Chapter 1

"Hermione!" I cringed at Ron's screeching. We were closer than we had ever been now that we had officially decided to never try to date again, but that didn't mean I appreciated it when he howled across the entire house.

"What?" I called back, not bothering to look up from the muggle romance novel I was reading. It was some stupid thing of Ginny's about a werewolf and a human girl, but it was at least something. I'd run out of my own books.

"We're playing quidditch!" I sighed. I loved flying. Loved it. And I was a fabulous chaser. The Italian national team had even offered me a spot as soon as I was done with my education when I was fourteen. But the Serpe knew that, so I hadn't been allowed to touch a broom in three years. It only made the knife in my heart twist deeper when my friends forced me to watch them play.

"So?" I yelled, officially frustrated.

"We need a ref!"

"So?"

"Please, Hermione!" I sighed again and shut my book before heading downstairs. I'd been living at the Burrow since the end of the war nearly three and a half months before. Everyone thought my "parents" were in Australia still, so no one blinked an eye. Harry was here, too, so that made me feel less awkward about it. I honestly had no idea where I was supposed to go now. I hadn't been able to get in touch with Riccarda since she found out Dumbledore was dead and my dinastia felt the need to order me to stay in Britain. I had a feeling she was ignoring me.

"Fine," I said, smiling good naturedly at Ron as I reached him, "I'll ref." He beamed at me, grabbing my hand and dragging me outside to where Harry, Ginny, Bill, Fleur, George, Angelina, Charlie and Percy were waiting. I went to stand beside Percy, who looked almost as miserable as I felt.

"They rope you into this too?" Percy asked, shaking his head.

"Apparently, they need a ref."

"Want to change places?" he asked, holding his brown out towards me. Yes. Yes, I would.

"Not a chance, Perc," I begrudgingly said, carefully crafting a sympathetic smile. He shrugged. He hadn't expected me to say yes.

"Eh, it's okay. This game is to cheer up George, anyway." I nodded, suddenly feeling slightly better about being forced to watch. George was doing as well as could be expected after losing Fred, but none of us was letting up on him. We were trying to treat him just as we would have if Fred was still around, which was helping a bit.

"Okay!" Charlie yelled, silencing everyone. "I get Harry." Harry walked over to Charlie as Bill scowled at him.

"Fine. I get Ginny." Ginny and Harry exchanged a smirk as Ginny joined her oldest brother.

"Angelina."

"George."

"Fleur."

"You're taking my wife?" Bill asked, eyebrows raised. Fleur kissed his cheek before going to stand beside Harry. "Percy, looks like you're with me." Percy gave me one last painful smile and joined the group. I laid down in the grass below the makeshift pitch as they started.

I didn't pay a single lick of attention, just stared up at the sky and let my mind wander until they needed me. I called the shot based on who was nicest in the moment, a fact Harry noticed almost instantly. I shrugged at his knowing smirk and laid back down. The game ended about an hour and a half in when Harry caught the snitch. I stayed on the grass when everyone else went in, enjoying the last of the summer heat.

"'Lo there," Harry said as he sat down beside me. Ron sat on my other side, facing us.

"Where's Gin?" I asked without opening my eyes. It seemed like the Harry and Ginny were joined at the hip these days. They'd been sleeping in the same bed since the first night back at the Burrow, and doing more than sleeping for a month or so, though they kept that little fact from Mrs. Weasely.

"Inside. We wanted to talk to you." I opened my eyes and turned my head to squint up at Harry. He was looking down at me with a small smile on his face. A gust of wind blew my hair into my face and he reached over to tuck the strands back behind my ear, smiling softly. I didn't think anything of it. We'd always had a relationship full of affectionate but completely unromantic touching. I knew Ginny was a little jealous of it at first, but she'd gotten over it pretty quickly when he started snogging her instead of me.

"What's up?"

"We were just wondering if you were okay," Ron answered. Both of their faces turned serious as they watched my reaction.

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" I asked, honestly confused.

"You just seem distant lately. Lost in thought."

I sighed as I looked back up at the sky and acquiesced, "I guess I have been that."

"Want to tell us where you've gotten lost?" Harry asked.

I shrugged the best I could lying down. "I've just been wondering about what to do next." I felt Harry lie down beside me, his hands cradling the back of his head.

"I've been thinking about that, too." That surprised me a little. I'd figured he was just along for the ride for a while.

"What have you come up with?"

"Well, I don't think I want to be an auror anymore," he answered softly.

I nodded. "I figured."

"Really?" he asked, disbelief in his voice.

"You just seem so tired of all that."

"I am. I really am." I could hear the exhaustion in his voice. I reached over and squeezed his bicep in comfort.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't want to be an auror either," Ron added.

"Of course you don't," I said with a shrug.

Ron shook his head. "How could you have possibly known that? I hardly knew it."

"I'm your best friend, Ron." He smiled warmly down at me.

"The problem is figuring out what to do next," Harry said, moving the conversation along.

"You could teach," Ron suggested. I nodded in agreement.

"I'm looking for serious advice, here," Harry scoffed.

"We are being serious," I said, turning to my side to look at him, "You're a fantastic teacher, Harry. Did you see those kids after only a year in the DA? I don't know when Hogwarts is reopening, but you would make a pretty great Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"You really think that?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes. I nodded and he gave me a slow smile. "You'd make a great teacher yourself." I rolled my eyes, letting myself fall onto my back again. Harry leaned up on his side, though, not letting me escape.

"He's right, Hermione," Ron said, eyebrows drawn together.

