Disclaimer: I own none of it, just the plot. The rest is JK Rowling's.

AN: For those, who didn't notice, I completely remade the second chapter. Let's not speak about how long it's been. But first, a shout out to Faded Imitation for still supporting this fic. Thank you, I appreciate all the constructive criticisms. As for some parts that may confuse you, explanations would come all in due time. Enjoy!


Chapter Three

"How come we're the only ones here in the Hogwarts Express?"

"Because everyone else has gone home yesterday," she answered him.

"Why didn't you go home with your friends?"

"Because I was in the hospital wing, at your bedside"

"Didn't your friends come looking for you before they left to go home?"

"Professor Dumbledore informed Harry and Ron that I'd be staying in the infirmary since you hadn't healed yet"

"Harry and Ron?"

"Yes, they're my best mates."

"Oh."

Hermione thought that was the end of it, that they were once again going to lapse into the awkward silence that they seem to drown in more often since last night's awkward conversation about the nature of their relationship. It was pretty easy for the silence to take over them since he pretty much shut up altogether after saying that bit about him being some stupid bloke after all. He fell asleep soon afterwards and she stayed with him for the rest of the night only to wake up early in the morning and leave him alone in the hospital wing to go back to the Gryffindor's chambers to pack her things for the day's departure from Hogwarts.

"Why did you stay in the infirmary?" Draco finally musters the courage to ask her.

"Professor Dumbledore arranged special tutorials for me from Madame Pomfrey before my official Healing course after seventh year"

A look of disappointment crossed his face before he quickly masked it. "So, you only stayed in the infirmary because of that. We weren't friends? Weren't in any sort of relationship?"

She didn't know how to answer that so she just looked away and kept her mouth shut. She knew she should answer as much of his questions as she can because had it been her that was obliviated, she'd be quite persistent in asking as many questions as possible and having all of them answered. But their relationship was a pretty complicated topic, and quite honestly she didn't know where she stood with him. Especially after the recent 'incident that never happened', as she'd like to refer to it in her mind.

He took her silence as confirmation and promised himself that he's going to do all he can to change just that over the summer.

o. O .o. O .o. O .o.

"Slytherin?" he asks again, disbelief coloring his tone. They've been talking for hours and Hermione's been bombarded by seemingly endless series of questions.

"Yes, for the millionth time, Malfoy, you're Slytherin!"

"But you make it sound like people from that house are all hated. Because they're evil. And quite honestly, I think I'd rather be in Gryffindor. I think I'd fit in with that lot"

A fit of giggles breaks forth from Hermione's lips and she doesn't stop until she's all out guffawing. "What? What are you laughing about? From what you've told me so far, they seem like they're the best." This just has her clutching on her stomach, laughing more hysterically than before.

o. O .o. O .o. O .o.

"You suck at Exploding Snap, Hermione" he told her bluntly.

Ahh, there goes that cocky smirk, I wondered when I'd see that again. He's finally being more like himself, not as vulnerable as when he woke up in confusion and panic. "Well don't be too full of yourself, beginner's luck runs out, you know"

"This is the sixth time I've beaten you, and that's not including the first game when you were teaching it to me"

"NO. That's just beginner's luck , I'm telling you. Now set the cards. Again, Malfoy." Draco, seeing the determined look on her face, just let out a sigh , shrugged his shoulders and set the cards again.

o. O .o. O .o. O .o.

"We're almost there" Hermione said, looking out the window and trying not to jiggle her knee in agitation.

"How will your parents react to me, do think?" Draco asked, calm and collected as ever.

"They're pretty nice people. I'm just not sure how they'd react when they find out that my poor orphaned friend is Draco Malfoy, though" she says, biting the bottom of her lip.

"But why?"

"W-well, I, um, might've mentioned you to them a few times in the past. Most of the things I might've said aren't all that, um, complimentary, really. But that was a long time ago, for all I know, they may not even remember all that! The last thing they heard about you in a while was when I mentioned your turning to the order in a letter," she said, seemingly trying to convince herself.

"You really do need to explain all that Order and Volderwort things to me, you know"

Hermione gives out an exasperated sigh at that. She really didn't feel like going on about all that war business, didn't feel like reliving it. "Yes, I will, soon enough. But there's no time for that now, we're almost at platform nine and three quarters"

Draco nods his head."Almost time to meet your folks" he said while he rubbed his palms together as if he were cold.

Ever the optimist she says "Yes, but I don't think you'd have much problem with them. Just . . . I don't know, charm my mother into liking you or something, like you do with all those girls at school. And with dad, well, I don't think you've to worry about him much because it's not like I'm introducing you to them as my boyfriend or anything. Simply as a friend I've come to grow close enough to offer a place to stay over the summer." Although even she knows internally that wishing for it won't make it happen, it just always seems like things'll work out if someone say aloud that they will.

"Yeah, this'll work out." he says hopefully.

"Yes, well you better hope it does because we're here"

o. O .o. O .o. O .o.

They searched around the area for Hermione's parents in silence, Draco merely looking for anybody who even remotely resembled his lovely companion, when suddenly she grabs his arm and lets out a squeal of excitement. Drawn to where Hermione's gaze was now pinned, he tried to mask any trace of anxiousness left on his face and took in the sight of the couple approaching. His attention was caught by Mrs. Granger for her striking resemblance to her daughter. For a woman in her late forties, she looked only to be in her thirties. It was almost as if he was looking at an older version of Hermione, only her hair was a shade darker and straight instead of curly and her eyes were more like dark chocolate instead of cider. Those two things were exhibited by Mr. Granger who stood only a few inches less that Draco's 6'2, and had only a slight beer belly, still in good shape for a man his age.

