Hermione swept a lock of hair from her flushed face and huffed in frustration. Draco Malfoy could be a right git when he wanted to and it appeared that he wanted to be all the time. He like her stared out the window of the head carriage and watched the slowly bouncing scenery pass by. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment and wondered what she did to deserve to get stuck with the all might Slytherin King as head boy. Just what was the school board thinking when they assigned it to the son of a death eater? If she were looking for peaceful times ahead she was in for a real eye opener. Not only had she not seen Ron on her rounds, but also there was that girl…Hermione didn't get her name and she had no real reason other then the title of Slytherin attached to her to dislike her.

"So, Malfoy, who was that girl with you and Zabini on the train?" Hermione asked evenly, still not looking at him. Draco raised an eyebrow and gave her form an appraising look.

"Why should it matter?" he muttered as he turned his attention back to the window and kept from rolling his eyes when he heard her sigh.

"Listen, Malfoy-," she started but stopped when he glared at her.

"No, you listen, Granger. I don't want to be friendly and I don't want to have anything to do with you more then I already have to. So if we can cut the chitchat then I think this will go smoothly. All right?" She raised an eyebrow at him and nodded in compliance

"Fine, Malfoy, I just don't want to have to carry you work load this year." Hermione received no answer however and that was fine by both parties. A grateful silence hung thick around them as they continued on the path to the school.

--

Harry had his eyes closed as with his hand stuck in his pockets as they traversed the rocky pathway to the school. It didn't interest him anymore…he had seen the same scene six years straight. He knew that Hogwarts stood there in one piece, and he had no desire to open his eyes and remember that day…

Even now as he tried his hardest to block out those mental images of what happened. People from both sides of the war lying in the aftermath of battle some still barely, vainly clinging to life crying out weakly in their own blood. Harry didn't remember much about the events that took place after he killed Voldemort, but…he clearly could hear the remnants of itheir/i voices. Begging…pleading…for life or death something to relieve the pain.

He sighed clenched his teeth together hard as the cries that never really left his head rose.

Fragmented images flashed in his subconscious and there it was. Blood, running down the slight incline of one of the many hills, past his face. Sweat dripped into his unblinking eyes as he lay in the deep grass of the somewhat near silent field. The metallic smell mingled sharply with the musky early morning dew. He oddly couldn't react to it at all. In his line of sight he could see scattered bodies, many unmoving, but one held his attention closely. Red hair clung wetly to a sickly pale face, and deep brown eyes stared emptily into the dark sky.

A hand on his shoulder jolted him sudden from the scene in front of his eyes and back to reality in less then a breath's span, and he was looking at Ron's curious face.

"You all right mate?" Harry nodded his head reluctantly and his attention was once again averted to something in his pocket. It was hard plastic and thin and he remembered the person it belonged to.

Natalia…

That was a person he could see approaching with caution. She seemed delightful to be around, and very charming in every way possible. But then again he wasn't in the right frame of mind to openly except people. Harry knew he would have to give the I.D card back soon, but the opportune time was the question. Ron's attention was drawn away from his war weary friend and to a cute blond petite sixth year that giggled delicately and flushed at something he said.

Harry ignored this however and took the slim plastic card out of his pocket to look down at the picture. His calloused thumb rubbed over the shiny surface as he studied the girl's features. Her dark wavy locks only complimented her smooth flawless features. Even in simple picture she her eyes held something akin to sincerity and smoldered darkly as if looking straight through him. It threw him off slightly though to find that a pureblood of the Zabini family carried a muggle identification card.

The sudden halt jerked him out of his musing and when he looked up he saw Ron and the sixth year had already departed with out word. Everyone was used to his constantly changing moods. One minute he would talk as if there was a care in the world and the next he was closed off from everyone around him. Usually this phenomenon occurred in larger crowds. Sighing he stuck the card back in his pocket and exited the carriage with his hands loosely in his slacks.

He titled his head back slightly and looked up at the white, bright moon, barely aware of a few of his school mates stopping or faltering their trek to look at him and whisper. Closing his eyes again he breathed in deeply and grunted at the mossy smell that wafted off the lake the evening breeze carried. He was relieved that the smell of blood and death had left this place…the only haven he had left after the war. Even though the main battle took place here and many lost their lives in protecting the seemingly sacred oasis.

He became aware of many eyes on him now at his still form, and many where of the female population. Harry flicked his eyes over to a group of females standing on the edge of the stone steps leading to the grand entry way as they whispered frantically in a hushed tone when his gaze fell on them.

Harry knew perfectly well that his status as the boy – who – live and fought he – should – not – be named then lived again. He was also aware of his physical appearance now and how it appealed the right gender…and even to the not so right gender. His crisp white school uniform clung to his torso just right and he was devoid of the regulation gray vest. The top couple of buttons of his button up shirt were undone and his necktie hung loosely against his chest. Harry had rolled up the sleeves to just under his elbows and his shirt was untucked.

