Weeping Willow

It actually felt like a goodnight dream that she rarely came across. Like a compensation for all the bad days she had and all the bullies she faced every day. Like a blank sheet, a new chance to start over. This heavy book that was lying on her lap contained so many information about her future life yet she wanted to know more and more.

'Hogwarts History' she whispered stopping herself from shouting with excitement. She was sure she will never get rid of the thrill that accompanied her since yesterday. Diagon Alley was full of wonders, the wands and cauldrons and brooms and books. Especially the books. Was that really all real?

She tried not to stare too hard at the faces of other future students her age. She desperately needed them to like her. She was to tired of spending all school breaks hidden in her books. Not that they were bad companions, but she would really appreciate a human contact other than her parents.

'Hey' she suddenly heard a proud, annoyed voice right above her head. 'Are you planning on sitting here all day? I've been waiting and waiting for you to go away.'

She looked up to see a very pale and very blond boy, looking at her with angry expression.

'I'm sorry I thought it's a free country. I don't see any name written on that bench.' She answered slamming her book. She hated when someone interrupted her contemplation. She was sitting in her favourite place, hidden under the branches of a huge weeping willow.

'You stupid muggles, you think you deserve everything in this world.' Said the boy, accenting the word 'muggle' with a disgust.

'Excuse me, I am not a muggle.' Hermione already learned that word and even though her parents were non-magical, she treated it as an offence. The boy's voice was unpleasant. She hugged her book with affection trying to expose the title.

'I never knew there was a magical family living around here. Thought it was just auntie.' He raised his eyebrows. 'Or maybe your parents are muggles. That would explain a lot.'

The way he said it made her think it's a bad thing. Like it's going to make her different. And she was done being this kid.

'We actually just moved here and I was wandering around.' She shrugged her arms. 'Are you going to Hogwarts too?' She asked trying to sound casual.

'Yeah, first year. I was trying to avoid my father, he is going all and all about how I have to be in Slytherin and how he hopes I get on the team and make him proud.'

'You don't want to be a Slytherin then?'

'I do and I will, all my family were. It's the best. Where would you like to be? Not Hufflepuff I suppose.' Again, the tone of his voice showed some disgust.

'I guess I will end up in Revenclaw. I really like books, you know.' She was glad she managed to read Hogwarts History in one day. The boy didn't answer. 'So you don't like quidditch?'

'What? Of course I do. Why would you ask that?'

'You said you're hiding from your father who's going all and all about it.'

'Well, yeah, don't you parents do that? Talk about expectations and grades and subjects when all you are looking for is just being there and having the time of your life?'

'No. They just want me to make some friends.' She said, because her parents have no idea about the wizarding world.

'You are lucky then.' he said finally sitting down next to her. 'I'm Draco, by the way. Draco Malfoy.' The way he says his name made her feel weird.

'Hermione Granger.' She says carefully.

'I don't know any Grangers.'

'We moved here from France.' She added quickly.

'Right. You said you just moved. I don't really live here, just my auntie, my nanny actually. Her husband died recently so we try to visit her more often.'

'That's nice.'

'My father doesn't really want to. He doesn't care. But today my mother dragged him. I like to came here, she always tells me stories about her times in Hogwarts. The good times, not the dark stuff. Your parents talk about the dark times too?'

'They don't talk to me much. They are always busy.' Hermione shrugged hoping it will do. 'I would like to know more about Hogwarts so I read.'

'I can tell you if you like.' He said. It seemed to her that he liked the attention. 'But not today, maybe I'll send you an owl and we can meet when I'm here again.'

Hermione smiled at him. If only that proud and selfish boy knew how much it meant to her. How excited she was about getting a letter delivered by an owl. How excited she was that he wanted to meet her again.

'You can tell your parents you already made a friend so they can babble about the grades and other stuff.' He said as she smiled at him and walked away.

Thinking about her parents made her feel guilty. That was the first time she has ever lied and they always told her she should be herself while making friends. But this time she lied and it worked. Life wasn't a book with pretty covers after all.