Hermione ran over to them and gave them both hugs. "Daddy! Mum! I missed you both sooo much!"

"Ahh, good thing my little girl hasn't forgotten about me" Mr. Granger said as he pulled Hermione to his chest.

Mrs. Granger let out a giggle upon seeing the figure of a boy carrying a large trunk and two large bags in one hand, also sporting two more duffel bags on his shoulders whilst pushing a full baggage cart of what she can only be sure of were Hermione's luggage. "Honey, I can't believe you made your friend carry all your luggage for you!"

"He insisted, mum"

"Yes, well still, I mean look at him, I can barely see him behind all the stuff you made him carry!"

Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Granger see Draco Malfoy for the first time as he finally appeared from behind all that luggage when he catches up on them and settled all the luggage down the ground.

Upon seeing the undeniably good looking man that stood before him with a winning smile, Mr. Granger became suspicious of the friendship status that his daughter assured him of all of a sudden. It was no doubt that with a face like that, the young man that stood before him had no problem winning the affections of beautiful young women like his daughter. But he trusts his little girl, if she says they were nothing more than close friends, he'll believe her. His little Hermione's never lied to him before, and she did say that this friend of hers had no where else to go, was orphaned, plus, he carried all her luggage and Mr. Granger is well aware that that was no easy feat, and so he'd give him a shot. He swallows up whatever suspicions he may have of him and greets him back with a polite smile.

"Well, don't just stand there, Hermione! Introduce your friend!"

"Oh, yes, well . . . mum and dad, Draco Malfoy' she motion him to come closer "Draco this is my mum, Emma Granger" With that, he stepped forward without preamble and executed the slyest, smoothest move Hermione's ever seen played: he gently took her mum's hand, and instead of shaking it like she'd offered, he bowed low over the knuckles, presenting them with a polite kiss and gave her his most melting smile. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Mrs. Granger's gave her daughter a look seeming to say that she was very much charmed by the young man and then gave him a shy smile. "Pleasure's all mine, please, call me Emma" Draco nods back.

"And this is my dad, Edward Granger" she gestures to the direction of her father. Draco offers his hand and gives him a polite smile. "Pleasure to meet you, sir" Mr. Granger just takes his hand, only to pull him to his chest on a manly hug. " No need to be so formal with me, boy. And that's Eddie to you"

"Yes, si—, err, Eddie"

o. O .o. O .o. O .o.

As they neared the blue Ford, Hermione's dad stepped around the back and waved them over. "You can put the trunks right in there" he smiled when Draco gave him a dubious expression. "Don't worry, Arthur Weasley enchanted it for me so that it could fit all of Hermione's school supplies, trust me, your one large trunk is nothing compared to all of the books that my daughter's constantly buying."

"Dad . . ." Hermione groaned, blushing. Gods, her parents were so embarassing.

Draco flashed her a smile that took her breath away for a second and to her surprise, easily slid each and every one of the very heavy trunks and bags in the trunk. Mr. Granger just stared at him in awe for a while, his mouth hung slightly open. He knows how heavy the luggage must have been, he was the one who had to put up with carrying Hermione's stuff and bags of books in to the trunk before.

"Let's get going then, yeah?"

.o. O .o. O .o. O .o.

"Eddie, give the young man a hand with the luggage, he is a guest you know" Emma said, giving her husband a reproachful look, and making a small shooing motion with her hand.

"Sorry, dear" he said and Hermione laughed as her dad very nearly toppled over from the weight of Draco's trunk. "Working out there, lad?" he asked in a strangled tone as he slowly stumbled his way into the house, his face red with little veins protruding from his neck. Once he reached the hall, he dropped the trunk none too gently onto the expensive hardwood floor.

"Edward," Emma called, "be careful, you wouldn't want to break anything"

"Oh, you mean other than my back," he said with a groan, rubbing his lower back and giving a curious look to the blonde boy next to her. "That thing weighs a ton, how on earth were you able to carry it so easily?"

Draco blushed and gave a shrug. "That's probably because of his training. He's a Quidditch player, you see" Hermione quickly interjects.

"Like Harry and Ron?"

"Yes, except he plays for another team, our team's greatest competition"

"Really?"

"He's a seeker actually, and the captain, too, like Harry"

"That's quite interesting, you must tell me more about this Quidditch game, Draco. I don't know much about it since Hermione's not so well versed in the sports area, doesn't tell me much about it"

Hermione starts to panic for about a second, seeing as Draco might not even remember much about Quidditch when her mum interrupts them.

"There'll be a lot of time for that later on, Edward, let Hermione show Draco to his room while we get lunch ready."

Mr. Granger looked between Hermione and Draco for a second before interjecting.

"Honey, why don't I show Draco to his room while you and Hermione prepare lunch, yeah?"

Hermione and her mum both rolled their eyes.

"Oh honestly, Edward. Sure, you could do that. Only if you're willing to be the one to carry Draco's trunk to his room" Mrs. Granger said with a smirk.

Mr. Granger looked down at the enormous trunk on the floor between them and his face contorted into a grimace.

"So . . . what are we having for lunch, dear?" he said quickly, clapping his hands together and walking past his wife to the kitchen.

Mrs. Granger, Hermione and Draco shared a laugh as she turned to follow her husband into the kitchen, when she rounded the corner Draco stepped forward and easily hefting up his trunk.

"Right this way," Hermione said still smiling and leading Draco down the hall to what was going to be his new room for the next couple of weeks.


AN: Please review! They keep me going.

PS, Since I forgot to put this at the AN for the last chapter, 'Fallere' is Latin meaning 'to decieve' or 'to trick'.