A/N: This is my first ever fic so please let me know what you think and go a little easy on me in the reviews. It is an ongoing story and I'm figuring out the plot as I go, so open to all your constructive comments/suggestions. Happy reading!/
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to the fabulous J.K Rowling.
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
"Harry! Come here. I see a scarf!"
Harry raced over to look at the evidence, any evidence that he could find to prove that Ginny had survived the explosion.
"Th-that's her scarf, Hermione. And I see a blood stain"
Hermione nodded, but didn't lose her focus. She was looking for any other clues around the woods; smells, sounds that could lead them to her. Harry had defeated Voldemort mere minutes ago, and the aftermath of their Avada Kedavra blew out half of the forbidden forest, which was where many healers from the Resistance, like Ginny, were hiding.
They had to find her.
She could feel the gush of wind in her hair. She heard the trees violently sway against one another.
She smelled crisp leaves. They flew past her and deep into the darkness of the forest.
Hermione followed them slowly, with purpose. Closer and closer to the ditch under the tree. She saw a slumped figure lying down covered in rubble and nature.
Crushed leaves.
Blood-stained wood.
And then, a sharp pungent smell entered both Hermione and Harry's noses.
Decay.
"It's Ginny" She rasped. "She's dead".
All Hermione could smell now was blood.
Rotten blood.
Rotten.
Rotten.
Rotten.
Metal.
Hermione winced at the taste as she realized she had chewed her lip for far too long, the plush of it carved with a crack, as a drop of blood oozed on her tongue. "Shit", she ran to the sink and turned the tap on, letting the cold water soothe her lips, her face, and hopefully whatever sanity she had left.
She needed to stop thinking about the damn woods.
It was another beautiful day in Melbourne; the home smelled like fresh linen from her mother's laundry, and she could hear her parents downstairs laughing about something trivial. She loved hearing them laugh. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed like that; or even her last smile. After Hermione patted her face with one of her mother's Turkish towels she sighed and took a good look at herself in the mirror. All she saw was a pale washed out shell of her former self. Her eyes; what used to be honey-caramel orbs of sunlight, were now a dull shade of brown, like dried out mud. Lifeless.
The war was a brutal one to say the least, and even though it had been 6 months since the fall of Voldemort, Hermione felt the scar on her arm burning as if it happened just yesterday. She had endured so much- with the death of Ginny, one of her closest friends, and the subsequent disappearance of her boyfriend Ron. Hermione and Harry had searched all of England for two months, and then another month went by searching all of Europe, but there was no sight of the red-headed Weasley. They were both worn out, and despite Hermione's protest, Harry felt it was best for both of them to stop looking and assume he too didn't make it, like his sister.
Ron's disappearance drove Hermione so far to the edge that she feared she could never come back from it. The pain still felt raw, some days were like a dagger to her chest, but other days were like little thorns lightly pricking against her skin, subtly reminding her that she can never be whole again. She didn't know which day was worse, they all jumbled together so often. Harry knew that staying in England would have been very difficult for Hermione after all they had been through, and so he had arranged for her to stay with her parents in Australia. Hermione knew why Harry was doing this, and though she wanted to stay and help him rebuild the Wizarding World, she knew that she couldn't do that without rebuilding herself first. He really is a gem of a friend, she thought.
-.-.-.-.-
"Darling come downstairs! There's a letter here…its addressed to you!" Her mum called from the staircase. Who could possibly be writing to her at this time? Could it be Harry? Did he maybe find Ron? Or is it Ron himself? Hermione decided to not let herself be controlled by her thoughts once again and decided to just go downstairs to see who sent her the damn letter.
"I'm coming mum!", she bellowed as she put on her slippers and headed downstairs.
Her mother was holding a small envelope with the initials "H.G." engraved on it in gold. It looked like expensive paper. Hermione shuddered, figuring it was probably from the Ministry, letting her know that they found Ron's body. "You read it", she prompted to her mother.
Her mother proceeded to carefully open the envelope and read the inscribed text. After a minute passed, Hermione was agitated. "Well? Mum?"
"Its…its from Hogwarts. They'd like you to come back for 8th year, as Head Girl".
Hermione blinked. What? With all that was going on, the absolute last thing on her mind was returning to Hogwarts; a place haunted with all her memories of Ron and Ginny and her golden trio. And as Head Girl? She couldn't imagine doing anything of the sort. She stared at her mum with a blank expression, unsure how to react. As she turned her heel to go back to her isolated room, her mother reached out to hold her hand. "Honey, I know you have been through so much. But this might be the fresh start you need".
"What I need are answers. What I need is to find out what happened to Ron and what I need is for everybody in that bloody place to realize the sacrifices we have all been through and that we can't just move onto 8th year like nothing happened!" Hermione's face turned the deepest shade of crimson. She hadn't talked this much all summer, and now all her emotions were flowing out like a broken pipe.
"Sweetheart, I understand, and of course we can let them know that you will be declining to attend. But honey, you won't get the answers by staying here", her mother calmly reasoned, her hand resting on Hermione's shoulder. She was right. It was the only way.
