*Short chapter, a sort of calm before the storms to come. Chapter 5 is on its way, tomorrow probably.

Draco was struggling internally since deciding to receive an international pen pal. All his former ideas, thoughts and prejudices were in question. He was having a very hard time justifying them now. His pen pal could easily be a muggle-born, and he should hate this thought. He should refuse to contact her anymore because of this possibility, yet he didn't want to do that. Instead, he was finding himself curious about her life and her muggle family. Somehow, he was finding his prejudices flawed.

He was a Malfoy, dammit and he belonged to a respected pure-blood family. His parents were Death Eaters, followers of Lord Voldemort and his ideas. He was supposed to tow the party line and do so happily. Before Lindsey, he wouldn't have hesitated. Now, he couldn't fathom the thought. Doing so would be like asking for the death of his pen pal.

In all these tangled thoughts, he began to find himself sympathizing with Granger. Hermione Granger, of all people! He had always teased her and called her a mudblood. Now, he was beginning to regret this and even felt some guilt. Guilt was not an emotion he was used to, at all. That was why, the day after Valentine's, he found himself seeking out Hermione Granger, of all people, after Potions.

"Hermione." He grabbed her arm. She turned and looked a bit horrified and angry.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"I" He began. "I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" She asked, then her eyes got wide. "What did you do?"

"What, huh, nothing. Well, I did before. I called you something I shouldn't have and I apologize. You aren't a mudblood. I'm sorry I ever called you that." Hermione said nothing, just looked at him with a mixture of shock and confusion.

"You, you're apologizing for calling me a mudblood?" She said this as if she wasn't sure she quite believed what she was hearing and then she scowled. "Okay, Malfoy, what do you want?"

He should have expected that response. "Nothing at all, Granger. I just felt like I should apologize."

"Why don't I believe that?"

"Because I've been a jerk."

"Did you get hit with a bludger again?" He looked surprised a second.

"No." He chuckled. "My pen pal may be a muggle-born. I guess I'm not feeling so bigoted anymore." Hermione seemed to consider this.

"Fine, then. I accept your apologize. And I guess I should apologize for punching you in the face during third year."

"Don't apologize. I deserved it. See you, Hermione." Draco left and Harry came up to her.

"What was that about?"

"He apologized." She said, still trying to take in what had just happened.

"He, Malfoy apologized to you?" Harry was quite shocked at that news. "For what?"

"For calling me a mudblood." Harry's jaw dropped a little.

"He did? Really? What's the catch?"

"None that I know of, I asked. He just apologized and told me he deserved to be punched in the face."

"What happened to the pure-blood status stuff?"

"He said his pen pal might be muggle-born. I guess he must have taken a liking to the pen pal and doesn't feel comfortable using the word anymore. At least that's my guess." Harry, Ron and Hermione discussed this strange phenomenon the rest of the evening. Draco Malfoy being nice was odd, to say the least.

0o0o0o

March rolled into April and Umbridge was getting worse and worse. With every new letter from Lindsey, he was finding himself more and more concerned for her. The words in her last letter bothered him considerably.

I think my parents are going off the deep end. Every time Allen looks at me, he starts mumbling. Always stuff about witches and demons and cursed house and cursed child (me, I presume) and the like. He looks completely mad at times. I mean, insane sort of mad, not angry. It's actually scaring me a bit. I've been avoiding him lately. Mom's no better. She actually put a crucifix under my pillow the other night. Obviously it had no effect. I mean, they've always been weird when it came to my witch abilities, but lately they seem even more so and I honestly don't know why. I think the new pastor has been getting to them. He eyes me very suspiciously at church and seems paranoid near me. I wonder what my parents said to him. The church members are the same way towards me. I feel so isolated at home. School is so much better.

What did she mean by him looking insane and mumbling strange things like that? He couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding in his head. Her being a witch was making them crazy, literally. Draco felt for her and even a bit angry at the muggles who were isolating her so much. Sympathy, who knew Draco had any sympathy in him?

It was less than a week later when he received something strange from his pen pal's owl. It was then that the ominous feeling that had been nagging him came to a sickening reality.

*The next chapter or two will include some brief mentions of violence, just a word of caution.