Time Goes By

by BeauteousCupcake

In their final year, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger find themselves thrown together by Headmistress McGonagall who is eager to heal Hogwarts in the wake of the Second Great War against the Dark Lord. Both students are damaged, both physically and emotionally and don't know who to trust but they have to work together to protect themselves from those still loyal to Voldemort.

1. Breaking Rules

I don't own Harry Potter©. Harry Potter© is the property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only and to sate my love of the characters.

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Time Goes By.

Chapter One: Breaking Rules.

Hogwarts, October 1998.

The look in Draco Malfoy's eyes was the one that would strike fear into anyone who didn't know that the boy had changed somewhat in recent months. There had been times during what should have been the Summer holidays that Malfoy had believed himself to be losing a grasp on the shred on sanity he still had. His parents had been tried for the involvement in the Second Great War to inflict untold damage on the Wizarding world and Malfoy had had to endure seeing his beloved and fragile Mother; Narcissa being locked away in Azkaban. Even now, he wanted to kill the souls who had not seen how mentally unstable she had become and how imprisonment would only make her deteriorate further. How many hours he had spent trying to find someone in the Ministry of Magic to believe him, to see that she belonged in the wards of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries rather than under lock, key and the watchful eyes of Dementors in the Wizarding prison.

Yes, he was still as arrogant as he had been when stepping onto the Hogwarts Express for the first time in September 1991. It was noted also that yes; he secretly liked how his appearance could still instil a sense of fear into the wide eyed first years students who were attending Hogwarts for the first time since the end of the war and the reconstructing of Hogwarts to its former glory for the most part. However what few knew about Draco Malfoy was that the months after the war ending and the weeks spent proving that he had indeed been a double agent for Dumbledore alongside Severus Snape, had provided the young man with invaluable introspective about the man he wanted to be. People also didn't know just who had been the unexpected light to his otherwise dark world and just who had been there to hold his hands when Aurors had explained that Lucius Malfoy despite his attempts to prove his loyalty to Voldemort and his fellow Death Eaters had been wavering for sometime, would indeed serve a decade in the formidable Azkaban. There had been regular letters between Draco Malfoy and the unknown friend every week right up until one especially pristine letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrived by owl to Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Then, there had been a delivery of a parcel from Honeydukes alongside a letter from the secretive friend celebrating the news that Draco had never believed to be possible for a misfit in the school as he.

Draco Malfoy was back at Hogwarts but he was no longer sleeping in the Slytherin Dormitories. He was now in fact, Head Boy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and if it were possible; was even prouder than Percy Weasley had been several years before. Something, Draco would certainly not to be reminded of given his dislike for all things related to the Weasel and his family. The letter declaring the Headmistress McGonagall had chosen him alongside one third of the infamous Golden Trio; Miss Hermione Jean Granger had finalised the internal dilemmas Draco had been battling since the horrific scenes of his school had finally ended with the demise of the Dark Lord. Draco Malfoy had attained through the many letters that had arrived by owl and through conversations with his conscience that he could not only become a man of worth in his own right. He had also come to the conclusion that following the words and ideals of especially Lucius and indirectly, the Dark Lord Voldemort would have led to him losing the shred of humanity he wanted to see flourish and time spent within the intimidating walls of Azkaban alongside his Father and various Death Eaters who had sat around his dining room table gloating in the prospect of death and the demoralisation of anyone who didn't follow the same narrow minded beliefs that the Dark Lord had possessed. Now as he wove his way through the various halls that were quiet albeit for the prefects checking for anyone being out of bed past the still enforced curfew, his mind was on the female who had been given the same role as he too protect pupils and support the various Professors in guiding new generations of British Witches and Wizards towards their bright futures. Miss Granger hadn't done as she was told, and Draco had been given a quiet warning from McGonagall that he best not have upset the proclaimed 'greatest witch for a generation'. It had taken a good hour in the Headmistress's private office that was so different that when Dumbledore and his phoenix, Fawkes had resided there; to convince her that he hadn't even see the Gryffindor student bar in transfiguration and potions that day.

"I want you to put aside house rivalry Mister Malfoy and offer Miss Granger every assistance you can. I am more than aware that you are both still suffering in the aftermath of the war but life here must go on; I am sure you will agree that Hogwarts should be returned to a place of learning and not a graveyard for the many we all lost."

Her tone had been gentle, as had the gentle caress of his shoulder which had surprised Draco no end; everyone knew that McGonagall as the former Head of Gryffindor was fiercely loyal to the house of Godric Gryffindor and hated Slytherin; its rival. However, Draco had also agreed with her.