-.-.-.-.-
That weekend, Hermione hugged her parents goodbye as she was off to England. It was very difficult for her mum and dad to ever understand what she was going through, being muggles themselves. She knew she had to obliviate them before leaving, and her eyes welled up as she performed the spell on her innocent parents. She left and didn't look back.
When Hermione reached London, she was thrilled to see Harry there waiting for her. He gave her one of his classic goofy grins, and they reunited in a warm embrace. They stayed there for a moment, neither one wanting to let go. "It's so good to see you Harry. I missed you very much", Hermione said in his arms. "I missed you too Mione. How are you? Were you keeping busy in Australia?"
"Yes, thank you. I read a lot of books and took up some interest in painting", she lied. She didn't want to mention anything about how she spent most her time digging for clues on Ron's disappearance, or how she still believed he was alive. She was afraid he would get hurt, and she didn't want to open up any closed wounds without a shred of evidence.
"Ah of course! You always loved reading. I'm glad you found time to do that." Harry held her things and they decided to go to the Three Broomsticks to catch up some more.
Hermione went over to the bar – "three butterbeers please!" she paused. "Im-im sorry, two butterbeers". She immediately put her hand to her face as she once again faced the harsh reality that their trio was now a duo. Harry put his hand on her shoulder "I am sorry Mione, I really am, about everything. Ron was my best friend, but I know he meant a whole lot more to you."
Hermione smiled, "He was important to the both of us Harry. You have done such a wonderful job at restoring what was left of this place. It's going to be hard to move on, but I promise to do my part and try". She meant it.
The bartender arrived with two butterbeers, and Hermione smiled after taking her first sip. She sure missed these. Harry continued, "Professor McGonnagall told me you'd be joining Hogwarts as Head Girl. Congratulations! I do hope the Head Boy isn't too much of a pain in the arse"
Hermione looked up from her drink inquisitively, "What do you mean? You aren't the Head Boy?"
Harry let out a laugh, "Me? Mione, I'm not even going back to Hogwarts this year. The Ministry of Magic has asked several students in our year to train as Aurors. I'm going to start Auror training with Dean, Seamus and Cormac. Remember them?!"
"What! Harry, then who's going to be at Hogwarts?" Hermione exclaimed. Who is the Head Boy?, she also wondered, hoping it was someone she could stand.
Harry paused. "Erm… I hear Neville is going to be a part time student and part time Auror in training! They offered that option to me too...but you know I was never good at studying. Besides, I can still see you on the weekends!" he let out a cheeky giggle, to which Hermione smiled in return. "Yes, oh very well. It's a shame Harry, I will miss you at Hogwarts."
The two of them ordered another round of butterbeers and caught up before Hermione realized she was about to miss her train to Hogwarts. "Harry look at the time. We HAVE to go to Kings Cross." They hurried over to Platform 9¾ with all her things, and Hermione bid Harry a final farewell with a promise to owl each other every week.
-.-.-.-.-
As Hermione stepped on the train, her mind flashed back to the first time she was ever on that train when she met Ron and Harry for the first time. They were so young, so full of life. So much happened since, and now she couldn't recognize anyone on the train. She walked past the carriage of first, second and third years, and then noticed a familiar face crouched in one of the last cabins on the train. It was Neville! She called out his name and he, too, seemed overjoyed to see another familiar face on the train. He instantly reached over to help her with her things. "My my, Hermione, you really packed a lot for this year!"
Hermione blushed, "Its…probably too many books I brought over from Australia. Let me help you!"
As Neville was propping up the heavy trunk to put it over their seats, he heard someone call his name and turned around. The trunk wobbled against his fingers and slipped.
Hermione shrieked and put her hands over her head as the trunk slid out of Nevilles palms. He turned back around to try and catch it before it landed on Hermione.
The trunk was millimeters away from Hermione's palms when, it suddenly levitated.
"Wha-" Hermione looked over at Neville, who looked more shocked than she, as his eyes were directed to a figure standing right behind her.
She turned around to find the last person she ever cared to see in all of the Wizarding World - Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy", she sneered.
"That's all I get? I just saved your life Granger."
"I don't know what you're talking about. We were doing just fine on our own weren't we Neville?"
Malfoy let out a small chuckle, before maintaining his serious look. "I'd recommend using magic the next time you want to move an object instead of handing it over to the care of Mr. Butterfingers over here". He glanced at Neville, who looked over to Hermione sheepishly and mouthed a quick 'sorry'.
"Well I'd recommend you mind your own bloody business, thanks!" Hermione glared back at Malfoy, arms crossed and ready for whatever comeback he had.
The entire compartment was staring at the two of them, wondering if an actual duel was about to start. Malfoy noticed all the eyes, and decided to end the show early. The last thing he needed was gossip around bullying the "Gryffindor Princess".
He brushed past Hermione, and was about to cross over to the next carriage, when he paused midway and turned around.
"Have it your way then. Be careful, Granger. Next time I may not be there to save you"
And with that, he closed the door between his carriage and hers.
