Sinners and Saints

Part 2

Hermione's p.o.v

The train ride was uneventful as always. When Hermione and Ginny went to put on their robes they bumped into Dean and Seamus looking very comfortable with each other. After the war they finally admitted their feelings for each other and started dating. Having a quick chat they continued down the train to find Luna and Neville heading in the other direction.

"Hey Luna, Neville, how were your summers?" Ginny asked

"Great Daddy and I went hunting for Nargles and Nifflers." Luna's ever mystical response came as no surprise to the girls as they were both used to the strange things that Luna came up with and never questioned them.

Neville's response was easier to understand and incredibly surprising.

"It was amazing! Gran took me to see Mum and Dad a few times and even though they can't say anything I can tell they started to recognise me. It's the most progress they've made in 17 years." He finished beaming widely.

"Neville that's great, I can't believe it!" Hermione exclaimed joyfully

With a similar response from Ginny and a recap of the summer they had at the Burrow. Hermione and Ginny finally made it to the bathroom and changed into their robes.

The journey back to the compartment the four shared, held more interest to Ginny especially.

Hermione was walking in front of Ginny talking to her, not looking where she was going when all of a sudden she slammed into someone's chest causing a laugh.

"Hey Granger look where you're going." Said Blaise Zabini, a face that was not often seen by Gryffindors two golden girls. The words that fell from Zabini's mouth weren't vicious instead slightly more light hearted than expected coming from a Slytherin.

Behind Zabini was Theodore Nott, who found the situation rather amusing until he realised who had walked into his mate. The smirk was struck from his face at the sight of Hermione with Ginny. Theo, instead of standing around in the awkwardness that followed, bolted past the girls mumbling something about needing to catch up with some other Slytherins and a confused Blaise followed unsure about what happened to his friend.

Ginny turned to Hermione with a curious glint in her eye and inquired

"What on earth was that all about? Theodore Nott stuck for words now that was a sight to bear. What did you do to him, Mione? Why was it when he saw you he practically ran to avoid having to say anything to you?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Ginny? Nothing has happen-. She trailed off. "oh this is stupid I can't be bothered to do this anyone." Hermione muttered with frustration

Ginny just looked at her with great amounts of confusion on her face and shrugged it off. She was sure she would get a proper answer later on in the week. But for now she would leave her best friend to deal with whatever the hell that was.

After reaching the compartment the rest of the train ride went pretty quickly. Ron and Harry played a few games of wizard chess whilst Hermione read and Ginny practised some spells that she could use as threats, since she mastered the bat bogey hex, she needed a new challenge. Every now and then Ron would exclaim as one of his sisters spells hit him, and coincidently no one else.

The train pulled into the station at Hogsmeade and the students began filling out towards the carriages. Everyone could see the thestrals this year.

As the Golden Trio got off the train they were met with a familiar voice.

"Ron, 'Arry,'Ermione!"

"Hagrid" was the collective response before all three walked over, giving the half giant a great hug. They had a short chat about their summers and parted when Hagrid told them that he had to escort the first years across the lake.

Just like always.

Hermione was excited to fall back into the familiar routine of being at Hogwarts and the first thing that would help her achieve that was admitting to her friends one of her biggest secrets.

As the two couples walked into the Entrance hall they saw two boys in their Slytherin robes, who both turned around when hearing the arrival of more people.

There in front of the trio and Ginny stood, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Instead of running away this time Theo stood his ground with a smile plastered on his face. He knew what was coming.

Hermione laughed with delight and ran over to Theo

"Teddy!" She yelled as she flung herself into his arms.

His response was simple "Hey Mione how was your summer?"

The five others in the room looked completely dumbfounded at the revelation of this secret friendship and proceeded to stand in shock at the unfamiliar interaction between Theo and Hermione.

After the sorting of the new first years and McGonagall's speech, dinner was finally served. The great amounts of food appear on the tables just as they always had done. Hermione was never one to make it known but she loved the food at Hogwarts in her humble opinion it was some of the greatest cooking she had ever tasted. She remembered the very first time she had eaten at the Gryffindor table. Sitting way down at the other end as a small, bushy haired, bright eyed first year. Now in her place grew a gorgeous young lady, who had managed to tame the bushy hair she was notorious for. Now sitting as effectively an 8th year she still enjoyed the food just as much as she had done back then.

Her eyes were drawn to the doors as they creaked open and a certain blonde Slytherin slipped inside. Draco Malloy, uncharacteristically late. No one seemed to have seen him walk in apart from here, so she turned back to McGonagall.

Once the dishes had been cleared away and the last minute rush of Ron trying to grab as much of it as possible had happened, Professor McGonagall got up again and started to speak .

"Now students it is time for me to announce this year's head boy and head girl. So without further ado this year's head girl is Hermione Granger!" A round of applause burst out of the Great Hall and a large beaming smile burst from her face. She couldn't believe it. Hermione was the head girl. She was, all of a sudden, filled with excitement and became a bundle of nerves.

"Now, students, if I may have your attention once more this year's head boy shall be Draco Malfoy!"

No one moved a muscle.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Hermione looked over at Draco to see his usual pale face had somehow managed to reach a new shade of pale.

Then a small fairly half-hearted round of applause came following the announcement.

Hermione looked back round to have her happy face met with Ron's polar opposite red face of anger. He looked as if he was about to explode. Then it hit her, the head dorms. She would have to share a dorm with Draco Malfoy, the boy that loathed her and she and him would have to spend the year living together and there was nothing she could do about it.