Draco has been bored almost all summer. Crabbe had spattergroit and Goyle went to Ireland to visit grandparents, so he was left all alone. He tried reading, flying and even practising magic but how many days can you spend on doing the same things. He already heard all aunties stories and he had enough food for the rest of his life. So he went for a walk and he met this girl and she gave him her address. Now Draco tried to analyse what to do next. He felt like throwing out the piece of paper she gave him because:

1. She was a girl.

2. She said she would probably be a Ravenclaw and

3. he never heard about Granger family so

4. His father would probably not approve.

But on the other hand:

1. He was bored.

2. He felt like she would listen to him and he liked when someone paid attention.

3. He really had noting to do.

4. She seemed smart and it could be beneficial to have her as a friend.

5. He was bored.

So he shoved the address into his pocket. Just in case. And he wrote her the next day.

It was definitely weird to be friends with Draco Malfoy. Or maybe it just felt weird because she never really had a friend before. He didn't act like a normal kid. Kids from her muggle school used to play soccer all the time or fight wooden swords. Draco Malfoy, to her pleasant surprise, liked to read. He did talk a lot about quidditch of course, and she already knew all the rules, but he also liked to talk about the books he red through the summer.

But mostly he was the one to talk, Hermione was too afraid she would accidentally say something to reveal that she is in fact a muggleborn. And it seemed to suit him well.

"Why are you always so quite?" he asked one day.

"I like to listen to you talking." she said and it was partially true. Even though he liked to swagger and his voice always sounded too proud, he had a lot of interesting things to say and it seemed like he never had good listeners.

"It would be nice if you said something from time to time. My throat is getting sore."

Hermione laughed and reached to her bag. She pulled off a book of charms.

"I was thinking we could prepare for school. We have just two weeks left." she said. Has it really been over a month that they knew each other? They met frequently, even three times a week. Draco's mother must have been very fond of his auntie. Or maybe she was trying to run away from her husband.

"Do you have your wand?" asked Draco.

"I do but I didn't mean... I mean, we can't use wands." she said carefully.

"We can now. After the first year, yeah, they would kick us out but now? The rules don't apply yet."

"Okay. Than I think we can try."

"How about we start with something easy..." said Draco, taking the book from her.

It was kind of fun to be friends with Hermione Granger. She didn't ignore him like his father and she listened to him and actually understood what he said, unlike Crabbe and Goyle. And she was a hell of a witch. She mastered all three spells they practised in about an hour and helped him to master them as well. But he would never admit those things to her.

It was a lucky coincidence that his mother insisted on visiting Aunt Rachel so often. He was aware his parents were having trouble but he was sure they would overcome them as always.

"You have to start obeying me Narcissa!" he heard one day. "I was right about Andromeda! You will see I was right about sending Draco to Durmstrang! And I am right about Rachel! I am always right!"

"Rachel may befriend whoever she likes. Even a muggle. It's none of your business!" shouted Narcissa. "And my son will never go to a school that is run by a Death Eater!"

"You married a Death Eater!"

"I married you. Than you become... "

"Crucio."

Draco knew what it meant. He heard it a few times but never saw it on his own eyes. This time he was already standing in the door when the spell hit his mother. He looked in her ayes filled with pain and it scared him so much he couldn't even scream. As soon as Lucius saw him he reversed the spell. But Draco sill stood there unable to move.

"He is just a boy." whispered Narcissa, trying to get herself together. "And you will never let him watch such things again."

"He has to know" Said Lucius as Draco wasn't in the room. "that this is what happens when you disobey me. He may be too young now but sooner or later he will grow up. And he will be punished if he doesn't live by the rules of my house."

Narcissa finally stood up and took Draco's hand. She apparated them with no goodbye.

It was a hot day and Hermione was sitting under the weeping willow and reading a book she borrowed from Draco. She jumped when the branches opened and she saw Draco, his face red and tears in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?' they both said. There was anger in Draco's voice. "I didn't tell you to come today!"

"I know I just... I like this place. I was reading... What happened?' She said nervously.

"It's none of you damn business" he said raising his voice.

"Maybe I can help" she offered carefully.

"No you can't. No one can. It wasn't my damn fault I was born into this family! Why couldn't I have normal parents like yours?"

Hermione frowned, thinking iweather he would said something like that if he knew the truth.

