Chapter two: Starting over

~Draco's POV

I lifted my head sleepily looking at the alarm which read nine 'o' clock and thought about how much I really loved Saturdays. Pulling myself out of bed to get ready for breakfast, I walked to the bathroom adjoining mine and Granger's rooms. I straighten out the bed-head my pillow had given me before pulling on some black jeans and a dark green tee-shirt.

Walking to the common room I looked around for Granger… 'No, Hermione,' I mentally corrected myself. I had resolved to try to make amends for all my past actions and to try to distance myself from all the name of Malfoy had stood for in the past. Not seeing her I mentally shrugged, fairly certain she had made her way down to the Great Hall already.

I walked down to the Great Hall and when I got there I made my way to the Slytherin table. Technically, as head-boy I could sit at any table but I didn't imagine I'd be very welcome at any of the other tables. I saw Pansy waving at me; motioning for me to come over there with her, Blaise and Theo. I sat down beside her after I gave her a hug. "Morning Pans!"

"Draco! How are you?" She released me from her bone crushing hug before adding, "I missed you!"

"Missed you to Pans… and I feel quite excellent!" I replied, exchanging a look with Blaise grinning.

Over the course of the meal, we talked about the subjects we'd be taking while I glance over at the Griffindor table seeing Hermione sitting with Harry, Ginny and the weasel. Harry and I let go of our animosity after I apologised for my years of bullying and just being a general prat. I hadn't had an opportunity to apologise to Hermione as she hadn't come to my family's trial. I hoped to get around to that still.

'Goodness Hermione looks nice this morning with her hair nicely tamed into gentle curls and minimal make-up… and she really looks like a woman… gorgeous.' My thoughts have tendency of getting sidetracked. Suddenly there was a hand waving in front of his face.

"Draco!" I look over at pansy and see the disgruntled look on her face.

"Sorry what was that Pans?"

"Oh nothing just asked you if you wanted to run down to Honeydukes since there is no school today." Pansy said this giving me a disgruntled look.

"We should also go to the new quiditch store there." Blaise gave his input.

"Yes, sure… fine we'll go there too."

I rolled my eyes at the two of them before giving in to their requests, but not without one of my own. "Then we're also going to Zonko's and the bookstore. I'm in desperate need of things to do!"

After they gave their consent to my wishes we finished our breakfast to get our money bags before going down to Hogsmeade.

We browsed all the stores we had agreed to visit, Pansy insisted on getting new quills and parchment. We all stalked up on candy from Honeydukes… I myself had a sweet tooth that could barely be satisfied. The only store we decided not to go to was Zonko's. With all of us being prefects we decided we should be setting an example. Well that and we happened to see the headmistress there by the door getting three fourth years in trouble… probably not the best idea to come out of there with all of those Zonko's products.

We walked down to the Hogs Head for a quick butterbeer before the walk back up to the castle. Blaise and I sat down at a table while Pansy went and ordered our drinks. I pulled out one of the novels I had purchased and began to read while Blaise dug out his sugar quills and began to suck on one.

Pansy sat down and I put away my book before we started discussing the school year ahead of us.

"Personally, I look forward to being able to study without the oppressive cloud of my father and Voldemort." I smirked, "Might actually be able to beat Hermione in at least one test!"

"I just look forward to the quiditch games. Hey Drake, think that since I'm your friend you'll let me onto the team?"

"No, Blaise. You know how I feel about that… you'll just have to try out like everyone else."

"Come on mate!"

"Blaise, you know how stubborn he is when it comes to quiditch… you'll never make him budge." Pansy knew how touchy a subject quiditch was with me.

I looked at my watch, "It's about time we head back to the castle anyway."

Slowly we made our way up to the castle. Pansy had her arms slung around our necks and with the odd exchange we walked up to the carriages that would head back to the castle. This was the second year I could see the thestrals…. three years since I had watched someone die for the first time. And the scars I had gained in the past two and a half years, both physical and mental, finally were beginning to fade.

I finally got back to the common room I shared with Hermione at four thirty and decided to review the texts for potions and dada which happen to be my first two classes of the year.

I was particularly looking forward to potions. It was my favorite class, and not just because Potter and the rest of the griffindors had constantly been picked on. Potions had been my best subject since first year. I never was able to beat Hermione with constant pressure I had been under from father to get to the top of the class.

This year I had resolved to do as well as possible though. Even if it was only to give Hermione a little friendly competition I was going to try to get top scores in at least one subject.

Sadly it had only been half an hour before I had become too tired of reading the text so instead I switched to the novel I had been pursuing. I had developed a love for muggle fiction over the past year. I particularly loved books such as Lord of the Rings. I had recently begun reading muggle spy books as well. I was currently reading the Alex rider book called Stormbreaker. The idea of computers was intriguing, I had to admit.

I had settled in when the door to the portrait hole opened and Hermione walked in. she glanced at me, though not the way most did. Most viewed me in light of my father and what I had been forced to become. It made my happy that she seemed a little more

She sat down on the other side of the couch and retrieved the book she had left on the side table and began reading. I couldn't help but stare at her. She had changed a lot in the past years. Her hair was tamed into a loose wave and her clothes were more flattering. She looked so much more mature than the last time I had seen her. We all had been forced to grow up to fast.

