The ones who didn't get to finish their 7th year had an open invitation to return to Hogwarts to complete their missing classes and take the last of the exams. They had the option to stay at Hogwarts or stay off campus in Hogsmeade. They were given the opportunity to start their lives as adults away from the classes, but still go to their classes every day. There was a dorm set up for these students free of charge, but this gave them the feeling of independence. Every student had their own room, but also had shared spaces, kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, and places to study. Each one of the dorms held 2 rooms each.
Headmistress McGonagall wanted to ensure those who wanted to finish had the option after the war. Even the ones that fought with the Dark Lord. She believed in forgiveness, she believed many of the students who fought only chose to fight with their parents and she didn't believe the sins of the parents should continue with the children. She knew there would be a struggle between both sides as school resumed. There would be high emotions for those who watched friends and family die in front of them.
Hermione had chosen to return to finish her studies. She openly accepted the invitation. Ron and Harry chose not to return yet to finish their schooling, but helped Hermione move some of her personal items into her dorm.
"Bloody hell, why couldn't you have put these books in your magic bag like you did when we were on the hunt?" Ron complained as he carried a box of books up the stairs of the small dorm.
"I would still have to unpack regardless, it's honestly not that many books," Hermione spoke as she carried up a duffle of clothing.
Harry walked behind her with another box of books. "I didn't know we would be helping you carry the whole library up a flight of stairs."
Hermione looked back to Harry, "If you two don't want to help you don't have to."
"No, we don't mind helping we were just giving you a hard time. Are you sure you don't want to take a little more time off?" Harry spoke as the three walked into her room that was to the right of the stairs.
"I think for me, it would be better if I come back." She spoke as she sat the duffle on a queen-sized four-poster bed with a black and red comforter. With dark red curtains. "I understand that it's not your time to come back, you two have every right."
Ron and Harry set the two boxes of books next to a dark wooden desk. "Yeah, I just, I know I'm not ready to go back to the castle right now, it's too much," Ron said sadly.
"Ron, it's ok," Hermione spoke as she walked over to the two. She grabbed each of their hands as she smiled. "We are still here for each other; we are still supportive of what we decide to do. You guys were supportive of me wanting to come back." Both Harry and Ron nodded as they gripped her hands. She let go shortly after as she walked over pulling her dark blue curtains open and opened one of her larger windows that was across from the bed. A warm breeze blew her tamed chestnut hair, Summer was coming to an end, and the temperature would start to change within the next month. "You both promise you'll come to visit when you get a chance?"
Harry nodded as he smiled. "Yes of course."
"Yeah, it's not like you aren't close to any pubs." Ron chuckled. "Let's go get the rest of your boxes up here and we will let you settle in. I know Ginny is excited about seeing you back at Hogwarts."
"She must be pretty anxious," Hermione spoke as she followed the boys back down the stairs.
"Yes, but she wants to finish out her last year, I know she's playing catch up for some of her 6th-year classes, but I know she will be able to get it done," Ron spoke up.
They continued their conversation as they all made a few more trips upstairs with boxes. It wasn't long before the sun started to drop down below the horizon, the sky turning a vibrant orange and purple. She gave both boys hugs before they left. Hermione walked back up the stairs and closed her door. She looked around the room before letting out a sigh. This was the first time she was going to be on her own without either of them. She would still have her friends at Hogwarts when she took her classes, but her boys left her to work on themselves, to find themselves again, just like her.
Her honey eyes looked to the dark wooden desk with a matching wooden chair, and a couple of dark oak bookshelves that were six shelves tall stood across the room near the door, there was a dark oak nightstand with a black lamp with a white lampshade. The room smelled a little musty and the black-stained floor squeaked at every step. Her walls were painted a light cream color that offset the dark tones of her furniture.
She listened to the street below, the light hums of conversations, the cooing of owls. She took the time to unpack placing her books on the bookshelf. The sky turned dark and littered the open world with stars. She picked up her wand and flicked it to the light above her and to the light on her nightstand. The warm glow of the lights illuminated her room.
