DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters except my own. I wish I did, but our Queen J.K. Rowling has that honour. This is my first fic, so be nice! And please review!

As dawn would bring no daylight without dark empty night; the clearest day no beauty hold without the rainstorm's dismal murk. As spring would bring no rebirth without cold winter sleep; the fallen snow no cleansing without the ashen stain of fall. As love would bring no healing without the stinging wounds of hate; and laughter give no joy of gladness without the woeful tears of pain. As peace would have no glory in its quest without the fear of war. Life's thrill would wane, no meaning hold, without the awe of death. As heaven is no prize without hell's fiery scene— Forgiveness is no virtue without the sinner's sin. Sandra M. Haight, Forgiveness

Chapter 2 – Trouble never ceases

The Hogwarts Express

Bellatrix's manic face and laugh permeated the carriage. Hermione felt the bile rise in her throat. This was the woman who tortured her, who murdered with pleasure, who was still torturing and murdering. Her fear turned to rage as she raised her wand and pointed it at the fiend. As she did, two other figures came into view among the wreckage of the carriage. Masked Death Eaters. She ran up to the two Aurors who had accompanied her to Kings Cross, they were obviously here to guard the train as well, and when level with them, cramped in the corridor, she cast: "Expulso! Confringo! Bombarda Maxima!" silently.

They continued to cast hexes in their direction, when a jet of green light narrowly missed the tall coppery haired Auror, whom Hermione had heard the other call Hamish. He growled and sent back a howling black mist which Bellatrix waved away with her wand, but the shorter of the two Death Eaters was not so quick. He fell to his knees, grasping at his throat, clawing his mask off, revealing himself as Rabastan Lestrange, brother to Rodulphus, whom Hermione assumed must have been the other masked Death Eater.

The two Aurors added more of their own hexes to the barrage, which Bellatrix and the second Death Eater were able to block successfully. Hermione and Hamish fought Bellatrix, and the blonde Auror was exchanging curses with the other Death Eater. Minutes passed but no one seemed to gain the upper hand. The cramped corridor, while making it difficult for the three of them to fight, also made it difficult for Bellatrix's crew to advance. The blown up end of the carriage was a little wider due to the cabin being blown open, so the Death Eaters were able to have a wider foothold. But with the incapacitation of Rabastan, their advantage was nullified. But even three to two wasn't too much for the nefarious pair.

The fighting continued, and Luna and Ginny were helping the younger students head towards the front of the train. Ginny sent Luna on and cast her own charm to prevent anyone from crossing into the forward carriages. She then sent a curse to the coupling, and the train pulled away, leaving their carriage to slowly coast to a stop. Ginny turned and saw Hermione and the Aurors battling their opponents in close quarter spell combat. Ginny saw an opening and climbed the outside of the carriage. When she was on the roof she ran to the end and without pause threw an exploding curse down to the black haired witch. Bellatrix looked up, saw she was now outnumbered two to one and with a scowl, disapparated. The taller Death Eater grabbed the arm of the other and quickly followed suit.

Gasping for breath, Hermione started to shake. Pure adrenaline, rage and fear coursed through her veins. Ginny clambered down, and took her friends hand and wordlessly pulled her to a seat on the abandoned carriage. It had nearly slowed to a stop, and the two young women looked out the window across the Scottish countryside. It was a pleasant day and you wouldn't have known that just minutes ago there was a fierce battle of life and death.

"Angus, have ye heard back from them yet?" Hamish shouted to the shorter man, referring to the main Auror squad.

"Aye, they'll be 'ere any minute, they said they were checkin' the train first." The dark haired Scottish Auror replied.

Hamish approached Hermione and Ginny, "Are ye two alright then?" he asked, his Scottish accent was thick.

"Yes, we're fine," Ginny replied. Hermione nodded, not trusting her voice to be steady.

"Aye, ye can duel, ye two can hold yer own!" he said, looking from witch to witch, positively radiant. You would have thought he enjoyed the fight.

"We've had to learn fast," Ginny replied.

