-One shot-

Draco was miserable. He hated himself for coming back to this godforsaken school to finish his seventh year when he had been given the option not to and he hated everyone else for treating him like shit even though he deserved it. He sat slouched on the floor on the corner of one of the many abandoned classrooms of the third floor. His left arm hung by his side painful and twitching from the numerous spells he had cast on it in an attempt to remove the brand on his forearm. The one that according to ministry law had to be visible at all times so that anyone could tell he was former Death Eater. All he wanted was to not be judged for once even if just for a day.

He flipped a few more pages in the spell book that he had gotten from the library with his good hand and tried another illusion charm. Fire shot up and down his shoulder as the mark once again punished him for trying to get rid of it. Draco let out a scream of pain as his arm went completely limp.

Hermione was patrolling the third floor to ensure no one was up after hours when she heard a shriek of pain coming from somewhere down the hall. She pulled her wand out of her robe pocket and ran in the direction of the noise. She peered in to the classroom she thought she had heard the noise from and at first saw no one. She was about to turn to leave when she saw him huddled in the corner. Malfoy pointed his wand at his arm and cast a spell on it hissing in pain at the results. Hermione quickly realized what he was trying to do and instantly felt pity for him. She stepped fully in to the room and cleared her throat.

"Malfoy, are you all right?" she asked trying to find the right balance between concern and neutrality in her voice.

"Bugger off Granger I'm fine." he said not even looking up at her. He began to flip through the book again, looking for another spell to try. With a flick of her wand she shut the book nearly smashing his fingers in the process.

"Malfoy stop it you are going to permanently damage yourself." she said in a measured tone.

"You wouldn't understand Granger, just leave." He sounded defeated, and dead. Hermione dropped any pretense of authority or dislike when she heard it; she wanted to help him.

He just barely glanced up at her when she sat down next to him.

"I can help if you let Me." she said quietly.

"Be my guest Granger, I've tried every bloody spell in existence and none of them work." He said gesturing to the mark that was still very clearly branded onto his limp left arm.

Hermione hesitated for a moment but then pulled a bottle of muggle made concealer out of her pocket.

"Erm… I was thinking something a little less magical." she said showing him the tube in her hand. He raised his eyebrows but didn't protest so she lifted his arm in to her lap and began to spread the tan paste across his forearm. She then blended it in to his skin with her finger. Draco's arm had gone numb but he wished he could feel her touch as he watched her reduce the ugly tattoo to the equivalent of a faded week old bruise with care and precision.

Hermione then replaced the lid and curled Draco's fingers around the tube.

"Good night Draco." She said before standing.

"Hermione, Thank you."

She smiled as she walked out of the door.

"You're welcome Draco."