"Did your father do something?" she asked.

"He used an unforgivable curse at her. Again." he answered not looking at her.

"What... what is an unforgivable curse?"

"It is unforgivable. And it is illegal."

"Than why..."

"Don't you understand Hermione?! He doesn't apply to any rules. He has all the power, money, everything. My mother wouldn't dare to leave him so we have to live trying to avoid his anger. And he is always good to me but... but today he said he would use those curses at me as soon as I grow up. I have to obey him. Always."

He punched the tree so hard his hand started to bleed.

"Calm down Draco." Hermione touched his arm, making him sit down. "I may not understand this. But you have to calm down. How about... I will tell you a story?"

Draco didn't answer so she took it as a yes.

"Once upon a time there was a bad kind who married a good queen." she started trying to make up a story "and they soon had a child, a beautiful boy of fair skin and hair in the colour of sun."

Draco relaxed as she spoke and laid down on the grass.

"And the people of the kingdom wondered whether he would grow up to be like his mother or father."

"Hemione!" a voice interrupted them. "Are you hiding under that tree again? Would you come here? Dinner is ready!"

Hemione jumped up in panic.

"I have to go, It's my mother."

"But you didn't finish the story. Can I come with you? I'd like to meet your parents." Draco didn't wanted to be left alone now that he found comfort in her. He was used to going through stuff like this alone. Now he didn't have to.

"I don't think It's a good idea." said Hermione.

"Are you ashamed of me?" he smirked.

"No."

"Than why?" Draco looked her in the eyes. He looked hurt.

"Because..." she thought about what he said Why couldn't I have normal parents like yours? "Because I lied to you. About my parents."

"What?"

"They are muggle. I am a muggleborn. I lied because I wanted you to be friends with me."

"You are joking, right?" Draco didn't seem to believe her a bit.

"No, I am not. You can come and meet them, you will see that whatever you have against muggles..."

"But you are so good with spells." he interrupted her. "You know so much. You have to have a wizard in you family."

"I'm a quick learner. And I read a lot." she shrugged. "I was afraid to tell you, I thought you wouldn't like me anymore..."

"And you were right!" Draco suddenly raise his voice. "How could you?! I can't be friends with a muggleborn! My father would kill me!"

"Draco, you don't have to think like your father..."

"Of course I do. This was wrong, all of this!"

"We can still be friends this doesn't change who I am." Hermione tried to defend herself as she started to cry.

"Yes It does! And if you ever mention that we know each other while we are at Hogwarts I would end you!" he had something bad in his eyes. He wasn't joking. She never saw him this angry even before, when he was so upset about his father.

"I wouldn't dare to admit I was friends with such a coward!" she said and it hurt her probably as much as him.

"You don't belong in my world." he said and this was probably a goodbye. He run away. And Hermione promised to herself she would never lie about herself again.

"Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever a surprise when I got my letter," he overheard her in Hogwarts Express. So now she could admit it. He tried to think about her with a disgust but all he wanted to do is to tell her his father has apologized. He took him and his mother to a restaurant. He even played Quidditch with him. All was well for now. But instead he stopped and listened.

"I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you"

"I'm Ron Weasley." said the first boy. Draco immediately remembered all he heard his father says about Weasley family.

"Harry Potter" said the other boy. So It was true. Harry Potter was about to be his classmate.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course – I got a few extra books. for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

Draco felt weird. He didn't want her to be friends with those boys. But he didn't want to be her friend either. He couldn't. So what if he became a friend of Harry Potter instead? Hermione leaved soon and he came back to his compartment.

"Crabbe. Goyle. Lets go." he ordered and they followed him.

They entered the compartment that Hemione leaved few minutes ago. Draco recognized the black haired boy. They already talked at Madame Malklin.

"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes," said Harry looking at Draco's friends.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," Draco decided to introduce them. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

The Weasley boy started to cough suggestively. Draco took it as an offence.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford." he said angrily. If this boy wanted to make fun of him he could easily exchange the favour. He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly.

Draco felt rejected. He could feel his cheeks going red. So that's the way they want to play it.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you." Both Harry and Ron stood up.

"Say that again," Ron said, his face as red as his hair.

