SUMMARY: Through their haunted pasts, Draco and Hermione find comfort and companionship in the most unlikeliest of people. Each other. Against all odds, the two miraculously pull out of their broken shells, and discover a few things along the way.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, my queen J.K Rowling owns all of these characters. I've simply made up a make belief story of my own, so enjoy!

A/N: Hi all, so this is my first time actually posting any of my work. I usually write to just contain my feels a bit, but I've decided to post some of my work and see if anyone likes it! So enjoy the story, leave a review telling me what you think!

I was often told in life that during times of hardships and hurt, having a shoulder to lean on was always the cure. Unfortunately, during my hardships I had no shoulders to lean on.

Hermione pushed against the brutal winds of winter, shuffling her feet in the bright white snow below her. As her hair whipped around her face, the harsh coldness nipping at her already frozen features, she quietly made her way back towards Hogwarts. After the unmerciful and remorseless war against Voldemort, they had reigned supreme. But towards their victory, souls had been sacrificed and lost at certain costs. And although everyone was overjoyed, empowered with happiness and better visions for the future generations of witches and wizards, Hermione couldn't bring herself to be as happy.

Had no one felt the mental and physical scarring from the war that she did? It seemed as if everyone was weightless, no burdens to carry or heavy loads to worry about. But Hermione? The war was an ever repeating nightmare that showed no mercy towards the delicate girl.

Looking up slightly, she saw the tall structure that held so many memories dear to her heart. Picking up her pace, Hermione stepped foot upon school grounds, dusting off her coat and other garments that were now covered in snow. She let out a quiet shudder from the coldness, trying to discreetly make her way back to the library. Having decided that all three of them would come back for their returning year at Hogwarts, they continued to rely on each other as usual. They practically never left each other's sight, like an unspoken bond that had wrapped around them after the circumstances of everything. Hermione had decided to stay over at Hogwarts for Christmas break, it was no surprise that Harry and Ron decided to stay as well.

The boys had been deliriously happy after the war, too happy to be sane. But Hermione had always wanted the best for her two boys, and so she left them to their jubilant attitude. Despite wanting desperately to admit to the two that she was in severe need of help. Just a simple shoulder to cry on, to fess up all of the feelings and emotions she's been bottling up since the war surpassed. She just couldn't do it. She couldn't burden her two best friends with her own silly burdens. But when it comes down to the wire, Hermione was haunted. Haunted by a past so terrifying, it'd take a lot more than a few comforting words to pull her out of this phase.

"Hermione!" She spun around to face Harry and Ron, plastering on a smile.

"Ron, Harry," she greeted. "What are you two up to?"

"We could ask you the same thing Mione," Ron countered, an arched eyebrow of his raised. She quietly sighed, shaking her head.

"I was out for a walk," Hermione disclosed snobbish like, wondering why the boys were suddenly so suspicious of her recent actions.

"In this weather..?" Harry glanced out the window, watching the ruthless snow pound around the grounds of Hogwarts.

"Yes. I just wanted to clear my head. Are we done with the questionnaire then? I have a few books I'd like to indulge in," Hermione softened, knowing that they were simply worried about her well being.

"Er, yeah. That's all, we were just looking for you. Go on to your books then," Ron smiled, leaning over to give her a chaste kiss on the lips before she smiled graciously and spun on her heels to proceed towards the library.

If only they knew.

Draco sat helplessly in the overly done green and silver dorm room. Sighing as he slumped upon his bed, he had once again felt immensely abandoned and defenseless. Perhaps he should have been grateful, that his slate had been wiped clean once the Ministry had decide that Draco had been innocent despite his suffered attempts. Although he was an official free man, they made sure that Draco would be going through with his returning year.

Ultimately trapping him within the school that he had grown to detest over so many years. He was utterly and completely alone. With this huge burden upon his nimble shoulders, and he was tearing apart at the seams. Everyone either refused to talk to him, or pitied him. And quite frankly, he couldn't decide which was worse.

He hated being so preyed upon by the memories. But being in Draco's place was anything but easy. Having to fight alongside the wrong side, the side he didn't want to be on because he was practically forced to do so. It does take a toll on a person, and it was starting to all set in for Draco.

It started with a bit of self hatred, mixed in with guilt, throw a dash of depression in there and you've got all that is Draco.

As much as he hated to admit it, all he really needed was someone to be there for him. To help him realize that he was simply the boy who didn't have a choice, that he wasn't such a bad person after all. But at this point, Draco was beyond help. He spent every second of his day, mentally hating himself for his past. His horrible, horrible past.

In a nutshell, Draco Malfoy was vulnerable and he hated himself.