4th Year, Quidditch World cup.

All during the match he had been watching her. It was clear she wasn't as enthusiastic about Quidditch as himself or those two nutcases who were with her but she enjoyed the game and the atmosphere.

His father and mother had been nasty to them and he couldn't do anything else as copying them. He hated it, he hated the way his parents thought and behaved but the expectations on him he hated even more. They expected him to be a properly raised child but yet they also demanded from him to sneer, humiliate and hurt other witches and wizards.

After sneering and rallying up the Weasel and Potter to earn his father's respect he had been relieved to see the understanding and acceptance in Hermione's eyes. Once everybody turned to the match she gave him a small smile and returned to the game. To him it didn't matter if others would hate him, Merlin knew he hated most of them but he wouldn't like it very much if Hermione hated him as well. Somehow, she meant something too him.

The events following the match left him nervous. After a party with a lot of alcohol his father had suddenly disappeared with a few of his friends and his mother had left for home.

He was left alone with the instruction to stay in the woods at the sign of danger. Paced around the tent as he felt something bad was going to happen. The look on his father's face had been enough to tell him that something bad was up.

The screams started about twenty minutes after his father had left. Grabbing his wand tightly Draco quickly made his way into the woods. He stayed close to the tent looking for a good hiding place. Up in a big tree from where he could still see what was going on he found a branch to sit on safely.

Through the leaves Draco watched over the campsite. People were screaming and running into the woods. At the far end he said the robed figures and knew that his father was there. The man preferred to do this then taking care of him. Hell, the man had created this dangerous situation.

He turned his attention and growing hate away from the man who called himself his father and looked down to the panicked people running around. After a while he saw a familiar brush of wild brown hair skidding to a halt below his branch.

"Ron! Harry! Where are you?" She screamed. Draco could clearly see the panicked look on her face. "Ron! Harry!"

He looked around and noticed that nobody was close by. Most people stayed to the paths and had already rushed by. It was dark enough for them not to be seen so he dropped down on the floor next to her.

Immediately he had a wand pointing between his eyes.

"Wow, easy there." He said.

"Draco!" She yelped.

"It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you."

"But your father… the muggles…"

"My father is an idiot. I told you two months ago."

She relaxed a little and lowered her wand a few inches. Her eyes were still wild and fearful. Draco noticed she was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"Why are they doing that, Draco?" She whispered.

"They are drunk, some of them thought it funny to pick up an old game. They used to do this a lot when the Dark Lord was around. There are rumours going around that he is returning. Even my mother is worried."

"It's so awful." Hermione whispered. "Harry and Ron are still out there. They were running behind me but we got separated. I hope they are okay."

"Potter has a hero-complex, I'm pretty sure he is still out there on the field." Draco groaned.

"Yes, he has." Hermione agreed.

"Come on, let's see if we can find at least one of those dunderheads. Just stay to the shadows, we can't be seen being friendly together. Especially not when my father is drunk, I might not survive." He said darkly.

Hermione looked shocked at this statement but nodded and followed him through the dark of the shadow. Only the light of the fires aiding their sight.

"I sure hope your were exaggerating about not surviving."

"Sadly not." He whispered back. "Would my mother have been around then it would be alright. My father fears her more then the dark lord but still she is at home tonight."

Hermione looked at him with something he could only describe as compassion. He had expected to see pity but this was much better. She seemed to be more understanding of they way old wizarding families raised their offspring than a few months before.

"Did you like the book?" He asked.

"Very much so, thanks for the loan. I'm rereading it at the moment so that I will not forget anything in it."

"Just by rereading it?"

"I have almost a eidetic memory. It's just the recalling that is difficult." Hermione said with a frown. "I can remember everything perfectly but I can pull it up quickly enough. I need a few re-reads before it is available information at the speed I need it to be."

"You should learn Occlumency. It will help." Draco commented and stopped dead in his tracks. In front of them they saw many people walking around disorientated. "There." Draco pointed. "There is the red head."

"Oh yes. At least he seems to be okay." Hermione sighed.

"I have to stay hidden and go back to my tent."

"Thank you, Draco. I really mean it."