A/N: Welcome to the second book of my Muggle Games series, updates will be slow as this is only pre-written till Chapter 15 at this point and I'm currently suffering from writers block.

In this story Hermione is damaged and darkish almost, Draco is Draco that's a bit reformed like in the first book (I see that as canon as JK Rowling herself said that Draco learned his lessons and dropped his prejudices etc…). Other Pairings in this story is Ronsy, Thuna and Blinny. If characters are OOC forgive me but it's what's needed for this story, although I tried my best to rather built on traits already shown in canon. I prefer to see it as rather how their existing characters would have evolved had they been truly subjected to the lives that I've made for them in the Muggle Games series.

Constructive criticism is welcome in regards to spelling/grammar/punctuation or blatant plot holes.

BUT; if you want to complain about writing style or story not going your way or even OOC characters, then don't even bother reading. If you don't like the story then do not read it. Flames will be deleted without a response, end of story.

I'm in the market for a Beta for this story, someone with strong Grammar and punctuation capabilities and sense of darkish Hermione to help with guiding and suggestions in that regard, and also have quick turnover time. PM me if interested.

Thank you and Enjoy J

Prologue

Everyone has defining moments in their lives, a moment that would either change something you believed in completely, or enhance something you believe. For Draco Malfoy, there were a few such moments, and they had all involved a certain witch, one Hermione Granger.

Those moments consisted of both, change and enhance.

You see, even though he was aware of one Hermione Granger since year one, with a vivid moment in Flourish and Blott's in the start of year two; the first true defining moment was in year three, the memory fresh, for it was the first moment that changed his views and beliefs.

He remembers the resounding 'smack' sound, still feels the burn on his face where her fist had landed, the absolute anger in her eyes, her face flushed, she was so angry she even stuttered, not finishing the insult at all before the Weasel pulled her away from where her wand was pointing at him after her hit.
"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul- you evil-"
Yes, he still remembered her every word, her voice ringing clear as a bell, her hair wild and seemingly electrocuted.

That changed his view that mudbloods were inferior, how could she be inferior? She had stood proud to his father, she beat himself in every class, she stood up against him; not only was she brave and strong, she was intelligent, and more gifted in magic than some purebloods he knew. Of course he couldn't let off that he's views had changed, his father was still a staunch believer in blood superiority, even though his father wasn't abusive or anything, he had a certain superiority that you didn't dare cross.
Also, his mates wouldn't like it at all, and Draco Malfoy liked being in charge, he liked having others walk in awe and fear of him; so yes, even though he now knew that the blood matter was total bollocks, he would not divulge his visible power, and he will do what is necessary to maintain it, even continue to goad Granger.

So that was the first defining moment, a moment that had Hermione Granger in control, control of him, as he had actually cowered at her fury, figuratively of course, and also a moment that broke his old beliefs. Then there was some other small moments, like in fourth year when he saw her in that blue periwinkle dress for the Yule ball, even though he had already noticed that she had some pretty features hiding beneath her bushy mane of hair, that night he realised that she was quite positively beautiful; and completely forgot to insult her.

But the second defining moment was when he realised he wanted her safe, it was also in fourth year, or rather at the start of the year, at the Quiditch World Cup, it was when he saw Potter and Weasel with her in the trees. He was safe of course, his father having sent him of into the forest beforehand, since he was part of it all, and he had hoped that Granger would have enough sense to get to safety as well. Yet there they were, too close to the oncoming danger, and with the Weasel being the fumbling oaf, he had tripped and was causing so much noise; alerting everything around them to their presence.
He was angry enough to want to curse Potty and Weasel at that moment, did they have no sense?
But he was aware of the Death Eaters getting closer, and at that defining moment he knew he wanted her safe; they hadn't noticed him, he had to get their attention and drive them away.

So he did what he did best, he goaded them, insulting the Weasel's big feet for tripping, leaning against the tree, arms folded, seemingly utterly relaxed. He took in the insult Weasel muttered, his next words still clear in the memory of his mind.
"Language Weasley, hadn't you better be hurrying along now? You wouldn't like her spotted, would you?"
He had nodded pointedly at Hermione, hoping they got his hint, she was muggleborn, and not safe. The sound of something loud going off, followed by green light had his heart rate picking up a notch, time was running out, but of course they didn't get it!
He then had to spell it out, with a few insults thrown in of course, even had to call her a mudblood, but that word was empty for him by that time, only a means to an end. Then they started on his father, he couldn't refute their claims of course, his father were with the Death Eaters, so he jibed instead at Weasley's father, eventually Hermione had apparently realised what he was saying, she was in danger, so with a last disgusted look at him, she had ushered the Potty and Weasel off.
Draco was content to just call after her to keep her bushy head down, happy that she would probably be safe now, and that they would never realise he had actually helped them to realise the danger for her, by hiding his warning with insults.

That was another change defining moment, the moment he had done a selfless act, the moment he had wanted someone else, beside himself safe and sound, and not just anyone, but Hermione Granger.

More moments had ensued, small moments, the time he heard Hermione defend him to her friends in sixth year, it was not a big moment, but prominent enough to stay with him, showing the forgiving and empathic nature of the muggleborn witch.