Life indeed had to go on, and even though there were now large plaques being erected listing the dead of each house? The dead could be honoured for their sacrifice (even those loyal to the Dark Lord it seemed strangely enough) by simply living. Malfoy had embraced that belief with both hands and was doing his up most to convince his fellow students that the time for insulting those of Muggle parentage was over... that their parents were wrong and had been proven so.

Which was why he was here, deviating from his responsibility to ensure all was calm in the halls student wise and Peeves was prevented from his antics that were slowly returning to the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Glancing up, his silver-grey eyes focused on the four large and elaborately framed paintings depicting the four founders of Hogwarts. It seemed he had walked in on and argument between the two men which was no surprise.

Godric Gryffindor and Salazar and Slytherin were bickering over who would win the House Cup this year whilst Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff looked on with amusement on both their faces.

"Of course Gryffindor will win, we have Harry Potter as Seeker and he's caught the snitch in numerous matches and do remember he was the first Seeker to be chosen in his first year in a cen.."

"In a century, yes how many times will you make me hear that Godric, I'm quite aware of Potter's record but we have young Mister Draco Malfoy and he's quite the Quidditch player and a perfect Slytherin student!

Ah, Draco my boy what are you up to this evening? It's been a long time since I saw the youngest member of the Slytherin family; it's good to see you again."

Wishing to disappear into the stone flooring at the jovial nature his great-great something grandfather treated him; Draco murmured that he was indeed well and wouldn't be drawn into the argument that would carry on until the first games of the Quidditch season had taken place. Apparently, the stadium had finally been rebuilt and it was good to know that the crater he had stumbled through in a bid to stay alive was now back to being the smooth Quidditch pitch that bought joy to everyone of the four houses.

What they needed here, as Headmistress McGonagall had been aware of, was a sensible mix of normality and remembrance. Nothing would ever be the same, but the school would heal together..hopefully. It was that reason, that made Draco believe to be why he had been chosen as Head Boy alongside a Gryffindor.

As he moved on with the feeling of being watched unsettling him further until he turned a corner and the voices dimmed. Draco couldn't help but wonder if the founding foursome of witches and wizards could feel just how much guilt he carried on his toned shoulders and how he doubted every decision he had made. Surely Potter would have been better to be Head Boy, everyone looked to him as a hero and a symbol of what was good in the Wizarding world Draco would never experience such a thing no matter what he did. There was a time it would have made him angry but now, well he was just content to be alive and able to decide what his future would be... it certainly wouldn't be anything in the Ministry no matter how many times he was approached as the new face of the Pure bloods alongside his best friend Blaise Zabini.

Reformed Death Eaters were apparently the latest thing the Ministry wanted to collect.

Everyone in the Wizarding world knew that the Malfoy family had defected from the Dark Lord to Dumbledore's Army as they had become known when it became clear that Voldemort's army were going to fall on the grounds of Hogwarts.

What a lot of people didn't know because Draco had asked for it to be kept quiet in fact as far as he knew it had only been those close to Potter who had known the truth. Was that Draco Malfoy had been loyal to Dumbledore and had played the same role as his Godfather, Severus Snape in being a double agent. He had hated it being known that he was supposed to kill the kind Headmaster on the top of the Astronomy Tower instead of Snape, he had endured the many looks of utter hatred from the Dumbledore faithful throughout his fifth and sixth year when he had come to the Headmaster and told him of his doubts. But the vehement hate that was in the eyes of those kept from the truth was wearing him down already. He wanted to stand on the raised platform and scream out the truth that neither Snape nor he had wanted to kill the Headmaster, that he had been forced to do unspeakable things to keep his Mother alive. It wasn't as if he had been popular in school in the first place; those people who had been seen to be his friends certainly weren't Pansy Parkinson had wanted to be the future Lady Malfoy, then there had been Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle who had been hangers on and body guards - intent on being caught in the Slytherin pride for the Malfoy name. Blaise had been his only true friend and they had ironically kept their distance in school for the most part until this final year. So many Slytherin students hadn't returned either because they were now locked away in Azkaban, lost in the battlefield or just too afraid to return to the school they had helped to destroy for all intensive purposes. Malfoy had accepted the role of being the hated student of three houses again because it was a role he knew too well and although he hated it; had the strength to wear the mask well. He was prepared to be the scapegoat for all the hatred, as long as his Godfather's legacy was restored and the truth came out that he had been loyal to Dumbledore until his last breath. That Severus Snape had done everything he did, for one thing...

Love.

The identity to who he had loved however, Draco had felt deserved to kept secret. It served no purpose to upset anyone and Snape had hated to be under the spotlight.

Sighing softly, his blonde hair falling over his eyes as he cast his gaze left and right and headed towards the Gryffindor Tower praying the Bloody Baron wouldn't have strayed too far from the Slytherin Dungeons.