"That sodding git. I don't understand why the Malfoys aren't in Azkaban after everything they have done", Hermione was mumbling to herself, a little too loudly. Neville sat next to her "Actually, Hermione, quite a bit happened while you were away. Lucius was executed shortly after the war, and Narcissa is in Azkaban. Draco received a pardon thanks to Harry, on the condition that he comes back to Hogwarts to finish schooling, and also attend AIT with the rest of us."
Hermione's eyes widened "Wait a minute. Malfoy is an Auror in training? And Harry pardoned him? He must not have been in his senses – maybe he was poisoned!"
Neville shrugged "Well I don't think they just took Harry's word. A lot of professors stood by it too. Anyway I don't know much else. Harry just asked me to give Draco another chance, something about him being a product of his environment or some sort. D'you know what I mean?" Neville opened a new box of crisps and started munching loudly, seeming blissfully unaware that what he said practically broke Hermione's brain.
Hermione nodded numbly, and turned to face the was no point arguing with him.
The rest of the train ride went smoothly. She caught up with Neville, and also reunited with Luna Lovegood, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. Though she was enjoying her time thus far, she still felt a certain annoyance in the back of her head, tugging constantly as she thought about Malfoy's predicament. How could he have been pardoned, when he was clearly on the Dark Lord's side? He had a mark, she knew it. And if not all that, he was so horrible to everyone all these years! Surely one cannot just assume that because he wasn't a grown adult that he is innocent from everything? Harry was barely 18 when he defeated Voldemort, so does age really even matter? Can a person wired like Malfoy ever change?
These questions bothered her all the way to Hogwarts. When the train arrived at Hogwarts, Hermione looked at her surroundings and felt her heart skip a beat. What a majestic school. She was in awe of it's splendor and this was the first time she was truly looking forward to spending her year here.
As she entered great hall with her other friends, Minerva McGonagall waved at her, signaling for Hermione to come over there. Hermione rushed over to give her a hug, forgetting for a moment that this was her professor.
"Forgive me, Professor McGonagall, but it's just so good to see you"
Minerva accepted her warm embrace and they stood there for a moment before breaking apart.
"It's Headmistress McGonagall now, dear"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Congratulations! I didn't realize-"
"And I didn't expect you to", Minerva cut her off, smiling down at Hermione's jumbled expression.
"I'm happy you came back this year Hermione, and even happier that you have accepted the position of head girl. There is much to do. But for now, I'm sure you must be hungry. They are setting up the great hall as we speak. Once you're done, will you come to my chambers? I have pressing matters to discuss with you and the Head boy"
"Of course, professor- I mean, Headmistress" Hermione managed to let out before turning around. Halfway towards finding her seat, She realized that she forgot to ask who the Head boy is. 'I guess I'll find out sooner or later', she thought to herself.
-.-.-.-.-
Once dinner was over, Hermione bid farewell to her friends, and began walking towards the Headmistress's chambers, taking in all the familiar sights along the way. It amazed her how the school could look so ostentatious yet have this warm, home-like feel to it. She knocked on the doors leading to the Headmistress's chambers and waited outside to be let in. Not long after, footsteps followed her and a familiar voice drawled behind her.
"Lost your way, Granger?"
She turned around to see none other than Draco Malfoy, for the second time that day, wearing one of his trademark smirks.
"No, I haven't Malfoy. Do you always like sneaking up on people?"
"Don't flatter yourself Granger. It's not my fault you aren't more aware of your surroundings. I was going this way too." Draco had a hint of defensiveness in his voice. He might enjoy making her uncomfortable, but he was no creep.
"Oh right, why would Malfoy want to follow a 'mudblood' such as myself correct? Pardon me, or should I say 'Draco'? It seems everybody around me has forgiven you now" Hermione bit back.
"What's not to forgive? I'm not responsible for everything that happened."
Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was he trying to get a rise out of her? Because it was working.
"I cannot believe you have fooled everyone here into believing that you were just some innocent bystander in all this". She slowly walked towards him "You have no idea what the war was like, the kind of pain Harry and I went through. Your precious victim act isn't fooling me" she snarled.
Draco's smirk was gone, and he was walking towards Hermione too. "I have no idea? Do you even know what I had been doing all summer long? No, you were too busy running off to the other side of the planet. Face it Granger, the war was tough, and you were a coward"
Hermione's eyes were close to welling up, but she refused to show it.
"How dare you", she whispered, now inches away from Draco's face. "If it were up to me, justice would have served you the way it served your father".
As soon as those words came out of Hermione's mouth, she regretted it. She knew it was too late to take it back, so she just stood there, observing his reaction.
Draco's face grew pale. He didn't know how to respond.
And didn't have to, because in that exact moment, the large oak doors opened wide into Headmistress McGonagall's' chambers. Minerva stood up to greet them, and she eyed the two students as they quickly stepped away from one another.
"I see you both have already exchanged pleasantries. Hermione, you know Draco Malfoy, he is going to be our Head Boy this year. Draco, Hermione is going to be our Head Girl. Now would you both come in?"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
A/N: phew! apologies for the lengthy chapter but I had to set the scene. things are gonna get fun from here! Please review!