Hey guys!! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
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HERMIONE'S POV:
I arrived at Kings's cross. Looking around, I see the many muggles running around. I keep walking until I see the sign. 9 3/4. I smile. Pulling my trunk behind me, I walk as fast as I can towards the sign. Soon, I'm running through the wall. I see many familiar faces. I continue to walk on the platform heading towards the train. I'm in such deep thought about this year that the next thing I know, I am sitting in my usual compartment when Harry walks in. "Hermione! Hey! How are you?" He smiles
"I'm good. How about you?" She says, standing up to hug her old friend.
"Oh I've been better. But I'm hanging in there. Are you ready for our last year at Hogwarts? Oh 'Mione, I've missed you so much!" Harry wrapped his arms around his childhood friend. He truly had missed her.
"Yes. I am so excited for this year. Did you look at the list of books we had to buy? One of them said 'marriage 101" I wonder what that's for. Oh well we"ll see. I've missed you so much too Harry. It's so lonely without seeing your friends every day, but I'm glad you're here now."
"I know the feeling. Going back to school will be good for us. Help us get our minds off everything else." Harry replied. Harry and Hermione continue catching up when they heard a knock on the door. Both looked up to see their two red headed friends, Ginny and Ron Weasley. "Hey guys! How are you? Are you ready for our last year of school? Oh how I missed you guys SO much!!" Ginny explained, wrapping her arms around Harry, while Ron gave Hermione a bear hug. "Oh my gosh! We have so much to catch up on! Let's go get sweets from the sweets cart Hermione. We'll get something for you boys too." Ginny said excitedly as she dragged Hermione out of the compartment.
"So. I update now. Are you and Harry a thing now?" Hermione asked. "No. After the war he kind of went off the deep end and decided that we are better off as friends. How about you and Ron? We ALL heard about your kiss!"
"We tried to be a couple. It just felt too weird. You know? Like dating your brother. I think me and Ron were just meant to be friends too. Now, let's go get some candy!" After getting their Candy, the two girls took their time heading back to their compartment, catching up on everything that has gone on in their lives over the past year. As soon as they stepped through the compartment, Ron snatched the box of chocolate frogs from Ginny's hand and devoured them within seconds. The gang talked and talked, catching up on their lives, when they heard a knock at the door. All four heads looked up to see none other but the famous Draco Malfoy knocking on their compartment door. "What could he want?" Ron asked irritably. "Let's find out." Harry answer, standing up, opening the door. "What do you want Malfoy?"
"Potter. A third year just informed me that McGonnagal needs to see me and Granger in her office on the train right now. So I'm here to steal Granger for a bit." Malfoy said calmly, although with a smirk forming on his lips.
"Whatever. Okay. I think I know why McGonnagal needs to see me but I'm not sure why she needs to see me and him together, but alright. Be back in a bit." Hermione Said, standing up to walk out of the compartment.
The two walked through the train in silence. First years looking at us, as if we were legends. Soon, we were knocking on Headmistress McGonnagal's door.
"Welcome back! Come on in." McGannagal said, hugging Hermione. "Now I bet you both are wondering why I called you in here. Right?" Both Draco and Hermione nodded their heads. "Well, I would first off like to congratulate you on being this year's Head-girl and Head-boy! What an accomplishment! I remember when you both were just little first years. Look at you both now!" Thank you so much professor McGonnagal! I knew all along that I would probably be Head-Girl, but now that the day is actually here, I'm so excited!" Hermione exclaimed. "Thank you very much professor." Draco said, letting a slight smile creep up on his face.
"Now second, as you know, almost 70% of our wizardry population was unfortunately killed during the war. The minister of magic has a proposition on how we can repopulate our world. The marriage law. Now, I do not agree with this law, but I cannot do anything to stop it. The new law proposes that all witches and wizards from 7th years to 30 year olds must take part in this marriage law. After the opening feast, I will hold back 7th and 8th years. The sorting hat will sort each couple and within the next four months, you and your partner must get married. I know this is a lot to take in, and i wish there was something I could do, believe me, I would do it, but all I can do is cooperate. And as heads, I am telling you this, hoping that you will help your class adjust to this." McGonnagal said. "What?! A MARRIAGE LAW?! Is this why we had to buy that book on 'marriage 101'? I know that we need to repopulate the wizardry world, but can't you just let nature take its course and not FORCE us to marry someone we don't even know?! This is an outrage! Can't we do something to fight it?! This is NOT right. At. All!" Hermione said as calmly as she could, although her voice was trembling and gradually getting louder. "Yeah. For once, I agree with Granger. This can't be fair. Isn't there something we can do to stop this law?! The minister seriously should not be forcing people who are still in school to marry. We are way too young!" Draco exclaimed. "Mister Malfoy, Ms. Granger, I understand this is very hard to take in right now. I agree with you. You are too young. But If you had not come back this year, you would be an adult, starting your life. Which means that you must cooperate with this law. I am very sorry to say that there is nothing else we can do except cooperate, and cope to the best of our ability. Oh look! We are already here! You two will go into the Head-Prefect carriage. The first on next to Hagrid. Go along. And please, if you see any of your classmates, please do not tell them about the law. We will announce it to the 7th and 8th years after the feast. Go along now." McGonnagal said. Draco and Hermione left her office and got their bags before heading to the Heads' carriage.
Draco and Hermione sat in silence as the carriage drove down the path to Hogwarts. "So...." Draco said awkwardly. "That was..umm...Shocking."
Hermione looked up at the Blond "umm.. yeah. Definitely not what I expected my last year at Hogwarts to be like.." Hermione said, trying to settle the awkwardness.
"Uh.. congrats on being Head-Girl."
"Oh. Umm, thanks, you too, congrats on being Head-Boy."
"Listen, I just wanted to apologize for everything I have done to you. And your friends. I was so wrong in calling you names and bullying you for all those years. I see how wrong I was. And I'm so sorry for not stopping my aunt when she was torturing you. I should have stopped her! I was so out line. Can we just start over. Clean slate?" Draco abruptly said. Hermione looked at the blond boy who bullied her. Called her 'mudblood' bullied her and her friends for eight years. She looked into his eyes. He looked different. Tired. Genuinely sorry. She felt bad for him. He was forced into being a death eater. He did it to protect his family. And now that his father was in Azkaban, he wanted to start over. He wanted to be the real Draco, not the mean, evil, cruel person his father waned him to be. She could see that now. With a smile creeping up on her face, she said, "of course. We have all done things we shouldn't have. And it's okay. You did help me and Harry. You lied. Said that it wasn't Harry. You are a good guy. You were not meant to be the person you used to be. I forgive you. And of course. Let's just start over. Clean slate, like you said." Hermione smiled. "Thank you so much. I would also like to apologize to Potter and Weasley too. Maybe after the feast?" Draco asked.
"I'm sure Harry and Ron would appreciate it. Thank you." Hermione said as that carriage arrived at the entrance of her second home. "Let's go. We should help the first years." Hermione said.
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I'm SO SORRY for not updating during the weekend! I know a lot of you wanted an earlier update but i as super busy. My mom was working all weekend, had a ton of homework and had to watch my brother. I PROMISE I will update at least once a week from now on. Hope you enjoy the first official chapter!
-J💜