"This feels so strange," Hermione said as she boarded the Hogwarts express. After the war she had expected everything to be different but somehow, back where it had all started, watching all the excited, chattering children and their proud, worried parents, she felt like everyone had already forgotten the war and moved on. Nothing seemed to have changed at all. She, admittedly, also felt excitement at the prospect of once again being a student at Hogwarts, returning for her seventh year to complete her NEWTs like many others of her old year whose educations had been hindered or disrupted during the war.

A short while later Hermione was sitting in a compartment with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna, all of whom sat in a companionable silence, looking out of the window watching the beautiful Scottish countryside pass them by. Harry and Ginny sat side by side, holding hands and leaning into each other, their positions mimicked by Neville and Luna sitting opposite them. Only Hermione and Ron were sitting apart, opposite each other. Their relationship had fizzled out after the war, finding it difficult to find things to talk about now that they were no longer spending every waking moment thinking of and discussing ways in which to find Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. Ron wasn't interested in the intellectual discoveries Hermione made when exploring the Ministry Library and although also suffering deeply from the many losses they had all suffered, was unwilling to discuss his emotions with Hermione, unlike Harry and Ginny who seemed to share everything with each other.

Speaking of said couple, Ginny had just turned her gaze toward Harry who looked at her adoringly before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Neville and Luna hardly noticed, they were so absorbed by each other, but Ron looked slightly green while Hermione felt a small tinge of jealousy in the pit of her stomach. She'd felt so alone lately. She hadn't even told anyone that she was still occasionally suffering from the after effects of the cruciatus curse. It wasn't too bad, she would just sometimes painfully lose control of her limbs which would start twitching. It was always over soon enough and she knew there was no known cure for what she was experiencing. It was just another scar from the war, just like the scars everyone else had. But unlike everyone else, she had no one with whom she could share her burden.

Everyone was beginning to feel more light-hearted the closer they got to Hogwarts. They had spent the last half hour of the journey reminiscing about old times at Hogwarts before Voldemort's second rise to power, changing into their old cloaks, and chasing after a chocolate frog that seemed to be more energetic and determined to reach freedom than the others, creating a rather comical tumult in the small compartment as everyone tried to be the first to catch the frog. Ron managed to catch it in the end, just before it would have jumped out of the window, and he ate it somewhat smugly as the others laughed. Their cheerfulness was, however, momentarily dampened after they left the train and boarded the carriages for Hogwarts - now almost everyone could see the thestrals, a reminder of all who had fallen that summer.

The familiar beauty, warmth and high spirits of the magically restored great hall soon revitalised their joy at being together again in such well-known, homely surroundings. Familiar faces greeted them from every table in the hall, people who had stayed and fought with them in the final battle, people they recognised from previous years at Hogwarts. Even the Slytherin table acknowledged the Golden Trio, many of them having secretly hated the Carrows during their reign of the school in the last year, despite the favouritism they were treated to. Even Draco Malfoy nodded at them, thankful that they had saved his life and perhaps even regretting past animosities. All in all, Hermione felt completely welcome in Hogwarts for the first time, without anyone sneering at her muggleborn status or doubting her due to her friendship with and loyalty to Harry. In fact, she was a hero. Younger students gazed up at her admiringly and in awe of the role she had played in defeating the Dark Lord, while those her own age were trying to get her and Ron's attention. Harry was clearly occupied with Ginny.

After the sorting, during dinner, Hermione carefully examined the teachers' table for the first time. Professor McGonagall sat in the middle as the proud new Headmistress, occasionally casting a satisfied glance at the crowded hall full of excited students, clearly relieved that everything had reverted to what was relatively normal. The new transfiguration professor was a kindly looking, middle-aged man who would clearly not be as strict as his predecessor, while the new defence against the dark arts professor was a younger woman who seemed rather timid to Hermione and did not spark her interest. That was until she noticed who she was talking to - Severus Snape, who had apparently chosen to remain at Hogwarts despite his status as a famous war hero. Her gaze rested on him, scrutinising, curious. Somehow he looked different to Hermione... younger, perhaps, more carefree. Then he smiled at something Professor Littleton said. Hermione was shocked; she had never seen him smile before. And it was... wonderful. Hermione felt her heart thud hard in her chest and a blush rising in her cheeks.

The spark of jealousy and strong dislike she suddenly felt for the new professor startled her out of her reverie. She laughed to herself and shook her head, feeling a bit silly, determining to no longer be surprised at Snape's transformation. He deserved it, she thought to herself. Deciding to take one more peek at him before rejoining the conversation concerning which NEWTs everyone was taking, she again turned her head towards the head table, only to find the object of her previous scrutiny watching her, a small crease between his eyebrows. Her eyes met his and then her heart really did stop for a second. She saw nothing but him - she felt like she was falling into his eyes, they were so deep, so dark. Her heart was now pounding furiously and she felt as though her face must be on fire. Neither looked away, both looking curiously at the other as if for the first time, forgetting completely that they were in a crowded hall...

"Oi! Hermione! What you staring at? You never told us which classes you were taking this year!" Ron poked her arm, startling her and causing her to jump. She caught Professor Snape softly shaking his head before she turned back towards the Gryffindor table. She tried to slow her breathing and focus on what Ron had said, feeling resentful towards him without knowing exactly why.