it's the slow smile that the bully gives the runt,

it's the force of inertia,

it's the lack of constraint.

Hermione stirred a little in her sleep, her mind registering that Ron was telling her she had to go for head girl duties. She mumbled a incoherent response and attempted to go back to sleep. Ron, however, laughed and nudged her again, this time gaining a exasperated sigh from Hermione as she opened her eyes, blinking them a few times to adjust to the light of the compartment. “Oi, sleepyhead, its time for you to do your duties. You told me to wake you up.” Ron told her, she glared at him, before shrugging and leaning against him to get comfortable for another nap. Somewhere she heard Ginny laugh, and Harry scoff as Ron stiffened as her head reached his shoulder. “Don’t think so Hermione, up!” He exclaimed, his face flushing as bright as his hair, as he stood up and tugged her.

“I’m up.” She said, after another few seconds of gaining full consciousness. “I just didn’t’t sleep much last night.” Ron blushed, knowing full well she had spent the night arguing with him, then snogging him, then arguing again, before going to sleep, and he realized she too, must have spent the night tossing and turning about the arguments they had. She brushed of her robes, ran her fingers through her hair and said a quick “see you later” to everyone in the compartment, noting that Neville, Luna and, her heart sank, Lavender. She opened the compartment door and stepped out, immediately bumping into the person who could make her feel sicker than watching Lavender and Ron had made her.

“Malfoy.” She said curtly, he sneered, then moved his head to look at her badge, she too, observed his own new badge. “Head boy?” She asked.

He scoffed, “of course.”

“Daddy buy you the position then, Malfoy?” She spat, he shrugged.

“I personally think it was my rugged good looks and brilliant charms, but if moneys more your thing, Granger, so be it.” He quipped. She was torn between scoffing and laughing, and made a noise half way between the two, he raised his eyebrows. “Of course you got head girl, I’m not surprised, obviously.” She herself shrugged, they parted seconds later, after glaring and shifting a little uncomfortably, to do their duties, she to maintain order amongst the students, and he to terrorize and continue to frighten first years.

The train was coming to a halt, Ginny and Harry were already stood at the compartment door, waiting for Ron, when Hermione rushed in and grabbed her things, “sorry, I was just sorting out two little girls, muggle borns, they looked lost and frightened, I reassured them that they would be fine, and I think they’ll be friends, I put them in an compartment with a little girl who had a witch for a mother, so hopefully they can be friends.”

Ginny gave a smile, “that’s thoughtful, Hermione.” Harry nodded his agreement, Hermione beamed, she herself had thought she had dealt with the two girls well, and with an awful lot of patience, plus, she had hoped that both of them, plus the third little half blood girl, would be friends.

The journey up to the school consisted mainly of Harry, Ron and Ginny talking quidditch talk, whilst Hermione gazed up at the school and wondered about the new project Arthur had told her and Ginny about. She was scared, without a doubt she was scared, but also, she wondered just how much she could gain from it. Of course, at first she had been furious, the idea that they could even attempt to make her some guinea pig in some new “love” experiment was utterly ridiculous! But now, now she was beginning to see their point. After all, relations between people were mainly quick weddings “just in case we get blown up” and even now, after the down fall of Voldemort, people were rushing into things, and not understanding the true responsibility of unconditional love, nor were people connecting, like Molly and Arthur, or Lily and James, or her own parents.

She knew in her heart, it would not be Ron who she would marry, and she knew really, he wasn’t right for her, he was just too infuriating, but not in the passionate way, more in the “you’re my best friend, I love you, but you really piss me off” way.

The school danced under the night sky like fairy lights on a black canvas, it made people warm inside, just to see it, to know that in its walls, one was completely safe, and all that waited for tonight was a hearty feast and a warm bed, ready to be jumped into, snuggled down in and for one to rest in. Hermione loved the first night, she didn’t, like the other girls, go straight to sleep, instead she would lay awake for a little while, in the comfort of her ruby bed sheets, thinking about everything she could. About the coming year’s work, the exams, Harry and Ron, her two best friends, and Ginny, the best girlfriend she had ever had, whom she gossiped with and giggled with, she thought of the past adventures she, Harry and Ron had been on, and she thought of love, how she hoped she too could have the love her parents had, and other people she saw had.

