One more week. One more week until the train leaves.

A small tap on the window caused Hermione to look up from where she was lying on her bed, reading. Hedwig was gently flapping her wings, keeping herself in front of the window. Hermione quickly jumped up to let in the familiar owl.

Harry hadn't written to Hermione very much over the holidays, only once or twice. Hermione assumed that it was because he had been busy trying to help Ginny and Ron.

She untied the letter from Hedwig's leg before pulling out two small containers she kept in her room for water and food for the owl.

Hermione

I'm at the Burrow and no one here has gotten any kind of letter from school. Have you? We thought that maybe the owls had gotten lost, but Mrs Weasley thinks that the school is just having trouble keeping to schedule because of last year and having to sort everything out still.

If you have gotten your letter, did you get Head Girl? I think you would have and so does Ginny. Not sure about Head Boy though. Any thoughts?

Harry

Hermione stroked Hedwig's feathery back as she stood up to grab a pen and paper.

Harry,

I haven't received a letter from the school either, not even my book list. I'm becoming quite worried because there is only a week left. Usually I would have already been packed and ready for school at least two weeks ago.

I agree with Mrs Weasly saying that the school is having trouble coping after everything that has happened.

I'm not really sure who would be Head Boy. It could be you, Harry! Imagine if it was Ernie. We'd all love that wouldn't we?

Hermione

Ten minutes later a fed and watered Hedwig was on her way back to the Burrow, Hermione's letter tied to her leg.

As she watched the owl go, another brown speck rounded the corner, becoming larger and more visible as it approached.

The owl, obviously a school owl, swooped down and landed on the window sill. It hooted happily and waited for her to take the envelope. It was a little thicker than it had been in previous years and an odd shape was making a lump in the envelope. She eagerly ripped off the wax, pulling out a book list, uniform requirements, an extra letter and lastly, a shiny badge. The Hogwarts crest and the letters 'HG' in big bold letters covered the front of it. Unfolding the third letter, barely able to contain her excitement, Hermione read:

Hermione Granger,
Due to your excellent grades and leadership skills, the staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has chosen you to be the Head Girl.

We hope you will accept this position and we will be expecting a reply before August 27.

You will meet with the Headmistress and Head Boy on the train at eleven oh-five. You will then be given further instruction.

Yours sincerely,
Professor McGonagall

Hermione ran down the stairs calling for her parents, letter and badge in hand. The house remained silent, except for Hermione's calls. She collapsed into the plush white lounges, watching the animals on the badge make small movements.

"Such a great accomplishment and no-one to celebrate with." Hermione's mind was a jumble of anger and sadness. The joy of being awarded Head Girl had left her.

At noon, she made herself a peanut butter sandwich. She sat at the kitchen bench, pulling the crust off and stacking it in a neat circle around the edge of the plate. The she tore away pieces of the sandwich, creating another circle inside of the first. She stared at her artwork for several minutes, contemplating on whether or not she'd eat it.

"Fuck this," she mumbled, as she jumped of the stool to throw away the offending meal.

"Honey, I'm home!" Hermione jumped at the voice.

Deborah appeared in the kitchen entryway, carry shopping bags.

"Where'd you go, Mum?" Hermione asked, eyeing off the groceries being placed in the fridge and pantry.

"Marnie called and asked me to look after the kids for a few hours and your father was into work. Didn't you see the note? It's next to the phone."
Hermione spotted the yellow sticky note and read:

Hermione
Babysitting for Marnie's kids. Will be back by 2 at least. Your father's gone to work. Don't forget to have lunch.

Mum

"Oh," she said, feeling silly.
What's that you've got there?"
Hermione picked up the badge. "Head Girl. I got the letter this afternoon. And I need to go to Diagon Alley for my books really soon.: She passed the badge over to her mum, who, being a Muggle, wasn't used to objects moving by themselves.

"Congratulations darling. We'll have to celebrate this. And I think we can get your books on Wednesday. Do you need a new uniform? What about casual clothes? DO you need socks?"

"I don't know, Mum!" Hermione nearly shouted. "Calm down, alright." She left the kitchen to start the long process of trying on clothes, putting each item in different categories, counting, recounting and eventually, packing.

After a couple of hours, Hermione shoved the unsorted clothes and objects off the bed and flopped onto it, exhausted. She stared up at the ceiling, counting the points of the glow-in-the-dark stars that her dad had put up when she was five. The more she stared at them, the more memories they brought back. Memories of before. Before Hogwarts, before the cutting, before the rock-bottom self-esteem. They weren't all good.

