I have taken A LOT of liberties with JK Rowling's canon world, just a warning. I did some research and there isn't a lot about veelas but in canon I'm assuming there are only female ones and that it would be full-on impossible for what I've written about to happen, since it's inherited. They're a part-human hybrid so for a veela to be created, two other veelas would need to reproduce. The Harry Potter wiki says that the magical properties of veela only appear in female offspring. I'm not the first person to write a story like this (there are heaps of male veela stories and also heaps where the character just suddenly suspiciously becomes one) so this story isn't all that far-fetched. Anyway I hope you enjoy and I would love to know what your opinions are.

I don't believe in the supernatural. People are born, they live, then they die. It's the cycle of life.

Well, I didn't believe in it. Until I turned eleven, when I received my letter for a magic school called Hogwarts. Now, I'm a witch, and I've seen it all, nearly; werewolves, giants, goblins, elves.

And now, I think I'm encountering something else. The worst thing is, I really do not know what it could be. I know that my best friend is definitely hiding something from me. A secret. And I am determined to find out what.

After the war was over, the whole wizarding community had a lot of rebuilding and healing to do, Harry, Ron and I especially. In fact, for the first time in a very long time, we each went our separate ways – I headed to Australia to find my parents, Ron stayed at the Burrow with his family, mourning the loss of his brother and Harry, well …

As I was leaving Harry, he was staying at Hogwarts, helping to rebuild the school. I never heard from him all summer – this was understandable, of course. I didn't hear from Ron all that much either. I theorised that we all just needed space.

I returned from Australia alone in late August. Even after restoring my parents' memories (which was very stressful to explain, to say the least), they actually decided that they loved Australia and planned to open up a dental practice. With no family home in England (mum and dad sold it), I found myself at the Burrow once more, staying with my second family, the Weasleys.

The Burrow was potentially at its most subdued when I arrived. Even during the war, it was still a hive of activity. Mr and Mrs Weasley still kept themselves very busy; Arthur was instrumental in the reorganisation of the Ministry following its collapse while Molly stuck herself into running house and looking after her remaining children with a fierce protectiveness. Percy had moved back in and while still working at the ministry, was very attentive to his parents, which I think Molly was thankful for. George, as was to be expected, rarely stopped by. I maybe seen him once in my week and a half stay. My heart ached for him more than anyone (except maybe Harry). I had just missed Charlie, who had now returned to the dragon sanctuary in Romania, but Bill and Fleur popped by regularly.

Ron and Ginny, though, were almost unchanged, which I was very thankful for. I think they were feeling cooped up by Mrs Weasley, and both were very glad to see me. We spent the week in the fields around the Burrow; at the lake, in the garden and visiting Luna Lovegood nearby. It was refreshing for me to see my friends again.

Sadly, only Luna was coming back to Hogwarts with me. I couldn't convince either of the Weasleys to return for a final year, even though Ginny did have one to finish. Ron had accepted an offer from Kingsley Shacklebolt to join the Aurors and to track down the remaining Death Eaters. As it happens, our friend Neville Longbottom had accepted the offer too. Ron said that Shacklebolt had made the same offer to Harry, but none of us knew if he had accepted it.

Ginny, on the other hand, was due to start training with the Holyhead Harpies in September. As it turns out, she had snuck out of the Burrow in late June and attended one of their open trials. They offered her a spot the very same day. While her mother did go ballistic at her for sneaking out, I can tell that both parents are extremely proud of not only Ginny, but all their children.

I was worried about Harry. No one had heard from all summer. The night before I returned to Hogwarts, I wrote him a letter:

Dear Harry,

How are you? That is a silly way to start a letter, really. What I want to say is that I hope you're ok. What have you been up to this summer? I've missed you. Australia was truly lovely and it was great to see my parents again. Tomorrow I am going back to Hogwarts to complete seventh year. Ron told me about the offer Kingsley made you all to join the Aurors – will you be accepting it? I know that Ron and Neville are. Ginny is going to be starting with the Holyhead Harpies in the next week too.

Anyway, please reply soon! I'm worried for you.

Love,
Hermione

Using Ron's Pigwidgeon, I sent the letter off before going to bed, in the hopes that he would reply quickly.

I left the Burrow promptly the next morning after a hearty breakfast provided by Mrs Weasley. She wouldn't let me leave before eating a full English. I arrived at the platform with around 15 minutes to spare. It was very busy – it gave me comfort to know that families were still sending their children back to Hogwarts after the last year. In fact, if I squinted, I could imagine my own first time arriving at the platform. It reminded me to write a letter to my parents.

I found an empty compartment quickly. There was no sign yet of any other returning schoolmates. I pulled a book from my trunk and settled into the seat for the long journey.

Before long, the Hogwarts Express rumbled out of the platform. The sound of the chugging engine and the loud students was comforting. I lost myself in my book before I was brought out of my musings by a sharp knock.

I looked round at the compartment door to see Harry. Only, he was much changed from the last time I seen him. He looked taller and leaner. His movements were smooth and fluid, his skin smoother and paler than his usual pallid state. And he wasn't wearing his glasses.

Staring at him made my head fuzzy and my lungs gasp for air. Harry had gotten … attractive.

And then I realised that this was Harry standing in front of me, one of my best friends who I hadn't seen all summer. And in my own true style, I flew off the seat and grabbed him in a strong hug.

He wrapped his arms around me and grasped me tight – was Harry Potter, for the first time since I met him, actually returning my hug with equal fervour? His grip was secure and safe. It made me feel like I never wanted to leave his embrace.

After what felt like an eternity, I loosened my grip on Harry's neck, expecting him to do the same. Still wrapped in his arms, I stared into his face. His jaw looked impossibly stronger, his eyes were boring into my own and he was inhaling deeply.

Without even thinking, I opened my mouth and said, "You're not wearing your glasses." My words cut through whatever spell was holding us like that. Harry looked down and chuckled.

"You haven't seen me in months and the first thing you say is, 'you're not wearing your glasses'," Harry said. His arms loosened around me and ushered me towards my seat while he took the one opposite me.

I let out a snuff of laughter. "I'm sorry, Harry. What I meant to say was, I missed you, how was your summer, I missed you, why didn't you write and oh, did I mention I missed you?"

Harry smiled. "I've missed you too, Hermione."