Chapter Text
Chapter One : Daylight
Hermione found herself sitting alone in the Hogwarts train compartment. Following the war, the ministry of magic gave many students in her year two options, return to Hogwarts for another year to continue their education or go right into a job upon getting any needed test scores for the job requirement. Unfortunately for Hermione she didn’t have much of an option due to the healer she was forced to see. She had decided that due to the events and trauma Hermione experienced over the last year that it would be best for her to return to hogwarts. The healer thought that continuing her education could allow her to “feel normal.”
Hermione was writing in her journal on the train about how angry she was about the situation, becoming more angry as groups of friends passed her compartment while gossiping about how she was the only member of the golden trio to be continuing their education.
Harry had started training to become an auror while Ron helped George run the joke shop. While she was left with a tortuous routine of weekly journaling, full class schedule, daily healing potions, not to mention while her arm burned with infection and regular night and day mares
~~~
Draco shifts uncomfortably, watching as one of the students in his years pass their small group. He used his body to hide his probation required journal as he writes in it for one of his weekly journaling assignments.
His eyes shot up when Theo frustratedly slammed his journal shut. “What was your entry question today?”
“Write about the last time you wanted to hurt someone else and how you wanted to do it”
“Mine is , write about one of the big changes to your life since starting this new journey.”
“Are you looking forward to this school year?” Draco shrugs as he slides his journal into his jacket pocket.
“Do you know who all are returning and who started working?” Blaise speaks up for the first time in a while but doesn’t look up from the book in his hand
Pansy as you know is in France working
The Patil twins are not returning
Neville longbottom is returning I believe
Potter is in auror training
Weasley is helping his brother run the joke shop but his sister did return to complete her final year
Daphne should be somewhere on this train along with Astoria
Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas aren't returning at the moment but I think I heard they will be here in a few weeks .
Luna as I’m sure you can guess did return.
Ernie, Zacharias, Justin, Hannah and Susan from hufflepuff all are returning
I'm pretty sure Tracy is also here with Daphne.
I don’t remember anyone else in particular”
“Granger?”
Draco watches as Blaise shifts in his seat as if he was uncomfortable.
There’s been little talk of her since our trials. I don’t see her returning without the rest of the golden trio but with the Weaslette returning and Granger being a swot it’s possible she had returned.
~~~
Hermione’s eyes shot up from her journal seeing as Ginny warily popped her head into the compartment. “We will be approaching our stop soon, are you sure you don’t wish for company. “
“Thank you Ginny but not at this moment “
After the train comes to a stop, Hermione finds herself slowly making her way towards the school hoping to be away from as many people as possible. She feels her body immediately tense when she hears someone quickly approaching her but calms when she sees that it was Luna skipping to her side.
They approach the castle with Luna making most of the conversation until Hermione notices a feeling that makes her feel the need to look around. When she glances back she catches the presents of a few Slytherins, in particular Draco Malfoy. Her eyes shot wide before whipping her face back forwards as she tugs her robe tighter on her body and began to pick up her speed while walking
~~~
Blaise and Theo notice as Draco sucks in a quick breath.
“What is it?” theo asked concerned
Draco doesn’t answer which leads Theo to become aware of Hermione in front of them.
“Do you find it odd that she returned but Potter and Weasley did not.” Blaise questioned, causing Draco to shift awkwardly on his feet. “Not that… she looked terrified when she saw me.”
“She tensed when Luna approached but I overheard when she was getting off the train that she was by herself the whole time, she wouldn’t let the Weaslette sit with her.”
“If I was to guess she was probably required to return under similar conditions as us.” Blaise supplied to the conversation
“I agree, just like you, as soon as the war ended, the trauma probably slapped her in the face. Not to mention you are probably paired with her trauma because the snatchers brought her to your manor.”
“The snatchers brought her there.” Blaise looks at them with shock and horror
“Yes, why” draco questioned wondering what was being implied
“Snatchers are nasty, you saw first hand what they were doing with the female hostages.”
Within seconds the words caught up with Draco causing him to retch
“Hello Blaise. Hello Theodore, Draco, would you like some water?” luna questions
Draco looks up seeing Luna holding a cup of water out to him with a small smile. He mumbles a thank you as he takes the cup and Luna turns, casting a spell to vanish the vomit. Luna follows the boy's gaze over her shoulder towards Hermione who shifts back and forth on her feet.
