Chapter 1
It was a sunny July morning. Hermione woke up from her bed gasping for air, looking frantically around her room. She was in her room, at home. She took a sip of water from her bottle, trying to think about what happened yesterday. She went out searching for plants like she had planned. Something…something went wrong though. At least, that's what she thinks might've happened. Of course, it could've just been a nightmare.
No, she remembered waking up in her tent and apparating home after. Hermione looked around her room and sure enough, her camping gear was tossed in a corner of the room. She shook her head. Her brows knitted together at the small leaves that fell from her hair.
She put on an old shirt she had stolen from one of the boys. Probably Ron's, but she and Harry pass around clothing so much it could be either. She tucked it into some linen pants and tied her hair back. She winced at the pain in her right shoulder. She pulled it to different angles, noticing a particularly sore spot.
She walked over to her mirror trying to look. From what she could tell there was a fresh scar of some sort. Hermione huffed. A scar and some bruises can be expected from running around in the forest all night. She looked at it a bit closer, unable to tell what kind of marks they were. She didn't remember a branch hitting her particularly hard or an animal attack of any kind. It's not like there was anyone she could ask. Neville was supposed to go with her last night, but he wasn't paying attention and got poison ivy all over his arms. Even in the magical world, poison can be a pain to heal. He was ordered to stay home the rest of the night.
Once she had put on clothes she padded down the stairs into the living room. She heard a whoosh of flames from her family's fireplace and turned her head toward the noise.
"Oy did you forget I was coming?" The redhead called from the fireplace.
Hermione sighed in relief. "A bit yeah, I just got back from camping last night. I'm slightly unprepared."
"You're telling me. I just had the longest meeting ever with Professor McGonagall about all my duties as Head Girl this year," she huffed with a frown.
The Weasleys had sent Ginny to bring her to the burrow for the week. For half the week Harry, Ron, and herself were meant to be providing witness accounts to several cases the Wizengamot had requested. A few of the other Weasleys were going to be questioned as well, so Mrs. Weasley thought it would be best if the family stayed together for the week.
"Are Harry and Ron already there?" She asked warily.
"Yeah, though I think Ron might still be trying to convince Harry to pull the chosen one card and keep you all out of it," she said, wrinkling her nose.
Ginny loved her brother, but Ron was always trying to see how far he could take their "saving the world". He'd already used it to get an early start on Auror training and to buy a bachelor pad for himself and Harry. No one could blame him really, finally getting to enjoy the spotlight and spreading his wings.
Hermione ran upstairs to shove a few different outfits into her bag. She didn't need that much. She had started borrowing some of Ginny's clothes this summer. Since the boys started teaming up for their future paths, Hermione found herself hanging out with the youngest Weasley.
"Alright, let's go." She said with a small smile.
Hermione stared out the window as her friends chatted. It was so strange being on the train without her two boys. It felt like she was missing a part of herself. In fact, lately, it felt as though she was forgetting something or someone. She reasoned that it must be the fact that Harry and Ron were gone because she wasn't sure what else it would be. There was a knock on their compartment door that interrupted her thoughts. Neville moved to open it, letting Parvati poke her head in.
"Hey guys, good to see you back!" She greeted.
They gave greetings as well but seemed to question her sudden appearance.
"I was just wondering if you knew about the new living arrangements our parents were talking about?"She asked.
They all shook their heads, except for Ginny.
"I knew there was something I forgot to mention!" The redhead shouted with a glance at the older three students.
"Gin… what is she talking about?"
"Well, McGonagall told me about it a bit at the beginning of Summer. Remember when I went to visit her after getting my Head Girl Badge? Well, apparently a lot of the incoming first-year parents are a bit nervous about having the seventh-year returners back and living with their children. All a bunch of Pansies if you ask me. It's not like we chose to fight in the war." She rolled her eyes and waved a hand dismissively. "Anyways, they remodeled some of the older classrooms on the seventh floor to be suites for the older students returning, like you and Neville."
Hermione made a face of displeasure. "So we're not going to be staying with the Gryffindors in the tower?"
"No…sorry Hermione," Ginny grimaced. "But, on the bright side, I helped decorate a bunch of the girls' rooms. Anthony did all the boy ones. They're pretty roomy and not too tight. Only like fifteen students are returning from your year so you might only have one roommate."
Hermione frowned and looked back at Parvati.
"That's what I heard. I came to talk to Hermione about that actually." Parvati wrung her hands as she talked. "From what I heard they're trying to keep the houses still together…But honestly, after everything that has happened, I'd really prefer to stay with my sister if it's alright with you Hermione?"
"Why wouldn't that be alright with me?" The brunette witch asked.
"Well, I don't really plan on asking McGonagall… But it's fine because when I'm not there I'll just be with my sister."
Oh, so Hermione would be covering for her. "I don't know…"
"If anything you'll have the whole place to yourself! You could even use my room as a walk-in bookshelf! Plus you don't want me as a roommate, you're probably sick of me by now." The twin tried.
"Oh throw her a bone Hermione! Luna and I will stay with you when you get lonely," Ginny added.
Hermione sighed and begrudgingly agreed, much to everyone else's pleasure.
