Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy this new chapter; there's a really cute scene with Ron in it! My chapters are getting longer (my latest one is 7 pages, compared to the two page first chapter!) I have about 11,000 words written already, so if you want to read it, then review! I absolutely love reviews, the longer the better. :)

Also, sorry for deleting and re-adding this chapter, the line breaks weren't working the first time.

Anything you recognize is not mine.

Chapter Three

After several hours of shopping, in which Hermione constantly fought Ginny to keep her from completely changing her look, the two girls entered The Leaky Cauldron laden with bags from various clothing and school supply stores. Hermione was rather happy with her selection. She couldn't wait to begin her books, her parchment smelled wonderful, and her clothes were actually rather pretty and not too drastic a change.

"Hello boys," she said, dropping her bags beside the bench and sitting down next to Ron, allowing Ginny to take the empty seat by Harry.

"Hey," they replied, sipping butter beers. Two full glasses sat untouched on the table, which she and Ginny immediately grabbed, thirsty after a long day of shopping. "Did you find everything?" Harry asked Ginny, attempting to be the polite boyfriend, but obviously not interested. His fingers fidgeted around what Hermione suspected was a Snitch – he had been going on about how he wanted one of his own for ages and she wouldn't have put it past him to shell out a great deal of galleons at Quality Quidditch Supplies for the purchase.

"It was great," Ginny replied, choosing to ignore Harry's lack of enthusiasm. I found some really pretty parchment to send letters home to Mum, and Hermione got some gorgeous clothes," she added pointedly at Ron. Hermione shot her a look – she did not want Ginny adding to anything that might or might not be going on!

"Yes, Ginny helped me find some lovely clothes. I'm excited to get back to the Burrow though – the book list this year is so much more advanced and I cannot wait to begin reading them!" Her friends laughed at her comment, but she simply ignored them, having accepted long ago that their love for books was not as strong as her own. The group continued to chat, relaxed in one another's' company.

"So," began Harry, after the group had caught up on one another's activities from the summer. "What do you think Hogwarts will be like this year?" He looked around at the three surrounding him, curious for their answers. The war had left Hogwarts extremely divided and without a headmaster, and he did not see how it could recover easily, despite the large improvements that had been made in most areas of the Wizarding world already.

"Well, Professor McGonagall will be Headmistress, obviously," Hermione replied, shaking her head at the boys' confused expressions. "Honestly boys, you'd think that by seventh year you'd begin to read. She signed out letters as Headmistress. And who else would Professor Dumbledore leave to replace him, anyways?"

"I guess so," Harry relented, "But I don't see how she'll have much success. The Houses are likely to be extremely divided. So many people were discovered to have been supporting Voldemort, I don't see how that will ever go away. Especially Slytherin…"

"It'll begin with each of us," Ginny said, putting down her mug. "Especially you three. If you forgive the Slytherins, it will allow others to do the same. We need to be the example, those who fought in the war for so many years. The war is over. Those who deserve to be locked up are in Azkaban. Anyone who returns to school should be treated with respect."

Hermione agreed with Ginny, but she couldn't help but shudder at the memory of her encounter with Malfoy. As Head Boy and Girl they would be the head role models for the school, but by their very nature they were enemies. While she could accept many of the Slytherins, forgiving Malfoy would be a completely different story. She sighed. "I suppose as Head Girl I should be leading this united feeling that Dumbledore used to speak of. But I don't know, some of the Slytherins…"

"The bad ones are gone," Ginny reiterated firmly. "Anyone attending the school deserves to be attending." She was adamant about this, though none of them knew why. But there had been moments during the war when she had mulled over how much easier it would be to join Voldemort, how if she were born a Malfoy she probably wouldn't have even attempted to resist. Of course she knew how evil he was, but his power was so alluring, and it was difficult to be on the losing side for so many years. It had seemed that Voldemort would win for quite a while, and she could understand why so many people joined him near the end.

After a long silence, Ron finally spoke up. "Do you have any idea who the Head Boy is, Hermione?"

She froze, not expecting the question. "I'm not sure," she lied, looking into the froth of her butter beer. "I had hoped it would be either you or Harry, but I suppose Professor McGonagall would want us from separate houses."

"A Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff Head Boy wouldn't be too bad. But I couldn't stand having a Slytherin with that much power… I just know he'd hold it over all our heads and keep us from winning the Cup somehow. We need to cream their team this year," said Harry. His face was set with determination, his fingers clenched around what Hermione was now sure was a snitch. Ginny simply sighed as Ron nodded encouragingly.

"Yea, mate. Inter-House unity with those guys, I can deal with. But not Slytherin." Hermione sipped from her drink, thankful that she had chosen not to tell the boys that Malfoy had been selected as Head Boy. She hardly knew what to think of it herself; she didn't need their prejudiced input at this point.

