Hermione and Draco didn't speak another word to each other the rest of the way back to Hogwarts. As much as she would have loved to hex Draco into the next century, she was also determined not to let him ruin her final year at Hogwarts with her best friends and her boyfriend. Hermione smiled to herself as she stared out the window, just the thought of seeing Ron and Harry soon was enough to ALMOST make the rest of the train ride bearable

Ron and Harry had been getting many appreciative glances from the female passerby's, the war although weighted heavily on their mental stability at times did their bodies good. Months of being on the move constantly as well as defending yourself against a few people here and there without the use of magic helped build that muscle. And Ron feeling he deserved some sort of reward for all the horrors he had witnessed the past two years was more than glad to put his masculinity on display for his classmates. Harry on the other hand never paid any mind to the people who thanked him for ridding the world of one of the most horrible monsters to have walked it, all he bothered to do was grunt as he stared out his window,only ever turning around when he could swear he saw those red eyes maliciously staring back at him only to look behind him and find nothing there. Ron smiled sympathetically at his friend who had seen better days even if most of them held heartbreak for him.

Harry had taken the war hardest, but then again it was known that if the Boy who Lived, lived again he would not be any better off than he left Voldemort. Not soon after the war he began having dreams of the people he loved lying motionless eyes wide in horror but empty all at the same time leaving only the shell of a person he once loved, all lying in a pile as if they were yesterday's trash and at the top of the pile it was always the same, he was always there alive and laughing wickedly before a flashing green light awoke Harry from his sleep. But even in the world of reality Harry wasn't fine, he'd hear the voices of those gone blaming him for not saving them. Hermione and Ron tried to explain that it was in his head and none of their friends dead or alive held him accountable for the deaths of anyone close to them. But all Harry did was shake his head.

"You're wrong, they hate me every day when I wake up he watches me and I hear their voices, I hear Lavender screaming and Cho crying Neville begging for his life and the his laughing his awful cackling in my head it's always in my head all the voices why won't they stop? Why can't they let me be?" Harry tried to cry he wanted to with all his soul but all that ever came out were dry sobs never a tear shed from his eyes he was broken it seemed far beyond repair.

To say their friend's condition wasn't affecting Ron and Hermione's relationship was a lie, instead of focusing their alone time together on enjoying the other's company and doing what any other young couple would do to pass the time away. They instead spoke of their ill friend and why his life had to be so unfortunate, especially because he deserved to be happy and live as normal a life as he could not one that was misfortune after misfortune. It bothered Ron to no end that instead of talking about them, Hermione only spent her days worried about Harry's well being, of course Ron cared deeply for his friend but he also knew that becoming miserable because of Harry wasn't going to do any good and Hermione was blind to the fact that she often worried herself sick from talking about Harry.

"Gryffindors are supposed to be loyal to their friends Ronald"
"So then I suppose I'm not your friend then right 'Mione"
"How dare you even think that? You know that I love you it's just Harry is"
"-Harry is living his life best bhe/b can so why don't you focus on us rather than him? You'd swear that it's him your going out with not me sometimes"
"Don't be silly I can never love anyone as much as I love you babe"

Hermione often wavered his attention with a kiss, but Harry was always in the back of her mind and it was obvious to Ron he never had her full attention anymore. So to have the attention of another woman, well various other women was a refreshing treat for the war hero. "Hello Ron!" Ravenclaw Susan Bones said quite enthusiastically after having been checking him out since they were on platform 9 and ¾. A rather attractive girl, Susan had caught Ron's eye from his fifth year but never anything that he gave much thought, but if she would give him the attention then he'd gladly oblige.

No sense in being rude right?

He thought as she asked him if he could help her carry her luggage to her cart leaving Harry alone in his thoughts and torments.

He was reliving the final battle for about the hundredth time since they had first settled down in their compartment, It's not that Harry wanted to he wanted to do anything other than this. They had always talked about what life would be after they defeated Voldemort and went on to finish their last year of Hogwarts, the Golden Trio obviously thought something other then having a wall built between the three of them that neither knew was up or had any intention of breaking down either.

Always being the selfless one though, Harry felt worse for Ron and Hermione's relationship because he knew how his worrisome friend would get overly protective of him hence ruining the relationship she had been yearning for probably since they first met. Thinking it would be best to act as though he were fine for the sake of saving his best friend's relationship. Harry turned to speak to Ron for the first time since they had left the burrow to find he was gone.

"Maybe I really have lost my bloody mind." He said terrified of his thoughts that he had only been with Ron in his mind. Just then the compartment door flew open and there was Hermione.

