A/N: This might be pretty bad, but I'm trying, seriously. I have exams coming up in two months, so don't be surprised if this doesn't get finished. I'd like to thank 'Pixiestix16', for the help and encouragement she gave me in my last fanfic. Sorry about the dates being a great big mess, by the way. (:

It was a cold grey night in late November. Overnight the weather had changed, when a backing of wind brought with it a granite sky and mizzling rain, and even though it was now only a little after 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the pallor of a winter evening seemed to have closed upon the hills, cloaking them with an icy mist. It would be dark by 5. The air was clammy and cold, and for all the tightly closed windows it penetrated the interior of the train. The leather seats felt damp to the hands, and a small crack in the roof meant that water dripped down lightly, smudging the leather and leaving a small mark that vanished moments later. The wind came in gusts, at time shaking the train as it travelled round the bends.

They all sat in the cramped compartment, huddled together to stay warm on this cold afternoon. Hermione nervously wrapped her hair around her finger as she sat cold and shivering beside the people she hardly knew nor liked. None of them liked her either, no doubt. The longer she sat the more uncomfortable the silence became. The year previous had passed so quickly. Harry, Ron and Ginny, having now found out about her new love affair with the meanest, and possibly most arrogant and cruel person to stay within the schools walls, had been quick to judge and had immediately abandoned her.

Ron seemed to have taken this newfound information as his latest romantic blow and had desperately begged for Lavender Brown's forgiveness and was now dating her again. Whenever she passed him in the Common Room, halls or classes all she got from him was glares, and she received the same from Harry, too. Ginny had been staring a few times, once or twice having even smiled gently at her. Hermione had desperately hoped that this fiasco would be over as soon as it had started, but it had been almost a year. No changes at all in the relationship status between them though.

The darkness surrounded the train as it slowed down at Hogsmeade Station. The rain pelted down, smashing against the windows and roof of the train. Hagrid stood on the platform waiting, his face wet and his long beard soaked and dripping with water, and standing in the biggest and possibly dirtiest puddle of them all. The rain made Hermione's mood shift from uneasy to miserable as she looked out of the steamed up window as they came to a jolting halt which made the entire carriage rock back and forth repeatedly.

Students poured out of the train that was just as cold as it was outside in the chilling rain. They stuck hoods up, popped open umbrellas and most just ran desperately towards the carriages with books or bags over their heads. Hermione took hold of Draco's hand, ignoring Pansy Parkinson's indiscreet malevolent glare, and allowed him to help her out into the night, where they ran quickly towards the carriage that was about to leave.

Hermione climbed in first and sat down on the soggy seat and stared at the person across from her. He sat up right, his face glistening in the moonlight, and he closed his eyes without a word. Draco was sat next to her then and, to no surprise, he looked very perplexed. Harry's eyes opened again and he looked at her so acrimoniously that it hurt. Hermione winced and half cowered into Draco, too frightened now to look at the boy of whom she had been best friends with for seven years.

Harry dived out of the carriage first as they pulled up outside the castle, storming off quicker than ever and into the castle out of view of them. Hermione just wanted to sit there forever, watching as the single drop of water slid down the seat of where he had just sat. She watched in envy as it slithered, unharmed, quickly and patiently, no agenda or help needed …

'Hermione,' Draco uttered impatiently. 'We'd better get inside before we catch hyperthermia.'

She looked up into his icy eyes of which she had gotten to know so well over the past year. And yet there was still that hint of ignorance in his tone, and that small spot of evil in the corner of his eyes. Hermione nodded and climbed out of the carriage, watching as she did so the water droplet. It slid to the edge of the seat and clung on. Bigger and bigger it got, and then it fell.

They walked into the castle and Hermione felt the warmth creep up on her and wrap itself around her like a blanket. Her hair was sodden wet and felt matted and gross as she tried to pull her fingers though it on their way towards the Great Hall. Not everyone had arrived, and many people were still finding their seats inside the hall. Draco led her towards one of the tables that was mixed full of different ages and houses and they sat down opposite each other.

'You shouldn't let it bug you,' stated Draco, seeing her glance over at the Gryffindor's.

'But it does. I miss them,' replied Hermione, turning her attention to him and focusing on his angelic face.

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but as he did so, Professor McGonagall stood up and started to tap her wand impatiently on the table, causing such loud noises that the entire hall seemed to quieten exceptionally quickly.

'Excuse me, excuse me,' she shouted. 'welcome back to yet another term. I'm hoping that you greatly enjoyed your holidays, and I'm sure you're all excited to be back with your classmates again. If you could very kindly return straight to your Common Room's after the meal, I would be very delighted. Thank you, and welcome back.'

There was a pause, but then with a little clang, plates of food appeared in front of them. Delicacies such as pies, pasties and casseroles; steaks, sausages and stew. Hermione happily cut herself a Cornish pasty as well as some roast potatoes and a side of carrots and peas. She couldn't help but dwell on Harry's hurtful words, and even though she had coped for almost a year, she felt that she needed help drastically more now than she ever had. Draco wiped his mouth of the gravy that was merrily sliding down his chin and put down his fork and knife.

'I'm worried about you,' he said quietly, reaching a hand across the table and taking hers.

He was still very phlegmatic, and she sometimes wished that he would be more helpful and solemn rather than telling her that it does no good to cry. If he, instead of staring into her eyes which held so many tears just willing to escape, told her that it was OK to cry, told her to and held her in his arms while she did so.

She pulled back her hand and continued to eat her pasty quietly, not another word on the matter, and Draco resumed eating his own food. Once they had both eaten their most and stuffing an extra spoonful of ice cream down her throat, both Hermione and Draco made their way out of the hall feeling pretty well-fed and bloated.

They walked up the staircase towards the seventh floor, and appearing outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, Hermione turned back to Draco, of whom pulled her into his embrace and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She felt her entire soul float away as he did so, her cheeks flushing as he pulled away, and she nervously twirled her hair around her finger once again.

'I'll see you tomorrow,' said Draco with a melancholic smile.

'I love you.' she whispered, giving him a peck on the lips.

She smiled wildly at him before turning back to the portrait. The Fat Lady was giving her a look of utter disgust and grotesque still, but Hermione had grown used to this now. It was nothing out of the ordinary.

'Quid agis' said Hermione grudgingly, and she stepped through the portrait and into the Common Room.