Thank you for reading my first FanFiction. I hope you enjoy it!

(I do not own any of J. K. Rowling's characters, just wanted to take them out to play.)


The train's whistle blew electing a subtle shudder from Hermione. Her thoughts interrupted temporarily from the book in her hands. It was her last year at Hogwarts and for the first time she was alone on platform 9 ¾.

For her many years at Hogwarts, her parents had accompanied her to Kings Cross Station. Though they were not on the platform with her, they had held her hand and kissed her goodbye before she ran at the solid-appearing wall.

She had returned their memories many months ago, but they had slowly detached from her, scared of the power she held. They still loved her dearly, but maintained a careful distance. The thought made her heart ache. In protecting her parents, she also drove them away.

She looked up at the steam billowing from the scarlet steam engine in front of her. The fair hair on her arms stood straight up as she shivered. For the first time she was embarking on her journey to Hogwarts utterly alone.

"Breath Hermione" she whispered to herself. Lifting her worn leather shoulder bag from the cement platform.

Normally she would head to compartment #7, the compartment she traveled to Hogwarts with Harry and Ron, the compartment where she made so many happy memories.

She looked in and sighed. The grey cushions appeared dull and worn, lacking the normal draw the space once did. Her friends were not joking carelessly in the stuffy room, instead it remained empty of the normality she craved.

She moved forward to the next empty compartment, #23. This would be the last compartment she rode in on her final trip to Hogwarts. She sat on the threadbare bench and looked out the window. Smiling faces peppered the platform. Hermiones eyes stopping on a tiny girl, much too young to be a student. Her tiny hand was flapping furiously at another window. Her auburn hair shaking back and forth, reminding Hermione of Ginny.

Ginny had finished her final classes of her 7th year over the summer, as many who battled at Hogwarts had done. She had feared the horrible memories of the battle would overpower the wonderful memories and chose to not return. In fact, many of her original classmates were not returning with her. Harry accepted a position within the Ministry of Magic as an Auror in Training. Ron, as expected, had done the same. They were both madly driven to imprison the remainder of Voldemort's followers and did not see how returning to school would benefit them.

She thought of Ron. Ron Weasley, the boy who had captured her heart so long ago, their relationship no longer held the magic it once had. They had attempted to date shortly after the war, but he had changed. His boyish charm had disappeared in its place was a man focused on revenge and drunk on power. They had separated as friends, of course. Luckily, Hermione recognized the signs of a failed connection. The two of them would never amount to the relationship she yearned for.

She had grown close to Luna over the summer and expected she would be joining her at Hogwarts along with Neville and a few others. Otherwise, she expected her overall class to be quite small. There had been multiple deaths of classmates and disappearances of others during the last year. Her classmates were dwindling, and this year was no different as memories haunted those still alive.

A silent tear rolled down her freckled cheek as the train moved forward down the tracks. It wasn't long before the gentle rumble and warm compartment lulled Hermione softly to sleep, her cheek resting lightly on the cool window.


"Anything from the trolley, dear?" a plump woman said from the opened door. Hermione startled her book bag tumbled to the floor.

"No, I'm okay. Thanks." She stammered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as the plump woman closed the compartment door behind her.

She had fallen asleep; she realized. The exhaustion of the day must have caught up with her. The grassy fields were rushing past her windows briskly, the sun setting low in the red sky. They were nearing one of her favorite places on earth, despite the memories from the previous year. Anticipation and hope filled her chest.

Grabbing her leather bag off the slick floor, she located her wrinkled school uniform. Quietly muttering a simple anti-wrinkle spell, she locked the compartment door and changed into her uniform.

A gentle knock sounded on the compartment door as she pulled her cloak securely over her shoulders. She unlatched the lock and slid open the door. A tall boy with a shining, over-polished, silver prefect badge stood proudly.

"We're almost to Hogsmeade station." He scolded, glaring into the compartment.

"Yes, I know." Hermione said, pinning a gold badge to her uniform and looking up. The boy's eye opened slightly wider.

"Oh, gosh. So sorry." He stammered, looking at Hermione. His shoulder losing a bit of his earlier confidence.

"I was wondering when we would find out who Head Girl was." He said. "I'm Toby." he said, extending his hand towards her. "Hermione." She shook his hand lightly and continued to knot her scarlet and gold tie.

"Um. Yeah, I know." He said. Hermione blinked a few times and shook her head.

"Sorry. I fell asleep. I hope all you Prefects found appropriate activities to fill your time?" she questioned. Lifting her chin, attempting to look somewhat authoritative, though secretly she was hoping her hair wasn't too much of a mess.

"Yes. Of course. Well, the Head Boy did direct us as well, but we are Prefects for a reason, I suppose." Her head popped up at the mention of the head boy.

"Oh yes. Well, I guess there would be a Head Boy to help." She said as nonchalant as she could. How could she have forgotten about the Head Boy? When Professor, now Headmistress McGonagall offered her the position, there was no mention of who the Head Boy was, and it didn't strike her to ask. Perhaps it would be Sterling McCubbin from Ravenclaw, or maybe Aron Woodbridge. If she were truly lucky, it would be a Gryffindor, though few were left to pick from.

"Yes." Toby shifted from foot to foot. "He was quick to give us assignments after the Prefect meet." he said boardly as he looked down the hallway.

"Yes, of course." She stammered. How could she have forgotten about the Prefect meeting? McGonagall had specifically mentioned it, no less than two times in their previous meetings. She felt as if she was already failing as a new Head Girl.

"Well, I had better finish my rounds." He said before nodding and turning away.

"Toby!" she yelled before he could walk too far. "Actually." She questioned. "Who is Head Boy? I should probably meet with him after all" she said, her head sticking out the compartment door.

"I am." said a deep voice directly behind her. Hermione couldn't help but grimace. She sighed as she turned around.

A blond-haired young man stood dead center in the aisle behind her. His sweater sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, his muscular arms clearly visible, crossed smugly over his chest. A gold badge shimmered on his cloak. Hermione couldn't help but notice that Draco had grown. During the war and a bit before, Draco had looked ill, pale and skinny, but something sure had changed now. Where his skin was once pale, he now had a hint of a tan. He had filled out a bit, more muscle was present on his thin frame. He had also grown and stood at least a foot taller than Hermione.

He silently studied her, a slight smirk playing at his lips. She stepped back, the sliding door catching her right shoulder, stopping her from moving further.

Hermiones shoulders fell and her breath caught in her chest as he stepped closer. His tall, imposing frame inches in front of her, the cold metal of the door pushing into her shoulder blade.

"Surprised are you?" Draco questioned with a sneer, looking down at her. Hermiones eyes opened wide in shock as he leaned towards her, his arm reaching above her head, holding the sliding door in place. Her body wouldn't move. Her mouth opened slightly as the sound of other compartment doors sliding open began. Draco let out an annoyed laugh and straightened his body. With a wink, he pushed off the door and turned, walking confidently towards the exit, other students slowly trickling from various compartments.

Her head fell softly against the wall, causing a quiet thump. "Oh no." she whispered.