Author's Note : Heya guys! So, the concept of this story has really got me excited to write. Hopefully, I won't screw it up. Just a little warning, it could get graphic in later chapters. Black, Grey, Gold is a far cry from what I usually write so go easy on me, aite? =) Please, please leave a review. Just so you know, I especially like constructive criticism *hint hint* Right, so, here goes :

Chapter 1

Her grip on the handle of her luggage trolley tightened as she took in the scene before her. Had the world changed so much over the summer? Had it really only been a few months ago that Ron, Harry and herself had walked this way last? Merlin, it looked so different…

Hermione Granger worried her bottom lip, something she seemed to do a lot these troubled days. The smoke from the steam engine hung low around the Platform 9 and ¾'s, making it seem even more miserable. Every face seemed to wear the same expression. Fear and worry. Even the red of the Hogwart's Express had been tainted, looking faded, grayed. Bleak and morose, the platform seemed to reflect the rest of the wizarding world. She gave a sad sigh before pressing on towards the red steam engine as the horn sounded tiredly. Already this year seemed destined to be a miserable one. Miserable and lonely.

"Hey, man…"

Steel-grey eyes glanced up in answer, impatient to return to the book at hand.

"I'm heading to the Heads' compartment. Catch up with you when we arrive?"

Draco gave a disconcerted shrug and the compartment door slid shut.

"Greetings, Granger…"

The brunette looked up sharply from where she sat cross-legged on one of the two cushioned seats, scowling almost instantly when she recognized the face in the compartment doorway. She obviously wasn't very happy to see him, given he could have sworn he saw her hand inch towards her pocket. For her wand, no doubt.

"Zabini…" She answered with curt politeness.

Blaise leaned against the open doorway with his hands held up in mock surrender, a playful smirk tugged at his lips.

"I come in peace, love…" His smooth voice hinted an Italian lilt.

Hermione eyed him suspiciously for a moment before returning to the book in her lap. Satisfied that he wouldn't be hexed into oblivion by the Gryffindor witch, Blaise stepped inside, closing the compartment door behind him. He sighed as he dropped into the seat opposite hers, his hands behind his head and his legs stretched out lazily.

Silence ensued as Hermione ignored him and continuing her reading, leaving Blaise to gaze around the compartment. It was very much the same as the regular compartments on the Hogwart's Express. A good deal bigger and in better condition perhaps, with the usual two cushioned seats lining the wooden panels left and right of the sliding glass door.

Minutes of more silence went by. Whilst the Head Girl was engrossed with her book, her counterpart was quickly running out of things with which to amuse himself. Running a hand through his wavy, black hair, Blaise cast a side-ways glance at Hermione.

The girl had not moved an inch from her cross-legged position since he'd entered, brown eyes trained intensely on her book. Her wild curls had been tied back without much thought for neatness, stray tendrils of brown framing her delicate features prettily. Like himself, she was already dressed in her school robes. A pity really, he thought. He would have liked to see her in her regular attire. He'd seen her once, wearing a pair of Muggle wadyacallems… jeans, if he remembered the name correctly. Merlin… Those loose school robes she wore should be made illegal for hiding from public view her gorgeous legs. Not to mention her perfect, fuckable -

"Is there something I can do for you, Zabini?"

Hermione's prim voice cut short his thoughts and Blaise realized he'd been caught staring. Oops… Rallying quickly, he gave her his very best smirk and was about to elaborate on exactly what he wanted her to do, only to be interrupted by a series of sharp raps on the glass door. The Head Girl stood up quickly to let the Prefects into their compartment for their meeting, shooting her counterpart a suspicious glare before providing Blaise with a very nice view of her behind as she bent to wrestle open the jammed door handle.

This year promised to be very interesting, Blaise thought silently, lounging back in his seat, his smirk never fading.

Draco rose to his feet as the train slowly came to a halt. He had been alone in the compartment since Blaise left. Very few of his old cronies had returned to Hogwart's this year, either because they feared the Dark Lord or because they had joined him. Wanting as little as possible to do with the War, Draco had managed to convince his father to allow him to return to Hogwart's as a spy. Blaise himself was not tied to either side of the battle that raged silently through the wizarding world and so, he too had returned.

The glass door slid open with ease and he stepped into the corridor. Jamming his hands in the pockets of his school robes, Draco walked towards the front of the train, hoping to meet up with his friend. He knew he struck quite an intimidating picture, walking down the corridor with his usual hard, stony expression. The extra inches he'd gain in height over the summer only added favourably to the effect. Draco was also well aware of how the other students shied away from him, of how they whispered rumours of last year's happenings to each other once he passed.

"As if I give a shit what they think!" He growled silently and viciously.

"Draco!"

Draco halted suddenly in his steps. He'd been so immersed in his own thoughts that he had passed right by the Head's Compartment. He turned to face Blaise with a smirk gracing his lips and he was about to say something when a brown-haired witch exited the compartment after Blaise. Draco's earlier anger dissolved instantly.

"Granger…" His spoke with surprise, almost to himself.

He had assumed she would be too busy tailing Wonder-Boy and Weasel to return to Hogwart's. Obviously not… Unless, her two lapdogs had returned to Hogwart's as well? Something told him they hadn't and that Hermione was on her own.

Hermione's golden-brown eyes found his as she turned to him sharply. She held his gaze for a brief moment, her expression a mix of confusion and surprise. Then, she nodded curtly and veered off quickly in the opposite direction, leaving the two Slytherins to stare after her.

"Fine piece of ass, isn't she…" Blaise commented conversationally, eyes never leaving the Head Girl's disappearing figure.

"She's a mudblood, Blaise…" Draco replied distractedly, straining a little to see where Hermione was heading.

Blaise glanced at his friend with a raised brow. A smirk formed as he saw Draco was still watching her with an expression that was definitely not disgust. The blonde obviously hadn't been speaking 'from the heart'.

He laughed lightly at the notion of Draco Malfoy having a heart, much less speaking it and put a firm hand on Draco's shoulder.

"Shall we?" he asked his companion amusedly.

With that, they made their way towards the throng of students that crowded the exit of the train.