Hermione Granger was what most people would call "perfect." She had amazing friends (including the infamous Harry Potter) she got perfect grades, and she went to the Yule ball with none other than Viktor Krum, one of the greatest quidditch players alive. She was a prefect, and was most likely going to be made "Head Girl" She was envied by girls and crushed on by guys. What was it that made her different this summer?
Draco Malfoy was someone who couldn't be described in so many words. He was mean, cruel, and just pure evil, but there was something about him that was so...mysterious. What was is about him that was so difficult to understand and see? Was it his pure silver eyes? His silky smooth blonde hair? Or was it something about his evil smirk? What happened this summer that made him so calm, quiet, so…alone?
"It's not fair," said Hermione Granger. "What did they ever do to anyone? They were the kindest people you could ever meet. And out of all people, it was them who suffered." Hermione stood over the two wooden caskets that held her muggle parents. Tears fell down her flushed smooth cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Nothing could control what happened Herm," said Harry.
"Yeah, I guess." As they walked away, and the rain pounded on their faces, Hermione looked back at what was left of her parents, for the last time.
"So...er…Herm do you have everything you need for school?" said Ron trying to cheer Hermione up. "What? Oh yeah school. Erm…yeah I have everything. My parents…." She started sobbing once more.
"I just, I cant believe it. I don't want to believe it. I mean, I love your family Ron, but I would prefer so much more to be in the comfort of my own home with my parents alive."
"Listen father I didn't do anything!" Draco pleaded.
"Don't lie to me Draco! I'm tired of your excuses and your pathetic attitude! Honestly, how is it that you are my son?" Lucious Malfoy repeatedly threw spells and curses at his son Draco, as he screamed and cried and pleaded.
"Oh Draco, stop your whining! It puts shame on the Malfoy name. Crucio!"
Draco lay there cold, still. "
I'm sorry father. I'm a disgrace to the Malfoy name."
"Ahhh, you're just realizing this now? Well, I have some…ehh…errands to run, so don't bother me. You know Draco, you whine more that that mud blood girl after we killed her parents."
"What? You, you killed Hermione Granger's parents," Draco asked in confusion.
"That's none of your business Draco. Now get all of your things ready for the train tomorrow. I wont be here to accompany you."
"Yes Father."
The next day Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny boarded the Hogwarts Express. They found an empty compartment for all of them to share. Hermione was quiet the whole time. Her usual awake, alert self seemed to have disappeared. That sparkle in her chocolate brown eyes, was no longer there. She was startled by a knock on the compartment door. There she saw a paler, sadder Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want Malfoy," snarled Harry.
"Ohhh easy Potter. I just need somewhere to sit."
"What's wrong with your moron bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle," asked Ron.
"Nothing. I just don't feel like sitting with them, and all of the other compartments are full. Look, I'm not gonna bother you, I just need somewhere to sit." Harry looked at Ron and then to Hermione.
"Ugh, just let him stay. It'll shut him up," Hermione said.
"Well, someone's in a bad mood."
"SHUT UP MALFOY I DIDN'T ASK FOR A STUPID COMMENT!" Draco just stared at her shocked, and surprisingly, aroused. He sat down in the seat opposite her wondering if that was the best choice.
"Um…if you don't mind me asking," Hermione looked away from the window at him, "why are you so…nasty today?"
"All right Malfoy get out," scolded Ron.
"If you wanna stay in here without any problems keep your mouth shut!"
Then it came to Draco, "you whine more that that mud blood girl after we killed her parents." He looked at her with pleading eyes, and Hermione knew right away, he could see the pain that crawled inside her veins. Then, in a voice so low, almost like a whisper, Draco said to her,
"I'm sorry." To hear those words of sympathy and asking for forgiveness, Hermione realized, Draco could really tell how she was feeling. He could see she was miserable. He knew what she was saying, even if not a single word came out of her mouth.
For the rest of the train ride, they all sat in silence. When the train came to a stop, they all got their things, and headed towards Hogwarts. In the Great Hall, while everyone was stuffing their faces with turkey legs and potatoes, Hermione just sat there staring at her empty plate. Neither Harry, nor Ron noticed that she wasn't eating, that her depression was eating her alive, or the fact that she wasn't talking at all for the first time in her life. Hermione looked at them with a face of pure disgust, and walked away.
"Hey, where are you going," shouted Ron. Hermione just kept walking, ignoring him. Draco heard Ron shout and looked up to see Hermione storming out of the Great Hall.
"Library," Draco mumbled to himself. Draco got up and headed to the library as fast as he possibly could. When he reached the library he saw her. She was hiding her sobbing behind a book hoping not to draw attention to herself. Suddenly Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm promising you right now, everything is going to be okay." She recognized this soft whisper. It was Draco. She looked in his silver, mysterious eyes, and started crying on his shoulder.
"Listen, I know it's hard to do this but, you have to trust me when I tell you everything will be fine. I wont ever break this promise." Hermione nodded and continued her crying. Draco wiped the tears from her cheeks and looked into her chocolate brown eyes.
"I don't really think this is the best place for someone to be crying." Hermione cracked a very small smile and stood up. The two of them walked up to the astronomy tower. Hermione grew curious.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Draco looked at her and merely smirked.
"No one deserves to go through what you're going through right now." Hermione's spirits slightly lifted when she heard this.
"People's parents die everyday. I'll get over it, but it's just really hard right now."
"Well, yeah, there is your parents deaths, but there is also the fact that your friends don't give a shit. They can't see how miserable you are. Well, they don't bother trying to see. Or understand." Hermione knew he was right.
"And you do," Hermione asked.
"I do. Shockingly, I have a heart." Hermione laughed. Draco smiled and said,
"You don't have to make it seem that hard to believe."
"Do you believe in love," Hermione asked.
"That wasn't random at all," Draco said sarcastically. Hermione smiled.
"But no, I don't. I believe in lust, not love." Hermione looked slightly disappointed.
"We better head to our common rooms. We don't want your friends to worry now do we?" Hermione laughed at his sarcasm. They walked back down together, but then parted ways to go to their common rooms. Draco merely looked at her and then headed to his dorm.
"Wait Draco!" He turned around. Hermione ran to him and said, "Thank you. For everything." He smiled and said,
"Night Hermione."
When she entered the common room, she saw what she believed to be the most disgusting sight ever. Harry was snogging Ginny and Ron was snogging Lavender…again. It was like their faces were glued together. The girls were all over them. It was such a horrific sight. Just looking at it made Hermione feel like she was going to throw up. Hermione looked at Neville who seemed to be covering his eyes.
"I don't blame him. Poor boy, he must be scarred for life," Hermione mumbled to herself. Deciding she had seen enough, Hermione went up to her dorm. She sat there for what seemed like hours, staring out her window. All she thought about was how much Draco understood her and how he was right about everything he said that evening. But most of all, she thought about how disappointed she was when he said he didn't believe in love.
"Lust? Well, I'm sure if her met the right girl he would change his mind," Hermione said to herself. Why was she saying this? Why was it bothering her so much? "I don't like him. I mean, come one, he's Draco Malfoy. He isn't the kind of boy you fall in love with. Well, Pansy Parkinson did, but she's a different story. I had a normal conversation with him for the first time in my life today. I can't just fall in love with him after one talk versus six years of torture. Can I?" All of this confusion was giving Hermione a headache. She laid in her four posters bed, and fell asleep.