Hermione's heart sank as she pushed herself through the invisible barrier that separated King's Cross Railway to Platform 9 ¾. The sight of young witches and wizards hugging their families goodbye for another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was nostalgic. In a few hours, she would return for her eighth year.

Ever since Minerva McGonagall became headmistress of the school, she had advised those who were unable to finish their seventh year into taking their N.E.W.T exams. Hermione thought it was an excellent idea to at least graduate before heading out into the world as an adult, but both Harry and Ron thought otherwise.

The boy who lived was already offered a position in the ranks of the Auror Department, something he had dreamt of becoming when he was in Hogwarts. As long as he did the extra training courses required, he was guaranteed a position. As for Ron, he decided that co-running his brothers' store could help him finance better and possibly start his own business. Hermione, however, didn't see financing and business as something Ron wanting to pursue but supported him nonetheless.

Both boys were so eager and exceptionally worthy to start that by mid-summer, Harry had already packed his bags and said his farewells until the holidays. Meanwhile, Ron grew too busy assisting his brother at the store, leaving Hermione alone to spend her free time at the Burrow with the rest of the Weasley family.

Fast forward to 1 September, Hermione stood quietly in front of the Hogwarts Express staring blankly at its bright red coating. Children and adults alike turned their heads and snuck glances at the bright witch as she stood there in a trance. They whispered to one another and pointed at her but no one dared approach her. Hermione just sighed and reminded herself of how she was used to all the stares. She learned to ignore it whenever she stepped out in public, which was rare since the war had only ended a couple of months before, and sought comfort within herself.

A light cool breeze brushed against her skin which caused Hermione to shiver. She was a little unfazed by the surrounding crowd, but as they continued to stare, the sight of them grew overwhelming.

Dreadful thoughts began to run through her head.

Memories of the war slowly began to creep back into her conscience. The people surrounding her provoked awful feelings that heightened her anxiety and paranoia. Recalling the events of her painstaking travels of running from Snatchers, being tormented by Death Eaters and witnessing the deaths of her loved ones came back in flashes of fear and panic, she grew more frantic inside.

Hermione's breathing quickened and her hands trembled by her side with cold sweat. Minutes of standing amidst the crowd began to feel like hours and she started to reconsider her attendance at Hogwarts.

Then suddenly, like a blessing, familiar red tresses flowed before her very own eyes. The gentle smell of roses quickly reassured Hermione that she was living in the present, where it was safe. The sight of the young witch who claimed such a beautiful mane managed to calm her down completely.

Ginny Weasley pulled her trunk right next to Hermione before standing confidently by her side. The girl did this with great effort but refused assistance offered to her as she passed by. She didn't seem bothered by the weight of her trunk or all of the people eyeing her either.

Garnering more stares in her general direction, Hermione would have normally been distressed. However, seeing the younger witch's lack of concern, she was instead relieved.

"Are you sure you don't want to use a trolley?" Hermione asked amused and slightly shivering from another cool breeze.

She no longer felt nauseous.

"I'm fine," she assured the older witch, "looks like it's only you and me. Mum and dad are so busy nowadays, huh?"

"Yeah."

Hermione faintly smiled at the charming girl who gave off a certain poise. Sometimes, she wondered if anything ever fazed her. Thinking back now, Ginny remained the most level-headed and reliable throughout the whole summer during reconstruction. Granted, the aftermath did affect the girl just as bad as it did anyone else who's lost a loved one, she continued to push forward and overcame something Hermione herself had yet to figure out. Without Ginny, Hermione probably would not have been standing where she stood waiting to board the Hogwarts Express. Without her or her family's encouragements, she would have been lost and all alone.

After the war, Mr and Mrs Weasley insisted that Harry and Hermione stay with them at the Burrow until they got everything sorted out. With the boys already looking into careers, however, Hermione was left to decide whether or not she would go back to Hogwarts or do what her best friends had done and look for a job. The Weasleys, especially Ginny, urged she continue on with her education and reassured her that they would always support her no matter what.

Hermione never did get the chance to go back to her parents and uplift the memory charm but remained thankful, gracious and forever in debt to them.

Now, both Hermione and Ginny stood together on the platform and stared at the Hogwarts Express relieve some steam. They silently watched as students, new and old, started to crowd the station and wait to board the old train. Hugs and kisses were aplenty as greetings and introductions were in the mass.