She wasn't out patrolling the corridors as Draco and McGonagall had believed she would be. Which meant that Miss Hermione Granger, one third of the Golden Trio alongside the Weasel and the 'Boy-Who-Wouldn't-Lie-Down-And-Die' was hiding. She had returned to Hogwarts nursing several scars that at one time Madame Pomfrey could have easily removed with a simple cream, salve, or swirl of her wand alongside the formidable, dark look she cast upon any student who failed to respect the rules of the Hospital ward. There was no denying that she was as haunted as Draco but according to the two boys who had also returned to complete the Trio? Hermione Granger was 'Perfectly fine thank you very much.'

Two thirds of the bloody Golden Trio were clearly either blind or stupid to not see what the war had done to Hermione. Draco had only seen her once, when they had been waiting to climb into the Thestral pulled carriages, she however had not seen him which didn't surprise him. However in that brief moment of time he had had to look at Hermione Granger properly, Draco could see how detached she was from everything that was going on around her. Shaking his head, he shooed Peeves away from one of the restored hallways where he had set up indoor fireworks something that just seemed wrong to the new Head Boy. Peeves of course had thrown an almighty tantrum until the Bloody Baron was mentioned and a particularly sweet looking milk maid in a painting had offered to go find him for Malfoy. The thought of the explosives reminding him of the gossip that had been going around the seventh years of the four houses; rumour was it that when Malfoy had been ensconced in McGonagall's office; Granger had blown her cauldron up in potions and caused Professor Slughorn to send her to Madame Pomfrey. The childish side of Malfoy reared his head and a voice within him said that he hoped Granger has burnt off her and Slughorn's eyebrows at least to cause others to have a chuckle.

It couldn't be helped he told himself, he had grown up considerably from the moment the Dark Mark had been tattooed into his skin and the dark magic had begun its work below the surface but old habits died hard. It was sometimes just too easy to make fun of others misfortune especially when processing the second set of Tweedledum and Tweedledee that were in the castle. Merlin help us all if the rumours about Weasel and Potter wanting to be Aurors if they couldn't see that their best friend was struggling. Malfoy couldn't help but think that they were just too used to Granger being there with them and surviving everything that was thrown at her. Of course they were both idiots.

But what did Draco expect from either one of them.

Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had refused to see the evidence put before them; that both Draco and his beloved and fragile Mother; Narcissa, (sister to both Bellatrix Lestrange née Black and also Andromeda Tonks, the Mother of the late Nymphadora Lupin) had both wanted to be free from the stranglehold the Dark Lord had had on us both. Draco had seen the scepticism in both their eyes when they had been brought before the Ministry, yet there had been evidence to support their claims in the diaries Narcissa and Draco had kept from Lucius. How was it that he had both wanted Lucius to appreciate his Mother and him, and avoid the physical and emotional trauma he had inflicted upon us both for years. Lucius Malfoy was a product of his own Father's cruel nurturing and had in turn scared Draco into doing exactly what he wanted him to be a loyal Death Eater and cold blooded Malfoy heir.

Abuse; both physical and emotional was something Draco knew about all too well.

For example, the Dark Mark on his inner arm was now something that caused him pain in increasing amounts throughout each and every day. Naïvely he had hoped that it would fade as the months since the Dark Lord's demise went by, but he had indeed been foolish. It was still as dark and as foreboding as it had been on the day when he had stood and withheld the screams of pain he had wanted to have echo around his the store.

'You're a man now Draco.. enjoy you're now a monster' in the making hadn't exactly been what he had wanted to have happen when he had been taken to Borgin and Burkes at the beginning of his Summer holiday the year before. Clearly that was something that the two Gryffindor boys had no idea about and never would now. Yet to Draco, it was all too apparent that Hermione Granger needed someone to talk too, and didn't want to go to those two idiots.

It also appeared that being self-righteous and believing your own hype also seemed to make you ignorant and possess an inability to be forgiving to the meagre amount of Slytherin students who had returned to Hogwarts. Many of them had switched their allegiance and tried to aide those loyal to Dumbledore and faced their own family on the battlefield. It also seemed to be a perquisite that grudges were to be kept no matter how much redemption had taken place, as was being blind to what was going on around them some things wouldn't change in the school no matter how much Draco silently prayed for it.

Potter wasn't that bad in truth, not that Draco would admit that to anyone; but the Weasel was too bloody headstrong and refused to see that things weren't always the way he believed them to be. Scowling slowly, the curve of Draco's smooth lip turned upward and the normally silver-grey of his eyes took on a steel shade and anger flowed through him at the remembrance of the Weasel declaring, All Slytherin students were liars and only wanted to save their own asses they're all nothing but Death Eater scum. Of course the idiot hadn't seen the faces of the children confronting their parents and loved ones on the battlefield. Draco himself had stood side by side with the late (and in Draco's humble opinion) great Severus Snape against Lucius Malfoy in which to defeat his own Father.

