THIS IS NOT THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TRIAD! That being said this is a Hermione/Lavender fic i've been working on instead. If its not to your tastes then i apologise but i personally like the idea of this couple. Will be M in later chapters.

As with all my fanfictions, since they are fanfictions and i'm just a fan, i dont own anything except my little 1st year character i've added to help further the plot.

This is not epilogue compliant and is set in year 7 AFTER the Battle of Hogwarts and the castle has been repaired. As is implied by the couple and the title Lavender has survived but was mauled by Fenrir and there for is a werewolf.

Reviews are nice, always.

"Is that Lavender Brown?" Ginny Weasley asked from where she was standing beside Hermione Granger.

It was the start of the new school year after the war and Hogwarts had finally been rebuilt and repaired. The two young witches were standing on the platform waiting for the rest of the Weasley's that were there to see Ginny off before they were to get on the Hogwarts Express. Hermione looked up from where she had been looking at the train and turned in the direction Ginny had indicated.

Indeed Lavender Brown stood alone a small way along the platform looking decidedly nervous and, Hermione decided, miserable. The pure-blood witch was dressed in dark jeans and a long sleeved light purple turtle neck sweater. Regardless of the sweater the scars the witch was no doubt trying to hide could still be seen.

Starting about mid cheek three long pink scars started and, Hermione knew from having seen at the battle, ran down across the dirty blondes jaw and down the length of her neck curling forward over her shoulder and slightly down her chest. They were the only scars visible but still Hermione knew the witch had more, several of which were ragged bites. Frowning slightly Hermione looked back at Ginny who was blatantly staring at the Lavender.

"Yeah that's Lavender. Stop staring Ginny." Hermione hissed softly at the red-head beside her.

"They are letting her come back to school? Even though she is a werewolf?" Ginny wondered allowed looking at Hermione questioningly.

"Apparently they think she can control it well enough not to be a danger. Remus could." Hermione reminds gently the mention of their friends name sending a stab of grief through both of them.

"What if she can't? Its Lavender, she is hair-brained she will surely forget to take the wolfs-bane potion." Ginny half laughs at her own words but its clear she is worried.

"Don't be so judgemental Ginny." Hermione chastised unsure why she is so annoyed at the red-heads words but she cant help her growing irritation.

"You're defending Lavender Brown? You? Hermione Granger? Who hates the blonde gossip?" Ginny snorts and laughs but Hermione huffs.

"Yes I am and I never hated Lavender! She hated me." Hermione grit out only for Ginny to laugh harder.

"What ever. Tell your folks ill owl them. I'll see you on the train." Hermione huffs out before making the decision to move over and stand beside Lavender.

Lavender shifted in a nervous movement before hesitantly looking up at the brunette now standing beside her. Hermione smiled gently but Lavender practically cringed in response causing the brunettes smile to slip. Seeming more anxious the longer they stood there Lavender finally broke the silence between the two.

"You didn't have to do that... Get mad at Ginny I mean." Lavenders voice is low, barely more than a whisper and Hermione almost has to strain to hear it but when she realises the implication she flushes slightly in embarrassment for her friend.

"You heard that? I'd sorry Lavender you don't deserve that." Hermione apologises sincerely but Lavender shakers her head.

"Being a werewolf has a few perks I guess. Enhanced hearing shifted or human. Makes gossiping easier." Lavender attempts to joke but it falls short between them. Very short.

"Don't do that Lavender. Even without enhanced hearing I can still hear the self deprecation This isn't your fault." Hermione's tone is still gentle as if she is talking to some scared flighty animal and part of her realises she is.

"No, but its my curse Hermione and it hasn't been fun to deal with these last few months. My dad pushed me into returning to school or I wouldn't be here." Lavender confesses in a slightly louder voice.