His slightly slouched posture and presence radiated aloofness, which ultimately translated to being…i'cool.'/i He pulled a hand free from his pocket and brushed back the long bangs from his eyes. Harry had to admit to himself that he had let his wild hair do just that…go wild. The back of his hair brushed lightly at the nap of his neck as he pushed his hand all the way through his thick locks. The girls were still whispering when he heaved a silent sigh and turned started to walk up the steps. He choose to ignore it all and hoped the night would come to a quick end.

--

Hermione's head pounded painfully behind her eyes as she listened to Malfoy bitch about yet another thing due to Head Duties. They were currently walking to the shared head dorms and he was behind her muttering dark nasty things under his breath. With each sound that passed his lips it grated on Hermione's nerves making her head grow constantly worse. Her eyes were half lidded and her hands balled tightly at her side as she tried to concentrate on the sound of the dull thuds her shoes made in the empty hall.

McGonagall had told them to go on with out her giving the excuse she just had too much work to do. With password and instructions in hand they had been dismissed.

Finally the grumbling she couldn't take anymore and she stopped suddenly in her tracks and turned sharply around squinting at the blond boy who stared at her impassively. He raised an eyebrow when she raised a slightly trembling finger and pointed in his face.

"Malfoy," she whispered out dangerously. Taking a breath she calmed her irritation and borderline rage so she could continue on. "If you have a problem. I will gladly talk to Professor McGonagall and see what can be arranged to take you off of head duties."

Her voice shook and the feeling of knifes stabbing her in the eyeballs made her wince when she was done talking. He then smirked at her and walked past her without a word. She held her position, but lowered her hand as he brushed by and looked at her out of the corner of his eye, that damned smirk still on his face. Hermione furrowed her brow at his sudden change in mood and wondered if he was plotting something. You could never be sure about a Malfoy especially one that has gone through what he had. Shaking her head Hermione turned tiredly back around and shuffled her feet despondently to the head dorms to find the door wide open.

Growling slightly she pushed it the rest of the way open and went straight to her room to change for bed with out a thought of the blond stuck up. Hermione sighed as she stripped from her school uniform and into a pair of her boxer shorts and tank top. Picking up a book from her trunk, which just happened to be lying on top, was 'Hogwarts: A History.' Settling down in her bed she sighed again at the plush and cozy feeling it gave her. Finally satisfied she smiled and opened the worn book to a marked page somewhere in the middle and began to read contentedly.

For the first couple of minutes it hadn't been a problem, but her attention started to ebb slowly. Her mind drifted and thoughts whirled around in her head faster then she could process through them. Things like Harry, and Ron…the war and everyone that had suffered or lost something. The Weasley's had been hit particularly hard with the death of two children and one missing, Hermione didn't know how Mrs. Weasley was dealing with it all. They still hadn't found out what had killed Fred, but it had been obvious that the killing curse had been used on Ginny. It had been that, that had sent Harry ultimately over the edge, or so it was in Hermione's analytical opinion.

They were almost not even able to identify Fred. They had tried to keep George from seeing the nearly dismembered body, but he had gotten through in the end. Everyone didn't want to let him see the body just in case it had been him before identification could be confirmed. It tore at her heart in two when she couldn't hear anything from George's still form and she couldn't stand there any longer when he collapsed to his knees and only stared blankly. He didn't allow anyone to come near him for the rest of the day and eventually had to be sedated when he became violent with one of the nurses.

Hermione closed her eyes and stood from her bed suddenly she needed to get away from those thoughts. They were done and gone something none of them could afford to dwell on. How ever cold it seemed…it was merely the reality of it all. Something they had all known going into it and something they had to be burdened carrying with them if they lived. She silently padded to the shared common room and without looking up sat in front of the roaring fire that seemed to be waiting for her.

Hermione wrapped her arms around her bare legs and nestled her chin against her knees. The heat from the flames licked at her cool skin making her cheeks flare up in a pink hue. She could feel her eyelids slowly grow heavy the longer she sat there and she nearly jumped out of her skin when a deep baritone voice rumbled throughout the room. Hermione's head snapped up and around to look at Malfoy's relaxed profile.

"I see you can't sleep either…like I care however,"

Whe could tell he tried to make his words bite, but the lack of energy to insult was evident. For the first time since seeing him on the train his usually schooled features were haggard and drawn. The weight of reality could plainly be seen on his face and in his posture. Hermione couldn't help but let her gaze wonder over his face slowly and study his appearance.

The bangs of his bleach blond hair hung into his eyes, and she noticed with some appreciation for his looks that the back was trimmed neatly, giving him a fresh look. The glow that the fire cast over him made his hair flicker in unsteady shades of red and orange. Her eyes followed the strong line of his jaw and down the column of his neck and she blushed despite herself to see his shirt unbuttoned nearly all the way down. Giving her the perfect view of his defined chest and abs. There wasn't a flaw or mark on his skin and looked just as smooth as the material of his silk shirt.

