Hi, I finished this chapter! I'm sorry if it seems rushed or anything, I wasn't in the best writing mind. Lol

Usual Disclaimer, no matter how much I wish otherwise. :(

Chapter Three

Return to Hogwarts

Harry nervously scanned the crowds for the twentieth time that morning. He was standing with the Weasleys on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. "Harry, stop it. You'll see Hermione as soon as she arrives." Ginny scolded, bringing Harry's attention back to herself and Molly. Harry smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I'm just a bit distracted."

Suddenly, two cool hands covered Harry's eyes. "Guess who?" A chiming voice purred. "Hermione!" Harry yelled, spinning round and hugging the other last member of the Golden Trio. Hermione laughed and hugged him back. "Hey. A bit excited aren't we?" She joked. "I wasn't sure if you were coming." Harry admitted. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Of course I would." She replied. "Thank goodness. I was excited to see you!" Harry grinned. "You only saw me six days ago." Hermione replied, ruffling her friend's hair playfully. Harry pouted, but soon was laughing with her.

"So, Hermione, where's your dashing boyfriend?" Ginny asked, smiling. "He's with the others at the new Cullen home in Hogsmede. I bought it and Professor Dumbledore helped us move." Hermione explained, sighing as she thought of her bronze haired love. Ginny's grin widened. "Aw, he couldn't be parted with you so they moved to Hogsmede." She cooed. Hermione pushed her slightly.

As the trio got onto the train, Harry changed topic. "So, are you telling anyone else about you being a vampire?" He asked in a low voice. Hermione shook her head. "Can you imagine the uproar the parents would cause at knowing a Vampire was a student at Hogwarts? No way." She explained.

Ginny nodded in agreement. "Ah, yes. Like when Firenze was made Divination Professor. They went nuts, especially the purebloods." She recalled. Hermione sighed. "Exactly. That was bad enough. Firenze couldn't hurt anyone, but me on the other hand. No matter how good my control is and how immune I am, they will ask for me to be slayed or called out of school. I am going to complete my education, no matter what." She told them. The other two agreeded and the trio entered an empty compartment, sitting down.

Harry and Ginny had fallen asleep with each other half way through the journey, leaving Hermione alone. She sat there, idly looking out of the window. She felt a pang as memories rushed back.

'Ron should be here.' Hermione thought, head bowed in grief. She was happy with Edward, but she still missed Ron. She could almost hear Ron cheering as he beat Harry yet again at chess, or Ron complaining to her as he watched Ginny and Harry kiss. "Life's not fair." Hermione muttered, leaning her head back and getting lost in her memories.

Hermione had found when she became a Vampire that her fantastic memory had transferred to her Vampire self. She could remember every adventure or moment at Hogwarts and before being turned perfectly. Edward had admitted that he had forgotten most things, except his mother, as soon as he woke. This was one thing Hermione was glad she still had.

The train's whistle blew suddenly, causing the two sleeping lovers to jolt awake with a start. "What the…" Harry muttered, his voice thick with sleep. Hermione smiled. "We're nearing the school. Let's get ready. Harry, go find Neville or something." She told them, shoving Harry and his things into the corridor.

Half an Hour later, the trio were climbing into a carriage up to the school. Hermione met the eyes of a Thestral and shuddered. She had forgotten about them and the fact she had been able to see them since Ron and her parents were killed. Shrugging it off, Hermione quickly followed the others into the carriage.

As the carriage trundled along, Hermione, Harry and Ginny looked up ahead, trying to spot the castle. They gasped slightly as the old building came into view. It didn't even look as though there had been bloodshed and war on its grounds not long ago. It looked the same as it did all those years ago when Harry, Ron and Hermione first entered the gates of Hogwarts.

So much had changed since then. Ron was dead, Harry had defeated Voldemort and Hermione was a vampire. Still, the school remained unchanged and timeless. It was still their home, no matter what.

Hermione gently as she could, seeing as she still had the newborn strength, pulled his arm, startling him out of his thoughts. "Come on, let's get inside. The carriage has stopped." Hermione smiled, her amber eyes twinkling slightly. Harry nodded and stepped out of the carriage, at once taking Ginny's hand.

The trio slipped into the Great Hall with the other students and sank into seats at the Gryffindor seats, Hermione with much more grace than the other two. They were greeted by a few seventh year students who had managed to survive the war.