He could recall the fight vividly.

Draco's wand had fallen into the muddy ground, disappearing under his foot leaving him without protection from magic but nonetheless; he hadn't held back and with Severus carefully watching over him he had approached his Father.. no, Lucius Malfoy because that man, didn't deserve the title and privilege of being a parent. Draco had ignored the taunts and threats that were thrown at him by the man who had manipulated into being a person he hated; instead, he had launched himself at the man and knocked him down repeatedly to the floor. Left and right hooks had flown with smooth precision into the older man's face and body inflicting as much pain as he could before Lucius was able to hurt him with one of the truly dark and vindictive spells he knew and had performed on the Muggles they had been made to kidnap for Voldemort's pleasure. As he thought about it, it was if he could feel the moment Lucius's wand had been raised to Draco's chest. As he remembered everything, Draco could recall the ear piercing scream Lucius had made when Severus had inflicted the Cruciatus Charm of the man several times to protect Draco from what would have been a fiercely struck Avada Kedavra. Draco owed his life to the man who had shown him more and couldn't help but wonder as the sorrow crept through him once more, how his former Head of House and Godfather would have felt if he could see him now. He had always encouraged Draco when his own family had dismissed what he did as not being enough Severus had said that he knew Draco was capable of more.. it had been uttered quietly when preparing Draco in the art of advanced Occlumency to hide the truth from any Death Eater who tried to invade his mind in the lead up to the invasion of Hogwarts.

He'd hated knowing he had to trick people and let monsters such as Fenrir Greyback into his school, people had thought Draco was a monster but he was nothing like Yaxley, Greyback or his Aunt Bella who loved pain and violence in a macabre manner. Snape had also told him that he deserved more than he believed he were capable of having and that he shouldn't settle for what he thought he should. That he was a good man trapped in a cruel situation; well maybe he should strive to prove his Godfather right.

Nodding slowly to the Prefects who were retiring to their beds after ensuring that no one was where they shouldn't be; Draco made his way towards the Gryffindor Tower where Hermione Granger had taken to hiding instead of the place they both loved; the library under the careful watch of Madam Pince. Not many people knew that Draco Malfoy had a second more secretive passion other than his love for Quidditch; Draco loved to read as much as Hermione did but had been scolded by Lucius for wasting his time with books..something he would never understand as he was also scolded for not getting higher grades than Hermione. It had upset him so much to be told by Lucius that he couldn't enter the library any more unless it was to try and 'get close to Potter, the Weasel and the 'Mudblood' as it had taken away one of the ways Draco could escape from the cold harsh reality of what Draco had faced for the last few years of attending Hogwarts. Perhaps now, with Lucius locked up in Azkaban he could at least enjoy some parts of his final year of school.

Headmistress's comments that Hermione had been taking her books out from Madam Pince rather than staying in the library had led to Draco making his way through the one area of the school no Slytherin ever wanted to willingly go when not in class. He had to get her to accept that she could be in the Tower with him, that he would indeed be a responsible Head Boy as was required by all who were chosen for the prestigious role within the school; he had to convince her that he had indeed changed and unlike the many he had heard whispering about Hermione? He wouldn't stare at her scar that had been inflicted on her inner arm by his Aunt Bellatrix.

To be branded forever as a Mudblood had to have been horrendous and Draco was hoping to confess a secret to the Gryffindor if he could get in with the password McGonagall had written down for him. How he wished he could have done more that day, how he wished he could have got his Aunt away from the girl and get her away from the inevitably painful torture she would face along with Potter and the Weasel. Denying his knowledge of their identities hadn't ever felt enough but his hands had been tied as he protected his Mother.

The Fat Lady who had been protecting the Gryffindor Common room for over three decades was a notorious stickler for rules which could go either way for Draco depending on how he phrased his request. A Slytherin wasn't permitted into the common room of another house, but he had a reason and the Headmistress herself had requested she make this late night visit telling him that Hermione would know of his midnight visit. Draco wanted to show to the girl that he was worthy of the letter he had received in August notifying that even with his previous bad behaviour and childish antics towards students such as Hermione and Longbottom in Gryffindor. He had accepted the responsibility happily and had visited her Mother to tell her the news as he had done anytime he wanted to make his Mother happy. Draco Malfoy had changed, he really had and he needed Hermione to give him a chance..and he wanted to help her heal if she would let him because the ghosts wouldn't leave her alone if she ignored them. He was going to show everyone that a Malfoy didn't hide away nor did they give up when the going got hard. He wasn't his Father's son; no, Draco Malfoy was his own man and was going to make the Malfoy name be one to respect and not fear ..somehow..