She heard him cough and when her eyes blatantly traveled up to his face he was smirking again. All traces of what true emotions he might of possessed were gone in that instant. Hermione blushed a deeper shape of red as her eyes widened slightly and she looked away.

"Like what you see, Granger?" He asked mockingly. She closed her eyes in embarrassment of actually being caught checking the spawn of Satan out.

"Absolutely not!" Hermione said indignantly and was mortified to hear the pitch change in her voice. Malfoy only chuckled softly and she couldn't help swallow shallowly.

"Well, I think you did. I've seen to many women look at me the same way and end up in my bed the same night," he practically purred at her. Hermione looked at him instantly fully intent on saying something nasty in return for the innuendo, but when her eyes locked on his her breath stopped short in her throat. Something burned there in the depths of the slowly swirling steel pools that rendered her speechless. He gave her a one sided grin.

"Hm…I knew it." He said.

There…the spell had been broken and she stood in a huff and turned away from his triumphant chuckling. She was halfway across the room when she felt a hand clamp down on her wrist and she was spun around. A body pinned her against a near by wall and the wind was momentarily knocked out of her. Her mouth opened slightly as she looked up at Malfoy hovering dangerously close. Warning flags started to go off in her head instantly at the intent gaze her cast on her.

"I don't think I was done talking, Granger."

"I think you were, Malfoy," she said breathlessly despite herself. His smirk disappeared slowly and a scowl followed soon after.

"Don't think yourself better then me, Granger. Do you have any idea what I'm going through?" Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly and returned the question with a frown of her own.

"Do you have any idea what we are going through? What everyone that was there had to deal with? You…all you've got to deal with are people saying a few bad things about you. Well reality check I've dealt with that everyday for the past six years…" She looked to the side and closed her eyes with a sigh. "If you're looking for pity. Maybe you should look at yourself before wanting any sympathy from those who really deserve it." When she looked up at him through a few stray curls he held no expression on his face any longer. Everything about him was empty and she had to hold back a grimace.

"Pity huh? Is that what you think I want?" He asked in a hollow voice. She studied his face with an unsure look before nodding. "I see…"

Malfoy took a step back and walked to the couch where he sat down once again. The silence that followed was thick but she took it as her chance to get out of the room. The first time in many years she didn't hate Malfoy but his actions just lead her into confusion. Brushing it off she had her own things to worry off…and it came in the form of a six foot tall, red head, with blue eyes.

--

Harry couldn't sleep. It was that simple, why? He had insomnia. The answer to why that was, was simple too. So he found himself under his invisibility cloak and out of the walls of Hogwarts easily. When he neared the black lake he slipped the cloak from over him self and sat down comfortably against a curved root near the water.

His fingers idly fingered the wand that he had pulled out of his back pocket. Despite the cool night air he still only wore the simple white button up shirt, but with his sleeves rolled down. Without thinking or giving it much thought he was up in the blink of an eye, when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise, and found his wand pointing dangerously into someone's throat. It wasn't digging into the skin but it was close enough to be known they weren't getting free.

"Well, is this the greeting I get for coming to get back something that belongs to me?" Harry squinted his eyes slightly at the sweet feminine voice that floated gently to him caressed his ears. He leaned in slightly and his eyes adjusted to the natural light of the evening.

"Natalia?" He asked a little unsure. He felt a finger push away his wand and he could finally make out her blank stare.

"The one and only," she said flatly. Harry merely grunted and sat back down slowly not arguing when she followed suit.

"So what are you doing out this late? If a professor catches you, you'll get detention for sure," he said after a moment as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye and he raised an eyebrow at the mischievous grin on her face as she looked over the lake.

"What about you? Or is the famous Harry Potter excluded from all school rules?" She finally looked his way and he met her gaze evenly.

"No…" He drawled out. "I just don't care if I'm caught." There was no hint of snobbishness in his tone or suggestion that he was trying to sound cool.

"Ah, the rebellious type huh?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. He merely shrugged and stuck his hand in his pocket to pull out her I.D.

"Here." Natalia took it and continued to study him and looked about ready to say something when Harry beat her to it.

"Listen, I'm sorry for what I said on the train. I didn't mean for it to sound like I was calling you a liar," he looked back to the lake and twirled his wand between his fingers.

"I jump to the wrong conclusion a lot of the time and I just wanted to let you know its nothing personal." Natalia nodded.

"of course not. I can't expect you to be perfect. Your only human after all."

"Well I would have to argue with you on that," Harry paused momentarily and held up his free hand in her direction. "These hands…their…. stained, and tainted. I can honestly say they are no longer the same innocent hands that held this wand almost six and half years ago." He mumbled out.

Natalia looked down at her lap.

"Well, no one is innocent anymore," she said softly. "We've all had to endure and do things we haven't wanted to."

When Harry looked back at her he saw something that could be seen clearly on every young persons face now a days. The war had changed this generation for the worst, but with them it would end and hopefully never come again. Not another word was said when she stood and made her way slowly back to the school leaving Harry to contemplate things on his own messed up head.