Better Man

The Arrival

After an additional few hours of vetoing all of Malfoy's quidditch based scheduling decisions, they finally came to an agreement for rounds. The argumentative Heads parted ways just in time to get into their school robes. Shortly after changing, the train slowed before coming to a complete stop. They were home.
Hermione was excited to be back and yet, still hesitant. She hadn't been back to Hogwarts since last summer when everyone died at the hands of Lord Voldemort. She had no idea how she would handle it, Merlin, she wasn't sure how Ginny would handle being back. Her brother, Fred, was murdered here. She, alongside Neville and Luna, had been tortured by the Carrows here. If anything, this should be a cakewalk for Hermione. Instead, she was nearly shaking. Her eyes watered but she swallowed back her tears.
No, she thought determinedly. This is my last year here. I will not waste it being sad or scared.
"Hurry up, Granger. You've already wasted enough of my time today," Malfoy remarked as he pushed past her. Hermione gave him a swift elbow to the ribs as he passed her, noting his wince with satisfaction.
"Oh shut it, Malfoy. Nobody needs to hear your voice every second of everyday," Hermione retorted. "Least of all, me."
Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned his back on her, making his way to the carriages. He sat alone, ignoring everyone else. Hermione felt a small twinge of happiness. He deserved to sit alone after everything, she thought.
Well, he can't be all bad, her conscious interrupted her vindictiveness. He did conceal their identities at Malfoy Manor. He also gave her that chocolate the other week.
Still, she reasoned. One or two good deeds don't make up for years of spouting hateful views and becoming a Death Eater. It didn't change anything in Hermione's mind.
Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna made their way out of the station and to the carriages. Though she knew she would be able to see the thestrals, it still shook her to lay witness to the beasts.
"C'mon, Hermione. Plenty of room up here," Neville patted the space next to him in the carriage.
Rain started to fall lightly as Hermione jumped in quickly, not eager to deal with the frizz the rain brings with it. The others chatted about the upcoming year, particularly quidditch, but Hermione barely heard a word they said. She was worried about the year ahead but was also straining her brain to figure out what Malfoy was up to. Part of her believed that maybe he was trying to make amends but the other part of her remembered all the years of being called a Mudblood. It was because of people like him that Voldemort came back. The Malfoys' and their views played their part in the deaths of many of her friends, people she considered family. Even if he wasn't the one who carved Mudblood into her arm, he'd had his role in the war and he had played his part. That's not something she could overlook easily, no matter how much chocolate he threw at her. But she also didn't want to spend her last year at Hogwarts fighting with the Head Boy. Talk about a painful waste of time.

They reached the school grounds promptly and they exited the carriage. Hermione looked up at the school, it had clearly been repaired since last year. It was strange, in a way. Like it had never happened. They made their way to the Great Hall, Hermione trying desperately to flatten her frizzy hair, to no avail. They said goodbye to Luna, who drifted over to the Ravenclaw table where she sat by herself. Hermione saw a couple of kids sniggering at Luna as she pulled out a copy of The Quibbler and began reading in earnest. Across the hall, she saw Malfoy take his seat at the Slytherin table. Whilst they weren't exactly rejecting him, they didn't seem to welcome him either. Hermione wasn't sure if it was because he and his family had been Death Eaters and they were anti Voldemort or if they were pro Voldemort and anti defectors. She noticed Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson were also there, which she was surprised to see. Now that she thought about it, she'd seen a few people around that should've graduated last year. Perhaps because the end of the year had quite literally exploded around them, they hadn't finished their final exams and, unlike certain boys she knew, didn't want to run off and become Aurors at first chance.

The general chatter came to a halt as the doors opened and the first years poured into the hall. They were so tiny, shivering and wet. One of them looked like they had fallen into the lake. Hermione nudged Neville and gestured towards the little boy. Neville grinned and elbowed Hermione playfully. The sorting went off without a hitch and McGonagall then stood to give her welcoming address.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. I hope this feast finds you well and that you're all ready for a new school year. As you are well aware, last year was a difficult and trying time. With this new term, we are looking to put that behind us and focus on the future. That said, if any students find themselves struggling, they are more than welcome to speak with their Head of House or Madam Pomfrey. Speaking of the Heads, I'd like to welcome back Professor Slughorn who is once again our Head of Slytherin."

Slughorn stood up and gave an awkward bow and wave. Hermione was not surprised at this appointment, given the promotion to Headmaster and then the untimely death of, Professor Snape.

"Now I'd like to welcome and introduce you to this year's Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger!" McGonagall continued. Hermione stood up and waved to the hundreds of eyes upon her before quickly sitting back down.

"And our Head Boy, Mr Draco Malfoy!" McGonagall announced. The Great Hall quickly fell silent before the whispers began. Malfoy stood up and sat back down so quickly, you might've missed it. Hermione heard all sorts of comments around her but McGonagall ignored it and continued her welcoming speech.

"There will be plenty of time for lengthy speeches at the conclusion of the feast. For now, rest and enjoy!" McGonagall concluded. The Headmistress rejoined the Head Table next to Professor Flitwick. Hermione was relieved the welcome speech had ended so quickly, she was absolutely famished. She couldn't even remember if she ate on the train or not. Malfoy was a painful and unwelcome distraction from lunch.

Food appeared in front of them and Hermione, channeling her inner Ronald, began piling a little bit of everything on her plate. As she dug in, she felt a touch of sadness weighing her down. She should be enjoying the last ever Welcoming Feast with her two best friends but this year, she was on her own. Well, not entirely.

"Hermione, reckon I can chug this pitcher of pumpkin juice in one go?" Ginny called, raising the jug to her mouth. Hermione grabbed the pitcher off her.

"Honestly, Ginny, you're worse than your brothers sometimes."