No the next big defining moment was in his seventh year, of course the annoying trio wasn't there, they were off doing whatever it was that they had been doing, it was only a few years later that he found out they had been hunting horcruxes. The moment came when they were dragged into Malfoy Manor by the snatchers, Greyback watching Hermione with unconcealed bloodlust. Now, what made this moment so important was the fact that by that time Draco and his parents were quite miserable, they had by that time realised the terrible mistakes they had made; Draco wanted to make his father proud, that's why he followed in his footsteps, even though he knew blood meant nothing by that time, his personality was quite arrogant and he liked power, so he followed his father's footsteps, believing he'd get that power, even if he didn't believe in the cause exactly, no one needed to know that of course.
There was also the threat to his and his parents' life, so he did in actual fact not have much of a choice either, but no one on the dark side needed to know that had been a driving force either, so he took the mark.

And yet, it didn't save them, they had realised that the Dark Lord was quite mad by that time, and that he didn't really care who he killed anymore, not even his so called precious pure bloods were safe anymore, they knew they would be dead soon; the Dark Lord not really hiding his contempt for the Malfoy's. So, it came about that Draco knew somehow Potter had to win, he wanted his old life of luxury and bliss back, that was why, when they were in front of him, and his father was prodding him excitedly to identify Potter, he pretended not to recognise him.

Then they turned on Granger, but he knew he couldn't deny her identity, everyone knew her, and of course the red haired Weasley; he remembers the dejected 'yeah' he had muttered confirming Hermione Granger's identity, knowing he couldn't do anything to help her.

But the defining moment was when his crazy aunt Bellatrix was torturing her.

As she lay writhing on the floor, his aunt straddling her while carving the word mudblood into her arm, her screams echoing around the room, followed by the crucio, and more screams around the room, her weak 'please' at some point. And he could do nothing.
At some point he instinctively moved to storm to her, some vague thought of grabbing her away from his aunt, but his mother's hand had felt the sudden movement, and instantly gripped his arm, he then looked at her wide eyed, pleadingly; she saw something in his face he guessed, for suddenly her expression softened, into one of complete sympathy, but her grip didn't relent, and he also knew, even if he did get her, what then? He couldn't safe her, they were completely outnumbered in this room.

And so he looked at her, his eyes met hers, locked her gaze, imploring her to look into his, hoping by that small act, she could pull some strength from his silent attempt at support, and somehow survive this torture. Surprisingly she stopped screaming then, and kept her eyes on his, another crucio wracked her body, but now she didn't scream, she just kept his eyes; he saw the pain in her brown orbs, and yet he saw understanding also, as if she knew what was going on in his own mind.
Amid her own torture, she still had enough humanity to understand him, to somehow forgive him.

And that was it, the ultimate defining moment of his life. The moment he knew he loved the witch called Hermione Granger. Muggleborn extraordinaire.

His life had then completely and irrevocably been changed.

There were other small moments, like during the battle of Hogwarts where he had tried to save Potter from his old friends, Crabbe and Goyle, under guise of course, they had wanted to get Potter; he stumbled upon them as they tried to enter the Room of Requirement, so he tagged along, knowing that for him to get his life back, Potter had to win. He played along, but he didn't once actually voice anything beyond wanting his wand back, and then trying to discourage Crabbe and Goyle from killing Potter by telling them that the Dark Lord wanted him alive.

He remembered how he flinched as Crabbe called the witch he loves a mudblood, and how quickly that flinch had turned to horror when he followed with the killing curse, the relief he felt when Hermione dived and missed the curse barely. Yes that was another moment, albeit only an enhancing moment.

Yes that defining moment had enhanced his new found love for Hermione Granger, and his hope that Potter would win.

Then the other major defining moment was when he found her weak and muddied figure behind his shop in District 8.

Yes he had known she was there, he had manipulated his parents to open up the old Manor, which was in actual fact an old castle. He wanted to be close to her, watch out for her, but it had proven hard, he knew where she lived and worked; that had been his first order of business, but he never saw her. So he had no idea how she were doing, he thought she were doing okay, since the Crabbe's would mention her sometime, so he used that as his basis of information. Doing visits there, supposedly keeping in contact with them for the memory of their son, they never questioned it; arrogant as they were they thought he was groveling. Yet he never saw her, and if they didn't mention her out of their own, he would make a scathing remark regarding her; it always had the desired effect of them then going on a rant of the cursed mudblood.

But that day, as he looked down, he realised that obviously she wasn't doing good. And so he scooped her up and took her home, getting their elf to sort out the practicalities; then silently cursing himself for not thinking of using his elf before, how idiotic could he have been? He blindly believed that as long as Crabbe were complaining about her, that she was okay; but in his own defence, he was new in the whole loving someone besides himself arena, so he was bound to screw it up a few times at least.

Not counting his parents of course.

So he was learning every day, and that day he knew he had to be active, if he wanted the witch he loved to survive at all, he had to take an active role. So, ordering his elf to make sure she had food when needed, he set out to look for Kingsley and McGonagall; knowing that they were his best bet, of saving Hermione and hopefully eventually to get the Dark Lord to die.

And that was the defining moment where he made the choice to join the light side, the last vestiges of his old life crumbling completely.

DMHG

Draco Malfoy lay in the dark, staring up towards the wooden ceiling, which he couldn't really make out actually, he had been thinking of the important times that featured Hermione Granger. It's what he did these days, the only way he was keeping on to his sanity. He had been here for weeks; the public shows had stopped, now it was just darkness and pain.

He prayed to all the gods that it would stop soon; it was all he could do.

DMHG

*if the scenes mentioned here from the original story seems different from the movies, it is because I'm not using the movies for my basis, I'm using the actual scenes from the books directly.
I always preferred the books to the movies.*