Draco met Hermione in Town, where they restocked on potions ingredients and bought new sets of school robes. It took them all day, particularly given the vast queues at Gringott's- not to mention that the Goblins weren't entirely enthused about someone who had successfully broken an object out of the bank returning to any vault- even his own. In the end though, they relented, accepting that Draco was not a common thief, but rather the person who removed a dangerous dark object from the bank.

Nonetheless, it was with a large group of Goblins that Draco got to go down to see his vault. It was pleasantly full.

'Where'd all this come from? There wasn't that much there last time I visited.'

'It has come from various trusts that divulged their monies on your late father's untimely death.' One of the goblin guards said, not unkindly although without warmth.

'I see, thank you.' Draco said, scooping a bagful of coins up and carrying them away with him.

After the banking was done, the rest of the shopping proved quite easy, and Draco and Hermione soon were carrying their surprisingly empty bags back to the Leaky Cauldron, where they had arranged to stay the night.

The next morning the parted with hugs and each went home to await the first of September. It soon came, and before they knew it they were back on the Hogwarts express. Of their few returning friends, only Dean sat with them on the train.

'So, what've you done since last year then?'

'Aside from defeating Voldemort?'

'Of course- we all know about that bit. Been keeping well?'

'Not bad thanks, Dean. Done a bi of this, bit of that. Personal stuff really. You?'

'Oh. I've spent a bit of time looking at getting jobs- You know, for after we've left school.'

'Oh yeah.'

'I've managed to get an offer of a job from on the condition that I finish my time at Hogwarts and get at least on EE at NEWTs.'

'That's great.'

'Yeah. It is if I get the marks.'

'I'm sure you will. Look on the bright side- at Least you don't need to get any O's.'

'Do you?'

'Yeah. Five.'

'Five O's?'

'Yeah, it's a bit of a pain really, but it'll be worth it if I can get them.'

'What've you got lined up?'

'Job in the ministry- permanent undersecretary to the minister.'

'Wow. That's amazing. When did you get that?'

'Oh, the Minister- you know Kingsley, right?' Dean nodded. 'Well, he asked me to do it, but- and I guess this is a familiar story- asked me to get my NEWTs first.'

'Yeah. Sounds similar. What're you going to do, Hermione. Any ideas yet?'

'Not really. I think I want to go into politics, but I'm not quite sure how that's going to happen.'

'Why?'

'Well, do you think anyone'd vote for someone as young as me? You know what they say, no life experience, not from the right background.'

'I don't think they'd say that anymore. Not while Voldemort's still so fresh in everyone's mind.'

'Besides, there's always money to consider.'

'Really?'

'Well, I suppose not these days, but still, I'm not quite sure.'

'At least you've still got a year to think about it- and who knows when the Chief Warlock will call the next election anyway.'

'True.'

The conversation moved away from the future and onto the past- they reminisced for several hours about what had happened to old friends and acquaintances, stopping only when the train stopped at Hogsmeade station. Its familiar architecture silently welcomed them back to school, a school which to all of them had represented a chance of something new. All around them they saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, a whirring rush of excited pupils glad to be back and thrilled to be arriving for the first time. Hagrid stool tall as usual, summoning the first years to him with his foghorn voice, they waved and he waved back, busy with the rush of exited first years now gathering at his feet. Slowly the station emptied as Draco, Hermione and Dean sat back and let the atmosphere fill them. Then, just after the first years had left the platform, they hurried to the last remaining coach. No-one was on it. They boarded and looked forward, seeing the thestrals for the first time. They looked as though they might be the horses of Death himself, black all over and so thin they looked as if someone had stretched some leather over a skeleton. They shut the carriage door and then suddenly they were off with a lurch, the thestrals trotting over the darkening ground up towards the castle.

An equally sudden lurch stopped them at the other end, the carriage door sprang open and they disembarked, and ambled towards the castle. They walked in the front doors, blackened now with a wood stain rather than with age and rounded the corner into the Great Hall. Draco gave a small wave to the High Table and a couple of the teachers waved back. The three of them sat down at the Gryffindor table to odd looks from the younger students.

'Were we ever that small?'

'I don't think we were. Honestly, they get smaller every year.'

'Or perhaps we just get bigger.'

'We haven't got that much bigger. Oh great- the Firsties are here.'

Slowly a nervous looking huddle of unsorted students shuffled their way into the hall , shepherded from the rear by Professor McGonagall. The shuffle of students reached the front of the hall and stopped. Suddenly everyone fell silent, anxiously anticipating the Hat. Slowly a tear opened wide, just above the brim. The hat seemed to yawn and then it began to speak in a rich, plumy voice.