"Harry!" She screamed out before wrapping her arms around him tightly causing Harry to wince slightly but force a laugh out all the same, because leave it to Hermione to act like she hasn't seen you in years when you've only been separated about an hour.

"Mione you're hurting me." Immediately Hermione let loose her death grip on her best friend when she reminded herself that Harry was still nursing wounds from the horrific final battle that was still fresh in most everyone's minds.

"Sorry didn't mean to hurt you, but I was doing rounds and I wanted to sneak a peek and visit you and Ron for a bit. By the way where is he?"

"I don't know, the loo maybe?" Hermione sighed.

"I suppose well tell him I came by I'll see you in the great hall, I love you Harry." She said kissing his cheek just as Draco and Blaise we passing by.

"I thought even YOU could do better than a mudblood Potter." Draco sneered as Blaise chuckled, before Hermione could open her mouth to come back with a witty remark about them having lost the war both were hit on their arms by a person hidden behind both males.

"Honestly Blaise you and Draco know nothing of manners, leave lovers be." Came a thick Spanish presumably Italian feminine accent. The small girl shoved her way out of the middle, before sticking her chin up in triumph and straightening her robes and staring back at Draco.

"And you, you denso maccabeo ignorante has this war meant nothing to you?! I would have thought that you having lost nearly all your familiare Draco Malfoy you would have at least kept your opiniones parziale to yourself!" The fiery brunette all but breathed fire at Draco as she huffed and crossed her arms under her chest angrily. Blaise went to try and calm her but all that was heard was their quite bickering in Italian which Hermione only understood bits and pieces like 'that idiot', 'kiss ass' and her favorite 'leccacazzi' which she had no clue what it meant but by the daggers that Draco had shot the small girl she knew she had to look it up as soon as she could.

"Blaise you might want to keep that smart mouth girl quiet, wouldn't want our fellow housemates to question where your loyalties lie now would you?" The small spitfire made an Italian gesture which everyone who saw knew what it meant before looking back to Blaise and staring at him in disgust then back to Hermione and Harry and smiling.

"Mi perdoni, I'm being very very rude. My name is Natalia and you are?" She said sticking her hand out warmly to Hermione and Harry only to be shot down.

"We don't need your help to keep these fools on check, we've done it for seven years and we can do it for 50 more that is if they make it that far." Hermione sneered. Harry for the most part just stared.

"Well obviously English people all know nothing of manners or that a simple thank you would suffice instead of insults. Io sonno spiacente per tentare, trying to be nice to people like you." The girl clenched her fist to keep from shoving Hermione and turned to leave the compartment where Draco and Blaise were guarding the door.

"Si muova o io la faro male addeso ambo cretini!" She screamed, shoving them with as much strength she had in her, which was surprisingly high to everyone except Blaise who moved before being struck. She stormed off muttering Italian insults to most everyone who passed her way until she was finally out of ear shot was the attention brought back to Hermione and Harry.

"Now Granger wouldn't want the weasel to find you in such a precarious position would you now? Or is this all some little arrangement between the three of you? Gods you're all some sick fucks you know that?" Hermione was tired of the insults and Draco questioning her fidelity so she pulled out her wand and stabbed it into his neck.

"Leave now before I decide that hurting you is worth losing my head girl badge." Draco looked her square in the eye and caught her bluff.

"You don't have it in you Granger not even against someone like me, your pathetic can't even defend yourself, do it see if I care come on Granger I dare you." Draco grabbed her wand and pushed it painfully into his throat to the point that he was making himself wheeze, everyone else who was witnessing this couldn't believe him and Hermione had no choice but to back down and move her wand, leaving the indentation of it behind. Draco looked at her disgusted and laughed. "I was hoping you'd prove me wrong mudblood maybe another day." That being said he slammed the compartment door shut and him and Blaise were gone. Hermione felt the anger surge through her veins why had she not been able to hurt Malfoy? The Ferret had it coming! He deserved what she could dish out and so much more for them torment that he had placed her and her friends through. Why couldn't she find the courage in her to hurt him?

"what did he mean by maybe another day? Do you think he wants you to hurt him?" Harry asked confused.