The foursome arrived at the Burrow that evening with their bags and, in Hermione and Harry's cases, their trunks. The train would leave in two days, so they had plenty of time to spend together before going. Ron and Harry trudged up the stairs, which creaked beneath the weight of their purchases, planning a game of Quidditch for the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley followed them, calling out a good-night to the girls.

"Want some tea?" Ginny asked, placing her bags down and entering the kitchen. Hermione agreed, lowering her bags slowly and looking around the home with a smile on her face. Although her house was lovely, the Burrow always seemed so lived in. The room was lit by a dull fire, flickering off the wooden walls and floors. The house was alive, both with chatter from the many Weasley's upstairs and the various magical contraptions working.

Ginny brought two steaming cups over to the kitchen table where Hermione sat exhausted from the long day. "I must say, it's a relief to be tired from shopping rather than from running from Voldemort," Hermione stated, sipping her tea. "I feel… content. Like the day is complete. I never felt that way during the war."

Ginny sipped silently, allowing both of them to slip into their thoughts uninterrupted.

"The Head Boy's a Slytherin, isn't he?" Ginny asked after a few minutes. She looked up at Hermione, her eyes seeking the truth.

"Yes," Hermione admitted, knowing she couldn't lie to Ginny. "I found out just before I met you guys. It's… it's Malfoy."

Ginny nodded, unsurprised. "I figured as much. Professor McGonagall is really stressing the inter-House unity, and who better to do it than a Gryffindor, one of the Golden Trio, and the most public Slytherin? Besides, he is a good student, grade wise. And he repented, supposedly."

Hermione sighed, having already come to the same realization. "I know. He actually gives me some competition in classes. But still, after all he did… he helped in Professor Dumbledore's death!"

"Out of fear," Ginny corrected. "Can you imagine refusing Voldemort? We can never understand what the Slytherins went through fully, because we were never solicited by Voldemort. But Malfoy's parents were huge with him. It was expected out of him from birth. It would have meant death if he refused."

Hermione had never really considered this. Her path had been set upon her entrance at Hogwarts; she was Muggle-born, one of those Voldemort wanted to rid from the world. She never had to face his temptations. If she had, if he had gotten to her before she met Harry and Ron, would she have fought on the opposite side, or at least considered it?

"I guess not," she admitted. "It's hard to go against what your parents expect out of you."

"So how are you going to manage it? I mean, he may have had reasons for his actions, but he has still been horrible to you for the past six years. Can you put it all aside for the sake of Hogwarts?"

"I guess I'll have to. I'm certainly not going to be the one stopping the Houses from getting along. I suppose Malfoy mightn't be so bad without Harry around – he seems to especially hate him, and simply insults me as a second-thought a lot of the time. Maybe I can get through to him, and even patch up their friendship." She grinned. "They'll be old chums in no time!"

Ginny laughed, quickly covering her mouth so as to not wake the house. "Yes, I'm sure Harry will have Malfoy over for dinner during the holidays," she replied with mock seriousness. They giggled at the thought.

Hermione sighed contently. "It's so nice to just laugh," she said, taking her last sip of tea. "Well, I'd better go up to bed. I'm sure the boys' yelling in the fields will wake me up bright and early! Are you coming?"

"No, you go ahead," Ginny replied, continuing to drink her tea slowly.

Hermione was halfway up the narrow, spiraling staircase when she bumped into Ron. Bits of light peeked out from beneath doors at the top of the stairs, but other than that the area was completely dark.

"Oh, 'Mione…" said Ron, flustered, quickly straightening his maroon night-clothes. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."

"It's fine," she replied, looking away from him quickly, longing for the comfort of a bed. The situation was just like the year previous, when they had shared their first kiss, but none of the emotions were the same. "I was just heading up to bed. What are you doing awake?"

"I… I was just coming to check on you and Ginny," he replied. He started to reach for her hand, but paused when he saw the expression on her face. He struggled to fill the awkward silence. "But I guess you guys are going up too. So I'll just go back to bed… g'night, then."

"Good night," she replied, moving to continue up the stairs. After only a few steps Ron called out to her. She closed her eyes, afraid of the coming conversation.

"Yes, Ron?" she asked, praying that he wouldn't ask what she knew he would.

He shuffled his feet, working hard to avoid her eyes. "What… what happened… you know, between us? I mean, last year I thought…"

She sighed. "I thought so too, Ron. But… I don't know. The war's changed us all."

"I wish it hadn't."

Hermione walked down the few stairs until her head was level with Ron, who was usually a foot taller than her. His eyes looked dead, and she wanted desperately to reach out and hold him, comfort him. "Me too. But what's done is done. We have a whole new world of adventures ahead of us this year, and we'll finally not be tied down by Voldemort."

