Chapter 1
It had been a year since the Battle of Hogwarts, and the scars of the war still lingered in the stories of the castle. The school had been rebuilt, but there was a tension, a thickness in the air that spoke of everything the school and the students in it had gone through. Minerva McGonagall, now Headmistress, had spent the year after the war ensuring the school’s stability and safety for the return of students. As part of her efforts, she had invited the school’s previous seventh years back to complete the term that had been stolen from them and their fallen classmates.
Minerva McGonagall sat at her desk, the heavy silence of the Headmistress’s office surrounding her. She carefully set down the last letter addressed to a former seventh-year student. Each letter had been written with the same precision, the same warmth she’d used for years as Head of House. Her hand trembled only slightly as she paused, glancing down at the letter in her hand. A tear welled in the corner of her eye as her fingers traced the inscription.
“It’s from Hogwarts,” Hermione said softly, her eyes flicking between Harry and Ron. As the owl let go of the letter, she gently tugged it from its beak, the parchment heavier than expected in her hands. She carefully opened it, glancing at her friends with a small, curious smile.
Inside, the letter addressed all three of them, written in McGonagall’s firm but comforting hand. She had taken it upon herself to write each one personally, inviting the trio—and every seventh-year who hadn’t completed their schooling—to return to finish their education alongside the incoming class. Hermione read aloud, her voice steady despite the excitement building within her.
"Dear Harry, Hermione, and Ron,
I am pleased to inform you that Hogwarts will be reopening its doors to all previous seventh-year students who have not yet completed their education. You are cordially invited to return and join the incoming seventh years this September. Inside you will find your personalized acceptance letters, along with the required supply lists and some notes specific to each of you.
I look forward to welcoming you back to the castle. Please take time to consider this offer, andI trust we will meet again soon.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
Hermione carefully took the letters out of the envelope, handing Harry and Ron theirs with a smile. Hermione took a deep breath and unfolded her own letter. Her eyes immediately landed on the familiar, neat handwriting of Professor McGonagall, and she began to read quietly to herself.
Miss Granger, it has been an honor to watch you overcome so much these past years, proving to those who doubted you that you were far stronger than they ever realized. That is why, with great pleasure, I offer you the position of Head Girl this coming year, should you choose to return. I believe you and the Head Boy will make a remarkable pair—guiding not only the new students but those who lived through the war as well. I eagerly await your owl accepting this offer. Once again, congratulations on all you have achieved, Miss Granger. We are all extremely proud of you.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Her hands trembled slightly as she lowered the letter, her eyes still scanning the words. At the bottom of the page, attached to the parchment was a small, glittering pin. She gently pried it loose, revealing a red and gold emblem withHead Girletched across the front. Hermione felt a rush of emotion as she stared at the pin in her hand, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Guys, look!” Hermione said, her voice bubbling with excitement. She held up the pin, her fingers trembling slightly. “McGonagall appointed me Head Girl!” Her fingers absentmindedly toyed with the pin, but as her gaze shifted back to the rest of the letter, she paused. There was something that didn’t sit right with her. “That’s awesome ’Mione. Who’s Head Boy?” Ron asked, looking at the letter in his hands, then glancing up at Hermione, still holding her pin with a grin.
Hermione furrowed her brow. She had assumed it would be Harry. It made sense, didn’t it? Who else could it be but theBoy Who Lived? She turned to him with a questioning look. “I figured it would be you, Harry. Is it not?” Harry shook his head, holding his own letter out. “No, nothing about that,” he said, a bit bemused. He showed them his letter—no pin, no mention of Head Boy.
Hermione’s confusion only deepened. “That doesn’t make any sense,” she muttered under her breath, frowning as she glanced between the two boys. How could they not choose Harry? After everything he had done, he was the one who’d fought to the end, who had made the ultimate sacrifice... Surely, he deserved this honor.
Ron seemed to brush it off with a casual shrug, not as bothered by the omission as Hermione. But she couldn’t shake the thought from her mind. Maybe the rules prevented them from having a Head Boy and Girl from the same house. But still, she thought, surely Harry deserved it more than anyone.
Before Hermione could dwell any longer on the Head Boy question, the door to the room swung open, and Mrs. Weasley bustled in, a huge smile on her face. “Hermione, my dear!” she exclaimed, wrapping the young witch in a tight, motherly hug. “I heard the news! I’m so proud of you!” She pulled back, her eyes glistening with pride.
“Thank you, Mrs. Weasley,” Hermione said, her voice full of warmth. She couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. “Well, we can’t let this occasion go uncelebrated!” Mrs. Weasley said, her excitement practically bubbling over. “You’ve all worked so hard, and this calls for a treat. How about we all go to Florean Fortescue’s for ice cream to celebrate?”
“That sounds perfect,” Hermione agreed, the idea of ice cream on a sunny day lifting her spirits even higher. Mrs. Weasley beamed. “Good! Go and get ready, the lot of you. I’m taking everyone out!”
Hey guys! So, this is my first Dramione fanfiction, and if you’ve read other Dramione fanfictions, you might notice some elements from other stories coming into this one. I just want to clarify that I’m not trying to rip off any creators or anything like that—I purely love these fanfictions and wanted to blend some of their ideas together. I hope you all enjoy it!
