A/N: Thank you for reading this much (if you already have!) This chapter is when the other main character of this story is introduced, I hope you enjoy! :)
"Girls… girls!" Mrs. Weasley's voice called sharply up the staircase of the Burrow; it was 8 am on the morning of the first of September, and they would very shortly have to leave to make it to King's Cross in time to make the train.
"Hermione?" Ginny whispered, she was perched upon the edge of her bed, combing her hair before beginning to get dressed. "Hermione? Are you awake?" Hermione had been lying with her back to Ginny's bed, awake but not quite wanting to move just yet. The past week had been so difficult… the ending of her relationship with Ron had clearly been more difficult for herself than him, or maybe he was just acting that way while she was still around – but in only a short space of time, she had begun to feel incredibly uncomfortable being constantly in Ron's company. In a slightly selfish way, she was pleased to be going back to Hogwarts purely so she could get away from Ron.
"Yeah, I'm awake…" She replied to Ginny.
"We better get ready before mum comes up here." Ginny said, shoving a few last bits and pieces into her trunk and securing it shut.
The journey to Platform 9 and ¾ was a quiet one; Ron, Harry and George had come along to see Hermione and Ginny onto the train. Hermione was thankful that George had come along, as Ginny and Harry were closely locked together, with it being the last time they would see each other until a holiday. George, who had become more reserved of late, chatted to Hermione about Hogwarts, which meant there were no uncomfortable silences between her and Ron. The platform was busy and bustling; the new students looking very small and lost accompanied by their parents, and most other students hailing and greeting friends whom they had not seen in several months. Hermione loaded her trunk into a compartment while Harry and Ginny said a thoroughly non-verbal goodbye, and she waited, slightly awkwardly, for the whistle to blow and them all to get on the train. Mrs. Weasley hugged Hermione tightly;
"I'm sure we'll see you at some point soon, have a good term Hermione." Hermione was thankful for Mrs. Weasley, and waited as she hugged Ginny (after she had detached from Harry). Harry gave Hermione a brief hug also, whispering to her:
"You take care, and let us know all about what's going on, I want to hear all about Hogwarts while you're there."
"I will, and I want to hear about your trip." She replied; the whistle blew and Ginny and Hermione both rushed to get on the train before all the compartment doors were slammed shut by the guards.
"Goodbye – have a good term!" Came floating from the four still left on the platform as Ginny and Hermione waited at the door, as the train began to move, slowly gathering speed.
Once the train had rounded the corner out of King's Cross, Ginny turned to Hermione:
"I'll get a compartment for us – do you have to go up to the prefect's compartment for a bit?"
"Yeah, I shouldn't be too long though." She nodded.
"I'll keep a space for you; I'll see you in a little while." Ginny told her. Hermione began to make her way up the busy corridors of the train, towards the front compartment.
Usually confident, Hermione felt uneasy as she manoeuvred her way up the corridors, very aware that she was receiving stares akin to the ones Harry usually got. This was not altogether unsurprising, she had spent a year in hiding with Harry in their attempt to track down horcruxes and defeat Voldemort; the inquisitiveness of the other students was practically par for the course… but without Harry and Ron with her, she felt very alone in this.
The prefect compartment seemed very crowded upon approach, there seemed to be even more bodies moving about in the small space in between the seats. Hermione recalled that this year the prefect team would be bigger than usual because of the re-invitation to those students whose education had been marred last year by the conflict. She quietly slid open the compartment door and was almost instantly hailed by Ernie Macmillan, a hufflepuff and member of Dumbledore's Army.
"Hermione!" He called, sticking out his hand cordially to shake Hermione's. "Come and sit with us." He offered, shuffling upon his seat to allow her to sit with him. At the small table with him was Padma Patil, the Ravenclaw prefect from Hermione's year and a girl whom Hermione didn't really know, apart from by sight, who must be a prefect from a younger year. "Congratulations!" He said, gesturing towards Hermione's Head Girl badge, she smiled rather sheepishly. "McGonagall couldn't have picked a better person." Hermione felt rather touched by this statement, it was pleasant that Ernie held her in such an esteem that he felt her deserving of Head Girl-ship.
"Thanks Ernie," She replied quietly. "It was a bit of a surprise. I'm just looking forwards to being back at Hogwarts…"
"Us too…" Padma said. "The thought of not coming back was really strange, especially after last year…"
"But it's all good now." Ernie nodded assuredly. "Are Harry and Ron back too?" He asked, Hermione shook her head slightly, internally dealing with the slight pang that she felt at the mention of Ron's name.
