Pacing inside her office Minerva never felt so nervous about the first of the year before. The train had already arrived, though only just, and they students were beginning to make their journey up to the castle. Hagrid, had been overjoyed at the thought of having the trio back, readily agreeing to his position of getting all the kids up to the school.
"You need to get going Minerva." Dumbledore chided softly, he understood that his friend was nervous. So many parents had been wary about the school re-opening. There was nothing to fear though, the Dark Lord was gone, those of the death eaters who weren't dead filled the halls of Azkaban, save for a select few who'd been granted amnesty, though they mostly remained within their houses, under careful watch. There was nothing left to fear.
"I know, I just. Albus." She seemed lost for a moment, unsure. One thing that Minerva McGonagall never was, was unsure. Straightening her back, before he could even say anything she steeled her shoulders. By gods, she had survived too many jinxes and hexes at her age, to the chest, to let this slow her down. Being scared by children! It simply would not do. With those thoughts in mind, she swiftly let the office, her small feet making carefully placed, yet fast paced, smacks against the marble floor, taking her seat just before Hagrid let the students in. Something else he had wanted to do this year.
Hermione felt right at home, filtering into the great hall with all the others, excited to get to experience a sorting once more. The Gryffindor table, polished and repaired, looked inviting, something she was sure she'd never sit at once more. The brunette wanted to cry, looking up, a smile on her face she tugged on Ginny's shoulder, urging the girl to sit beside her as Harry and Ron took their spots across the table from them. The tables, the ceiling, the teachers, their robes, knowing she was going to get to go back to the library! Hermione had missed it.
Looking around the way, towards the Slytherin table, Hermione had wondered if any of them would return to school. After all most of them had parents, who were death eaters, her spine went cold. There was no mistaking that silver blonde hair. He had returned to school. Why? Hermione's eyes narrowed. He didn't look overly excited, though Hermione couldn't blame him after everything the public had put his family through recently. Maybe that was it. Coming to school was a release, a freedom away from his mansion, his Father, the public. The press couldn't touch him here, not at Hogwarts.
"He say that he would be returning to school with us." Harry reminded her carefully across the table. He didn't even need to turn to see who she was looking at. Ron did though, a glare in his blue eyes darkening them. Hermione's lips tightened, she'd forgotten that Draco, as well as his mother Narcissa, had owled Harry more than once after the war, making peace, even if Draco's father had refused to.
"I know. I'm just curious as to who else returned." Hermione lied quickly, though Ron hid his emotions from no one.
"Yeah well, I for one don't think that the ferret should have been able to return to school. After all he's the one who let the Death Eaters in, in the first place!" Angrily the ginger crossed his arms over his chest, that had thankfully begin to bulk up again. They'd all been getting skinny before the war.
"Look." Ginny said pulling their attention back to the Slytherin table. This time Harry did turn around, after all he didn't know who else would be returning to school with them. Much to their surprise quite a few of them had. Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott, Astoria and Daphne Greengrass, even as well as a few that Hermione couldn't name, yet. All together there appeared to be seven Slytherin seventh years. A grand total of 24 sat in the house, waiting for first years to be sorted.
"Well," Ron smiled slowly turning around to face the rest of them. "We definitely have more than them." He nodded towards the end of their table. Yes, they definitely had more. Many of those from the house of Gryffindor had returned, it filled Hermione with a sense of pride. Bravery, after all, had long since been a defining trait of their house. Looking across the other tables, Hermione felt more pleased to see that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff each had around 40 students. Nothing compared to the numbers they once were but, it was a start.
Clicking her knife against her glass carefully, McGonagall stood, waiting as 30 first years followed Hagrid, filing towards the sorting hat. She cleared her throat, shooting a glare at each of the tables, though many of the Gryffindor's knew it was good naturedly. After all she had to keep up some sort of appearance.
"Thank you. Hagrid, you may begin." She instructed sitting once more. He smiled pleased at her opening the scroll with one giant hand, reading off the first name in his gruff voice.
"Felicia Adams." The terrified blonde stepped forward, sitting on the same stool Hermione had once sat. Hermione felt as if her heart had stopped, holding her breath as the hat opening it's mouth.
"RAVENCLAW!" The cheers began, from there the first years began to twitter excitedly. Wanting to see which house they would be placed in. From their whispers Hermione didn't hear any of them say they dreaded going to Slytherin. Which was a plus, she didn't want to hear that dreadful hat talk about house unity again. They had seperate houses for a reason, people were different. Some were cruel. Some were chivalrous.
People didn't change. She shot a glare across the room, only to be surprised to see that Draco was already gazing at her. No malice lay in his silver eyes. Though what lay there, Hermione couldn't decipher. People didn't change, did they? Pulling her eyes away from the blonde Hermione almost forgot to clap when Alice Shoemate was sorted into their house. The girl didn't giggle, instead a graceful smile spread on her pleasant face. Hermione liked her already.