A/N: Well well well. It's been a while, 4 and half years to be exact. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would take me this long to get back to writing, but alas, it did. No matter I'm back and with a new story to boot.

Summary: Hermione is back at Hogwarts for her NEWTS. She finally made Head Girl, but with a new law being put into place by the Ministry, will her desire for a quiet year at Hogwarts finally come true? Ha! Not a chance! This is Hogwarts after all!

Disclaimer: All recognisable names, places etc aren't my own, I just like to play around with them.

Chapter 1: Blue Skies & A Malfoy Stood Before Her.

Blue skies, with a chill in the air, is how Hermione Granger began her eighth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry.

Sat in the heads compartment of the Hogwarts Express, Hermione waited with bated breath for the man who would occupy the heads tower with her. She knew for certain that it wouldn't be Harry or Ron; they had decided to start their careers as Aurors, with the full backing of Kingsley and countless others within the ministry.

With a click, the carriage door slid open and none other than Draco Malfoy stood before her.

"Malfoy, you're head boy?" She asked, startled it was him. There wasn't much choice, as many of her other classmates had decided to not go back to school and finish their studies, instead they joined Harry and Ron in kick starting their careers minus their NEWTS, however she would have bet 10 galleons that it wouldn't have been Malfoy.

"Why obviously, or I wouldn't be standing here, would I? He quipped sounding bored, though she noticed a lighter tone than she was used to.

"Look Hermione, in the past I was an arse, I was truly awful to you and you never deserved it. Blood status was a prejudice my father pushed on me and not something that I really thought about, but I had to put on a show. He always did call my mother soft for continuing correspondance with Andromeda, but it was through her and Tonks, that I saw for myself that blood status didn't mean a sodding thing. He used Crabbe and Goyle as his eyes and ears and would have pulled me out of Hogwarts, and into Durmstrang quicker than you can say Quidditch, if he knew about me giving someone 'not pureblooded' an easy time of it, especially when you bested me at everything. I'm not defending myself in any way, there really is no condoning my behaviour, but if you are willing, I would like to use this year and our time as head boy and girl, as chance to start fresh."

Before she had a chance to reply, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott, Zacharias Smith, Luna Lovegood, Michael Corner, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini all bundled into the heads compartment, awaiting their welcome back to hogwarts speech from their new heads.

20 minutes later and Hermione was almost done with the welcome back speech she had been rehearsing for 3 weeks.

"Oh and dont forget, you're responsible for showing the first years to your common rooms, please don't lead them astray. Now Voldemort is gone, I think we're all after a nice quiet year. So I think that just about wraps it up. Any last words Draco?"

"No. I think Hermione covered it all. If there is anything we did forget, we will bring it up in the first prefects meeting. Now remember every hour or so between now and us getting into Hogsmeade, just have a quick wander up and down the train, to make sure there is no misgivings going on."

Before they knew it, they had chatted the afternoon away and were fast approaching Hogsmeade station. Hermione glanced out of the carriage and came to from her reverie.

"My word Malfoy, we're almost here, we had better get changed and if you like, you can send the first years to Hagrid and the boats, I'll get the rest of the students to the carriages and then we'll catch the last one up to the castle. Turn around, I dont need you seeing me get changed".

Sounds good, I'm glad you suggested I take the first years, there's less to deal with". He said with a smirk, glancing over his shoulder. Little did he realise just how Hermione had changed since he last really saw her, at the battle of Hogwarts. She was strong, but thin, malnourished and worn down from her time spent hunting horcruxes and haunted from being tortured by his deranged aunt Bellatrix. He had seen her at both his and his mother's trials, but down to his inner guilt, he had completely avoided any of the 'Golden Trio', despite it being their testimony that had spared the pair a lengthy stay in Askaban. But now, now she was glowing. A light tan embellished her skin, the weight she lost had been regained and she had that fiery glow back in her eyes. 'She is beautiful, how have I never noticed it before.' he thought to himself.

Incredibly smart, fiercely independent and comple… A hand on his shoulder brought him back into the real world before he could finish his train of thought.

"Draco, were here."

The sorting ceremony went by uneventfully, the new first years smaller than the previous, given parents apprehension to send their children to the site where Voldemort finally fell. The announcement of the new heads garnered a huge cheer for Hermione but a bit of a mixed reaction for Draco, many students thought he shouldn't be returning. However he had silently vowed to be better and do better.

Hermione sat in silence waiting for the hall to empty, waiting for it to be just her, Malfoy and Professor McGonagall. She missed Professor Dumbledore dearly, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that with him no longer around, things could be less troublesome. Though that also could be the lack of a dangerous madman and his bunch of deranged cronies.

Draco approached the Gryffindor table once McGonagall had left the teachers table and made her way towards her students.

"Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy, what a pleasure it is to have you both back at the school. I know a lot has happened during your previous years here, but I want you to know that you're safe and very much wanted here." She looked softly at Draco when she said the last part.

"I know Mr Malfoy here wouldn't have been your first choice as your co-head this year, however he was and still is mine. The term inter house unity has been thrown around significantly recently, and it is more important than ever that we show that to be true." McGonagall continued.

"Any matters you wish to discuss, can be brought up at your first heads meeting with myself at the end of this week. Please also have the schedule ready for you and your prefects rounds for this meeting. Now I'm sure the two of you are tired and are wondering where your quarters are this year. They used to be to the east of the 6th floor, now they are on the 4th floor, behind the portrait of the members of Dumbledore's Army. There is a passage leading from beneath the main stairs outside of the great hall, but you must establish use from inside the common room first. The statue of Hedwig will lead you to your shared bathroom and your bedrooms are up the staircase to your right. The password is 'Constellation'. Any questions?"

"Not from me, Hermione?" That was the first time he used her first name, and he was going to make sure it wasn't the last.

"Ermm, no. Thank you professor. Goodnight, I hope you sleep well."

The two eighth year heads made their way up to the fourth floor in comfortable silence. Neither were aware of how this year was going to turn out, but both were in agreement they were going to give it their all to be united, both in the privacy of their shared dormitory and for the rest of the school.

A/N: Please R&R, no flames, im re-new to this whole writing malarkey. The rating will be going up to an M later in the story, I'm just attempting a slow burn for now :).
Thanks, Kay!