Harry stood on the platform and looked around him, he had decided to take the 8th year to prepare for becoming an Auror. He looked down the platform to see Hermione stood there, she looked disheveled and tired. He approached her cautiously, he hadn't heard from her all summer.

"Hermione..." He said quietly, and she turned her head to look at him, "Harry." She smiled gently, but he received no hug. "Where have you been all summer? I have tried to contact you many times." He inquired casually, he could see she didn't want to be pushed.

"I found a bedsit, not far from where I used to live growing up.... I like to watch from a far." She explained, there was no emotion in her eyes at all, it was if she was a mannequin. "Why didn't you come to the burrow?" Harry asked,
"I just wanted to be alone, and I still do Harry. So please, just leave me alone." She sighed sadly before turning to board the Hogwarts Express.

Harry Knew not to approach her again, not right now anyway. So he went to sit with Ron in their usual carriage. Their relationship was very strained, Harry felt like Ron blamed him for his brothers death. He never said it, because deep down Ron knew it wasn't Harry who was to blame.
It's just he felt that he needed to blame someone, to cope.

"I just saw Hermione." Harry told Ron, But Ron ignored Harry's comment and changed the subject. "I don't want to go back and take year 7 again, it's not my fault I failed most of the classes.. I mean, I had a lot on my plate you know?" He groaned, Ron wanted to go and work with his brother in the joke shop. His mother had insisted however he must complete his schooling to a high level and only then he could decide what to do.

Not that the shop was open anyway, George just sat home all day. He was badly depressed and couldn't even think about work yet. Not without Fred.. Nothing would ever be the same for the Weasley family, ever.

"And Bloody hell, Ginny will be in my year!" Ron sighed, Harry laughed as he personally would love to spend more time with Ginny. Harry was happy with Ginny, she was always there when he struggled to cope even though she carried her own burdens. He was relieved that Ron accepted their relationship, he was partly terrified of being hexed.

Hermione sat in a carriage with some 1st years and just kept her head down in a book, looking up occasionally to see the nervous little kids staring at her, "what?" She scolded them, and they all looked away. She really wasn't the old Hermione anymore.

They pulled into the station and once the train had come to a complete halt and a 1st year with floppy hair peeled himself off the carriage wall, she left the train and made her way to the castle transport carts.

"Ermione! Er ya alright? Yer look awful!" A familiar voice called out, "I'm fine Hagrid, it's nice to see you." She smiled before climbing into a cart. He was one person she couldn't never be horrible to. Hagrid watched as her cart disappeared into the distance and spoke under his breath
"Poor 'Ermione."

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"I'd like to welcome everyone back to Hogwarts, there are to be some changes this year." Severus began addressing the students in the great hall. "This year, as you can see we have introduced a new 8th year at Hogwarts, and also the house points system has been abolished in favour of a new, and improved system based on individual merit." Severus explained before turning to Minerva who was beaming that he had made her vision a reality.

The first years were sorted into their houses and Minerva gave a speech explaining the new system. She also explained that now parts of the castle had been refurbished 8th years would no longer be in house dormitories but instead would reside in their own small rooms. And she explained that a monument to remember those who fell in the war was close to completion and would be unveiled in the very near future. The feast began and the hall became alive with the sound of happy, laughing students. Just like it used to be.

"I wonder why Miss Granger is eating alone?" Minerva asked Severus during dinner. "Maybe she's realised the Weasley boy is a buffoon and as for Harry Potter I have no idea." Severus replied, shoving a piece of broccoli into his gob. He knew he was going to check if the girl was alright, it was his job to care for everyone's wellbeing now as much as he hated to, he wanted to do a good job, he owed it to Albus.

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He returned to his office after dinner and sent an OWL to Hermione requesting her presence.
He didn't wish to go to her room and speak with her there, as that would not be professional.
She didn't really want to see anyone, nor leave her new room. It was small, nearly as small as her bedsit, but she felt at home and pleased she had somewhere to escape everyone. Something she never had in the dormitories.

She decided to go and see the headmaster before settling in, she didn't care that she looked a state and could really do with a shower after a day's travelling. That could wait until she returned to go to bed.