"I wouldn't doubt it he probably wants me expelled from Hogwarts"

"Why were you being so rude to that girl that defended us?" Harry continued on, the small Italian had grabbed his attention Hermione could tell. It's not that the girl was ugly or rude, on the contrary she had been polite and was very beautiful. She had big brown almond shaped eyes that seemed to hypnotize you like a cat's would. They had gone darker when she got angry and stormed off, not because of the pupil's dilating Hermione actually saw the iris of her eyes start to lighten from surprise then darken and become almost black when she had insulted her by not accepting the handshake. Black hair that cascaded around her face in layers and stopped mid back in rolling waves that bounced and looked feather light. That much Hermione was envious of. Why is it every other girl with hair like hers had it so controlled and beautiful but hers always looked like she had stuck her finger in an electrical outlet? Her nose was a small button nose and her mouth was full and luscious that gave off beautiful smiles. Without a doubt she would be one of the most chased after girls this year. Not that Hermione cared much because Ron was hers and he wouldn't gaze at another girl while with her. Harry worried her though, because leave it to him to have a pretty girl breathe in a little life but not just any girl. Watching the way her and Blaise had interacted and spoke led to only one conclusion in the Gryffindor's mind

"Don't get to ahead of yourself Harry"

"What are you talking about"

"I saw the way you were ogling her"

"I was not"

"Nothing to be ashamed of but I'm trying to protect you from getting hurt anymore"

"And how are you protecting me"

"It's so obvious you liked her! Just quit while your ahead"

"Why"

"Because she's Blaise's girlfriend." Harry's jaw dropped and he sputtered out.

"H-H-How do you know that"

"It's only obvious in the way she talked to him and Draco do you think just any other female could scowl at them like that and get away with it? The only reason Draco didn't say more was because Blaise is his best friend and he wants to keep it like that, well I'm sorry to cut our chit chat short but I have to get dressed into my school robes now see you later Harry." One more death grip on Harry and Hermione was gone.

This had been the longest Harry had gone without the voices on his head or Voldemort at his side and it eased him some, he waited for Ron to come back from wherever he went to.

"The mudblood is right Harry you'll never stand a chance with that beautiful girl, stick to filthy blood traitors or muggles, we needn't tarnish pureblood any more." Harry jumped and stared around the cabin.

"Where are you?!"

"Right here can't you see me? My my Harry something just isn't quite right with you is it?"

"Just leave me alone." Harry rubbed his eyes hard with the heels of his palm and shook his head covering his ears. "I killed you you're dead you're dead just go away." Voldemort continued to laugh maniacally and Harry did the first thing that came to mind.

He ran.

Not far though just enough to get him out of the cabin before he ran into someone and they both fell to the floor.

"Quello che I'inferno?!" Harry's attempts to get off the person beneath him who to Harry seemed small still and had to be a fourth or fifth year stilled and his eyes met deep espresso colored eyes who seemed just as surprised as him.

"Are you OK?" She asked wiggling herself out from under him, before he had finally gotten the clue to stand up so she could also. Holding his hand out to help her she stared at it then at him before taking it.
"I'm fine but how are you I'm pretty sure after getting tackled in the hall by a guy my size must not be to pleasant." She smirked at him and struck her chin up defiantly.
"I'm perfectly fine and you're pretty sure of yourself aren't you?"

"What? No! I'm just saying that there's a big size difference and I got a little winded when I fell on you." She laughed and smiled at him.

"Well no need to worry I'm fine, having Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy as your only playmates for many years toughens you up"

"Yeah I'd imagine that." Harry said darkly. They started walking back to Harry's cabin making small chitchat along the way.

"So how come I've never seen you around Hogwarts before? Are you new or did I just never pay you any mind?" Harry asked awkwardly trying to check her out, she noticed and held back laughter as she shook her head.

"I've come as a transfer student."

"Ah I see now, so what year are you in?" Harry continued slowing the pace because he could see them nearing their destination and even if he knew that she was already with another he couldn't bring himself to not feel attracted to or want to spend some time talking with the girl. He didn't care what Hermione said or eveni him /iHarry was going to go with the flow and even if it would lead to nothing, she was taking his mind away from the voices and hallucinations and this was all Harry needed to be happy.

"My final"

"Aren't you sad because you can't be with your friends for your last year of school?" The girl shook her head.

"No not really because if they are my friends than one year attending a different school will make no difference to my friendships I don't mind meeting new people either although I know many from this... What's it called? Slytherin." Harry turned into his cabin expecting her to wave good-bye and leave but she stayed standing at the door to continue her story.

"They aren't very pleasant people to talk to. Especially this female named Pansy, every time we speak it's like nails on a chalkboard for me." Harry fought back the laughter in his throat and offered her Ron's seat which was still vacant.

"Why are you alone? Isn't your girlfriend going to sit with you"

"She's not my girlfriend." Harry said quickly.

"Oh I'm sorry but earlier when I saw the way you to were embracing then later when she snapped at me because I was certain she saw me looking at you I thought it was obvious that you were... How you say? innamorate"

"Huh?" Natalia chuckled and translated.

