AN:

okay, this is my first fanfiction.
In this story I used some fragments from the books.

I hope you don't mind but it was necessary for me to have something to start my story with.

I don't own the characters in this story, they are all the brilliant invention of J.K. Rowling.

I hope you'll enjoy it and please read and review :).

Jar of Hearts

Chapter one

'How did we get here?' At the moment this was the only thing that kept going through Hermione's mind.

'I don't understand.' She shook her head, looked him straight in the eyes and asked: 'Why are you saying all these things?'

Draco simply answered: 'because it's the truth.'

'But I gave you everything I had; I love you!' Hermione cried out.

He gave a little laugh and said: 'You could never give me enough Granger. And since we're being honest, I feel I should tell you that I've never loved you.' At this Draco turned his back at her and started walking away.

Hermione was in total shock. ' I swear it Malfoy, someday you're going to catch a cold from the ice inside your soul!' She called after him.

Then she let herself fall on the step underneath her and stared into nothingness.

Four months earlier.

Hermione was lying in bed. She stirred when a small beam of daylight crept through the curtains. She slowly opened her eyes and sat up. The girls' dormitory was filled with light snores. Apparently she was the first to wake up. Hermione looked around the room and sighed. She was happy to be back at Hogwarts; it was her home away from home.

She thought about her summer holiday. Hermione had spent the greater part of it at the Burrow, together with Ron, Harry and Ginny.

It had been a lovely summer really, though not without a few surprises. The biggest surprise must've been the announcement of Bill and Fleur's engagement. She and Ginny didn't like Fleur that much, neither did Mrs. Weasley. Ginny had even found a suitable nickname for Fleur: Phlegm. A smile appeared on Hermione's face. But then some darker memories came to mind and her smile faded. During the holidays word had spread that Lord Voldemort was back. He and his Death Eaters were terrorising the Wizard and Muggle world again. More determined than ever to cause death and destruction everywhere they go. The fight at the ministry over the prophecy would also be burned into Hermione's mind for ever. They had lost a dear friend during that battle, Sirius Black. In short : it had been the most joyful but also the most dreadful holiday she'd ever had.

She shivered and looked at the clock on her nightstand; it was a quarter to seven. Soon the other girls would be awake too. Hermione fell back on her pillow. A soft purring sounded from the ground. Crookshanks jumped on Hermione's bed and nestled himself in the crook of her arm. She smiled and hugged him, saying: 'good morning to you too. 'At this he let out another satisfying purr. Then Hermione heard that the other girls were waking up. It was time to get dressed and have some breakfast.

She met Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor common room. Together they started off towards the Great Hall.

'I'm telling you, Malfoy 's up to something.' Harry said. Hermione looked at Ron and he rolled his eyes.

Ever since they had seen Draco Malfoy in Diagon Alley , Harry had been going on , non stop, about his thought that Malfoy was a Death Eater.

' But what would Voldemort want with a sixteen-year- old?' Ron asked. ' Look, I don't know. But you can't ignore the fact that something's going on. Remember? In the dress robes' shop? When Madam Malkin touched his left arm he flinched!' 'So?' ' So, it just proves that he's been branded with the Dark Mark!' ' Well, not necessarily. He could have just… well … hurt his arm or something.' Ron tried.

Harry stopped walking and looked at them. ' Are you serious? Come on! What about Malfoy's weird visit to Borgin and Burkes? He actually threatened the shopkeeper! He wanted Borgin to keep an object safe for him! You know what kind of dark pieces they got there! He must've showed his Dark Mark to him , to scare him!' There was a short pause. Hermione didn't know what to say, neither did Ron. 'Ok , if that doesn't prove enough, just think about what I told you. Think about the conversation I overheard on the Hogwarts Express. Malfoy was telling his Sytherin buddies about his big plans for the future. He said he wouldn't be at Hogwarts next year. He might get a task from him, from Voldemort.'

Again silence fell down upon them, but Hermione decided to break it: 'Look Harry, it's not that we don't believe you. It's just that there isn't enough evidence. I know that all these things you say may confirm something, may confirm that Malfoy is a Death Eater. And to be honest it seems likely so, but I would wait until you've gathered more information.' Ron nodded in agreement. Harry seemed ready to explode.

She tried to lessen the tension: ' but let's not think about any of that. We can almost start our new term!' 'When is our first lesson?'

'After breakfast, Defence Against the Dark Arts.' Hermione said.

Then they all stopped dead in their tracks and said: ' O no. Snape.'

The classroom was dark and gloomy. Snape had pulled the curtains over every window, refusing to let in even the smallest beam of daylight. A musty smell filled Hermione's nose trills as Professor Snape walked passed their table. No one really liked him. He was cruel and cold and always looked down on the students who weren't Slytherins.

' There are many Dark Arts,' the icy voice said, ' and they are hard to fight. Therefore your defences must be as flexible and inventive as the Arts you are fighting. ' He paused and looked at the class. Then he went on: ' today we are going to learn how to cast non-verbal spells. No doubt that you are all novices in the use of them. Who can tell me the advantage of a non- verbal spell?' Immediately Hermione's hand shot in the air. Snape didn't pay much attention to it. ' No one else?' His black eyes scrutinised the room and he said: 'pity. Miss Granger?' Hermione didn't hesitate: 'your opponent has no warning about what kind of magic you are about to perform. So it gives you a great advantage.' ' An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, grade 6.' Snape said dismissively.

A loud laugh came from a few tables behind Hermione. She looked around and saw Draco Malfoy , laughing tauntingly at her. She gave him an angry look and faced back front. During the rest of the class, Malfoy kept imitating and mocking Hermione. She was glad when the lesson was over, that she could escape the classroom.

But once outside a voice came from behind her: ' Hey Granger!' Hermione didn't turn around. 'Who fixed your black eye?'

At this her cheeks flushed immediately. During the summer she had been fidgeting with one of Fred and George's Joke Shop articles. At first sight it had looked like any normal telescope. But back then, all of a sudden, a tiny fist had emerged out of it and had hit Hermione in the eye. Sure enough, the following day Malfoy had seen them in Diagon Alley and had commented on it.

Now Malfoy went on: 'too bad though. I would've really liked to send a present to the person who had given that to you.' Blaise smirked at hearing those words.

Hermione had enough of it: 'what's your problem Malfoy?' she sneered. This made him laugh harder: ' look at that, the little Mudblood dares to answer, dares to speak to a Pure Blood! They should teach you more manners.'

At this point Hermione was fuming. She wanted to hit him, wanted to wipe that smirk of his face. She started walking towards him, but was held back by Ron.' Let me go! ' She shouted. Draco and Blaise started to laugh harder and harder: ' look, the Blood Traitor and the Half- Blood have come to join us!'

' Shut it Malfoy!' Harry said. ' Not for you Potter! And I'm enjoying myself too much! That filthy Mudblood is hilarious!' At this Harry and Ron pulled out there wands and pointed them at Malfoy. He and Blaise did the same. '

This is becoming serious', Hermione thought, 'I must stop it.' She started to pull at her friends' clothes: 'no , it's enough! He's not worth it!' she shrieked.

Then Professor Snape came out of the classroom and all of a sudden, the four wands disappeared. Snape watched all five of them, his frosty voice saying: ' not causing trouble I hope?' Hermione answered quickly: ' no professor.' Then she whispered to Harry and Ron: 'let's go.'

They left Snape , Zabini and Malfoy behind. One more time Hermione looked back at them, only to notice Draco, smiling tauntingly at her.