The next couple of night's where sleepless for Hermione. She had spent so much of her time trying to help her mother she did not have time to think, and for the first time after the war Hermione had nightmares of her time in Malfoy Manor. Although the room she was in looked like no room she had visited, the moment her eyes where on Mr. Malfoy she immediately knew where she was. After all, he was on house arrest, so there was no other place she could be. As she moved her research into the Malfoy Manor the dreams become worse. Before she knew it she only had one day to go until she would be on the train for Hogwarts. It was depressing buying all of her books for school when there where so many happy face's around her. Hermione felt even worse as she got on to the platform for the Hogwarts express. Looking around her at all the happy children waving goodbye to their mothers and fathers, Hermione had to fight the tears that seemed to want to escape. Without warning Hermione was captured by a sea of red hair.

"Hermione!"

Ginny Weasley was the first one in the group to reach Hermione and when she finally saw the friend she had missed all summer, she couldn't help but almost tackle the other girl. As soon as Ginny hugged Hermione there where other arm's warped around her. Hermione couldn't help herself in this moment everything felt like it did before she lost her family, she smiled in their arms.

"Hermione where in Merlin's name have you been?"

Although Hermione couldn't see Ginny, she was squashed between herself Harry and Ron, she could still hear the young witch perfectly.

"I'm sorry Gin, I've been... catching up with my parents." She wasn't ready to tell her friends about her little problem just yet, she didn't want their pity.

When they finally let her go Hermione took a good look at her friends. The summer seemed to have been good to them, They all looked healthy and happy Hermione wished she could say the same about herself.

"Come on then Hermione let's all stay together." Ron had warped an arm around Hermione in a possessive sort of way.

"I really did miss you" He told her as he kissed the top of her head. Ginny and Harry exchanged a knowing glance. Hermione wasn't blind, she knew what everyone was thinking, they all assumed that now with the war over Hermione and Ron's relationship would blossom. She smiled up at him, a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I missed you too."

She truly did miss him, but perhaps not the same way he missed her. No one was to know her secret, for now, Hermione needed to keep up with appearance's at least that's what she told herself as she entered the train hand in hand with Ron followed closely by her friends Harry and Ginny. They all ignored the stares they received as they entered the train in search of an empty compartment. Except for Ron, he seemed to enjoy being the center of attention. He even smiled and waved at the younger years who excitedly pointed them out to others. Hermione wished to find an empty space and be left alone, but it seemed since many children were repeating the previous year the train was fuller then ever before. As they reached another full compartment Hermione realized there was a space where she didn't have to suffer through all the stares, She was after all head girl.

"I think I need to get to the Head's cabin."

"That's perfect Hermione, I don't think the head boy would mind if we joined the two of you"

Hermione forced a smile, this was not what she had in mind, she needed to get back to work, she had a few more things to write down in her theory before she sent off a letter to Mr. Malfoy requesting a few more potion ingredient's and a book she had read in the library referred to a book she wished to obtain, she was sure Mr. Malfoy would get if for her. For some reason the last few days he had written her regularly with the same question, do you need anything today Miss. Granger? The letter's were a surprise when they first came and they had not stopped coming so far. Hermione wondered if something else was going on with the Malfoy's, no she knew they had secret but at this time it was not important, her mother was all that mattered. Her group of friends followed her to the head's cabin, it was a large cabin but other than the size the cabin resembled all the other cabin's. They all sat comfortably talking about their summer and the excitement of going back to Hogwarts for their final year. Hermione listened as her friends talked about family party's the slow but sure recovery of Fred Weasley, the new projects the twins had launched because of Fred's time in the hospital. She found herself smiling at all their happy news. Until Harry turned the conversation to her.

"Hermione it's not like you to be so quiet, tell us how did it go with your mum and dad?"

Hermione shifted in her seat, all of the sudden the bench felt really hard to her.

"They are doing great Harry, mum and dad went on a long vacation right before I came to school, they wanted some time together."

"Thats good to hear Mione, we got a little worried when you didn't write us as much as we wrote you." Ginny smiled sweetly when she spoke, it almost made Hermione break and tell her all that happened, and she would have if the compartment door hadn't opened. She hadn't seen him since the day she was at Malfoy Manor, but there he stood the platinum blond Slytherin prince. She hadn't noticed before but the young Malfoy had changed, he didn't look at the room with his usual sneer, no instead he looked at the room with tired wary eye's. He had also let his hair grow out, it was no longer slick back but now laid naturally a sort of shaggy look that suited him. Hermione noticed his clothes were also a little more laid back although still clean and expensive looking, he wear a tight fitted white shirt that showed his well toned body along with black slacks. Something seemed off to her, he looked put together but he seemed to no longer care about his appearance.

"Can we help you Malfoy?"

It was Ron who first stood up and asked. He had his hand at the ready just in case.

"I am here to set in the head's compartment"

His voice was without emotion when he spoke.

