Hello everyone, this is my first Hermione/Draco oneshot which I have written as part of the GGE 2017 for Lin (MarvelGeek42). I loved writing for this pairing. Thank you to TheOptimisticRover for betaing this. I do not own any rights to Harry Potter; the rights belong to J.K. Rowling.

Prompts used: AU – Draco not being an ass on the train, (scenario) – two people want to buy/borrow the same book, but there is only one copy and neither wants to wait, (word) – mind, (emotion) – confusion

Rating - K

Draco Lucius Malfoy scanned the shelves of Flourish & Blotts, anxiously searching for the book that he'd seen a few weeks ago, and had forgotten to purchase.

There has to be more than one copy of the bloody thing, he thought, urgently.

He had to be quick because they needed to be at Kings Cross by 10:30am. Draco did not want to alert his mother of the issue as she seemed to be having a somewhat awkward conversation with an older witch, who his mother didn't seem to particularly like but was being civil to. He thought she might be a teacher at Hogwarts where he would be starting his first year of school. He strode over to the counter to ask the owner – a thin witch with greying hair tied in a bun and glasses balanced on her nose - if she had any other copies of Potion Opuscule when he overheard her talking to another customer, a girl with bushy brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that seemed were bright and inquisitive.

"You're in luck, my dear, that was the last copy I had in stock, I'll have to order some more today."

"Oh, that's such a relief; I've been looking forward to reading this for quite a while, since I received my reading list for school. I think I'll enjoy reading it on the train to pass time," the girl replied, smiling brightly as she handed the witch the correct amount of money before taking the book.

"Excuse me, how much would you take for that book?" Draco asked, straight to the point, desperate for that book that he would try to acquire it however he could.

"I'm sorry?" the girl said, clear confusion on her face.

"That book," he repeated impatiently. "I need it."

"So, do I," she replied, turning to meet Professor McGonagall's gaze as she walked over with a younger witch with blonde hair and blue eyes. Hermione scowled at the boy's rather selfish remark.

"Are you ready, Miss Granger?" Minerva McGonagall asked.

"Yes, Professor."

"Well, then, if you don't need anything else, I think it is time that we leave. I wouldn't want you to miss saying goodbye to your parents or miss the Hogwarts Express for that matter," the older witch said, in her Scottish lilt.

"Wait, you're going to Hogwarts?" Draco blurted out as a thought came to him as fast as a lightning strike.

"Yes, I am," the girl replied a little haughtily.

"Well, as we both need that book, perhaps we could sit together on the train, and read the book if that's alright with you? Unless, of course, you already have seating arrangements?" he asked, hoping that she would say she didn't have anyone to sit with, as selfish as that sounded.

"I don't think that's possible, Draco, remember you were going to sit with Blaise, Pansy and Theo," Narcissa remarked, a sneer on her face as she looked at the girl.

Turning to look at his mother questioningly, he saw the look in her eyes that told him not to ask questions while they were there. Looking back at the girl he said, "Well, if I don't see you on the train, I guess I'll see you at Hogwarts."

"That would be nice, my name is Hermione Granger, by the way," she said.

"It's nice to meet you, Hermione, I'm Draco Malfoy," he replied, wondering why she was with Professor McGonagall and not her parents.

After saying goodbye to his parents, he looked around on the platform deciding he was going to wait for Hermione, who finally came through, pushing her luggage trolley.

Concern lined his face when he saw that her parents were not with her. She smiled at him as she walked over.

"Where are your parents? Are they not coming to see you off?"

"Oh, they did, they're over there," Hermione answered, motioning to a couple standing a few metres back in what he saw was Muggle clothing. She noted how his face blanched slightly while his mind whirred at the unspoken revelation.

She's a Mud- a Muggleborn, he thought, knowing what his father had drilled into him about her kind, yet he couldn't believe it - she was so nice. He was glad his parents were no longer on the platform as he wouldn't have wanted them to hear what Hermione had just told him or see her parents for that matter.

"Draco, is everything alright?" Hermione asked, wondering what was wrong.

"Nothing," he said quickly, "let's get on the train and find an empty compartment before they all get filled up."

He helped her get her trunk on board and they went in search of an empty compartment. They found one in the middle of the train, and once they settled in, Hermione placed the book on the table between them.

"Before we got on the train," Hermione began, looking at him shrewdly, "you looked almost to be in a state of shock when I said that I'd seen my parents before I came through onto the platform. Why was that?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his blond hair. "Because it means you're a Muggleborn and most Purebloods, which is what I am, don't tend to mix with your kind," he explained, regretting it the moment he saw the look in her eyes as though she'd been burnt.

"Well, that's alright, I'll find another compartment, because you clearly don't want to be seen with me," Hermione spat angrily, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall.

Just as she was about to stand up to leave, his hand shot out and touched her arm to stop her as he said, "Wait! No! That's not true, Hermione! I want you to stay, Muggleborn or not, I'd like us to be friends. My father drilled many Pureblood beliefs into me but I'm going against this one, because I like you. So, can we start again, please?"

Hermione considered him for a moment, nodded and sat down, though she still looked a little cautious.

"Good, that's good," Draco said, releasing a sigh of relief. He held his hand out. "So, um, hello, my name is Draco Malfoy and I'm hoping to be sorted into Slytherin House."

"Hello, Draco. My name is Hermione Granger and I'm hoping to be sorted into either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

Finally at ease again, they began talking and getting to know each other. When Hermione explained what her parents did as dentists Draco found it very interesting to say the least.

When Pansy, Blaise and Theo entered the compartment, just before the Hogwarts Express was about to depart, they found Hermione and Draco sat together reading Potion Opuscule.

Pansy was the one to break the silence. "Why are you sharing one book, Draco? Where's yours?"

Draco and Hermione shared a look before he answered as Hermione giggled, "That's a rather funny story, which I'm sure the three of you would like to hear."

If you enjoyed this, let me know what you thought by leaving a review.

I'll see you all soon,

Sunset Whispers x