"The way ye climbed on top of the carriage, dinnae ken ye were doin' that til ye shot yer curse at that snake! Gryffindor I'm bettin'? What a braw idea to uncouple the carriage! Yeh'd make a great Auror. And yer canny with yer spellcastin', Hermione. Ne'er seen someone so young so good at " he said, a look of unexpected admiration on his face, slightly breathless and

Ginny smiled, and nodded. She looked to Hermione, who was still not talking, lips pursed and facing the window. Hamish followed Ginny's gaze and sensing he was intruding, he backed out of the cabin. As she calmed her nerves and willed her hands to stop shaking, she held her scars tight; as if she could press them out of existence. She wouldn't let that witch hold power over her anymore. She couldn't.

Ginny put her arms around her friend and they sat there until the rest of the Aurors showed up, and they were given permission to apparate to Hogsmeade Station, where a teacher would be waiting for them. Hamish and Angus left the girls in peace, retreating to a distance far enough that they could talk without disturbing them.

Gryffindor Tower

Hermione woke the next morning as the sun was rising. She lay there as the memories of the duel washed over her. Feeling the fear renewed, she held her breath for 5 seconds, and then let it out slowly. She continued until she calmed. Muggle meditation techniques were proving useful when she felt her fear of being powerless creep up on her. She got up and began writing a letter to Ron and Harry, detailing the trip and the attack. She was sure that they would have heard by now, but she wanted them to hear it from her before they had the chance to send her a letter loaded with questions. She iterated that she was fine. The last thing she needed was them to worry about her. She pocketed the letters and headed to the owlery before breakfast. Having skipped the feast and heading straight to bed, she was ravenous.

For the first time since the battle, she entered the Great Hall, and it bore no scars of the battle. The hall was not as full and the eerie hush of whispered voices was almost more disturbing than the memory of it being filled with dead and wounded. Hermione remembered the way the Hall used to buzz with excited chatter on the first day of classes. The absence of the kidnapped students was keenly felt.

Getting herself some toast, eggs and bacon, she sat next to Ginny who was studying her timetable. She passed Hermione hers, and said "We have potions first, then transfiguration, lunch, charms and then you have arithmancy and I have a free period. It's great we have classes together now, since Ron and Harry aren't coming back."

"I sent them letters this morning, that's why I'm late." Hermione said.

"You missed the two letters that arrived at Gryffindor tower for you, Pig was absolutely devastated. I noticed my brother only sent you a letter. Honestly!" Ginny laughed, handing her the letters.

As she expected, the letters were full of "Are you both okay? Is either of you hurt? They're not telling us much!" from Harry and "We heard about the train! What happened? Mum said you were in a duel with Bellatrix!" from Ron.

Exasperated, she pocketed the letters and ate her breakfast with gusto, she didn't want to be late to her first class!

Potions Class

Heading to potions, Ginny and Hermione entered the classroom, sitting next to Luna, who was already there. Across the room sat a few other Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs Hermione didn't know. There was a distinct lack of Slytherins, except for two Hermione recognised immediately.

Theodore Nott, and Draco Malfoy.

At her sharp intake of breath, Draco looked at her. What she saw in his face, she did not expect. Dark circles under grey eyes full of something that looked like shame and fear, sadness and regret. He looked at her and his eyes momentarily flicked to her arm, then back to her face. As soon as she saw it though, it was gone again, behind a blank stare. She started to think she had imagined the whole thing. His face was drawn and his skin looked as though he hadn't seen much sunlight in a long time, pasty white, ill looking even. He turned to the front again and started to talk to Nott once more. Nott hadn't noticed the momentary exchange, busy pulling his textbook out of his bag. Draco didn't look at her again for the rest of the class, which passed quickly. Hermione was glad to find that she was still able to recall her knowledge of previously taught potions. Professor Slughorn set them a quiz to see where everyone was at after the tumult of the previous school year. Hermione scored top marks, Ginny was a close second. They had both studied together in the lead up to term. Not all of the students were so studious over the summer though, when Slughorn handed Draco's paper back with lots of red X's, he made a slight noise of disapproval with a stern look on his face.

