a/n: I know that according to the real story Harry and Ron didn't go back to eighth year but this is fanfiction after all so... yeahhh

Chapter 2

Hermione stepped onto the train and turned her head to look behind her. "Are you coming?" she asked the little group of friends behind her.

"A little patience never hurt anybody," Ron told her while looking around him. "Have you seen Ginny?" Hermione gestured towards the two people busy snogging behind them. "Ugh, come on, seriously?" Ron called at them with a look of disgust. Hermione playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, let them be, Ronald." She grabbed his hand and led him into the train. They found an empty compartment and put their stuff inside. "Listen, I'm going to go call Harry and Ginny or else they'll never find us. You stay here," Hermione told Ron and left the compartment. She walked back to the doors of the train, stuck her head out and called: "Ginny, Harry, you have a whole year full of snogging in front of you. For now, can you please get on the train." Harry grinned at her. Before she stuck her head back in the train, she caught a glimpse of grey eyes and blond hair. She was quite surprised that Draco decided to come back to school this year. He kissed his mother goodbye and started to turn around. Hermione quickly turned and stepped back onto the train. She didn't want Draco to notice her staring at him. "Come on, you two," she told Harry and Ginny, and motioned them to follow her. They entered the compartment and crowded inside. The train ride was pleasant. The four friends talked and laughed, telling each other what they hoped this year would bring.

Most of them didn't want to come back to school this year, but the profession of an Auror, what most of them dreamed of becoming, required them to complete their N.E.W.T s . Hermione had a secret dream of becoming Minister for Magic, but hadn't told anyone yet because she was afraid they would tell her she was being obnoxious. They were happy to see Hogwarts hadn't changed too much. The castle looked the same, and there was the usual bustle of students hugging and greeting each other after a long summer. To Hermione's surprise, many of the seventh years (now eighth years) decided to come back this year. They settled themselves in the Great Hall, and waited anxiously for the sorting to be over so that the they could finally begin the feast. After the sorting, Professor Mcgonagall, now Headmistress, rose to say a few words. "Welcome first years, and welcome back students. I'm pleased to see so many of you have come back after a difficult year. Eighth years, because of the slight complication with there being an additional year of kids, we had to make a small change. You will be learning your classes with the seventh years. Also, let me welcome our new head of Gryffindor house, Professor Hagrid!" Harry, Hermione and Ron clapped loudly along with the other Gryffindors, pleased that their friend was taking on such an important role. "I will resume my role as teacher of Transfiguration until further notice. Enjoy the feast!"

Hermione was so full she felt like she could explode. She followed the rest of the Gryffindors to their tower. She collapsed on her bed, exhausted and more than ready for sleep. But sleep wasn't such a restful thing ever since the war. There had been many nightmares. She knew other people had it worse. Harry had gotten to the point where he had to cast silencing spells before going to sleep every night.

She changed into her nightgown and settled in her bed. She was happy to finally be home.

New time tables were handed out that morning at breakfast. Hermione had selected 7 subjects for her N.E.W.T s . As a result, her time table was full to the maximum. Ron took a peek at her time table and almost fainted. "Hermione, you're unbelievable," he said.

"Indeed I am."

Hermione hurried to the Transfiguration classroom, followed by Harry and Ron. They didn't want to be late on their first class of the year. Surprisingly, many students had decided to take Transfiguration. It wasn't a class that was normally taken by many people for N.E.W.T levels. Professor Mcgonagall entered the classroom and immediately everyone quieted down. "Good morning students. I am thrilled so many of you stayed with me for this year. Now, let's begin. Today we will learn a simple conjuring spell. The incantation is: Geminio. It causes a certain object to duplicate. There are a few dangers in..." Hermione already knew this spell and had successfully casted it. She sunk in her thoughts and was beginning to dose off when she heard Mcgonagall say: "Today we will be practicing this spell on a simple goblet." Oh, the irony. Goblets were passed around the class and murmurs of the incantation filled the room. Hermione got the spell down on her second try. Looks of jealousy were shot at her from all across the room as Professor Mcgonagall praised her on her success. After a couple of minutes Mcgonagall went back to the front of the class. "Homework," she said loudly so that she would be heard over the noise of the class. "is to practice the spell on any little object. See you next lesson."

"Hermione, how the hell did you do that spell?" Ron asked her that night in the common room. They had just finished dinner, and were sitting around a table in the common room, doing homework. "Just practice and concentrate," Hermione told Ron absent-mindly. She was scribbling furiously on a long piece of parchment, writing an essay in Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Hermioneeeee, helpppp," Ron whined loudly. "You know what, on second thought, I'm going to the library," she said. Before anyone could argue, she picked up her books and fled the room. The library was full of students. She found a quiet table far from the noise and dropped her books noisily on the table. She was awarded with a stern look from Madam Pince. Hermione reopened her book and parchment and continued working. It wasn't long before she dotted her last period in triumph and finally looked up.

There, sitting alone just a few tables away from her, was Draco. He was lost in a book, barely moving except for the occasional page-turning. She studied him for awhile. His hair was still blond, his eyes were still grey, but there was something different about him. His face had lost all traces of childhood. It looked as if he had forgotten how to smile.