"Lovers"

"GOD NO!" She couldn't hold back her laughter and nearly fell off her seat atr the look of horror all over Harry's face.

"Well I guess that's a good thing then isn't it?" She said once she calmed down leaning dangerously closer to Harry until he was positive she was going to jump into his lap. He fidgeted nervously and looked side to side to see if anyone was watching them before he whispered back.

"What about Blaise?" She smiled deviously.

"He needn't know my business if I needn't know his."

"What do you mean? You two cheat on each other frequently or what?!" Harry said getting ahead of himself causing the girl to forget her earlier come ons and begin to get hysterical.

"Cheating?! On Blaise? Quale e sbagliato con Lei?! Penso tutto di sangre puro sappia come fare e 'tenerlo puro?' Lei maiale stupido, I AM a Zabini. Blaise's cousin to be exact"

"I don't believe you." Harry said stupidly. The girl shot him a mock look of surprise before digging in her purse and pulling out a cardholder and throwing her ID at him.

"Read it for yourself Natalia Josephine Zabini!" She said still angry but having calmed down a bit, Harry watched to wear her finger was pointing and paid more attention to the fact that she had given herself a nice manicure then to the proof that she was indeed Blaise's cousin.

"I have no reason to lie to you, and as of now we also have no reason to speak. I thought you were different than other rude Englishmen I had already met but I see now you're not. If it isn't because I'm a woman and your kind assume we're worthless and only serve to produce you an heir, it's because I'm of pure blood and you think that I'm incestuous or that I deserve the same treatment as people who had the views and morals of a man who he himself was of 'tarnished' blood. Know this I am of one mind, my own and I don't take the opinions of others and makes them my own or my lifestyle of living, and I would have expected that after having to deal with so much hatred that 'The Great' Harry Potter 'The Boy Who Lived' and everyone's savior would have at least itried/i to accept others regardless of the past. You scoffed and scowled and fought with my cousin and his friends for years over how they treated you, but look at how you and your friend treated me. We continue down this path then our victory over Voldemort was in vain because the next in line will learn from his mistakes and seed even more hatred into our hearts. Ciao." She said as she walked out of the compartment shaking her head and looking back at him sadly and disappointed. He had known she spoke more truth then he wanted to hear but Rome wasn't built in a day and his views couldn't change at the drop of a hat or on the whim of some beautiful girl who made him feel good.

Natalia's ID gave him a small cut and he looked down to see he still had it, yet it was in Italian so all he understood was her name and age which was 17. He pocketed her ID as a hope that when he gave it back she would talk to him and accept his apology.

Just as Harry was getting comfortable again and had changed into his school robes, Ron came in a dumb look on his face and a little pep in his step. Harry found it odd that after not seeing him for basically the whole train ride that Ron had still managed to come back and get his school robes without Harry noticing.

"When did you change?" Harry asked and Ron stared at him white as a sheet in surprise.

"Are you talking now?" "Are you bloody daft? Of course I'm talking now when did you change if you left your school robes here." Ron looked at Harry a small sign of guilt was on his face but was washed away seconds later.

"I came in and you were gone I'd figured you went to use the loo and grabbed my school robes because I was with Hermione." Harry smiled uncomfortably at the thought of what they were doing together.

"That would explain that huge hickey on you neck." Harry laughed as Ron turned red and left again muttering some flimsy excuse . He was sitting calmly and began to see the telltale signs that they were closing in on Hogwarts, shortly after the school on top of the mountain came into view and Harry felt relief wash over him. The school still standing was more then enough to comfort him but the fact that as the war raged on and this school was the Order's safe haven it felt like coming home and he still couldn't grasp that after this year he would no longer have a place to go to. He sighed as the train pulled to a stop and waited until he was certain all the people were off before grabbing his own trunk and making his way up the school. With many students having lost their lives to the war or others who were sent to Azkaban Harry knew this year would be different and that not even the first years were innocent anymore.

What is innocence any ways

Harry thought as he saw Malfoy and Hermione fight over who should go into the Heads' carriage first.

translations for italian used in this chapter

denso maccabeo ignorante – dense ignorant fool.

familiare - family

opiniones parziale – partial opinions

Mi perdoni – forgive me

Io sonno spiacente per tentare – I'm sorry for even trying

Si muova o io la faro male addeso ambo cretini – move now or i'll hurt you both right now assholes

Quello che I'inferno – what the hell?
Innamorati – Lovers

Quale e sbagliato con Lei?! Penso tutto di sangre puro sappia come fare e 'tenerlo puro?' Lei maiale stupido - What is wrong with you?! Do you think all of pure blood know how to do is "keep it pure?" You stupid pig