A/N: This is my first attempt at actually writing a fic after my many years of obsessively reading everyone else's amazing content. I really would like feedback on how I can improve things like characterisation, plot development and pace. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of these characters, i'm simply borrowing them from JK for my own purposes

"Damn it all!" Draco Malfoy slammed his fist into the mirror in front of him, fracturing the glass that displayed his weary and desperate face. Arms braced against the dirty porcelain sink, head hung between his shoulders and limp hair falling past his face, Draco knew he was the picture of a defeated man. He was failing and he was terrified and he was in too deep. He loosed a troubled breath but it did nothing to lift the weight that was resting heavily on his shoulders and chest.

Tears began to fall from his face silently, dripping into the basin just as he heard the quiet footsteps behind him. Whirling around as fast as he could, Hawthorn wand already in his hand Draco was ready to curse anyone who dared lay eyes upon him in this pathetic state. Of all the people in the world he expected to see, one Hermione Granger looking small yet determined was not one of them.

Draco was stunned for a moment and when it was clear she was not going to be the first to speak he reassembled his face into a scowl and asked as scathingly as he could manage, "What are you doing here, Granger?"

For her part, Hermione genuinely seemed to consider the question, watching Draco carefully before replying, "I followed you."

"Potter sent you to spy on me now, has he?" Draco sneered.

"No, Harry doesn't order me to do anything and he certainly doesn't know I've come to speak to you," Hermione spoke clearly, raising her eyebrow.

Draco considered the witch in front of him, come to speak to him? She must be looking for a way to rub his situation in his face. He knew that no one else knew about his mission but he wasn't stupid enough to believe that Dumbledore and Saint Potter weren't suspicious of him. Plus, it was easy to see that Draco was suffering, the permanent bags under his eyes since his return for 6th year and the way he had cast aside his friends in favour of his mission surely hadn't gone unnoticed. However for Granger to seek him out personally, without her band of idiots or even an audience, was strange. Who was there for her to publicly embarrass him in front of in this unused bathroom?

"I'm not here to make your life harder if that's what you're thinking," Granger spoke again after a moment of his confused wonderings.

"No? Well how about you turn around and walk your swotty ass right out of here then?" Draco spat, highly aware of the weak position she had caught him in, it was humiliating and she was sure to lord it over him in the future.

Instead of doing what he'd said like most people would when facing the anger of Draco Malfoy, she stayed exactly where she was. Her regulation uniform was sitting on her perfectly, knee high socks pulled up, pleated skirt falling exactly 1cm above her knee and her white shirt, ironed with a charm likely, was tucked neatly into her waistband. She looked oddly pristine in the dirty bathroom they were currently standing in. She slowly moved her hand up to push a section of her massive hair behind her ear, careful to not make any sudden movements, as if he was a frightened animal. He noted she was perfectly calm, even when standing alone in a room with her childhood bully pointing a wand straight at her chest.

"I came to say I'm sorry," she said eventually, enunciating each word carefully as if the sentence as a whole would make any more sense to Draco, "about what happened last year, with your father."

"Don't you dare speak about my father," Draco almost shouted, shoulders tensing even further than they already were. To Hermione's credit she barely blinked at the outburst and continued in soft tones, "It must of been incredibly difficult for you, to have him dragged off to Azkaban."

"Shutup, you have no idea what I feel," he snarled back.

Draco could feel the hurt of his wand arm as he continued to keep it trained directly at the witch in front of him. He hurt everywhere if he was being honest, a bone deep exhaustion had plagued him for months. Ever since he was first marked, and had woken up at Voldemort's feet in a puddle of his own piss, listening to his Dark Lord's rambling about how proud Draco was going to make him. How much better he was going to perform than his father who was currently sitting in Azkaban.

"No, I don't, and I can't imagine the pain and suffering you've been through but I just -" at this, Hermione paused, appearing hesitant for the first time since she'd entered the bathroom, "I want you to know that there are people that can help you."

Draco couldn't help the bark of laughter that came from his mouth but it didn't dissuade Hermione.

"I know that you're up to something and I don't know what it is but you should know that there are other options," she said meaningfully, staring up at him amber eyes.

Draco didn't know whether to laugh some more at her naïvete or curse her out the door for what she was implying. As if anyone from the good and holy side of the Light would lower themselves to help him. Regardless, his parents lives were riding on the completion of his task, he couldn't risk that for anything, not even his own soul.

"It's true, Harry and Ron aren't likely to see past their own ignorance anytime soon but I'm sure if you went to Dumbledore he could help you," she continued almost pleadingly.

"For someone who is topping most of her classes you really are an idiot Granger," Draco said callously, he relaxed his posture, lowered his wand and put back on the familiar face mask of the aristocratic snob. "You and your band of merry idiots can't help me if I don't need help," he said condescendingly.

Hermione's shoulders slumped slightly but, ever the Gryffindor, she didn't give up, "Malfoy – Draco, you may be a bully and a pureblood snob but you're not evil. You're a victim in this whole horrible thing and it's only going to get worse. You need to – just.." here, Hermione stuttered, unsure of what else she could say. "If you ever need to talk to someone, just know that I'm here to listen or help, or whatever you need." At this she stared imploringly into his cold grey eyes, willing him to see the genuineness in what she was saying before turning and walking slowly out of the bathroom.

Draco let out ragged breath that he didn't know he'd been holding. Damn meddling Gryffindors and their penchant for sticking their noses in places they don't belong! He was more confused than ever and he stood staring after the small brunette, running her words through his head long after she disappeared from sight. "You're not evil," she had said, "I'm here," she had told him.

A/N: I have all these ideas and scenes running through my head but i'm just so worried that i'm not good enough with words to do them justice. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter and any reviews would be superb!