The Dark Side (A Dramione Story)

Chapter 1

The countryside flashed before her eyes, the trees and livestock merely blurs of greens, yellows and browns that seemed never-ending. Hermione found comfort in this, as she wasn't certain that she ever wanted to reach her destination.

She had spent the whole summer waiting in anticipation for her return to Hogwarts. Her parents were still protected by the Ministry, so she had been living at The Burrow under Mrs Weasley's watchful eye. Although she knew Ron's mother meant well,  the constant questions and concerns were starting to feel like tendrils of the Devil's Snare, slowly suffocating her.

Waves of uneasiness swirled in her stomach as horrifying memories of the Battle of Hogwarts replayed in her mind, the closing distance between her and the place where so many of her friends had died making them more vivid than ever. 

If she had learnt one thing over the past year, it was that no side ever won in a war. One rival may triumph, but they both suffer irreversible devastation. Their fight had gone on for so long, and so many lives had been lost. 'Stop it,' she told herself. 'You're just making it worse by dwelling on the past.' Hermione focused on the beautiful landscape on the other side of the glass as she tried to withhold her tears.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Ginny murmured. She forced a smile, nodded her head and looked down at her hand, which was clasped around the hook of Crookshanks' cage. "I know how you feel, I'm nervous too. It's going to be fine. Just remember, we are all here to help each other get through this," she said as she glanced around at Harry, Ron, Luna and Neville.

Her and Ron made eye contact, and both looked away quickly. Their feelings had fizzled out over the summer, leaving them in an awkward phase between dating and friendship. They hadn't spoken about it, but Hermione knew she no longer loved Ron in that way and it would be better if they stayed friends.

"Thanks, Gin. I just don't know what to expect. How can we go back to the way things were after everything that's happened?" Hermione said softy, and Ginny shrugged solemnly in reply.

"I don't want to ruin the moment, but isn't it time for you to go, Hermione?" Harry said.

She thanked Harry for reminding her and looked down at her other hand, which held a shiny gold badge with the words 'Head Gryffindor' engraved on it.

A new system had been established at Hogwarts to encourage students to associate with members of other houses. Instead of having only two Head Prefects, each house would have their own Head. Hermione thought the idea was brilliant, as the barriers between houses (particularly Gryffindor and Slytherin) just contributed to the ideology that some wizards are better than others, due to factors out of their control.  Many heated discussions had arisen at The Burrow as to who would be awarded the Heads of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, with Hermione placing her bet on Blaise Zabini for Slytherin. 

Hermione made her way to the compartment where McGonagall had scheduled a meeting with the Heads of Houses. As she passed a compartment of first-years, she heard them laughing and memories of her first year flooded her mind. She envied them. It was likely that they had been untouched by the war. The only thing they would be worried about is what house they were to be sorted into, like she had when she was their age.

She took a deep breath and continued walking for a short while before she came across the compartment. She put her trunk down and wrenched the door open, to find Cho Chang and Ernie Macmillan occupying two of the four chairs that surrounded Professor McGonagall's desk.

"Good morning, Miss Granger. Please sit down, the Head of Slytherin should be here shortly." Her voice sounded doubtful, and Hermione imagined she had low expectations for whoever had been chosen for Slytherin's house.

As she sat, Hermione smiled at Ernie and Cho when she saw their hands entwined. She was about to ask when they had gotten together, but was interrupted by the screechy compartment door being opened. McGonagall raised her eyebrows slightly, as if surprised that the Head of Slytherin had even bothered showing up. Hermione wondered what the person had done to justify McGonagall's disdain.