Hi! So this fic is dedicated to my very special friend, Draco Lonecheeze! (Fanfare)
Disclaimer-don't own Harry Potter
Hermione sobbed, running to the Common Room. Why had Ron's words hurt so much? They got into couple fights all the time. He had said, "can't you do anything right?" Hermione had heard worse. Then she knew. It was because Ron said an insult so like Draco Malfoy. Hermione had always been secretly afraid of Draco. His insults hit her deep. Now that she was older, she wasn't afraid. But feelings of insecureness reminded her of his awfulness. She twirled a brown curl around her finger. Draco had called her Mudblood so much it seemed like a nickname. You'd think a witch would get used to it. But every time he said it, Hermione had crumpled like a napkin. There was a thud next to her. "You should clean yourself up," commented Ginny, hair aflame. "I would, it's just.." Hermione wasn't embarrassed, exactly, it's just that she wanted to remain a mess, to deepen her pain.
Which made no sense.
"You could go to the prefects bathroom," Ginny suggested. To make Ginny satisfied, Hermione walked to the bathroom, hot tears streaming down her face. She pressed her hands to her eyes. "Get it together, Granger," she told herself, and ran smack into Draco Malfoy. She winced. Why, of all people, Draco Malfoy? She stared into his ice blue eyes. She couldn't handle it and turned away. She felt something against her shoulder. She whirled around, wand out, glaring at Draco. He thought he could poke some fun, huh? Draco raised an eyebrow at her, holding out a handkerchief. "Oh.." She muttered, embarrassed. "S-Sorry." "You shouldn't cry." His voice was expressionless, unreadable. "Don't let your tears and fear become you." He swept around and walked away. Hermione turned away from the bathroom and trotted back to the Common Room.
Hermione clutched the handkerchief. It was an ordinary thing, white,and soggy from when Hermione used it, with exactly 90 degree angles. It was Draco Malfoy who made it interesting. "Don't let your tears and fear become you." Since when did Draco help Hermione? "You should throw that away," Ginny commented. "I would, but... It's Draco's." Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Either you want to give Malfoy a dirty handkerchief, or the fight you got in with my brother was worse than I thought." "No, it's not that, but he actually helped me." "Who knows? Maybe he got tired of being on his own." Ginny said, and left. "Maybe.." Hermione said, and it was then that she saw Draco as someone other than a bully who called her Mudblood. He was a boy, all by himself, with no friends, a cruel family, and a destiny laid out for him that he might not even want. Draco was alone, and nothing could change his fate, anymore than Ron's hair could turn yellow. But maybe Hermione could change that.
"Hey!" Draco turned, to see Hermione. He always felt guilty around her, because he knew he was bigger enemies with her than with Harry Potter. He hurt her more than he could ever hurt Potter. And he knew it, and felt guilty for it. She was a lot prettier now, with long brown curls, and a graceful figure, not like the bushy haired midget she used to be. "Draco!" She called again. He stopped and waited for her. "Thank you, for the handkerchief." "Oh, um... You're welcome." "If you need help with anything, just let me know." "I'm good." He responded coldly. Hermione turned away. "Wait." Draco said. She faced him again. "Could you help me with my Transfiguration homework?" "Um, yeah!" Hermione was pleased. Oh, Draco would be far from lonely yet!
Sorry, short chapter, have other stuff to do, bye!