This fan fiction does not, in any way, profit from the Harry Potter Series and creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator JK Rowling.

AN: Currently in search of a good beta with the time to beta this story and maybe others. Would love to have someone who actually likes my story to do that. Please contact me if interest. If not interested because you hate my story contact me too and tell me why so I can make it better :-)

What Could Have Been

Draco sat sulkily in his seat as the train engine drowned out his thoughts. In all of his life he had never had anyone turn down being his friend. He stared at his pale reflection in the cart window. The night sky twinkling at him... taunting him. He was losing his touch. He hadn't been able to bully his dad into getting him a new broom. Then he couldn't get that stupid Potter to be his friend. Goyle was sitting across from him nursing his bitten finger. That Weasley kid's rat had gotten him good.

"Don't be a baby, Goyle," Malfoy bossed mimicking what his father told him, "Be a man."

The compartment door swung noisily open and a short girl, Draco noticed she was definitely a first year, with wild hair and he quickly noticed hazel eyes. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes proudly.

She looked around without taking notice to the three occupants, and then she turned to Draco, "Have you seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she looked back out the compartment to look for someone, "He's probably looking in another compartment," then she said in a sort of bossy voice, "Have you seen a toad? His name is Trevor."

"No," Draco snapped already in a sulky mood. For a moment he saw hurt cross her face. "Sorry," he said then trying to smile. He might have succeeded because she smiled back, her front teeth taking up most of the room in her mouth.

"Would you like to sit?" he said as close to an apology as he could come to, indicating to the seat next to him.

She smile broadened, "Couldn't possibly," she said remorsefully, "We still haven't found Trevor the Toad."

"My name is Draco Malfoy," Draco said trying to sound impressive. She didn't seem to recognize his surname.

"Hermione Granger," She responded by giving her hand which he responded by swooping his head and placing a soft kiss on it as he said, "Wonderful to meet you."

Hermione blushed deeply. She looked around wildly trying to find something to talk about, "Who are you two?" she asked of Crabbe and Goyle.

"This is Crabbe," Draco said trying to sound smooth, "And this is Goyle, he's a baby. Hurt his finger.

Hermione looked genuinely concerned which surprised Draco.

"Let me see," she said bossily grabbing his arm. He was reluctant at first as he tried to hide his finger, but Hermione had perfected the art of coaxing which Draco admired.

"Eww," Hermione said with her nose wrinkling, "Have you cleaned it?"

Goyle shook his head clumsily.

She frowned and took out her wand which prompted Goyle to yank his hand away immediately.

"It won't hurt," she said reaching out for his hand that he reluctantly gave back to her, "I promise."

"Episkey," Hermione said flicking her want at his fingers.

All the pinkness from his finger immediately left.

Draco's mouth fell open. Hermione looked up at him and blushed, looking back to Goyle she said back in her bossy tone, "It won't get infected as long as you keep it clean."

Draco couldn't hold back his voice any longer, even though he regretted what he said for years to come, even though at that very moment he meant every word of it, "You're amazing!"

Her cheeks turned a little pink but she just smiled.

"All I know how to do is the 'Reparo' spell, and I only learned that so my mother wouldn't know I had been in the Chester drawers. Do you know a lot of magic already?"

"Not much," she said truthfully, "I've tried out a few things from A Standard Book of Spells but that's— ooh." Hermione's hazel eyes became wide with excitement and her hand flew up to point out the cart window.

Draco swirled catching his first glimpse of Hogwarts castle before they rounded another corner.

"It's beautiful," Hermione cooed.

Draco looked at her and noticed her eyes were practically dilated trying to let in as much of the image as she could.

"You've never seen it before?" Draco said a little shocked.

"No," Hermione said, and then she looked at the three boys more closely, "you might want to put on your school robes. We'll be there in a moment. I'll leave then," she said reaching for the glass doors.

"Will I see you later?" Draco asked almost desperately for her not to leave.

"Sure," she said smiling opening the sliding door.

"Wait," he said stalling, "What's your surname again?"

"Granger."

"I don't recognize it," he said not wanting her to go. "Who are your parents? What do they do?"

She stepped out of the compartment and smile at him. "You wouldn't know them. They're dentist. I'm muggleborn. Bye Draco."

The sliding door slid swiftly shut right as the pit of Draco's stomach felt like it fell from the sky.

A/N The first few chapters are just small glimpses of some Draco and Hermione scenes during their younger years. I've tried to keep things relatively age appropriate for each year. Im basically writing this story within the confines of JKR's canon as if their relationship really was a big secret. I had the idea and sort of wrote some small scenes when I was about 16 and the books were only published up to OotP. Since the rest of the books came out I struggled for a long time to make this work and it sort of got put on the back burner as my own life took the front seat for a while. I have finally came to a satisfying and realistic ending for this story, staying within the rules I set for myself staying within the canon. I hope people are not dissapointed and actually enjoy my take and what I think a real relationship between Draco and Hermione would have been like while staying true to their characters.

Thank you for reading!

And please review. Any criticism would be very welcome as I started this story as a teenager and feel I must see it through and I strive to be the best writer I can be and would love to one day soon write a story of my own.