Hermione stands and remains silent for a time just regarding the slightly younger witch in front of her. Hermione had been the one, while running through the halls during the battle, two send the killing curse at Fenrir Greyback who was at the time mauling the young witch before her. Hermione had stopped over Lavender fearing the girl she had shared a room with for the previous 6 years was dead. She was not, but she was close and Hermione did all she could in the short time she had to save the witch. If the battle had lasted any longer Lavender would have died and right now Hermione was wondering if the werewolf would have proffered that.

"Lavender you can obviously control this to some extent or Minerva wouldn't have offered to let you finish your last year. Don't listen to what people say." Hermione urges gently stepping slightly closer to the woman.

"You don't understand Hermione! You know what it was like for you our first year! This is a hundred times worse. People don't think i'm driven and bookish and a little bit arrogant... Hermione people right now are calling me a monster. A couple behind you along the platform are looking at me like I might be about to attack you. Students are talking, hoping they wont have to share a room with me! Monster. Dangerous. Freak. I have to listen to what people say. I have no choice." Lavender's voice had gradually gotten more and more shaky the longer she spoke.

Without being given a chance to respond Hermione watched as Lavender, with wet eyes, turned and climbed onto the train quickly moving out of the brunettes line of sight. Hermione didn't know what to feel, or more she didn't know what feeling to focus on most. She felt horrible that Lavender was forced to go through this, she could relate on a small level how the werewolf felt. She also felt a strong need to get to know this new Lavender, to offer the hand of friendship the wolf no doubt needed but she was also afraid of the potential rejection.

Hermione was still standing staring at nothing when the conductor move along the platform urging all the students to board as they would be departing soon. With a soft sigh Hermione grabbed her cat carrier, she had purchased a new familiar this time a young white kitten with striking green eyes. She moved onto the train and began her search for a compartment or even hoping to find someone she knew like Neville or Luna or even Ginny.

Instead she came upon a compartment that only had one person in it, Lavender Brown. The werewolf was in a compartment by herself only the door was blocked by three 3rd year. The most distressing thing about this scene was that two of the 3rd years were Gryffindor's and the other a Hufflepuff. The closer Hermione got the clearer the words being thrown at Lavender were.

"Stupid beast! Why would you bother coming back? So you can curse the rest of us?" One of the boys had shouted.

"Yeah why don't you just get off at Hogsmead and run off into the forest where you belong!" The girl who was one of the two Gryffindor's said next.

"You're nothing but a stupid beast! You're dangerous! Don't know why old McGonagall would be stupid enough to let you back in the castle!" The Hufflepuff spoke up harshly and it was the last straw for Hermione.

Stepping forward the Head Girl pushed her way into the compartment and stood between the shaking Lavender and the group of young instigators. Glaring she noted that they all swallowed nervously but they refused to back down. Hermione had to admire their grit she supposed but she wasn't even a little bit ok with this situation.

"I'm sorry I cant say I know your names but I have to wonder where you were when the siege was going on at the school? You wasn't there? Oh. Well let me enlighten you a little bit. This 'beast' as you call her, damn near lost her life fighting Death Eaters and Voldemort's followers, she was cursed defending the castle and more importantly defending people like me and anyone who was targeted by Voldemort. So I strongly suggest, you back the hell up before I hex you all back onto the platform. The Headmistress will not stand this kind of behaviour towards fellow students." Hermione's voice had gotten sharper the longer she had spoken and was pleased when the trio had stepped back.

"She's dangerous though!" The Gryffindor boy spoke up boldly.

"She no more bloody dangerous than I am right now I can bloody well assure you of that now go and find a compartment now!" Hermione shouted and it startled the trio into fleeing at a rapid pace.

Hermione was standing and panting her anger slowly dimming as she glared after the fleeing teenagers. She was just calming down when a firm shove from behind her sent her out of the compartment and into the narrow hall. Turning she quickly found herself backed against the wall by an angry and upset Lavender Brown.

"Why defend me Hermione! I'm not your charity case! Don't use me to make yourself feel better. Just leave me alone!" Lavender had shouted at the brunette who was not so much scared as she was hurt by the anger in the blonde.

