A/N: Edited October 15, 2016.
A/N: Thank you to those who have followed and favored! I'm so flattered!
I don't own Harry Potter, JKR's characters or the quote below from Order of the Phoenix regarding Ron.
I have split Hemione's POV into two parts as she has a lot more to say than Draco. Part 1 is Hermione on the Hogwart's Express on her way back to school as she reflects on the changes in her life
Hermione POV Part 1
I never imagined I'd be returning to Hogwarts without Harry and Ron at my side. But here I am, doing just that. The train compartment seems lonely without them, even though Ginny, Neville, Seamus and Luna are with me.
I guess I shouldn't have been surprised they decided to forgo our seventh year after being offered positions in Auror training. I was so looking forward to a normal school year without the threat of dying hanging over us.
Harry was sensitive and caring and explained how the ministry is short handed and needed him to start his training straight away. I know he feels responsible (even though he is not) for the death of so many Aurors. He had thought I would be joining them in training. I told him I realized I wasn't cut out for that, I've seen enough evil and death for a lifetime. I want to work toward making the wizarding world a better place, but not by catching the remaining Voldemort supporters. Harry took it in well, he gave me a big hug and told me he would owl me often.
But not Ron, I'll never forget his words, "Blimey, Hermione! You think I would want to go to school with you when I could begin Auror training without having to take any N.E.W.T.s; are you mental?" For several minutes he babbled on about how stupid I was to go back to school and not go to Auror training with he and Harry. I could not respond, he really does not understand me. Ginny interrupted his rant then and told him he was being a git and to stop shouting at me. He didn't apologize, just shrugged and walked away. Any illusions I had about having an adult relationship with him were shattered at that point. Until then, I kept hoping he would bring up our snogging during the battle, but he never did, he went back to being the same old Ron. I was correct in our fifth year when I told him he had the emotional range of a teaspoon. Somethings never change.
Crookshanks nuzzles my hand and my attention is drawn back to the present. I glance out the compartment door and make eye contact with Draco Malfoy. He immediately drops his gaze and continues down the corridor. He looks a lot better than he did at his trial; I am so proud of Harry for speaking for him. Malfoy is a prejuidiced, arrogant, prat, but I never thought he was ever truly evil. Especially after hearing what all Harry said about him. Then learning he was forced to take the dark mark and given the virtually impossible task of killing the most skilled wizard alive with his failure resulting in his and his mum being killed if he failed. I often wonder if Draco would have accepted Professor Dumbledore's protection if he had approached him earlier. I remember the tormented look on Draco's face during that horrible night at Malfoy Manor, with his evil aunt hovering over me, locking eyes with him and for a minute thinking he was being cursed as well. He also was the one to warn us to take cover at the Quidditch World Cup when the Death Eaters were attacking muggles. He did use the word mudblood, but it was still a warning. I can't imagine having Lucius Malfoy as a father, who knows what any of the rest of us would be like with him as a dad. Even Harry and Ron would be twats.
Well, Ron is anyway, even though his parents are perfectly lovely, his reaction to Harry speaking for the Malfoys only proves it. Ron thinks Draco should spend the rest of his life in Azkaban and was angry at Harry for a month after the trial and ranted to me, "Malfoy doesn't deserve a second chance! He should be killed for what he did. But no, Harry has to be saviour again." I tried to rationalize with Ron, but he just stomped away. I am glad Harry was able to mend things with him. "Ron, you don't have to agree with me or even like what I did, but I had to do it. Malfoy didn't identify me at the manor the night we were snatched and Narcissa saved my life in the Forbidden Forrest. I'd be dead if not for her and Voldemort would probably be ruling. The Malfoys' won't put a finger out of line for years if not ever. They know every move is scrutinized. If any of them ever screw up, we'll have the authority to put them away for good." Ron smirked at that and he and Harry were good again, but I don't think Ron and I will ever be OK. Maybe we never were. He has made me cry more times than I care to remember. Things were definitely strained the last time I saw him, he didn't even come to the train station today to see us off.
I returned to the Burrow full of optimism a couple of weeks ago. I spent the previous month with my parents after restoring their memories. It was wonderful to see and reconnect with them again. I am ecstatic that they weren't too angry with me, when I left for Austraila I wasn't sure what would happen. I was so happy when I got back. It was almost as if Ron begrudged my happiness. We would talk, but that connection we had before the war was just gone. I really did try.
I look out the window and see Hogwarts framed in it. I didn't expect to feel such happiness at seeing it again. I was afraid it would be overshadowed by the memories of the battle and lives lost. I am so thankful to see the same optimism mirrored in the others faces, especially Ginny.
"So George made me promise him that I would dedicate this year to Fred." I study Ginny's face and she's still smiling brightly.
I ask, "How so?"
She raises her eyebrow, laughs and says "By picking up where he left off; we are going to have so much fun this year!" I nod and can't help but catch a bit of her enthusiasm.