Granger was at breaking point.

Draco could sense that and so much more, and add to it all the rumours of the different less focused Granger making mistakes in class? Draco was left wondering if he could fix her well at least convince her that she had to be where she was supposed to be. The soft frown of uncertainty altered Draco's handsome face swiftly as the voice of doubt crept through his thoughts again.

Was the reason that Hermione wasn't fully embracing her responsibility as Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry because she didn't want to be seen to be living with a known Death Eater and member of the Dark Lord's that was the case? Then McGonagall had made a really big mistake in allowing me to enter the hallowed Gryffindor common room. He wasn't like the bastard of a man he had had to call Father, nor did he have any of the insanity that been a part of the insane bitch and viperous lapdog to the Dark Lord himself; his Aunt Bellatrix. Nor did he take pleasure in destroying innocents like Greyback and Yaxley. But did Hermione truly know that? He had spoken to her briefly and seen the doubt in her eyes but that had been when they were lying side by side in the hospital ward trying to heal broken bones below their tarnished skin and then he had been taken to the Manor to heal away from prying eyes..

She had no idea what he had done for her as the battle came to its horrific end; and the early hours of the morning wasn't the time to play a game of truth or dare.

The dare being actually entering the common room.

He would tell her one day if she wanted to know and wouldn't judge him for keeping it a secret from her; he had had his reasons and had prayed no one had known. Given the fact he was still alive, no one had known the truth of what he had done in the last days of the war. As far as he knew since they had arrived at Hogwarts; Hermione Granger still hated him and wouldn't see him as anything other than the prick he had been in their third year. People changed, but pain lingers Draco.. Damn it he was talking to himself now.

Taking the steps of the tower two at a time, he hoped that the Fat Lady was aware of what McGonagall had wanted him to do she had been repaired along with the three other protectors of the Houses and had been in a horrendous mood during the restoration when there had been dust and strangers everywhere. Thank God the Ministry had realised that they truly owed the late Dumbledore otherwise the school would still be closed; rather than nearly finished thanks to the large groups of restorers and stone masons who could be found throughout the school grounds. As he refused to allow his mind to go back to the war and the weeks just after when he had had to visit the bleak Azkaban and be interviewed by Aurors about his involvement and that of his Mother's as she had become a mute in the wake of a final blow; a hex to her body by Lucius that had left her bleeding on the ruined stone floor. The darkness had crept in; and I could remember how empty the world had felt when witnessing the torture those creatures committed on the guilty. Stopping mid-step on the final turn of the stairs, he recalled how truly idiotic and insensitive Draco had been for laughing at Potter collapsing when he had been confronted by the Dementor on the Hogwarts Express. After seeing these soulless monsters guarding the Azkaban prisoners, he now fully understood just how terrifying it was to have all the joy taken from you by those wraith like creatures.

If the paintings were aware of what Draco was up to they were keeping it to themselves. So were the school ghosts thankfully, because the Bloody Baron was terrifying at the best of times, even for the students who haunted over. If the proud Slytherin ghost found out that he was standing in front of the Fat Lady of Gryffindor House? He would never be allowed to forget that he was being a traitor to the House. Hogwash as far as he was concerned but he wanted some peace even for a few days and that required no run ins with the Baron.

Facing said Fat Lady, he couldn't help but smile at the hair net to keep her hair out of her eyes and what looked like Violet asleep in the corner of the frame. The Fat Lady looked truly curious as to his presence near her beloved common room until Draco flashed her a bright smile and lifted out the scrap of parchment that had the Headmistress's signature on it along with the password itself. She wanted us to work together, to help remind the Hogwarts students that McGonagall wanted there to be more inter-house interaction of a none-violent nature. She was hoping the old ways of Pure blood versus Half blood or 'Mudblood' would come to an end during her tenure-ship as Headmistress of the Britain's Magical school. The problem was, she was throwing a snake head-first into the one place where students held grudges longer than anyone. Then add the natural instinct of most Slytherin students to be naturally sceptical of others; and yet there he stood wondering just how this would all play out.

"You're Draco Malfoy!

I heard you were back and I'm glad to see you're going to see Miss Granger, she's always crying and those boys are too silly not to see how sad she is. Minevra bless her said you would be coming but I wish she had told me it would be so late a handsome boy like you should see my dress not this."

Was he being flirted with by another painting? Draco really hoped not after dealing with an especially brazen ballerina who had tried to get him to strip off so she could see if he had the body of a dancer. Draco had kept that little nugget of blackmail material to himself and saved himself years of being teased by his fellow Slytherin students.