The rest of the classes passed similarly. Hermione buoyed by her seemingly restored place at the top of the class. Draco and a few other students were set extra homework to catch up. Hermione did notice that all the teachers treated Draco with a seemingly gingered approach. Other students avoided him, other than Nott, and Hermione wondered if they knew about his role in Harry and the rest's miraculous escape from Malfoy Manor. She doubted it. As a result though, she couldn't help but pity the boy who seemed to have suffered from his father's ties to Lord Voldemort. She did however fall short of forgiveness. That would take much more on his part than looks of regret and shame.

Halloween

Halloween approached and brought with it a cool change, winter was on its way. The day was spent by many outside at the Quidditch pitch; Quidditch had returned and the school body was keen for something to take their minds off the grim news that had reached them in the weeks prior.

"BELLATRIX LESTRANGE AND OTHER DEATH EATERS STILL AT LARGE"

"MUGGLE KILLINGS AT HIGHEST POINT SINCE THE RETURN OF THE DARK LORD"

"ELPHIAS DOGE, PROMINENT WRITER, FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME"

"St MUNGO'S ATTACKED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, 13 HEALERS KILLED OR MISSING"

Hermione however, spent the day in the empty common room, studying for a transfiguration essay that was due soon. She couldn't find her book on human to animal transfiguration, though she was sure she had packed it when she had left the burrow. She decided to head to the library.

Once she reached the library, the familiar, comforting smell of old dusty pages filled her senses. She felt comfortable here, safe. It was always her special place of sanctuary. She headed to the section on Transfiguration and set to work finding another copy of the book, "Human to Animal Transfiguration Volume Two: Animagi and other Self Cast Spells". She didn't find it on the shelves, and was about to go and see Madame Pince to find out where it would be, when she saw why it wasn't there on the shelf: someone else was reading it.

Draco had the book open and had clearly been there for a while. Notes were strewn all over the desk, and a candle was nearly burned to its base. Hermione recognised the transfiguration diagrams and debated whether she really needed the book. She hesitated a minute and then took a step, then another, to the desk he was sitting at. When she was a foot away from the desk and the studying Draco still hadn't noticed her, she cleared her throat softly. He spun about and looked at Hermione, and there it was again, shame mingled with regret. And once again, it disappeared as quickly as it had crossed his face. His face turned blank once again and said,

"Can I help you with something?" coldly, but not with his former distaste that she remembered so well from previous years of school together.

"Um, I was just wondering if you would be finished with that book soon. I needed some notes to write the essay so…"she trailed off. She instantly regretted coming over. She didn't need to read it really? Did she? Yes, she supposed she did, but that wasn't the reason she was asking him now. She wanted to see if he had changed. She wanted to know if her pity was justified. She wanted… Merlin, she wanted to talk to him!

"What, the all-knowing Granger needs to study? I wouldn't have guessed, since you are the teachers' pet," he replied, his snark re-emerging.

"Well, you don't become top of the class without studying!" she replied angrily. "Some of us spent the summer before school revising!"

"Well how nice for you." He replied, turning away from her. "I'm not done with it yet. Go bother someone else, would you."

"I would, if there was more than one copy!" she said, hands on hips, turning to storm off. Why did she even bother? As if he would change. A lifetime of pureblood indoctrination wouldn't disappear so easily. He was still the same rude, self-entitled bastard he always was.

"Tomorrow," he called after her, not looking at her as he spoke, "Come back tomorrow."

She looked back, and he was back to reading, starting to write more notes.

Halloween Feast

The Halloween Feast was as spectacular as it always was. Hermione and Ginny joined in the celebrations; Gryffindor had beaten Hufflepuff by a margin of 180 points in the match that day, and the Gryffindors were very exuberant. Ginny had caught the snitch after only 20 minutes and was getting many high fives and slaps on the back. Luna was sitting at the table with them, her lion hat once again roaring in victory. Her dreamy smile and gentle laugh was contagious, the Great Hall sounded happier than it had in the two months since term began. Hermione couldn't help but look over to the Slytherin table every now and then, wondering where a certain blonde was. Draco hadn't come to the Feast, she noticed. Theodore Nott ate alone, although he seemed indifferent to the solitude. Ginny noticed Hermione's stare, and looked at her questioningly. Hermione shook her head, and mouthed: "Later."

