Chapter 1
Hermione Granger stood at the Platform of nine and three quarters waiting for the train to arrive. She had also been waiting for Harry and Ron for the past ten minutes, but what do you expect from two teenage boys? She looked down at her watch then looked around. She was early and felt slightly embarrassed that she had no family or anyone around to talk to. People kept giving her curious looks as they passed her with her luggage by her side, only herself to keep her company.
Hermione stood not knowing the change that had happened to her over the summer. With Voldemort finally gone things could be normal how they should be. She herself could finally be normal, but as much as she would like that, she was defiantly not someone you could call normal. Her frizzy hair had calmed and her hazel eyes had grown wiser with the experiences she had gone through. Child hood had left her and finally was able to become the things she had always expected herself to be. Going back to Hogwarts her final year was only the beginning.
Suddenly her shoulder was shoved by someone as she was pulled out of her thinking zone.
She looked to apologize for being in the way as her eyes widened to see an older looking Draco Malfoy.
She stared for a moment, feeling cold air surround her warm body as he came to a stop. She inhaled a deep breath that smelled like a frosted rose on an early spring morning, the smell that was bitter sweet.
They said nothing for a moment as he starred at her, almost like he was fascinated with they way she was just standing there. Hermione finally found her voice.
"Excuse me Malfoy," She said icily as she stepped away from him to get out of his way.
Malfoy seemed to awaken from his daze at the sound of her voice as his eyes suddenly hardened, "Don't worry Granger it's not like your anything to worry about losing," he said snidely as he looked her up and down walking away.
Hermione sent a glare that she knew he could feel burning through his back as he walked away in his arrogance.
Hermione let out a mad puff of air as she thought of what he had done over the years. He was very confusing to say the least. First he tried to kill Dumbledore by letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts, refused to pick a side, and then finally killed a Horcrux helping Harry to Voldemorts defeat. You would think if he was on our side he would at least try to be civil. He was only respectful to Harry after he killed a Horcrux… but after Voldemort had gone he was his prat self again… but odd thing was Harry never spoke ill about him after that. She had asked herself plenty of times what had happened between the two, but some things are better left unsolved, especially if they are none of your business.
"Hermione!" A familar voice shouted.
Hermione whipped her head around immediately knowing that voice from anywhere, with a smile on her face she turned around as she found Harry and Ron running up to her giving her a bear hug.
"Harry! Ron! I've missed you both so," Hermione said as she squeezed them tighter to her.
"It's good to see you Hermione," Harry said as he pulled back a little and put his hand to her face, "It's been a long summer without you,"
"I can't believe you couldn't come to the burrow this summer," Ron said, "You rather freeze in Canada with your parents than see your best mates!" he said teaselingly giving her a small nudge.
She smiled, "I don't doubt that you both missed me, you guys can't even find a book in a library without me," she said laughing.
She got a few playful punches on that one.
They spent the next few minutes catching up on one another's stories as they laughed and joked with one another. It was good to see Harry and Ron be so relaxed with out the weight of the world on there shoulders, being able to laugh freely is a blessing that most people take for granted…
Hermione felt a familiar cold air blow around her as she stood there. She looked away from Harry and Ron's chatting toward the source of the coldness. It was Malfoy starring at her, Harry and Ron. He was standing next to his mother, looking like she was lecturing him with a very concerned look. Malfoy seemed to be blocking her out as he stared at Hermione…with almost jealously in his eyes but there was something else there too, was it almost longing?
Malfoy's mother finally noticed that he wasn't paying attention to her anymore as she stopped talking and looked to see what he was starring at. That's when she made eye contact with Hermione. Mrs. Malfoy stared at her for a moment as Hermione felt like she was prying and looked away back to Harry and Ron who hadn't noticed the Malfoy's.
"Come on guy's the trains finally here," Ron said picking up his luggage as they boarded the train.
"I swear these compartments get smaller every year," Ron said finally sitting down in the only empty compartment they could find.
