Draco was running as fast as he could. He knew that he was in trouble, and he wasn't keen on being there when his father found out what he had done. It was just an accident. He was only playing when he had stubbed his toe and a surge of anger shot through him in his moment of pain. But that was all it took. Draco was still too young to be able to understand, or control his powers. In that moment of painful vulnerability, he had involuntarily sent sparks through the heavy chain holding the beautiful crystal chandelier that hung in the entryway of their magnificent Manor. The magically magnified heat of the sparks had melted the chain, causing the chandelier to come crashing to the floor. Draco's heart stopped as crystal shattered all around him, pieces of glass scraping his face and leaving cuts that he did not feel in his moment of panic. For one fleeting moment, Draco considered blaming Dobby, their house elf, before remembering that Dobby was with his father, assisting him on his day Draco ran. He could think of nothing else to do. That chandelier had belonged to his grandfather, and had hung in his father's childhood home before it had been moved to Malfoy Manor upon his grandfather's death. Draco knew that his father would be furious, and that scared Draco. He barreled out the front doors and down the long drive past beautifully carved bushes and snow white peacocks. Turning the corner at the end of the drive and running as fast as his little feet would take him, he ran to the adjoining road, crossed it, and disappeared through the trees on the other side.

Not really knowing where he was going, Draco ran until the trees began to thin and he came to a stop at the edge of a small pond. To the left of the water was a sad little park containing a solitary two person swing set, a rusted slide, and an old teeter totter which creaked and shifted in the evening breeze. Draco wandered over, and sank into one of the swings. A wave of hopelessness crashed over him, and he began to cry. His father was going to kill him. Draco knew he wouldn't be able to hide from him forever. He was only 9 years old after all.

A small movement at the corner of his eye caused Draco to jump and look around in fear, thinking his father had found him already.

"Oh!" Said a small voice. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you." The voice belonged to a small girl, with bushy brown curls flowing down her back. Draco suspected she was about the same age as him. He wiped his tear streaked face in embarrassment.

She spoke again, taking a few steps closer to him. "Are you alright? Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying!" Snapped Draco.

The little girl rolled her eyes and plopped down on the swing next to him. "Well if you haven't been crying," she said, "why are there tears all over your face?" She smirked a little, apparently pleased with her skills of deduction.

Draco's face turned red. "I'm just in trouble okay?" He snapped. "I broke something by accident, and when my father finds out, he's going to kill me!"

The smile slid from the girl's face, and was replaced with a look of genuine concern. "Why don't you just explain to him that it was an accident. I'm sure he'll understand. You're just a kid."

Draco gave a dry laugh. "My father would not understand." He paused. Wanting to avoid the dread that was now creeping back into his heart at the thought of his father, Draco changed the subject. "I'm Draco, by the way. Draco Malfoy. I live on the other side of the woods."

"My name is Hermione Granger. I live in the village over there." She gestured to the other side of the pond. Draco craned his neck, and could just make out a little church steeple through the trees.

"I thought only muggles lived there." Draco said thoughtfully.

"Only what?" Asked Hermione, with a confused look on her face.

"Muggles...you know.." Draco's voice trailed off as the realization of her confusion hit him. He sprang to his feet. "I have to go." He said quickly and took a few steps away from the swings.

Hermione jumped to her feet to. "Wait! Why are you leaving?" She questioned.

"I shouldn't be talking to you!" Cried Draco. "You're a muggle! I'll only be in more trouble if my father finds out I've been talking to a muggle!"

"I'm not a muggle! You're a muggle!" Cried Hermione, clearly struggling to understand what Draco was talking about.

"What?" Said Draco. "No I'm not! Get away from me, you crazy muggle!" He began to run. He heard Hermione let out a frustrated cry, and very suddenly, as though invisible hands had grabbed him, Draco felt himself being hoisted off the ground, and was plunged into the cold waters of the little pond. Gasping, Draco surfaced, confusion and anger coursed through him.

"Oh no!" Cried Hermione, running toward the pond. "Oh no, oh no, I'm sorry! Oh, I'm going to be in so much trouble!" She dropped to her knees at the edge of the water, and buried her face in her hands. "I really didn't mean to! I was just upset! Sometimes these things just happen, oh but please don't tell!" She looked at Draco anxiously as he clamored onto the banks and laid face up in the grass, still trying to catch his breath. He opened his eyes and Hermione's face had appeared above him.

"Please don't tell..." She repeated weakly, her eyes now glistening with tears.

Draco sat up. "You're a witch!" He said in shock.

Anger crawled back over Hermione's face. "Excuse me?" She said, her voice raising. "I said I was sorry! There's no reason to call me mean names!"

"No!" Draco said, now laughing a little, more out of relief than anything. "You're a witch..like..you have magic! And I'm a wizard! You're not a muggle at all!"

Hermione shook her head. "Mummy and Daddy told me not to tell. They say it's dangerous, and people will want to hurt me!" She gave a little sniff. "I'm just different okay? I try not to be, but I can't help it."

Draco looked at her in shock. "You're not different. Why would your parents want you to hide your magic? Aren't they..." His voice trailed off as realization hit him for the second time. "no.." He said quietly. "you're not...?"

"What?" Hermione looked at him

"You're parents.." Draco started "You're parents don't have magic too? It's just you who can do it?"

"Of course they don't." Hermione said. "They're dentists."

Draco jumped up and backed away. His father's prejudice was seeping into his heart, and he began to feel dirty for just being in her presence. "You're a mudblood!" He cried. "That's even worse than being a muggle! You don't deserve to have magic, you don't belong in our world!"

Hermione was on her feet again, and clearly angry. Her face was flushed, and her fists were clenched at her sides. "You're just a stupid boy!" She screamed. It was the best insult her 9 year old brain could think of, since she didn't understand at all what Draco was saying to her.

Suddenly, there was a small pop in the trees along the pond, and a harsh voice called out, "Draco!"

Draco's already pale face turned white as a ghost. "My father!" He whispered in hushed panic, all prejudice against his new acquaintance vanished. "You have to run! He can't see me talking to you!"

Hermione's anger was extinguished, and replaced with fear for this boy she had just met. She could see how truly frightened he was, and wondered what his father was like to make his own child this afraid. "Just tell him it was an accident." She reminded him, but Draco wasn't paying attention to her. He was looking around frantically, as his father called for him again, his voice coming closer.

"You have to go now! Please!" Draco begged. In panic, he reached forward and pushed Hermione into a nearby bush just as his father emerged from the trees. Hermione, though startled at being forced into the shrubbery, did not move a muscle. The urgency in Draco's voice had frightened her. She peered through the branches to see a tall thin man with long white blonde hair striding toward the cowering Draco. "Father," Draco said in a small voice. "I'm sorry." Draco dropped to his knees.

His father towered over him. "I will deal with you at home." He said in a quiet and dangerous voice. He grabbed a fistful of Draco's hair, and yanked him to his feet. Draco's cry of pain was cut short as his father turned on the spot, and with a small pop, both Draco and his father had vanished into thin air.