“Odd isn’t it but I supposed most of us are now these days….anyways it was nice to see you guys, I suppose I should get going. Good bye Blaise. Goodbye Theodore. Goodbye Draco.” Luna states prior to skipping back in hermione's direction
~~~
Luna and Hermione enter the great hall and they are instructed to sit wherever they would like while the rest of the first years get placed.
After all the students were seated the headmistress made her announcement for the school year which included that the 8th years that did return would not be returning to their dormitories. Headmistress McGonagall informed them that they were placed in a new tower that had a few floors with 2 girls and 3 boys on each floor. Hermione jumps when an envelope is dropped in front of her and Luna. She looks around seeing that everyone in her year has also had one dropped in front of them. She opens it to discover that she was placed on the bottom floor which would most likely be underground.
“Oh, I was also placed there. It seems to be that we are roommates.” Luna says while smiling to hermione
“You aren't in our year though?” she questions
“Yes, it seems that the healers think I would be a good person to be placed with you to be a middle person between the boys placed with us. No one in your year returned for the ravenclaw house. It appears that the boys in each house were placed with girls from a different house.”
“No gryffindor girls returned other than me so you were placed with me since you would be a good middle person?”
“Yes, Ginny has friends in her year and the last few years I talked mostly to your friend group. They also thought Ginny might be more..problematic then I would be with the boys.”
Headmistress also tells the 8th year that they are no longer classified as a specific house leading their uniforms to be grey but they are allowed to sit with whatever house as they please. Announcements then concluded allowing for the students to eat.
As hermione was eating she tenses when she feels someone come up behind her
“May I sit here for a few minutes. “
Hermione doesn’t answer or look at who asked but she moves as close to Luna allowing a large space between her and ginny.
“I just wanted to introduce myself in hopes of being friendly so I am Theo” Theo holds his hand out to ginny, Blaire and Neville as they are introduced
“I’m Ginny, this is Blaire and Neville , I believe you know Luna and then this is Hermione.” “Blaire’s brother Miles, ravenclaw i believe was in your year.”
“It is nice to meet you Theo”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you all. I look forward to talking and getting to know you more but I will let you get back to your conversation.” Ginny watches in confusion as Theo returns to his spot next to Draco and In front of Blaise.
“Do you think that was genuine?” Ginny queried
“Theo, trying to be friends. Yes, he’s actually a nice person. Blaise and Draco are also but they are most likely more hesitant to make any moves in terms of becoming friends.” luna answers
Hermione's breath hinges and she starts to cough at the sound of something falling a foot behind her. She shakily stands as she glances around before mumbling “bathroom” between coughs before she speed walks out of the great hall.
~~~
Theo noticed that Draco tensed at the sound of something hitting the ground but Draco immediately calmed as he realized it wasn’t a noise of danger. The two boys quickly become aware of a figure speed walking from the great hall to the hallway. Before Draco could catch who it was, Theo was going after the person.
Theo watches as Hermione breaks off into a run as soon as she leaves the view of the great hall. He carefully but briskly follows, watching her cut off into one of the empty classrooms. He slowly opens the door, seeing her sitting against a wall with her head in her hands. Theo lightly knocks on the door to alert her she isn’t alone which puts her into action to jump up and point her wand at him. “What do you want?”
Theo puts his hands up to show he doesn’t have anything then slowly moves his hands to his robe to undo and drop them on the floor to show he wasn’t here to be threatening.
“Why are you here?”
“I don’t want anything and I’m here to keep you company.”
“I don’t want company” hermione snaps
“I know but you shouldn’t be alone so where do you wish I be”
“What?” hermione looks to him in confusion
“I am staying in this room with you to keep you company. We don’t have to talk or anything. So where do you feel the most comfortable with me in the room?”
Hermione slowly glances around not taking her wand away from him. She motions to a chair on the other side of the table closest to her so that there will be at least two chair spaces between them.
“I don’t have a working wand. I am only allowed it at certain times.” theo informs her
She nods in acknowledgment so he grabs a cloth from his shirt pocket and slowly approaches the chair she motioned to. He leans without stepping near her to place the cloth on the chair closest to her then takes a seat. She slides her back down the wall once again to sit on the floor and he plays with the rings on his fingers while they sit in silence. Theo quickly glances at her when he hears her burst into tears but doesn’t say anything unless she implies she wants to talk.
“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry” she mumbles repeatedly
“Can I ask what you're sorry for?” theo softly asks
“This”
She motions around the room but doesn’t look at him.
