"Watch out, 'Mione!"

"Oh, no!" four year old Hermione Granger and Draco Puffer ran, squealing through the backyard of the apartment building they lived in.

"The monsters is coming! They's gonna eat us! Run!" laughing the two hurried into the building and straight up to Hermione's apartment. When they got there, they stopped. Hermione's parents were talking quietly with a policeman.

"Mommy…" Hermione hesitantly headed towards her mother who was softly crying, "Mommy, what's wrong? Draco and me can hear, right?"

Smiling through her tears, Mrs. Granger scooped up the two children and told them to go play in Hermione's room and they'd talk to them after Officer O'Malley left. They left, Hermione pulling Draco along by the hand, both unusually quiet.

"What D'you think happened, Draco?"

"I Dunno, 'Mione. I…I'm scared."

"Me too." they hugged each other and then Hermione read a couple of picture books aloud.

"Hermione, Draco! Come here. We'd like to talk to you." Hurrying, the pair ran to the living room.

"Kids, this might be hard to understand, but Draco's parents have had an accident. They-they both…" Mrs. Granger broke down crying and Mr. Granger, taking his wife into his arms, continued.

"They both…well, they both passed away. Draco, You're going to stay with us for a little while, until a place at the…orphanage opens up, ok?" Draco nodded, about to start sobbing.

"You two go and relax for a little while, Mrs. Granger and I are going to go to your apartment and get your clothes." Hermione took Draco's hand and quietly led him back to her room. She sat him down on her bed and waited for him cry. When he did, he held out his arms and she folded him into hers, holding him as tightly as she could. They stayed like that through dinner and let go only to go to sleep, and even then, they stayed close, sharing a bed.

"It's gonna be 'kay, Draco," It was a week later and Hermione and her parents were seeing Draco off to a small but cozy orphanage. "I'll protect you forevers and evers. When the monsters come, I'll be here."

"Thanks Hermione. I…I'm really, really gonna-gonna miss you-" he broke down into fresh sobs and Hermione let him go to grab a small wrapped box from her pocket.

"Here. I was gonna save this for your birfday but I think I better give this to you now, since I don't know when I'll see you again." She started to cry as Draco hugged her.

"I'll wait until I see you again to open it. I love you, 'Mione!"

"Me too. I love you, too, Draco." Sobbing, she watched as Draco was led into the orphanage. They waved to each other one last time before the doors shut.

----------------------------------------13 years later-----------------------------------------------

"Hurry up, Hermione! You have to have some breakfast before you meet Harry and Ron in Hogsmeade!"

"Coming, Mom!" Hermione took another glance at the picture she was looking at and slid it from its pocket to show her parents.

"Oh, just in time! What's that a picture of, dear?"

"I don't know. Well, I know it's a picture of me and another boy, but who is he?" sitting, she handed the photograph to her mother who stared at it for a moment then handed it back to her explaining.

"It's you and you're best friend, Draco."

"Draco? What was his last name?"

"Puffer, I think. He was a…well like me. Remember that apartment building we lived in for a while, up until you were five? Well, he stayed in the apartment next door. When you were four, his parent got into a car crash and died. He went to an orphanage not long after and we haven't seen him since."

"Thank god."

"What is it, dear?"

"Well, there's this horrid boy at school whose name is Draco, but that Draco's last name is Malfoy, and he's a wizard so…"

"You were afraid that your childhood sweetheart had left and turned into the big bad witch…or wizard in his case."

"Yeah…I guess. But, you said he lost BOTH parents at the same time? How horrible…" tears poured down her face and her mother folded her into a warm embrace.

"I know. I miss your father, too." Hermione's dad died the summer she started fifth year at Hogwarts. He didn't know she'd become a prefect and now she was head girl. After she calmed down a little, her mother spoke up.

"Wait, what did you say that boy's last name was?"

"Malfoy…why?"

"Well, I was trying to remember the last name of his adoptive parents. I think I still have the letter he sent you when you were five…" She got up and hurried into her room and came back a few minutes later. "Here, this is the letter he sent you when he was adopted." Hermione took the letter and quietly read it.

Dear Hermione,

I'm sorry I haven't written yet. I haven't had the chance. My new mom is helping me write this on the computer. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy adopted me they're really nice. We're moving to America for a while. I don't know how long but my "dad" said we'd come back when I am ten. I hope to see you as soon as possible.

Love,

Draco Puffer Malfoy

"Oh my god! Mr. High-And-Mighty-Pureblood is a muggle-born! Just like me! Wait until I tell Harry and Ron! They'd…oh wait…they'd reject me for being friends with Malfoy…. I mean Draco."

So that's it for chapter one. Please don't yell at me for making darling Draco dear a muggle-born. I love him dearly but I had a plot and I'm sticking with it! Flames will make toasty-woasty marshmallows. Thank you, and good night.

P.S. Check out Seduction Of The Vampire, The Raven And The Crow, The Randemness Of It All, and The Final Year.