"Yes, I'm him and you look beautiful now if you would be so kind..the password is 'Caput Draconis' and I believe Miss Granger is waiting for me. I do appreciate you allowing me to enter here and will behave."

The Fat Lady giggled at his polite manners and the frame moved to allow Draco to climb in. Stepping into the common room itself, Draco felt his breath catch in his throat as the orange fur-ball, Crookshanks ran towards him purring like the kitten he had had when a boy. Recently, the part-cat/part-Kneazle had been spending time around the Slytherin area of the school when Hermione had been patrolling and I'd secretly enjoyed secret strokes of the massive fur-ball. Knowing the Weasel hated him and the feeling was mutual from Crookshanks was an added bonus but the simple pleasure of fussing the fur-ball was the one thing Draco really enjoyed.

Something else Lucius or Aunt Bellatrix would have destroyed for him if it meant he would behave for them.. Happiness wasn't allowed power and success whilst serving the Dark Lord was the be all and end all of the lives and family, happiness etcetera was secondary or even lower than that on the scale of the life goals they had. Often, I wondered why Lucius hadn't married Aunt Bella rather than my Mother certainly they were more likely to have shared interests. Swallowing back the fear that always surfaced at the thought of Bellatrix Lestrange coming back from the dead and torturing the girl who was curled up on a couch with 'Hogwarts: A History' lying open on her lap, he became aware of the pain emanating from his palms. He was pushing his nails into his palms again, no doubt leaving the small crescents across the flesh from the need he had to crush emotional pain with physical. Willing a sense of calm and the façade of nonchalance to descend upon his person once more before he moved to where Hermione was. Draco had to regain control, he hated feeling this vulnerable and weak at the best of times, but before Granger seemed deplorable for the former Slytherin Prince to do.

"Granger."

"Malfoy, the Headmistress said you would be coming here, but I was tired I also didn't want anyone to suspect anything so went to bed. I'm very sorry she's done this, I thought you would find it easier if I stayed here rather than come live in the Head student's accommodation."

Taking in her appearance, Draco could have laughed at the messy way her curls had fallen around her face, that was until he looked at the bags under her eyes that were void of the tenacious fire Draco couldn't help but miss. His observations made him wonder just what else had happened to Hermione Granger in the wake of the battle and the return to well, civilian life for the students turned soldiers of fortune and sorrow. Why had the infamously controlled and restrained Hermione Granger even agreed to this meeting, she was the one person Draco knew would do as she was told but would have avoided him at all costs. Nothing made sense. He stood before the warming fire looking down on Hermione and couldn't help but smile at her appearance it was a pleasant change to see her comfortable and unafraid to just; well be herself.

Donned in patchwork pyjama pants and a worn shirt adorned with a mouse wearing a bow with her hair falling loose over her shoulders, she was the epitome of warmth just like the Gryffindor common room itself. The rich gold and red colouring and rich wood making everything feel cosy in comparison to the stark grey and stone common room the Slytherin students had, even the expensive leather couches that Draco had once thought to be comfortable suddenly seemed hard after witnessing the cosy chairs and love seats that were used often by the Gryffindor students. Here, Draco thought, was somewhere he would enjoy being when he read a new book from the vast library either here or from the Manor.

"The truth is Draco, I also need you.. I mean, I know with you I can tell you secrets that would destroy Harry and Ron, but I didn't want to make you uncomfortable by moving in there."

Arching a brow, Draco turned from the fire and looked once more at the girl and watched as she stood up, now only a foot below him in stature. Was she under some kind of charm to speaking like this because it was certainly not like Hermione Granger to admit that she needed help from anyone; certainly not a Slytherin..especially a Malfoy yet, here they were together.

Except of course, everything Draco had ever known was different now and for the most part he liked the change. It had given him a new beginning to his life when he had thought he would die at the hands of the Dark Lord or Lucius.

Returning to the here and now within the Gryffindor dorm, Draco's eyes never left Hermione and her bizarre bow wearing mouse as she moved closer to him. He was acting very uncharacteristically for the former Slytherin Prince and heir apparent to the title of Lord Malfoy which he would claim on the morning of his twenty-first birthday. Cool grey eyes swept over her petite body noticing that she really wasn't looking after herself in the wake of the battle. Her perfect hour-glass figure was thinner than he recalled it being at the beginning of the year, were her parents aware than she wasn't looking after herself? Draco recalled vaguely hearing Hermione speak about them when there had been a meeting for the various Phoenix members and DA students at 12 Grimmauld Place, the home that now belonged to Potter and contained records of his Mother's Family; the Blacks. Struggling to recall what it was, his brows furrowed and a pensive look took over his face he would remember and then it would be one more thing he knew about Miss Hermione Granger.

