It had been almost a month since Ron and Hermione had separated. The air between the two of them was very tense. No one spoke to the other and when they were all together it was uncomfortable for the rest to be in the silence of the two of them. It was already the thirty-first of August and everyone was already packing. They were very excited to return to Hogwarts. They had cultivated a great friendship there and there were so many beautiful memories that they had. There were also memories that weren't... pretty, to say the least, but they still loved Hogwarts. It was their home, a safe place they could go. There were only two problems, Ron and Hermione didn't get along and Hermione still hadn't told them that she was in charge of the perfect ones and she knew that there was no time to continue doubting whether to say it or not.

They all sat at the table for breakfast and that was when she saw the opportunity to tell everyone about her new position at Hogwarts.

"Hey, I have great news for you. This year my Hogwarts letter said something amazing. This year I'm going to be in charge of the perfect ones!" She turned to look at everyone while she mentally prayed that they wouldn't ask her who the manager she would be working with this year was. She knew that if she mentioned Malfoy nothing good could happen.

Everyone was extremely happy for her, everyone except Ron.

"You probably told Krum first, right? Since they're SUCH FRIENDS."

"Yes, of course, you are the first to know." The place had become quiet and uncomfortable again so Ginny spoke.

"I'm very happy for you but tell me, who is in charge?"

The only question that Hermione wanted to avoid and ignore had to be the one Ginny asked her. She thought of an excuse to get out of this conversation but nothing came to her mind. Finally she decided to pretend she didn't know.

"W-good question Gin! No, I don't know. I don't have the slightest idea who it could be. Umm... Maybe it's Harry!" She was super nervous and her hands were sweating.

"I don't think it's Mione. His letter would have said so." Ginny thought for a moment and then asked- "Would you like to go for a walk in Diagon Alley with me Mione?"

"Of course Gin," she said with a slightly quieter giggle.

They left and went to Diagon Alley. After walking for a while, Ginny asked Hermione,

"Ok, now, tell me who the manager is Mione"

"I already told you that...I don't know"

"I can tell that you know and you don't want to tell me. Come on! Trust me Hermione." She looked at her with sad puppy eyes, she knew how to manipulate you into telling her everything.

"Okay, the person in charge of the perfect ones is... Dr...Draco Malfoy." She was barely breathing for fear of what Ginny was going to say when she found out that she and Draco had made up and were friends now.

"Your companion is that... jumping ferret, That incense and fool!?"

"Yes Gin, he is my partner but he is not like that anymore. He is not the same as before. Please don't call him Hopping Ferret again."

She only looked at her with surprise because she had just defended Draco Malfoy. After a moment she smiled and laughed lightly.

"Well, whatever you say Mione, let's go with George, I actually came for him."

The two walked a little further and arrived at the large store that Fred and George opened at some point a few years ago. They went in looking for George Weasley. While they were walking George scared Hermione and grabbed Ginny by her waist and then picked her up and carried her like a baby.

"George! Put me down, can't you see I'm not a baby anymore?" Ginny told her while she laughed.

"Believe me little sister, your weight says it all," George responded as he put her down.

The three of them went to the burrow with a transporter and they all left on their way to buy various things. When they had finished they returned to the house and prepared to sleep. Ginny and Hermione were playing when there was a knock on their bedroom door. Hermione got up and opened the door. She saw Ron standing in front.

"Hermione, can we talk for a moment?"

"Of course Ronald" The two of them went out and sat at the entrance of the house.

"I'm really sorry for how I behaved at the party, it's just that I don't like it when you're with Krum. It reminds me a lot of how I felt in our fourth grade, do you forgive me?"

"Always Ron, I will always forgive you but I think we are better off as friends, don't you think?"

"Yes..." In her eyes you could see sadness and disappointment. "Maybe you're right Hermioney, it would be better this way."

They burned themselves and entered the Burrow again, there were only a few hours left until the train arrived. In the morning everyone went to have breakfast together. The excitement was almost palpable in the air. Everyone with big smiles and a lot of enthusiasm lived together. They all took their things and went to London. They arrived at station 9 3/4 and crossed it. They boarded the train and their journey began.

Harry was talking to Neville and Seamus in the train corridor, Ginny was with Luna and Ron was looking for the candy cart 

along with Dean. Hermione was sitting by the window alone. She was reading one of her favorite Muggle books, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. She was about halfway done when she decided to stop reading and start looking at the landscape. Everything was so beautiful and, if her memory served her right, they were halfway there.

On the other hand, Draco was sitting in an armchair alone, the only two people who were there with him looked at him very strangely and were obviously afraid of him. He had no friends because they all left him when the war was over. Everyone was afraid of him, everyone hated him, everyone wished he hadn't existed, everyone except...Hermione. It was when he remembered that Hermione was his only friend, she had given him another chance. He hesitated for a moment but after a few minutes he decided to go to where she was. He passed three cars to finally be where she was and when he saw her, something strange happened to him, something that he had never felt when being close to someone. He started to feel butterflies in his stomach and was nervous about it. What was happening to him? She was sitting facing outwards with her hands hugging her legs.

Hermione watched the trees pass by one by one when she began to smell a... green apple? She thought it was the candy cart but then she remembered that she couldn't be it because a few minutes ago she had passed the car that was in front of her. She turned to face her and saw Draco Malfoy standing silently watching her.

"Knock knock, can I come in? You look a little lonely Granger." she finally said after a few seconds of somewhat awkward silence.

"Of course Malfoy, come in. Is something wrong or do you need something?"

"How strange, I didn't know that I needed something to happen to come see you. The truth is that I got bored of being alone back there and decided to come with you. If I... I can stay, right?"

Hermione laughed before speaking, something that made Draco feel his cheeks wanting to blush but he managed to control himself.

"Yes, if you can stay with me, maybe I was getting bored being alone too."

"And because Weasley isn't with you, aren't they together?"

"Well, about that, he and I... separated."

"Oh, I understand, sorry if..." At that moment Ginny walked in where the two of them were sitting.

"Malfoy? Oh, I think I interrupted you, I'm sorry."

"Weasley! Wait, please… please don't tell anyone I'm here."

Ginny looked at Hermione as if she expected her to approve of what Malfoy had said. She just nodded her head and Ginny walked out of there. For the rest of the trip, Hermione and Draco kept talking and without them realizing it, it was already night and they were already at Hogwarts. They had returned to the place where every adventure had begun so many years ago.