In times of old there was a dream.

A dream most bold and daring;

To teach and start a noble school

Where all would be kind and caring.

Hufflepuff met another mind

And the dream up grew

To teach and start a noble school

Where wisdom of all kinds sage

Could be passed on from age to age

And all would be kind and caring.

Ravenclaw a friend drew in

And the dream expanded

To teach and start a noble school

Where courage would be valued,

Yet wisdom of all kinds sage

Could be passed from age to age

And all would be kind and caring

Gryffindor knew just who

Could complete the set

To teach and start a noble school,

Where connections could be made

And courage would be valued

Yet wisdom of all kinds sage

Could be passed from age to age

And all would be kind and caring.

Now each great founder chose

To have among their own

Those whose traits they valued most

To teach and grow and develop

And the dream was forgot.

Now to this day I sort each of you

Beneath my great wide brim

And remember wistfully

Dreams long forgot.

And so the sorting began. After the first girl in the group was sent straight to Hufflepuff, the chatter began to pick up.

'What do you think that was all about? I've never heard the hat say something like that before.'

'I think it's trying to remind us that we're one magical community, not just Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws or Slytherins.'

'You might have it there Hermione.'

'Yeah.'

The sorting continued interminably, it seemed this was a bigger year than usual. At last however it finished, and with food on their minds they waited as Snape stood up to speak.

'Well. Welcome to our new students, and to those of you who have been here before, welcome back. It is hoped that in your time here you will grow up to become useful members of the wizarding community, although I am sure for some of you that may require considerable effort. Mr Filch had asked me to remind you that there is a vast list of items banned in the corridors, and I wished to remind you that the dark forest is out of bounds to all students who do not wish to come to an untimely end. However, since we are all hungry, I shall pass over these things, and say merely this. Let the feast begin.'

Snape spread his arms wide and the food appeared on the tables. An excited first year asked if he could ever learn to do that, and several older students said there was no reason why not. Draco smiled. This was going to be fun. This would be easy. After the misery of last year, the comfort and security of the castle would be welcome. The reading he had done whilst searching for a way to defeat Voldemort would make Defence and Transfiguration easy, and charms was never massively difficult. Potions and History might have taken a bit of a setback, but he'd struggle through.

At long last the feast finished and Snape sent everyone off to bed. Hermione and Draco waited behind in the Great Hall and let the other prefects show the first years to the dorms. Dean left then, wanting to hit the sack, but they remained, keen to attract the attention of Professor McGonagall.

'Granger, Malfoy, welcome back. What can I do for you. It is getting late, and I know you remember the rules about staying out when you're supposed to be in bed.'

'Of course, Professor, it was just, well, Dumbledore left me some books when he died.'

'Did he now?'

'Yes. I was rather hoping you'd give me some advice on them, I was hoping to keep them, of course, but I wasn't sure whether they'd been published, and if not, whether they should be. I've got them here.'

Draco handed the books to McGonagall who fixed her sharp eyes upon their covers.

'Well, one looks fine at first inspection, the other, definitely not. I'll need to have a proper read through before I could tell you. Would you mind if I kept them for a while?'

'Not at all. I hope they're enlightening.'

'Thank you, Draco. Was there anything you wanted, Hermione, or were you just here to give moral support?'

'Well, there was one thing, Professor.'

'Go on then.'

'I was wondering if we could arrange another careers session sometime?'

'Of course. I can hardly say I'm surprised – I never thought you'd really settle down welling in nursing, no matter what Delores thought.'

'Thanks, Professor.'

'Any time. Now, be off with you. I don't want anything to happen to MR Filch if he catches you out and about after hours.'

'Anything to happen to us, you mean.'

'I know what I meant Me Malfoy, and I mean what I said. Now, be off with you.'

They hurried back to the common room, getting through the portrait-hole just before Filch showed up on his evening rounds.

The year passed quickly and quietly, without even the exam season causing much of a stir to Draco's well adjusted routine. Then for the last time he looked back at his school, as he rounded the corner on the Hogwarts express. Then it went behind a hill and was gone. Looking back across the compartment he saw the one thing that mattered.

'You alright, Hermione?'

'Yeah. I think I'm going to miss the place, that's all.'

'Me too. How's the campaign going?'

'Well, I think. Obviously, I can't get any polls or anything like that, but I've got a good feeling. I think I'll win the seat come May.'

'Course you will. You sure you don't want my help though.'

'But you're going to be working for the minister. It wouldn't be right.'

'I'm not working for anyone until my NEWT scores come through, and they're not due for a month. Are you sure you don't want my help?'

'I'm sure. There's something else I want from you though.'

'Oh yes?'

'Come here.'