Note: Sorry it took me so long to ge this chapter up. After the first chapter/prologue went up, I got slammed with finals. Hope there's no hate. This chapter is Day 1- the first day of classes not the day they arrived or found out who the Heads are and everything.
Disclaimer: There is no ownership at all except anything I do that's original. Understand?
Day 1
The sun was shining, birds were singing, the lake was shimmering. I say this only for small talk with you. It has nothing to do with the story. The class we want to focus on is in the dark windowless dungeons.
The seventh year Slytherins and Gryffindors were less than enjoying one of Professor Slughorn's lessons on something or other. No one was really paying attention.
Something important was missing though- a student- a student who was never late or missed class except for the time she spent petrified in the hospital wing in second year.
This student though had changed a lot over the summer. Everyone could see that. Everyone. She had lost a lot- more than most people.
The war left a lot of scars on a lot of people, but she and her best friends, affectionately referred to as the "Golden Trio" had endured the most of it. A lot of good men and women on the side of good died.
Casualties of this war could be traced back to before she was born, but things became a reality for her in terms of death starting in her fourth year. Cedric Diggory. Sirius Black. Dumbledore. Tonks. Professor Lupin. Fred. She even mourned Professor Snape.
The Order of the Phoenix went through so much pain to win the war.
The Weasleys never recovered from the loss of Fred.
Mr. Diggory never got over his son.
Harry had never been the same since Sirius and Dumbledore. Poor Teddy Lupin was left without both of his parents.
Snape had been a good guy all along. He really had been one of them. The Order felt most bad about that. They didn't trust him and he had died a heroes death. He died to help them all alive.
The war had changed everyone. Some for the worse.
Some of those like Hermione Granger. She had lost worse than anyone. She lost her mother, yes, but she also lost herself.
Everything she believed had been ripped apart by the war. She had ceased to care about stupid things like school, but she had to come back because she needed to keep her mind off things. She was even made Head Girl, but if she didn't show up for classes that might be in jeopardy.
Everyone took notice of her absence and whispers were flying around the classroom.
The only one who didn't seem to be indulging in the meaningless whispering was Draco Malfoy, Head Boy. He had seen the Head Girl this morning in their shared common room.
She had been a mess and was only seen briefly before returning to her room. He had left their room not paying attention to where she was until he noticed she wasn't in class.
He didn't have a theory as to where she was unlike the rest of the class. He figured she was still in her room- probably crying like she had last night. Their walls were thin. He was worried though. The last person he saw that miserable and such a mess was his mother before she committed suicide.
He hadn't known what she was going to do at first. She had been crying and drinking since Lucious had been taken to Azkaban. He stumbled upon her sliced open. She had used the Sectusempera spell on herself and bled out.
"Professor Slughorn?!?" Malfoy half yelled.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. Do you have question?"
"I was wondering if I could go find Granger. It's not like her to miss class and as Head Boy I believe I should make sure she is alright. Besides I already have learned how to make Veritaserum."
He sensed people's glares at him without looking. They very well knew he had learned in his Death Eater days.
"Normally, I would say no, but it is shocking to not see Miss Granger here for class. Perhaps there is cause for alarm, so I suppose you may go."
He darted out of the classroom and stopped outside the door. He felt confused as to why he should care about Granger.
She had grown up a lot over the summer and was quite attractive, but that wasn't it this time. He had known her beauty for years, but when he had seen her trying to be happy last night he fell apart. He could see through her facade and when he heard the crying he wanted to comfort her.
He figured he must just be having flashbacks to his mother before her suicide and felt if he could prevent her form doing the same he would be saving his mother. No that's not it he heard a voice in his head mutter.
He continued his run up to the common room to find her sitting there. Just looking dejected next to Ron Weasley.
"Aren't you supposed to be in potions, Malfoy?" she asked venomously and looked surprised to see me.
"I could ask you the same. I was sent to find you. What's the Weasel doing here?"
"He's leaving. I've been trying to get him to leave. Ron, I don't want to talk."
"You say that now, Hermione, I know I did, but you will feel differently. Remember I'm here to talk, so is Harry and Ginny is only a little away in the Gryffindor common room." With that he flooed out.
"Are you okay, Granger?"
"Fine." She mumbled and went to her room.
"Are you planning to come to Transfiguration?"
"What's it to you?"
He couldn't answer that. He didn't even know.
"I want to be able to tell McGonagall something..."
He choked out convincingly enough.
"Tell her I am not feeling well, if you must tell her something."
With that he left the common room and headed to Transfiguration. When questioned about Hermione he said what she told him to.
While sitting in class he realized something. He cared for Hermione.
He was going to make her his too. It would be perfect. He would cheer her up, they would be in love and she could even help put a little something of honor back in the Malfoy name.
He had turned traitor to Voldermort at the last minute so that helped, but he knew it wasn't enough.
Why am I thinking about this? He questioned himself. I couldn't actually care for her that way- I only care that she doesn't go and off herself and make it look like I did it. Yeah that's it.
He was worried.
Note: Comments? Questions? Concerns? Reviews are appreciated!