A Friendly Chat and the Start of a Beautiful Friendship

The halls of Hogwarts were empty and silent, but that was to be expected in the middle of July. No student ever stayed this late: even if they had severe summer school. The teachers had arrived the week before to begin their lesson plans and to clean up their rooms, but other than that, he, Hermione, Harry and Ron were alone.

Draco sighed and stepped in front of the statue outside of Dumbledore's office. He didn't have the password but experience had taught him that Dumbledore always knew when someone was outside his door; always.

The wait outside the office gave him time to think. To think about all that happened in the last week. He needed to think about it eventually; he couldn't just ignore all of it. It just wouldn't be right to forget about it all. It had been the hardest and most rewarding week of his life. He had gained safety, compassion, freedom, a guilt-free conscience and a new friend.

He never would have thought in a million years that Hermione Granger would come to be his friend, but it had happened. She might not know it yet, but everything he was doing now was for her. Ever since their fourth year, when he saw her dressed for the Yule Ball, he had secretly pined for her. Why? He didn't know in the slightest, but it sure as hell felt right.

When she had called him by his name, when she had defended him, when she had let him comfort her, when she had let him save her…hold her: she had been making his heart soar. That was what he wanted. He wanted to be trusted, to be wanted and most of all: to be loved.

Of course he was loved by his mother, but that was different. He wanted to love someone with all of his heart and soul. He wanted to feel what his parents never did. He didn't want to treat his future wife like how his father had treated his mother. His wife would be his partner in every way. He would love her and she would love him, and they would do everything together: never stealing the other's freedoms. They wouldn't be like his parents. He wouldn't let his future wife be treated like that.

His future wife…he could picture who he wanted it to be, but that was the biggest long-shot in all of existence. How could possibly get her to love him? Better yet: how in the hell was he supposed to get her to like him or befriend him? Was that even possible?

Draco didn't know. Draco didn't care. Even if he couldn't have her, he would make sure that no one else treated her badly. He would protect her.

Speaking of protecting someone, that's why he needed to talk to Dumbledore. He had an idea. A way to protect her from all that was killing her from the inside out and a way to make her trust him…to like him.

Suddenly, the statue of the Hippogriff swung to reveal a staircase leading into the Headmaster's office. A place he had come to feel as a safe haven. And today, a place to put his plan into motion.

"Mr. Malfoy, please enter my office. You are most welcome!" The joyous voice of the Headmaster flooded down the stairwell, reaching his ears so clearly that Draco could have sworn the Headmaster was standing right in front of him.

"Yes, Sir. But could you please call me by my mother's name, please? I'll tell you why when I reach your office, Sir." He called up the stairwell before stepping onto the first step. The stairwell began to move and spiral him up into the office. He jumped despite himself. He would never get used to moving stairwells.

"Of course! Mr. Black! It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" The Headmaster's face popped into his vision and he took an intake of air. A newly-risen, Fawkes, cooed from the corner of the room and the portraits greeted him in turn.

"Headmaster, I have an idea for you." Dumbledore motioned to the seat in front of his desk, as he took his seat behind the desk.

"Do tell, Draco. I am anxious to hear your suggestions. I like suggestions." Dumbledore gave a sincere smile as Draco sat down.

"Headmaster, I have an idea that has to do with the safety of a certain friend of mine. It's also an idea to promote inter-house-unity."

"Go on, Draco, I don't bite."

"Well…I was thinking that perhaps the Head Girl and Head Boy should share a common room. I know for a fact that Hermione Granger is the Head Girl, correct?"

"Yes, she is, but you do not know who the Head Boy is, Draco?"

"Not for sure, though I have an idea."

"You believe he is in a different house than Miss Granger, yes?"

"Yes. I thought he had to be?"

"No. We can make special arrangements if we want to have two of the same house, which is what we were thinking about this year. We were thinking that the Head Boy should be Ron Weasley."

Draco jumped up and his face was clouded in worry. "Please, no! Hermione would be in hell the whole year!"

"Language, Draco."

"Sorry…but earlier today they got into a spat and if I hadn't of come in, he would have raped her for sure. She was in hysterics by the time I got there. Weasley thinks she's his property and she most certainly is not! No human being deserves the term 'property'. It's not right, Headmaster. Please reconsider him as your choice, please. I fear for Hermione."

Dumbledore motioned for Draco to sit down. "Draco, is Miss Granger the friend you spoke of? The one you wish to protect?"

