I reread this story and decided to edit it and add to it. Im not going to quit just yet. I also intend on updating often, so stick with it. Read & review, if you please.

I only own the plot. Rowling is the genius, not me.

The Great Hall was filled with raucous laughter and chattering of students as they cheerfully greeted each other after the long summer break. As Draco Malfoy sat down at the Slytherin table he glanced over at the Gryffindors and to his displeasure he saw that she was avoiding his eyes. His insides ached as he saw that her cheeks were tearstained and her lunkhead best friends were oblivious. He wanted to hold her again and kiss her softly. He wanted to let her know that he was there for her and that he would beat the pulp out of whoever made her sad.

He took a small sip of his pumpkin juice and began to reminisce about their secret friendship.

It was late in the night, and he felt like reading because he could not sleep. His mother had passed on just a few days previous and his heart was broken. The overwhelming sense of loss surrounded his dreams but when he fell asleep reading his dreams were peaceful.

He snuck out of his common room and quickly stole to the library. He looked at many selections and couldn't decide which one to read, when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

Stupid, Mudblood Granger sitting with a pile of books splayed open around her creating her own little safe haven. Parchment was laying under her head and a quill was in her hand as if she was about to write. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was open forming a soft "oh" shape. A small line of drool was dribbling onto her essay and her curly hair was everywhere.

If this had been any other time he would have woken her up and taunted her, maybe even made her cry. But looking at her he realized he needed some peace so he sat across from her and watched her sleep.

He watched a piece of hair fall in front of her mouth and fly away as she blew out. He watched this cycle a few times, the hair falling back, exhale, the hair flowing away, before he slowly reached across the table and pushed the hair out of the way.

Hermione blinked a couple of times and pulled her head up off the table to find Draco Malfoy watching her. She quickly wiped the drool off of her cheek and glared at him.

"What're you looking at?" she asked viciously.

He looked at her but before he could answer, tears came to his eyes and he couldn't stop them. She looked at him in shock. This great big muggle hater was sitting in front of her just crying. Unsure of what to do, she put her hand on top of his in a gesture of comfort.

"Get off Mudblood." He spat.

She pulled her hand back and looked at him with confusion in her eyes before she started closing her books and organizing her things, ignoring his sobs. She got up to leave when she heard, "Please, I'm sorry, don't go."

She looked at him and sat down warily. She waited for his crying to subside before speaking.

"Malfoy," She hesitated, "Are you okay?"

Silence..

"What happened?"

"She's dead. She was there all my life and then she's gone. And I don't know what to do. I can't breathe, I can't think, I can't eat and I can't sleep. Everything hurts."

Hermione just looked at him. Seeing her confusion, he whispered, "My mum."

"Oh. Malfoy, I'm sorry. I can't even imagine the kind of pain you're going through. I'm so sorry." Her voice was so kind, reminding him of his mother, causing him to hurt even more.

Hermione sensing this new wave of distress reached her hand across the table again and held his hand. When he didn't pull away disgusted, she rubbed the top of his hand with her thumb. She stood up and walked around the table so she could sit next to him. She kept holding his hand and gently, hesitantly reached up to his face and wiped away his tears.

"Thanks Granger." He whispered.

She looked into his eyes and smiled sadly. They sat there for a long time, each of them just soaking in their own thoughts.

It was then that she kissed him softly on the cheek, forever changing their lives.

"I have to go. But if you need to talk, I'll be here tomorrow night also." She slowly let go of his hand and gathered her stuff before leaving.

Malfoy smiled and realized that he would definitely be going to the library the next evening.

The clattering of a fork on Blaise's plate brought him back to the present.

Hermione had been there for him when he was in the most pain and here she was crying and he couldn't hold her hand or wipe away her tears. It was killing him.

He watched her as she sat through dinner like a zombie, not touching her food, tears welling up but never quite escaping her eyes. Then he watched her stand up and walk out of the Great Hall.

Mumbling an excuse to his friends he quickly left the hall, in search of the girl he needed to comfort.