Chapter 1

Although she had made all the appropriate sounds and arguments of disappointment, Hermione Granger could not deny the soft edge of relief that came with the fact that Harry and Ron would not be completing their seventh year at Hogwarts with her.

In all honesty, although she would not trade the years that she had been their friend and the adventures they'd had for anything, it would be nice to enjoy a safe final year.

Alright, so all the trouble, the danger, the flying of Hippogriffs hadn't exactly been their fault. There were outside influences, elements that the two boys could not have avoided even if they had wished it... She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes and sat back more comfortably in her seat. Of course they hadn't tried very hard to avoid the danger.

Yes this was going to be a very good year. She planned to study hard and score record high Newts. Work her way through those remaining books she was yet to read in the library and forget her silly, childish, and completely stupid feelings for Ron.

A month after the war had ended they made love for the first time and soon after he had announced that sex was just too much fun and felt way too good to waste in a monogamous relationship. He wanted to explore the world and find out more about his sexuality. Over all Hermione had taken the news rather well and after a few weeks of thinking time their friendship had settled again. He was just Ron and that was all he would ever be. And she decided that in all honesty it showed a great deal of respect that he had been honest rather then going behind her back.

Outside the train whistle sounded and loud, tearful goodbyes drifted through her carriage window. It rocked a little and finally started to move forwards along the track to Hogwarts and to her destiny.

She smiled at this silly thought and was still smiling when the carriage door flew open and a tall wizard stepped in. She couldn't see his face as he lifted his trunk onto the rack but Hermione couldn't help but admire his robes. They were of an expensive cut, a Hamilton Roe design unless she was mistaken. They were of deep dark green; one would think they were black if not for the contrast of black edgings around the cuffs and down the front. Impressive.

Her awed expression dropped the moment the newcomer had his trunk secure and turned back to take his seat. Their eyes met and recognition was instantaneous for them both. He had grown some, his shoulders were a little broader, his face a little more mature, his hair was longer, cut jaggedly just above his shoulders and there was a new shadow behind his gaze a dark knowledge that no boy of his age should hold. She recognized it only because she saw that same shadow behind her own eyes in the mirror each morning.

She noticed that he was observing her with the same mixture of curiosity and discomfort. The silence stretched on until Hermione couldn't take any more and nodded politely.

"Malfoy," she acknowledged.

"Granger," he replied and returned her polite nod then sat down.

She stifled a sigh. This was going to be a long ride.

Hermione reopened her Prophet and noticed that Draco did the same and they read in silence until the lunch lady arrived. Loud and rickety there was no missing the sound as she trundled up the train towards their carriage.

"Anything to eat, dears?" she asked her voice high pitched and croaky. An odd combination.

Hermione ordered a chicken salad, Draco chose the Tuna Salad. They exchanged a brief look then ordered drinks and Hermione brought a large bowl of mixed summer fruit.

Again they ate in silence but all the while Hermione caught Draco eyeing the bowel of fruit. After another moment of this she slid the bowl into the middle.

"Have some, there's too much here for just me," she said and cringed at how small her voice sounded.

For a moment she thought he would make some snide comment but he surprised her and himself, by the expression on his face, by accepting and taking a ripe plumb from the top.

It was another half an hour of silence before Draco suddenly folded his paper and placed it on the table with a determined slap. The act was meant to draw her attention and it succeeded. Hermione looked at Draco for a full minute while he fidgeted and chose his words.

"I - um - I'm sorry..." His voice was barely audible but it got louder as he spoke. "About what happened to you... What my aunt did to you."

Hermione was gob-smacked. Of all the things she expected him to say, an apology was not one of them. She sat and stared for a long time. She couldn't say it was alright, because it wasn't. She couldn't say it wasn't his fault because it was - he had been the one who complained to his father and later his Aunt Belatrix about the know-it-all Muggleborn living above her station, he had been the one to identify them when they had been captured during the war... But at the same time here he sat, had sat for the passed few hours without so much a mean remark or a putdown of any kind. And he was asking for forgiveness. That had to mean something.

She nodded in acknowledgement. It was the best she could offer right now. "I was sorry to hear about Crabbe." She responded.

He nodded. "Yeah, me too."

Hermione couldn't help but let out a little laugh. "You sound surprised."

"I am!" he exclaimed and gave a laugh of his own. "The stupid fat git could barely put two words together and even that was only on the rare occasion that he didn't have something stuffed in his mouth. But now he's gone and he won't do anything, he won't get any smarter or any thinner. He won't have my back like he always did."

The train lurched and came to a stop and they were enveloped by the sounds of stomping feet and excited voices. They had reached Hogwarts.

Draco stood up and turned to get his trunk.

"Thank you," Hermione managed to say, her voice croaking a bit. "For sharing that with me."

It was a mistake.

She had spoken to Draco's turned back and she cringed when she saw him stiffen.

He spun around on his heel his lips already curled into a sneer that chilled her blood. Without thinking Hermione reached for her wand, curled her fingers around the warm, familiar wood but did not pull it out.

Draco's gaze dropped to where her hand disappeared into her robe and his expression turned knowing and a dark sort of cynicism lit behind his eyes.

"Nothing's changed, Granger," he said through tight lips. "Don't go thinking we're friends."

"I wouldn't think of it," Hermione replied in and equally sharp tone.

