almost gave up until she spotted a head of platinum blonde hair sitting with his back to her.

Her mouth hung agape as she sputtered, "Malfoy?!"

His head turned, as if in slow motion, a smirk across his face as he replied, "Hello, Granger."


Hermione's mind was still reeling as she sat across from Draco bloody Malfoy, the Head Boy?! And he was sitting there, not a word spoken between since their strained introduction, if you could even call it that, reading a book. She couldn't believe it, no wonder McGonagall hadn't told her! The letters the poor professor would have received.

A throat clearing brought her attention back to the present, where piercing grey eyes were staring at her intently. "Did you want something Granger?" He drawled, a guarded look in his eyes. Hermione noticed the purple bruises under his eyes, probably due to lack of sleep. Like you, her thoughts answered.

"What- How- How did you get Head Boy?" Hermione sputtered, her brain running a mile a minute. "Did you know that I was Head Girl 'cause you didn't seem so surprised to see me." She continued, not letting him reply.

"Firstly, I don't know why I got picked and second I didn't know cause McGonagall would have had the 2 of us sending howlers; but I did have an idea." He replied, not a note of disgust in his voice like usual, before looking out the window, creating silence once more.

Hermione's eyes began to wander, firstly on her surroundings then on Malfoy. He appeared to be healthier to her since she had last seen him, with more colour on his face and broad shoulders covered by his Slytherin house robes. Long, lithe fingers lay on the table, covered in metal rings with the Malfoy signet ring on his thumb. Malfoy had grown into his body and face, now appearing comfortable in his skin rather than the gangly teen he once was. His facial features stood out to her, all sharp lines as if carved from marble, with a pair of grey eyes set in the centre. Eyes that were now looking at her with uncertainty.

Before she could question it, he began to speak. "Look Granger, I know that we haven't ever gotten along-" "-that's an understatement." She muttered before he continued. "-but I wanted to say that… I'm sorry." The words left his mouth, sadness laced into them. She sat shocked as he continued. "I'm sorry for ever saying that horrible word to you and about everything that happened at the manor with… Bellatrix." Hermione's hand reflexively touched the scar, the damage she had acquired that dreadful night. Malfoy saw and flinched. "I know that apologising won't do anything but I wanted you to know that all that stuff happened and that I should have done something-"

"I don't blame you for what happened, you would have died if you had intervened." Hermione replied, stopping him. His face was covered in grief and sadness and she knew he was sincere. "And I accept your apology." She stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger. I like books, my cat and chamomile tea."She waited with bated breath for his response.

He returned her handshake. "I'm Draco Malfoy. I also like books, apples and Quidditch." Malfoy let go of her hand and went back to reading. She decided to do the same, lapsing the carriage into a comfortable silence, only the sound of the train resonating in the space.


Time passed by fairly quickly, the sun setting over the horizon, bathing the room in orange and yellow light before turning into darkness. Hermione looked up, seeing the silhouette of Hogwarts in the distance. She began to pack up her belongings, noticing Malfoy doing the same. Soon they were ready. "So how do you want to do this? You help Hagrid with the Firstie's or what?'' Malfoy asked as they made it through the train.

"I think we should both do it. Show a unified front to the first years." Hermione replied, starting to notice the shocked looks coming from the compartments beside them. People shot disgusted looks at Malfoy, glaring at him however, if he noticed he didn't acknowledge them. The train platform was packed when they stepped off, hundreds of students all milling about, talking to friends, the older years walking to the carriages, where she could now see the thestrals that dragged them.

Malfoy's booming voice sounded around them, rounding up the first years and she quickly followed suit. After the first years were on board the boats, the last carriage waited for them, taking them up to the castle as the first years docked, all gazing up at the castle in wonder. Hermione's mind flashed back to her first time her eyes fell upon the castle, the lights sparkling like stars in the sky. Before the war, before the castle was reduced to rubble.

Her thoughts were broken with a gust of wind, sending shivers ricocheting up her spine. Her gaze landed on the gates of the infamous castle and Hermione felt at home for the first time since the dust settled on the grounds.