Glancing at the clock on the mantle, I decided I would have the house elves bring me something to eat. Professor McGonagall had granted me this permission as many still held a grudge against me. She felt that if I didn't feel up to dealing with their less than polite comments, I should still eat instead of forgoing a meal altogether.

I looked at Hermione and made a quick decision. "Would you like dinner here instead of the great hall?" It seemed like as good a step as any to putting to rest some of our differences.

"Umm… ok…?" She looks at me incredulously.

"Oh, get over it! I can be quite nice when I want to be." I look at her incredulous expression.

"What exactly do you want to eat?" I inquire before calling Winky.

"I guess I'll have whatever you are having."

"Ok…Winky!"

There was crack and a short elf with a pencil thin nose, large eyes, and bat-like ears appeared. "You called Mister Malfoy?"

"Yes, could you bring us two servings of smoked salmon, spiced rice and whatever vegetables you feel like adding, Winky?" I asked politely.

Hermione looked at me in shock. Probably didn't think I could be polite to a house elf either.

"Yes Sir!" Winky disappeared with a crack.

I turn to look at her. "So, how was your summer?"

She looks up from her reading again with a bewildered look on her face. "Who on earth are you? Just two years ago you would have wanted nothing to do with me, and now you feel like being nice!"

She paused gathering her thoughts and the she looks at the exasperated expression I'm wearing. "Sorry, it's just different for you to be nice to me!"

I snicker before replying. "I know it is… but now that father isn't around to control me I can live in any way I see fit. Ha! Can you imagine him even thinking about me being nice to you?"

She looked at me amusedly. "I imagine he would throw a fit and rant about how you pureblood are so much better than we mudbloods."

My jaw dropped as she said that. I had never heard someone refer to themselves by that name.

I must have looked rather comical because she giggled. "I'm sorry mister Malfoy, did I shock you? Hmmm… I would have imagined that growing up with your last name being what it is; you would have gotten a little more used to hearing it."

"Yes, but I've never heard someone call themselves that!"

"Yes, well, as I was called that quite a lot in the past seven years I'm rather used to hearing it. I also happen to be rather proud that I am a muggle-born." She states so matter-of-factly.

The silence was deafening after that comment. I truly felt sorry for calling her that over the past years. I could only imagine how awful it must have been for her to have been put through that.

Just then Winky reappeared along with several other elves, who put the food on the dining table, and leaving just as quickly. "Will that be all, Mister Malfoy?" Winky inquired.

"Yes, that's fine Winky. Have a pleasant evening."

"Thank-you Mister Malfoy," Winky squeaked out. "Good-bye, missus Granger!" She left with a crack.

We sat down and ate in silence. The food was, as always, absolutely amazing. When we finished we got up and vanished the dishes before going back to our respective books. She glanced at my book as I opened it and stared at me in astonishment.

I looked up and caught her staring. "What?"

"I'm just shocked that you are reading muggle fiction. When did that start?"

I remarked my page before answering. "Well, the minister for magic thought it would be good for me to incorporate as many muggle things into my life as possible, so here I am."

"How is that book so far? I've heard of the series but I haven't gotten around to reading them." She had that excited look that she got when in the library or listening to a lecture. It was a little terrifying to be honest.

"Um… it's good. It's a spy novel, sort of a teenage James Bond."

"And he even knows who James Bond is!" she exclaimed. "My goodness you are full of surprises this evening Mister Malfoy! What other types of novels do you like then?" She looked at me expectantly.

"Um… I really like the Lord of the Rings and other books like that. And before you ask about romance books, I only read those that have a good amount of action, like Fire."

"Wow, I'm actually impressed! I never would have pegged you as someone who would actually read muggle fictions."

"Ha! No one would peg me as someone who was involved in anything muggle, in any amount, whether great or small. In fact you are probably one of maybe ten people who know I am!"

She was quiet after this and that silence was just a little awkward. Finally she stood up sighing she was going to take a bath. As she walks by, I grab her hand. She turns and looks at me. "Look Hermione, I'm sorry for how I treated you the past years. I'm not going to make excuses because making you feel like less than you really were… it was wrong of me. I'd really like to start over."

She smiled at me. "I'd like that, and I accept your apology." She walked over and shook my hand. "Hello, my name is Hermione Granger, and I want to go take a bath!"

I chuckled. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Granger. I am Draco Malfoy. Enjoy your bath!"

After she had walked out I leaned over to grab the book off of the table and began to read again. I sat there for a good half hour reading before I hear the door open and look over to see Hermione remerge with damp hair hanging over her shoulder.

Deciding that I would enjoy a bath, I get up. "I'm going to take a bath as well. I probably won't be coming back out here after so, have a pleasant night's sleep!"

"Night, Draco."

"Night."

I walked to my room first, getting my toiletries. I started to fill the tub, which, in my opinion, was more like a small pool. Pulling of my clothes I sank into the water and relaxed.

I knew that come Monday, there would be little time for me to do this. Plus I would get to deal with all of the angry students who were upset that I was allowed to return to school, when, if they had their way, I would be sent to Azkaban. Lucky me!

By the time I got out the water had started to cool off. I wrapped a towel around my waist walked to my room. After pulling on some shorts and a tee-shirt, I practically threw myself at the bed, thankful for its comfortable embrace.

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~Thanks for reading! Once again if you have any tips to improve my writing, feel free to review!