"What the hell are you doing back here, Malfoy? You aren't welcome. No one wants you. No one cares about you. Just fuck. Off." A sixth year Gryffindor growled.

Draco stood there, his back to the wall, hands in his pockets. He tried to keep his face emotionless, to keep the pain he really felt from showing. He knew this was going to happen. Because of his father and his stupid beliefs, Draco now had to face an entire school filled with trainee wizards willing to test out their spells on a Malfoy. Just the name was enough to cause a person to scowl. Draco hated his name. He hated his family. He hated the Death Eaters. He hated Voldemort. It wasn't his fault that he was initiated. His damned father caused this shit, and when he failed at the ministry he offered the Dark Lord his own son. Who does that? For Merlin's sake, Draco was a kid... Still a kid. He really didn't need this shit.

"Impedimenta!" The Gryffindor boy yelled, throwing Draco into the wall, crashing to the ground. A few people had gathered now, and no one was bothering to help. Draco rolled to his knees, and then stood up. He didn't reach for his wand. He didn't want to fight back, no matter how much it hurt. The Gryffindor punched Draco in the stomach, and while he was doubled over in pain, knocked his back so that he landed on the ground again, breathless.

"Stupe-"The Gryffindor began.

"PROTEGO!" Someone shouted. A shield appeared between Draco and his opponent. The now larger crowd looked around then moved aside as their new head girl, Hermione Granger, walked towards the pair, holding her wand out in front of her and looking furious. She kept walking until she was in front of Draco, still on the ground. She faced her housemate, her wand pointed to his chest.

"50 points from Gryffindor and two weeks of detention with Filch. I cannot believe a Gryffindor would attack an unarmed student! I am ashamed of you. Everyone clear out! NOW!" Hermione declared. She waited until everyone had left, glaring at people who tried to hang back. Then she turned to Draco.

"Are- are you ok? Malfoy?"

Draco sighed. He really wished it wasn't her who had helped him. He still couldn't forgive himself for standing there and watching her get tortured by his aunt in his own house. He wanted to apologise, but he also didn't want to say the wrong thing. Draco had changed over the last summer, he had completely thought over his life. He decided that he would try to change who he was, and gain forgiveness from those he had hurt. But today wasn't the day for Granger.

"I'm fine." Draco said, almost bitterly. Then he turned around and stalked away. As he turned, Draco thought he saw a flash of disappointment. Did he imagine it? Shaking this off, Draco headed to the Astronomy Tower, to the one place people didn't want to go after what happened to Dumbledore there. Draco went there because it reminded him; mainly of his mistakes. When Draco got there, he slid down the wall and closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears.

That Gryffindor was right. No one wanted him here nor did anyone care for him. But the look in Hermione Granger's eyes when she asked him if he was alright made him hope that at least one person had enough compassion to be concerned. It was that thought that helped Draco sleep that night.

A/N Hey guys please review! I wanna know if its worth carrying on or if i should give up now :D my first ever fan fic so please be gentle :P