"And why would you need to sit in here?"

"Because he is the head boy Ronald."

Hermione sighed as she spoke, she should have known he would be head boy, after all he would be first in class if not for Hermione. Ron scrunched up his face, it was unattractive when he did this, but Hermione didn't point that out.

"And how do you know that Hermione, Headmistress McGonagall wouldn't let him be head boy," Ron almost spat the words "not after all he's done, not after Dumbledore." He now had his wand pointed at the young Malfoy. Harry stood up next to his best friends, his eyes full of sorrow, but instead of putting up his wand, he had his hand on Ron's wand hand.

"Enough Ron, we all need to move forward." At his own words Harry put his hand out to Draco. Draco looked down at his hand, again Hermione noticed there was no sneer, instead he took his hand and the peace Harry offered was excepted.

"Granger, I assume your head girl, we need to go speak with the prefects and give them their duty's" As he spoke he stepped to the side waiting for Hermione to get up.

"Yes Malfoy I am head girl," She stood and made her way out the door, but felt a hand hold her back.

"I'm coming with you," He held up his hand with his prefect badge. "After all I am a prefect." Hermione rolled her eyes after all these year's he picked now to take his prefect duties seriously. She stopped herself from the commenting and just walked towards the prefect cabin. After a short meeting which involved Ron waving at a few fans before they even reached the cabin, Hermione was ready for a nice long nap until they reached the school. Unfortunately for Hermione she was kept up by her friends, by the time they got to the school she had her duty's to preform. After escorting all the 2nd years to the carriages, with Draco and Ron again close behind, Hermione grabbed a carriage her only partner being Ron as Draco picked a carriage with Blaiseand Pansy Parkinson.

With it just being the two of them Hermione shifted uncomfortably as Ron got closer.

"Mione?"

She turned to look at him, his eyes seemed heavy to her.

"I really did miss you."

Perhaps he thought this moment would be sweet or romantic for the two of them riding down the rode to the beautifully lite up castle but when his lips touched Hermione's she quickly pulled away. He looked at her, hurt was evident in his eyes.

"Hermione is something wrong?"

His voice made her sad, but she didn't deserve to be happy not after what she did, she deserved to be sad.

"I'm sorry Ron. I'm … I'm just tired"

He gave her a broad smile that sweet boyish smile she so lovedand with a nod hewrapped his arm around her for the reminder of the ride. It made Hermione feel worse knowing he trusted the words that came out of her mouth.

Going to the Feast was just like any other feast, except at this feast she and Draco where introduced as head boy and girl the table of both their houses cheered loudly. Mcgonagall also named Luna Lovegood and Zacharias Smith as Deputy head boy and girl which made their houses explode with cheers. Mcgonagall made one last announcement that surprised every student in the room, this year all students in the same year would all share the same dormitory in order to promote inter house unity. Except of course the head boy and head girl who would get their own tower that they would share with the deputy head boy and girl. This caused quite a stir among the students.

"What does this mean for the house cup?"

A young girl spoke up.

"If you would all now be quiet I well explain what this all means for everyone here."

The room became quiet and after making sure no one would interrupt her McGonagall continued.

"Everyone well still win point's for their House's, you still belong to that house only now youshare a dorm with other's your age. Along with a teacher who well ensure you're safety at all times." She looked around the room "We have been divided by our house's and in order to be united we must actually unit and learn to live with our differences." She turned to the teachers "There well be no head of house who favors one house, instead they well be the head of house to students of the same year from different house's." McGonagall smiled "Professor Flitwick," The very short charms teacher stood. "He well lead all First years to their dorms," He smiled widely and waved at the young children below. "Professor Sinistra our Astronomy teacher well be the head of house to all second years." Professor Sinistra stood with a soft smile. "It well be my pleasure." Sinistra's voice was sweet and reassuring as she spoke. McGonagall nodded her approval.

"Professor Sprout, our Herbology teacher well lead all the third years, Professor Vector, our Arithmancy teacher well lead all the forth years. Professor Slughorn, our Potions master well lead all the fifth years, Professor Lewis, our Muggle Studies teacher well lead our sixth years, and Professor Trelawney one of our Divination teacher's well be head of house for our seventh years." McGonagall paused for a moment allowing the students to register the information ."All returning students well be given their own house that the Head boy and girl are to be head of house of, I well show the returning student's to their dorm, now if you well please follow your head of house." With her last words the teachers began to file down calling the children to them. A few of the older students looked around unsure but did not speak their displeasure.

As McGonagall approached the returning student's she was displeased to see the anger and a few of their faces one in perticular red head young man.

"Professor, you can't be serous! Your getting rid of Gryffindor Tower!"

"Mr. Weasley, if you bothered to listen you would have heard that no house has been let go just the way you children are separated has been changed." She turned away from him before he could speak another word.

"Now if you well all follow me I well show you where you well be staying."

Uneasily the students followed their new Headmistress to their dorm.