Draco sat and put his head in his hands. "Yes. I want to protect her more than anything. And she doesn't know that I'm doing this, Sir, so please, can you not mention this talk to her?"

"Of course not! This is a confidential conversation. And I do say that your concern for Miss Granger is extraordinary. She is a remarkable girl, Draco. She deserves only the best after what she's went through in her lifetime. I do believe that you have won yourself place as Head Boy and I do believe that your idea for a shared dormitory for the Head Boy and Head Girl would be splendid! I would have to ask the teachers what they thought and have Argus find you and Miss Granger a suitable room, but I do believe this shall work."

Draco smiled and laughed. "Thank you, Sir! Thank you!"

"Is there anything else you wish to speak to me about?" Dumbledore shook Draco out of his dance of gaiety.

"Not really. Only I wish to tell you that my father was killed yesterday in the battle between the Order and the Death-eaters. I was there and I am sad to say that I was the one who killed him. I did it to save Hermione from certain death. He was torturing her to death. So, I would like to ask if it would be acceptable if my mother came to stay at Hogwarts for a while. I think she'll need me when she finds out the news. It could be hard on her."

Dumbledore nodded. "I'll send for Narcissa in the morning. Please send her an owl telling her to expect my visit and to be ready to leave. Is that all, Draco?"

"Yes, Sir. May I go and visit the infirmary now, Sir?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Please do! Miss Granger should be glad to see you."

Draco turned to leave but was stopped by Dumbledore's voice. "Take this with you." He handed him a chocolate frog. "She loves them."

"Thank you, Sir." Draco then turned and left the office, smiling. He sped off down the hall and into the Hospital Wing. He stopped before he reached the door to the infirmary. He calmed himself down and then opened the door.

Hermione was sitting up in her bed, braiding her cinnamon hair that had grown slightly straighter over the summer. She turned to look at him when she heard the door click shut. She smiled at him and almost jumped out of the bed when she saw the chocolate frog in his grasp.

"Merlin! Is that a chocolate frog? Oh, Draco, is it? I love those!" She smiled happily and attempted to get out of the bed to come to him. He was pleased with her reaction but if she got up she would most definitely collapse. He needed to stop her.

"'Mione, lay back down or I'll eat it. And I know you like them, that's why I got it for you. It's a celebratory gift for you."

Her look turned from joyful to quizzical. "Celebratory? Why are we celebrating?"

He smiled and walked to her bed and sat down on the side. She scooted over so he could put his full body on the bed. There they say facing each other: Hermione eyeing the chocolate frog and Draco completely at ease with their situation. "Well, we're celebrating because we happen to be the new Head Boy and Girl. Now, do you want the chocolate frog?" He held it out to her but she didn't grasp it: she was staring off into space.

"You and I are Head Boy and Girl? How did it happen? Dumbledore said that it would be Ron and I, last year…"

Draco placed the chocolate frog in her hands and drew her to him into a hug. She returned the embrace and looked up into his eyes. "Did you have something to do with it, Draco?"

He looked down into her eyes one last time before pulling away. "Yes, but if you'd rather have Ron, I can fix it."

She almost screamed then. "NO! This is MUCH better than Ron. I know we used to be enemies but I'd like us to start fresh, Draco. We could try to become friends. We'll be spending every day together so it would help if we actually liked one another."

"I'd like to be your friend, Hermione. I'd like that a lot….oh! I almost forgot to tell you! Dumbledore made it so Head Boy and Girl share a dormitory. I mean we'd have separate rooms, but we'd have our own password and share our own common room. It would be as if we never belonged to any particular house. No more 'Slytherin and Gryffindor rivalry' crap. I mean, besides for Quidditch, we'd be our own house."

Hermione smiled. "Privacy. Utter and complete privacy. And no more rivalries or teacher preferences. I mean, except for Snape, of course. This is going to be wonderful, Draco. I won't have to deal with the odd looks from the other Gryffindors or have to muster up the courage to sit in my own common room because of fear of Harry and Ron. No more people copying my work or trying to kill my cat…it's going to be perfect." She jumped up. "Especially now that we're going to be friends! We won't try to kill each other!"

He laughed at that and stood from the bed. "I have to go and write my mother, I'll be back later tonight. I'll see if I can have dinner up here with you. I don't want you to be alone all of the time."

Hermione grabbed his wrist. "Thank you, Draco. You're making my seventh year into the best one of my Hogwarts career: even with the horrible things Harry and Ron did. Thank you…"

"You're welcome, Hermione. Oh! By the way, my mother is going to be staying at Hogwarts for a while. You can meet her, if you want."