Ginny and Luna were deep in conversation as they all made their way into the great hall, and took their seats on the Gryffindor table, Luna sat across from Neville, who sat next to Ron and Harry, Hermione sat next to Ginny, who sat next to Luna, to continue their conversation about a past charm exam, which, according to Ginny had been a death eater disguised as a paper type of exam.

“What does that even mean?” Hermione asked, puzzled. Ginny was half as bad as Luna sometimes.

“Oh, it just means it was complete and utter rubbish.” Ginny said, smiling at her friend. “Though you’d have passed it in a breeze.”

A tingling glass and a familiar Scottish voice saying “your attention please.” Brought everyone to facing the front, where Professor McGonagall was standing, she was now headmistress, and Harry, Ron, Hermione and many others felt the familiar pang of sadness at the fact Dumbledore no longer sat in the seat Professor McGonagall would now sit in. The doors to the great hall opened, and in swarmed the new first years, a few wet from the drizzle outside, a few looking petrified and Hermione noted, to her delight, three girls somewhere near the back, clinging to each other and whispering. Already, Hermione could tell, they had formed a cute little bond of friendship. She glanced quickly to her own two best friends, and recalled how they had bonded over the Troll they had saved her from.

“Abaca, Ramiro.” Was the first to be sorted, and became the first of the Hufflepuff’s. “Billet, Sophie.” Became a Ravenclaw, a few more B’s where placed in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and finally “Carling, Lentos.” Became the first Slytherin. Hermione tapped her fingernails impatiently, wanting someone to become a Gryffindor. Her tapings ceased when “Donnelly, Rose.” Stepped up, the half blood she had put the two muggle borns with on the train. Almost as soon as the hat touched her head, she became the first Gryffindor; Hermione clapped possibly harder than anyone else in the school at this, and made space for Rose to sit by her. A few more students were distributed between the four houses, Rose left space by her, hoping her two new friends would become part of her house, and once “Nelson, Mary-Ann” stepped up, her prayers were answered, and a beaming Mary-Ann sat next to her, finally, “Wilson, Rebecca” sat with her two new found best friends, reunited at the Gryffindor table, and as the last of the new students to be sorted, everyone erupted back into conversation.

The new headmistress granted them a few minutes of chattering, so as they could get to know each other more, she watched over her goblet as people caught up on the past summer, and as the new students settled in and realized being away from home wasn’t too terrible, and they might just be able to cope.

She clinked her spoon to her goblet again, gaining everyone’s immediate attention. “I have a few announcements,” she said, “this year there have been a few changes.”

Everyone paused, Ginny muttered, “like what?” sarcastically.

“First, we have a new transfiguration teacher, as I will be replacing Albus Dumbledore,” she bowed her head slightly at this, “as headmistress.”

“Professor Mandarawill be replacing me,” McGonagall raised her glass towards Mandara and nodded in her direction, after receiving a nod and a grateful smile, she continued.

“Professor Weasley here will be taking over Defense against the Dark arts.” A few startled gasps, including Ginny, who had had no idea Charlie would be teaching this year, were received at this, though after the initial shock, Ginny wore a grin on her face, happy another of her brothers would finally be back at Hogwarts with her and Ron.

“Professor Hodgeman will be taking over potions, as Professor Slughorn decided he would take his leave, and retire comfortably in his own home, without the excitement of school life. Another raised glass, another nod, “and finally, Professor Laneaux will be the professor of a new class, of which I will explain momentarily.” A final raised glass and one last nod later the Headmistress took a breath, she had been slightly anxious about telling the students about this new class, and she feared they may cause an uproar once they heard what they would be required too do.

“After the war, it came to not only the schools attention, but the ministry’s, that people no longer understand responsibilities, not in friendships, nor in relationships, marriage or even the greatest responsibilities of having a child. That is why the ministry and the professors of this school have worked hard all summer to plan this new class appropriately, safely and more importantly, to give you a firm understanding of what responsibilities and real hard working relationships are like.

‘Relationship Studies’ will now be non-negotiable, it will either take the place in your time table from Muggle studies, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures or Charms, you will be obliged to give up one of these subjects, arrange it with your head of houses in the morning, when time tables are dealt with. The class will be separated into two groups, and each group will take it four times a week. This class will challenge you, and will be further described to you in your first lesson, but I tell you this; you will experience marriage, child birth, and the joys and distress of brining up children.