They stayed that way for what felt like a full minute though it could have been only a few seconds. Draco's gaze dropped again to where Hermione still gripped her wand and a muscle ticked in his jaw. He closed his eyes, licked his lips, obviously calming himself then swung back towards his trunk.

Without another word Draco took his things and left her alone in the compartment.

The waxing moon hung high in the night sky as the Thestral-drawn-carts carried the senior students the rest of the way towards the castle. Hermione sat back with a sigh, glad that Draco had taken a different cart.

The Thestrals were just as ugly as Harry had described them. Ugly and fearsome... And yet they drew the carts carefully, fast yet smooth so as not to harm any of the students. She watched as one took a slight detour to avoid a hole in the dirt path and thus protect the passengers from the turbulence it would have caused. And all the while the creatures watched the forest with warning eyes, ready to strike if an enemy or dangerous beast should decide to attack. Hermione smiled. Nothing could get past these creatures, they were dangerous and vicious and they would protect her and the other students with their very lives if need be.

The word misunderstood could not have been more correctly used then at this moment. These things that one had to behold death of another to see were quite simply the most powerful, incredible and beautiful of all the creatures she had seen, forgiving and brave in a way that she could never imagine.

"You're not really going to kill her are you?"

Hermione jumped when Luna's dreamy voice spoke up at her side, breaking into her musing. "What?" she asked incredulously. "Kill who?"

"Well, Ginny of course." Luna was looking right at her, that blue-eyed gaze seeming to see right inside Hermione's head.

"Don't be ridiculous! Why would I want to kill anyone, let alone Ginny?"

Luna leaned closer and spoke in a hushed voice, as though she needed to. "Well Ginny is Head Girl this year. You wouldn't be the first to kill for the position."

Hermione blanched. Luna was speaking as though Hermione had done the deed already. "Now just a minute! There are many things on my agenda this year, but murder is definitely not one of them and you can tell that to anyone else who has that suspicion."

Hermione shook her head. She couldn't believe she had even had this conversation. Luna gave her a long meaningful look. Not quite accusing but not quite trusting either.

"I swear!"

In the Great Hall Hermione made no short notice of tracking Ginny and pulling her to the side. "Tell me you don't think what I think you think," she demanded without premise.

Ginny blinked. "You want to run that by me again?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

Ginny looked shamefaced for a moment then looked back at Hermione. "But are you angry?"

Hermione took a breath and silently counted to ten. "Ginny how long have we been friends?"

"Pretty much since I started here at Hogwarts. You're advice about Harry was right and you always helped me study. I never would have gotten the OWLS I did without your help."

"Have I ever given you any indication that I could willingly harm another person?"

Ginny nibbled her lower lip. "Well there was the girl in the DA that you jinx'ed."

Her mouth fell open. "Are you joking? She betrayed us! I was protecting my friends."

"I know, I know. But - Well - I kind of betrayed you too. First I stole Harry from under your nose then I got Head Girl when everyone knows that you really deserved the position."

Hermione closed her eyes and sucked in some more air. This was as frustrating as speaking to Luna. "Alright let's take this in steps," she said as calmly as she could. "First I love Harry but I was never interested in him romantically..." She held up a hand to stop Ginny's interruption. "I don't care what the Prophet said - that was a lie spread by Rita to make me look bad. And I guess it worked." The last she added with a note of scorn but tried to shove back the hurt feelings.

She went on, ignoring Ginny's guilty expression. "I was always so happy when you two finally got together because I knew that you really loved him, not for his name but for him, for all he was and because if anyone could keep him in line after Hogwarts it would be you."

Ginny blushed but smiled, looking a little lighter.

"Secondly," Hermione continued. "I think we both know that I was indeed a shoe-in for Head Girl in my seventh year - But I was on the run that year. I made my choice and I don't regret it. When I decided to return to finish my NEWTS I never expected to get the position. If anyone should have gotten the role it should have been someone from you're year and you deserve to have it."

"I do?"

It was Hermione's turn to look startled. "Yes! Last year you were braver then all of us. You stayed in school although you knew it would be dangerous and you never stopped looking out for the other students, you went above and beyond to protect the younger ones."

"I never really thought of it like that." Ginny admitted then looked horrified. "Oh my God! How could I ever think something so awful? You must hate me."

She noticed the way Ginny's eyes shimmered and the trembling of her lower lip. The younger girl's sobbed apology meant so much Hermione felt her own eyes prick sharply. Hermione hugged her and closed her eyes when Ginny hugged right back.

"Let's just forget this whole thing, OK?" Hermione whispered. It was hard to find her voice right then.

But before Ginny could respond there was a loud, obnoxious wolf-whistle from behind. They pulled apart and turned to face the smirking form of Draco Malfoy.

He held up his hands in mock apology. "Oh no, don't stop your sexy girl-on-girl moment for me."

"In your dreams, ferret," Ginny snapped.

His gaze shifted to Hermione and a lopsided grin curved his mouth. "I guess we'll just have to see about that."

Without another word he shoved between them and strolled off towards a small circle of Slytherin boys.

Hermione spared him a quick look over her shoulder. He was such a pig. That smile flashed into her mind again and she felt her cheeks heat up.

"What's that pervert doing here this year anyway?" Ginny growled.

"Same reason I am I guess," Hermione mused and looked over her shoulder again only to look away sharply when her brown eyes met his silvery grey gaze. "We'll just keep our distance this year. The last thing we need is another war."