“I don’t believe you have anything to be sorry for. You are human and your allowed to feel and react to things”
She nods while trying to take a deep breath to calm herself
“May I ask you a question?” theo softly asks
He watches as she tenses and looks at him with fear
“It’s an easy question that is not invasive.”
“What is it?” she asked cautiously
“What do you prefer to be called”
She flinched as if she was hit with a memory so Theo cautiously lowers to the floor so that he was sat on the floor to be able to connect with her more.
“I don’t want to call you something that will provoke unwanted thoughts or anything that will make you uncomfortable. I have a habit of referring to people with terms that I think may cause you panic.”
“Hermione or granger is fine but hermione is more personal and friendly”
“Okay, thank you” he gives her a smile to show he appreciated her answer
The room returns to silence until she decides to speak up.
“Why are you doing this?” she questioned with worry
“Doing what exactly?”
“Trying to be my friend.”
“I think you are back at Hogwarts for a similar reason as my friends and I. I also believe that we have enough in common that becoming your friend can help you.” theo states with as much honesty as he can
“What do you get out of being friends with me”
“Knowing that I can be friends with someone, that I’m not a horrible person my mind tells me I am. You gave so many of us a second chance and I believe you should be a part of our second chance because I think it will help you.”
“Can I tell you something Theo” hermione asked with some hesitation
“You can say whatever you please”
“I also can’t use my wand.” she says sadly
“That’s okay. You will regain the privilege whenever you are meant to. I won’t tell anyone because you deserve to feel safe and I can tell that others thinking you do have that privilege helps you feel safe.”
Hermione stands on slightly shaky legs as she steps towards him. She motions for him to stand and after some deciding she reaches her hand towards him. Theo examines the hand and her face for a few seconds before slowly connecting them in a handshake.
“It is nice to meet you Theo”
“It is also nice to meet you hermione.”
“Shall we return to the great hall?”
“Sure”
They walk side by side back to the great hall. He turns to her at the entrance. “I will gladly be your company or a listening ear whenever you would like.”
She gives him a nod of appreciation then walks back to where she was sitting. He approaches his seat but before he can rejoin his friends he notices the headmistress's attention on him.
“Mr. Nott”
“Headmistress”
“May I speak with you in the hall”
“Of course, after you.”
They stop in the hallway and he watches as the headmistress observes him before she connects their eyes.
“Were you with Miss. Granger when you were both absent from the great hall”
“That would be correct.” theo answers in joking confidence
“Is Miss. granger okay now?”
“I believe she is feeling better.”
“That is good to hear. Can I voice my concern?”
“Yes”
“As you may know Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini had been placed into the same room as you. I did not arrange these placements, the healers did based off of everyone’s sessions with them. As you may also know your floor will also have 2 female students.”
“Okay?” Theo asked with confusion
“Miss. Granger and Miss. Lovegood is the two female students placed on your floor. I am concerned there will be an issue between Miss. Granger and Mr. Malfoy. The healers have assured me that they don’t believe there will be an issue on Mr. Malfoy's side and my concerns don’t appear due to him.”
“Are you concerned she won’t be able to be in the same space as him?” he asked trying to put the pieces together
“Yes, they agreed to move her if she wishes after giving the situation a chance. I would like to ask you to inform me of anything if it appears she is going to put herself or any of you into danger due to this arrangement.”
“How long is this “giving the situation a chance””
“A week”
“Yes I will do that.”
“Do you have any concerns”
“Not at this moment.”
“Okay then that includes what I wanted to discuss.”
Theo returns to his seat and Draco raises his brow at him in question.
“We will discuss it tonight” theo supplies before anyone could ask
“Okay” draco answers with tone of defense, confusion and concern
“Draco?” Draco raises his brow at theo once again
“You better be on your best behavior, remember the last few months” Draco observes Theo for a few seconds before nodding and agreeing
Their attention is brought to Blaise when he randomly speaks.
“Why do you think she did it” blaise questions
“She knew we had better in us. Wanted us to have a second chance.”
“I understand that for most of us but malfoy” he asks with suspicion
“Yeah I agree. All I did was bully her and her friends and she goes into trial and keeps me out of death or Azkaban.” draco cuts in
“Do you know what her statement was? Do you know what she said to get you that second chance?” theo asks looking at draco
“No, I don’t remember what she said. Everything from then is hazy” draco confesses, running his hand along the back of his neck
“Read it then, hold onto her statement for as long as you need to.”