Irene Maple, a dark haired nine year old was sitting on the playground's merry-go-round while an eight year old Hermione was slowly pushing it around.

"Come one, Hermione! Go faster!" Irene was pushy in every aspect of life. "Faster, faster!"

The two girls had an odd relationship. They were best friends who got mad at each other so often that nobody could figure out why they were still friends. The reason was that they were both the odd person out. Irene was part African and children at school were becoming aware of the fact that she was different, so she didn't care when Hermione's witchery made itself known. Hermione had figured out a few basic ways to control it at an early age. Strong emotions tended to trigger it.

Hermione was fed up with the constant nagging and took a few steps back. She closed her eyes, gathering her anger. It wasn't hard. She opened her eyes and glanced at Irene on the merry-go-round. Slowly at first, bit with gathering speed, it went round, along with a stunned Irene. The screams she let out alerted their mothers that all was not right. The moment Hermione's mum noticed that the merry-go-round was working by itself, she grabbed her daughter's arm and dragged her home. That was the last time she'd seen Irene.

"I'll be fine, Mum. There's nothing to worry about now." Except for Death Eaters looking for revenge.

"Oh, I know, honey, it's just that my baby girl's all grown up. Your last year. Oh! I can't believe it. I love you, Hermione," Deborah replied, sniffling.

"I love you too, Mum." She gave both her parents a long hug and pushed her way through the tearful parents and anxious students to the train. After wiping away a tear, she went to find Harry and Ron.

"Ginny! Hey, Ginny! Gin-" Hermione stopped calling out when she noticed Harry step out of a nearby compartment, grab Ginny's hand and pull her inside. It seemed as though they'd made it through the summer. But now Hermione didn't know what to do. She didn't want to walk in on them snogging but there wasn't much else to choose from.

"Oh hey, Hermione." Neville stopped next to her. "I can't find any spare compartments up that end. Have you seen Harry or anyone? Maybe they have one already."

"Yeah, he's down there, in that one. But wait!" Neville had headed towards the compartment she'd pointed out. "He took Ginny in there, and, well, you know," she said, giving him a knowing look.

Neville turned red and glanced back at the compartment.

"Hermione, Neville! Over here!" Harry's head was poking out from the doorway.

Hermione grinned and ran over to where one of her best friends stood. She gave him a quick, tight hug, the shuffled past, joining a red faced Ginny. Hermione couldn't tell if it was from crying or kissing.

"Hey, Ginny. How are you?" she asked warily.

"'Morning, 'Mione. I-I'm not sure. It's all so confusing." A tear slid down the younger girl's face and Hermione took a seat next to her.

"Its okay, Ginn. It's going to be okay."

"I just don't know what to do anymore. Mum's always crying, Dad's rarely home. We haven't seen George since the funeral and Ron, well, he never talks to anyone. That's when he comes out of his room. I don't know how to deal with this, Hermione." Ginny shuddered and let a few more tears drop.

"Hey there, Ginny," said a sullen looking Neville. "Hermione, aren't you Head Girl?"

"Ye- Shit! I've got a meeting to go to!" Hermione jumped up. "Ginny, I'm so, so sorry. We'll have to talk later."

Ginny rubbed her eyes, and with a sob, replied, "Don't worry about it. Congratulations on getting Head Girl." She gave Hermione a weak smile.

Hermione paused at the door, glancing back at her friend, who was now being comforted by Harry. "I'm really sorry, Ginn. Well, I've got to go now. I get to find out who the Head Boy is now. See you all soon."

With that, she ran to the first carriage of the train. Engraved on the door in gold lettering were the words,

Head Boy & Girl
Prefects
Meeting Room

The inside of the carriage was decorated in all of the houses' colours. The school's crest was printed on the wall opposite where Hermione stood. Plush chairs and lounges littered the carriage, separated by dark tables holding jugs of pumpkin juice and plates of sandwiches. All the seats faced the oak desk placed at the front.

The carriage was already filled with Prefects. Professor McGonagall looked over the top of her glasses at Hermione.
"We were starting to wonder where you'd gotten to, Miss Granger."

Hermione blushed and mumbled an apology whilst ducking to the nearest seat.

"Now we can begin. I'd like to start by introducing our Heads."

Hermione leant forward eagerly.