"Ron I think you just grow two inches every summer," Hermione said smiling taking a seat across from Harry and Ron.
They all sat in silence for a moment, thinking of what the new year would bring. What would happen? Hermione thought. There life seemed to have so little purpose now that they had finished there life's quest…but maybe it was time for a new one.
"Where's Gin?" Hermione asked remembering the red head.
"She's in the prefect compartment, she said she would join us after it was done," Harry said.
She should have known Harry would be the one to respond, he was always looking after her like a hawk…even still after the war.
Hermione nodded in response to Harry.
"I'm sorry you never got to do that Hermione," Ron said after an awkward silence.
"Do what?" Hermione questioned.
"Be a prefect…or head girl like you were hoping," He replied.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I think helping Harry was much more worth while Ron, I don't regret anything,"
Harry and Ron nodded at this as silence crept in again.
"It feels weird going back doesn't it," this time Harry speaking first, "We always seemed like we knew where our life was going…now it seems like a whole new life,"
"I know what you mean mate…" Ron said, "Looking at life now seems completely different than what we thought,"
They all looked at each other with understanding in there eyes.
"I feel weird being back too…But I think now we finally can figure out what we truly want," Hermione added.
"Yeah…imagine us years from now," Ron said, "All old and wrinkly, Hermione still badgering us about 'spew'"
They all laughed at the thought of it, even Hermione couldn't hold back the irony of it.
"Harry will be married to Gin with eight kids running around," Hermione said smiling at the thought of them.
"Funny thing is that will probably happen," Ron said nudging Harry.
"I think that would be a great life," Harry said smiling.
Hermione eyes filled with joy; if anyone deserved to be happy… it was him.
"Ron will probably marry Padma," Hermione said with a wink.
Ron went a deep shade of red, "We've only been dating since the end of the war, I don't even know if she really wants to get serious,"
"Ron are you joking?" Harry said, "She spent a week over the summer at your house!"
Hermione looked wide eyed at Ron; she did not remember being told this.
"She came over to your house for the summer?" Hermione asked smiling curiously.
"Yes and she was practically drooling over him the entire time," Harry said smirking at Ron.
"I don't know it just don't want to get my hopes up just yet," Ron said looking out the window.
Hermione rolled her eyes at this, Ron had always been careful with girls, so much that it was almost annoying.
"What about you Hermione?" Harry said, "Where do you see yourself in the future?"
This question caught Hermione off guard. She starred at Harry not knowing how to answer. She wanted to work a the ministry of course, but who knows what would happen with her personal life. Truth was she really didn't know, she had asked that to herself millions of times since the war…she still didn't know the answer.
Harry and Ron looked at her curiously waiting for an answer. Did Hermione have a future like there's? Or was it to be full of work and no family…
"Umm…I-I" Hermione said trying to say something. Anything.
Before she could embarrass herself anymore the door slid open. At first she thought it was Ginny to come save her but it was far from her. The door slid open to revile a blond haired Slytherin at the door. Malfoy.
Hermione looked at him curious. Him again? Why did he keep popping up? She took a moment to observe him, something was different about Malfoy but she couldn't pin point what it was. His looks were perfected over the summer as he almost glowed with radiance. He was still the same Malfoy he was before but then…then he almost seemed changed, or at least something inside of him did.
"So is it true Hermione?" He said with a smirk, "Do you really not have a future set out for yourself? And I thought you were the one that made up the brilliant plans for this lot."
"Get lost Malfoy," Ron said glaring.
Malfoy merely glanced at Ron as he locked his eyes on Hermione waiting for a response. Hermione glared at him as she saw something shone in his eyes that Ron and Harry could not see, it was small but it was there…was it concern? Hermione's eyes widened but she was not giving in.
"I have a future Malfoy, and it doesn't include you," She said her voice not coming out as strong as she wanted it to.
Suddenly Malfoy smiled, sending Hermione into shock, "We'll find out soon enough Granger… sooner than you think."
With that he left one last glance at her and shut the door.
