I decided to re-write it. I feel better now somehow. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar to the world of Harry Potter.

Hermione Granger woke up with a start and looked around her. She was still in Ginny's room in The Burrow. A muted sigh escaped from her as she lay back down on the mattress. She had been having the occasional nightmares some nights ever since the war had ended. They usually depicted scenes of her loved ones being tortured or dying – something which she was very sure she didn't ever want to see again.

She turned over on her side and closed her eyes, willing herself back to sleep. However, she couldn't fall asleep. She was too alert and aware of the quiet. It amplified the sound of her heartbeat and her breathing. She slowly raised herself and peeked at the lump on the next bed. Ginny Weasley was still deep asleep, obviously not tormented with nightmares like how she was.

Hermione got out of bed slowly and stretched. She tiptoed out of Ginny's room and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, she made her way to the large mirror that hung from the wall. The reflection was of a girl who looked tired but happy. Yes, thought Hermione, the war is over. And I'll be returning to Hogwarts soon.

That was one thing Hermione was definitely looking forward to – going back to Hogwarts. She had been unable to complete her seventh year and was eagerly waiting for a year of more knowledge and hopefully, fun at school.

She traipsed down the winding, crooked stairs, careful to skip certain steps that would creak and tiptoed past other doors. Stopping at the side table in the corner of the living room, she took her book entitled Fascinating Magical Objects and Their Properties, sat down on a cushion and began to read the morning away.

"Good morning, dear!"

Hermione looked up to see Ginny's mother bustling into the living room and heading towards the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mrs Weasley," replied Hermione warmly.

Hermione looked at the clock in the living room for the time but remembered that it didn't show the time of the day. She looked out of the window. Judging by the strength of the sunlight, she assumed it was half-past eight. Wow, she thought, I've been up for at least two hours now.

"What would you like to have for breakfast? Toast? Pancakes? Eggs? Cereal?"

Hermione tilted her head to the side. "Don't worry about it, Mrs Weasley. I'll get it myself."

"No, no, dear, I'll – "

"Mrs Weasley," said Hermione firmly as she smiled at the older woman. "And I'll help you with anything else you need to do."

Mrs Weasley gave Hermione a grateful smile. "Thank you for the offer, dear. When the others are up, we'll be going to Diagon Alley."

"All right."

Hermione stood up and made her way to the kitchen. She poured herself a bowl of cereal and added some blueberries to it. In the meantime, Mrs Weasley was preparing heaps of toast, eggs, bacon and other scrumptious food and setting the table. Just as Hermione was finishing her breakfast, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Mr Weasley walked in.

"Morning," said Hermione, smiling at everyone.

"Morning, Hermione," said Harry, grinning.

Ron, who looked half-dazed, just simply nodded and slumped down in his seat but not failing to help himself to the mound of food set before him. Ginny, however, greeted Hermione with equal enthusiasm as Harry and sat down. Mr Weasley took his customnary seat, which happened to be next to Harry, and started grilling Harry on some appliance.

"We're going to Diagon Alley today. Arthur has got the day off so he can come with us," Mrs Weasley announced.

"Ahyubahinuwaderminy?" asked Ron, through mouthfuls of eggs and toast.

"Ronald," snapped Mrs Weasley, "don't speak with your mouth full."

Ron swallowed his food. "Are you buying a new wand, Hermione?"

Hermione took out the wand she'd been using since the end of the war from her pocket. It did work well for her. She and Harry were practicing spells using the different wands he had collected and she had disarmed Harry while he was holding this wand. It was a hawthorn. Draco Malfoy's.

"I'm not sure," said Hermione as she examined the wand. "It's working well for me and I quite like the texture."

Mr Weasley looked at Hermione closely. "You could always get another wand. A new one for a new start."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. It'll be good for you to choose a wand that would fit you."

"I don't like the idea of you using that git's wand," said Ron as he stuffed his mouth full with food.

"Who?" asked Mrs Weasley, curious.

Harry neatly took the wand out of Hermone's hand. "This wand belonged to Draco Malfoy."

Mrs Weasley's eyes widened in surprise. Ginny accidentally dipped her hand in honey as she stared at Hermione.

"Malfoy?" gasped Ginny as she continued staring at Hermione.

"Then you should get another one!" said Mrs Weasley, getting up from the table. "Hurry up, let's get going as soon as we can."

Hermione quickly reached out and grabbed the wand back from Harry. "It's perfectly fine now."

Harry shook his head solemnly. "Think of the number of people who were tortured with this wand. Wasn't that the reason why you didn't want to use Bellatrix's wand?"

Hermione gulped. "True. But you have no proof that Draco had tortured people."

"Just like how you didn't believe that he was a Death Eater."

"Okay. I was wrong about that. But you can't keep thinking that he'll only do bad things."

"What good has he done, Hermione? He's made everyone's lives so miserable."

All of them had retrieved their travelling cloaks and were getting ready to go to Diagon Alley by Floo. Hermione stood next to Harry and looked at her friend while keeping one hand around the wand that she tucked deep into the pocket of her cloak.

"It's not his fault, Harry."

"Why are you so attached to that wand?" asked Harry, exasperated.

Hermione's defensive gears came up. "I'm not attached to it. I just like the feel of it. In fact, I daresay that I like it better than my original wand!"

"Suit yourself, Hermione," said Harry. "Let's drop this subject. Nothing good is going to come out of it."

"Come out of what?" asked Ron. He came and stood next to Hermione.

"Nothing, Ronald," said an irritated Hermione as she tried to make eye contact with Harry.

Harry met her eyes and looked back into them firmly.

"I might get another one."

Harry nodded in response as Mrs Weasley beckoned Hermione forward to step into the flames.

"We'll be meeting at Flourish and Blott's, everyone. Now, say 'Diagon Alley' very clearly. Remember not to mis-pronounce it or – "

"I might end up like Harry back in our second year. I know," said Hermione as she took a handful of the Floo powder and stepped into the flames.

She released the handful of powder as far away from her as she could. "D-d-diagon Alley," recited Hermione, coughing as the smoke from the powder had entered her throat, and with a whoosh she was gone.