Hermione Granger was heading back to Hogwarts. It was the start of her
seventh and final year at the school, and Hermione was Head Girl. A moment
she had supposedly been dreaming of since the first day she had set foot
inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When will she let
everyone know the lie she had been living for all of these years?
Thump...thump...thump. The dull sound of Hermione's head against the window of the train. Alone in the rear compartment of the long scarlet locomotive, Hermione wondered what went wrong She used to be so alive and bright. Then Harry started dating Cho, and Ron turned his affections on Hermione...She shuddered. And last year, during the last week of term, Hermione got an owl from her parents-
Dearest Hermione,
Alan and I have gone to America for the
summer, and we're sending your Aunt Cora for you. We promise to bring you something nice!
All our love,
Mum
-which left Hermione at a complete loss. Especially since her Aunt Cora, actually her great aunt, on her stepfather's side, was quite absent-minded and would likely forget Hermione altogether, which is exactly what happened. So, with her very last Galleon, Hermione summoned the Knight Bus and went to Diagon alley. Her summer was spent then, not at home, but in the dingy confines of the Leaky Cauldron. Thank the gods she kept muggle money in her trunk, and thank Gringotts for cashing it!
Draco Malfoy made his way down the central corridor of the train, heading for the last compartment to be alone, and he shook his head, lost in thought. Draco's father Lucius, and his band of fellow Death Eaters really let their hair down over the summer. (so to speak) All the waiting, all the nights spent wishing for Voldemort's second rise to power finally paid off. Twelve muggle families in one night! 450 total over the summer. And for the first time in his life, Draco didn't want to be part of it. This worried him immensely, because if Draco's father ever found out that he didn't want to follow Lucius's murderous footsteps, it would be Draco's head on a platter.
Shaking from the memories, and shaking off the apprehension, Draco found he had reached the back of the train, where, hopefully he could collect his thoughts in private, and then return to his friends, if they could be called that, calmer and ready for a new school year terrorizing the other students. He turned the knob, and felt the cold brass beneath his fingers and almost collapsed from that shock. He let out a silent prayer for empty compartments, and entered.
Hermione looked up, and frowned. Draco Malfoy was exactly what she didn't need right now. Her eyes roved up and down Malfoy's lanky frame, taking in the long blond hair, blue eyes cold as ice, and the confused, almost comical expression on his face. Wait. Confused? That is the one emotion she has never seen before on the face of Draco Malfoy.
"Hello, "Draco smirked, swaggering into the room. "Don't believe I've met you before. Transfer from Durmstrang, I take it?" Hermione gaped. He didn't recognize her? How was that possible?
"Uh...Malfoy? Have you perhaps hit your head over the summer? Hermione Granger, your personal insult post for the last 6 years?" Hermione said, unsure. Draco's jaw dropped. This amazingly stunning thing, Granger? He wouldn't believe it. Wait. Draco noticed the same look of absolute loathing, much like Hermione thought he was a very disgusting bug, that she had worn every time she had ever looked at him. With that, Draco decided it was Hermione.
But wow, was she different! Normally ugly, bushy, mud brown hair was straight and sleek, pulled back into a low ponytail, and was a gorgeous honey color which bore jet black streaks. *Hermione had clearly not been paying attention when she woke up this morning,* Draco thought. *Her clothes made her look almost...pretty. Mysterious, and just a touch...suicidal. A zip-up sweater, black, he noted, covered a blood red wife-beater emblazoned with a black pentacle. And her pants, also black, hugged her slim frame as if they had been sewn onto her. Hot, Draco decided. Very hot. But he wasn't going to let her know that. In the blink of an eye, Draco masked any semblances of any emotion but intense dislike, and tore Hermione down to size.
"I thought this compartment was mudblood free, Granger. How'd you manage to get in?" Hermione showed no emotion, and made no movement save for her mouth, as she replied, "I don't know Malfoy, maybe the same reason they let donkeys in."
Such biting reaction, Draco thought, something must really be wrong. And oddly, Draco found that he actually cared what was wrong with the listless almost-witch, in some way or another. Draco retorted, "What's wrong with you, there a niffler in your knickers or something?" Hermione sighed and turned her head toward Draco for the first time, each movement looking as if it pained her immensely and for the first time, he saw her eyes. The pain in the muggle-born's clear green eyes and he noticed that he felt genuine sympathy for the girl, regardless that he knew nothing of her plight. A shadow of the fury he once knew as Hermione Granger flared for a moment, and she replied icily, "Or something, Malfoy. Now could you please get the hell out?" In an instant, surprising even himself, Draco crossed the room in two strides and smoothly guided his body into the chair across from Hermione. Softly, and coaxingly, he said, "Not until you tell me what's wrong." Not sure why, and completely confused, Hermione wordlessly shrugged off her hoodie, and, grimacing, displayed her arms for Draco. He gasped and gently too her forearms in his hands, amazed that anyone, let alone Hermione, would have any worthy cause to do this to herself.
