"Back at Hogwarts for one more year," Draco commented looking out the window of the train as the castle loomed up into view.
"Yeah," Hermione said then smiled, "I'd never thought I'd be back here for an eighth year. I wonder the last time that their was eighth years here."
"Probably drop-outs," Draco told her.
"Hm," Hermione said with a smile, "They'll probably think we're drop outs. Of course we're only a year older, no one will notice I think."
Draco shrugged and leaned over to kiss her softly. A few moments later Hermione pulled away, "I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll just be a moment."
"Okay," Draco said leaning back as she opened the compartment door and slipped out. A moment later Ginny poked her head in looking around.
"Is Hermione here?" she asked.
Draco shook his head, "She's using the bathroom."
"Oh, okay," Ginny said then added, "I've been made a prefect, did I tell you that?"
"No," Draco said then smirked, "Every Weasley been one then haven't they?"
Ginny grinned and nodded, "Yes, well I've got to go. See you around."
She closed the door behind her and Draco was once again left in silence. He wondered briefly what Sen, Ron, and Harry were doing. Were they still at the Weasley's? When did wizard colleges normally start?
The first few weeks of school went by smoothly, Hermione and Draco both went to counseling once a week with the school counselor who turned out just as nice as their old ones. Ron owled Hermione around the beginning of October asking if she and Draco wanted to meet everyone at Hogsmeade, saying he already owled Harry and Ginny. Hermione told Draco about it and a few days later she found herself in Hogsmeade with Draco at Three Broomsticks waiting for Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Sen.
"Hermione!" Two voices yelled in synchronism. Hermione turned around to see Harry and Ron bursting through the door. She stood up and greeted them with a large hug. Sen and Ginny came in after, much calmer, and closed the door quickly behind them. Though it was only October it was already starting to get very chilly and the trees had already lost all their leaves.
Sen pulled off her gloves as she sat down next to Ron, with Ginny sitting down on her other side. Harry was sitting next to Ginny, next to Harry was Hermione, then Draco at the circular table. The waitress came over with butter beers that Hermione had predicted they'd all want, and ordered.
"So, how's college?" Hermione asked once they were all settled.
"Challenging," Ron said, "No making up dreams anymore."
"You're not taking Divination though," Harry said with a smile, "He means that you really can't slack like we did at Hogwarts."
Hermione grinned remembering all the times she'd let them copy her notes and had helped them with their homework.
"So, you planning on starting a club against the houses or anything like that?" Ron asked taking another gulp of his butter beer.
Hermione shrugged, "I don't know, many people will protest against doing away with houses, I'm not sure. I think we'll make a club called Houses United or something, or House Reform.. we're not sure."
Everyone slowly finished their butter beers then they stood up and headed outside to wander around. The sun had come out and warmed the air up a little, though the air was still cool in the shade.
"Oh shit," Sen said jumping behind Ron suddenly.
"What?" he asked turning around to look at her.
"My ex-girlfriend is over there!" Sen exclaimed. The rest of them had paused as well.
Harry glanced over towards where Sen was looking, "I don't see any guys over there."
"That's because my ex-girlfriend is a she," Sen explained, "She's the one with the curly brown hair."
"Whoa, wait a second, you're a lesbian?" Ron asked taking a step back. Sen glanced around to see everyone giving her odd looks.
"Ron, think a moment, if I was a lesbian, I wouldn't be going out with you," Sen said with a sigh, "Really you guys."
"I think she means she's bisexual," Ginny commented looking not quite as disturbed as the rest of the group.
"Don't tell me you guys are all homophobics," Sen said.
"Well, its not like there's any gay people at Hogwarts," Harry said.
"If there's no gay people at Hogwarts, how come there's a GSA?" Sen asked. Harry blinked.
"What's a GSA?" Ron asked.
"Gay Straight Alliance," Sen said, "There were at least 20 members when I was there. Including my ex, she only went out with me for a week then we broke up because apparently I was too old for her or something; she's only a third year, well I guess she's a fourth year now."
"Right," Ron said looking a little bit more comfortable.
"So, want to do a threesome?" she asked wickedly.
Ron seemed to freak at this idea and stepped back again.
"Just kidding Ron," Sen said with a chuckle, "I love you too much to have another girl in this relationship."
Ron didn't seem to find that very funny but Draco and Ginny had chuckled a bit at this and Hermione and Harry both seemed perfectly comfortable now.
After spending the rest of the day wandering around various shops and the area around Hogsmeade Harry, Ron and Sen had to leave while Hermione, Draco, and Ginny went back to the castle.
The next few weeks went by just as smooth and even quicker than the previous years had gone by. Hermione managed to talk to Dumbledore who thought that a House Alliance Club would be a great thing to have. Professor Oaks, the current DADA teacher had agreed to head it. A surprising amount of students showed interest in the club, a fairly even amount from each house. They started out just hanging out, to try and get inter-house friendships going and hosting game nights in the great hall, things like that. A few students even said that the whole house thing was rather stereotyped. By the time December rolled around the goal of the club had changed rather from actually doing away with the houses, to just getting the houses to think of each other has simply a way of sorting students into different classes, with simply friendly rivalry between them. They knew that once they got out of Hogwarts, there weren't going to be any houses, and the rival would be the enemy.
A/N: Whoa, its been months since I've updated, neh? I have about seven chapters typed for stuff that happens over and after spring break, one more chapter of school, then fun stuff happens. So I'll be updating at least once a week from now on! :-D This chapter is dedicated to everyone who's been patiently waiting for another chapter, since I'm such a horrible horrible lazy person. Its much easier to do a lot of typing over the summer though, what with school and riding lessons, and volunteering, and Creative Writing Club I don't have as much time. But we all know thats no excuse for lazing off on such a fun story. Sorry guys!