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Chapter 1

It now came to the beginning of the eighth-grade year for the returning students who had missed some or all of last year with the war going on. Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan from Gryffindor all returned this year to finish their schooling. Terry Boot, Justin Flinch-Fletchley, Susan Bones from Hufflepuff returned as well. From Ravenclaw, there was Cho Chang, Terry Boot, who were the only ones of their year to return; many had died in the war. Then to everyone's shock and dismay, Draco Malfoy had decided to return along with Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode, and Pansy Parkinson.

They bothered no one though, keeping to themselves mostly. Some thought they might be plotting, but the golden trio figured more than anything they wanted to keep their heads down and just get through the year.

Easier said than done. None of the trio wanted to harass any of the Slytherins this year. They all just wanted to get through the year unscathed and peaceful like, but they knew there would be some who held them accountable for their parents missed deeds, and with Snape gone, no one would be looking out for them.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Neville all sat in a compartment together, discussing that very thing. None of them were fools, and they knew with the war over, all the Slytherins would be easy targets.

"What should we do in case they are being bullied? You know none will come and ask for help if they are." Hermione was the first one to speak.

Harry sighed. "We stop the people if we can then take the person to madame Pomphrey straight away. This war has caused enough bloodshed, anger, and hate. I would like to be the one who helps end it." Everyone nodded in agreement with Harry's words. They were all heartily sick of the bitterness and anger that had plagued the wizarding world since the end of the war. If they could do something to help stop it, all of them would sure as bloody well try.

Ron spoke up next. "I know some of us are Prefects this year. He looked over to Hermione, but she shook her head. "I declined."

That got everyone's attention. "You what? Ginny, Ron, and Harry all said at once. "Hermione, how could you decline it is all you ever wanted?" Ron asked, stunned to the bottom of his Weasley soul.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her long-time friend's shock and confusion. "I don't know, Ron, maybe the fact that I just went through a war and do not wish to put too much pressure on myself this last year. I only want to have fun and study for my N.E.W.T.S, that is it. Here she put it that way; they could understand the none desire to be shoved into another role of responsibility.

"Who do you suppose will get the position then?" Ginny Weasley asked. She felt slightly nervous now that Hermione had not gotten it, then it might end up coming to her or someone else.

The friends remained silent for the rest of the trip, each thinking about the upcoming year and how they might get through it. No one wanted to admit that they were all at a loss to pretend like everything is normal. It wasn't, not really.

Now they had to go back to school and act like everything is fine. Like they had not been kids in a war for fucks sake. Nope, now, education became the biggest priority for the wizarding world and repopulation as well. Thankfully, they did not have to deal with such things yet.

Ron, Hermione, Harry, and all the rest could still stay kids for just a bit longer. That seemed to be the only good thing that came out of this year at all.

Ron sighed, he as he stared out the window. As if my life were not complicated enough. He had Hermione had called it quits shortly before coming back to school. Hermione, still grieving over the loss of her parents, had not been easy to get close too. Frankly, Ron had not even really wanted to try. It wasn't her; personally, it seemed to be the fact that when he kissed her, there had been nothing there.

And not just nothing, I mean zip, zilch, not even a stirring of little Ron. Nada. I am not sure what to make of it. I love her, but I am not so sure I ever was in love with her.

Hermione had not been overly upset about their not going forward. It had been his mother who had been more upset about the end of their relationships than either of them.

She had laminated about not having grandchildren. Ron snorted to himself. As if I am ready for kids. I have not even finished school, and I know Hermione is not even close to prepared for that step. Ma is just going to have to look elsewhere for a brood of red-headed babies because they are not coming from me.

Just then, the whistle for the train alerted them that they were close to Hogwarts. Everyone began getting ready to depart. As each of them trundled out of the compartment, they kept an eye on the Slytherin kids to make sure no one messed with them. Ron raised a brow at Pansy when he noticed her clothes and hair were slightly mused. He figured she might have had a fling with a boy or something.

None of them noticed the way she ducked her head down as tears gathered in her eyes. She did not wish anyone to know she was close to crying because Slytherins don't cry.

No one had seen her coming back from the bathroom to be pulled into a compartment full of 6th years girl. They had pulled her hair and called her names. They were telling her how her parents were Death Eater sympathizers and that they deserved to be in Azkaban like the rest. Pansy had tried to defend herself and her parents, but the girls only slapped her around more. Eventually, when the whistle blew, they knew they had to let her go.

Heading into the compartment were Draco, Blaise, and Millicent all huddle together. When each saw her, they knew something had happened. Draco jumped up and ran to her, wrapping her in his arms.

"Salazar Pansy, what happened to you?"

Being in Draco's arms felt a great comfort at the moment. As if someone had her back. She sobbed out the whole tale, each looking angry but knowing there could be nothing for it. Most were Death Eater children who would save them, no one that is who!

The serpents were on their own, and none could strike back for fear of reprisals and an excuse to kick them out. None of them would give the staff satisfaction.

"We will get through this, you will see." Draco hugged the sobbing girl close. Most people thought he and Pansy were an item, but they had never been. Pansy only clung to him to throw people off of who she had wanted to be with. If anyone knew she would be tormented mercilessly, Draco had pretended for years to be her beau.

"All we have is each other, and as long as we have on another's backs, we should be alright. From now on, no one goes anywhere without someone else."

Everyone nodded. Though their years had diminished, Draco still felt in charge and a leader towards this small group of misfits. Everyone readied themselves to get off the train as they departed; none of them noticed that they had a pack of Gryffindors in front of them—a crew behind them to make sure that they staid protected.

None of them would appreciate the interference from the group, so they were trying to be inconspicuous about it. So far, none of the Slytherin noticed.

It had been Ron who had realized something had happened after coming out. He had seen Pansy's rumpled state and at first not thought anything about it. It had not been until some sixth-year girls had come out of one of the compartments laughing over what they had done to the little Slytherin bitch as they put it. Did it dawn on him that she had been being accosted? Ron immediately told Harry and Hermione, who then informed Neville, Ginny, and Luna.

They had decided that all of them would wait for the Slytherins to come out Neville, Luna, and Hermione would be in front. Harry, Ron, and Ginny in the back so they each would have a powerful witch or wizard in both places to have their fronts and backs.

Why you ask would they go to so much trouble for people who despised them? Easy. None of them enjoyed watching people be bullied or humiliated no matter who they might be or how they had treated them in the past.

Everyone stepped off the train and into the carriages without incident. Once the group knew all the Slytherin made it into the Thesaural drawn wagons. All of them breathed a sigh of relief as they climbed into their carriages as well.

"Well, this bloody year is off to a great start," Neville commented grouchily. Everyone nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with him.