"Why---?" Draco was open-mouthed in shock. Uncomfortable and impatient, Hermione snatched back her arms and wrapped them around herself in a comforting embrace. Draco let her hands go easily, but then began tracing his eyes over each and every wound on her delicate arms, curiously wondering how much pain this tiny girl could endure.
"What are you doing," Hermione cut into Draco's thoughts, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, nothing at all. Just wondering why a girl as smart as you would hurt herself this way," Draco replied with an absent air.
Faintly, Hermione heard herself reply, "A smart girl would do something like this when there's nowhere else to turn, nowhere else to go...." Blinking, Draco frowned and said, "Hermione, what happened to you?"
Hermione muttered something unintelligible, and turned back to the window.
"What?" Draco inquired.
"Hmmm? Oh, nothing." In her mind Hermione added, nothing that concerns you.
"You just said something, I heard you, "Draco insisted.
"I was just talking to myself, "Hermione relented With a grin, Draco quipped, "You know, in some places that's considered a sign of insanity..." And Hermione cracked a small smile and threw her hoodie at him. And then, suddenly, Draco was sitting next to her.
"Now then wh-," Draco was interrupted by the cool tones of a woman's voice.
"Please collect your personal belongings, and prepare to disembark. We will arrive in precisely 10 minutes. Next stop, Hogsmeade Station."
With an annoyed glance at the ceiling, Draco continued, "Now then, what did happen to you Hermione?"
"Look, Malfoy," she put emphasis on his name, "why do you continue to ask me these things? Don't you realize that you have a life, have friends? Unlike me, who doesn't have anyone...." She trailed off into silence. "Granger, I asked you a question, and I didn't expect an answer, but if you are going to be a bitch, I'm not gonna waste my time, "Draco sighed, and pulled up his headphones. This seemed to pique Hermione's interest. "How the hell did you hex that to play?" Draco smirked. Finally, he had her talking. "Well, I could show you...you got one?" Hermione thought for a second, and pulled out her Walkman. She handed it to Draco with a wary expression. He flashed her a quick grin and opened it. "Maroon5..." he muttered, and performed the charm. 'Micromilibus, ' he intoned, and snapped the CD player shut. Seconds later, through the headphones you could hear the strains of 'She will be Loved'
'...I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pourin' rain, oh..
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay a while
And she will be loved.....she will be loved...'
Hermione sighed. "Merlin, that song gets to me, "and sure enough, there were hints of tears in her eyes. Draco almost asked her something, but thought better of it as Hermione slipped on her 'phones and resumed her mindless staring out the window.
Seconds later, the woman's voice sounded again.
"Hogsmeade station." And with a jolt, the train stopped.
Thump...thump...thump. The dull sound of Hermione's head against the window of the train. Alone in the rear compartment of the long scarlet locomotive, Hermione wondered what went wrong She used to be so alive and bright. Then Harry started dating Cho, and Ron turned his affections on Hermione...She shuddered. And last year, during the last week of term, Hermione got an owl from her parents-
Dearest Hermione,
Alan and I have gone to America for the
summer, and we're sending your Aunt Cora for you. We promise to bring you something nice!
All our love,
Mum
-which left Hermione at a complete loss. Especially since her Aunt Cora, actually her great aunt, on her stepfather's side, was quite absent-minded and would likely forget Hermione altogether, which is exactly what happened. So, with her very last Galleon, Hermione summoned the Knight Bus and went to Diagon alley. Her summer was spent then, not at home, but in the dingy confines of the Leaky Cauldron. Thank the gods she kept muggle money in her trunk, and thank Gringotts for cashing it!
Draco Malfoy made his way down the central corridor of the train, heading for the last compartment to be alone, and he shook his head, lost in thought. Draco's father Lucius, and his band of fellow Death Eaters really let their hair down over the summer. (so to speak) All the waiting, all the nights spent wishing for Voldemort's second rise to power finally paid off. Twelve muggle families in one night! 450 total over the summer. And for the first time in his life, Draco didn't want to be part of it. This worried him immensely, because if Draco's father ever found out that he didn't want to follow Lucius's murderous footsteps, it would be Draco's head on a platter.
Shaking from the memories, and shaking off the apprehension, Draco found he had reached the back of the train, where, hopefully he could collect his thoughts in private, and then return to his friends, if they could be called that, calmer and ready for a new school year terrorizing the other students. He turned the knob, and felt the cold brass beneath his fingers and almost collapsed from that shock. He let out a silent prayer for empty compartments, and entered.
Hermione looked up, and frowned. Draco Malfoy was exactly what she didn't need right now. Her eyes roved up and down Malfoy's lanky frame, taking in the long blond hair, blue eyes cold as ice, and the confused, almost comical expression on his face. Wait. Confused? That is the one emotion she has never seen before on the face of Draco Malfoy.
"Hello, "Draco smirked, swaggering into the room. "Don't believe I've met you before. Transfer from Durmstrang, I take it?" Hermione gaped. He didn't recognize her? How was that possible?