"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered.

"Unless you get out now," said Harry.

"But we don't feet like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food And you still seem to have some." Draco really wanted to show those boys their place. He wasn't use to being offended. His whole life his father told him he is better than everyone. And he simply believed him. He wasn't going to leave it here. But than he heard Goyle yell and there was a rat hanging off his knuckle. Draco heard some steps and decided they should leave.

On the corridor he nearly collided with Hermione. She avoided his eyes and she went into Harry Potter's compartment again.

"They are all worth themselves..."

"Did you say something Draco?" asked Crabbe.

"No." Draco said angrily. "Hurry up, we're almost there!"

All lessons were wonderful. She already asked Ron's brother about them, during the feast. Charms, Transfiguration ever the History of Magic- she loved it all. On Friday she was suppose to have her fist Potions. With Slytherin house. She already spotted Draco in the crowd two times. She was already sitting at a Griffindor table when he was sorted. She raised her eyes at him. She had also seen him in the train but she didn't look at him. She was afraid. But that she thought why would she be afraid? She wasn't the coward who was afraid to think for herself. The sorting hat shouted Slytherin as soon as it touched his head. Hermione saw Draco smirk with satisfaction. So he got what he wanted. And she couldn't be more pleased to be in Gryffindor. All the other kids seemed so nice and she thought that maybe she wouldn't have trouble after all. She already met those two nice boys, Harry and Ron. And she helped Neville.

So slowly is bothered her less and less when she saw his face. So she didn't say anything when she heard him laugh about Harry during potions. And she tried not to seem upset when Snape ignored her while constantly complimenting Draco. She even ignored him when he stole Neville's Remembrall. Instead she focused on Harry, trying to stop him from being expelled. But then she overheard him talking to Harry and Ron.

"Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only – no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose? Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

It was enough for her. Who was this insolent boy? Certainly not the Draco she spent summer with. Harry and Ron ignored her when she wanted to stop them. So she decided to talk to Draco.

She followed him to the Astronomy Tower. He was alone. She hesitated for a while.

"You're a Gryffindor for God's sake!" she told herself as she entered the tower. "What do you think you're doing?!" she said suddenly gaining confidence.

"Sending an owl, Granger." answered Draco looking into other direction.

"So now I am Granger to you?" she asked. "Why won't you even look at me? We were getting along so well and now..."

"I told you I can be friends with you! I can't be seen with you! I want nothing to do with you!"

"I know that it's not... Look, I heard you talk to Harry about this duel..."

"What about it?"

"Why are you being so... different? So mean. I know that your father..."

"This has nothing to do with my father, Granger. I just don't like Potter."

"Why?"

"Look, I tried to befriend him and he rejected me and was mean about it. So I'm not going to just leave it alone." said Draco insolently.

"Why must you be so proud?" asked Hermione.

"See? I can't like you for who you are and you can't like me for who I am. It's settled then." he finally looked her in the eyes.

"I guess it is." she hissed with resignation. "Are you really going to show up tonight?"

"If I feel like it." he replied and walked away.

He didn't show up at the duel. He hoped he would get Potter and Weasley expelled but it didn't happened. So he went on being pompous and vile. He often thought about that talk with Hermione. Why did she came? Was she worried for him? Or was she worried for those two fools? They weren't worried for her for sure. He just spied her as she entered girls bathroom, tears in her eyes, messy hair. Where were those two morons when she needed them?

The longer he pondered about it the less hungry he was. And it was the Halloween feast. He cursed Hermione and the day he met her. Who would have thought this little girl would put him in so much trouble?

"Troll" He heard a yell. "in the dungeons – thought you ought to know." belted professor Quirrell then sank to the floor in a dead faint.

The Great Hall plunged into chaos. And suddenly Draco felt the instinct to look for Hermione. He looked around desperately but he couldn't spot her.

"Prefects," Dumbledore rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"

"Hurry up!" said the Slytherin prefect. "Malfoy, are you looking for someone?"

"Yes!" he wanted to say. Where was she? Was she safe? Why did he care?

"No" he said instead and he followed his classmates.

He couldn't sleep at night. He found himself tossing and turning and thinking what if the troll found her. She didn't deserve to die like this.