Ron nodded reluctantly, knowing she was right but hating it. "I did love you, you know, 'Mione," he murmured. "At one point… I really thought we'd be together."

"I did too," she whispered. "But we're still best friends, and that's something. Things just didn't work out well. Timing…"

"We could again, you know."

Hermione bit her lip, holding back the tears she feared were about to fall. "I don't think so Ron. We've both changed too much." She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the sight of Ron and his pain. "I'm so sorry Ron." She turned and ran up the remainder of the stairs, flinging herself down on her pull-out bed and letting out a heavy sob.

Hermione spent much of the next day hidden in Ginny's room, immersing herself in the world of potions and charms. If the younger girl had heard her sobs the night before, she didn't let on. Instead, Ginny sat at her desk in a pretty blue dress, brushing her hair out thoughtfully.

"I'm going to see if this can get Harry away from the sky," Ginny said, laughing as she gestured to her clothing. "Want to come? We can all go for a walk or something."

Hermione shook her head, turning the page of her book. She knew Ginny wanted some alone time with Harry before the term began. "No, I'm fine. I want to get a head start on these books before classes start. I don't see how I'm going to find the time to get all my school work done this year."

Ginny hesitated, looking longingly out the window at the clear blue sky. "I could join you. It never hurts to get a head start…"

"Don't be silly," Hermione replied, looking up and forcing a smile onto her lips. "I'll be fine. You and Harry go enjoy the weather."

Ginny nodded and left the room, secretly glad to escape. She loved Hermione like a sister, but she wasn't one to choose studying over the outdoors.

"Harry!" she called out as she reached the Quidditch field, looking up at the blurs that were the boys. "Come down here! I have a surprise for you!" She held her hands behind her back, grinning mischievously.

Harry glanced down at the redhead, then shot down at her at top speed. She laughed as he pulled to a stop an inch from her face, knowing that he was skilled enough to not accidently hurt her. "What is it?" he asked, trying to peek around her to see what was in her hands.

"Close your eyes," she replied. He obliged, and she leaned forward and pecked him on the lips. "Surprise!"

"You two are disgusting," said Ron, coming down to land beside them. There were deep purple circles beneath his eyes from lack of sleep the night before. He slid off his broom and pretended to be inspecting the handle as he asked, "Is… Hermione coming out too?"

Ginny bit her lip and glanced at Harry, wondering how much he knew. "No, I think she wants to get ahead in her reading. She's worried about not having much time as Head Girl this year."

Ron clenched a fist around his broomstick. "If a bloody Slytherin makes Head Boy I swear I'll-"

"You'll what, Ronald?" asked Ginny, putting a hand on her hip. "Hex him? You better not. This year is about inter-House unity, and you are going to be cordial to every student."

"Whatever. Where are you two going?"

Harry shrugged, looking at Ginny for a response. "We're going for a walk, and no, you may not come. You ought to practice some more before the season starts, since you're so desperate to beat Slytherin," she said.

"Please, we'll beat them no sweat."

Ginny rolled her eyes, grabbing Harry's hand and leading him away. "Bye!" she called over her shoulder, leaving Ron alone in the large, empty field.

In Ginny's room, Hermione had given up her façade of reading. With becoming Head Girl, finding out that Malfoy was Head Boy, and the near kiss with Ron, she couldn't focus on anything. She slammed the book shut and went over to Ginny's desk, pulling out parchment and a quill. She could at least manage one problem.

Dear Malfoy,

I'm afraid I owe you an apology: my words in Diagon Alley were cruel and uncalled for. If Professor McGonagall believes that you deserve to be attending Hogwarts, it is not my place to disagree.

Last year Professor Dumbledore stressed how important inter-House unity was. The war drove a wedge between all of us, and this year it is time to mend that. As Head Boy and Girl, we must be the example. I know we don't get along, and that six years of hatred won't disappear overnight. But I believe that this year we should make an effort to be civil to one another, at least while we're in the company of younger students.

Hope you are well,

Hermione Granger

Hermione reread the letter, finally satisfied. Several versions lay in a waste basket by her feet, crumpled and thrown aside. She knew Malfoy would simply laugh at her if she voiced her thoughts in person but maybe the letter would allow him to consider her view more reasonably. Besides, they had a job to do, and being civil to one another would make the job much easier.

She rolled the letter and tied it with a ribbon, walking upstairs to the boys' room to borrow an owl. Tying the letter to Hedwig's leg, she whispered in her ear. "Bring this to the Draco Malfoy." She smiled at her foolishness. There was no one around, but she was still ashamed of the fact that she was writing to Malfoy. So far she wasn't even taking her own advice of unity. It would certainly take some getting used to.