Hermione hugged Draco around his waist, burying her head in his stomach. She pulled away and smiled. "It'll be okay, Draco. You're going to be there with her when she finds out the news. It'll be okay. I'll be there for you if you need me. Remember that. And, Draco, it will be marvelous to meet your mother: The 'Lion's Dragon.'"

Draco smiled and patted Hermione head. "Yea, she's going to want to meet the 'Dragon's Lion.'" Hermione looked confused. "That'd be you, 'Mione. They put you in Gryffindor but you have the fighting skills and cunning of a Slytherin. You being a muggle-born is the one thing that kept you from becoming the next 'Lion's Dragon.' My mother being a pure-blood was the one keeping her from being the 'Dragon's Lion.' It's kind of a strange coincidence actually."

"Yea, it is, isn't it? Well, you better go write her. I need to write my grandparents and tell them I'm alright."

"Your grandparents? Why not your parents?"

She looked at the floor. "I'll talk to you later about it. I really need to write those letters and I'm really tired all of a sudden. Oh, and it'd be wonderful if you joined me for dinner tonight, Draco. I think we need to talk about some things…clear away the old hate from our systems…get to know each other a little better."

"Okay, sounds good. You get some rest, 'Mione. I'll see you tonight." He then left the room, leaving Hermione to her own devices to try and find some way to get some parchment and a quill. She had completely forgotten that they didn't have those in the infirmary.

"Damn," she whispered. She really needed to write her grandparents. They would be in hell with worry right about now. She really wished Draco hadn't left when he did. Then she saw it: her saving grace. It was Draco's portkey. He had left it in here. He would have to come back for it and then she could ask him to find her some writing supplies. Her plan was flawless.

It was at least two hours later when Draco finally waltzed back into the infirmary. By that time, Hermione was sound asleep. He walked over to her bed and bent to pick up his portkey, but it wasn't there. Where could it have gone? Then he saw it. It sat innocently in Hermione's grasp. It was, of course, turned off, or else she'd be in Malfoy Manor right about now. But he needed to get it fast before the automatic programming turned on, sending the healing girl straight into his room at the Manor.

"'Mione? Wake up, please. I need my portkey. Hermione…please wake up." Hermione stirred and opened a lazy eye. She was still half asleep.

"Don't call me that…"

Draco was confused. "Call you what?"

"'Mione. He called me that…you aren't him…Draco…I love your name…" She then rolled over and fell into a deep sleep again.

He knew she meant Ron. And she was right…Ron was no longer her friend and he called her ''Mione'. He had to think of something different.

Then it came to him. It would be a name he only used when they were alone. It would be her pet name…a beautiful pet name for a beautiful woman. "Mina…Mina, wake up for me. I need to speak with you. It's me, Draco. Remember?"

Hermione opened her eyes slowly and looked at him. She was slowly waking up. "Mina…I like it…" she then sat up, her small hand still clutching the silver portkey. "Draco…you're back. Is it dinner time already?"

He smiled and placed his hand on hers. "No, Mina. I just need my portkey. It's set to go off in a little while. It's supposed to take me to Malfoy Manor so I can speak with my mother and pick up the clothes and other things I'll need to stay here the rest of the summer and next year. It's kind of trapped in your clutches." Hermione looked down at their hands and saw the silver portkey poking out of the side of her fisted hand.

"Oh…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take it. I was going to hold onto it until you got back to get it, but I feel asleep. I wanted you to come back…it's kind of important…"

Draco shot her a look of utter confusion. "Oh?"

"Yea…I told you I needed to owl my grandparents…well…I don't have anything to write with or write on. You left before I realized that…" She blushed and began to giggle nervously.

He laughed too: his baritone covering up her soprano giggles. "Well, if you'll kindly unhand my portkey, I, as a gentleman, will find you writing supplies."

Hermione smiled sheepishly and opened her hand beneath his. He grabbed the portkey with his other hand and put it in his pocket. The hand resting above Hermione's alighted on her palm and he took he hand in his. "Can you stand, Mina?"

"I don't know…" She then placed her unoccupied hand on his shoulder, signaling for him to stand with her; to help her. "I think I can if you get me onto my feet."

He needed no other cue. Draco quickly lifted her off of the bed and placed her lightly on the ground. She removed one her hands from his shoulder but kept the other one in his grasp. He almost smiled at the innocent gesture. "Is that better?"

