Everyone excitedly got off the Hogwarts Express and met up with their friends. The place didn't seem to have changed much since the last time they were at Hogwarts. They walked a while to get to where the carriages were located that they hadn't seen in years. When Draco and Hermione arrived next to the carriage Hermione didn't leave Draco's side, she had never seen a creature like the thestrals.

"Well Malfoy, it seems that Harry and Luna weren't crazy after all." Hermione said to Draco when she saw the Thestrals in front of her. They were creepy creatures, almost skeletal, like horses of a blueish black tone and grayish white eyes. Surely all the people who were in their same year and who fought in the war against Voldemort could see these ghostly creatures.

Hermione and Draco got into the carriage along with Harry, Ginny, Ron and Luna. When they saw Malfoy, the first one to speak was Ron.

“Blonde hair and new clothes, of course it had to be the ferret Malfoy.” She said as she watched him climb in with Hermione.

“Ronald!” Hermione yelled angrily- “Shut up!”

“Mione, why are you defending him? Did you forget that we were talking about Malfoy? I mean you've always hated him and he's hated muggle-borns and Weasleys. Why would you change your mind about him?” Ginny asked Hermione in a very strange tone.

“I'm defending him because…” Draco interrupted her

“It's not your obligation to defend me Granger, but thank you. I know I have no excuse to defend myself for all my bad decisions. I'll just say that… I'm very sorry.”

Everyone was stunned and silent for the time they were in the carriage. They simply couldn't wrap their minds around the fact that Draco Malfoy, the boy who hated mudbloods and them had apologized.

The carriage was about to arrive at the castle. Harry quickly spotted McGonagall waiting outside. He then tapped Hermione on the shoulder and said,

“Look, it’s Professor… Headmistress McGonagall. I’m sure she is coming for you, though I do not see anyone with her. Could it be that the caretaker hasn’t arrived yet? Maybe it’s Dean or Seamus or…” His voice was interrupted by Malfoy’s.

“It’s me, I’m the caretaker of the perfects.” Hermione’s breathing hitched, her idea being to hide that tiny, little detail from all of them. Ginny also looked nervous about what her friends would say about her best friend.

Thankfully the carriage stopped and everyone got off before anyone could say another word about the situation.

McGonagall greeted them all with a big smile, something they had never seen in their time at Hogwarts. She hugged them all individually and before entering she explained,

“How nice to see you all this year! Before you go to your dormitories, I have to explain three important points. First, you've probably noticed that many students from first to fourth year are missing. This is because I've decided that we'll start classes two weeks later than usual. Second, after the war, several places in the castle were damaged. During the repairs, several places were changed, so I advise you to explore the place before classes start. And last, I'm sure Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy told you that you've been chosen to be the caretakers of the Perfects, right?

“Yes, Headmistress, we've already told them,” Hermione replied.

“Very well, well, you see, the caretakers don't sleep in the same room as the rest of you. They have their own common room, which I'll show you in a moment. Aaa and I almost forgot that this year, the Triwizard Tournament will be held. I think that's it, you can go to your common rooms.

Everyone went to their common rooms to organize their things and then Malfoy and Granger followed McGonagall. They climbed many steps in a tower that overlooked the Astronomy Tower. They reached the top floor and found three paintings around a dark wooden door. On the right side was Albus Dumbledore, on the left was Severus Snape and above was the painting of Fred Weasley. The Headmistress took Hermione's hand and placed it before the door. Then she told her to say the password,

"I want you to say Amiecis." She said so, and the door began to open slowly. When it had opened completely, the fireplace illuminated the entire room.

"This is where you will live. The password to enter is Amiecis, and to get in, you need to extend your hand. I'll expect you to go for dinner. See you two later." With that, she left and the door closed.

The room was larger than the ones they knew. There was a carved wooden table on the left side along with pictures of both of their families. On the right side were two shelves with books and space for them to put more. On each wall was a large window that let the moonlight filter in throughout the place. 

The window curtains were a bluish-gray hue. In front of the fireplace was a rug, on the rug was a round coffee table surrounded by three armchairs. One was big enough for three people and gray, the other two were for one person, one was red with gold and the other was green with silver. That was their new home.

Author's note.

Hellooooo. Thank you for waiting for me to upload another chapter, I'm sorry it's so short but I promise that this week I'll upload two more chapters. Thank you!!

July 30, 2024