H.
Hermione sat in her carriage, alone. Harry and Ron had gotten jobs at the ministry. She was one of the only ones to return to Hogwarts. She didn't really want to leave just yet. It was where she grew up, where her influences came from. She didn't want to admit it, but she was scared about what would happen after she graduated. She didn't have anyone she could contact on short notice, nobody to be right there for her. She would be going out completely and utterly alone.
She stared out the window, contemplating, when she heard the door slide open. She turned and saw none other than Malfoy.
He sneered and sat down next to her.
"What makes you think you can just sit down wherever you want?" she asked.
"Try and stop me, Granger," he spat arrogantly.
She huffed, defeated.
"Getting frustrated, Granger? Need to take it out on someone?" he jeered.
Her wand was already out of her pocket.
"Acalanthus!" she yelled, and laughed at the sight of him waddling around, having transfigured into a rather large canary.
He quacked angrily at her, but she just cast a shield charm and laughed.
When he turned back, he huffed and crossed his arms like a three hear old, clearly exaggerating.
"Getting frustrated, Malfoy? Need to take it out on someone?" she smirked as she threw his own words back at him.
Suddenly he whipped out his wand and said, "Agresstus!"
She transfigured into a small pig, and now it was his turn to laugh and cast a shield charm. She oinked as angrily as she could muster, the fell back snort-laughing too.
After she transfigured back, the shared a cheerful silence.
Malfoy had changed, she could see that. He was happier, but he was still tortured. The battle had brought them all together, and they all shared that bond that comes from escaping a life or death situation with someone. Hermione glanced at him quickly. He was staring out the window, a serious expression on his face.
He had grown several inches taller, she noticed. His features were less pained; he was more relaxed in general. Her eyes wandered to his hair. It hung in loose strands, framing his face. She noticed his icy blue eyes, but they weren't as hard as they were before. They looked softer, less angry. She realized that she had been staring, and quickly looked away.
D.
He had noticed her staring, of course, but in all honesty, he didn't mind. He felt oddly relaxed with her. Probably more relaxed than he was at home.
They got off the train and heard Hagrid's familiar voice. He smiled and nudged her.
She looked surprised then smiled back.
Maybe she would forgive him for the long years of torment. As they walked to the castle, his eyes traveled from the road in front of them to her hair. He had never noticed how brown it was, or how silky it seemed. He almost reached out to touch it, it seemed so soft.
They arrived, and he turned away. He watched her join her friends at the Gryffindor table. He saw her laughing and hugging people. He frowned and turned to his table. He smirked and sat down next to Pansy Parkington. He put his arm around her and she giggled. He felt better knowing he had power over someone, at least.
Professor Slughorn stood and called for attention.
"As you all know, Albus Dumbledore, recently passed." Slughorn bowed his head, and Draco felt a pang of regret in his heart when he heard the name.
"And so, to honor his great memory, we have not reinstated a new headmaster." Everybody paused. Had they heard right? "We have instated a new headmistress! Welcome Minerva McGonagall as new headmistress!"