"Uh...Malfoy? Have you perhaps hit your head over the summer? Hermione Granger, your personal insult post for the last 6 years?" Hermione said, unsure. Draco's jaw dropped. This amazingly stunning thing, Granger? He wouldn't believe it. Wait. Draco noticed the same look of absolute loathing, much like Hermione thought he was a very disgusting bug, that she had worn every time she had ever looked at him. With that, Draco decided it was Hermione.
But wow, was she different! Normally ugly, bushy, mud brown hair was straight and sleek, pulled back into a low ponytail, and was a gorgeous honey color which bore jet black streaks. *Hermione had clearly not been paying attention when she woke up this morning,* Draco thought. *Her clothes made her look almost...pretty. Mysterious, and just a touch...suicidal. A zip-up sweater, black, he noted, covered a blood red wife-beater emblazoned with a black pentacle. And her pants, also black, hugged her slim frame as if they had been sewn onto her. Hot, Draco decided. Very hot. But he wasn't going to let her know that. In the blink of an eye, Draco masked any semblances of any emotion but intense dislike, and tore Hermione down to size.
"I thought this compartment was mudblood free, Granger. How'd you manage to get in?" Hermione showed no emotion, and made no movement save for her mouth, as she replied, "I don't know Malfoy, maybe the same reason they let donkeys in."
Such biting reaction, Draco thought, something must really be wrong. And oddly, Draco found that he actually cared what was wrong with the listless almost-witch, in some way or another. Draco retorted, "What's wrong with you, there a niffler in your knickers or something?" Hermione sighed and turned her head toward Draco for the first time, each movement looking as if it pained her immensely and for the first time, he saw her eyes. The pain in the muggle-born's clear green eyes and he noticed that he felt genuine sympathy for the girl, regardless that he knew nothing of her plight. A shadow of the fury he once knew as Hermione Granger flared for a moment, and she replied icily, "Or something, Malfoy. Now could you please get the hell out?" In an instant, surprising even himself, Draco crossed the room in two strides and smoothly guided his body into the chair across from Hermione. Softly, and coaxingly, he said, "Not until you tell me what's wrong." Not sure why, and completely confused, Hermione wordlessly shrugged off her hoodie, and, grimacing, displayed her arms for Draco. He gasped and gently too her forearms in his hands, amazed that anyone, let alone Hermione, would have any worthy cause to do this to herself.
"Why---?" Draco was open-mouthed in shock. Uncomfortable and impatient, Hermione snatched back her arms and wrapped them around herself in a comforting embrace. Draco let her hands go easily, but then began tracing his eyes over each and every wound on her delicate arms, curiously wondering how much pain this tiny girl could endure.
"What are you doing," Hermione cut into Draco's thoughts, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, nothing at all. Just wondering why a girl as smart as you would hurt herself this way," Draco replied with an absent air.
Faintly, Hermione heard herself reply, "A smart girl would do something like this when there's nowhere else to turn, nowhere else to go...." Blinking, Draco frowned and said, "Hermione, what happened to you?"
Hermione muttered something unintelligible, and turned back to the window.
"What?" Draco inquired.
"Hmmm? Oh, nothing." In her mind Hermione added, nothing that concerns you.
"You just said something, I heard you, "Draco insisted.
"I was just talking to myself, "Hermione relented With a grin, Draco quipped, "You know, in some places that's considered a sign of insanity..." And Hermione cracked a small smile and threw her hoodie at him. And then, suddenly, Draco was sitting next to her.
"Now then wh-," Draco was interrupted by the cool tones of a woman's voice.
"Please collect your personal belongings, and prepare to disembark. We will arrive in precisely 10 minutes. Next stop, Hogsmeade Station."
With an annoyed glance at the ceiling, Draco continued, "Now then, what did happen to you Hermione?"
"Look, Malfoy," she put emphasis on his name, "why do you continue to ask me these things? Don't you realize that you have a life, have friends? Unlike me, who doesn't have anyone...." She trailed off into silence. "Granger, I asked you a question, and I didn't expect an answer, but if you are going to be a bitch, I'm not gonna waste my time, "Draco sighed, and pulled up his headphones. This seemed to pique Hermione's interest. "How the hell did you hex that to play?" Draco smirked. Finally, he had her talking. "Well, I could show you...you got one?" Hermione thought for a second, and pulled out her Walkman. She handed it to Draco with a wary expression. He flashed her a quick grin and opened it. "Maroon5..." he muttered, and performed the charm. 'Micromilibus, ' he intoned, and snapped the CD player shut. Seconds later, through the headphones you could hear the strains of 'She will be Loved'
'...I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pourin' rain, oh..
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay a while
And she will be loved.....she will be loved...'
Hermione sighed. "Merlin, that song gets to me, "and sure enough, there were hints of tears in her eyes. Draco almost asked her something, but thought better of it as Hermione slipped on her 'phones and resumed her mindless staring out the window.
Seconds later, the woman's voice sounded again.
"Hogsmeade station." And with a jolt, the train stopped.