Chapter 1 - New Beginnings

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters do not belong to me. The plot is my own.

"Malfoy."

"Granger."

The new senior Head Boy and Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry smirked at each other. They stood at the closed doors of the Great Hall with the rest of the student body behind them waiting for the Headmaster to open the doors so they could walk into the Welcoming Feast. Suddenly the doors flew open. Hermione and Draco looked up at the Head Table to see an imperceptible nod from the Headmaster, Severus Snape. They turned to each other and Malfoy said: "Well, let's start breaking down some barriers Granger." "See you in the common room later Draco. That will be our biggest hurdle", replied Hermione. The student body proceeded into the Great Hall and the returning students filtered to their house tables. After everyone settled, Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, arrived with the first year students.

After the Sorting Hat's song, 'Anderson, Jane' sorted into Ravenclaw. As the Sorting Hat continued Hermione glanced up at the head table, smiling at Hagrid, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. Her eyes found their way to Professor Snape who looked at her for a brief second and arched his eyebrow, before focusing his gaze back to the Sorting Hat. Hermione blushed. It was hard to believe yesterday she and Draco were sitting at the Head Table with all of the professors as they had all summer.

Hermione turned her attention back to the conversation between her fellow Gryffindors.

Ron stared at Snape murderously. He could not believe that Fred was gone, killed in Battle while the dungeon bat survived. Not only had he survived, but he remained in a power of authority at the school. "I can't believe that greasy git is still Headmaster", scoffed Ron. "Ron, he's a war hero. I may not like the man, but he did fight for the light", interjected Harry. "What about all the shit he did to Neville and Ginny last year?", shouted Ron. "Well..." said Neville, "Snape didn't hurt us, the Carrows did, and Snape stopped them from killing us. Imagine if Voldemort had just left the Carrows or someone else in charge?" "Exactly", said Ginny, "look, Ron, we're not going to be besties with Headmaster Snape, but he's alright. The Board of Governors and the Ministry let him keep his job. He's a war hero; he got an Order of Merlin, First Class along with you, Harry and Hermione." Hermione felt this was her opening, "Ron, I spent all summer with Professor Snape. He's a good man. I mean, he hasn't changed overnight, but he let Draco, and I stay here and help rebuild the castle. He even let me assist him in the Transfiguration of our eighth-year tower. Don't bugger up our last year at Hogwarts with your temper and show him some respect."

With that, the sorting hat sorted "Yorke, Theodore" into Gryffindor and the sorting was over.

The Headmaster stood up to address the students and staff in his deep baritone voice:

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. For announcements, I would like to introduce Professor Amelia Merryweather for History of Magic and Professor Penelope Clearwater for Muggle Studies. As a reminder, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds for all students. Students from 3rd to 7th year may visit Hogsmeade on assigned weekends and 8th years are permitted to leave the school grounds on weekends as long as the Deputy Headmistress or myself are notified ahead of time. I know the last year has been trying for everyone here. We have all suffered and lost friends and loved ones. We will not be restored easily, but I hope that this year, healing will begin. The first step is to eliminate inter-house divisions. I have tasked our Senior Head Boy and Senior Head Girl", Severus nodded to Draco and Hermione "to aid the Heads of House in this endeavour. We must not continue the way we did before the war. We must embrace peacetime, embrace the light and renounce the dark. We must let the past serve as a reminder to the future as we all move forward together. I hope that this year is the start of a new era at Hogwarts."

Hermione and Draco stood with the staff to applaud the Headmaster. Suddenly the student body also joined in the applause. Harry pulled Ron up by his collar. Hermione gazed at the Headmaster, never taking her eyes off him. He returned her gaze for a split second; his mouth turned up in the faintest smile.