In the days leading up to September 1, the trio spent their time buying school supplies and doing reconnaissance. From what they were hearing on the streets, Voldemort had already begun attacking whole towns of muggles and had become such a fearful presence that people were already starting to refer to him a He Who Must Not Be Named. The girls had written down as many events as possible they were dogged to prevent but not much was known about the early years of Voldemort's rise to power. This being the case they were determined to focus on destroying all the horcruxes as quickly and cleanly as possible.
A few days after the girls had sent their letter to Dumbledore, a reply came by owl to the Leaky.
Dear Misses Durant, Summerbee, and Peasegood,
I am so very sorry for your unbearable loss. Hogwarts would be very honored to assist you in your time of need. School begins on September 1, as I'm sure you are aware, and you may come straight to my office earlier that day if you wish to talk about placement in Houses and classes. The password is lemon drops. Do let me know if there is anything else I can do for you girls in these trying times. I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledoare
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The girls had decided that it probably would be best to hash out what Dumbledore thought of them so they agreed upon apparating to Hogsmeade earlier that day to speak with him.
They ended up arriving only thirty minutes before the Hogwarts Express was due to pull into Hogsmeade station, so as not to give the wise man too much time to interrogate them.
Hogwarts looked the same as the first time they had ever laid eyes on it, still standing and magnificent.
"We're finally going home," Hermione had breathed in an increasingly rare moment of sentimentality, thinking back to more innocent days and two best friends she'd thought she'd never part with.
The other two girls beamed at the thought as the three trudged up to the towering castle.
They made their way toward the familiar gargoyle hiding the entrance to Dumbledore's office. It predictably jumped aside at the mention of lemon drops and Hermione braced herself for what was sure to be an emotional encounter on her part. She had always loved and respected Professor Dumbledore.
A simple, "enter," was uttered before they could even knock. Dumbledore was sitting at his large desk looking over his spectacles at the girls.
Dumbledore had felt a great sense of loss when he had first read the tragic letter sent to him by three sixteen year old girls. It seemed no one was beyond Voldemort's reach these days. He had also, however, been struck by the business-like tone of the letter and the maturity the writer seemed to portray. He was also curious as to this mysterious village of theirs that he, who claimed knowledge of almost every aspect of the magical world, had never heard of. It certainly was curious.
When he told his visitors to enter, he had hardly been expecting them to look the way they did. They were wearing brand new Hogwarts uniforms of course but they looked more put together than the average teenager especially average teenagers that had just lost their entire families. They also possessed a certain other-worldliness; it was like they knew something he did not, which was a very foreign feeling for Albus Dumbledore.
The brunette-haired witch strode forward into his eccentric office as if she had done it countless times and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk while the other two followed behind her as if compelled.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore. My name is Hermione Durant and these are my longtime friends Luna Summerbee and Pansy Peasegood. We would just like to say how honored we are that you have allowed us to come and study here at Hogwarts," the small but strong looking girl said formally.
Only a little ruffled, Dumbledore quickly replied, "No, no dear. Of course the honor is mine. I am so pleased that I was able to assist you in these heartrending times." He wanted to question them about their village but he felt like it would be insensitive to do so. He made the decision to ask them at a later date when they had gotten to know one another better.
"And we greatly appreciate your assistance. I do not know what we would have done without you," the young girl seemed to show her first bit of emotion since entering the room at these words, as if they had a double meaning, but continued on strongly, "Now, you mentioned something about classes and Houses?"
"Ah yes, well I was thinking it would be best for you three to be sorted after the first years so perhaps we should have a bit of fun with it and have you make a grand entrance," Dumbledore finished with a twinkle in his eye, sensing that the arrival of these three young girls might just be a turning point of some kind. In what direction, though, he knew not.