Back Again

Return to Hogwarts

"Quite strange to be back isn't it?"

Hermione was jerked out of her daydreams by Ron's inquiring tone. She sat beside Harry on the Hogwarts Express while Ron sat across from the two.

"Yeah I suppose," Harry replied, fiddling with his Hogwarts robes.

The Golden Trio was returning to their beloved school to finally complete their seventh year. Hermione didn't quite know how she felt about this yet. It would be nice to see Hogwarts again, but she wasn't sure if she'd ever possess the same attitude toward her studies as she had prior to the war.

"Hermione?" Harry gently tapped her shoulder. "Hermione are you alright?"

Hermione flinched at Harry's light touch. Her battle wounds had healed, however she still suffered the immense trauma of the war, especially from the events that took place at Malfoy Manor.

"I'm fine," Hermione said hoarsely, attempting a smile but failing miserably. Ron and Harry looked at each other worriedly. Hermione cleared her throat. "I'm telling the truth. I guess this is all just a bit strange. You know, to be sitting here after all that's happened."

She was saved from having to continue by the train pulling into the station in Hogsmeade. Ron studied her, worry still in her eyes, only tearing his eyes from her to stand and reach for Hermione's trunk for her. Harry stood as well, slowly offering his hand to Hermione to help her get up. She swallowed before grabbing it and standing up.

"Thanks," Hermione muttered, grabbing her trunk from Ron and looking around for her ginger cat. "Damn it, have either of you seen Crookshanks?"

"No, I thought he was with us the whole ride," Harry said. Ron nodded in agreement. Hermione sighed, a bit frustrated that she had let Crookshanks out of her sight while zoned out.

"Would you two mind taking care of my trunk? I'll have to go and find him quickly." Hermione said, dropping her trunk to the floor. Ron made to step forward.

"You don't have to go alone I'll come with," Ron said, the look of worry back on his face. Hermione took a step back, edging toward the corridor.

"No really," she replied hastily. "I'll find him quickly he can't have gone far. You two just wait for me by the coaches would you?" Ron attempted to take another step towards Hermione, but was stopped by Harry.

"Sounds good Hermione." Harry said, ignoring the look Ron shot him. "We'll be waiting for you."

Hermione nodded appreciatively and stepped out of the compartment. Out in the corridor she let out a sigh. She loved both Harry and Ron very much, but she was quite glad to be alone for once. She could not have asked for a better way for the war to end; yet, it had left her in quite a bad state. After it had ended, Hermione, Ron, and Harry had spent all their time together. They recalled specific moments of their journey, confessed things they had not told one another during their search for the Horcruxes, and wept together over their losses.

When Hermione realized she did not quite love Ron as he loved her, she had forced herself to be truthful. Ron had reacted perfectly. He was definitely not the smartest, but he understood that something had changed about Hermione ever since Lord Voldemort had gone. He had told her he'd wait as long as she needed, and he'd be there for her whenever. Harry too was extremely supportive and understanding towards Hermione. While she appreciated Ron and Harry's treatment, she could not help but feel a bit suffocated by their constant worried looks and Ron's eagerness to accompany her everywhere.

Hermione turned towards the opposite direction of the closest exit- where Ron and Harry would be exiting- and squeezed past fellow classmates, attempting a cheery hello when someone happened to greet her. She looked all around for Crookshanks, though it was difficult with moving people everywhere.

Finally as she neared the end of the train she was able to see clearly and look for her beloved cat properly.

"Crookshanks... where have you gone?" Hermione murmured, searching empty compartments and looking all along the floor. With her head down, she suddenly slammed into something much taller than herself.

"Oh!" Hermione breathed, clutching her head and stumbling backwards. Looking up, the figure in front of her turned to reveal cold, gray eyes.

Hermione stopped breathing. She stared into Draco Malfoy's eyes, horror seeping through her. The last time she had seen him other than during the Battle of Hogwarts was at the place where her nightmares took her most often- Malfoy's own home. She began to panic, remembering Bellatrix torturing her, remembering Malfoy watching it all happen, feeling much more protective of the lower part of her arm... She turned to run away, feeling quite sick, when at last she found Crookshanks, tripping over him, this time not paying attention to the floor as she moved.

Hermione began to breathe heavily, scrambling to get up as quickly as possible. What was Malfoy doing on the Hogwarts Express? Why had he returned to Hogwarts? Hadn't he already taken his seventh year? Malfoy opened his mouth and spoke stiffly.

"Relax Granger, I'm not going to hurt you." He looked quite unwell himself. His pale, blond hair was unkempt and not his usual smooth combover. He was even paler than usual, and looked as if he could use a few good meals. Hermione snatched Crookshanks up from the floor and held him tightly in her arms, as if Malfoy was trying to steal him away from her. Suddenly, rage seemed to replace her panic as she spoke to him.

"What are you doing here. Who allowed you onto this train." Hermione spoke very quietly, her voice almost shaking with anger. He should not have come here. He should not have dared come onto the train with herself, Harry and Ron. Hermione's eyes fought to stay level with Malfoy's. There was no doubt that the war had changed her, but it had not taken any of her courage.

"I don't want to be here any more than you want me here," Malfoy replied in the same stiff tone, tearing his gray eyes from her brown ones. "It wasn't my choice." He then muttered something else under his breath that Hermione couldn't hear.

He took a small step towards her and she immediately fled, finding the closest exit and running out of it, Crookshanks clutched in her trembling arms.

Hermione ran through the crowd of black robes, finally finding Harry and Ron, standing next to a coach pulled by the thestrals.

"Malfoy's here!" she blurted out quickly, panting with the effort of sprinting from the train. "Malfoy's here! Here at Hogwarts! He's come for his seventh year as well!" She gulped for breaths of air, still in disbelief.

Harry and Ron's mouths dropped.

"You're joking!" Ron exclaimed, looking dumfounded. "How could they let that git on the train? I mean, they know what side he was on during the war don't they? They know what he's done?" He shot another worried glance at Hermione.

"They've got to," Harry replied, looking surprised as well. "I suppose they're giving him another chance. Perhaps his mum wanted him to come." Hermione's breathing seemed to have finally returned to normal.

"I don't care!" she said in a shrill tone. "He shouldn't be here! He has no right! How could McGonagall have let this happen?"

"Malfoy's mum is part of the reason we won," Harry started, continuing quickly at the look on Hermione's face. "I know what they did was horrible Hermione, trust me I know. I just don't know if the Malfoys intend to be that way anymore. But no matter, we'll get things sorted with McGonagall and assure you don't have to be anywhere near Malfoy." Ron nodded in agreement.

"I reckon we should get in the coach now," Ron said, hoisting his trunk inside. "Don't want to be late for the Sorting." He helped Hermione put her trunk inside as well and the three of them stepped into the carriage.

It was only then, sitting between Harry and Ron and still seething about Malfoy, that Hermione realized, all three could see the black skeletal horses pulling the coach.