"Yes, very much…now…where will we find writing supplies in an infirmary?" She looked around skeptically and then met his gaze. He didn't know when he had started staring at her, but she must have felt it. "What? Why are you staring at me?"

"No reason," he adverted his eyes and looked towards Madame Pomfrey's office. "I think I found you some supplies…"

"Pomfrey's office? Are you daft, Draco? She'll catch us for sure!" Her face held worry and it amazed him how flustered she was.

"No we won't. Madame Pomfrey is out with the rest of the teachers in Hogsmeade. I thought you knew?" He looked deep in her eyes, assuring her that he was truthful.

She blushed and turned her eyes away from his. "No…I didn't know. Why didn't anyone tell me about it?"

He shrugged. "No clue, but it might be because they left as soon as Pomfrey had tended to your wounds. They're on call to apparate back here at the first sign of danger. Dumbledore wouldn't let them wander too far." He pushed Madame Pomfrey's door open with his right shoulder. It creaked and opened reluctantly and he pulled Hermione inside after him.

The room wasn't lit but there was an eerie glow coming in from one of the windows: a reflection of a torch outside the castle walls. "Draco…it's really dark…"

Draco felt around his robes with his free hand, looking for his wand. It was nowhere to be found. "Damn…where's my wand?"

Hermione grabbed his wrist. "Neither of us have our wands. They don't let you take your wand into the infirmary. It's against the rules. We're going to have to find some candles to light or get the fireplace started." She gestured to a foreboding mass layered with brick. It looked like it hadn't been touched in years.

"I don't have any matches, Mina. Do you?"

"No…smoking is a dreadful habit. Don't you agree?" Her fingers tightened about his wrist as if in warning. She felt strongly about smoking, he reasoned.

"Absolutely disgusting…both of my parents smoke. Well…my mom smokes, though I bet Lucius still smokes in Hell…Oh, I think I found some matches." He lifted up a rod he'd found on the ground. "Nope, looks like a stirring rod to me…False alarm. Did you find anything?"

Hermione had moved away from him to try and locate some candles. "Nothing…Draco, let's just get out of here. We're not going to find anything in the dark. My grandparents can wait until morning, I guess."

He nodded his head, but she didn't see the gesture, she was staring confusedly at the door from which they had entered. It was gone. "Draco, didn't we come in from that way?"

He turned to look at where they had come in. The door was missing. He had completely disregarded the fact that maybe Pomfrey had actually put security on her office. They were stuck in here. She had made it so if any intruders entered without her permission, they were to stay in. Draco was quite sure that if they tried to apparate out of the office, they couldn't do it. They were hopelessly trapped. "We're trapped in here. She put security on the place so intruders can't get out unless they're extremely skilled. She probably put it here to keep students out of her office looking for drugs and such."

"What? We're trapped in here? That's ludicrous! I can't be trapped in here! I have to take my medication in an hour or my headaches will come back and Draco they hurt so badly when I'm not medicated. That cruciatus did a wonder to my head. Can't we apparate out of here?"

"We could try but I'm quite sure that we'd end up spliced. Hogwarts security doesn't usual allow apparition. I guess we'll just have to wait it out. The house-elves will be in here by dinner and then they can let us out. Can you survive till then, Mina?"

"I don't know. I can already feel the headache pulsing in the back of my skull. I don't know how long this dulled pain will last before it turns excruciating. I don't want to be in pain again, Draco." She reached for him and found his arm in the darkness. She gripped him with both hands and he pulled her to him. "Please…we have to get out of here. Don't make me feel the pain again." She was shaking in his arms: either from fear or from cold. Maybe it was from both. The room was dropping in temperature minute by minute and he could practically feel the pain pouring off of Hermione. He needed to lie her down.

"C'mere, Mina. You need to lie down before your headache comes back and sends you reeling to the floor." She complied and let Draco pull her down onto the concrete floor. Her knees hit and she cringed but other than that she seemed content lying there. He eventually moved her curled-covered head onto his lap and let it lay there innocently.

She mumbled a thank-you to him before she rolled over, apparently too tired to stay awake and talk to him. When he felt her relax and fall asleep, he bent his head and placed a brief kiss atop her head. She mumbled incoherently in her sleep and Draco took it as a sign that she hadn't felt his intimate gesture. He smiled and then relaxed, laying his back against the mantle of the fireplace: might as well catch up on some much needed rest.

FIN!

READ AND REVIEW!

The next chapter will be up shortly! I promise!

Darkness