Chapter One:

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter, I really do. While I'm not on good terms with Ms. Rowling right this moment, she gave me my childhood, so I own nothing.

This is my first attempt at fanfiction, so I need honesty. Also this will be multi chaptered so I'm looking for a beta if anyone's interested. Review please.

(Hermione's POV)

Hogwarts reopened the following September. Only a few 8th years returned and they were going to be living in the same specialized dorm.

Hermione was craving things to be normal. She needed it. Harry and Ron had decided to go for their Auror licensing. Ginny had just decided to take time off before completing her into the first empty compartment that she could find, Hermione noticed something very strange. She wasn't alone.

Draco Malfoy was sitting next to a window, just staring out the window. He didn't even seem notice her sitting across from him. He was dressed in his usual black suit, he had lost so much weight and his hair which he use to take so much pride in, had now hung in his face. He looked defeated. Then she remembered that his father had been killed merely two weeks ago.

She remembered reading the article. Angered by the MLE'S agreement with Malfoy Senior to receive names of Fellow Death Eaters, for a reduced sentence some ruffians took matters into their own hands. Mr. Malfoy was dead, Mrs. Malfoy was in Saint Mungos and no one could say when or if she'd ever wake up, and Draco had watched it all.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Hermione jumped when she heard him. His voice croaked as if he had just woken up. "Everywhere else was full." She replied. She didn't want there to be an altercation, to her surprise he gave none and simply nodded. "Are there other Slytherins from our year that returned?" Before Draco had a chance to respond, the door slid open, and Luna and Neville walked in. "Hello. Hermione, Hello. Draco." Luna smiled. Neville greeted Hermione and nodded at Draco.

Draco's POV

For once in his miserable life, Draco was content with being invisible. In fact it was in his best interest. Everyone hated him. Everyone had the right to hate him. Hell, Draco hated Draco. Things were so quiet and empty at the mansion. He was so sick of the quietness. So when he got the letter to return, he jumped at it though he went against his better judgement.

Granger joined him in the compartment and he fully expected her to spit venom at him, but she hadn't. Instead she just stared at him. He knew he looked like owl dung, it was just he lost the will to try or even care.

At the sight of smiling Luna, Draco had flashbacks of her being tortured in his own house. That lead to the night Hermione was tortured by Bellatrix. The mental walls in Draco that he used to block things out were in trouble. He wished with all his might that they all would leave, oh god, where did he put that potion? His heart started pounding and breathing was hard.

Fuck, not a panic attack right now. He bolted out, knocking Neville over. He tried to say an apology but nothing came out. He made it to the end of the hall before getting his head shoved against the wall. "You really have the nerve to show your face." "I'm sorry." He felt the pain in the back of his ribs and his assailant continued attacking him and everything went black soon after.

(Hermione's POV)

Hermione did not expect to see Malfoy to freak out like that. He looked like a trapped animal. "What the hell was that about?" Neville grunted as he straightened himself up. Luna sat down, next to Hermione. "I feel sorry for Draco."

"Why?" Hermione asked. If she was honest, she did too.

"He's alone. I mean at least we have each other, and he has no one. All the Slytherins hate him because of his father, now." Luna spoke it like it was the most simple answer. Neville looked at her like she was crazy. "They kept you in his cellar." Luna sighed, remembering, she could still see how terrified he looked. "You didn't see him when he saw they had me, though. He's not responsible for what they did."

Hermione noticed a small vial on the ground. She knew it had to be Malfoy's. The bottle was labeled with a prescription in his name, Valerian root extract. What the hell was going on? Slipping the potion in her pocket, she listened to Neville and Luna talk their summers.

Draco had been gone for about five minutes before she went to look for him. She wasn't sure why she was worried. Something just didn't feel right. Oh, how she wished she had Harry's map.

Walking out, she finds Draco curled up in a ball at the end of the hall. Rushing to his aid, Hermione exclaimed, "What happened?" "Don't start caring now." He said through clenched teeth, his breathing was rather harsh. Running her fingers along his side she realized he had a several broken ribs, and on his bruised face, his nose was busted. Reaching down, she pulled him up. She flinched as Draco groaned.

"I'm so sorry." Hermione kept repeating. Neville jumped up immediately when the pair returned. "Damn, Hermione. What did you do to him?" Hermione got Malfoy to lay down on the seats. Pointing her wand at his ribs she said, "Ferula." Pointing it at his nose, she muttered, "Episky."

"I'll get some ice." Luna said as she left.

"Thanks, Granger." Malfoy murmured. "When we get to school you need Madame Pomphrey. One more thing, um, you dropped this on the ground when you left." She showed him the vial. "Why are you taking Valerian?"

From what little she did know about the root, it was a sedative used for insomnia and some anxieties. "Please just leave it alone." He was pleading. "Okay. We'll be at school soon." He drifted off to sleep soon after.