Chapter 1
She was finally done. Done with the war. Done with her stay in St. Mungos. Done with the trials. Done with her testimonies. Done - and free to return to Hogwarts for her Eighth Year. Because there is no better place for her to finish her education than where she saw her schoolmates die, right?
She sighs to herself. Remember what your mind healer said, repeat your mantra. You are safe.
And she is safe, she defeated Voldemort and the DMLE has collected the rest of the rogue Death Eaters. Besides, maybe Eighth Year will be great. She glances down at her Head Girl badge in her hands, yet another responsibility. For a minute she considered what it would be like to say no for once. To have nothing to do this year except study and spend time with her friends. No one to watch over and no one to protect.
That moment was brief. She had dreamed of being Head Girl her whole life and she was going to be the most badass head girl Hogwarts had ever seen, she was a war heroine for Merlin’s sake.
The jostling of the train shakes her out of her thoughts and she puts the pin onto her robes. The Hogwarts Express should be arriving any minute now. She looks herself in the mirror and reminds herself one last time, “You are safe,” and heads out to rejoin her very best friends.
After walking past cars full of fourth years she pulls the door open to her car, and there they are. Harry, Ron, and Ginny. A warm feeling blossoms in her chest. They all smile at her pin and Ginny snuggles just a little bit closer into Harry’s side, as if that was possible. She slides back down next to Ron, “I just can’t believe we’re going back”.
Ginny’s grin grows, “I can’t believe I am actually going to be in class with you guys”. Ron groans.
She gives Ron a small smile when Harry complains, “Not this again, Ron”. She shares a knowing look with Harry. All summer Ron has not been happy to see Ginny and him together at the Burrow.
She glances back over at Ron. She had spent the summer at the Burrow healing, yes, but also waiting. After their kiss at the final battle it seemed like everything had fallen into place. Ron had finally noticed her and they would be able to live happily ever after. But other than shy smiles from Ron and the occasional brush of the hand, nothing had happened.
Was it so wrong for her to want Ron to pursue her? To want him to pay attention to her? Sure, she could ask him out herself but for once, she didn’t want to have to do everything for Ron. So she is waiting, and her patience is running thin.
He’s rambling on now about how unfair he thinks it is that Ginny is in our classes but really, it makes a lot of sense.
McGonagall decided to combine the Seventh and Eighth Year classes this year, since no real learning was happening at Hogwarts last year. A lot of students didn’t want to come back, some even electing to take mail in courses. Thankfully, Harry and Ron chose to turn down their job offers from the DMLE with her and sit for their N.E.W.T.s.
She cuts him off before his rant ruins everyone’s mood, “well I think it will be great to mix up the learning environment. I heard McGonagall is even thinking of making the house system less rigid. More mixing within classes and all that”.
No one else shares her opinion. Ron shivers, “If I have to partner with that git Malfoy I won’t make it through the year”.
Oh yeah, that. All of the children of Death Eaters and Malfoy also have to come back from their Eighth Year. I still can’t tell if it is supposed to be a punishment for them or an actual attempt at rehabilitation.
“He was proven innocent Ron, his trial showed he had no choice. You know this.” They had been having the same conversation for the past month since she testified for him. He turns to glare at her, Ginny and Harry just watch, having seen this all before.
“Doesn’t mean he’s not a slimy git”.
“Doesn’t mean you have to act like a git to him either”. At this Ron turns to Harry for help. He just shrugs. Harry testified for Malfoy too, but has given up on trying to convince Ron.
“I just don’t get how they could let a Death Eater back into the school, and Hermione after what happened at his hou-”
Ginny cuts him off, “Ronald, shut up. He was proven innocent. Yes, he is annoying. Get over it, and at least try to be mature for once in your bloody life. You can just avoid him for Merlin’s sake and stop being just as annoying to the rest of us!” She shoots Ginny a thankful glance and fiddles with her left sleeve, pulling it just a little further down her wrist.
Ginny knows how much she hates talking about Malfoy Manor. Somehow Ron hasn’t picked up on this and insists on bringing it up every time he talks about Malfoy. Another thing her patience is growing thin about.
Ron’s face gets even redder, somehow. But he finally drops it.
Harry, bless him, always trying to make things better adds, “Besides, odds are you will be paired with Hermione the same way you are every year”.
Another shy smile from Ron and she feels a tiny burst of hope. Maybe being away from the Burrow and Mrs. Weasley will give Ron the space he needs to finally tell her how he feels.
The train begins to slow to a stop. They made it. Even after countless days spent on grounds helping to rebuild the castle it feels surreal to be back as a student. This year is her year. She is Head Girl, the Brightest Witch of Her Age and a bloody War Heroine who is ready to have the Eighth Year she deserves after all the drama of the last seven. This year, she wants to focus less on school (to her friends' absolute horror) and enjoy her final year at Hogwarts. She walks towards the carriage with her best friends with her head held high, excited for what she is going to make the best year of her life.
As she climbs into a carriage she can’t help but spot out of the corner of her eye Theodore Nott petting the thestrals. Interesting.