"No… they're going travelling for a year." She explained, "I did think about going with them, but I wanted to come back to school."
"It's deserved of course." Ernie acknowledged, "Having a bit of a rest, but you can always do that after this year…"
"Yeah, I just wanted to come back to Hogwarts." Hermione muttered, not bringing up the current situation that was between her and Ron. "I missed it last year."
"Yes, yes, of course." Ernie was nodding. "And I'm sure the prefect team will be working hard this year to bring the school back to normal."
"Yeah…" Hermione agreed, "Hey – do you know who Head Boy is? I haven't found out yet…" The expression on Ernie's face had stiffened slightly.
"He's at the back of the compartment," Ernie said in a low voice, jerking his head backwards. "He hasn't spoken to anyone as far as we know…" Hermione raised herself slightly in her chair to crane over the heads of the others in the compartment. Right at the back, sitting at a table of his own, and looking quite sullen; Hermione recognised the white blond hair and pale, pointed face of Draco Malfoy.
It took a few moments for Hermione to consciously register and accept what she had just been told; lowering herself back down into the seat she glanced between Ernie and Padma – both of whom had incredibly solemn looks on their faces.
"Malfoy?" She exclaimed in some disbelief. "He's Head Boy?"
"He's the one with the badge." Padma said slowly. "I'm not exactly sure why…"
"I guess things will be changing in Hogwarts now… maybe McGonagall made him Head Boy to try and integrate the slytherins with the rest of the houses." Hermione suggested, but she was aware of a dull, sinking sensation inside her. Being Head Girl was an honour, but working with Malfoy would no doubt be a challenge…
Hermione left the prefect's compartment with Ernie and Padma, having acquainted herself with (at least) the names of all the prefects who would be on the prefect team. They made their way down the corridor until she found the compartment with Ginny in it; wishing farewell to Padma and Ernie, she slid open the door and went inside, in the compartment with Ginny was Neville and Luna.
"Hi Hermione," Neville greeted her with a broad smile.
"Hi Neville, hey Luna." Hermione responded. Despite having not spent a lot of time with the three of them during her previous school time, she felt a rush of affection towards them all. They were the three who had stood behind Harry, Ron and herself the whole time they were fighting the Death Eaters and all three of them had suffered. Ginny had lost her brother in the fight; Neville had been repeatedly beaten black and blue by the Carrows; and Luna had been kidnapped, held as ransom, but none of them had given up – none of them had lost faith… In many ways, although they were still school kids, they had proven that age means nothing in the battle against injustice and ignorance; their actions had been more courageous and more loyal than many adults.
"Hello Hermione." Luna said in her usually serene manner; both Neville and Luna were looking well – all the injuries Neville had sustained last year had healed, and the dark circles under Luna's eyes had disappeared since the end of her ordeal.
"Did you have good summers?" Hermione asked, both of them nodded.
"Daddy and I went on a trip to Iceland." Luna answered, "It was nice to have some time with him after last year."
"I went on holiday with Gran too." Neville said; Neville looked different… Gone were the days where Neville looked weedy; his frame had filled out, noticeable nowhere more than in his face. He looked like an adult now rather than a little boy.
"Your Gran must be proud of you after last year." Hermione proffered, a grin spread across Neville's face.
"Oh yeah, she is." He sheepishly looked down at his lap, despite being well deserving of his Grandmother's pride. "She keeps telling people I'm truly my father's son, and that I've clearly got my determination and talent from him." Only in the past few years had Neville began to live up to his Gran's incredibly high expectations, and now there was no way she could deny that he was anything less than wonderfully talented.
"How was the prefect's compartment?" Ginny asked interestedly; Hermione's mind was drawn back to her counterpart.
"Alright, there's a bigger team this year – I was chatting to Ernie and Padma." Hermione answered, paused for a second and then continued: "I found out who Head Boy is too…"
"Oh! Who is it?" Ginny questioned cautiously, this was the subject that had caused the beginning of the end for her and Ron.
"Well… it's Draco Malfoy…" She said slowly; there was a very pregnant pause.
"Dr- Draco Malfoy?!" Ginny exclaimed in disbelief. "How is he Head Boy?!" Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know… I guess Professor McGonagall has her reasons for making him Head Boy…" Hermione murmured, hoping deeply that this was the case. If Professor McGonagall didn't have good reasons, then Hermione wasn't sure what she would do. A year spent working with Draco Malfoy wasn't exactly the ideal year that Hermione had been envisioning for her return to school… Whatever the case, Hermione was convinced now that this year would at least be interesting…
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'd really love to know what you think/feel about it so far! :)