The Fault in our Marks

Chapter 1

This is a story I began writing back when I was about 12, over 5 years ago now. I recently decided that throughout lockdown I was going to rewrite my stories as I know my writing skills have massively developed. I hope you all like it!:)

Once again, Hermione Granger found herself stood on Platform 9 and 3/4. She had missed the intoxicating smell of the smoke that flooded the platform and the sounds of families bidding goodbye to one another. Hermione looked around at the families that surrounded her and felt a wave of guilt and grief wash over her. After the war, she returned to revert the memories of her parents that she obliviated, however when she arrived it was too late; They had disappeared with no trace of where they could be left behind. Her thoughts were broken when a fiery red head tackled her into the tightest embrace, to the point where Hermione could not breathe. "let-go-gin-cant-breathe" she exclaimed as she gasped for air. Laughing, the girl loosened her embrace and apologised "Sorry Mione, I've just missed you so much! The Burrow hasn't been the same without you this summer". Hermione hadn't returned to the burrow since the war had ended. 

"I can't do this anymore Ron! It's exhausting!" a tired Hermione exclaimed. She and Ron had been arguing for the past two hours over a topic she can't even remember anymore, much like their lives for the past month. "Come on Mione, do you think that I like arguing with you? Do you think that I do this on purpose? I'm sorry, come here?" gesturing for her to come and sit with him. "I can't Ron, I can't keep arguing with you. We're both grieving, we both lost people important to us and we need to support each other, not add more trouble on to our minds by constantly falling out over things we can't remember by the end of the argument. We can't build this relationship upon grief, we can't hold on to something that isn't going to work just because it brought us comfort when we most needed it. I just can't do this anymore, I mean it" she said whilst she broke down into tears and crouched to the floor. A look of panic mixed with relief enveloped Ron's face as he felt a single tear, slowly drop down on to his cheek. "Is this the end Mione?" he said as he choked back tears. "I believe it is" she responded, barely at a whisper. There were two long minutes filled with silence, neither of the two knowing what to say or do. The silence was finally broken when Ron whispered "I love you Hermione Granger" to which she replied "Yet it's just not enough". 

Brought back to reality by the sound of the Hogwarts Express sounding its loud, deafening whistle, Hermione diverted her attention back to Ginny. "I've missed you too Gin, it's been weird not having anyone around. However I have managed to spend the summer catching up on a lot of reading I missed out on during the war. How are the boys?" She asked sadly. Much to her dismay, Harry and Ron weren't returning to Hogwarts this year, they both decided to take up the offer of training to become Aurors, it would be weirdly quiet for her without the two around. "Harry's amazing, we spend almost everyday out in the garden playing 1v1 quidditch after Harry managed to alter the rules, it takes his mind off of everything, you know?" Ginny said as that overwhelming sadness that Hermione knew too well appeared  upon her face. "Ron misses you you know? He's not been the same since you left." Hermione turned away from Ginny not wanting to hear of Ron when across the platform she spotted someone she hadn't expected to return to Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy. His once gelled back platinum blonde hair now hung loose over his forehead, his eyes now grey and lifeless and his famous smirk now gone and replaced with an emotionless expression, as if all life had been drained from Draco Malfoy. What shocked Hermione the most was when he looked up to meet her gaze and somehow managed to salvage a smile. Draco Malfoy smiling at Hermione Granger? It was unheard of. Before she could decide whether she were going to smile back their gaze was interrupted by Blaise Zabini arriving on the platform and diverting Draco's attention away from Hermione. 

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you!" Hermione exclaimed when she turned back to Ginny "Mcgonagall made me head girl!" Upon hearing this Ginny smirked and replied "Of course she did, you're Hermione Bloody Granger! Anyone could've told me that and I'd have believed them" whilst punching her in the arm. "Ouch Gin, that was unnecessary!" Ginny just laughed. "I wonder who will be head boy now that Harry and Ron aren't returning?" Hermione hadn't thought of this until this moment, who would be head boy?