"Oh, one more thing," the Patil sister added before leaving, "Did you hear, all the Slytherins came back this year."
"All of them?" Neville asked.
Parvati merely nodded and seemed to watch their reactions.
"Do you know why?" Hermione asked.
"My parents say the ministry wants to be able to keep an eye on them. Apparently, this was the only thing the Wizengamot could come to an understanding on. After all, I suppose they were–are still kids. Their parents weren't so lucky though," she said looking down.
Hermione had heard. A lot of their parents were tried and found guilty of crimes against magical beings, and their aid in Voldemort's rise to power. Many of the pureblood fathers especially.
"Well, as long as they don't try anything, I suppose it could be worse," was all Ginny added.
"Maybe they might even turn over a new leaf," Luna offered.
Neville's face grew stoic. "I can't imagine that going well with the rest of the students at Hogwarts."
Parvati grimaced and put a hand on the door to the compartment. "Right, well. I think McGonagall is planning on doing some sort of kindness speech. Most of the students on the train are intent on keeping their heads down."
Ginny and Parvati were right. They had separated the older students into separate rooms. Neville was with Seamus and Dean, and she had been with Parvati. Parvati had still planned to stay in their room for the first few days of school. She unpacked some blankets and some clothes before making a separate pile she was going to bring to her sister's dorm.
She was leaving their dorm for class before the witch stopped her. "I… I read something in the paper over the summer. I wanted to ask you if it was true," Parvati began hesitantly.
Hermione raised a brow and motioned for her to continue.
After a pause and clearing of her throat, Parvati continued."Is it true you three testified on behalf of the Malfoys?"
"Oh," was all she could manage.
Hermione recalled the trial. It was…bleak. She, Harry, and Ron had been asked to testify for and against so many people that week. It had been a long day of waiting. She wouldn't have even said anything if Harry hadn't been so adamant about it and he had been very adamant.
"It's Malfoy! Have you been cursed out of your mind? After everything that's happened, he deserves to rot with the rest of the lot," Ron said.
Harry sighed and paced around just outside the courtroom. "Look, I know he was awful and doesn't deserve any of our time. But I've-I've just been thinking." He breathed out quickly and fidgeted with his glasses.
"Malfoy was a prick, no one is denying that, but to live forever in Azkaban…It just doesn't seem right. I mean, he did try to help us," Harry had continued.
"Harry, I know you feel guilty about a lot of things, but you can't control this," Hermione said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Right, not to mention everything he's done. What he did to Hermione, to us, what his father did. His family should rot in hell, Harry. Think about everything they did. To Hagrid, to Sirius, to my father. It's not right." He argued, a heavy weight falling on their conversation.
"I know, no one is talking about his father or his family," Harry began again. "I know he was awful, especially to you Hermione. But if you could've seen him that night in the tower. He didn't want this, he didn't want any of this. I mean what would either of us have done in his shoes? His whole family was involved, his whole house—It's practically all he's ever known."
Hermione and Ron exchanged a look with each other. Harry was cursed to have a bleeding heart and a guilty conscience for everything.
"You might have a point," Ron admitted, shocking both of them.
"I do?"
"He does?"
Ron shook his head begrudgingly. "I suppose if someone surrounded by nothing but good people like Percy could still do the ministry's dirty work…It might be hard for someone like Malfoy to try to not be a massive prick."
Harry broke out into a smile, which was rare these days. "Thank you, we don't have to say much. Really anything at all could be beneficial."
Ron nodded his head half-heartedly. Then they both turned to Hermione.
The witch had her arms folded, a frown already in place.
"You can't be serious." When their expressions didn't change she was flabbergasted. "Harry, do I have to?" She whined.
Harry smiled again and started pulling her toward the courtroom. "I love you so much, Hermione. I owe you, I promise. I'll even help you sort through the books at Grimmauld's place when it's over. You just need to say what feels right."
When she walked in, she didn't know what to expect. They had shuffled to their seats off to the side ready to stand and approach when needed, like they had done so many other times this week. There he sat, in the middle of the room in a cage. Hermione put a hand over her mouth and turned to Harry, whose smile had completely faded.
The blonde wizard's hair was dull and a mess. His head was low when they entered, but when they found their seats she saw him shift. He adjusted in his chair and finally looked up at the room. When his eyes found hers a chill ran down her spine. The cool grey of his eyes seemed to strike out against the dark circles underneath. He seemed halfway dead.
He locked in on her for a split second, something making him narrow his eyes. She was the first to look away. They all stood as the case began.
"Hermione?" Parvati called, breaking her out of the memory.
"Hmm? Oh sorry Parvati, I just got lost in thought I suppose." She shrugged.
"Oh, it's alright. It happens to me too. I'm sorry for asking," the other witch said and resumed their pace.
"No, no it's alright. Yes, uh Harry, Ron, and I all spoke for him. Malfoy is, well he was cruel and a selfish prick all throughout the school. I still hate him for tormenting me and being overall an unpleasant person. But he was still just a child like you said before. Harry thought he might deserve at least a second chance to prove himself."
Parvati nodded in response. It was Hermione who tried to change the topic before they set off for class. She hated the feeling the memories were bringing, that ache for Ron and Harry like on the train, being at the forefront of her thoughts.