She paused for a moment as she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. That must have been her new roommate. The door across from her room creaked open and closed. For a moment she wondered if it would be the best time to see who it was, but on the other hand, the individual might not be ready to even talk right now. Morning, she thought, that would make it more natural to meet and walk to Hogwarts to attend classes. For now, she focused on herself while listening to the movements of the other student in the other room. She didn't hear any voices, she figured the other student would have someone helping, but maybe they were on their own here. Which was a high possibility.
She hurried down the steps after spending a bit of time in the bathroom getting ready. She had put her hair back up in a bun and placed a metal clip to keep it in place. She wore a light grey pullover sweater and blue jeans. When she turned into the kitchen carrying her books she stopped dead in her tracks, her books slipping from her grasp.
Malfoy turned to face her as he stood near the kitchen window drinking coffee from a white teacup. He wore dark black slacks and a white button-down shirt with a green tie. "I think you dropped something Granger." He smirked as he walked towards the sink to wash out his cup.
She leaned down and gathered her books back into her arms. How could they place him with her? If Ron and Harry knew they would freak. She watched him closely, a little unsure. "You chose to come back?"
"Hmm?" Malfoy focused on the cup he was washing. "Yes, just like you did, I have classes I want to finish so I can get a certain position in the Ministry."
She lifted her left brow. Would they seriously let him work for the Ministry? After everything he had done during the war. What his family did during the war. She pulled on her sleeve that held the scar his left had burned into her flesh. "I guess everyone deserves another chance." She spoke softly.
Malfoy nodded as he placed his cup and saucer in the dish strainer. "You are going in already?"
"Yeah, I just, I was coming down a bit early to see who moved in." She lowered her head.
"But sadly, you found me? Am I correct Granger?" Malfoy smirked again. "I'm guessing you thought you were done with me."
"I wasn't trying to be rude." She looked back up to him sadly.
"It is what it is," He shrugged his shoulders. "We don't have to talk; we can just focus on our studies. I'm sure we can find ways of not running into each other, so we don't bother each other while we finish this year. I know you despise me."
"Honestly. I don't know how I feel about you, but I do agree that as little interaction as possible would work best for us in this situation." She agreed with his suggestion.
"I guess we have common ground." He gathered his books from the kitchen table. "If we survived last year, we will survive this year living across from each other in this dorm." He walked past her and headed out. The door clicked and closed shut as he walked out towards Hogwarts.
She stood in the kitchen for a few minutes as she tried to work through everything that had just occurred. Why would Headmistress McGonagall assign them the same dorm knowing their history? Was this a plan to keep an eye on him so he wouldn't do anything sneaky? Or was she concerned about placing him with another Slytherin? Hermione knew the two were rivals as far as their studies went, both of them competed to ensure they got full marks and acknowledgment from their professors. Could it have been that simple?
Time seemed to pass quickly when she got to Hogwarts Headmistress McGonagall had fixed the castle, but also tried to bring life back into the castle. There was an area that was set up outside the great hall that was for the fallen during the war. Pictures and fresh-cut flowers were placed around the small area so people could stop and pay their respects. Hermione had noticed Ginny standing around a couple of times she had passed by. She knew she was looking at a picture of the brother she had lost. She was tempted to stop a couple of times, but would always take a step back. Hermione knew she had to let Ginny greave and she knew that she could always go to her for support, but she knew she needed to let her have her moment.
In classes, she ran into Malfoy a couple of times, but they never interacted or looked at each other. They did, however, fight to give the correct answer. After the day ended, she went to the library to gather a few books to study for her Alchemy class. She heard a couple of whispers on the other side of the bookshelf. "I can't believe he came back, what was Headmistress McGonagall thinking? Wasn't he the reason why Dumbledore was killed? The reason why the death eaters were able to enter the castle?" Hermione frowned. McGonagall was truly trying to reunite the students, but the banter, rumors, or truths were going to stall the reunification process.