There will be four guidance councilors, who have been trained in couples therapy, child birth, nursery nursing and various other appropriate ways of being able to communicate with you once you start these experiments.” She waved her hand, the four new professors stood up, “these will be the guidance councilors, use them well, and you may well need a trained friend over the next year. This class is for sixth and seventh years, and the years will be mixed, as to add new faces to classes.

On a final note, Filch has asked me to remind you that all Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes are strictly banned, the forbidden forest is out of bounds, and there will be no wondering the corridors at night, please go now, sleep and be well rested, for a year of education awaits you.”

The summer Ginny was to enter her sixth year, she fell in love. It wasn’t some school girl little crush, this time, she fell heads over heels in love. Though, admittedly she had pined for the boy, man she fell in love with for quite some time, it hadn’t been as ferocious, as powerful, or as comfortable as this love.

She wouldn’t say she was surprised that she loved him, more; she was content to love him, and to let him love her in return. Though, they had too put up with Ron’s continuous scowls and mutterings, they did so happily, because finally, he had realized he did indeed want Ginny, and she finally had her Harry.

Harry came after two weeks, and it was his last time at the Dursley’s home, the defeat of Voldemort had been a swift process, he had told her all about it, once he, Hermione and Ron had traced the remaining horcruxes, with the help of Dumbledore’s old notes, and with Hermione’s extensive researching on the founders, the battle had been bloody, but the only lives lost had been Crabbe Senior, Bellatrix Lestrange and Voldemort, the others had fought, but soon realized they were defeated, and turned against the death eaters, and fought along side the order of the phoenix, some had been allowed to remain outside of Azkaban, on the condition they were monitored by house elves and weekly ministry meetings. Ginny had been completely surprised it had only taken two weeks, Harry remained firm that it was Dumbledore’s notes, Hermione’s brains and Ron’s strategic plans that had got them through so quickly. Once the inanimate objects containing Voldemort’s soul had been taken care of, the order had found where Voldemort and his death eaters where hiding, and they had proceeded to start a battle. In less that a month, Voldemort was dead and the magical world was building itself up again.

Days swan past in a mixture of morning swims, lunch time picnics, chores, and various sports, including one appalling attempt at muggle football, where Hermione and Harry had tried patiently to explain to Ginny and Ron the purpose of goal keepers, and why the football could not be touched with one’s hands. Ron had gotten impatient with football, and had decided Rugby was just as pointless, and finally, he concluded tennis was rubbish and that he would not play anything that didn’t include chess pieces or a broomstick. Ginny had been a good sport about it, and Harry had ruffled her hair after Tennis and mumbled into her ear about just how good she looked in a short skirt.

Though Ginny and Harry had moved on into their second attempt at their relationship, Hermione and Ron had not quite managed it. Though they had argued, and kissed, and Ron had, as he boasted to Harry one evening, “grabbed a quick feel.” But other than that, Hermione concluded to Ginny, it was still as platonic as ever.

“Platonic?” Ginny scoffed, “platonic is not a word I would use to describe you and Ron.”

“Ginevra, what exactly would you use to describe Ron and I?” Hermione asked, humor in her voice, her brown eyes twinkling in the summer sunshine.

“Disgustingly obviously fancying each other!” Ginny chuckled as Hermione swatted her with her nearest hand.

“here come the boys.” Hermione nodded in the direction of the sun, where Ron and Harry made their way forward, with a picnic basket and what looked like a bottle of pumpkin juice. “Brilliant, I’m actually quite peckish.”

Ginny had noticed that there was one subtle difference this summer, not the lack of attacks, nor the calm atmosphere that surrounded people since Voldemort’s downfall, but her own father. Like in the summer she was to enter her third year, and Harry, Ron and Hermione their fourth, her father had been dropping infuriating hints about “this year.” The first time, had been on a shopping trip, where the women had all decided to buy a new gown each, and the boys new robes.

“I expect you will be needing them this year, anyway.” Arthur had said, whilst Molly grinned into the mirror, sporting a violet dress that flattered her, Arthur admired her and found himself grinning at his wife, who, after all these years, he still thought was the most beautiful women on the earth.