Ah that was it!

She had performed the Obliviate spell on them and made them travel across the globe to escape the Dark Lord, Draco had no idea if her Muggle parents were returned from wherever they had gone.. he couldn't help but hope that they had for her sake. A child needed their parents, no matter how awful they were which was why Draco was determined to have Narcissa Malfoy return to him. She had loved him unconditionally, and she had understood that he didn't want to be what he was made to become. As for Hermione?

Circe! She was truly incredible and selfless when it came to protecting those she loved but once more, Draco wondered? What was the cost to her own sanity and peace of mind only Hermione truly knew that.

Malfoy didn't know exactly how it happened but one minute Hermione Granger was standing before him, her sleepy eyes resting on him and the next he had a strong arm slung around her waist pulling her to him. The girl needed to be held, to feel the warmth of another body and if possible be able to be helped to feel safe. Of course, Draco may not have been the right person to do either of those things for Hermione but he couldn't stand seeing her so broken before him. McGonagall had indeed done a good thing and even if Hermione hexed him where he stood, he was going to owl the Headmistress first thing to say that he was willing and able to do all it could to restore life to the shell that was Hermione. Tracing a finger across her jawline carefully to allow Draco the utter selfish gift of her wide eyes looking at him. He was selfish by nature, and whether you blamed it on his parentage, on the fact he was an only child or something else? Draco took a second selfish moment for himself to bring her closer, noticing silently that she didn't seem to want to move away from him. She didn't argue with him, or try to push him away and as Draco head settled upon her messy curls, he let his eyes close over and a quiet contentment seep through his whole body. He couldn't believe that Hermione Jean Granger's supple body was pressed against his toned physique in a way the boy he had been a year or so ago would have thought to be disgusting. Now, it was just welcoming to feel warm and to be able to be strong for someone who hadn't even know that they could come to him..

"You never replied to my last letter, I sent you an owl thanking you for the chocolate. You didn't need to 'mione.. especially as we're both going to be doing this job together. Did you go to your museum that day in London, I had wanted to find a place to meet you for lunch.

I hadn't seen you since..since the afternoon when they were.. when we were in the Hall."

Fighting back the memory of that afternoon, he fought back the nausea.

In his arms, Draco swore he felt her shift and he was right.

Slender arms were tightening their hold and there was a muffled sneeze. Damn it, of course she was cold after waiting up for him; no matter how hot the fire was these dorms never stayed as warm as they should. Hermione Granger had been his secret pen-pal throughout the Summer, sending him letters all about Muggle trips and places that Draco was now genuinely intrigued about. It was to her that he had confessed his fear that Narcissa wouldn't be strong enough for Azkaban; and it had been to her that he had written saying he was testifying against captured Death Eaters in an attempt to ensure they wouldn't be freed from the prison anytime soon. It was to him that Hermione had confessed that she had thought she was going to die when lying on his dining room table in the West wing of the vast Malfoy Manor. It was him that she had forgiven and understood how helpless he had felt when the Golden Trio had been captured by the Death Eaters...

Draco Malfoy had a new friend that no one could know about in case it caused riots in the slowly calming school and she was Hermione Granger, one of the 'Gryffindorks' he had made fun of for enjoying the one thing he too loved..

"I meant too.. but the Weasley family had come stay at the Burrow till Mum and Dad.. till I can find a way to bring them back. I couldn't find a way to keep the house and it's for sale Draco..my home is for sale and I'm lost.."

Yes.. McGonagall was as sneaky as a Slytherin, she had known that Draco would help Hermione open up.

The two young people were so alike and had been for a long time, just neither of them would see it, or if they did? They certainly wouldn't let anyone know it. All Draco knew was that the girl needed someone to hold her and listen as she finally lowered the walls from around her fragile form. Hermione needed to have someone be there as she told them why the shadows under her eyes hadn't faded despite being safe. Then again, safe had always been a relative term when living in fear of the Dark Lord. He had been a creature of habit, embracing any and everything that would offer him power and success over those of 'lower birth' and heritage. Ironic as he was a half-blood but there we go; he was dead. The expectations placed on her as one third of the Golden Trio; and on Draco for that matter, were hard to handle never mind adding to it the day to day stress of being in our final year of school.

It may have been done for different reasons but the weight put on our shoulders in different ways but they concluded in the same way.