Hermione left the library with her books; she kept her head down as she left the castle for the day and headed home. Malfoy knew there would be a pushback, she honestly proved that this morning when she laid eyes on him in their shared kitchen. Maybe he was trying to move forward, if he didn't want to fight, he would have stayed out of this school, and he would have found a different route to take. In the end, though, he returned to a school full of students who fully resented him. Once she was home, she looked around before she headed upstairs to her room and closed her door.
Hermione tried to gather her thoughts as she set her books down from her classes. She opened her window as she looked down at individuals walking by possibly heading home for the evening. Was Draco already home? Did he lock himself away in his room to study just like her? Her stomach knotted as she thought things over, about the living situation. Would it be just like this the whole year? Silence between two students who just wanted to complete their studies. He showed no ill will towards her this morning, he didn't call her out or tell her how disgusting she was. It truly felt like it was tense because she felt herself pulled back into the war without warning. A war that Malfoy was forced into just as much as she was.
She took a few steps back from the window and left her room heading down the steps and into the kitchen. Hermione could have used her magic, but in some cases, she chose to do things the muggle way because it was calming, it reminded her of her parents. She gathered pots and pans, started boiling water, slicing potatoes, and carrots, and then started cutting up beef chucks. It wasn't cold yet, but she knew a warm stew would feed the two for a couple of days, that is if he chose to take part in the meal. She was okay with him eating alone, but in a way, she wanted to try to mend something, she wasn't sure if there was anything to mend.
She was grateful that the fridges and pantries were full of stock to make meals. She spent an hour prepping everything and starting the stew on the white cooktop with coil tops. While the stew simmered, she took a loaf of French bread, sliced, buttered, and seasoned before she placed it in the oven to toast.
She heard creaking from above before she heard a door open. He must have decided to come out. He might be coming down to make his own meal. The steps seemed to echo before they came to a stop just outside the kitchen. Hermione looked up to see Malfoy who seemed hesitant about stepping into the room. She paused for a moment. "Do you want me to leave?"
Malfoy shook his head. "No, you're fine, I was just going to make something for dinner."
"I'm making a stew if you want some, there will be plenty," Hermione spoke up.
Malfoy looked at the pot on the stove before looking back at her. "You don't have to give me anything Granger."
"I promise there is way too much for me to eat, take a bowl or two." She spoke as she walked back over to the oven to pull the bread out to cool.
"It's not necessary." He spoke as he went to the bread box and pulled a loaf out.
"Is it because of who I am?" She questioned.
"Are you saying I won't eat your food because you are a mudblood?" He questioned her in return.
Hermione's flinched at his words as she watched him walk over to the fridge to pull a couple of items out to make a sandwich for himself. "It's fine you don't have to eat it. I just thought I would try to reach out to you."
"I don't need your pity." He spoke coldly. "We don't have to be friends, we don't have to get along, we are just here to complete the classes we need." He put his sandwich together quickly and got one glass from the cupboard for water. "Granger, don't bother with me." He grabbed his plate and water and left the kitchen leaving her behind.
This wasn't going to work how she thought it would have. She frowned as she started to clean up her mess from the meal she just prepared. Maybe he did truly believe she was too dirty or maybe like he said he didn't need her pity. He just wanted to do what he had to. Even if it meant sharing a house with a girl he didn't get along with. She filled a bowl, took a couple of pieces of bread, and ate quietly at the breakfast nook in front of the window that overlooked the small garden that needed a bit of love. The garden looked wild and untamed. The last time someone touched the ground had to have been years ago.
She finished her meal slowly as she tried to think of ways, she could keep busy in the house when she wasn't studying. She was going to be alone in this house even with the other across from her. She knew Harry and Ron would visit when they could, but a new fear welled in the pit of her stomach. How were they going to take her staying in the same home with someone they constantly fought against?