Again, set of having the last word, Lavender didn't let Hermione respond and instead turned and stormed back into the compartment she had come out of and slammed the door shut. People all up and down the hall were looking at the stunned brunette. Hermione sighed softly and noted the cat carrier in the compartment with Lavender, she had set the carrier down when she had faced the trio and now she didn't wish to further annoy the clearly upset werewolf. With a second softer sigh she simply decided to move on and leave Lavender alone, she could get Gem, the kitten, later.

Hermione moved long the hall pointedly ignoring the staring and rather fearful students that were watching her, rather glad that they silently moved out of her way as she moved further along the hall. Finally she found Luna and Neville in a compartment and though she was reluctant to intrude on the rather new couple she decided she need to sit somewhere and so she knocked before walking in.

Neville smiled brightly at the brunette and though his smile was bright it was easy to see the lingering sorrow in his eyes. Hermione returned the smile as she sat down across from the couple and then looked at the platinum blonde girl sitting beside Neville. Luna smiled her usual dreamy smile though it was not quite as large as it had been in the past. Still there was no sorrow in the blondes eyes instead just steady acceptance of the things they couldn't change.

"Hello Hermione." Luna was the first of the two to speak and Neville softly echoed his girlfriend.

"Hi guys. I have to say I am glad you both decided to come back this year. I feel its going to be eventful regardless of impending doom being removed from the occasion." Hermione smiles to take any potential sting from her words.

"Of course it will be eventful. Doom or not its still a castle full of hormonal teenagers." Neville chuckle and Hermione couldn't help but smile as she nodded in agreement.

"That and Lavender is returning this year too." Luna spoke up after a brief pause.

"Not you too Luna? Don't tell me you're on the 'lets hate the werewolf' bandwagon?" Hermione asked fearing her friend was going to be difficult.

"Oh... no not at all. I just mean, people are already talking about it and we haven't even gotten to the castle yet. Its going to be tough on Lavender." Luna explains herself and Hermione gives an apologetic smile for jumping to conclusions.

"Sorry, she's already had a kind of hard time and we've only just gotten on the train. I just wish people saw her sacrifice before her curse." Hermione mumbled sadly.

"You seem rather concerned considering you didn't like Lavender a couple of years ago." Neville points out gently and Hermione frowns.

"I never hated Lavender. She disliked me because she assumed I was trying to steel Ron. She doesn't even know she had done be a favour." Hermione mumbled the last sentence and it made Neville frown.

"Did you a favour how?" Neville inquires curiously.

Before Hermione had a chance to attempt to make up an explanation or to even simply shake her head and refuse to answer Luna spoke up.

"Lavender was the one that unintentionally encouraged Hermione to do a little soul searching and realise she is a lesbian." The blonde explained to her boyfriend as if it was obvious. Of course it was only obvious too the blonde.

"How did that make you realise you are into girls?" Neville was frowning and Hermione was pleasantly surprised that his reaction to learning she was a lesbian wasn't to instantly shun and belittle her.

"I don't know. It was just that whole situation. She accused me of wanting to steal Ron so many times that I started to question what I really did want. Turns out I'd have sooner tried to steal Lavender from Ron than the other way around." Hermione shrugs and Neville laughs.

"You are the most hard to understand person I have ever met. Has anyone else told you you over think things?" Neville asked with a chuckle and Hermione grinned.

"Yeah, quite a few people actually, some at least twice a day." Hermione retorted with a playful grin that had the couple across from her giggling and laughing.

Hermione knew the year was going to be stressful but she intended to make the most of it, it was her last year after all. If she could manage to be a friend to Lavender it would all be worth it. She didn't ant Lavender to regret living, she wanted the werewolf to embrace what she has become and show people that their prejudices are unfounded. More than anything though she found herself wanting Lavender to see her as friend. She wanted to be there for Lavender.