"The train is about to leave, mum," Hermione said while hugging her parents for one last time, before she departed to the one and only Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
As you know, Hermione's seventh year in Hogwarts was.... well, disrupted; and, for whoever was willing to come back, an optional eighth year of school was granted.
After the war, the school had been rebuilt and a new person was granted the position of headmaster, Professor McGonagall.
"Please be careful, darling," Hermione's father said, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"I will, dad," She smiled and waved goodbye. "I'll miss you both,"
"And we will miss you,"
Hermione then stepped into the train and started seeing some familiar faces.
All her nervousness wiped away and she was ready for a new year at the school she missed the most.
Walking past the compartments, Hermione heard two very familiar voices and she rapidly slid their compartment's door open.
"Ron, Harry!" She said happily hugging them both, and took a seat next to her boyfriend, Ronald Weasley.
"Hermione!" They said in unison. "We've missed you!"
"I have missed you too," she admitted warmly and started looking outside the window. "It's good to be back, isn't it?"
"It is," Harry agreed. "And I have a good feeling about this year,"
"I do too. But, Hermione, I have a question for you," Ron asked.
"Yeah?"
"How do your parents remember you? I thought you made them forget everything..."
"I did, but when I was at Diagon Alley, I found a potions book. There was one potion that reversed the oblivion spell. It was hard to do, but I think it was essential," Hermione responded.
"Smart," Harry replied with a smile.
At that very moment, the three friends heard rather slow footsteps walking by, and looked outside; a blonde boy was walking with his head down, clearly embarrassed of walking inside the Hogwarts Express.
"For Merlin's beard! What is he doing here?" Ron muttered, disgusted.
"Ron, he just came here because of the same reason we did... to recover the missed year, that's all. He won't bother us," Hermione whispered, looking closely at no more and no less than Draco Malfoy himself walking by, alone. "Imagine all he's been through..."
"Must've been a dark time for him," Harry admitted, feeling bad for his lifelong enemy. "We'll have to keep an eye on how he behaves at Hogwarts..."
"Yeah, we better. He was a death eater, and we all know that Draco Malfoy never has had any good in his heart... He's probably back to cause some more trouble." Ron replied, scared but with hatred in his eyes.
Hermione and Harry just ignored the comment.
***
The rest of the train ride was calm, and once they arrived at the school, all three of them were happy to see new faces.
"Aren't you happy to see all these new first years?" Hermione said, while holding Ron's hand, looking at the beautifully rebuilt corridors of Hogwarts.
"I'm quite glad they showed up," said Ron and quickly turned to look at Harry. "Maybe this year we won't miss the sorting ceremony?"
Harry chuckled. "Let's hope we don't,"
They walked together to the Gryffindor Common Room, and chatted for a while with their old pals. Neville, Ginny, Seamus, and others where there too, glad to see each other.
"So, how has everything been with my brother?" Ginny winked, while talking to Hermione.
"Everything's been great," she responded, letting a smile show in her face. "I think we're happy,"
"You think?" Ginny repeated, clearly making an accent on the word 'think.'
"I mean, I suppose I'm sure,"
Ginny looked at Hermione closely. "Something is bothering you, Mione. What is it?"
Hermione stood silent for a while, but decided to talk. "It's Malfoy. He's here, in Hogwarts,"
"He is?" Ginny repeated, feeling surprised but at the same time confused. "Why would that bother you, though?"
"I- just- I don't know. When I saw him, he wasn't the stone-hearted bully that walked these corridors, thinking that the school belonged to him. He's... different."
"I am not surprised that he has changed. It would be unusual if he hadn't," Ginny said and looked around the Common Room. It was nearly empty. "I think we're late for the feast and the Sorting Ceremony."
"Blimey! I hate being late," Hermione said nervously and started walking faster, making her way to the Great Hall.
"Why don't we run?" Ginny proposed.
"No. We would be breaking the school rules,"
"Even though you saved the world from the darkest wizard to every exist, you're clearly still such a nerd, Mione," Ginny giggled, and when they arrived to the Great Hall, Ginny and Hermione took a seat in between Ron and Harry.
"Where have you two been?" Ron whispered.
"We were chatting and lost track of time," Hermione whispered back, and looked around the Slytherin table. Blaise Zabini, Malfoy's best friend was there, but Draco himself was nowhere to be seen.
Where could he be? Hermione thought.
"Everything okay?" Ron asked, concerned. He knew Hermione well, and couldn't understand what could be bothering her on the first day of school.
Just plain old Hermione, Ron thought.
Nervous about the first day of school.
"Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine," Hermione responded while the food started magically showing up at each table. "Feast looks delicious,"
"Always does," Ron laughed and started eating right away, ignoring his girlfriend's odd mood.
YOU ARE READING
Broken
Romance"It was my destiny to do it, and I couldn't. I couldn't do it, Hermione," Draco cried softly. "Draco, it was your choice not to. Don't worry, everything will soon get better," Hermione said, putting her hand on top of Draco's, looking at him with co...
