[four]

The ministry has always had a way with heroes.

When Arthur Weasley alerted the ministry that the Oh So Venerable Harry James Potter, the Very Brave and Loyal Ronald Bilius Weasley, and the Brightest Witch of The Age needed a lift to the train station, they did not hesitate one bit to send their best and brightest. 

Meaning, the best car and their brightest Aurors. 

"Arthur, I hardly think this is necessary." Hermione pursed her lips, knowing full well the attention this will attract 

It's a bloody limousine. 

"I think it's Kingsley's way of annoying Harry." Ginny snickered 

"Well, I'm annoyed alright." Harry frowned "Are you sure we can't just apparate, Arthur?" 

"Dad" Ron sighed 

Arthur Weasley raised both hands up in defense just as his wife also turned to glare at him "I did not know they would go overboard." 

"At least charm the vehicle to look a little bit more mundane to muggles." Molly sighed 

"Please" Harry pleaded with the Auror that was standing right next to the limo's door 

"Unfortunately, we can't." The Auror, whom they found to be named Fey, said "It was this or the carriage, according to minister Shacklebolt."

"Oh bloody hell" Ron groaned and just entered the car "We're going to be late" he managed to say before slipping into the seats inside 

"Man's got a point." Hermione said, checking her watch "I don't want to miss the train." 

With that, all of them piled into the rather spacious vehicle, and began their drive to King's Cross station. Harry and Ginny were sat oh so closely next to each other, with the former's arm around his girlfriend. Hermione glanced at him with a small smile until Harry tilted his head a little to gesture to Ron. 

Hermione glanced at her boyfriend, who was staring out the window peacefully, before shaking her head at Harry. 

"What?" Ginny asked with raised brows 

"What do you mean what?" Ron asked, removing his eyes from the window 

"Nothing" Harry and Hermione chorused 

"You'll be back on Christmas, won't you?" Molly asked hopefully, looking at all four of them "Invite your parents, Hermione. I would love to spend the holidays with them." 

"Yes." Arthur nodded enthusiastically 

"Of course." Hermione chuckled "That would be lovely, thank you, Molly" 

"And you'll owl? All for of you?" Molly asked, hopeful still 

"Yes mum, everyday" Ginny said with a laugh 

"Not everyday, maybe every other day" Ron shrugged, causing Molly to throw him a frightful glare "Oh yes, mum, everyday." 

"Oh, by the way, do you know who the DADA teacher will be this year?" Ron asked his father 

"No idea." Arthur Weasley shook his head "You'll have to wait until supper I suppose" 

"I hope he doesn't die, or she" Ginny said solemnly 

"Don't we all?" Harry said 

The rest of the car ride was quiet, and when they had gotten to King's Cross, the good bye's were, surprisingly, very quick. Molly and Arthur waved it off with 'we'll see you for the holidays, I am sure. I am positive. We will see you again.' 

The four of them had decided to take a compartment somewhere near the middle of the proclaimed Gryffindor section of the train "The train's about to leave, isn't it?" Hermione asked glancing at the many empty compartments "Looks quite empty, doesn't it?" She asked again 

"I heard a lot of parents refused to send their children to Hogwarts this year." Ginny nodded "Some were moved to Ilvermorny, some in Beauxbatons." 

"That's really....sad" Hermione said again, still looking at the empty compartments 

"I think McGonagall's expecting some to come in the middle of the year though, or in the next few weeks. The other schools' curriculums aren't exactly the same as Hogwarts' and she's expecting a lot of them will come back once we've proven Hogwarts to be safe." Ginny said as she carried hers' and Harry's owl into their compartment

"and you found out about this when?" Ron asked, sitting himself comfortably by the window 

"I listen when we pass by some people." Ginny shrugged and sat down next to Harry 

"Hermione?" someone called behind her 

"Oh hey, Neville" Hermione grinned and gave him a hug "It's good to see you." 

"It's good to see you too" Neville grinned "McGonagall told me to ask you to find her once you've settled down. There are some things she needs to discuss with the Head Prefects, congrats by the way."

"Thanks" Hermione smiled before Neville walked away to his compartment with Seamus and Dean 

"I'm surprised Seamus is here" Ron said, his head sticking out the door 

"Must've fought hard with his mum to get here." Hermione nodded before taking her wand from the seat "I'll be back." 

The Headmistress' compartment was near the Driver's booth, and it was quite a walk from where Hermione had been. She ran into a lot of young witches and wizards asking for a photo and her autograph. Apparently, she now has a chocolate frog card of her own. 

"Ah miss Granger, do you mind fetching Mr. Malfoy from his compartment in the far end of the train, please?" McGonagall asked just as Hermione entered her room "It would be easier to have both Head Prefects here, saves me some time." 

"M-Malfoy?" Hermione spluttered "I'm sorry, professor, but he's the "

"Don't worry, he won't bite" McGonagall smiled tightly "Please do try to be civil with him, miss Granger." 

"Why? Why , professor?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide 

"Some people need to know they have a second chance." Minerva McGonagall said wistfully "Some people need to be to take a second chance. He can be saved." 

"He's a Death Eater." Hermione said quietly 

"Like I said, he won't bite." Minerva repeated "I hope you respect my decision, miss Granger, to make him the Head Boy. Many of the professors opposed like you just did, but I hope you know that I know what I am doing." 

"I just m-mean..." Hermione was at a loss for words, before sighing "I will be back, professor." 

"Very good, miss Granger." Minerva nodded 

Walking to Draco Malfoy's compartment was very nerve-wracking. Hermione had hoped for the Head Boy to be someone she was already friends with, perhaps a Ravenclaw, but it just had  to be Draco Malfoy. She sighed just as she passed the compartments her friends were in, all three of them giving her a questioning stare, referring to there furrowed brows and the frustrated expression she wore on her face. Hermione shook her head at them and marched on to Draco's compartment. 

Inside sat Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, and Gregory Goyle. Draco wasn't as surprised to see her there to fetch him as she was finding out he had gotten the position. "I assume McGonagall is calling, or is this some real-talk you want, Granger?" Draco asked casually 

His friends weren't in their usual mode of throwing her insults, rather they sat quietly just watching "McGonagall is requesting for both the Head Prefects. She asked me to get you." 

"Congratulations, Granger" Pansy said a bit monotonously, biting back a remark about how Hermione's hair wasn't as bushy as it always was 

"I'm sorry you didn't get the position." Hermione retorted, a little less nicer than she had hoped it would sound, but it only made Theo snicker 

"Nonsense, we all knew you'd get it." Blaise waved off "Pansy's just trying to be nice" 

Hermione scoffed in her mind, Instead of saying something, she settled for suspiciously looking at them instead. "Come on, Granger" Draco sighed and gave his friends a look before standing up "Let's go to the Headmistress." 

she said to herself, 

As a precaution, she gripped her wand a little tighter before she spun on her heel, not waiting for Draco Malfoy to walk with her.