This is a Dramoine fan fiction that I started during a boring history period. This is the first fanfic I have written and I am just experimenting with writing techniques to see if I am any good (constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms!). Let me know if you think i should write another chapter! Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER - I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS OR SETTINGS ETC. MENTIONED IN THIS FAN FICTION!

Chapter 1

Hermione

The train was rocketing down the track at a fair pace, the steam billowing from the funnel of the scarlet steam engine. There was an air of expectation, as the train was almost at its destination.

Hermione was in the prefect's carriage sighing with contentment. The reserved carriage was notably more comfortable than the ordinary carriages. Bigger too.

She was over-joyed to find out that she had become a prefect. What an honor to be chosen over all the other Gryfindors! However, the fact that Ron had also been chosen, was rather a kick in the shin. It wasn't that he was incompetent, but knowing Ron, the power would go to his head. He was already abusing his position by telling a hapless first year to go and buy him a chocolate frog, promising to give her the collectors card if she did. Albeit hesitantly, she wandered off in the direction of the trolley.

After chastising Ron for his treatment of the girl, Hermione looked around the luxurious room at the other lucky handful of fifth years that had been given the job of prefect. The two Hufflepuffs Hannah Abott and Ernie McMillan, both chatting earnestly with each other. The two Ravenclaws Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein who were sitting at different sides of the room, obviously not happy that they had been paired together. And finally, the two Slytherins, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Both had the holier-than-thou smugness about them that made Hermione's blood boil. She said she had had enough this year, and that she wasn't going to lose her temper with him, but even his presence was nauseating.
Suddenly, the cabin became over-crowded and she stood to leave. Ron gave her a questioning gaze as he was stuffing his face with the chocolate frog he had gotten from the girl (who left quickly, so as to escape another demand). She reassured him that she was just going for a walk, then left the carriage soundlessly.

She paced up the body of the train a couple of times, with the hope of burning of some steam. A voice calling her name from the other end of the train caught her attention, and she headed in the direction of it. The owner of the voice it seemed, was Neville Longbottom. When Hermione first met Neville, he had been rather round. However, as the years had passed, he had got leaner and taller. More in proportion than he had looked in his first year. She noted that he had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was ruffled, but not on purpose.

"Hello Neville! How was your summer?" she queried.

"Dreadful, Hermione. My grandmother passed away in the first week. It took me a whole month until I could leave my room. Looks like there's no-one to send me howlers now." He tried for a smile but it just made him look more miserable. Hermione was overcome with sympathy - Neville's parents were in St. Mungos hospital, neither of them could even remember having him as they had been tortured to insanity by deatheater Bellatrix Lestrange. And now his grandmother had been taken from him. She hugged him profusely.

"Neville, I am so sorry. Your grandmother was a wonderful woman. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, I'll be fine, I think... I just need to start studying. That should take my mind off things."

Then a snidey voice came from behind them;

"Hello there Longbottom. Oh, this is priceless. You look like something the cat dragged in, ate, then regurgitated. What's with your Longface? See what I did there Longbottom?"

"Shut your fat trap Malfoy, before some bird flys in and makes a nest" replied Hermione calmly.

Malfoy looked honestly astonished that Hermione had managed to come up with a comeback rivaling the one on the tip of his tongue. He bit it back, and turned to Neville again.

"What's got you looking like crap?"

"Not that it's any of you business Malfoy, but my grandmother died over summer." A fleeting look of pain passed over his face as he said it aloud again.

Malfoy studied him with searching eyes then, surprisingly, said what he obviously deemed words of 'comfort';

"You'll get over it eventually. I did."

And with that, he turned on his heels and made haste for the prefect's carriage.

Hermione was flabbergasted. She gave Neville's shoulder a pat. Words of kindness from a Malfoy? The world must be at its end!

Draco

She was behind him. He just knew it. He sped up his pace to get to the carriage. He had such a red-neck.

He didn't realize Granger was there when he went to confront Longbottom. He had tried to ignore her, even after that snarky comment about bird nests and his mouth.

The only reason he had been nice to Neville was that he didn't want Hermione to hate him. Far from it (but he would never admit how far). His views on mudbloods had changed over the summer. He had grown-up, past his father's maturity levels, to a point where he saw no difference between himself and Hermione. No difference except that Hermione was a... a GIRL.

He slipped into his seat next to Pansy who immediately bombarded him with questions as to his whereabouts, and saying that she had been so worried about him.

"Sodoff Pansy. I can't deal with you right now."

"I'll wait forever for you Drakey" she replied in a repulsively adoring tone.

Sigh... maybe he could shake her off when the left the train...

At that exact moment, the train came to a slow and halted at the station.

Now was his chance. He bolted for the door and ran face first into Hermione.