Hermione decided to wait a little while behind and watch the students bustle their way into the compartments.

Soon it would be another year at the place she once called home.

"Luna and Neville are probably already inside," Ginny suggested as they finally made their way onto the train.

Hermione recalled that some of her former seventh-year classmates were coming back for their eighth year as well and couldn't wait to see how everyone was doing.

Ginny led the way through the train's corridor toward the back, searching for an empty compartment or one already occupied by people they knew. The train was fuller than usual with a handful of older students stuffed in with new ones, it almost made Hermione snicker at its ridiculousness.

"There they are," Ginny said as she finally spotted Luna and Neville residing in one of the compartments closer to the back of the train.

When they slid the door open, Luna was standing, trying to put something back in her trunk atop her seat while Neville was reading a Herbology book right beside her. Luna noticed the two before Neville could look up from his book and hugged both Hermione and Ginny, disregarding the object in her hand.

"Ginny! Hermione!"

The object that had fallen onto Neville's lap startled him along with Luna's excited outburst.

"Hermione, I knew you would make it!" Neville gleefully expressed, seeing her in person.

He picked up the object which Hermione could now see was a Bubble Bow Booster kit and awkwardly handed it back to Luna after she hugged them. Neville finally managed to squeeze in his hugs as well.

"Why wouldn't she?" Ginny replied before sitting down opposite Neville.

"It was rumoured that since Harry and Ron have positions in the Auror Department, Hermione would already be working in the Ministry too," Neville recounted for them.

Hermione sat next to Ginny and was surprised to hear such a rumour.

"Hermione would like to finish her schooling before infiltrating the Ministry again, isn't that right?" Luna broadly asked with wide eyes.

"Er-right."

Even though Luna was correct, she could not help feel startled by the way the unique girl spoke.

"Harry does have an Auror position. But Ron? He's too busy with the store," Ginny responded before reaching out to her pygmy puff, Arnold, which she had brought out and placed on her left shoulder before petting.

"Actually, he did think about going into Auror training, but he wasn't so sure," Hermione chimed in.

"Either way, my idiot brother found an excuse not to take the N.E.W.T. exams," Ginny concluded.

The group erupted in small laughter as they continued to reminiscence about the good ol' days at Hogwarts together with Harry and Ron. Seeing everyone smiling, Hermione felt a little warmer inside.

An hour later, Hermione had to leave and make her way to the prefect compartment. Over the summer, she received a letter claiming that she would remain a prefect but unfortunately was not given the position of Head Girl. The new Head Girl and Head Boy were from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw respectively and were in Ginny's year, which to her was fair enough. She was more surprised Ginny didn't get the position with her grades being top-notch in previous years and her recently receiving the position as captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Alas, Ginny herself said that it would have been too much to handle and expressed how glad she wasn't given the position.

Looking out the train's windows as she walked, Hermione languidly made her way through the rowdy corridor to the prefect compartment. She decided to head out early to avoid socialising with anyone on her way there. But when she finally reached the compartment and entered, she didn't know whether to turn around and head back to her friends or wait until the other prefects had arrived. All she knew was that she definitely did not want to be in the same room as the boy who slept peacefully where he sat.

Luckily, the platinum-haired boy was leaning close to the window and not in her direction where it would be easier to see her stand there gawking at him if he woke.

"Malfoy..." Hermione whispered, wondering if she should wake him up or not.

As she stared at him, hoping he'd just wake already, she noticed how solemn he looked as he slept, not so much in peace as she previously thought. It was as if he himself hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in a long while. She figured as he still wore his refined black coat buttoned all the way up to his neck, he must have immediately fallen asleep out of mere exhaustion once the train started to head out.

But of course, she wasn't going to sympathize with him as she too had not rest peacefully since, and yet, she still made sure to wakefully attend to her duties. Why couldn't he do the same?

Hermione decided to leave the compartment to find something else to do rather than stare at Malfoy all day to pass the time. This year, she wasn't going to bother with him or taunting Slytherins. The war had changed people and it had changed for the better. Good triumphed over evil and the devil himself was gone. So why did Hermione still feel uneasy?

She ultimately decided that she would wait outside for the rest of the prefects to show before entering the compartment again.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. Some quotes from the series were used for entertainment purposes only.