Hermione looked down the table, catching Parvarti Patil as she sat with a black band on her wrist. Her cousin had been one of those to die in the war and Parvarti and Padma had too lost their Father. Sadly, Hermione sent a small smile to the girl and Parvarti sent a watery one back, Lavender trying to keep the girl from crying with stories she had heard.

The doors flew open and all attention was drawn to them as the First Years walked in, led by Professor McGonagall. They were all shuffling nervously and excitedly, some masking it better than others. "Albia, Alana." McGonagall called.

After the last student was sorted, Dumbledore got to his feet. "Welcome back to Hogwarts, my students. We have started the year later than usual so at the end of the year, the whole school shall use time turners to go back to learn the rest of the information needed, except for the Seventh Year who will continue on for another month or so to complete their education."

"Now, I know that most of you have lost someone and being here reminds you of them, but we start this year on New Years Day to celebrate the new school and a new start. Now, without further ado, the Head Girl and Boy. The Head Boy is Terry Boot from Ravenclaw, and the Head Girl is Hermione Granger."

Each Head got up to vigorous applause from both of their houses. "You didn't tell us, Mione." Harry grinned as she sat back down. Hermione shrugged. "You never asked." She replied, smirking slightly.

"Even though the two are Heads, they shall both still remain in their house dorms. Next, our new Defence Professor is Hans Christophe." A tall handsome man with black hair and dark eyes stood up, inclining his head to the students. "Our new flying Professor will be Oliver Wood, who has taken leave from his professional career to return to us." Oliver Wood stood and waved, smiling warmly at everyone.

"Now, with that said, let's eat!" Professor Dumbledore concluded, sitting back down. "Thank Merlin!" Harry muttered, reaching out for the potatoes. Hermione rolled her eyes, a bittersweet smile on her face as she thought of Ron. Harry and Ginny too paled a little, also thinking of the deceased fiery red head. Neville, who was next to Ginny, turned to them and began to chat about brighter things, relieving them of the dark mood.

Hermione was pretending to eat, slowly vanishing bits of her meal every now and again. No-one noticed, except one person.

Hermione felt a gaze boring into her. She turned and caught sight of Professor Christophe staring at her. Hermione locked eyes with him and, after what felt like an age, tore her eyes away, shuddering slightly at the intenseness of his gaze.

Hans stared at a young girl at the Gryffindor table. She certainly fit the criteria of a vampire. She was pale as snow, perfect good looks and wasn't eating. The girl felt his stare and turned to face him. Hans was taken aback as he looked into Golden eyes. She might not have had the red eyes, but she had to be a Vampire. After a while, the girl looked away and Hans frowned.

The trio were sat in the common room. Hermione had shown the first years where to go before joining her friends. They now sat by the fire chatting quietly. Harry glanced at the clock before nudging Ginny. Hermione was far away and hadn't noticed the time at all. 'She doesn't need to. She'll never get tired anymore.' Ginny thought with a grin.

"I'm off to bed." Harry announced, standing. Hermione looked up. "I'm going too. Are you coming up? At least then you can give the illusion of sleeping." Ginny suggested. Hermione heaved a sigh. "Okay. I'll go see Edward tomorrow. Night, Harry." She told them, hugging Harry. The two girls started the walk up the stairs, Harry watching them go with love in his eyes for his 'sister' and girlfriend.

Hermione walked to where the split to the Seventh Years and Sixths Years dorms were. "Night, Hermione." Ginny smiled, stifling a yawn. "Yeah, Night Ginny. Sleep well." Hermione replied, her golden eyes soft with emotion. Ginny nodded and tiredly slipped into her dorm to go to bed.

With a sigh, Hermione walked into her dorm to see Parvarti and Lavender sat on Lavender's bed gossiping about their summers and boys. "Hey, Hermione." Parvarti greeted. Lavender just smiled. "Hi, I'm off to bed. Night." Hermione sighed, pretending to yawn widely. The two girls returned the sentiment before returning to gossip.

Hermione lay in bed, listening to the soft snores and breathing of the other two girls. She sighed again. 'It must be nice to still dream. Oh, well. I can read.' She thought, leaning over and picking up her book, which was surprisingly not Hogwarts: A History, but Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.

As the sun came up over the horizon, Hermione put down the last book in the Noughts and Crosses Series and got out of bed.

Please Read and Review. I'll try and get the next chapter up soon. Love all of you who review, btw! Reviews make me feel like a good writer, lol.