Back To School : A New Beginning

by Donna Vito Frutti

The repeat year at Hogwarts. Hermione is back, of course. She wouldn't dream of missing a school year if she could help it. So are a bunch of other people. Not everyone is back for the education, though. For some, it's a second chance. And together, perhaps, they can make a difference. The war may be over, but not everything is as it seems on the surface. Especially with people.

2. Chapter 2

It was a beautiful September morning. It was just perfect, neither too cold nor too hot. The sun was out, there were a few wisps of cloud scattered across the sky, and a gentle breeze caressed her face.

There was the hustle and bustle of people moving about, and the excited chatter of children talking to each other as their parents stood by, looking on with pride and joy.

And the smoke spewed about by the scarlet engine of a train lying in wait on its designated tracks, while she stood beside it on platform nine three-quarters.

It all had a nostalgic quality to it. As though, things were back to normal after a decade or century, when, really, it had only been less than a year.

Hermione Granger was going back to Hogwarts for a repeat year. And she was just as giddy as she had been at eleven.

"Aren't you aboard, yet?"

A voice said behind her. Beaming, Hermione turned around to face two young men.

"What took you so long?" Hermione said, in mock anger.

"Merlin, Hermione, we might be war heroes but even we have to answer to powers higher than us," Ron, the owner of the earlier voice, said.

"And did the Higher Power allow you to stay for a bit?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

Harry laughed. "We need to get back in ten minutes, Hermione."

"Okay."

Hermione embraced both of them.

"I'm gonna miss both you."

"We will miss you too, Hermione," Harry said.

"We really don't know how we are going to survive without you," Ron said. "People have died trying to ace auror training."

"We survived the War, Ron. I'm pretty sure auror training will be a piece of cake."

"Wait till you go into training yourself. You will be singing a different tune,then. I think I'd much rather have a noseless dark wizard chase after me."

They laughed.

"I really can't believe I am going back to school without you two," Hermione said, sobering up. "It's going to be really different."

"Na, you will do great, Hermione," Harry said. "Besides, Neville, Luna and Ginny are gonna be there, too. It will be a blast, I'm sure."

"Where are they?"

"I think they have already boarded."

"Ginny insisted on going with Luna and Neville," Ron said. "My little sister has finally grown up."

"She's been grown up for a while now, Ron," Harry said.

"I refuse to believe that."

Ron, Harry and Hermione went on talking about various things in their lives.

The platform was emptying out, and there were only a couple of minutes until the train pulled out of the station. The porters whistled a warning.

Hermione looked back at the boys.

"It's nearly time."

"Have fun, Hermione," Ron said, and pulled her into a hug.

"You too, Ron."

Harry and Hermione embraced next.

"Keep out of trouble, will you?"

"I will try," Harry said.

Leaving them with a smile, Hermione climbed onto the Hogwarts Express.