Girls Dormitory

Ginny waited for Hermione to come up to the dorm, sitting cross legged on her four-poster, looking for an explanation to her strange behaviour at the feast.
"Okay, fess up, why were you ogling Theodore Nott? Finally gotten over my dung-head brother?" she joked as Hermione entered.

"What? No! I wasn't ogling Nott! I was… I ran into Malfoy today in the library and he was… weird. Then he wasn't at the feast. And your brother is not a dung-head!" She said, her face flushing at the thought of possibly being attracted to Nott. "No, that would not do!" she thought. He was not her type at all.

"Oh? Weird, like what?" Ginny asked, ignoring the rebuke.
"Weird like, well, like he wasn't the total dick we always thought he was!" Hermione said, shrugging.
"Snakes like that don't change their skins!" Ginny replied, her face now concerned, "Merlin knows if he isn't in league with his crazy Aunt? He could be an insider - again! You know what happened last time; he let Death Eaters and a werewolf into the school!" Ginny exclaimed, looking concerned.
"Yes, I know, but you weren't there! He looked… Anyway, it's not like I trust him or anything, but maybe he has changed. Doesn't everyone get a second chance? Not every Death Eater is a murderer, or irredeemable. Besides, I doubt McGonagall would let him attend if she thought he could be an insider." Hermione said, opening her trunk to look for the book again. Ginny, looking a bit bewildered, let it be, and got ready for bed. Hermione followed suit an hour later after unpacking and repacking her trunk, still missing her copy of Human to Animal Transfiguration Volume Two: Animagi and other Self Cast Spells.

The Library

Hermione pondered whether she would go back to the library the next day. She decided that even if the book wasn't there, she might be able to find what she needed about Animagi in another book, although she doubted it. She made her way there and when she reached the section she needed, she saw the tome in question laying on the same desk Draco was working at yesterday. Looking around, she wondered how it was there, Madam Pince was a stickler for books being in their rightful place, and if she saw a book out of place, it was quickly returned. Hermione suspected that Draco must have been here until recently; perhaps that was why he wasn't at the feast? He must be studying to catch up on his grades, which had plummeted. She took a seat and flicked to the chapter she needed.

Two hours and a parchment length of notes later, she began her essay. As she was writing, an aroma of cool yet spicy cologne wafted past her. Mixed with the muted smell of old books, she filled her lungs and held her breath. It was quite possibly the most intoxicating smell she had ever smelt. She looked around for the source of the aroma, and who should she see? Draco. Fucking. Malfoy. Merlin help her.
"So, got all your notes then?" he asked, sitting across from her, quill and parchment in hand, smirk on his face. The smell of aftershave intensified, and she detected a slightly musky after note.
"Yes. Thank you." She replied curtly, she remembered his snarky words from the day before. Hermione had never liked the term Teachers Pet.

"I wanted to," he paused, serious look upon his face, "ask you something." He said tentatively.

He waited for her reply, she gave him none.

"What I mean is," he paused again. Hermione had never seen him struggle to speak before. Likewise she had never struggled to speak, and yet now her tongue was firmly stuck to the roof of her mouth.

"I'm trying to say," he took a deep breath, looking intensely at his shoes, "I'm sorry." He raised his eyes to her face, seeing her expression unchanged.

"For yesterday," he added quickly, although his eyes said a lot more.

He put his essay on the desk and started to write, referring to his notes now and again. Hermione, still dumbstruck, barely able to concentrate on her essay, found herself looking at him through a curtain of her hair as she pretended to read through her notes.
He looked tired, ragged even. She always remembered how he never had a hair out of place before the second war, now he was almost dishevelled.

Sighing, she said,

"Apology accepted. For yesterday."

She knew he was trying to apologise for a lot more than just his rudeness the day before, but she was not a push-over. Studying him, she pledged to give him a second chance; whether anyone else thought he deserved it or not.