Chapter One
Nine-year-old Draco Malfoy strode down the dark street. He stared straight ahead, not noticing the small figure approaching him. It hurried down the street, giant book in hand, paying no attention to Draco. The figure swept through and ran right into him.
"Oh!" the figure exclaimed. "I'm so sorry, I just –"
Draco looked down, his eyes landing on a small, bushy haired girl. Braces aligned her teeth, giving her a slight lisp.
"I'm Hermione Granger," she said.
"Draco Malfoy," he said proudly.
"Hum… you live across the street from me, right?"
Draco nodded slowly. As Hermione snaked a thin arm around his shoulder.
"Well, what took you so long? I don't have any neighborhood friends, and considering I'm the only other kid in the neighborhood, I'm assuming you don't either."
At first contact with Hermione, Draco panicked. His father's rule struck his mind ("I believe your mother ordered you to stay away from that Muggle," he had said. "No buts, Draco. When we give you an order, you must obey it.") But another thought entered his mind; I've never been one to follow the rules. He walked along side Hermione, who was chatting happily along, not caring whether he was listening or not. A grin crossed his face as he looked at Hermione, for once, Draco did not care what his father would think.
Two Years Later
Hermione skipped out to the mailbox. Dr. Granger, Dr. Granger, Dr. Granger… Hermione Granger read a small, fancy looking envelope. She smiled and handed the rest of the post to her father. He looked over the top of his paper and stared at the letter in Hermione's hand.
"What's that, Hermione?"
Hermione studied the letter in her hand. It was mailed to her from some place called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"I don't know…."
"Well, looks like we'll have to find out," her mother said.
Hermione grinned and tore open the letter.
Draco stared out the window at his best friend's house. His father had never agreed to Draco's friendship with Hermione… although, it had been going on for two years and he didn't know the slightest. Draco was so engrossed in thought he hadn't heard his father approaching.
"Draco, your letter from Hogwarts is here."
Being a pureblood, Draco had expected his Hogwarts letter to come soon, and he had been thinking of ways he could possibly break the news to Hermione, who knew nothing of such wizardry.
Draco ripped open the envelope, slightly tearing the paper inside, which earned him a glare and a scowl from his father.
He scanned the letter, his face falling when he realized he'd been accepted. Lucius noticed his son's expression change and tore the letter from his hands.
"What seems to be the problem, Draco? You were accepted. Now, I know Hogwarts is not the best school, but your mother will simply not allow you to go to –"
"N-nothing, Father, just far too happy to express," he knew he was in trouble there, for Malfoys never stuttered.
Before his father could respond, Draco sprinted out of the house.
Hermione exited her house, setting forth to visit Draco, when the person in question came jogging towards her.
"Hello, Draco," she noticed his panting. "What? Is the walk to my house to far for you now?" she chuckled.
"No," he sucked in a gigantic breath. "I had to avoid my father – he watched me leave, so I just ran around the block a few times."
"Well, okay. Back to the subject, I was just on my way to see you, there is something I would like to tell you," Hermione said.
"Me too," Draco said. "Let's take a walk."
He gestured her forward and began to walk.
"So… what was it you wanted to tell me?" Hermione asked.
"What did you want to tell me?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"How about we both say it on three?" she suggested.
Draco shrugged. "One… two… three –"
"I was just accepted into Hogwarts –" they both broke off.
"You were accepted into Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.
"Yes… you do know what Hogwarts is, correct?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well then that's great! Perhaps we will be sorted into the same house, be in the same classes, or even –" Draco began.
"Draco!"
Draco gasped and whipped around. His father stormed towards him, taking him by the hood of his Muggle sweatshirt Narcissa just had to buy him ("He can't walk around it wizard clothes, darling, the Muggles will become suspicious.") and dragged him nearly ten feet from Hermione.
"How dare you disobey me? Your mother and I ordered you to stay away from such filth!"
"But, Father –" Draco began.
"No buts, Draco, I believe this Muggle has some explaining to do –"
"She isn't a Muggle!"
Draco had screamed so loud, even Hermione had cringed. Lucius looked from Hermione to Draco and back again.
"My dear, I apologize I shouldn't have – wait, what are her parents?"
A crooked smile crossed Lucius's face when no one responded.
"Muggles," Hermione whispered. "My parents are Muggles."
"Oh," Lucius screeched. "I see, instead of associating with Muggles, you hang out with filthy little Mudbloods!"
"Father, I –"
A choking sound left his throat as Lucius dragged him farther away from Hermione. Tears welled in his eyes as he stared back at receding figure in the distance.
"Narcissa!"
Lucius had dragged Draco all the way home by his hood, and was now yelling at his mother.
"It was your idea to move to this Muggle city while we could have just moved to a lovely house in Godric's Hallow or that exquisite manor I showed you, but that's beside the point, because of this, your son has been associating with Mudbloods!" he snarled. "I have been planning this ever since we got here – we already own that manor, and now we are moving there – no buts allowed! Pack your bags, we shall leave tomorrow!"
"Father –" Draco began.
"Pack!" Lucius ordered.
Just as promised, the Malfoys did leave the next day, Draco unable to bid goodbye to Hermione. He knew he would see her at Hogwarts, but it wouldn't be the same.