"I don't think that's the best for me."

"Why not? You're smarter than half the teachers we had," Ron pointed out. That was true, but not a good enough reason for me.

"I just don't know."

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" Harry asked.

"Here," I said without even thinking, my voice full of the bitterness I was usually so good at hiding. My boys exchanged a look.

"At the Burrow?" I sighed and sat up, running my hands over my face.

"No. Well, maybe. But that's the problem. I don't know where to picture myself in five years." I paused then decided to just go for it. "Can I be honest?"

"Of course." Harry sat up, worry now stamped in his emerald orbs. I took a deep breath.

"I miss them. I miss my family." Sympathy softened the worry in both their eyes.

"We could go try to get your parents back." I shook my head. Of course they didn't understand. I had never given them the chance to understand. Dumbledore had told me not to tell them and now I never could. They'd never forgive me for lying to them for three years and I couldn't bare the idea of losing my new family. They might be the only one I had left.

"Thanks, but no. They're better off where they are." They only nodded, not bothering to question my choice of words. They were used to me being cryptic when it came to my family and past. "What about you, Ron? What are you thinking about doing?"

"I was thinking about helping George around the shop for a bit. At least until I figure out what I want to do."

"That's a great idea," I said, smiling at him.

"The shop does need another ginger around," Harry agreed.

"That reminds me, I need to go to Diagon Alley."

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ron asked, smirking. "Books."

"Yeah. Books," I agreed, making my boys chuckle. "What? I love Ginny, but she has awful taste." They laughed harder at that.

"If you don't watch out, the Burrow's going to turn into a pile of books," Harry said through his chuckles.

"I won't get that bad. Besides, I'm not buying a ton. Just what I can afford."

"But you're rich," Harry protested, eyebrows lifting mockingly. I rolled my eyes. They'd been making fun of me ever since I told them that I actually have quite a bit of money to my name. Even if you didn't count the family money, Riccarda had left me enough money to live like a queen for the rest of my life – "per precauzione".

"It's not my fault I was born into wealth. And you're not bad off yourself, Mr. Potter," I pointed out.

Ron shook his head. "But you're, like, Malfoy-rich. Not even Harry's got that much money."

My eyebrow shot up, "Malfoy-rich?"

"That's an apt description," Harry agreed.

I rolled my eyes again. "You two are incorrigible."

"Yep," Ron confirmed with a nod. We laughed together, just enjoying the chance to laugh at something.

"Sorry to interrupt," Ginny's voice said from behind us. We looked around just as she plopped down beside Harry. "But this just came for you." She held out a medium sized envelope.

"Who's it from?" Ron asked, trying to get a look.

"There's a Hogwarts crest on the other side," Ginny said, and suddenly my boys and I were much more interested.

"I thought Hogwarts was going to be closed for a while," Harry said.

"That's what I thought." I quickly opened it and read:

Dear Ms. Granger,

How are you, Hermione? Molly told me that you're staying at the Burrow for a while. I hope you're doing well. I know this letter is probably a surprise, but I hope you will understand why I felt the need to send it.

The rebuilding of Hogwarts is complete. I want to start the term on the 1st of September, and as it is only the 15th of August I believe that this is a reasonable goal. I want to invite all of the students that were unable to finish their seventh year to return this year and complete it, no matter their reason for being unable. I hope you agree that this is a good idea, because I need your help.

Inviting back all of these students will require great student leadership, and so I want to ask you to be Head Girl. No one could be a stronger leader and guide to help the students, and your marks have proven that you deserve the position scholastically as well. Before you agree, however, you should know that I am extending the position of Head Boy to Draco Malfoy.

I'm doing this for two reasons: firstly, because his marks were only ever second to yours and so I know that he will be able to keep up on his studies and secondly, because inviting all the students back includes those from families who were sympathetic to Voldemort. I fear that many will not return because they are afraid of how they will be treated by their fellow students and their teachers. Appointing Draco Malfoy, an actual Death Eater — though acquitted — will be a great step in showing that Hogwarts still does not discriminate against anyone and will most likely be the push some need to come and finish their education.

I know that you and Mr. Malfoy have never gotten along, but I also know that this is the best decision to be made for Hogwarts. If you decide that you cannot or will not work alongside Mr. Malfoy, please let me know. I will be sending the official letter out in two days and will expect your answer by then.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

I looked up at my friends, watching me expectantly. "They're reopening Hogwarts for the new term. McGonagall wants me to be Head Girl."

"That's fantastic!" Ginny said, smiling brightly.

"Go Hermione!" Ron cried, beaming from ear to ear.

"Of course she does," Harry said, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly. I squeezed back, smiling as their joy filled me. This seemed like the answer to the questions we were just asking ourselves. Or at least the answer to my question. Riccarda had told me to stay at Hogwarts, so that's what I would do.

"Does she say who the Head Boy is?" Ginny asked.

"Draco Malfoy."

"What?" Ron asked sharply. The other two's smiles had lost some shine too.

"She has some good reasons, Ron."

"But that means you'll have to live with him. For a year."

I shrugged. "And I'll have a bed and a solid roof over my head. And all hour's access to the best library in England."

"But—"

"What happened to you three being happy for me?" I demanded, looking in all their faces. At least they had the decency to look ashamed.

"Is this what you want, Hermione?" Harry asked.

I didn't even have to think about it. "Yes." Harry looked at Ron, who sighed but nodded without a word.

"Then we're with you. Let's go back to Hogwarts."