That all four of them could move on from being the survivors of the war that had changed the Wizarding world forever. For Hermione and her friends, it was to prove that they were united and could return to normality as being the ones to admire and look up to in not only the Gryffindor house but throughout the school. The Slytherin students for the most part had placed their hatred for the Gryffindor students on the back burner but there were still some who couldn't shake off the lessons they had been taught since birth. Draco thought (albeit solely to himself) that this hatred and distrust should have disappeared in the ash of the school. His eyes had been opened fully to the reality that pure blood or half-blood? Or even of Muggle birth completely like the girl in his arms, it was the magic that was important and not the purity of the blood line. Draco also had to admit that he still really hated the Weasel and nothing was going to sway him otherwise. Ron Weasley was hot head who didn't seem to realise that suffering had happened to families on both sides of the war. There was mourning taking place that was not solely occurring within those who had been loyal to Harry Potter and the legacy left by Albus Dumbledore.

Hermione Granger was different to both Potter and the Weasel. Firstly, she had been the living embodiment of what the Dark Lord and his followers believed to be wrong in the Wizarding world. Then there was the fact Hermione had given up so much for so many and had been left broken and alone by those who had sworn to protect her. That had been something that Draco could relate too; even if he didn't want anyone to know just how much having his family torn apart had hurt him. All because of Lucius's unwavering beliefs in the Dark Lord and messed up view of what it was to be a Pure blooded witch or wizard. The views of both of them were outdated and Draco was only relieved he had seen the light before it truly was too late to gain forgiveness from Dumbledore before his death.

Your belongings are in the lounge we're going to share.. I stopped the House Elves from unpacking it but you are going to come stay there for the year, McGonagall thinks it will do us both some good to be away from our peers at least some of the week. That was the reasoning McGonagall had insisted he go with Hermione was a sucker for making the witch happy, Draco had seen that when in transfiguration with her the year before. Keeping her close to his body with a carefully placed arm around her waist; he guided Hermione towards the love seat by the burning fire and settled them both into it. The young witch was settled upon his lap and a low murmur of 'Accio blanket' had a rich red blanket come from a neat pile to settle over them both. Gazing into the flames, Draco couldn't help but hope that Hermione would aide him in making their own private lounge as welcoming as the common room of his natural inter-house enemies was. Lifting her head to give her a small smile, Draco felt himself unable to confess his concerns.

"You've been avoiding me Hermione Granger, despite the promise to not be a typical Gryffindork to me. I felt like a right bastard when McGonagall came to the tower to ask me if I had done something to stop you moving in, I told her the truth that no, I hadn't seen you since the first day but come of 'mione? I've let you in and you do that to me you wound me Granger. We've got this year to go, then you can do whatever you want like go to a Muggle college or something but let's make this work. I want to show everyone that I've changed and the first step is a harmonious set up with the Head Girl who can break my nose with a single punch."

Offering her a smile, Draco yawned and shifted my weight to allow the warmth of the fire to relax him as her fingers tightened on his old Quidditch world cup shirt, the thing was worn out and the Bulgarian team's name had faded to a pale grey but the thing was comfortable and had served Draco well when creeping around the castle. He had to move before sleep crept over him and he was found cuddling Hermione by Potter and the Weasel one day without a headache due to the idiot's screaming would be great he thought as eyes fluttered shut.

"Draco.. I..I'll come."

One eye opened and a smile grew when Draco heard Hermione sleepily consent to coming with him. As he swept the girl up in his arms, ensuring the blanket was wrapped around her, he noticed just how late it was and that he had to move fast and silently so that his appearance in the Gryffindor Common room was discovered by anyone other than the woman who had encouraged him. Of course he had to find a way to silence the Fat Lady but he had a plan for that; there were new portraits over by the Ravenclaw common room that had been brought from the locked up collection that had belonged to Albus Dumbledore and bequeathed to the school upon his death. Draco had a feeling the new arrivals would enjoy meeting someone as fun as the Fat Lady and a favour for her would keep her silence for them.

Rumours in this school of people breaking rules were always something that caused trouble for students and teachers alike which was why Draco ran as fast as he could along the corridor of sleeping paintings with Hermione Granger in his arms wanting to get to the painting of Romilda Morduant and get the exhausted witch into her bed.

Tomorrow was Saturday and Draco was prepared to hex her if he had too to make her sleep in past breakfast; he would ensure Headmistress McGonagall didn't penalise Gryffindor for Hermione needing to lie in. Not that he should care.. points off Gryffindor helped Slytherin but somehow it didn't seem to matter to him as much as ensuring Hermione didn't sleep walk to the blasted Astronomy Tower or something equally dangerous. But that was tomorrow, and hopefully his co-Head would just sleep and then they could plan how to get through the next year because Merlin help him - Draco enjoyed the intelligent conversations he had had via Owl over the Summer with Hermione, and had secretly admired her tenacity when it came to learning.

Hermione Granger was witty, clever and beautiful amongst many other things; but she was also so pure of heart and he couldn't help but hope she would heal some of the darkness the Dark Lord's mark had inflicted on his soul.