Ginny had popped her head out her changing room, “why dad?” she asked, before returning her head to the little space she was attempting to change in.

Arthur simply shook his head, “you’ll know soon enough.” Ginny stepped out of the changing room, and Molly smiled at her, Arthur raised his eyebrows then grinned, “beautiful, Ginny, dear, beautiful.” He said and she grinned, the frowned at him.

“That’s a rubbish answer, dad, why will we need dress robes?” She asked again, twirling in the mirror and smoothing the dress over her curves. She turned to Harry, who grinned appreciatively at the little green number, Ron merely looked bored, though he perked up a bit when Hermione stepped out a second later in a black dress, he slumped back down when she glanced his way, though.

“Well, I’m not at liberty to say.” Arthur said, and Ginny span on her heel to glare at him. “Oh dear, Ginevra, I’m not going to tell you, so you ought not to look at me like that.”

Ginny had shrugged in defeat and turned to her mother, “mum, I think I like this one.” Molly had nodded and agreed. Harry had seconded Molly’s “its beautiful on you” comment, earning a quick smack of annoyance on the back from Ron.

The comments of “next year” had continued through out the summer, thoroughly irritating both Ginny and Hermione, Ron and Harry remained unbothered by what Arthur kept hinting. When Ginny asked them why they seemed to care so little, Ron had replied, “well, its too soon for another Yule Ball, so I’m guessing it’ll just be some lousy lets-cheer-every-one-up-after-’ol-voldy’s-death ball.” Ginny had raised her eyebrows, “I wouldn’t be too sure.” She muttered.

Eventually, her nagging and persistence, along side Hermione’s, made Arthur usher them into the living room, sit them down, and tell them what he could, without revealing everything.

Hermione had, of course, been horrified, the thought she would have to do something so time consuming, something so ‘useless’ and something that would obviously take her mind away from studying, was just awful.

Ginny however, had been horrified for altogether different reasons, she couldn’t bare the thought of not being able to see Harry, not being able to love Harry, she had been looking forward to late night walks next to the Black Lake, midday broom closet fumblings and snogging by the fire in the common room. Now, those hopes were dashed. “You can’t tell the boys, you can’t tell anyone, it’s still being carefully planned so that no harm comes to the students, and that the girls are physically able to cope.”

“Physically? What about mentally, dad? We’re going to be nervous wrecks!” Ginny screeched.

“It’s useless, completely and utterly useless, it poses no point to anything-” Hermione rambled, only to be cut short by Arthur.

“On the contrary, Hermione, it has every point, we need to learn about love and such more than ever now, family is essential, wizard kind has been through a lot, and we need to know there is more out there than fear and destruction, we need to welcome love back into our hearts, and not just love for a lover, and not just love for a parent nor a friend, but love and appreciation for everyone, this will help, this will help mature you, in ways other than being a war heroine.”

Both of the girls had gone silent, taking in what he said, and though Ginny couldn’t help but that she was trapped, she could also understand the point her father was making, and agreed to accept it, and to try and be nice to whom ever she was given too. After all, she thought, it was only for a few months, and then she could return to Harry, be with him, care for him and love him. And she would love him like she always wanted.

The days rushed past, and soon they were boarding the train, shouting last minute goodbyes and calling “I love you” to Molly and Arthur, Fred and George, Bill and Fleur.

“Write every week!” Molly shouted, “and please, please stay out of trouble! In fact, promise me you will?”

“Of course, Mrs. Weasley!” Harry shouted, receiving a nudge in the side from a smirking Ginny.

The train began to move, and Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione watched as their mother and “surrogate” mother became a small figure in the distance.

Ginny curled up into Harry’s side, his arms wrapped tight around her, loving the warmth of each other, the flowery scent of her, and the masculine scent that was all Harry, mingling, and as intertwined as their hands.

Hermione’s feet rested beneath her on the seat, a book in her hand, she had become a fan of fiction recently, she found it fun to actually read something with a plot, and not just facts. Ron was staring into space, or more, pretending too, but side glancing at Hermione.

Ginny sighed, because she knew it was all well and good, but only for the next few hours, days at a push, before she was torn from Harry again. She snuggled closer to him, he kissed her hair and she was content to sit there and talk of random topics, for now.

disclaimer: dont own the characters, though I would like too!