Next day he heard stories of brave Harry Potter and his friend Ron Weasley who have defeated the troll and saved Hermione Granger. And he was furious with himself. If he wasn't a coward he would have saved her himself and he would be the who they talk about. After classes he caught her alone, on her way to library.

"Granger." he thundered and she looked at him. "Are you okay?" he asked calming his tone.

"I am perfectly fine, Malfoy." she replied. "Why do you care?"

"I don't" he explained quickly and walks away. They didn't speak again until Christmas.

Christmas was nice but she couldn't stop thinking about Nicolas Flamel, Snape and all those riddles. She was happy and her parents seemed to notice it. She talked about Harry and Ron and Hogwarts and she sounded so blessed. She promised herself to think only about good things. And Draco Malfoy was not one of them.

It was hard to get over the way he treated her but she had real friends now and a mystery to solve. She tried to spend as much time with her family as possible. Hogwarts was great, but she still missed her parents. But on New Years Eve she sneaked out to read under the weeping willow again. She loved that tree despite all the history. And there he was. Draco Malfoy himself, hands shaking, a bruise on his eye. She couldn't turn her back on him even if she wanted to.

"What happened?" she trembled. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." he answered with a lump in his throat.

"You don't seem fine, Draco. Let me help you."

"My dad hit me."

"Why?" she demanded.

"Why wouldn't he? Harry Potter is on the team. Harry Potter defeated a troll. A muggleborn ties with me in most of the classes, sometimes she's even better. Why wouldn't he punish me?" he yelled.

"Draco, he can't do this to you..."

"Stop it." he couldn't even blame her. It wasn't her fault. "He was drunk, it will be all good tomorrow." His still shivering, but maybe it's just because it's cold outside.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" she asked.

"You don't have to be nice. It's not like I was the school year." he snapped.

"It's okay." she said. "I think... I kind of understand now."

"How... how was your Christmas?" he whispered.

"It was okay." she shrugged her arms. "I missed my parents so I was happy to be home. How about yours?"

"They were okay. Until now."

"I'm really sorry." she said with honesty.

"You shouldn't be."

They sat there in silence. It was snowing again but the weeping willow shielded them from any wind or cold. And for a minute it was like before, like summer again.

"Once upon a time there was a bad king who married a good queen. They soon had a child, a beautiful boy of fair skin and hair in the colour of sun. And the people of the kingdom wondered whether he would grow up to be like his mother or father. The king was mad, and he was telling the young prince lies and the prince believed them because he was just a boy. And he never protested. But he didn't know that..."

"Hermione, stop." he demanded carefully. "It won't help me."

"How can I help you then?"

"Do you... Do you think maybe we... Can we built a snowman?"

She smiled at him. And they said no words after that. They just built a snowman from scratch, maybe trying to rebuilt something else too. They parted in silence this time. But when Hermione came back under the willow the next day the snowman already melted. And she was afraid that this small thread of understanding between them melted too. She realized than that maybe she didn't need Draco Malfoy, but maybe he needed her.

She didn't try to speak to him again in school. She ignored him as he clearly wanted her too. But he hoped she would maybe try. And she tried to provoke her by being mean to her friends. He even got himself into a fight. But she still acted like they were strangers to each other. So he started following her. He found it quite amusing. He saw a dragon that this fool Hagrid brought into his hut. He followed her and her moronic friends as they were trying to take that dragon- he had no idea where. And than McGonagall caught him.

"Detention!" she shouted. "And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you –"

"You don't understand, Professor. Harry Potter's coming – he's got a dragon!"

"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on – I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy!"

Soon Potter, Longbottom and Hermione joined him. She pierced him with her eyes. They lost points and got detention. Draco didn't regret it. All in all, it was Gryffindor who lost 150 points. And Hermione acknowledged his presence. But during detention he couldn't risk being caught at talking to her. So he observed everything in silence. And he did so until the last day of the year. He was curious about the stone and everything that happened to her, Potter and Weasley. It could have been him. But he didn't dare to ask her. And he didn't clap as she received points for her bravery. And he was furious when the House Cup was taken away from Slytherin. But he couldn't wait for summer.