"What happened to you?" Draco asked, awkwardly.
"Every goddamned person I love is dead. Dobby, Sirius, Fred, Dumbledore, Lupin, Tonks EVERYBODY. My parents don't even know who I am and nobody can do anything about it. Not you, anyway. Why are you here? Came to cry because your role model is dead? You worked for the man who is behind all this. I think it would be wise to go away before I take off all my anger on you and blast your head off."
Hermione looked at him with such anger and a hint of sadness, it was hard to put in words.
"Don't talk to me like that. What did you think? I liked being his puppet? I didn't do it because I wanted to, okay? Who the hell would want to be a slave to someone who would gladly kill you any minute? My father messed up way too many times for us to be safe. If I didn't join him, I'd be dead. My whole family would be dead. I have parents too, remember? You're sad enough that your parents don't know you, imagine if they were dead. Yes, that could've been me. I've hated this stupid mark every passing minute. And I didn't come chasing after you. I just wanted to be in a quiet place, I didn't know you were here."
Draco replied with obvious anger in his voice. He had kept all this to himself, and it was about time he let it out.
"I am affected by the war too, you know. Everybody is. But think of all the good things it's done. Voldemort is DEAD. It's changed me. Maybe even other people like me. I've changed, no more blood status and all that crap. I mean, my parents won't give a rat's arse about me anymore, so who do I have to show it to? That I care about shit like that? I can't believe I was such a bully from such an innocent age. Stupid relations with death eaters…. If something so dreadful can change someone like me into a better person, I think you can stand up and get over it." He said and looked away.
Hermione hadn't expected a reply like this from Draco.
"You've changed. Hermione said. She had a dumbfounded expression on her face.
"I have, but I want to change more. I won't be a bad person anymore." Draco said mostly to himself, but Hermione heard him.
"I promise I'll help you. To change more." Hermione whispered.
She got up and said a quiet thank you to him and walked away. Draco was pretty bummed by what happened. He just shared everything inside him to a sworn enemy. But then she took it so well. Forgave him in a second for all the bad he'd done for her all his life. Maybe he'd underestimated her for nothing. After all, she was the brain of the golden trio. Voldemort would surely win if she wasn't there, he was sure of that. Maybe there was a very small possibility that they could be friends. Why not?
Later after that day, they unknowingly met up in random places. They never planned to meet, but they would find each other alone, and talk. First few meets were a little awkward, but later they got used to it. They knew each other a lot better than they used to, and they were becoming friends. Close ones. Hermione took him to a cinema hall in the muggle world. Draco bought her books. They argued over candy flavors. It was fun to be with each other, both of them thought. In a matter of a few days, they were friends. Close, genuine ones.