Summary: This is not the Harry Potter story you know. Draco is OOC. Sort of. He nicer and more accepting of muggleborns. Graelam Orton is the reason for the change. Hermione is completely OOC.
Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter or any affiliate characters. We just like to tweak with them.
Warning: This Male/Male Slash and very lemony. It is rated M for a reason. You've been warned.
Prologue Year Two
Draco put his head in his hands and cried. He couldn't stop. Graelam was petrified and he actually cared. The past year and a half was a bad time. Draco wanted nothing to do with the muggleborm, but because of the abuse that Graelam endured Draco couldn't help but reach out. They soon became close friends.
They told each other everything. Draco told of his abusive father and his mother who never cared. Graelam told of his alcoholic parents, and how he lives with his grandparents after his mother was killed in a drunk driving accident. His grandparents were way richer that Draco's family. And yet, Draco noticed how much more humble Graelam was, and deep down really wished he could be more like him.
Draco looked don and surveyed the sight before him. The first thing he noticed was Graelam's eyes. Though still gold in color, they lacked a certain amount of life in them. His one beautiful tan, now pale due to excess time in the dungeon, held a sickly, clammy look. As he looked down he noticed he was twirling a lock of Graelam's black hair. Draco thought it must be a nervous twitch. He left the hospital wing and went to sit underneath the willow by the lake. By the time he got to the tree, he noticed that the tears were already running down his face. Overwhelmed, he sat down and let his emotions take over.
On his was back to the dungeons, Draco ran into Hermione. At this point she was the last person he wanted to deal with. Over the year and a half, reluctantly, they had become friends, thanks to Graelam. But this worked for each of there advantages. Draco who was a natural at Potions helped Hermione, who in honesty wasn't much better than Potter. Then there was Hermione. She excelled in Tranfiguration, and helped Draco greatly. And in turn, they both helped Graelam with the wandless magic.
But their relationship was weird. Hermione, who had friends on both sides of the arch rivalship of Harry and Draco, had to choose. Since she had become friends with Harry and Ron first, she decided to keep that relationship "public." During the famous Malfoy/Potter spats, she would keep her mouth shut. For the most part. She and Draco would occasionally call each other "Mudblood" or "ferret" but the look in their eyes told the truth. It was said to keep up appearances.
"Hey Draco," Hermione called, "How's Graelam today?"
"Same as yesterday, petrified," Draco spat.
"Look I'm sorry, I'm just as upset as you, you know?"
"I know is there anything you needed, by the way?"
"Actually I think I know what is behind the attacks. I am off to the library to check it out."
"Do you want any help," Draco asked.
"Nah! Besides you look like you need some rest, you look awful!"
"Gee thanks Mudblood."
"No problem Ferret," Hermione called over her shoulderas she left for the library. Draco chuckled under his breath and went to rest a little before visiting Graelam again.
Days turned into weeks which turned into months and Draco became lonelier and lonelier. The day Hermione went to the library, she too had been petrified. This left Draco with nobody. Well not exactly, he had his goonies and admirers, but they weren't his true friends. He was just as lonely as he was before he met Graelam. He just had to wait until the mandrakes matured. But at this rate he felt it wouldn't be until the middle of their 7th year! The only relief he got was when he sat with Hermione and Graelam at night. He felt like a fool but he would sit there and tell them all the gossip. He didn't care that he sounded like a babbling idiot, it made him feel better, and at this point it was all he could ask for.
Two weeks later Professor Sprout announced the mandrakes were fully mature and the potion should be ready by that weekend. Draco didn't know wether to laugh and cheer or cry. He would finally have his friends back. This was his longest and hardest year and it was finally coming to an end! He couldn't wait!
That weekend Draco was in a pensive mood. On Friday he decided to skip dinner and sit out by the tree to think. He didn't know how long he sat there, but eventually his thoughts were interrupted.
"Can we join you," a rough voice behind him asked. Draco turned slowly to tell who ever it was to shove off.
When he saw who it was he jumped up and gave him a hug, "Oh Graelam how I've missed you!"
A small cough was heard behind Graelam and Draco realized it was Hermione. "I've missed you too, Mudblood," he said as he hugged her.
"Thanks Ferret." They laughed, sat down and talked well into the night about everything they missed.
